One year ago yesterday I resigned from my print magazine job at the time and accepted my current job as a reporter for Construction Dive. One year ago today I found out we were expecting Landon.

One year ago was a really, really big week.

I knew all along Landon was going to make big splashes in his life. I had thought accepting a new job was going to be the big news of the month. Not to be outshone though, less than 24 hours later, Landon (who BabyCenter tells me was the size of a poppy seed at the time) announced his existence.

I can’t believe that 1 year ago we were nearly buckling at the knees from the excitement and overwhelming feelings of realizing we were going to be parents and now we have a 5-month-old son. Nearly half a year, which isn’t that long, yet I can hardly remember life before him and certainly can’t imagine life without him. It’s been a ride: prematurity with a traumatic delivery, nearly three weeks in the NICU, a surgery. We’ve gotten through it all with flying colors and he has no idea just how tough he is. Because he is. The toughest, most super baby out there.

Landon is taking in as much of the world as he can — sometimes literally. He puts his hands, arms, toys and Brian’s and my hands in his mouth all the time. He’s even gotten Brian’s earlobe and my nose a few times. Landon also talks and tells stories. I’m not 100 percent sure what he’s saying, but he has a whole range of sounds and when he starts using words I suspect he’ll be even more of a chatterbox.

His newest trick is rolling over. It’s a real effort for him, but he’s one determined baby. He’s been able to occasionally roll over front to back for some time now, but back to front is just within the past few days. After days of having our cell phones at the ready to take a video, Landon actually did it for the first time when I left the room. Just as a watched pot never boils, a watched baby never rolls (for the first time).

He also had his first foray in his exersaucer and isn’t quite sure yet what to do with it. I think in another couple weeks it’ll be a big hit, though. Landon loves getting kisses on the cheek and forehead and thinks rubbing noses is hilarious. He’ll keep his eyes open the whole time to stare at you and smile and coo. We can’t feel any teeth yet, but his drool glands have kicked into high gear and he has a bit of a drool rash on his neck and chest. Bib wearing isn’t super helpful for protecting his skin either; he somehow manages to drool under it.

Here’s to another month of smiles and development!