We worked so hard Kai's first year of life to keep him on a solid schedule and in our opinion, it really shows. We get so many compliments about how happy and healthy he is all the time. Everyone is so impressed at how much he sleeps and how well he eats. We have Babywise to thank for this! Not only did having Kai on a schedule from day one help him grow and thrive, it helped us keep our sanity as parents! We are first time parents and had no idea what we were doing. So having a plan and theory to rely on was huge for us. Our little crew thrives on a schedule and we have no plans on stopping having a routine any time soon. Here is Kai's current schedule at the amazing marker of 12 months old.

7:00 AM - Wake up, nurse
7:30 AM - Get ready for the day (diaper change, brush teeth, moisturize)
7:45 AM - 2 oz bottle of cow's milk
8:00 AM - Breakfast (oatmeal + fruit or scrambled eggs)
8:30 AM - Independent playtime
9:30 AM - Nap
11:30 AM - 6 oz bottle of cow's milk, diaper change
12:00 PM - Lunch (veggies + fruit or veggies + puffs w/ nut butter)
12:30 PM - Playtime
1:30 PM - Nap
3:30 PM - 6 oz bottle of cow's milk, diaper change
3:45 PM - Go for a walk or play outside
4:00 PM - Snack (puffs, banana chips, oranges)
4:30 PM - Babywear in ring sling for daily chores
5:00 PM - Independent playtime
5:30 PM - 6 oz bottle of cow's milk, diaper change
6:00 PM - Dinner (whatever family is having or veggies + rice cereal + fruit)
6:30 PM - Playtime
7:30 PM - Get ready for bed (bath, PJs)
7:45 PM - Read
8:00 PM - Down for the night

That's Kai's schedule every single day for the most part. We follow it on the weekends and our nanny follows it during the week while we're working. We are definitely more lenient these days and have no problem feeding him early or putting him down late for a nap if we have things going on, but we generally try our best to stay around these times. The playtime and what not is what he does on a typical day when he is at home and we're not out and about with him. We're big on having him play independently throughout the day so that he uses his imagination. We've been doing this with him for awhile now and he does so well with it. He just plays with his toys, stuffed animals, and books during this time. We rarely have the TV on for him but will sometimes throw on Sesame Street or Mickey for him on the weekends.

He takes two 2 hour naps during the day in his crib and sleeps for 11 hours at night in his crib. He will get cranky if these naps are cut short so sometimes we need to do a little catnap for him from 4:30 to 5:30 to help him out. He's started back up with a witching hour again from 5 to 5:30 but this is actually normal for most kids! I've found that if he's extra cranky, having him in a ring sling helps a lot. Speaking of babywearing, I still put him in a sling every day (#sling365 << follow along on my Instagram!) and we do our "daily chores" together. I think this is honestly Kai's favorite part of the day. I explain to him everything we're doing like getting the mail, switching the laundry, watering the plants, emptying the dishwasher and he loves it. I'm trying to teach him from the earliest age that it's important to do our daily tasks to keep our home happy and functioning. I'm hoping all of this will just be second nature to him and he'll be my happy little helper for years to come!

Kai has fully transitioned to cow's milk from formula. We are still nursing in the morning...I was weaning and decided not to give up the morning nursing session (a full blog post on this later) but I am no longer pumping, so Kai doesn't get bottled breast milk either. He has about 20 oz of cow's milk a day and then whatever he gets from me in the morning. He eats 3 meals a day and has a snack or what the French call a le goûter in the afternoon. We also try to get outside every day for some fresh air even if it's just for 5 minutes. It's brutally cold here in the winter so as long as it's at least 20 degrees or above, I bundle him up and we go out in our backyard for a few minutes just to breath in the fresh air. If it's in the 30s then we will take Wrigley for a short walk.

I think that about sums it up! If you have any questions for me about Kai's schedule or what we did to get here please leave me a comment below! If you want to see my previous posts on Kai's schedules all throughout his first year and how we accomplished all the merges to get to where we are now you can visit our 12 weeks schedule, 17 weeks schedule, and 29 weeks schedule posts.

Is your baby on a schedule or do you prefer to just go day by day? Let me know in the comments below!

All photos shot and edited by Hallie Duesenberg

This time of year is so special for our family. Last week we celebrated Kai's birthday and that will forever be one of my favorite days every year. Today though has been my favorite day for some time now. Seven years ago today we adopted Wrigley from the Nevada Animal Shelter in Iowa. It was the day we became a family, me, Caleb, and Wrigley. I will never forget that day. We were having a warm spell in Ames and Caleb and I decided to go out for a run on Jan 31st. We were just getting started when we saw someone who lived in our apartment complex with the cutest puppy! We had never seen a dog like her before and stopped to ask what kind of dog she was. The girl told us (Pomeranian mix) and mentioned how she has just adopted her a hour before. I casually asked her where from and how much the adoption fees were because C and I had been thinking about getting a dog for some time but didn't have the funds to pay a $300+ adoption fee like most shelters needed. She told us she paid $35. We were in shock. She told us they had the whole litter of puppies at the shelter as well as the mother. After our run we decided to contact the shelter and ask to see the puppies. They told us there was only 1 left plus the mother but that many people were already interested in the mother. We told them we would like to see the puppy they had left the following day. We impatiently waited all morning to go to that shelter and see this puppy. The second they brought him out and handed him to me he clung to me and I knew I was going to be his mama. C told them right away to get the papers ready, we were going to take him. I write this with tears in my eyes because he is the best thing that has ever happened to us. He has been here for all of it. The very best moments and the very worst. Graduating college, my grandparents passing away, moving to Chicago, getting engaged, getting married, buying our house, road tripping around the country, my pregnancy, welcoming Kai in to our family, my dad passing away, and so much more. All of it. He's been here to celebrate with us and be sad with us. He has seen me laugh harder than ever and has sat with me when I've cried harder than ever. He protects me and loves me more than I thought possible. And we love him beyond belief. 

He is so loving to others, too. The way he has welcomed Kai in to our family is incredible. Everyone kept telling us how he's going to be so jealous and how he better get use to not getting as much attention and it always baffled me. How could the best dog in the world get jealous of his brother? Why would we give him less attention? If anything he gets more attention now. He has another human in his life that loves him more than anything. The bond that has grown between Kai and Wrigley is extraordinary and I love watching them play and snuggle all day every day. Wrigley would go to the end of the Earth the protect Kai and for that I've never loved him more.

This blog was named for him. I call him Tiny. He is the most dapper pup ever. He is my little fox. He inspires me every day to be my best self and I thrive on his love. I hope this space continues to honor him by showing the best side of our little family and inspires others just as he inspires me. We love you so much, Tiny. Thank you for an incredible 7 years.

We survived the polar vortex! It literally went from -15 degrees to 45 degrees in 4 days. Thankfully the 40 degree weather was here for the weekend so we were actually able to get outside for some adventures and fresh air! We had a great weekend and it was so nice to not be cooped up in the house. On Saturday, I went to my little cousin's baby shower and it was such a beautiful time! Her little girl is due in a couple of weeks and I'm just so excited for her! Yay for more babies! Yesterday we headed up to Milwaukee to have brunch (I think we found our new favorite brunch spot!) and walked around the Historic Third Ward. It was a much needed day of being out of the house. Oh! and we also started renovating our home office! We painted the walls on Friday and it already looks a thousand times better but there is so much more to come!

So as you all know, Kai turned 1 on Jan 24th aka 12 months. This will be our very last Little Kai Bear date and I just can't believe I have a 1 year old!

Weight: 20.4 lbs
Height: 28.5 in

Kai, you are such a great eater! You are so silly during meal times and always eat soooo much! I wonder how that belly can hold so much food sometimes, but it makes me so happy that you're a good eater. You've tried it all and you like most foods but there are some you aren't so sure about. You definitely don't like plain eggs so Dad has to spice them up with some chorizo, ha! You've transitioned to cow's milk but we've decided to keep nursing for your morning milk. We're both not ready to be done with our breastfeeding journey, so onwards we go! You really like butter and jam and one of your favorite things for breakfast now is croissants! Puffs are probably still your favorite food ever though, ha!

We celebrated your first Christmas in 2018! It was the most special day filled with love and family. Grandma and Papa Joe stayed here with us and we all enjoyed Christmas morning together opening presents and drinking eggnog. You had so many presents that we actually had to take a break so you could take a nap, ha! You must have been a real good boy last year because Santa brought you so many fun things! A few of your favorites are your remote control, legos, and bath toys! We wore our matching Christmas jammies all day long, played with your toys, and watched A Christmas Story. We had a yummy prime rib dinner to celebrate the day and you are definitely a fan of steak. Thanks Papa Joe for making the best Christmas dinner ever!

We went on some fun adventures last month, too! At the start of the year our cousin Chris got married, so we took a road trip out to Toledo for the wedding! It was a short and sweet visit for a beautiful day. We also went to the Garfield Park Conservatory and took your one year old photos! We had so much fun walking around the conservatory and looking at all the fun plants. It was also a great break from the cold winter we've been having. Other than that, we've just tased snuggled up at home playing and having lots of movie nights. But you don't mind one bit!

We've been trying to get outside every day to play in the snow. You're a little indifferent to it but you at least enjoy the fresh air. You're almost walking too! You scale the furniture with ease and walk so well with your little walker toys. You're getting more confident with walking while holding Mom and Dad's hands, too. You adore taking baths and play with all your bath toys that you got for Christmas. You splash around the water and instantly always find your Mickey toy in the water. It's of course your favorite! One of your top teeth came in too and you have the other one on the way now. You look so cute with your big front teeth! It makes your smile that much cuter.

You have brought more joy in to my life these past 12 months than I thought possible in an entire lifetime. I love you with all my heart and soul. I'm still amazed at the fact that I am your mama and you are mine forever and ever. Happy Birthday my handsome little boy! Here's to many many more!

One whole year. I’m not sure how, but we’re here. I’m so in love with this last year because of you. I’ve never loved someone so deeply in my whole life. 

The moment you came out of me 365 days ago my whole world changed. They placed you on my chest and your cries were the greatest song I’ve ever heard. I was so scared of the journey ahead but you grabbed my finger and said “let’s go mama.”

I’ve sustained you for a whole year. That first month was so hard. I was so tired and didn’t know what I was doing. But then we were on the verge of giving up our breastfeeding journey and in your own way you told me no and that you wanted me. Only me. It was the biggest turning point in my motherhood journey. Even at 1 month old, you showed me how much you loved ME. From that point, nursing you began to be the biggest honor of my life. 
​
One random morning you were swinging and we were singing Disney songs. I sang the words “when you meet the one you’ve been waiting for and he’s everything that you want and more. You look at him and you finally start to live for someone else” and I looked at you and you were smiling at me. My heart grew by the millions. Another turning point in motherhood for me. You became my best friend. 

Your laugh is the greatest thing my ears have ever heard. Your smile is the greatest thing my eyes have ever seen. Your scent is the greatest thing my nose has ever smelled. Your love pats are the greatest thing to have touched me. Your love is the greatest thing my heart has ever felt. 

You quite literally complete my life. I look at you a million times a day and can’t believe I have this life. I marvel and wonder how you are mine and I am yours. 

I love you, Kai. Happy 1st Birthday my handsome darling boy. & cheers to many more snuggles and adventures ?