365 days

Mack is officially a toddler today. It's redundant, but I really can't believe how quickly the year went. Watching Mack grow is equivalent to driving 90 mph on the tollway with an EZ tag as you fly by all the exits and the exits are milestones. Mack was born a year ago today and shortly after he came home he wanted to throwdown. Who's gonna hold me? Who's gonna feed me? Who's gonna stop me from walking? Get outta my way dammit...I got some ground to cover!

During Kale's first year, we religiously read What to Expect the First Year book, reading every chapter month by month, charting his growth, noting his milestones and predicting what to expect the following month. With Mack? I think I picked this book up 3 times this year, including the passage I read today. Do I feel bad? Yes. Do I think we could've done things differently? No. Wanna know why?...because this guy is frickin' fast. You should see him walk!!! It's not the oh, gosh, am I gonna make it? kinda walking, it's gotta go, gotta go, gotta go right now walk. He's mastered it along with a long list of other things.

According to the book:
By the end of month 12 your baby should be able to...
Walk holding onto furniture totally
Will probably be able to...
play patty cake (clap hands) or wave bye bye (most children by 13 months) uh huh
drink from a cup independently (many can't do 'til 16.5 months) uh huh
pick up tiny objects with thumb and forefinger (most by 15 months) uh huh
stand alone momentarily (many can't until 13 months) frickin' yuuueah
say dada or mama discriminately (most will say at least one by 14 months) most def
May be possible to...
indicates wants in ways other than crying (most not until past 14 mos) grunts and points
"play ball" roll ball back to you (not until past 16 mos.) did it
stand alone well (not until 14 mos) hell to the yes
use immature jargoning (not many until 15 mos) not sure if you'd call it jargon
walk well (3 out of 4 are 13.5 months) can I get an AMEN
May even be able to...
Do dirty dishes, laundry, sweep, mop and sew small undergarments for Kathie Lee Gifford's
Walmart clothing line. I kid.

I can't believe I typed all that. Don't get me wrong, I am totally bragging. And I feel it's warranted 'cause it all happened so quickly and his accomplishments are something to be proud of and I am...dammit. Mack is a wonderful and charming little boy to which my heart will be forever held captive. He is my baby, my mun-chee-chee, and my nugget. I can't sum it up in one blog posting, I suppose for a lack of creativity and time. But, someone did right here, in the last paragraph. Quite nicely, I might add.

Before you were conceived I wanted you,

Before you were born I loved you,

Before you were here an hour I would die for you,

This is the miracle of life.

- Maureen Hawkins