Guys we did the nuttiest thing this weekend. We went away with 3 other families. 3 other couples, 3 other babies. And us. It was a lot. And it was so much fun. 
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Babies
One Year Ago Today
According to Facebook, I posted this picture(s) of Beck at this time last year. 
I remember this day! ...
To Teach a Child (to curse, by Jay)
I honestly don’t see the problem with children cursing. I have a filthy mouth and I’ve already resigned myself to the fact that I will likely have a child with a filthy mouth. I should preface this with the fact that I want my child to know how to curse properly. Cursing can be an easy escape for a person with a lack-luster vocabulary, but it can also be the pristine cherry on top of a beautiful sundae. “Mommy, I made a stinky in my pants,” is a fine sentence. However, “Mommy, I shit pants,” tugs on the heart strings a bit more. For starters it’s funny and secondly, it’s more accurate. A “shit” really lets you know what you are getting into. A “stinky” could be pants that have old mayonnaise on them, but a shit is a shit.
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A One Year Old Beck! {pictures}
What seems like one million years ago we had our friend and life photographer (because we're like royals but also it's a convenience + talent thing) Michelle of Mira Photographs take one year pictures of Beck. She was just a few days shy of 1, and I did the whole cupcake + balloons thing, which I originally was going to skip because omg cliche, but then I realized that cliches as they relate to babies are great and also adorable. ...
#tbt Beck's First Year
I spent about 4 days on this collage due to a severely dying computer (Santa?), but IT WAS WORTH IT. Can someone please print this for me on canvas in....4x6 or so? Feet?
Anyway. ...
#tbt Beck's Birth Story
Baby + Toddler Gift List
Tis the season! 
Well, you've probably done all of the shopping in the world that you need to do, and THAT'S GREAT FOR YOU. I, on the other hand, have barely started. I've gotten gifts for most of my friends and our adopt-a-kid gifts are due Thursday, THEN I'll move on to our families. It's just how the year has gone.
But! My favorite people to buy for are babies, hands down. I'm fully obsessed with baby gear and like having a few different-but-practical ideas for kids + parents. Christmas is a perfect time for a few overpriced gems, so spoil away! PS some of these links are Amazon Affiliate links, which means I get like $1 of whatever you buy if you use the link down there, so that's nice. ...
About a Beck! 12 months.
I refuse to write one year. I mean, I have a one year old, but still. She's 12 months, and I'll just keep with that system because it's what you do for a baby, and she's totally still a baby. ...
Five for Friday (in pictures!)
Beck is one today! It's unreal and exciting and sad and a normal day all at once. I've been looking over and over pictures from the past year, and wanted to share some of my favorites on this very special day. ...
About a Beck! 11 months.
WHAT. This is basically a full-grown human. I mean, I know the brain isn't fully developed until, what, 47 (jk), but still. She's a real person, more and more every month, and it makes me so happy and sad at the same time. 
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2016 Halloween Photodump
Happy Halloween!
For Baby's First Halloween, I went full can't-be-bothered with a few baby basics, an internet suggestion, and a face paint crayon. I give you....Pooh! 
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Parenting Right Now + Baby's First Bonk
There's a strange thing that happens somewhere between newborn and infant and baby. I don't know what to call it, but parenting starts to feel more like...parenting, and less like having a puppy, I think. Don't get all huffy. I obviously don't think babies are like puppies (babies are way grosser), but there's a simplicity at the beginning that really involves eating and sleeping and pooping, and that's enough. Of course we obsess about gear and alleged schedules and nursing, but most of that is unnecessary. The beginning of life is basic. 
But then these babies turn into kids, and suddenly you have to teach them how not to end up like Hitler or Donald Trump. ...
10 10-month Baby Favs
Nothing like a good list on a Thursday, you know? 
I teach prenatal yoga a few times per week, and recently one of my students said that she hates Buy Buy Baby because it's just so overwhelming. I almost died. I'm the polar opposite, though I definitely remember the feeling from when I was pregnant. The truth is, most of the baby "gear" we talk about is used/necessary in the first 5 or so months of life. But, there are still some items that we use a TON, so I thought I'd share them with you. These are seriously things we just love, no sponsors or anything like that. Some are repeats, some are new, but this is our everyday best.
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About a Beck! 10 months.
DOUBLE DIGIT MONTHS ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME? 
Kill me now at the thought of her being ten YEARS old. No thanks. ...
Everything Is Heartbreaking and Fun and Worrisome.
I think that'll be the title of my very boring memoire on being a high-anxiety mother. Although...is there any other kind, besides like deadbeat meth mother? 
photo by mira photographs, our honest no-ad go-to for every single family photo ever
My point is that all parents live with a fair amount of worry and anxiety, right? Let's go with yes.
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Baby Seal Tricks
Guys. 
Beck is basically a genius. I know! Great news. This is her naming shapes! jk lulz as if.
She has, in the past few days, started fully imitating us, and it's been about one new skill every day. She has FIVE things she can do now. She can wave, make that motorboating sound, high five, make a tongue clicking sound, AND make a mwah kissing sound. The high fiving basically includes her holding up her hand and us high fiving her, but you take what you can get, right? I'm great at high fiving.
Like I said, it's genius.
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About a Beck! 9 months.
A big girl! I think I've said that every month since Beck was 4 months, and when she's 11 and I'm looking back on these posts on...like...microfiche or something I'll cackle at myself that 9 months feels big. But it does! Because it's the biggest she's ever been. 
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PICTURES
We had pictures taken!
I'm obsessed with them slash am working on not being terribly harsh on my less-than-slight postpartum body. I can call it postpartum forever, right? Because technically it is?
Anyway.
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8 Months of Nursing + Postpartum Life
As I write this Beck is howling in her crib, and I'm reminding myself that it's for her own good, then doubting that, then reminding myself of it, then doubting, then feeling my new best friend, Guilt. Guilt! You're here again, great. 
I think this time in the first year of life is when things kind of settle in, for better and for worse. The better is that you kind of know what's happening with sleep and eating and how to keep the kid quiet (crackers). The worse is that there is a point, and it's different for everyone, where you are familiar enough with your kid and the "omg they're so perfect" wears off a little bit (Beck is still the most perfect, don't worry), and you realize that you will never be able to do anything ever again with whimsy like you used to. Because now, in addition to regular adulting and planning and calculating of risk, you now have to think WWBD? What Will Baby Do? If I want to stay out past her bedtime, will it ruin our week? If I drink too much will she get drunk or have liver failure (no, according to the internet and the doctor). Every decision involves the baby at some turn. I don't say revolves around baby because I really don't think it has to, but now there's another person in your life, your house, your family, and they get a say too, whether big or small.
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