MILES TURNS 1 YEAR OLD!!!!

12 month stats:

Weight: 22.7 pounds
Height: 30 inches.

Eating: 3 Meals a day + Snacks. Nursing in the morning and at night - plus a bottle of formula before morning and afternoon nap.

Clothes: 12 month and 18 month.

Diaper: Size 4

To the sweetest, most loving little butterball I've ever met...

It was September 2018. Layla was 7. Benny was 5. My 35th birthday was right around the corner and we were celebrating Rosh Hashana at our house. I sat at the dining room table with Mom-Mom and Dada wondering if I was pregnant. After years of deciding whether or not to have a 3rd baby... you made the decision for us. The next morning, I took a pregnant test in the office while Josh & Jaime sat waiting for the news. And the best shock of a lifetime - I stumbled out of the bathroom holding up the positive pregnancy test. Dada & I looked at each other and I immediately fell in love with this little human that wasn't yet here. 

Our journey together while you grew in my belly was tough - I was very sick, tired, aching and scared. But I knew that it would all be okay because you were the missing piece to our puzzle. I was so sure you were a girl - we had a little dinner to find out the gender and SURPRISE - you were the boy we needed! 

With a scheduled C-Section for 39 weeks (May 10th) - you had other plans. On May 2nd, in the morning, my body felt different. I napped in the afternoon, helped Dada with the pool, ate an Italian Hoagie, and went to bed. I woke up with contractions... closer and closer together. At 1 AM, I knew it was time to go to the hospital. We texted Mom Mom, Uncle Matt & Aunt Kim who all came to the rescue. Dada & I made it to the hospital where I walked in the dark, contractions coming fiercely. We made it to the ER where Dada yelled "SHE'S IN LABOR!!!!!" - they wheeled me upstairs and my water broke. IT WAS GO TIME! They quickly prepped me for a C-Section and before I knew it, you were out. Much smaller then your brother but as cute as can be, you were here. I couldn't believe it. All the anticipating, the worrying, the wondering... it all vanished. Grandma quickly booked a flight up here, your brother & sister woke up to the news of a new baby and just like that - we were a family of 5. 

And now... 12 months later.... this eating, giggling, walking, talking, cuddly little boy is here with us. 

How beautiful are you? Big brown eyes, smooth light skin, LONG brown hair (thanks to Coronavirus, we can't get you a haircut for a while...) - you are just the sweetest little thing. You are starting to slim out because of all the moving you are doing. It makes me sad - I love all your rolls. 

After taking a couple steps here and there, your walking is now better then ever. You seem confident and ready to take more steps everyday. You stand for a LONG time and love to clap / dance / move while standing. You wave bye-bye, clap, dance like crazy, do so big and repeat everything we say. You are really obsessed with the cat and dogs. You're awesome at climbing the stairs. 

You love to dance to any music (especially if someone sings "dancy, dancy, dancy!") - you REALLY love Sesame Street. You hand me the remote and yell COOKIE - particularly one episode (the 50th anniversary episode). You also love Peppa Pig (which is great because so does Layla & Benny!)

After many months (and hiring a sleep consultant...), you're finally a great sleeper!!! You go to sleep between 6:30 PM - 7:00 PM and wake up between 4:45 AM - 5:45 AM everyday. I try to keep you in your crib until 6:00 AM (or close to it) - sometimes you cry a bit but you seem to have be okay! You are a pro-napped. You go to sleep at 9 AM and we wake you around 11 AM. You go to sleep again around 1 PM and we wake you around 3 PM. You love your crib and you really love your stuffed animal, Howard. You sleep with a sound machine every night. Before naps, you get a bottle. You still nurse when you wake up and before going to sleep. I'll be so sad when that ends. 

A talking master getting better every single day...your favorites words are Mama, Dada, Mom-Mom, Benny, Dog, Cat, Thank You, Bye, DD, Kim. We love hearing your little voice and your SWEET GIGGLE!!! We are all always constantly trying to make you laugh. 

You are the best eater! We do Baby Led Weaning meaning you eat whatever we are eating and it works great... I haven't really found a good you don't like yet! It's so great and I hope it continues!! Your favorite foods are bagels with cream cheese, peanut butter & jelly, pasta with sauce, puffs, bananas and bread. 

We've been home for nearly 8 weeks now thanks to the worldwide pandemic. It's scary and frustrating and full of emotion but you have been the brightest light. We love all the unlimited time we are getting to spend with you. We love taking you on walks, waking up and just all being together. It makes me so sad that you don't get all the time with your grandparents, cousins, aunts & uncles - but I know soon, we will all be back together and I'll miss this time at home together. 

You've been to Florida 5 times which is pretty incredible - I can't wait to start traveling with you and taking you to all the places you deserve to see. Obviously, first up... DISNEY WORLD!!! 

Your 1st birthday party was NOT as I had planned. We had booked a swim party at Goldfish Swim School which was cancelled - instead we had a pandemic party. That meant everyone on our front lawn, separated by space, while you cautiously ate cake and giggled your way to everyone that would pick you up. It was a great day though not what I anticipated. Which only means your 2nd birthday party will be HUGE!!!

You've spent the last few months with Miss Kristen, the sweetest nanny in all the land - she adores you and you adore her!! The other days were spent with Mom Mom & Pop Pop and hopefully we get back to that schedule soon!! Your scheduled to start school in the fall but we will see if that happens...

I love you so much. I love how you are constantly looking for me, loving me, craving my eye contact (ha!) - I love the way you love bathtime, playing with Layla & Benny, building castles with Dada, chasing the dogs, opening every cabinet you can. You are the dream babe and we're lucky to call you ours. 

We love you so much my sweet boy. 
xoxoxoxoxoxo

Miles is 11 months old!!!

11 month stats:

Weight: 23-25 pounds? No idea

Height: I'm not sure? But he doesn't feel super tall.

Eating: All the food. All the nursing. All the bottles. 

Clothes: 12 month, 18 month and today he is in 18-24 month (but it's too long)

Diaper: Size 4

My gorgeous boy...

Oh what a month this has been. In what feel like eternity, we've jumped from 10 to 11 months old. We are officially on a quarantine (along with the rest of the WORLD) thanks to the Coronavirus. A pandemic taking over the world is currently happening... and you, my sweet boy, are completely unaware. It's so beautiful and so tragic because the world is currently at a stand still.

You are the most gorgeous little thing - chubby but slimming down a bit, thanks to CONSTANT MOVEMENT. You are always on the go - cruising along furniture, crawling everywhere, climbing all the stairs, into every drawer, opening every cabinet. The smoothest skin, with the prettiest hair that grows every day. You are chubby in all the right areas and I could kiss you forever. 

You have many new tricks - SO BIG, clapping, this goofy fake laugh, waving (and saying) Bye Bye. You love to be surrounded by toys (especially those that make noise). You love to play with Howard, your favorite stuffed animal you sleep with. Your absolute favorite thing to do is right in the "Mini Cooper" that Grandma & Grandpa sent for your birthday. It's a little car that we push you in outside and you just giggle the whole time. 

You like TV but it's not your favorite - right now, the shows you'll watch are Sesame Street, Peppa Pig & Little Einsteins. You love to see Elmo & Cookie!

Sleep is always up and down with you - you've been doing some random middle of the night wakings. Generally, you sleep 6:30 - 5:00 AM, come into my bed at that time to nurse, and sometimes fall back asleep. I'm trying to have you stay in your crib a little longer. You nap twice a day - sometimes great, sometimes not so long. If anything is bothering you (teeth, temperature, who knows what?), you wake up.

You suddenly developed a love of talking / repeating. Your first word is officially Bye Bye. You also will say Benny (over and over...), Mama, Dada, Dog and Cookie. 

You eat anything and everything... baby led weaning has been awesome for you. I'm not quite sure actually gets in (most of it ends up on the floor / in London's mouth) but you will try all the foods. I think your favorites are puffs, raspberries, blueberries, pancakes, pasta & sauce. 

We had so many grand plans coming up to celebrate your 1st birthday (including an indoor pool party and a trip to Sesame Place) but right now, everything is on hold. It makes me so sad but I know we'll celebrate together soon. Your whole family is missing you so so much. 

We are still on a great nursing journey and because I'm now working, I don't think we'll stop anytime soon (especially because my trip to Hawaii is now rescheduled). Sometimes, in the early morning, you'll nurse from 5 - 7 AM (literally..2 hours) and although it's exhausting and sometimes a little painful, I love every moment with you. That's our time together. Just us. 

We love you so much, Miles Samson. You are a joy, a dream, a mushy baby full of love and life. I can't believe you'll be ONE in a month. I'll always love you the most, my sweet baby boy. 

Love you MyMy,
Mama

Miles Samson is 10 months old!

10 month stats:

Weight: I'm guessing around 23 pounds?

Height: I'm guessing around 30?  

Eating: 3 meals a day. Breast milk every 2-4 hours.   

Clothes: 12 months and 18 months.

Diaper: Size 4.

Miles Man...

When people ask me my favorite baby age, I typically answer 10 months old. There's something magical about this month - you're a squishy little baby with a big personality and ready to just DISCOVER! I love it.

You are the sweetest little face - with hair that seems to have grown overnight. You are chubby but not super duper big - and I think I can sense you thinning out -- BOOO! I love my chubby little mush. 

You are now a MASTER CRAWLER - Into anything and everything, exploring every corner of our house. You're also very good and pulling yourself up - cruising along furniture - resting on your knees - and even standing unassisted. Your MOST FAVORITE thing to do is clap - you love it so much, we'll often find you clapping for no other reason then pure joy. You recently learned SO BIG! Which I love.   

You LOVE to play -- you're really great at self play. Your most favorite toys despite a basket overflowing with Miles mania is - my jewelry, remote controls, any phone, any ball, anything you can put in your mouth and anything you're not supposed to have :)

We are on a good sleep streak but early mornings. You typically wake up betwen 4 - 5 AM (uhhh) - sometimes you fall back asleep in our bed, sometimes your wide awake. Eventually we all wake up around 7 AM for school / work and you love this time. You crawl around our room, following anyone you will pay attention, sitting in the bathroom while we all brush our teeth. You take a morning nap for around 2 hours - again in the afternoon, usually around 45 minutes, then bed around 7 PM. 

You aren't saying any words but you babble a lot... I don't think you'll talk as fast as your brother and sister because everyone talks for you :) 

FOOOOOD… You LOVE IT ALL. You've tried probably 100 foods at this point. We're doing Baby Led Weaning and you're really embracing it. I've yet to find a food you don't like. I think your favorite foods are eggs, blueberries, pasta with sauce, broccoli, cucumbers, pizza, fries and ... whatever I'm eating :)

You have 4 teeth officially. It's been such a beast - teething has been so so hard on you. BUT now - you have your top 2 teeth and your bottom 2 teeth. Perfect for eating!

I think your favorite person in the world may be Miss Kristen (your amazing nanny) and Mom-Mom (your babysitter on Tuesdays and Thursdays) - you love your days with them and we feel so lucky you have so many people that love you. 

Now that the weather is getting warmer, you're starting to spend more time outside and it's clear you love it! You went to the park yesterday with Miss Kristen and LOVED the swings - so much fun!!!

We have lots of fun things coming up…Grandma visiting, your 1st birthday / party, Abbey's Bat Mitzvah and SUMMER!! All great things. 

Your 1st birthday party is all booked and set - I'm going to order the invitations this week. It's all moving so fast and I'm not ready - but I love spending our lives with you so so much.

We love you!!!

mama, dada, Layla & Benny