Initially, the giraffe was scary.

Now it's not so bad.

Michael can walk almost anywhere!

So I'm supposed to ride this thing?

Okay, I guess it's kind of fun.

Now get me off!

Michael likes Mommy's magazines.

Now he can spin the horsies himself!

Michael feeds himself snacks.

Car!

Crawling may still be in the cards.

Michael pushes his airplane like a toy car.

Learning about pizza.

Pizza sauce feels weird on his fingers.

Not in the mood for walking?

Michael's crazy face.

Okay, so Mommy will never be an artist.

But Michael recognized the pictures as cars!

Michael and Andrew.

Happy birthday, buddy.

Andrew tells Michael a secret: ...

... he's going to eat Michael's leg.

At Nana and Great-Grandpappy's.

Aunt Elaine helps Michael walk.

Thank you for the presents!

Having lunch together.

Michael learns that ginger-ale and juice are yummy.

What's a birthday without a silly hat?

Or without bobble-antennae?

Michael rides his "car."

Still our little Blue Eyes.

Nana and Great-Grandpappy ...

... have the best car-watching spot.

Pappy saved Michael from the candle ...

... and the cake from Michael.

Showing Great-Grandma and Pa his car.

Michael sees real fishies.

Peekaboo with Grandma and Pappy.

Walking around outside with Grandma.

Michael is determined to walk.

Daddy encouraged some cake-smashing, ...

... so Michael made sure that Daddy got his share.

Having a taste.

Wow, that's sweet.

Michael wants more.

Reading "Moo, Bah, La La La" from Greg, Maria, and Ella.

More cars than a kid knows what to do with.

How Michael spent his first birthday.

There were a few happier spots, though.

Caught in the act of burbling.

Michael's hair is getting curly, ...

... a sure sign of his Hogyeness.

Making the car noise: "bbbbbbbb."

Michael tries his birthday cake from Irén Néni!

Not going to finish? Well, we can't let it go to waste ... :)

Daddy helps Michael try his new walk-and-ride thingy.

Walks now are all about car-watching.

Happy to be outside.

The wagon is fun, too.

Michael pushed his table until he could reach the stool, ...

... which gave him access to the coveted bookshelves.

Ahem -- Michael would like his toy back.

When Mommy didn't jump to it.

Michael sits and claps for the TV.

We're trying to encourage Michael to try cruising ...

... so we let him cruise to usually forbidden things.

Showing how he can sniff.

Last year, Michael was born ...

... the week the tulips bloomed.

Cruising over to help Daddy work.

Michael sees Daddy needs even more help.

So funny!

Short naps = tired boy.

Lounging with Mommy.

Daddy works hard to assemble Michael's birthday present.

Michael claps his thank-you for Daddy's hard work.

Granddad lulls him to sleep.

At his birthday dinner, ...

... Michael shows off his new skill.

Granddad, Michael, and Grammy read a birthday book.

Tolerating a kiss from Mommy.

The lovely birthday dinner we had to leave early.

Birthday gift or cars outside -- which is more interesting?

A feverish boy tries to enjoy the party.

Though he feels bad, Michael makes a good-faith effort.

Irén Néni presents Michael with his first birthday cake.

Kati and Gábor visit from Budapest.

Reading library books.

He looooves the tractor book.

Michael can stand and play.

We put tempting items on the couch ...

... to convince Michael to cruise from his table.

Michael pushed his table ...

... several inches from the couch ...

... then took a tentative step back.

Michael feeds himself a spoonful of lunch.

Yay, Michael!

Michael, Andrew, and the dads.

Uh, Andrew ...