Unsolicited: Parenting Stories and Advice

Well, we all made it to one year! Leo is alive and well, we are alive and well, and we haven't traded him to a gypsy for a handful of magic beans or anything. There is a lot of anticipation leading up to the one year moment - everything gets easier!  he'll start sleeping till 7am! you'll feel like a human again!  All of this hasn't quite been the case. But just maybe, things are leveling out, and getting just a bit easier. Every day is a new adventure(or a replay of the previous day's adventures), and we do really feel like we're finally settling into being parents.  Leo: In case you ever want to know what you were like when you turned one: You were not yet embarrassed by your parents. That will come later. Like when you read this. You were 31.5" tall (95th percentile), and about 25 pounds (88th percentile). You were wearing mostly 12-18 month clothing and looking quite dashing while doing it.  You were still officially small enough that...

Since Leo was turning one this week, we decided to throw him a hootenanny, with a hint of shindig. Luckily, Leo didn't remember the last time we threw him a party in this room, which he left a little, um, lighter.  The room is all decorated (nice crafting Rachel!) It may not look like it, but Leo was pretty excited by the balloons As always, blocks are more interesting than daddy Leo hasn't yet learned how heavy is the head that wears the craft felt crown Leo is confused by this "camera" that people do not talk into Working up an appetite on the play floor You can only have your cake if you finish all your quiche Actually, its your birthday, eat as much quiche as you want, you'll still get cake Forget about blowing out the candles, just give me that cake! Smash cake made by Eric at request of Rachel. Mmmm...cake... Just chillin, eatin' my cake.  The destruction is complete. No one lifts me...