I have a painfully excellent sense of smell. (During my pregnancy, it was horrible and caused me to gag all the time.) On one hand it’s nice, because it’s seriously contributed to my ability to taste things; on the other hand, when something or someone has an odor, be it offensive or not, I take note.

Normally my adorable son smells delicious. Like babies and baby powder and baby soap – even his breath is sweet – but now he’s eaten guacamole two days in a row and he smells like a pile of garlic.

Of course the Chop can’t smell it at all, so I’m sadly suffering alone.

Currently the Peanut’s favorite foods are chips and guacamole. Yeah… don’t ask. He’s picky to the max. We definitely enjoyed his 15 month checkup where the doctor informed us that while he can feed himself anything, he doesn’t seem to want too.

Lately our dinners out have centered on places where we can get those two things. Oddly chips and guacamole are pretty prevalent across the board, so the Chop and I so far have no complaints.

Although we did discuss today how we’re going to explain to people why we always bring guacamole to parties – even when it’s a sleepover and there’s pizza.

The minute we leave this guy alone with a computer, the tap, tap, tapping starts. That’s normally when we remember we left a laptop open and run frantically to wherever we left it.

This time it was the Chop’s computer… and the Peanut left a few Ritz cracker crumbs in his wake.

For over two years I’ve only had decaf coffee in the house. First I was pregnant, then I was nursing and then the smallest bit of caffeine made me insane. I’d still drink a small pot of coffee every morning or so, but it was always decaffeinated.

Over the weekend I finally broke down and bought regular coffee… and wow, I have really missed it. Even though the Chop and I regularly visit Starbucks, there’s nothing like having caffeine at the crack of dawn when the Peanut wants to play. I almost feel bad remembering how many mornings I’d “play” with him before the Chop woke up, trying desperately to keep my eyes open and my brain working.

We have a pretty good schedule worked out – we trade off waking up with him every morning. Some days that means 5AM, some days it’s 730AM – the only constant is that after two hours, we switch. The Chop usually heads straight back to bed when his shift is over, but about 50% of the time I stay awake and start work. The Peanut normally goes down for his nap 3-4 hours after he woke up, so I can usually knock out a four hour stretch. Then when he wakes up, the Chop takes over and I go between working and play for the rest of the day.

We’re pretty lucky.

Our son has a death wish. Whenever he sees cars, his first inclination is to walk/run toward them, only stopping when we scoop him up, or plant ourselves firmly in his path.

Nothing distracts him from his goal.

2011 was an incredible year of firsts for me… or rather, for the Peanut. First words, first steps, first birthday, first non-family vacation, first wedding, first road trip, first time in the ocean, first time meeting the Easter Bunny, first time crying on Santa’s lap, first time meeting his cousins, first, first, first.

They say that having a child takes you back to being a child, and I can’t say I ever understood that until the Peanut came along.

He is absolutely the best thing we have ever done and the most fun we have ever had.

My baby turned one yesterday. It’s hard to believe a year has already passed since we brought him home. It doesn’t seem like just yesterday, but maybe six months ago? Certainly not four seasons.

We had an awesome party, replete with an elephant cake, balloons, close friends and family and a very happy and exhausted birthday boy.

Sadly this morning he had to go in for his one year appointment – three vaccinations and a tiny vial of blood for tests was not well received. By baby or mommy.

I can’t think of anyone I know whose parents don’t drive them crazy at least some of the time. When I was younger, I used to think my parents should win an award for being the most irritating parents on the planet.

Once I moved away they became easier to handle. Don’t like what they have to say? Don’t talk to them for a few days. Not interested in their suggestions? Put the phone on mute and have a perfectly pleasant conversation with someone else. Thinking about moving back to their area? Go visit for a week and swiftly change your mind and thank your lucky stars you live 3000 miles away.

Our relationship has evolved over the years, but more so now that I have a child. Or, as my mom puts it, now that I have “provided them with a grandchild.” The Chop and I look forward to them coming to visit and playing, feeding, napping, etc., the Peanut. My mom could spend hours with him on Skype, watching him climb around, jabber and reading books. We’ve become second fiddle to him, which is fine and dandy, because frankly everyone has become second fiddle to him for us as well.

Unfortunately the byproduct of this is the constant mention of us moving back there (not happening in this lifetime). Ah the guilt trips, they’re awesome!

Summer is 2/3 over and I couldn’t be happier. We’ve had several days in the 90s, a couple days in the 100s and as it turns out, the Peanut is built like his Daddy and hates the heat. He’s now 10 months, 2 days old. It’s almost impossible to believe that he’s only been around for 10 months – sometimes it feels like he’s been here forever, just waiting in the wings for his time to shine. And let me tell you, this kid shines. The Chop and I are entertained by him every single day.

Our summer has been nonstop – visitors, events and work. So much work. I’m not sure either of us realized how tough it would be to work from home with a squirmy little baby hanging around. It was easier in the beginning, of course, when he didn’t move much and slept a lot – now he’s thisclose to walking, crawls everywhere and gets into everything. It makes him more entertaining, but also severely hampers our ability to work during the day – which means our best working hours are 8PM to 1-2AM. Extremely tough when he wakes up at 7 or 730 (except when he’s teething, which is currently happening again, and he wakes up at 615 – ugh).

We’ve been discussing bringing in a nanny-type three days a week – but he loves other kids (playground, his little baby gym he goes too), so now I’m wondering if we shouldn’t be looking for something with other kids.

Parenthood. A never ending stream of questions. And wondering if you’re doing it right, lol.

The Voice premiered tonight and I am SO in love. I’m also pretty tanked, so perhaps I’m watching through vodka-colored glasses… but it’s really good. Although Carson Daly as the host.. I dunno, was Ryan unavailable? It’s awesome because a) there are no bad singers, b) Cee Lo is adorable and c) I just love music anyway.

We took the not-really-wee-anymore Peanut on a walk today, one of his favorite activities, and for the first time he fell asleep in the Bjorn. Which was nice, since he needed a nap desperately. Then after dinner he had such a violent diaper we had to clean off his onesie. Entertained? Ready to have a baby of your very own? Interested in babysitting? CALL ME! He’s cute, he giggles constantly and he LOVES being entertained. ;)