Happy Birthday, Mr. Ezra James

To quote one of my (Ash's) favorite They Might Be Giants songs: "You're older than you've ever been, and now you're even older. And now you're even older. And now you're even older... Time... is marching on. And time... is still marching on!"

And so it is - especially when you've only just completed your first circumnavigation of the sun. Ezra celebrated that achievement with a

big birthday blast last Saturday, Aug. 1st. We were delighted to have 100% turnout from the Spitzer side (and even a bonus person - Josh's girlfriend Jennifer, who gave Ezra a stylin' pair of baby Chuck Taylor All Stars).

Grandpa John and Grandma Cheri came loaded with gifts - and the prototypes of some cool homemade wooden toys. Uncle Josh proudly presented Ezra with that time-honored classic, Walter the Farting Dog: Banned from the Beach.

We wanted to have a low-key picnic in Lincoln Park near the lake, but the weather didn't cooperate. So we welcomed into our small apartment 12 adults and 6 babies/toddlers, plus the seven of us - it was the most people we've had here since Ezra's bris a year ago tomorrow! Luckily no one seemed too bothered about sitting on the floor. Grandma Cheri brought bubbles, and I had bought a bunch of helium balloons and those pretty much kept all the little ones entertained. Ezra didn't go as bonkers over the birthday cake as we had thought he would, but he definitely seemed to like it. Gabe daubed frosting on his nose just to make him look more legitimately messy.

The one real bummer of the weekend was that Ezra's sleep regressed A LOT. Gabe and I were sleeping on the futon in his room, with him in his crib. Once he realized this, at 3 in the morning one night, we were done for. I tried nursing him and putting him back down but he stood right up, whining and peering over the side of the crib. I tried to get him to sleep with us on the futon, but instead he wanted to crawl

all over the place, babbling nonstop. So in frustration, I put him back in the crib and laid back down on the futon. He whined and cried and stood there looking at us plaintively. Gabe and I lay there pretending to be asleep. Then Ezra said very clearly, "Mama! Daddy!" It was just about the cutest thing I've ever heard. I had never heard him say mama and daddy with such clear intention before. Unfortunately, the next one and a half hours weren't so cute - lots of crying, Gabe and I exhaustedly fleeing to the couches to try to sleep, taking turns trying to soothe him, and Ezra falling asleep FINALLY at 5 am. And I had to be up before six to go to work. Oh joy. Anyway, he seems to be getting back on track with his sleep... let's hope!

He seems like he could walk within days. He's very good at getting around while holding onto stuff, and I've managed to coax him to take some steps toward me - holding my arms out for him to grab onto. He kind of lurches forward like Frankenstein. Today he actually fell once trying to do that but he didn't seem to care. As for words, it's still pretty much just mama and daddy, but he appears to be saying "chee" for "cheese" and "tuh" for "train." I think, or it could be wishful thinking.

He's eating a lot better, which is a giant relief. He went to the doc earlier this week and weighs a couple ounces shy of 18 lbs. That's pretty darn puny for a one-year-old, but we're learning not to care too much. He's in the 1st percentile for weight but 32nd for height, so that's fine. The doc says he "looks like an angel, just not as fat." S'okay, we love our little skinny angel.

This coming week, Grandma Andi (aka Noni) and Aunt Katy and possibly Grampy Mick will come visit from Santa Fe. Katy's en route to the Big Apple to start grad school and my mom is helping shlep her junk there. That will be fun to see them - I bet they'll be amazed to see how much he's changed since May. Then next weekend we're looking forward to a little getaway to Door Couny in Wisconsin with our good friends, the Briscoes. You can read about some of our previous exploits with them here and here.

Love,

Ash, Gabe and Ez