My First Year as a Mama

And just like that my baby is One! I have officially  been a Mom for a whole year and I can honestly say I have learned more in this one year than in many others combined.

I've learned how to make my own baby food, how to put a child in a car seat, how to work several strollers, how to pump, how to breastfeed, how to store breastmilk, how to change the diaper of a moving child, how to pack a diaper bag, what to never forget to put in a diaper bag, how to assemble a high chair, how to wear a baby carrier, how to baby proof a house and then do it again and again, how to give myself grace, how to sterilize bottles, how to be a working Mom, how to entertain a busy baby, how to balance being a Mom, Wife, Sister and friend, how to sleep train a baby and how to love someone else with my whole heart. Many of these are lessons I'm still learning, but I will forever be a work in progress and I'm okay with that.

It's been a year of great joy, of giving my worries over to God, of letting others cook and clean for me, of sacrificing and hard work, but also of feeling more loved than I ever have before.

When Aiden says Mama and looks at me with those puppy dog brown eyes, I can't help but smile and thank God for the biggest blessing of my life. But it's such a bittersweet time. I'm loving watching Aiden grow and do new big kid things, but I'm sad he's not my little squishy newborn anymore. (See below. Aw!) The last few days have been extremely emotional ones for me. I've been smiling big watching him do new things and then the next minute I'm squeezing him close to me and getting weepy because he is growing up too fast. Everyday he needs me less and less, but I have to be okay with that. I'll keep giving him my best each day and loving him with all that I have.

Happy birthday to the boy who made me a Mom. I am forever grateful.