Well, Diego started walking ~6 days after he turned one!  On April Fool's day actually.  Fooled you mom and dad!  He had a complete blast at his bday party which we held at the park on the perfect AZ spring day.  15 kiddos and their parents plus other friends and family were in attendance.  Festivities included the chicken dance, hokey pokey and of course a pinata!  Diego had his first massive sugar attack w/a chocolate cupcake that was decorated by his Colorado Cousins.  Diego absolutely loved loved loved having the big boy cousins around and wandered the house looking for them after the weekend was over.

We were able to take a family trip out the East Coast and were able to get in some quick but fun visits with the Burney side of the family.  We had some time at the beach and in GA.  The best part was that we were able to see and spend some time w/each person in J.D.'s fam.  We're so thankful for that!  It was fun to see Diego really start developing those important relationships.  He certainly loves being the center of attention! 

We also saw him really developing his communication skills on the trip as he was going sign language crazy; signing "more" "food" & "please" constantly (although more actually meant...I WANT).  He waves bye and blows kisses...if you're a really special person you get a kiss on the lips!  He also now signs "cracker" "milk" "all done" and "help".  He has also started combining signs like "more please" & "eat milk".

He is in what we call a "sponge" stage...soaking up all kinds of learning from sounds to gestures and understanding language.  It's scary how much he understands and how much he feigns understanding!   He is into his gross motor skills and will walk/push/climb all day and he cannot understand why we like to take breaks for nap time!?

What about us???  Well, if we thought he was fun before he is even more so now.  And, more challenging as he asserts his will more frequently!  However his smiles and silliness, curiosity and loving ways make it easy to forget...maybe not so much for the cats though! haha   He reamins an easy kiddo and a joy to parent.  The biggest challenge is balancing what needs to get done with all of the new things he just pulled out to play with.  Now even more so in this crazy heat!  J.D. is trying to finish up studying for his CFP exam in July and Leif is trying to manage while the study flurry reigns on.  However, J.D. is man of the hour...if he is around then Mama is chopped liver.  It is so neat to see their special relationship grow and flourish.  And it certainly makes a great treat after all of those intense study sessions!

New pics are on display enjoy...  Much love

p.s. don't get confused by the early Diego pics thrown in...I just couldn't resist looking at the changes...there are more updated pics after them