Sweet Berry

Today was magic, my sweet boy. You muttered a tiny hee-haw as we laid you down, and after some of the sweetest cuddling and recapping of our day we've ever had, it was the most perfect goodnight. 

Sweet Berry Farm you were so good to us today for oh so many reasons, but that donkey made a real impression. We're heading back soon. Come! 

 

17 Months!

My hope of all hopes was that you'd have a wicked sense of humor. Alright, so I wanted you to be healthy and smart and sweet and cute but a sense of humor is way up there on my list of hopes for you. And while I knew you were pretty funny before this month, you cracking up as I said, "Stanley! Don't eat Charlie's poop!" really cemented your taste in good jokes. It's not that I think poop jokes are funny necessarily, I really didn't want Stan to eat your poop (he wanted to), but the fact that you know it would be grossly funny for Stan to want to eat your poop really made the both of us laugh.

Don't judge those groceries...it was a tough week.

This month you're a total parrot. I was out of town A LOT this month, and each time I came home from a trip you had an entire new set of words added to your repertoire. Your GiGi had you for five days while your dad and I went to Montreal, and you came home calm, well-rested, sweet and talking all about GiGi, Pops, water, trucks, turtles and Mani (Madi, of course). Then I headed out to Portland to hang with a sweet new baby, your new best friend BTW, and you hung with your dad, GaGa and PaPa all week, and even though you were sick and slightly miserable, I came home to you talking about PUNKins, ghosts, big big big big big boats (or airplanes not quite sure because they're still the same word). Your dad said "Damn!" the other day and you immediately, with great inflection, parroted "Damn!" right back. Whoops! You still love calling out for things and saying "Whereisit?" And if I ever want you to try a new word we normally try this tactic. Works almost every time. You've started putting words together this month..."Hi, Mama!" is my very favorite, but the idea that you're moving towards talking in sentences kinda blows my mind. You're totally not there yet, but you're pairing words and gaining phrases all the time. It's cra-zy. 

You continue to be confident and brave even when you're not quite sure you really want to be. You touched a turtle and a cat and helped me mow the grass this past month. All of which you weren't really quite sure of, but you tried it which makes me really proud of you. You weren't crazy about the mowing, okay, you hated it, but you love the cats across the street and talk all the time about touching that turtle. We'll have to go back and get your dad to fish another one out of the tank. Dad's are good like that. 

This month we started and quickly ended a Mother's Day Out program. You went a few times and each time you hated it more than the last. You would refuse naps on those days when we got home and would wake up at least 3 or 4 times on Monday nights after going. Needless to say, it was not going well. And since it was only so I would have time to go to observations for UTeach, I decided to find alternate plans for you. No need to start a program when you're so obviously not quite ready. We also started music class in September. You're not too sure about the parachute she brings out, but you love the free play with the drums and shakers and piano, and you're really starting to groove to the music.

You're obsessed with your friends Oli and Eddy, and I can pretty much get you to do anything easily - diaper change, clothes, shoes, etc. - if we're headed out to see them. Oh the power of persuasion. I love seeing your face light up when all get together and watching you have real friendships. You've picked some ridiculously cute, smart, and funny friends, little man. It makes my heart crazy happy. 

Love you and so enjoying settling back into our regular routine. Here's to a month of PUNK-ins, ghosts and a family of Ninja Turtles! (Halloween pics to come...cute ones, hopefully.)

Busted

My mom card should be revoked. If my one real job is to protect this little man of mine, yesterday I failed.

We headed to the park to play away the afternoon, and as I chased Stan about and encouraged Charlie to climb up to the slide, bam! Feet slipped right out from under him and face planted firmly into the playscape. Scooping him up I said a quick prayer for no blood, but I obviously didn't get it in in time. His cry raged and blood gushed. F. I called our regular doctor and they directed me to Dell Children's. Double f.

 

We arrived at Dell and were pulled through the waiting rooms pretty quickly. They assured us they'd stitch him up and get him home ASAP. With a derivative of PCP pumping through his veins, the doctors put four stitches in his tiny lip, and we stood at the end of his bed helpless. Five hours later - wading through dinnertime and bedtime in a hospital bed...no bueno - we were homebound.

All night and all day today, I've replayed the moment. Replayed the series of events that led to us ending up at the playground that afternoon. Why was I in such a rush to get to there? Why did I encourage him to climb the stairs again? If he'd only drank a little more water, chased Stan, decided to swing, etc. etc. etc. Mom fail in a big way.

We learned a lot yesterday - Chuck's wildly tough, John and I fall into interesting roles in stressful situations, and friendship is sandwiches waiting on your doorstep when you get home too late from the hospital and popsicles, flowers, balloons, and Chuck's best girlfriend waiting to play when he got up from his nap. Lots of love surrounding this busted lip. Lots of love. Lots of regret. Today was a better day. Hoping tomorrow is too.

 

You and Me

Four years ago we made this thing official. And while I spent most of the morning like this...

worried about it raining and moving the ceremony indoors.

John spent his morning like this...

going for a run with friends and relaxing.

This picture of John may be my very favorite. I pictured John so nervous on our big day, but what a total cucumber. The contrast of the two pics pins us exactly. Just when I get too lost in everything I can't control, John pulls me back to reality - it's just us, and we're always going to be okay. It's not always easy. It's certainly not always pretty, but it's always worth it. Happy anniversary, boss man.

"Come into the world, Alone. And you go out of the world, Alone. But in between, It's you and me."

Trampled By Turtles

 

Photo Credit - Gary Donihoo (F8 Studios)

All Things (Wo)Manly

John's been out and about this last week learning the ropes of his new job and partying with his mom, so Charlie and I have been enjoying lots of time together. And he's been an angel. No joke. We've had loads of fun, but the manliness of our days has been in serious short supply. An Easter bunny heart necklace? Absolutely. (He blushed like a school girl when complimented on it at the park and lost his mind when I took it off for nap.) Mini-Barbie van and heart-shaped logo cup at the park? Like a magnet.

The polka-dotted pram at Pottery Barn Kids, why not? Baby doll? Naturally. 

I think John had visions of football-filled weekends and mornings fighting their way through the rugged trails. Maybe. But for now it's sugar and spice and everything nice. 

16 Months!

You're starting to get to the age where it's feeling a bit silly to gauge your age in months. When I say it, I see people calculating in their heads and masking their eye rolls, but the thing is 16 months is soooooo different than one year. Maybe I'll just start claiming a year and a half? Oh mom problems. 

This month has been a bit of a doozie. New teeth brought weird sleep, and a crazy fever brought long days and extra long nights. Glad both of those are behind us. You're asserting yourself in totally new ways lately too (read tantrums) and have gotten just a tad bit clingy in the last week or so. Ma-MA! The good thing about your new-found clingy-ness is you're doling out hugs and kisses at awesomely random moments. I love so much when we're walking around and you just lean right over and kiss my cheek or my shoulder. So sweet to think your little brain just thought, "hey! I should kiss my mom right now." 

Your words are still amazing me. You're like a little parrot. You've learned to say Oli in the last couple of weeks - she's your very favorite girl - and at the park this week as we called "Eddddd-dy!" to come back, you joined right in. You still love biiiiiiiiiig trucks, trains, buses, and boats, but we've added cranes to your infatuation lately. You love collecting berries in the backyard - every night after dinner we head out to play and you walk the fence calling "Berrrrrr-we!" until you find one. When I ask where anything is now you walk around calling for it until it comes into eyesight. This works really well for Stanley, but I'm not sure your water cup is responding to you. Who's to say, though?

The pools and splash pads are closing around town so we're going to have to find a new, cool daily activity. We've been in the water everyday because ooof it's still miserably hot. Music class is starting back up though and so is storytime at the library, so I'm sure we'll have no problem filling our days, but I'll miss swimming with you. You're getting so good. 

This month we spent time in Dallas, playing with all my sweet family, and you've had almost weekly sleepovers with GaGa and PaPa. Gosh it must be rough to be loved so much. Oh and you got your first haircut! You were starting to look a bit Einstein-ish, so your dad and I took you to Floyd's Barbershop and chopped your crazy locks. Your grandma's weren't totally crazy about the idea, but oh my lord are you cute! The actual trim wasn't the best part of your day, but the lollipop afterwards made everything more than okay. Shoot you're adorable. 

And while you were a total rascal last weekend, we've had a fantastic week. Back in our routine and loving it. You're just the coolest kid, little friend. Your dad and I are out of town a lot this coming month, and as excited as I am to see old friends and meet new babies, my heart's already missing you. You make all my days so very much fun.

Adventures in Parenthood

Oh Charlie,

Most days I love you more than chocolate chip cookies. Most days I appreciate the little everyday challenges you present. Most days I want you with me all day because everything's WAY more fun with your adventuresome spirit and fresh look at the world. Most days you're sweet.

Today wasn't most days. Today wasn't most days. Today wasn't most days.

Today you were the screaming kid in Home Depot, the screaming kid in the restaurant, the screaming kid in the front yard, backyard and everywhere in between. Today you climbed on absolutely everything and anything you weren't suppose to looking at your dad and me defiantly as you went. Today you hated diaper changes, putting on (and taking off) your clothes, baths, getting in the car, and most of the food I dared put close to your face. Today you were a total butt.

So tonight I grabbed my wallet and keys and headed to Marble Slab. Tonight I happily spent $14 on ice cream - your dad needed some too, okay?! Tonight someone somewhere knew I needed some good music vibes because The Cure, Pearl Jam, Pavarotti, Xavier Rudd and Dr. Dre (will you ever appreciate that I know every word of Forgot About Dre???) came through my shuffled iTunes. Tonight I rolled my windows down, turned my radio up and sang obnoxiously loud to my ridiculously random stream of music.

Parenthood kicked our asses today. It's not the first time. I'm certain it won't be the last. Two pints of ice cream later...we're ready for tomorrow.