Baby H: Twelve Months of Mark

He...

[+] weighs 22#3oz (57%) and is 30in long (38%) with a head of 47cm (69%). I looked back on his stats over the past year and it's shocking how different they were in the beginning. We struggled so bad with nursing with him dipping to the 5th% for weight so needless to say I'm thrilled to be at this place now.

[+] is wearing 12-18mo clothes, size 4 diapers and size 4.5 shoes. He wears a size 4 overnight diaper through the night and none of his hats fit his noggin anymore.

[+] is just trucking along right now and the consistency of it feels great. He still sleeps 7:30-7:30 at night, takes two naps (95% of the time) and wears a sleep sac whenever he's in his crib. He eats basically everything we do which makes things so, so easy. He hasn't gotten any new teeth since last month and really isn't doing anything else new.

[+] The one thing that's different this month is the transition away from formula and towards whole milk. We've kept his morning and evening bottles the same giving him 6 & 7oz of formula, respectively. But during the day we've made the switch to milk. He definitely didn't take to it right away and we think it has to do with the temperature. Sure we could warm it up for him but that's not something we want to get in the habit of so we are just giving it to him cold. We kept his original "bottle feeds" after his naps just replacing what was inside and will start transitioning more towards emphasis on meals with a sippy of milk soon.

[+] celebrated his first birthday! On his actual birthday we went to Chick Fil A for free breakfast for birthday kids, cleaned the house for his party, ate pizza and vanilla ice cream for dinner and ended the night in his favorite place, the bathtub. We threw him an awesome first birthday party the following day and boy was this boy spoiled. So many of our best friends and all our family came to celebrate our boy and he happily wandered around in the yard and dominated his blue cake. It was a fantastic weekend with our one year old!

[+] nicknames: Marky, My Mark, Boo

[+] likes: shrimp, the dinosaur at the park, waving hi to strangers, being the center of attention

[+] dislikes: being put down for naps, sitting in his high-chair, being told "no"

I...

[+] am in disbelief that we have a one year old. Time is such a strange thing, isn't it? Sometimes I feel like I don't even remember being pregnant. Sometimes it feels as if Mark has always been here with us. Sometimes it seems impossible that 365 days have gone by since I was anxiously awaiting his arrival late that night. This year has contained every emotion, everywhere between the highest of highs and the lowest of lows and in the end, it's been magical. Motherhood is magical.

[+] spent the last month helping bring babies into the world and can I just say how amazing birth really is. There is nothing like that 2 seconds of in between worlds that babies go through, not quite born yet but making their appearance. One moment they didn't exist in this world and then the next they do! It's pretty dang neat.

A Letter to My 1st Born on His 1st Birthday

To my Marky-Mark on your first birthday,

We did it! One year down sweet boy.

This year has been one for the books and I am thankful each and every day that I am lucky enough to be your momma. It's been quite the year; the hardest and the sweetest, sleepless nights and plenty of tears, gummy grins and belly laughs. But one thing is for sure, it's been one of the best years of our lives. We've watched you strive and grow into a wild, independent, silly, boys-boy and I'm sure you've taught us far more than we've taught you.

You needed us fiercely in those first few days, weeks and months and taught us how priorities change in the best of ways when a baby enters your life.

You learned how good freedom tasted through crawling then walking then running and we learned to let you fly and always stand behind you incase you need us.

You've become feisty, always pushing your limits, but growing into such a brave soul and we've had to watch and accept how quickly the transformation from baby to boy really does happen right under our noses.

You sometimes cry for no reason, throw fits we can't control and push our buttons in ways we couldn't imagine before but you're teaching us the virtues of patience and forgiveness and grace and making us the best parents and people we can be.

You picked up eskimo kisses, flashing us your best smiles and waving with all your might and we fall even more in love with you, astonished at how much our hearts grow for you.

So today on your very first birthday I hope you feel our love for you. I hope you know how special you are. I hope today is exactly what you want it to be even though you likely won't remember the celebration. But boy oh boy is today a celebration. A celebration of you, my son, and the amazing first year we've shared together. Today you become a boy but in my heart you'll always be my baby.

I love each and every part of you, Mark, and cherish you more than you will ever know.
Happy Birthday my boy!

xoxo, Momma

Mark Eats: Sweet Potato Waffles

We are so thankful that Mark is a good eater (at least for now) and are always trying to come up with meals for him that incorporate yummy and healthy ingredients. A lot of the time he eats what we eat which makes things super easy... deconstructing shrimp alfredo into noodles, meat and broccoli, shredding chicken and adding a fruit, breaking up a burger patty with pieces of bun and sweet potato wedges.

But sometimes it comes in handy to have a few quick ideas stashed away for when we need them. My ideal meal for him is obviously something he'll actually eat and we won't have to force feed him, something that has good ingredients with little sugar and something that's quick to prepare at a moments notice. And these waffles hit all the must-haves!

1 1/2 c whole wheat flour

1 c oats

3 t baking powder

1 t cinnamon

1/4 t salt

2 eggs

1 c whole milk

1/2 c plain whole fat greek yogurt

3 T coconut oil

4 oz sweet potato puree (can use any type of puree on hand. apple, pumpkin, peach, etc)

2 T brown sugar

1. Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl. 

2. Slowly beat in wet ingredients with puree being last. Combine until well mixed. 

3. Heat waffle maker and grease lightly. Use an ice-cream scoop or measuring cup to divide batter. 

4. Cook according to waffle maker instructions. 

5. Serve immediately or place cooled waffles in a ziplock in the freezer for easy access later. 

6. To re-heat, pop into toaster to warm and crisp.