One Year Olds

It's funny to analyze who these one year olds are...what is going through their brains and what will they be like at 3 year olds and 6 year olds and 12 year olds etc. It's a tough age for these ankle-biters...learning to walk and talk and being told no more often because there is a lot more cool stuff to get into (and a lot more dangerous stuff to get into). But it's me who really does the learning...how different each of my kids are and how different their needs are. My mother-in-law once told me "Just love each one for who they are". Now I see why this is such golden advice.

Ben, my first one year old, was very serious, curious and had to try and take apart or fix everything. He is still very much like that but seriousness has turned into focused, curious has become creative and the fixer has become a wonderful caregiver and productive kid.
Joey, my second, was fun from the day he was born and continued to be a fun and funny little one year old. He started walking at 11 months and that just gave him more access to climbing, dancing and jumping and doing anything that was "fun". He is still very much our funny comedian who always makes us laugh.

And our Jane. Just turned one January 28th and is smart and smiley, walking and talking---not real words but she looks you right in the eyes and gives these minute-long monologues which make you think she'll be the next president. She loves to be chased and surprised and sounds just like Marge Simpson when she laughs. I don't know what she'll be like, but I'm excited to see where her words and her smiles take her.