Malcolm At One

I started this post not really know how to encapsulate the last 365 days with our Baby Z.  He is growing up - despite being toujours toothless - and Edward and I enjoy and relish every new skill and every first.  But there is something about the last "firsts" that goes beyond milestones and markers.  Something about that last first sweet kiss for Mummy, those last first shaky steps that leave me a little emotional.  It was like this with The Ducklings, too.  But with them, our day to day (to night) life was so busy, there wasn't too much time for reflection.  Our lives are even busier now, but Edward and I now know how fleeting it is, so we do stop and enjoy moments with Malcolm as much as possible.  I also know that there are a myriad of delightful "firsts" for all my children on the horizon, and I am so excited to see where this crazy ride takes us.

The maudlin aside, here is a snapshot of Malcolm at one:

Malcolm looking windswept (and a tad damp - they spent the later afternoon under the soaker hose)

Nicknames:  Mr. Man, Booboo, Boobear
Favourite foods:  saltine crackers, spaghetti, blueberries and apples
Favourite toys:  my bedside clock (he loves to walk around with it in his hand), an octopus, doors/drawers/latches, Evelyn's shoes....
Favourite words:  oh-oh, ball.  Well okay, those are his only words.  However, he will meow and occasionally, and he loves to do his "dada" babble.  When he wants a cup of water, he'll ask for a "baba", and when he sees something on the kitchen counter he wants to eat, it's "NANANA" in a very persuasive tone.

Malcolm is very determined - I think he has to be, in order to get his needs expressed over the din.  And even though he doesn't talk much, he is extremely vocal, and his comprehension is growing exponentially.  Yesterday, I asked him if he wanted to push one of the toy carts around, and he immediately went over (with my assistance), and did exactly that.  Or if I ask him to put something away, he will (ha - how fleeting is that level of cooperation!).  He watches everything his siblings do with studied interest, and derives tremendous joy from mimicking them.  He loves opening Keith and Evelyn's bedroom door in the morning to wake them up, and peeking in their closet door, where they are often hiding, playing "bus".  Like his siblings, it takes him a while to warm up to new people, and when he is really miffed, he has a very R2D2-like shriek...

He is generally pretty easy-going, unless food is involved (hmmm.... the Keith food gene?), or if, God forbid, you try to finger-walk him away from a toilet bowl.  He still isn't walking on his own, but his balance is getting better and he loves to explore.  He does know how to dig in his heels, how to forage for crumbs squirreled away in drawers and cupboards, how to put on my glasses and turn on the TV using the remote, so we certainly aren't worried about him.  I mean, when one has indulgent adults, siblings who bring you toys and a hysterically funny (to Malcolm, I should clarify) puppy who hovers around continually hoping for a cookie and/or a pat, why exactly would one exert a whole lot of effort on mobility?  He is the party.  And he knows it.

We love you so much, Mr. Man!