Being a parent is no easy feat. There is so many things that you go through even within the first few days that have you questioning everything. Is baby happy? Am I doing this right? What is wrong with me? It can be hard to loose track of how great of a job you are doing though when you are riddled with some anxiety around parenting. That being said, even with all of the worry and anxiety surrounded by asking yourself “Am I doing what is right”. There are many moments that happen that will no doubt reassure yourself that you are a wonderful parent raising the next generation. This is some of the best things that happen within the first year that will make you feel that sign of relief that you are doing everything right!

Crawling is a huge milestone for any baby. It really is something that you can look forward to and also one of the major things you need to prep for since baby will officially be on the move! It really is a nice feeling to see your little one finally make it a bit across the floor. Normally their first little crawl is for yourself or spouse, another sibling or maybe their favorite toy! None the less it is a major milestone that no matter when it happens whether sooner or later you are going to be so filled with happiness you will be beside yourself for a little bit! When my 1st son started to crawl I even woke up my spouse from sleeping in because i did not want him to miss it. The fact that your tiny human is becoming mobile and moving about without your help is a relief in more ways than one.

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Standing and or pulling themselves up onto things is another time when you will find yourself grinning and smiling from ear to ear. This typically is a sign that your young one will soon be walking. Pulling themselves up on to things like a table or chair is a sign that you also need to be checking what is up top of them and avoiding putting anything there. Due to the fact that they will be grabbing things they can now reach. I swear, it is like every month or so you are continuing to baby proof your house over and over again! And if you have another child that is older you already are half way there because you did it the 1st time! We even got a little walker for our first which we hope to use for our second (And third when the time comes!) to help them learn to pull themselves up also.

Laughing was a huge smile maker for myself. I don’t mean the little giggle at whatever they are thinking about. I mean the laugh where you are the one that created it. With my 1st this was when I would pretend to put his pacifier in his mouth but wiggle it on his gums or take it away really quick. I would say “Ohh too slow! I got your sookie!” And he would laugh and laugh and laugh. There is no greater feeling, or very little greater feelings than hearing and seeing your little one laugh because of you! This is a lot better then the alternative that will happen when they are teenagers when they begin to laugh AT you. Hearing your little one laugh is basically an instant mood booster also. No matter what type of mood you are in whether it be a sadder mood or even a mad one, hearing your child laugh can instantly turn that around immediately!

Trying foods was always a fun time. Especially if there were ones that you know they may not enjoy like a lemon or lime or even a raspberry which my son found was sour to begin with. Trying foods is a huge milestone because if you are like myself who bottle feeds, you can look forward to having to make less bottles because they are beginning to get full on more solids. Figuring out what you baby enjoys and doesn’t and seeing all of the facial expressions is a moment that you both will share as his pallet begins to grow! It was always funny to see his face scrunch up with different textures and foods to find out what he liked or didn’t like!

And lastly, a major milestone to look forward to is smiling! Sure, babies do smirk and smile quite frequently due to gas or whatever else. However when your little one finally smiles at you is incredible. Whether you are talking to them, or you are making a silly face, or trying to make them smile in whatever way works, seeing them fully have a real smile is a moment you will never forget! Seeing your child light up when you do that silly little thing that just gets them in their moment!

There is so many milestones within the first year of a child’s life that I could probably make more editions of this (Maybe some new blog ideas!) and each child you choose to have they may even change too. Or they could also vary in terms of child to child. For me, my first son never walked til after he was a year old. He was a late bloomer. Where as my second son maybe he will be walking before he turns one. Whatever you list as being the top moments of the first year, there is no wrong answer!