In case any questions still linger regarding my maturity, we threw a birthday party to make it official:
I AM A ONE-YEAR-OLD!
We can’t un-do all the fun that was had, so there’s no going back now. I have come of age and reached a state of oneness. I’m not sure what this entails for my peers, or what the current research concludes, but I am my own trend-setter, so becoming a one-year-old looks a little bit like this:

1. I can turn up my sass-a-frass attitude with little warning.
2. I say “Uh-oh” for all noteworthy (and meaningless) life events.
3. When I need a little privacy, I’ll just shut the door. No adults allowed back in the room!
4. My new dance moves include a fancy head-banging routine.
5. Feel free to call me anytime; I can hold the phone up to my ear. (And because I’m really talented, I can also place other items to my ear, like remotes, socks and toy cars.)
6. When I’m finished eating, instead of politely refusing the next bite or impressively using my “all done” sign language, I’ll just spit my food at you. Because I’m classy like that.
7. I’m considering legally changing my name to “No.” People seem to call me that more often than “Jaeger” and it’s really growing on me. I’m not sure if folks think that’s actually my name or if it’s merely a term of endearment? Either way, I just smile and nod and continue on with my day.
8. I am winning most of the wrestling matches. (Some people refer to these as diaper changes.)
9. My cuteness trumps all naughtiness at this age, so I plan to take full advantage of that before my charm expires. Therefore, don’t mind me as I push the limits of the “wonderful ones” so we can all be better prepared for the “terrible twos.” You’re welcome.

My first birthday was one I won’t remember! Not because it wasn’t memorable, but because I haven’t fully developed the long-term-memory part of my brain yet. Still, it was good while it lasted. As you may have seen from my previous post, my day started off with a rushed photo shoot. Mom just had to get a picture of me with a “1 year old” sticker because apparently her brain’s memory function doesn’t work either. Then, it was off to daycare. We brought birthday cupcakes for all of my favorite teachers, but they decided to share them with us kiddos! We partied all day long at school until my parents picked me up and took me for a ride around Riverside Park. After that, we stopped at Rudy’s Drive-In for supper and then spent the evening with my college buddies at “ATP Open Mic. Open Stage. Open Minds.” Once the show got started, mom took me up on stage while the crowd serenaded me with a “Happy Birthday” song! Finally, we arrived back home around 9:30 p.m., where I was greeted with a balloon and birthday gifts that Grandma & Grandpa Goodenough snuck into our house. Unfortunately, I was too tired to open my eyes, but it was all still there waiting for me the next morning. It’s a wonderful thing, turning one-year-old…. there’s so much love in the air. And I love being loved!

Now that I’m one, I can eat like a big boy!

Sharing birthday cupcakes with my peeps.

Oops, I missed my mouth.

Me, mom and Cheyenne!

Here I am, spending my birthday at the ATP Open Mic night. (I got up on stage and all the college students serenaded me!)

Thanks for the birthday surprise, Grandma & Grandpa Goodenough!

Leaving the campus to head home.

I love balloons!

My Scooby-Doo birthday card from Aunt Kowee!

Mom says the Magnolia tree bloomed just for me!

Out for a hike with my dad!

I did it! I turned one year old. I’ve been working on it for a while and today it finally happened.

Here’s how my day started:

Here’s how it ended:

Need I say more?

(Actually, there is more and I have photo evidence to prove it. But, let me get settled into my new role of one-year-old and then I’ll share the rest of the story tomorrow!)

My birthday week continues! Yesterday, Dad enlisted some help from Grandma & Grandpa Goodenough to bring his childhood toys out of retirement. They are NEAT-to-the-O! Dad says he’s been saving these just for me! I love all things with wheels. Mom keeps giving me dolls and snuggle bears to cultivate my gentle, more nurturing side. However, my gentle-nurturing side would like to gently request a doll on wheels. Is that a thing? Or a snuggle bear on roller skates? Perhaps then I would reconsider. Otherwise, thanks but no thanks, and sorry I’m not sorry. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have an abundance of cars/trucks/tractors/planes/etc. to take for a test drive!

Woo-hoo! I’m almost a one-year-old! To prepare for my upcoming birthday, my parents drove me to the Wilderness Resort Water Park in Wisconsin Dells to splish, splash, and have a blast! (Thanks for the free passes, Great Uncle Norman & Great Aunt Gerry!)

We had a super duper day! First, we enjoyed a couple laps on the lazy river and then we spent most of our time at the kiddie pool, where the cool kids hang out. It was all fun and games until I fell…

…asleep. Pre-partying is hard work.

Then, somehow, when I woke up, I found myself at the outlet mall. (Sneaky move, mother.) Mom claims we arrived there to search for my birthday present, but the polka-dotted pants she bought did not look my size. Once we finished “birthday shopping,” we met Great Uncle Norman & Great Aunt Gerry for a yummy dinner date before heading back up north. I love being almost one! Almost birthdays are the best!

Last Easter, I was on my way home from the hospital when we made a detour to Aunt Julie and Uncle Cory’s house for a celebration!

Easter 2014: Cortney made me a poster!

Easter 2014: I met Great Grandma Goodenough

Easter 2014: Ellen loves me!

At the time, I thought the party was thrown in honor of my homecoming, but as it turns out, Easter happens every year and it’s tradition to gather at the Nicolai residence for food, fun and family.

Easter 2015: Me & my cousins!

Still, this year was eggstra special because the Easter Bunny came to visit and left me a basket full of love! But wait… there was a twist. Before enjoying said basket of love, I first had to search for it, high and low.

After Dad and I finally found it, I had so much fun playing with all of my… Easter basket grass. Best. Gift. Ever.

Happy Easter, every bunny!

My mom came back! She was gone for a week, attending the LeaderShape program in Ferryville, WI. Upon her return, she made a surprise appearance at daycare to play with me and my buddies for the last couple hours of the day.

While mom was away, not only did Dad keep me safe and alive, but we also stayed out of trouble. We had fun times together! Here are some of the highlights from our boys-only week:

• I turned 11 months old!
• I helped Dad buy groceries so we could make yummy chicken tacos for mom’s homecoming.
• I cheered on the Melrose-Mindoro boys basketball team!
• We did the laundry.
• We sent mom cute videos of me so she wouldn’t get a case of the frownies.
• I went on a hike with my new hat that dad ordered for me.
• Dad locked me out of the kitchen cabinets. (Rude!)
• We watered mom’s plants because we’re thoughtful like that.
• I moved out of my infant bathtub and into the grown-up tub.
• We facilitated a sneaky operation to remove the fleece sheets from my parents’ bed before mom could protest.
• I parted ways with my pacifier. (So far.)
• Dad bought me a new carseat to travel in because I’m a big boy now.
• We visited the Mighty Mississippi!

Even though there’s something magical about boys-only time, we decided to let mom back in the house so that we can be a family of 3 again. After all, having a woman around makes us better men (says my mom as she crashes our boys-only party).

How do you like my new ride? (See above photo) I found it at Menards and I loved it! Let me know if you want one too… I can hook you up.

Also, check out the below photos to see some other happenings since my last post. I’ve been pretty busy! In fact, several things that haven’t been iPhone-documented are my appearance at UW-L’s Reflections of Ebony (hosted by Black Student Unity), partaking in the Amazing Race party at the Wintertons, perusing campers at the Milwaukee RV expo, being part of the fan club for Ashlee & Cortney’s 4-H talent show, and cheering on the Melrose-Mindoro High School Boys Basketball team. I can’t wait to see what the rest of March has in store for me… maybe a few more joyrides in my new wheels?!

I’ve been recovering from my big trip.

I learned how to eat a cookie!

I visited Papa Florence and showed him how I can sort-of walk.

We visited Jessie and Teagan, and met Ainsley (their newest addition)! We posed for a photo and when no one was looking, I stole Ainsley’s pacifier!

Take 2: When no one was looking, I pulled Teagan’s hair.

Take 3: They were on to me… I couldn’t get away with anything.

Apparently I have a secret admirer… I woke up with kisses all over my face! Whoa… Happy Valentine’s Day to me, I guess. Since romance is in the air today, allow me to pay tribute to the love of my life through poetry:

I love how you melt in my hands
when I squeeze you tight.
If craving you is wrong,
I don’t want to be right.
My mom really likes you
And that’s important to me,
Because life without you
Would not be happy.
You show me a sweetness
I cannot resist
Because of you, chocolate,
I know true love does exist.

Affectionately yours,
Jaeger (Your not-so-secret admirer)
xoxoxo

Well, Mexico, it’s been fun, but our time together has come to an end. I truly enjoyed getting to know you and all that you had to offer. I appreciated hearing the Spanish language all around me, and watching coconuts fall from trees instead of snow. I will miss being barefoot and having my face kissed by the sun in February. I’ll dream about your fluffier clouds and I’ll try to devise a plan to convert my crib into one of your relaxing hammocks. Gosh, I wish you lived closer to us! Let’s try to keep in touch, okay? In the meantime, I promise to grow more teeth so I can indulge in all of your food platters when we meet again. Until next time, adios!

Best Friends Forever,
Jaeger

Our back porch with a garden view

I still live with my parents

Nachos!

Where to next?

Xcaret

Butterfly sanctuary

And then we became butterflies

Vacation is exhausting

Swimsuit model

I love long walks on the beach

These ladies love me!

Selfie.

Nice ride, huh?

Yum!

Paradise

What the heck is that?!

Pink birds?! I’ve never seen these at our bird feeder.

Is that how I was born?

This is the life…

Here, fishy fishy.

Look! I’m a turtle.

Hola!

Me and padre

Touring the resort

Say cheesy!

Palm trees make me smile

Senior picture pose

Washing off the chlorine

The fam

How handsome am I?!

I’m a social butterfly

Waiting for our wood fired pizza

Funny looking squirrels here!

Swing time with Dad

Hammocking it up with madre

My newest chompers

Weeeeeee!