Levi at one year

I let Levi's first birthday come and go without much of a post! So here is a post in honor of our littlest Varela.

There is a lot to say about Levi Paul. He is the cutest little thing. He loves crawling around at the park (including going up the steps to the slides)--and thankfully not eating sand and leaves like Nate used to do. ;) He also always makes a bee-line for the steps if we're downstairs in the house. He likes pat-a-cake and singing songs, and he even bounces and claps along when we have our "dance parties" in the kitchen. (He also sings the Beach Boys' "Barbara Ann" with me.) Another favorite activity of his is bath time. Just this past week, when he is getting cleaned up from dinner in his high chair, he starts saying, "Ba! Ba!" because he wants a bath. (He also says the same sound getting cleaned up in the morning after breakfast, but that's because he wants to go see Nate get on the bus.) He signs "More" and uses that one a lot, since he loves to eat. That little guy is an eating machine! I was just about to write out his favorite foods, but he pretty much eats everything I put in front of him (besides peas). He does love bananas best.

In addition to his extreme cuteness, Levi is a little stinker! He knows what "No" means but chooses to ignore it relentlessly. He loves the buttons on the printer, the computer keyboard, and the no-no kitchen cabinets. Getting his hand flicked doesn't phase him one bit, so we've already had to break out the paddle.

He really likes playing with Nate, especially because Nate is always gentle and a fun big brother. He loves his Daddy and siblings, but he loves Mama best. I think this is a nice break for Jon!--the other two children are ALL about Daddy, especially Lucy.

Oh, and the sleep. Levi now sleeps!!! He turned a corner around 10-11 months where crying it out actually worked (the other times I'd tried it, he would just cry and cry and cry and never stop). So now he sleeps from about 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. I'll take it!

I love you, my little LP!