One year old

My baby boy is one year old. Wow. I don't know where to begin and I am pretty sure I won't know how to end it.
This has been an incredible year. I has been fast and slow, fun and challenging, exciting and exhausting, happy and a little sad, fulfilling and draining, I think the list could go on and on. I know every mother experiences all of these things and that all would agree that you wouldn't trade a single, slow, challenging, exhausting, sad, and draining day. They are all worth it.
I think back to being in the hospital and it seems like a million years ago but it seems like just yesterday that he had his first smile. I remember reading to him before he could even hold his head up on his own and I watched him tonight sit in a chair with a book, as big as he is, and flip though the pages, pointing as if he understood every single word on the page. How do they grow up so quickly?
I remember the first time he projectile vomited across my living room. How scary that was at 2 1/2 weeks. I was certain he had just eaten too much. No such luck. It began months of concern and frustration as Cort refused to eat and then often threw up what he willingly took. I take joy now in seeing him do all of the things that a one year old should, no longer fearful that he will not development without the proper amount of food. I still worry about his eating, as he still doesn't have a very big appetite, but I know that he is okay. I guess for the rest of my life I will worry about him for numerous reasons but just have to trust God that he will be okay. There have been lots of smiles, laughter, tears, and lessons learned.
Cort is bubbling with personality. Everyone still comments on how expressive he is. I think he makes a new face everyday. He is so much wrapped up in this tiny little body. In the words of John Mayer, he is "bigger then (his) body gives (him) credit for." He can play with a toy one minute in a serious manner with his brows furrowed, expecting it, figuring out how it works, and then use the same toy in some silly way with contagious laughter. He is strong both physically and in will. His love for life is certainly bigger then his body. The smiles and excitement he shows when he sees something new or when he sees something he loves for the 1000th time is unbelievable. He's so spirited. He has so much to learn but yet already seems to know so much. I wait with much anticipation and excitement for what this next year will bring.

Cort is sleeping so well right now. He is back to sleeping until 7 or 7:30 in the morning with a 7 bedtime. He takes 1-1 1/2 hour nap in the morning and 1 1/2-2 hour nap in the afternoon. This is huge. It has been wonderful to have that kind of time to get things done during the day and even better to have a well rested baby. We have dropped all of his bottles with the exception of his night time bottle(which will go soon) and he is taking all whole milk from a sippy cup. He can do it himself but we are battling that a bit - he wants me to hold it for him. He eats three meals a day with 1-2 snacks depending on the schedule that day. He has some great days with eating and other days that he won't eat anything. We have stopped his prevacid and so far he seems to be doing okay. I have noticed a few things but overall I think we might be in the clear.
He is really enjoying his toys these days. He loves to play with cars and trucks. He pushes them all around saying "Bbbbrrrrr" as he does. So cute. He also "vrooms" the airplane in the sky. Super cute. It is crazy to watch him play with his toys and see him independently push buttons, turn nobs, put things in and out, nest, and open and close as the toy commands. Still one of his favorite "toys" are his books. He will sit and "read" books for very long periods of time and loves to be read to. He loves to point to pictures and label everything on the page. It amazes me now how you can show him a toy one time and then he figures out how to do it all on his own. He maneuvers his walker around independently and turns any toy that can be into a walker. He walks with one hand held but has not really ventured into his first steps yet. He climbs on everything!!!!! He is really good at climbing in and out( feet first!!) of his chair and off our ottoman. He even climbed onto Chris' ladder!!!! ( oops) He loves being outside.
He is crazy about his daddy. He just eats up every minute that Chris is home. I love wathing them play together.
He babbles constantly and here is list of his current words in order of frequency: uh-oh, up,da-da, cat, hot, truck, moo, meow, duck( or quack - we aren't sure). Here are the maybes: out, shoe, bye-bye. He has started shaking his head no but not actually for the meaning no yet - he just thinks it's funny. He signs(in order of frequency): fan, all-done, and more. He did please once but never again.
He mimics a lot more now... brushing teeth, using the remote and telephone, brushing hair, funny faces with his lips. He feeds his sippy cup to his elmo and hugs him every morning after breakfast. So precious.
He had another haircut so that makes 2. You have 8 teeth(4 top and 4 bottom) and I think you might be cutting some molars.
It is crazy to me how much he can do and even more crazy how much he is soon to learn. I am thankful for every second I have had with Cort this year. Chris and I both just enjoy him sooo much. As said earlier, I don't know how to end this post so I guess I'll end with this.....
I love you so much my precious boy. So much.