Favorites from around the web...

1) You've probably all seen this by now but it's important enough that I wanted to make sure to share it here as well. It's a great explanation of net neutrality, told with hilarity.

2) And I couldn't agree with this more! I've never understood the need for goody-bags at parties. Don't we all already have enough stuff? It's a party enough of a "prize" already?

3) I also couldn't agree more with this! Another no-brainer to me.

4) Since I'm not so knowledgeable on make-up I appreciated this (the eyebrow tip I've already started using)

5) Loved this. Always happy for a reminder that we don't need to put so much pressure on ourselves to be perfect parents.

6) This has me wanting to watch that beautiful movie again (I probably haven't seen it in over  decade).

7) Definitely want to get one of these for the Pepper.

8) Wow, these are stunning. Way to turn something negative into something wonderful!

9) This also helps takes the pressure off. Perspective is so valuable, especially when dealing with things like anxiety and stress.

10) And this is just beautiful. What an inspiring kid. What great parents. I'm so glad they are sharing their story.

And because it's Friday make sure to enjoy the Shirk Report, one of my Friday favorites :)

Image via.

The Pepper Report

Celebrating Mother's Day yesterday has me thinking about my little one. Seemed time to do another update on my beautiful, funny, strong-willed little girl:

• A couple days before your first birthday you started walking, and I feel like you haven't stopped. As one friend of mine noted: right now it's all about walking around and touching stuff. That's how you like to spend your days. I think you've even achieved a run a few times when excitedly being chased by your daddy. It's great that you are so much more independent now. But it also means we need to be on our game.
• You still put everything in your mouth! I had hoped we would have passed this stage by now. Especially now that you are so mobile my biggest concern is you finding things and sticking them in your mouth. And it happens all the time. And then I need to fight with you to get them out of your mouth. And then you get upset. It's not the best dynamic. Hopefully you'll move on from this fascination soon.
• You really want to communicate with us. You are paying so much attention to what we say and how we say it. You try to mimic us. And I can just see that you have things you want us to understand. Right now your most used word is probably "ball" but you also just learned "more" and while I'm proud of you it's a double-edged sword. Because you of course always want more of everything :)
• Speaking of balls, they are your favorite toy. You like carrying them around, throwing them, chasing them, giving them to other people, collecting them. I think I need to diversify your ball collection though so I'm probably going to get you one of these.
• You love a good party. This last Saturday we attended a pool party with probably 30-40 attendees and you were so in your element. You worked the room and charmed everyone. You were happy to hang out with with the ladies in the jacuzzi or swim around the pool with the other kids. There was even some fire spinning at the end of the night to entertain you. I'm sorry not every day can be like for you but I'm glad they at least happen every so often!
• You are ravenous. The amount you eat astounds me. We have to order a full third meal now when we go out. I love that you no longer eat any kind of baby food and just feed yourself small pieces of whatever we eat. But it also means I can very easily on any given night watch you consume a full quesadilla. I guess it's all the calories you are burning from walking. And I want you to have the energy you need to keep growing! I'm just in awe of your appetite. Unfortunately you have also become pickier in your food choices now that you feed yourself and it's a bit harder to get you to eat your veggies. Luckily apple sauce still serves as a way to sneak veggies in.
• You are doing well when it comes to sleeping. You generally sleep through the night (9pm-7am). Sometimes you wake up if you've lost your pacifier and can't find it on your own. It makes me want to wean you off your pacifier which you only use at night now anyway. I keep talking about doing this, but I am intimidated by what I know will be some rough nights as we go through the transition. I just have to be brave and pick a weekend and go for it.

Tomorrow the Pepper will be 14 months old. Sometimes I want her to stop growing and just stay the size she is now forever. But I'm also excited to get to know her as she gets older! It's a fun exciting age right now. I hope the fun continues.

Image from the pool party this last weekend.

The Pepper Report

Our little one is a little over 10 months old. She had a doctor's appointment yesterday so I thought I'd do a little Pepper update:

•  About a month ago after some serious encouragement you finally decided to give crawling a try. It's an army crawl as you haven't figured out how to get your glorious belly off the ground, but a crawl none the less! While this has given you more independence you are clearly still holding out for walking. You like to walk. And because you need to do it assisted right now mama's back is hurting. I'm trying to make you cruise on the furniture a little more and experiment on your own but it slows you down which you don't like. As much as I'm nervous about you becoming truly mobile, I won't miss being hunched over all the time.
• You love things that are hidden and then appear such as your jack-in-the-box or the shape sorting cube. But you also like taking things and putting them in boxes or cups and then taking them out again. It's adorable.
• Your favorite food is still home made apple sauce though luckily you still will eat almost anything we give you, especially if it's mixed with apple sauce. You're starting to use a spoon and feed yourself if we put the food on it for you. And you love sharing food with us. If daddy is eating an apple, you are very happy when he gives you every other bite.
• For the first time the doctor does not consider you chubby! I think it's all the walking. You seem right on track in weight and height, but you have a huge head. Huge. In the 95 percentile. It's ok, it's not a problem but it does make buying t-shirts for you hard.
• Your hair is looking more and more red everyday. I was expecting a blond baby with almost white hair. But right now I have a strawberry blond and it's getting redder everyday. That's your great-grandmother Lyla's genes I think.
• Your sleep has unfortunately regressed a bit. You still go to bed around the same time and generally wake up at the same time, but the time in-between does not go as smoothly as it used to. You wake up crying regularly and need to be soothed back to sleep. I try to not take you out of the crib but instead rub your back and sing to you until you calm down. I know it's a phase and this too shall pass but it means mommy and daddy are more tired these days.
• You continue to be very friendly and smiley. You and Auntie Kathy spend your weekday afternoons walking around the neighborhood visiting your friends at all the local businesses. When I run errands I can't walk into a local business without them asking me how you are.

I know some people say the baby stage feels so long but I've found that it has flown by. Love you little Pepper! As much as I don't want you to grow up any more, I also can't wait to see who you become.

Instagram image of her bath time yesterday morning.