The boys are now over a year old!  I wasn't sure if I was going to continue doing monthly updates or not after William and James turned one, but for now I think I will because they are still changing so much each month.

James
Height: Approx. 32 inches (birth: 18.5 inches)
Weight: Approx. 23.8 lbs (birth: 5lbs 9oz)

William
Height: Approx. 32 inches  (birth:18.5 inches)
Weight: Approx. 23.8 lbs (birth: 5lbs 13oz)



Development
This month the boys are growing and changing.  They continue to crawl to get around, but James officially took his first steps this month and his longest streak is 10 steps all together.  Will is still working on walking but he does very well holding onto your fingers or pushing any object he can get to move, including: chairs, empty water jugs, trash cans, baskets, etc.

This month both boys got new teeth!  They both got a new bottom tooth: James' on the left and Will's on the right.  James now has a total of 5 teeth while Will has a total of six.

This month we have started to let the boys use utensils and plates at meal times.  For a while now the boys have used spoons but usually I have been the one to place the food on the spoon.  At thanksgiving we had dinner at a friends house and their daughter was using a plate and fork and we decided to let the boys try and they did surprisingly well, they also seemed to be having a blast.  So I decided it was time to invest in some plates and better forks and spoons for them.  Since then we haven't looked back and while a lot of our meals are spent holding our utensil in one and and using the other hand to eat our food they will usually wait until I give them their fork/spoon to start eating.  And when they use a plate or bowl they are pretty good about not throwing it on the floor which was one of my bigger concerns.


Language and Understanding
This is an area that has seen a lot of changes this month I think.  I really feel as though the boys are truly understanding what I am asking them and have started to follow simple directions and even answer simple questions by using gestures, pointing and looking.

If I ask them where an item is they will either look in the directions or point/gesture in the correct direction.

I have been able to ask them to go pick up something specific and they are starting to actually complete these tasks.  They will go to their wagon if I ask them to.  And possibly the cutest thing is they have started sharing items with each other when I ask them to (sometimes).  They will hold out the item to their brother and usually accompany the action with some sort of babbling, which makes me feel like they are say "here you go brother have this: paci, diaper, cup"  It is so cute and they both get so excited when they do this.

They have really started babbling/ using jargon a lot this month and will hold little conversations with me.  Most of their words sound a like because most consist of /d/ and /t/ sounds with different vowels and sometimes you will here a /b/ and they both have the /m/ sounds but only when it comes to saying "mama".  But if you are paying attention to them you can usually figure out what their little word is.

James says: bye bye, paci, thank you, dada, mama

William says: bye bye, ball, wawa, dada, mama

There may be a few more words they have tried to say (and I may be forgetting a few) but these are words I hear on a consistent basis and am pretty sure what they are.



James



Oh my Sweet James

How are you 13 months already!  Where has the time gone?!?  You are such a big boy now, there are times when I look at you and you really look like a big kid, I can barely handle it!  I love hearing your little voice as you start to learn new words and try to tell me all about things.  You have learned to say "thank you" and while it doesn't really sound correct yet, you use it appropriately and often, especially when mommy either gives you your paci or something you wanted to eat!  You have really taken to Brando this month even though he does not return your feelings.  You want to play with him and chase him around the kitchen, the belly laugh that comes out of you when you are doing this is probably one of the sweetest sounds in the world.  You took your first steps this month and I'm so proud of you!  You aren't really walking yet, but its coming and I'm excited for you!!  James I love watching you grow and learn!  Being able to spend my days with you is the best!

I love you so much my sweet boy!
Love
Mommy



William



My dear William Clayton

You are growing so big so fast and I can't handle it!  I'm pretty sure you think you are bigger than you are!  You are starting to talk and will hold conversations with me, they are sweet moments I will cherish forever!  You are understand so much this month and have started to actually follow directions I give you and it amazes me to see what you understand.   You use bye-bye appropriately and when you add your little wave with it it just melts my heart (and basically anyone else's who sees you doing it)  You will wave and say bye-bye to strangers at the store, the dogs, the park it is so cute and you know what it means.  You will tell me bye-bye and head to your wagon if you are done playing at the park and want to go home.  I love watching you learn and grow, but stay small my sweet boy for just a little longer, mommy's not ready for you to be a big boy!  I love all the time I get to spend with you and am so blessed!

I Love you more than words can say!
Love
Mommy