The Birthday Party

This weekend, we celebrated my boy. And, let's be honest, we also celebrated the fact that Dada and I managed to keep a human being alive for an entire year. It's a pretty big accomplishment.

We had a great day partying it up. The weather was gorgeous, the food was good, the people were fantastic, and the presents were plentiful. Cohen loved having so many people showering him with attention. He loved sharing his toys with his buddies. He loved snacking on hot dogs and tator tots and especially cake. My child loves cake. Probably more than hot dogs. And that's saying something.

The day was all about him, and it was absolutely perfect. But, good night, it was exhausting. We are all still trying to recover from such a big weekend. Seriously, my brain is fried, which is the reason I'm going to stop typing now and just show pictures.

Because, really, that's the best part of the blog, anyway.



Happy 1st Birthday, Cohen!

Dear Cohen,

Today you turn one year old.

I am trying to make this day all about you, but I'm having a little bit of trouble keeping my emotions under control. You don't seem to mind, though. You enjoy all the extra hugs and kisses. It's just that today marks the end of the best year of my life. You have truly rocked my world. You are such a gift, little boy. The best gift God could give.

Today also marks the beginning of the best year of my life because I know that as wonderful as my first year with you was, this next year is sure to be even better.

You are changing so quickly these days. Sometimes it's hard to keep up with you and all your new tricks. You are a mover, that's for sure. You like to walk, walk, walk. And sometimes you like to try to run. It doesn't usually turn out well for you, but you try. You do not like to be strapped down anymore. It makes strollers and carseats and grocery carts pretty impossible.

You have the biggest, most beautiful smile I've ever seen, and you flash it at me and Dada and anyone else you see regularly. You have such a sweet personality, and everyone comments on how happy you always seem to be. Don't get me wrong, you have your moments of screaming, crying fits, but for the most part you are a sweet, happy boy.

You are a sleeper, like me. You need your sleep. You will sleep for 12-14 hours at night, and then you take at least one 3 hour nap during the day. The recent time change has really messed you up, making you wake up earlier and need 2 naps during the day. If we are not at home, though, you will go all day long without a nap. In fact, you pretty much refuse to sleep anywhere except your carseat or crib. As long as people entertain you all day, you are happy.

You are very much a people person. You've never met a stranger, and you are quick to make yourself right at home any place we go. You will let anyone hold you and love on you.

I have noticed you "talking" more this month. Everything sounds like, "Da," but I know what it means based on context and how you say it. I know that if you say "dada" quickly, you are saying daddy. If you say "daaaaaaa da,"  and wave, you mean bye bye. "Dye dye" is night night and is usually followed with a wave. "Da" is dog. You are trying to say shoes but it sounds more like "zzzss" right now. You also say "nnnnnnah" while wave your arm around, which means no.

You have gotten really good with your hands this month. You can manipulate small objects really well. You also know how to put small objects inside of other objects.

You are understanding cause-and-effect relationships, and you like to test them. Your favorite trick these days is getting Mama and Dada to pay attention to you by attempting to knock over the floor lamp. Whenever you feel like we're not give you our full attention, you walk over to it (watching us the entire time), slooooooowly put your hands on it, smile, and rock the lamp back and forth. "No" is a funny word to you right now, but you seem to understand what it means because you'll walk by forbidden objects and say "nnnnnnnah".

Speaking of forbidden objects, you are obsessed with cell phones and tv remotes and the laptop. I let you carry around my cell phone when we're at home, and you never put it down. You are starting to put it up to your ear and "talk" to it. If I am using the laptop, you try to turn the screen towards you so you can see what's going on. You like to watch videos of yourself. You also like to change the channels on the tv -- you make sure we watch a variety of programs.

Your favorite tv show is Yo Gabba Gabba. It's the only time during the day that you sit absolutely still. You like to sit in Dada's lap and watch your show. You also like the moose on Nick, Jr. You always have. Even as a little baby, you'd turn your head when you'd hear his voice.

You are ticklish. You like to be chased. If somone has bare feet, you will tickle them. You give me hugs and big wet, open-mouth kisses all on your own. You like to dance when I sing. You take off your shoes and socks the minute you get in your carseat. You are active and curious and get into everything.

You are perfect. And so loved.

I pray for you every day. Multiple times a day, really. I pray for your safety and purity and growth in the Lord. I pray that you grow up to be a great man of God. I pray that He protects you from people who would wish you harm. Most importantly, I pray for your salvation. I know He's got great plans for you. He's already done such a great work just putting you in my life.

I am so blessed you call me Mama. I love you to the moon and back, little man. Happy birthday.

Forever,
Mama.

A Year Ago -- a Wordless-ish Birth Story

As I type this morning, with Super Why blaring on the television, pieces of half-eaten french toast stuck to my pant leg, and toys, toys and more toys strewn across the living room, and can't help but think back 365 days and marvel at how life has changed.

365 days ago, my son and I were strangers. Now we are inseparable.

365 days ago, I was preparing to go to the hospital to be induced. Now I am preparing for a 1st birthday.

365 days ago, life seemed like a long process, with weeks and months dragging by. Now it passes in a flash.

I was not a happy pregnant chick. I was miserable most of my pregnancy and generally just felt sorry for myself. Plus, I was impatient.

So when my doctor became concerned that I was displaying signs of preeclampsia and wanted to get the baby out as soon as possible, I was thrilled. I was scheduled to be induced on 11/10, at 39 weeks.

I had a quick and pretty easy labor, even though the epidural only numbed the left side of my body. I remember laying in the bed, breathing through the contractions after the nurse announced I was ready to push thinking, "This isn't so bad at all. All those women on TV are wimps."

And then the delivery happened. Cohen came fast and furious, and no one was ready for him. The doctor was nowhere to be found, the nurse was frantic, and my body wanted him out. I became pretty hysterical around the time the nurse told me to stop pushing and wait.

How in the world do you tell a woman about to deliver her child to wait?

I don't remember much after that; I had lost my cool. My pain tolerance plummeted. My tolerance for anything, really, plummeted.

And then my baby was in my arms.

And he was beautiful. Perfect. Mine.

He was worth every nauseous day. Every back pain. Every headache. Every swollen ankle and every panic attack.

And as family flooded into the room, details of the birth were shared, and my mom was sure Cohen would be the only grandchild. She was sure I'd never go through that again.

But I'd do it every day. Because I have Cohen, and he's worth it.

Linking up with The Paper Mama for Worldess Wednesday.



12 Things I've Learned From My Son

Well, if I was knee-deep in the boy's birthday week yesterday, I guess I'm waist-deep today. This past year has been the absolute best of my life: complete with laughs, tears, challenges, and victories. But I wouldn't change a thing. I cherish it all.

It's funny, as a new mom, I've daydreamed about all the hundreds and thousands of things I'll teach Cohen before he's old enough to be on his own. It's pretty daunting, really, thinking about everything I want to teach him.

But today, I'm not going to think about all that. Today, I'm going to snuggle my boy and meditate on some of the things that he's taught me this year.

So without further ado, here are 12 things I've learned from my son (in honor of the 12 months he's blessed our lives):

1. Cohen has taught me to slow down. Sometimes, when the world is bustling by, he'll find something that catches his eye. Those are my favorite times with him: just stopping in the middle of life to appreciate the ordinary.

2. Each day ends before I'm ready. Before I know it, it's dinnertime and bathtime and bedtime, and the boy is one day older. I am learning how to cherish each moment; they pass quickly, and I'll never get them back.

3. Cohen is teaching me a lot about expectations. I set  high expectations for myself and those I allow in my life. With Cohen, though, I never really set expectations. From the first moment I saw him and held him and kissed him, I just loved him. He's never had to do anything to earn or keep my love. And you know what? Because I've just allowed him to be him and loved him for it, he has far exceeded any expectation that I could ever set for him.

4. Cohen teaches me to have a Plan B. I've never been a Plan B type person. My mentality is that Plan A had better be perfect; otherwise it's not worth executing. That doesn't work with a baby. In the past year, I've filled my life with Plan B diapers, Plan B clothes. Plan B plans, and Plan B dinner choices. Sometimes things don't go the way I want them to, but I'm learning to be flexible.

5. He's taught me that things don't have to be perfect in order to be absolutely perfect.

6. Sometimes I watch him play with other babies. My boy is very sociable (did not get that from me), and he loves to be around people. But somehow he already knows that not everybody is friendly back. He doesn't take it personally. He doesn't let it get him down. He simply turns around and finds someone else, someone who wants his company, to play with.

7. He reminds me that anytime is a good time to share a hug or a snuggle. And those times when I stop life to just love my son, those are the best parts of my day.

8. He shows me the value in being open-minded about new situations and new people.

9. He doesn't care if he has the newest toys or the cutest clothes. And if he did have the best of everything, it still wouldn't make him a better Cohen. He wouldn't love me more if I gave him more stuff. He wants my love and my attention. That's what's most important.

10. He doesn't compare himself to anyone else. He doesn't think, "Hmmm... that baby was walking by 10 months; I'm going to one-up him so everyone will know I'm better than him." No, his mind doesn't work that way. He accepts others the way they are. And he does the same for himself.

11. He's taught me to never underestimate him. Even though he's still a baby, he can (and will!) do anything he wants. The greatest lessons this year always came from me saying, "Surely he wouldn't ..."

12. I think the most important (and probably hardest to learn) lesson he's taught me this year has been that even though I may control what shoes he wears, when he goes down for a nap, or how many Goldfish he eats, the important stuff if not up to me at all. I have no control over his health or his future or even mine, for that matter. I've got to daily place it in God's hands and trust that He is big enough to take care of us.

Linking up with Call Me Blessed for We Encourage Tuesday

Cohen's Birthday Slideshow

We are knee-deep in the boy's birthday week. My baby turns a year old on Thursday.

I cannot believe it. Where did the time go? A year ago, I was lying on the couch begging him to join us in this world, and now I'm looking back over an entire year of sweet, precious memories.

Oh, what a gift this boy is. My sweet Little Man.

If you'd like to view the Birthday Boy's slideshow, press the play button below and make sure your volume is turned up.