It's hard to believe we are closer to Levi being ONE than we are to him being a newborn. After passing the halfway mark, or even before, I was amazed with how quickly Levi progressed. Perhaps it's because he has a big brother to watch, but this kid just wants to GO.

He went from crawling/flopping like a seal at five months to quickly getting up on his hands and knees. As soon as he conquered that, he quickly started pulling up, sitting up, and cruising furniture. It's hard to keep track, truly, of everything he CAN do right now.

The biggest change, I think, is he's practicing his balance. I'll watch and he lets go of a toy, or the couch, or a shoulder and tests his two feet before quickly grabbing hold again. It's over in a flash, but when I look at him-- I know he's super excited, proud... and ready.

And I am SO not.

As if moving and testing his balance wasn't enough, Levi very clearly says, "Dada" ... all the time. The only time he spits out, "Mama" is when he's near exhaustion or upset and can't see me (though I, of course, see him). We're also 80% he's calling Michael, "Baba" for brother and associating "nana" with banana. He'll also rub his hands together for "more" and likes to wave his hands in the air to a song he enjoys.

Although Levi is moving and grooving faster than Michael did, he's a little peanut by comparison. Coming in four pounds lighter than Michael at this age, Levi is 15lbs 6oz and 25.75 inches long. His gums are also swollen on the top and the bottom in top... so we'll see which teeth win the race. (Michael's top two came in first.)


When it comes to food, Levi isn't exactly picky. Unless you try to spoon feed him-- then he doesn't trust it. But anything that's on our plates, or seems to be "real" food... he'll eat it.

Peas? Check! Green beans? Check! Apples? Bananas? Sweet Potatoes? Avocado? Check, check, check, check!

Oatmeal? Baby food? WHAT IS THAT STUFF?

So when I had a fleeting moment and grabbed a thing of baby puffs at Target, he was SO excited because they pretty much look like brother's goldfish crackers.

Now that we're trying to make a change (again) with our eating habits, I'm trying to steer away from the baby puffs and make things at home (that goes for the goldfish, too). Luckily, I found THIS recipe and molded it a little to make something that is Levi approved.

HOMEMADE BANANA-SWEET POTATO [BABY] PUFFS


Ingredients:

- 2 medium baked potatoes
- 2 bananas
- 1 C flour
- 3 tbsp oil (I used coconut)
- 3 tbsp water (or formula or breastmilk or another milk if your baby is older)
- Cinnamon to taste (optional)

Directions:

- Bake your sweet potatoes at 350 for 45 minutes or so, and if your bananas aren't SUPER ripe you can bake them for about 20 minutes to soften them and strengthen the flavor.
- After your bananas and sweet potatoes have cooled, put them and all your other ingredients in a food processor or blender.
- Prep a cookie sheet with wax paper or cooking spray. Next you can do one of two things:

1. Use a piping bag or ziplock bag with the tip cut off to make little circular "puffs." I found this to be a little difficult, since the batter is pretty runny.

2. Spread all of your batter on the cooking sheet so it's not TOO thick but you can't see the cookie sheet through it.

- Bake for 12-15 minutes for #1 and 15-20 minutes for #2. Check to make sure the edges aren't burned/too dark.
- If you go with option #2, next you can use a small cookie cutter to cut the puffs into desire shape. I used stars!

Serve and see your baby's happy face.