Today our sweet Twilli Pie turns 1 year old!! It has been an amazing ride so far. She has grown and changed so much. Yet she is still the same unique person that she has been since she was born, this day, one year ago. A birthday wouldn’t be complete without remembering the BIRTH. Twilli’s birth was an amazing story! Read about the “3 Minute Baby” made her grand entry.

You can see more photos of Twilli on 21st Century Dad’s Flickr photostream.

I have a few things I’d like to share with Twilli.

Twilli, today we celebrate your birthday. You were already very present to us BEFORE you were born. But it was such a blessed day when we finally got to see you! Touch you. Hold you.

You have grown so much. We have grown so much! You have already taught us so much about life… about how to LIVE in the present. You are a divine teacher. You have gently taught us how to transcend fear. You have shown us that the birth process is a beautiful thing! You have helped us come back to things that we had somehow forgotten or brushed off… as humans. You have taught us the joy and warmth of attachment! You introduced us to babywearing! You have given us superpowers! (Yes, even when all you wanted to do was nurse, I was thrilled to be able to bond with you and care for your most basic need in such a natural, loving way!) You have helped us find new careers… new callings! You helped us extend our old skills, too! You have even helped your daddy embrace his Korean roots!

We know you will do amazing things. Heck, you already have done amazing things! Thank you for being awesome! Thank you for choosing us. Thank you for being YOU! We love you more than anything!

Happy Birthday Twilli!!!

Today Twilli is 9 MONTHS OLD! It has been lightning fast. But yet it feels like she was a newborn last week!

There used to be a national babywearing organization called NINO: Nine In Nine Out. It supported the theory that the first 9 months of a baby’s life is an extension of the womb.

I DEFINITELY agree with the theory. Wearing your baby helps them feel safe and secure.

If I had not been able to WEAR THE BABY, there is no way I would have been able to work from home, or get ANYTHING done, for that matter! And breastfeeding has been a Godsend!! Literally. Not only is is the perfect food, mama milk is SAFE anxiety and pain meds for Twilli.

Babies crave SOOOOO much attention, guidance, and closeness. I am so thankful for the bond between us that has been facilitated by babywearing!

I also am so grateful that I can channel my creative talent, by making slings, to help others bond with their baby in STYLE!

Today we rejoice the second birth of Twilli! She IS a new person. She is mobile now (army crawl). She feeds herself. She drinks from the sippy cup. She has 4 teeth. Her fine motor skills are increasing daily. She poops in the toilet. (Can you tell I’m proud?)

A friend of mine is taking us to the beach today to celebrate. I have my fabulous water sling, so I can safely take her in the ocean! And its UV protective! I will try to take some photos, and maybe some video to post later. [Note: We didn't end up getting to go to the beach. But we will go soon. I promise!]

Please leave a comment and tell us how babywearing has saved YOUR sanity/marriage/business .

Twilli’s second tooth (on the bottom) emerged today! The first one is even more visible! She is just too cute. She seems proud. My baby is growing up TOO FAST!

We will post a photo soon. (DH took some. But I haven’t rescued them from the camera yet.)

Again, I have to say that the Hyland’s Teething Tablets, nursing, and babywearing have saved our hides! I’ve been using the Ergo Baby Carrier like mad! And now Elliott uses it too, since Twilli essentially grew out of the Baby Bjorn that he used to like so much.

I am also in the process of trying to figure out how to make my own Scandi-inspired Mei Tai carrier. I will give updates on that project.

I am so thankful that I have my MacBook Pro, or I would have gotten NOTHING done, through these cluster-feeding sessions!

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Speaking of milestones, we took Twilli to the pediatrician for her belated 6 month well baby exam (and the icky shots :sniffle:). She is doing great! The weighs 17 pounds and is 27.5″ tall.

Dr. Reyes was very impressed that she is using the potty. We explained that we have reduced our diaper consumption by half. He said she is their first patient that has done infant potty training. We have gotten really good reactions from people about this whole thing. I guess