Giving the word DIET... a whole new meaning.

With all my efforts over the years to shed a few pounds, never has the word "diet" come into play. I like to call it "healthy" eating. And I like to think of it as a life style, not a fad.

But all of a sudden "diet" has taken on a new meaning in my life. The nutritional diet for my baby. If someone asked me, right now, the single most stressful thing about parenting - I'd say FEEDING your baby. (Ask me again in 2 years I'm sure I'll have long forgotten about this!).

When Andrew was itty bitty and getting all his nutrition from breastmilk/formula - I stressed stress about how often to feed him and how much to feed him. And now that he's on to solids and milk, I worry that he's not getting a well rounded and balanced nutrition.

Right now, his diet mostly consists of...
- Blueberry muffins, whole wheat toast, cereal/Nutragrain bars and puffs (of all kinds - he's not picky!).
- Bananas, grapes, pears, peaches and blueberries (the occasional strawberry).
- Milk and yogurt.

Notice the lack of vegetables?!? Notice the lack of protein?!?

I'm constantly stocking up on new "experimental" items - whole wheat waffles, cheese filled raviolis, garden burgers, edamame, green beans, tomatoes, zucchini, apple sauce, oatmeal, mushrooms, watermelon, pot stickers, soup, noodles/pasta of any kind, mac n' cheese, grilled cheese, quesadillas,beans, etc., etc., etc.

The knowledge that everything we're putting into his mouth right now... is helping develop his mind and grow his body... there's a lot of pressure in that. I always knew that having a well balanced diet would be hard to achieve, but I never knew that I would be so consumed with the thought of it.

Come and get me!!

Andrew and Maddy have been friends since day one... well... really even before then! They really do have a connection and love playing together. Chase is one of their favorite games, followed closely by peekaboo! They are really cute to watch!

Heeeere we go!!

Happy Easter - Now and Then!

This the first, second of one holiday that Andrew has ever celebrated!! Get that!?! This is the SECOND time Andrew will have celebrated Easter in his life! So the first time he's ever celebrated a particular holiday - twice!!

And my, has he grown!

This year...


Last year...


I can even image what next year has in store!!

Work is not supposed to be fun!!!

One of our goals for this year was to create our own garden and grow a few fruits and veggies. So, on the weekend of Andrew's birthday - we got started on that. My Dad and Brother were in town, so the three of them were able to construct a garden box in no time! Not with out a little goofing around, of course!

Beer me!!

More pretzels and another beer - stat!

To Andrew on your 1st birthday!!

Happy birthday my handsome baby boy. Today marks your transition from "baby" to "toddler." While I have been blogging about your life, and my experiences as a mom, from "day one"... I would like to try and look back and reflect on the collective year. This is one of "those moments" that we are all told to treasure forever, but honestly - its hard to comprehend that we are even here already.
.........

Even from your first day of life we have know that you are a very social little guy. In the beginning you wanted only to be held, all day and all night! Thank God for Nana - who came and held you from 10 pm to 1 am - for a week - so we could get some much needed sleep.


And now, while you love to play on your own, you always make sure there's someone in the room with you. If I step over to the kitchen, you crawl, speedily over to find me. Not so I can hold you - just so you can show me your toys, or talk to me, etc.







You have so many friends both at school and with the babies of my friends. When you see your best friend, Maddy, your face lights up with HUGE smile!!




You have grown so much in one year. Your little arms started off scrawny and with spastic, uncontrolled movements in ever direction - as you try to grab on your play mat for toys. Then we sat, your dad and I, and watched the day you discovered your feet. You grabbed and played with them for 20 minutes, awestruck with your discovery - and so were we! And now you "cruise" around the house - holding on to whatever you can - including Daddy's leg hairs!! And last night - you took your first steps!! ON your birthday!!!













Everything about you changes so very fast - especially your looks. When you first arrived, we coo'd over your bald head and gummy mouth and discussed how we couldn't even imagine you with hair and teeth - and how you would look so strange! And now we marvel over your blond wispy hair and the cute gap between your top two teeth!!













And your personality - oh my! Always so happy, smiley and giggly - even if its your fake "hu-hu" laugh!! But I know that we're in for trouble - as you thew your first tantrum on Sunday!

Gone are the days of "only" crying when you were tired, hungry or needed a change. Now you cry when you want us, when you want a toy we took away, or when you're trying to tell us something and we don't understand.













Like the first time you signed milk. Sitting in your highchair eating dinner. You started grunting and groaning and waving you hand! We couldn't understand why - and then Daddy saw - you were signing for milk!!!

We love to listen to you talk. In the beginning, you slept in our room, and we listened to you grunt all night long. We finally moved you to your own room after about 6 weeks - so we could all sleep better. And now, even though our house is small enough to hear your cry from any corner - I keep the baby monitor on so I can hear your "dada, dada, dada" sighs as you lull yourself to sleep. We can't wait to hear what you voice will sound like!!

And oh, have OUR lives changed in this past year too - but that, my love - is for another story!

I have loved every moment of this past year - can't wait to see what is in store next!! Happy birthday big boy!