November 2004 Happy Birthday, Griffin!!

(Click on a photo for a larger version.)

Oscar and Griffin consider the possibilities of a square peg in a round hole.

Democracy in action on Voting Day!  Griffin went with mommy and daddy to the voting place, then to a Get Out the Vote party with lots of other babies.  All the  mommies used their cell phones to encourage people in swing states to vote!

Griffin was named after his great-grandmother's maiden name (actually Griffith, but we decided the "th" would clash with the "s" in "Smith).  Would you believe their are 3 other little boys on Capitol Hill named Griffin?  Here Griffin is playing with his buddy Griffith.  There is also a Griffyd.

On Griffin's Birthday, mommy planned to bake a cake, but the weather was sooo nice we decided to just join our neighbors at the park across the street with a gallon of "cookies and cream" ice cream.  Everyone raised their spoons in honor of the birthday boy!  In the photo above, Griffin is on his godmother's lap -- Chantel and Ilana just finished singing "Happy Birthday" to him.

Griffin runs off some ice cream with his buddy Oscar.

Is Daddy showing how many years old G is?  Nope-- Griffin closed his birthday by listening for and pointing out the planes and helicopters that fly overhead.  His first "sign language" sign was for helicopter and by his first birthday he does it whenever he hears a helicopter overhead.

WALKING!!! Griffin had taken a step occasionally, but it wasn't until a week or so after his birthday that he really walked.  It was amazing!  We were at the park and he was just standing without holding on to anything for quite awhile.  When I pointed it out to everyone, our neighbor, Mary Beth, tried to get him to walk to her by wiggling her hat/puppet at him.  It worked!!  He took five little steps, stopped, then took a few more, then sat down.  It was great that both mommy and daddy were there to see the big moment. The pictures below were taken a couple of days later. He slowly walked away from Mommy, then rather quickly returned.

Our neighbors, the Genos, brought  presents over plus they baked a delicious birthday cake for Griffin!   Griffin needs to eat as much as he can as he is quite underweight for a 1 year old-- about 19 pounds.  (He is still above average for height.)  He's a bit of a fussy eater-- delayed eating solids until 6 months, then wanted only smooth stuff for quite awhile.  We encourage him to eat with games like "you feed daddy, then daddy feeds you."  He eats sweet potato, squash, ricotta cheese, green beans (pureed), fine ground chicken, avocado, banana, yogurt and SnaPea Crisps.  He's sick of Cheerios-- unless they are someone else's! He has become a major mooch case, especially now that he is walking!!

Griffin walking on the beach at Sullivans Island with Oupa, Peter's Dad, on the day after Thanksgiving.  That night was the first time we left Griffin with babysitters:  Ouma and Oupa.  Another big accomplishment:  he has started to sleep through the night!   On doctor's recommendation we stopped nursing him back to sleep and instead Peter goes in and soothes him with soft words, rocking  and sips of water.

Griffin, Ouma and Oupa with Fort Moultrie in background.

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