Zeke is ONE

Where does the time go? Zeke has been 1 for 2 weeks now, man it goes by so fast. To celebrate Zeke's first birthday we had a "monster bash" at our house with our family and friends. I'm not sure what I was expecting for a first birthday, but I don't think the party was what I thought it would be. It started out with us having to wake Zeke from his nap and that never turns out good. Then he woke up to a house of people and playful cousins and he didn't know what to do. On top of that I think he wasn't feeling good from his 1 yr shots he got the day before. Add it all up and he was stuck to me like glue. I couldn't put him down and when I did we just sat on the floor and he sat in my lap. He just watched everything going on. We made it through opening gifts and then we ate cake. He didn't dig into it as much as he did when we did his cake smash the weekend before, but he still enjoyed it! Finally about 45 minutes into the party he seemed to put his party pants on and began to play with his cousins. We then went outside and he was able to ride his new mini 4-wheeler and that always makes him happy. With Zeke being the abnormal unhappy camper I didn't even take any pictures. Kyle got some of us opening gifts and I got a few of him eating cake, but none of everyone that was there or all the fun that was had, talk about a mom fail! I think a good time was had by all, but I feel like it was hectic and a little crazy! We are thankful to everyone that came and celebrated with Zeke. He was showered with lots of love and some awesome gifts.

With turning 1 Zeke could move up to the next class at daycare, we didn't think it would happen till this summer, but some new babies were coming in so he had to move up. The first week of "transitioning" was incredibly hard on both of us. Zeke has always loved going to "school" and never cried when I would leave him, but once they started to try and move him up every morning I would leave he would just cry and cry. We finally decided that making him go back and forth from the nursery to the teddy bear room was too much. So last Monday we decided to cut the cord and he went straight to teddy bear room and stayed there all day. Every morning got better and this week he has barely cried, if at all when I leave. They say he has a great day and loves to play on the slide when they go outside! He loves to dance and "wrestle" with his best friend Hayden. He is always happy when I get there and that always makes me feel better! I just can't believe he is running around and acting like a "big kid." Kids in his class are 1-2 years old, but being in this class has made him exhausted. They say he plays hard all day and I can tell it when we get home. Some nights he is passed out by 7:30 and then we have to wake him at 7 the next morning to get him dressed and fed before school. Last night he took a nap from 6-7:45 and then I got him up to eat some dinner and take a bath and he was back asleep by 8:30! Poor guy is exhausted, he is just having too much fun at school!

We are really looking forward to next week as it is our spring break! We are going to Houston for the week and have lots of fun plans to see family and take Zeke to the beach and rodeo! It'll be lots of first and lots of good times!

As most remember Feb. was a month of viruses for our little guy, but March has been lots better for him. His runny nose was getting better until our haboob and dust storms blew through this week, which also brought a nasty ear infection. Good thing is knowing the tubes are working as everything is draining out and it doesn't seem to bother him, other plus of having tubes is we don't have to go to the doctor we just call and she calls in ear drops! So minus the constant drainage he is doing great and growing like a weed. He already eats us out of our house so I'm not looking forward to teenage years. He is a garbage disposal and seriously eats 99.9% of everything we put in front of him, I pray he stays this way. :)

Now for the fun stuff, a few/or several pictures from the party and his cake smash!

We have ONE year old!
Kyle + Mary + Zeke + Kato & Bear-Bear

Zeke Douglas Pate
12 months
23 pounds
30 inches

And that's about all we got from the party. :( But here are some of the goodies and cakes!

I made the invitations and the sign in the frame and the cakes were made by Pink Cookie Box in Shallowater and they were delicious!

Our favorite thing to do outside, thanks Nanna and Papa Joe!

Most have probably seen these, but for the family that's not on Facebook here are pictures from Zeke's cake smash. I did this the weekend before his birthday when mom and me maw where here. Mom and I put the backdrop together in our kitchen and then Zeke had a blast!