One-Year Wessers

Also known as the cutest leprechaun ever!

Wesley is such a happy little guy. Just a little ray of sunshine in our busy lives. So smiley and giggly and loving--babysitters (the few he allows to actually hold him) can't believe that he gives such big squeezes around the neck and snuggles so happily. He loves other babies and kids and loves to be in the thick of all of the action. He loves adults too, so long as he can interact with them from the safety of momma's arms. 

And while he is being so happy and cheerful, he is bossing the rest of us around. The kid knows what he wants and knows how to get it, having all of the makings of a charismatic dictator in the future (he makes you feel like you want to give him whatever he wants). Wes also loves getting us to say 'no' right now, so will do something (like biting) and then shake his head and giggle. Over and over. And over. 

Wesley loves to eat. LOVES to eat. Especially when he gets to feed himself. He has been experimenting with a fork and does pretty well stabbing food from his tray and getting it to his mouth! He can also drink from a cup (with help) and is an expert at finding lots of treats and goodies on the floor to eat (some food, some not). His favorite foods are frozen peas, tomatoes, pizza, oranges, pears, grapes, berries, bread, cheese, chocolate, popcorn, and anything that he is not eating and someone else is eating. He is our most persistent beggar of food to date. 

Wes loves to play with all of his brothers' toys, but especially with all of the many balls that litter our house on a daily basis. He loves to put things in containers and dump them out, loves to make noise of any kind, loves all water, dirt, rocks, and sand, and loves to destroy whatever he can. Sleeping is still low on his list. 

Happy birthday to the squishy, opinionated, lovable mess that brings such joy to our life! 

11 Month Wessers

Wesley is such a little mover (which you can tell by how hard it was to get him to sit still). He is a pretty fast and loud crawler, slapping his hands down on the ground, especially when he is chasing after his brothers. He loves being able to get where he wants to go and is very unhappy when he is restrained (like when a brother really really wants to hold him nice and tight).

Normally, though, he absolutely loves his big brothers. He thinks they are the absolute funniest and most interesting beings in existence. If he hasn't seen one in a while and they come near him he starts grinning and hyperventilating a bit and wiggling his whole body, hoping they start talking to him. They love him right back! Often violently.

He does, however, have an extra-special shriek that he has honed to perfection for when someone is invading his space/taking his things/holding him back/being a general nuisance. Think shrieking eel meets pterodactyl. Derek is usually the main offender; unfortunately, Wesley no longer seems to accept replacements for whatever he was playing with, so Derek's main tactic for toy-stealing is no longer working. 

Wesley loves playing in the dishwasher, putting things in and taking things out of things, going for rides on his dad's rowing machine, pushing buttons on remotes, throwing things, tubs, sand, and being outside. He also finds it really funny to put things in his mouth that he finds on the floor and will look at me with a little grin and then spit it out as I get closer. He is starting to recognize reactions and really seems to like them! So he also enjoys throwing his food on the floor, yanking on the bathroom mirror above his changing table, pretending to bite while nursing, and making a beeline for the stairs whenever he can. 

Wes is still extremely clingy, still extremely happy and grinny and giggly, and is still a lovable little squishy guy!