There's a first for everything...

Since my little guy is now 13 months old, there are not many firsts anymore...

this little guy has been around the block. 

First Christmas

First time bowling

First Shure headphone experience

First walk with mommy

First photo shoot

First bath

First feaux-hawk!

So that's why today was a fun day for us. It was the first time that the little Levi-man got to see, touch, taste and romp through the snow.

And enjoy it he did...

In style of course...his adorable Old Navy coat and his super warm Sorel boots were a gift from his auntie Hannie...who spares no expense for her first only favorite nephew. Thanks Auntie Han, they kept this guy super warm!

He was enamored with everything...I see why it is so much fun to be a parent. Things that you love become far more exciting and enjoyable when you get to share them with somebody enthralled by all that they see

.

Speaking of sharing things you love, we had a great time a few weeks ago foraging down to Indiana to cut down beautiful fresh Christmas trees. It's great just being together with family and friends and sharing fun holiday traditions.
I'll leave you with a few snapshots of the day...

Finally, the moment you've been waiting for...

"AT LAST!" you think, "An end to the monthly baby updates!!"

Yup. That time has arrived. I will no longer be polluting your blog feed with monthly updates about my dear son (I'm a realist, I know most people could not care less that his cheeks got fatter between months 3 and 4, or that he learned to eat peas between month 6 and 7). For the next year, picture updates will be quarterly instead. After that, perhaps a second baby will come along, and I might just remember to show you a birth and one year picture. Yes, again, a realist, I was a second child, I know what it's like.

Ahem, now to the update.

So, the boy turned 12 months. (It was actually a month ago...)

Definitely still trying to rip off that sticker

And that darn hat as well

Starting to perfect the cheesy grin

And showing off those six teeth....

and all the mischief that can be contained in one little smile

Still loves clapping

And playing any kind of game

Still gets frustrated when his mommy takes WAY too many pictures of him

I finally relented to his father's demands and gave him his first haircut

He has learned to walk...

But 

he 

prefers 

to 

travel 

on 

wheels

His favorite words are "Dada", "Baba", "Hi" and "Uh-oh", but mostly he still just loves to say "Whoooo"

The year has flown by...

Hey, we've come a long way baby!

Fall Escapades...

Yup, here's yet another blog post after the fact. I realize that everybody's seasonal gears have already shifted...but this lovely mild day makes it not yet feel like winter, so there's that...

Here are some photos summarizing our first fall together as a little family.

PUMPKINS!

First petting zoo experience

Cornstalks!

Much more enthralled with the fence than the animals

 We also celebrated our anniversary in Milwaukee. Why Milwaukee? Because grandparents in Milwaukee = free babysitting :) We went to this adorable little coffeehouse called the Gingerbread House which I would highly recommend to anyone who finds themself in that neck of the woods. It's the most darling place ever. Here's the exterior:

Adorable gardens and an ice cream shop out back

And chickens!

And check out their drive-through!

No, they are not a sponsor (ha, like my blog is important enough to have sponsors!) and they did not pay me for this...I just really liked the place.
A very cute interior, with mismatched old barnwood tables and rustic, country decor

We enjoyed some wonderful lattes...an object which I never tire of photographing...see here

 Along with our lattes, we chose a delectable confection from this scrumptious array

 And a quick snapshot on our way out...gotta get one for the anniversary book!

 Happy Belated Fall, from our family to yours!