12 Months

• Weight: 24 lbs
• Height: 29 3/4 inches
• Nicknames: D-ooo (how E says his name), Little Man, Monkey, "Duke Manfred"  or just Manfred.

• Duke now has THREE teeth. His top on just broke through (July 22) and the one beside it is on it's way! Poor guy! Teething is rough!
• Duke took his first two steps on July 30th!! He is a bit of a chicken and is now refusing to try it again. He'll be walking in his own time which I am sure won't be long from now.

• Since the move Duke and Ethnie have started sharing a room. For the most part it is working really well. Duke and E like to talk to each other during nap time. If Duke falls asleep before E, you will hear her say "Psst, Ook! Wadte Up!!" (Psst, Duke wake up! In a hushed voice.) Duke loves all of the attention he gets from his big sister.
• This boy is a solid stander. He will go a minute or more just standing. he catches his balance really well too. I think he just likes being carried around which will decrease once Mama don't have any helpers anymore.

• Duke's favorite foods include; grapes, cherries, strawberries, any other fruit, peas, pasta, poofs, fruit pouches, pizza and really anything else. If you put it in front of him, he'll usually eat it. He is not a fan of avocado, broccoli or mustard.
• Duke's favorite toys include; Spike, Blue Woofs, his monkey and blue fuzzy blanket, the plastic monkeys, his push airplane and any toy that sister is currently playing with.

• We weened Duke Manfred this month. He really had no problems. We just did it slowly starting out with cutting back before naps.
• Duke is officially waving. This boy is not a circus monkey though. He will rarely perform for you even though he knows exactly what you want him to do. He has his own mind for sure. :) (July 13th)

• He is a Frozen fan! Seriously though he's addicted to it the same way E was to Elmo. He will sit on the couch all alone and watch it from start to finish. He will watch other movies but they don't hold his attention like Frozen does.
• The crying has picked up this month. We've been sick, moved, Mama left for four days, and we've just been busy which makes for one whiny baby. Part of it is out of necessity but the other part will be worked on. Time to up our signing game!!

• Duke is go, go, go, DESTROY!!! He likes to make messes, pull things apart and destroy any area that is orderly. I have two polar opposites on my hands. 
• He {loves} technology. He really enjoys attacking my laptop or tablet. He likes to Skype too. 

• Duke Loves to be in cupboards pulling things out. We had to get new latches in this house so that everything wasn't on the floor. :)
• He's started to get his boogy on. Daddy and I like to have evening dance parties before tub time. It's so fun to watch him bounce to the music. 
• He loves to be chased and tickled. He also enjoys giving big sloppy wet kisses and ten biting your lips with his super sharp teeth. :)

• Nap time is heavenly! Some days he will let me rock him to sleep but most of the time he grabs his blanket, sue, and woof and I put him in his bed  and he's out. He is on a pretty great schedule. Up at 6:30-7:00. Breakfast at 7:15. He needs food A.S.A.P after he wakes up! Sometimes we do a power nap if he crazy cranky at 8-8:30. Nap at 10:00. Up by 12:30 (he usually wakes up by 11:45 -12). Lunch at 12:30. Community nap time at 2:30 (E goes down too). Up by 5:00-5:30. Dinner at 6:00. Bath at 7:15 and bed by 8:00. It's routine now and he is really doing well. If we are late his knows. This boy is like clock work!
• He loves to be outside and we have a massive backyard but the mosquitoes are THICK! Hopefully the mosquitoes will die soon enough so we can enjoy the outdoors more!

I cannot believe that my baby is ONE?! He is such a spunky kid and 100% boy. I am so overwhelmed with love for him and gratitude to our Father in Heaven for sending him to out home. We love him more than words. He is a little ray of sunshine that brightens my day. I am loving being his Mama!