Follow the bouncing ball

Every once in a while, I forget to post a video for a couple weeks, at which point it has already become rather dated. That's the case again today, so before I get to the "old" news I'll share some fresh news with you. I went to the doctor yesterday for my year-old checkup, and got a clean bill of health. My updated stats: 32 inches, and 26 lbs. 4 oz. That means I lost a couple ounces from my last doctor's visit a few weeks ago for that ear infection and congestion (probably from all that prolonged standing and taking those first steps).

Speaking of a few weeks ago, that's pretty much when this "lost" video—in which I watch the neighbors toss a ball around—was taken...back before I was 1, or walking, or we owned our new camcorder. Still, it's cute, as it was taken during one of my first encounters with the grass, and all the pretty landscaping in our yard that Babcia and Dido have done such a beautiful job with.


And here it is. Don't worry about that coughing you hear—remember, I was still sick when this was taken. Like I said, it's an old video!

Hello kitty

I'm been admiring animals from afar now for a couple months: visiting the pet store at the mall with Babcia and Dido, checking out a cat that wandered the resort in Turks & Caicos (above) and "talking" with dogs I encounter during my walks. But I haven't had many chances to get really close to one, until I crossed paths with Kenni, my friend Isabella's cat—or "kitsia" as they are called in Ukrainian. It was nice, but only up to a point...

Flower girl

The first time I visited the famous iris gardens that are just a couple blocks away, I was only 10 days old.



How tiny I was! I slept through the whole visit that day. For my triumphant return on Monday (a few hours before I took my first steps), the irises were in full bloom...and so was I. The flowers were so pretty—me too!—that I'll just let the pictures and video do the talking.

Birthday bash, part 3

Hey, where did everyone go? Even after my birthday party—sniff!—ended on Sunday, the celebration continued the following day. Because I still had my birthday gifts to open!


Wow, all of this is for me? Cool!



Here's a montage of me opening my gifts. Someone got me the best gift ever: a piece of tape (there was wrapping paper and a present also, but you can't beat Scotch tape!). Then you see me play with Uncle Ryan's gift (a Sesame Street-themed remote). Finally, after opening all those gifts, I wanted even more—Mom's pen, for starters.



After my gifts were all opened, my birthday celebration finally came to a close. Dad asked me to sum it all up:



And there you have it. Thanks to everyone who celebrated with me, or sent wishes from afar. You made my big day that much more special!


Let's be sure and do it again next May when I turn 2!

Birthday bash, part 2

What would a birthday party be without birthday cake? And I had a lot to live up to, because I promised in my invitation that I would be wearing my birthday cake. Well I'm not one to make a promise that I can't keep...


After being inspired by my cousin Sophia's first birthday a few years ago, Mom baked me a tiny birthday cake of my very own. After everyone sang to me, I made a wish and blew out the candle (I wished that I could walk...and it came true the very next day!). Mom put the cake in front of me and let me go to town:



I was in an really good mood all day (and all weekend, in fact). I clowned around with anyone and everyone. Here I am with Babcia.



I also posed for a photo shoot with my photographer cousin Marissa. To show off a bit for everyone, I kept standing upright for a really long time.


Everyone was very impressed. Listen to everyone sigh as I start to drift down...and cheer when I pop back up!



Then it was back into the tunnels for more fun.


Those tunnels were a great birthday gift, Mom and Dad. And speaking of gifts, check back tomorrow for the third and final chapter in my birthday saga, featuring my presents!

Birthday bash, part 1

Whoever said that "one is the loneliest number" had no idea what they're talking about. Because the day I turned one was one of the best—and least lonely—days of my life! So many family and friends came over to help me celebrate my big day.

I knew the day was going to be great when Dad came home with lots of balloons...


I love, love, love balloons! I was excited to see them first in the morning, then again after the party when Dad corralled them all back inside. In fact, I even figured out how to get access to them myself.



And what do I love just as much as "ball"s (my word for balloons)? Actual balls! Mom and Dad didn't disappoint there either. They bought me a backyard maze of tunnels, that were filled with balls to play with. I, along with all the other kids, had fun both outside the tunnels...


...and inside.


As terrific as it was to see so many family and friends, I was especially happy to meet a few of my blog's most loyal readers for the first time. Here I am with Aunt Halina.


And then I met Audrey and her mom Kirsten, who grew up across the street from Mom when they were both little.


Audrey was nice enough to play with me in the tunnels.


We got along so well! And because I know how much Audrey likes to watch my videos here on the blog, I asked Dad to put Audrey in one of them. So here's a video of Audrey amd me playing together. At the end, Dad panned all around the backyard, so you can see all the well-wishers who were on hand for my birthday.



That's it for part 1. Look for part 2 later today, featuring...cake!

Look who's walking!

I was going to start blogging tonight about my incredible birthday party, but that will have to wait until tomorrow because I have breaking news to report: I took my first steps today! And better yet, we have it on video!

Some quick backstory: Mom and Dad thought I'd be walking months ago after all the standing I was doing, but once I got the hang of crawling, I completely lost interest in being upright. But that started to change last month, when everyone noticed that I was standing, unassisted, for several seconds at a time. Then last week, Dad saw me take a half-step once or twice, which indicated to him that I was getting prepped for walking. He's been trying to entice me to take a few steps ever since, but no dice. Finally, while having dinner at my friend Isabella's house, I took the bait and walked a couple steps. The first time I did it, Dad thought he had recorded me but was distressed to learn that he didn't get the footage. No worries: I repeated the feat again two more times (with a lot of coaxing and false starts in between). Mom and Dad were very excited, as you can imagine. I guess I was just holding out until I turned one; now there will be no stopping me!

And now, without further ado:



It's only a couple steps, I know, and I still prefer crawling for now. But just you wait: a month from now, I'll be zipping around everywhere!

I'll start blogging about my birthday bash tomorrow, so check back then.