In the place of decipherable words, he babbles. Entire conversations in his charming and incoherent toddler language. He’s so expressive. He knows exactly what he’s saying. We, however, do not.

Sweets are so delicious. Cookies make me happy. After I finish dinner, I look forward to dessert. What’s the point of a meal if you don’t celebrate with an ice cream sandwich?

I was never entirely comfortable nursing in public, so I tucked myself away most times, and when I couldn’t, I hid under a blanket, Owen confused and flailing in our makeshift boob tent.

“Did you know that babies with 8 teeth are predisposed to be geniuses?”

I’d always heard that the first year of motherhood is hard. That it’ll test you in every way. I just never expected that the tests would come in every other form but actual mothering.