Happy 1st Birthday Baby

What a year. To say the first year of my son’s life flew by in a flash would be an understatement. After our two day stay in the hospital when he was born we moved to a different city, I started a new job and was commuting two hours round trip, and then to top it off the entire world went into lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

I was fortunate enough to keep my job and got to work from home. Everyday from the time my son was 5 months old I was able to watch every milestone unfold in front of my eyes. His first steps, him experiencing foods he liked, disliked and all of the fun in-between. I remember when he was first born, and I took him home it didn’t feel real, I couldn’t wrap my mind around the fact that this little guy depended on me for everything.

Leo had a bad case of colic, and in those moments when it felt like nothing I did could or would soothe him it was hard, harder than I could have imagined. I felt helpless and hopeless and then just as quickly as the colic started it stopped. His colic was so bad he gave himself an umbilical hernia, thankfully he revised it on his own (practicing sitting up) but looking back I can’t remember the day colic went away, instead my memories are of all the wonderful things I experienced with him.

I love throwing parties, and Leo’s first birthday was no exception, pandemic or not. I felt like there were so many first we couldn’t do, that I refused to miss the opportunity to celebrate his first year of life. Leo was obsessed with Disney Junior’s Puppy Dog Pals show, so clearly that had to be his theme. Our menu was simple: hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, chips and dip and birthday cake. I made Leo’s cookies and thank you bags, and hand painted his ONE sign. I ordered his themed balloons off of Amazon and picked up the rest of the birthday décor at Dollar Tree.

I am so thankful for all of my family who turned out for his special day, and I am even more thankful we took the time to celebrate.

Takeaway:

Celebrate EVERYTHING
In your hardest mom moments remember even that will pass.
Find joy in everything, even the hard moments.
It will all be okay.
You are not alone.