He is one!

Little Mike turned one last month.  He wasn't sure about any of it; the singing, the candle, or the cake.  

He gave us a puzzled look as we enthusiastically encouraged him to blow.  

Maybe he thought it was a trick, and he was going to have nothing to do with it.

After some coaxing from the girls, we got him to relax,

and even smile.

But the second we helped him blow out the candle, we were back to square one.

We placed a slice in front of him, but he figured something wasn't right, 

so he swiftly picked it up and threw it on the ground.  

Eventually, with the help of a cup, we got him to dive in. 

Don't let his apparent calm (what some would call--serious) demeanor fool you.  At one years old, he has managed to completely rule our household.  Everything about this kid seems to be magnified when compared to my other kids at his age.  He makes daily rounds of emptying every drawer, shelf, and cupboard of all their contents.  He climbs any surface that is within reach, often found on top of chairs, desks, and bathroom sinks.  I feel like I repeatedly find him seconds away from serious injury.  He finds the toilet to be a perfect place to deposit objects.  He can be relentless when it comes to wanting to be picked up; following me around screaming until his goal is accomplished.  If I had to sum this stage up in one word it would be--Exhausting.

I blame this on Grandma, she cursed big Mike to have a kid just like him.  And he seems to be living up to the standard.  Heaven has a sense of humor because He waited to send little Mike to our family until the time when Grandma would be living with us, so now on the days I work, she gets to relive Mikey all over again.  But if his current behavior is any indication he will turn out like his dad--lucky be the girl that ends up with him.