A Day of Milestones

It has been one of those days, a trying sort of day. Both the baby and I have been out of sorts for a couple days. We haven't been sleeping well and Deacon's tummy has been upset. So we've had a lot of fussing and tears... but we've also had good things. Lots of good things.

Today was a day of firsts. Deacon did a full roll from back to front! I misses it, of course. I set him on his sheepskin with a toy, turned to clean the table, turned back and it took a minute to register that he was in an entirely new position - and playing with a different toy! My excitement made him smile and look so pleased with himself.

He also found his toes. He was grabbing them all night.

He also had his first taste of something other than milk. We're delaying solids until he shows he's ready for it... but my pediatrician recommended some very diluted pear juice to help his constipation. He just seems so uncomfortable so I gave it a try.

He loved his bottle! Every time I pulled it away he grabbed it with his chubby hands and pulled it back to his mouth. No progress on the poo front but I'll repeat the bottle tomorrow if nothing happens.

It was a hard day but a good day. These new milestones serve as a reminder that he is changing so fast and that even cranky days are things to cherish.

did ya see it mom? did ya?!

i rolled!

yummy

does this taste good?

(Very) Happy Birthday To Me

Today is my birthday.

I've never cared much for my birthdays and, to be honest, I forgot about this one completely.  My mother reminded me about two days ago. 

Thinking back on my 28th year, however, I feel nothing but peace and satisfaction.  It was a rough year, to be sure, but growing is always painful.  One year ago I had just found out I was pregnant.  It was not a welcome surprise.  I went through months of godawful vomiting and was so depressed I barely wanted to crawl out of bed.  I moved.  I had a baby.  I discovered faith.  I moved again.

Life going into year 29 is so completely different than year 28 that I can hardly recognize it as the same life.  I certainly don't feel like the same person.

I could never have imagined the journey God set me on last year... and I am so very thankful he did.

Here is my 28th year in pictures:

 not looking particularly happy?

baby shower, feeling better but still not thrilled

 family visiting after delivery

joy looks like this

we're having fun now

29th birthday

Happy 4th of July!

We spent a low key holiday at the park and at grammy's house.

Happy 4th of July!

How Can He Be This Big Already?

My little man is getting so big these days.

We just bought a highchair and he is enjoying sitting in it with a favorite toy and watching while we eat dinner. 

He's also quite interested in toys and blowing spit bubbles on mama's neck.

He has learned to arch his back when I'm trying to change his diaper or put him in the carseat.

Speaking of carseats, he was too tall for his infant carseat and has now graduated to a big boy Graco convertible.  He looks a lot more comfortable in this style... but SO BIG!

He has begun to (loudly) express himself when something displeases him.

He is wearing 6-9 month onesies and 12 month pants.

He loves to move his feet (walk) while I hold him by the arms.  He will direct me where he wants to go.  (Usually to his toys or on adventure clear across the room.)

He adores naked time.  He lays on a sheet with some toys and kicks around there for a half hour at a time, happy as a lark.

He is finally enjoying tummy time.  He wriggles like a worm and actually manages to move about a foot in any direction.  I'm very glad that I followed my instincts and held off on "enforcing" tummy time when he was younger.  Neither he nor I was ready for tummy time at one month old!  He hated it.  He loves it now.  He has hit all his developmental milestones without forcing him to do something he was not ready for.

He has found his knees.  He pats them.  Next up: feet.

He loves books.  He sits in my lap and we read six (short) books a night before bed.  His favorite is Dr. Seuss "The Things You Can Think."

Every day with him is more of a blessing than anything I ever expected in life.

You Grow In Leaps

Deacon,

My darling boy, you amaze me.  Every day with you is so full of joy.  I never imagined life could be so poignant and worthwhile. 

My favorite thing in the world is watching how you grow.  You grow in leaps.  A single eye blink and you are suddenly different than you were.

You used to fit so snugly cradled in one arm.  Now you are a 16lb sack of potatos draped over my shoulder, snoring, drooling.

I used to ask myself, "Is it normal for him to sleep so much?" and now I consider it a huge success when I get you down for a nap.

You used to have a fuzzy duckling head, full of the softest whiteblond newborn fuzz.  Now you have silky yellow hair.

You used to watch the world with a serious look of consternation.  We were sure you disapproved of all of us.  Now you smile big toothless grins.  You coo and you laugh.  (I live to make you smile.)

You are still the warmest, softest hot water bottle in the world.

You used to nurse to sleep and snuggle against my breast.  Now we pace the floor for a half hour every night.

You still love lullabyes.

You used to be content to be carried snuggled up against mama.  Now you want to face out and observe the world.  You reach for my muffin and slap your hands on the desk.  You make squishy fists in your aunt's sweater.  You have staring contests with my water cup.  (The cup wins.)

You look so proud of yourself when you manage to sit up by holding onto my fingertips.  When you stand on your own wobbly legs with only my fingertips to assist you, it looks as though you conquered the world.

You still hate the carseat.

You play with toys now.  You chew on their ears and noses and squish them up against your body.  You clutch them posessively with both hands.  You burble in delight when they sing songs or twinkle lights.

You barely fit into your 6 month clothes anymore.  All your adorable footies are now in a box.

You still pat my boob or my face with a chubby, proprietary hand, as if saying, "mine."

You are still the most precious thing in my entire world.

I try not to blink.

Mother's Day Memories

May 13, 2012

It is my first mother's day.  Its beautiful outside and feels like summer.  My sisters and I sat outside while the kids played.

I sat on the grass in the shade with Deacon, took off his socks, and let him feel the grass on his feet for the first time.  He liked it!  He even reached down to pet it with his chubby fingers.

Then I put my niece's pink pinwheel in front of him so he could touch it and watch it spin.  So fun!

Memories of laughter

May 08, 2012

Deacon had his first real laugh yesterday!  I was talking to him while I put him in his carseat (something he usually hates) and he let out this delightful gurgling little peal of laughter.  SO SWEET!

I don't think I'll ever forget the first time he laughed.

Today was great: we were playing a game where I would swing him up and kiss his nose and then swing him do wn, then up, repeat, repeat.  We were standing on the porch and he was swinging in and out of a shaft of sunlight.  Every time he went down (into the sun) he would LAUGH.  Such amazing giggles.  And every time I kissed his nose he would give a big open-mouth grin.  I wish I could have recorded it.

Memory of a two month old

April 29, 2012

The baby seems to have made such advancements the last couple days.  He's so big!  So tall!  So much more alert.  He coos and giggles at Grammy like nobodies business.  Such a big talker!  He's learning to use his hands much more - petting things, grabbing them.  He was playing with his toy cow in the carseat for a few minutes today!  I heard the crinkling of the cow's ears and looked in the rearview mirror.  There he was, looking down at it, crinkling its paws and ears.

He's napping on me right now.  My love.  <3