A ONE-derful Year!

Can you really believe it? Benjamin is ONE! He made it. Better yet - we made it. I'll drink to that. It has been an interesting year to say the least. Let's start with the good stuff - the things I LOVE about being a parent -

Smiles and giggles every day
Watching Benji figure something out
Listening to a little voice call me "mama"
Having someone to read to
Picking him up in the morning and getting a hug
Showing him off to a cooing public
Folding his little tiny socks (a constant reminder of the little human being that now lives here)
Picking up the toys that he has tossed from his crib at night
Watching his grandparents melt
Setting an example by showing him how to be nice to all pets and people
Teaching him new things
Planning a new activity
Singing to him while we walk around his room before a nap

OK - things I do NOT love about being a parent -
Having to get up early every morning. Yes - 7am is early for me!
Planning his meals. (Could you just dig in the fridge and find something for yourself like everybody else in the house?? really...)
Grocery shopping ALL OF THE TIME because we keep running out of milk
Playing fetch when he decides to toss things overboard
Cleaning off the drool on my shoulder
Love handles that persist, approximate arrival date 11/19/08
Dressing that squirmy little fellow and putting on socks that he proceeds to take off immediately
Spending the entire day with just a baby and no adult conversation
Clipping someone else's fingernails - yuck!
Stepping on the lunch that was thrown on the floor when I'm trying to cook dinner
Following him around the house while he crawls into places he is not supposed to go
Telling him no
Digging for toys that have rolled under the sofa
Other parents who insist on telling me how this is the most wonderful thing in my life EVER. Nope. I made a national commercial. That was pretty damn wonderful. I received a standing ovation. Again - wonderful. I got married to an awesome guy, I graduated from graduate school, I learned to play a tough ragtime piano piece, I enjoyed wine in France, I navigated the streets of New York City (including the subway) and I once ran 7 miles. All of those things were ridiculously wonderful. Benjamin IS wonderful. The things he does to make me smile are wonderful. Being a parent - well - it is not what I would call wonderful. It is interesting. It is fascinating. It is difficult. It is life-changing. But truly, it is twice as much work and half as much fun as anyone will ever tell you. There. I said it. Moving on.

Benjamin celebrated his first birthday with three parties, two in DC and one in Atlanta. We discovered that his a not a cake lover but a big fan of ice cream (just like his Mom) and that he really has no interest in opening gifts whatsoever. I do believe that Kevin and I thoroughly enjoyed that moment when we could say "we did it!" While there is much omission that occurs when people speak of parenting, there is much exaggeration that leads you to believe that only a Marine can survive life with an infant. We had a, dare I say "wonderful" first year together, finding our own little way to keep our family well-fed and well-rested. I think Kevin and I are a great team, and Benjamin thrives because of our amazing teamwork throughout this first year. I think it also helps that Benji is an easy-going little guy. Just this past weekend, we flew back from Atlanta and he was awesome. A doctor's visit on Monday revealed that he has an ear infection, which for most babies would have meant fussiness, especially on an airplane. Not Benji.

Every night we admit that we are lucky to have such a good little boy. And despite my rantings about parenting overall, I really enjoy getting to know Benji. He is my little buddy. This milestone is bittersweet. So much has happened this year. I have been permanently changed. There is no going back to the person I was just one year ago. Parenting has permanently changed me into someone I am still trying to figure out. Benjamin has surely changed me, and for that I am grateful. If there was anybody who needed a little change to help them along in this life it was me. Happy Birthday Benjamin! Mama rants and raves but I do love you so and look forward to all of our years together - may they all be WONDERFUL!!