It's Halloweeny Around Here & L Digs It.

As we approach Liam's second Halloween, it's a lot more fun. He's engaged. We read Halloween books, watch his Halloween Yo Gabba Gabba DVD, draw Halloweeny pictures and go gaga over spooky decorations popping up everywhere, including our home. As the month goes on we'll attend a haunted pirate festival and many costume events. Yep, L's going to be Brobee. 

Happy October!

the kid's gotta eat

being that the german and i are both pretty much food obsessed, it's been strange begging L to eat something other than cheerios. i can insert my foot in mouth once more for judging others that fed their kids chicken nuggets every single d@mn day of their toddlerhood. i get it now. i'm sorry.

L has caused ME to throw tantrums when he refused to eat simple, yummy foods i made for him. WHY do you spit out black beans, child?! They're a perfect food. What do you think you're doing tossing fresh avocado on the floor?! You don't like chunks of cheese!? Who's kid are you??! 

slowly but surely, i'm figuring this boy's taste buds out. and perhaps they're evolving, which would be bad to the bone. just thought i'd share a couple things he'll swallow at the moment. 

mac & cheese with peas (+ tomato)
simply toss frozen peas in your boiling water with the pasta, dice a tomato while peas and pasta cook, toss tomato in just after you drain pasta and peas, then add your cheese. macs & cheese made healthier with a serving of fruit and a serving of veggies! num num num. 

whole wheat pb&j squares
i like using multi-grain flatbread type bread for these. make with your favorite peanut/almond butter and preserves, then cut into tiny toddler bite sized squares with a pizza cutter. a tasty little classic made just the way L digs. 

i'm also getting good at adding chopped veggies to all-natural frozen cheese pizzas, and making L whole wheat cheese and organic salsa quesadillas.  

i'm not trying to be a baby gourmand here. i'm shooting for quick, edible and nutritious-ish. what vegetarian fare will your new toddler devour? please do share!

I'm not a baby, not yet a toddler.

L amidst the big kids and bubbles

today was kind of a big deal. because, as those of you that've followed "we created a monster" know, L turned one on august 5th and that meant something major in the world of library story time.

 p.s. whoa! how the heck is it already september?! he's 13 months tomorrow!!! my head just spun around and popped off. 

here's the deal: he's not a baby, yet not a toddler. amongst baby babies, he's a giant. i saw looks of fear as L crawled like lightning towards immobile wee ones back at "baby" story time. 

but, amongst true toddlers and pre-pre schoolers, he was "the baby". today at "toddler" story time, for example: "look out for the baby!" "watch the baby!" were common refrains amongst mommies talking to their kids whenever L clumsily toddled near. 

so there was that and, craft time instead of play time. play time for L meant a ton of toys being dumped on a blanket that he could chomp and drool on. + the aforementioned exploration of the story time room, towering over all the teeny bundles and their nervous mommies. 

craft time for L = eating crayons, chewing on paper piggy parts, drooling on and trying to take big kids' piggy crafts, ticking them off + a little game of throw-the-glue-stick-in-the-trash time.

i'm kind of losing it today, and well, recently.

goodbye baby story time  and play time on a soft and cozy blanket. as much as we loved you, we're not going back. 

hello, big kid story time and big kid crafts, we're not quite ready for you, but here we are, next chapter. 

L about to eat his paper piggy

baby is a rolling stone.

 L doesn't slow down. Thus, those old outfit posts of him that I used to do light years ago are damn hard. But today, blurry pics or not, he's rocking his diapers off so I had to post. Trompe l'oeil guitar tee and madras. WHO KNEW? 

L's 1st Birthday Monster Bash in Photos

monster photo booth / step & repeat

a monster  hit w/ babies, toddlers & big people alike

dig in!

mommy & L in the photo booth hamming it up, monster style

my stylin' little one year old

the invite

baby monster zone

L rocks the photo booth on his own

birthday kiss

mommy & L

L from 1-11 months

monster cake pops!!! (lemon cake, AMAZING)

monster cupcakes, both fondant & furry

L's smash cake

L's 1st came & went...

and i'll do a birthday party post someday soon. oh and probably a mommy melts down due to baby turning 1 post too, but, not now, still recovering. i leave you with a vid of L tearing up one of his gifts with happy abandon... 

one week.
one day.
until my baby is one.
i'm freaking out.
where did the year go?
i'm throwing all my thoughts and energy into his killer birthday party.
with a subtle tribute to marie antoinette, L will wear this little tee while he tears into his smash cake.
you will ALWAYS be my baby, L.