happy 1st birthday Zane! {a year in pics}

My baby is one year old today! I can't believe it.

It's been a long and a short year all at the same time. But I feel like the one year mark came out of nowhere! :) I am so thankful for our little Zane Danial. He is indeed God's gracious gift to our little family. I can't imagine our life without him! :) 

This might be the most pictures I've ever had in a post, but that's okay. :D I am reliving his first year today. {*big mama sniffle*}

One year ago last night, I looked like this- so ready for a baby to come, but not betting on labor coming EVER at 10 days overdue:

And then much to our surprise, he was born only five hours after that picture! {birth story part 1, and 2!}

At 10 lbs. and 22.5 inches, he was the biggest and longest baby I've ever had:

Even at 10 lbs and 3 days old, he looked so tiny then:

He loved, loved, loved bath time {and still does!}. Fitting since he was born in the water! :P

Yeah that's right:

That paci strap is the first one we've ever had and I have three words: best invention ever.

Oh, and his mama loves him so.

The littlest two:

Oh the faces we've seen:

And his sisters are like his little mamas too:

But he always loves his daddy to hold him:

We think they look alike as babies:

First time in the walker:

First sandbox:

This is the first Sophie we've ever bought:

The first time he wore tennis shoes:

His first vacation- he loved it! ;)

But he's not so sure about his sisters feeding him:

Crawling somewhere around 8 months:

Baby peek-a-boo is the BEST:

First time he met a celebrity and pulled her hair:

First bookshelf mess:

We think he may have a sense of humor. :)

He's gone on every date with us since he was born:

He's all over the place now, and loves to make messes faster than his combat mama can catch him. He's like a ninja:

Stop it. This baby looks too old already:

Toddlerhood, this mama isn't ready for you yet:

Best mohawk ever:

And oh those teeth are so cute, but they were a bear coming in for weeks. He does not like teething.

But he loves to eat. :D

At this rate, it won't be long before he's driving. :)

That baby is so very loved. :)

Happy birthday Zaner- we love you so much and are so blessed to have been given a year with you!! :)

seeing big boys in babies, blue eyes, and money well spent

Do you ever look at your baby and wonder what they'll look like when they get bigger? I feel like I can kind of see Zane as a big boy here:

How is my baby 9.5 months old? Crazy town. That's almost a year. {!?!?!}

Also? My baby girl is almost 5 and riding without training wheels as of this weekend:

It's a little sad, I won't lie. All of my children keep growing up. :( Good thing I have a hard-working DIY painter man to console me with flowers:

That giant magnolia he pulled down lasted two days! :) And the orchid was my Mother's Day present. So far I haven't killed it, though I do have to water it precisely with one ice cube per week. {Which reminds me I need to water it since last week...urgh.}

the bird ring was from Holly Lane Designs. I still love it. :D

And the children are loving summer Lego time. I think we can officially toss all of the rest of their toys because Legos are the best pieces of overpriced plastic out there. And they are completely worth every penny. :)

Another thing worth paying extra for? Running into Braum's for basics instead of Walmart. I bought bread, chips, and very expensive half and half but I was so happy not to have to go in the store with the littles at 8:30 at night. That was a win. :)

And you probably already know this about me, but zucchini "pasta" = another huge win in my book. :) {I love it in this Raw Italian Casserole!}

You can't beat it sautéed in olive oil and topped with a little avocado!

And I think this book^ is going to help me ease back into vegetarian eating again. It's adorable {as is the Forest Feast blog!} I can't wait to leave meat behind once the baby is done nursing. It might be weird, but I loved being vegan most of the time.

In the meantime though, I will happily maintain my diet of protein and dairy to keep these baby rolls:

:D I can't stop with the baby pictures, I'm sorry. Those blue eyes kill me.

That was the look he gave me when I told him no crayons. 

We're in trouble, aren't we? ;) 

How has your week been so far?

Are you/ have you ever been vegetarian or vegan? 

Eyes: blue, green, hazel, or brown in your family? 

Rob's are green, mine are blue,  and so are all 5 of my kiddos. They all come out blue and stay that way! :) I wonder if they'll turn colors as they age?

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