Over the shoulder

Perhaps it is time to start a more appropriate dress up bin.


*he is going to kill us for this some day... ;)

Pool Time

I got Patrick a pool this past weekend.

unfortunately it was a little too cool to actually get in, but he enjoyed it anyway.

Peek!
We took a stroller ride this past weekend and Patrick learned how to play peek a boo. He would put his hands over his eyes when we played. It was really fun and we all had lot of giggles.

We also played "high five" Patrick put up his hand and we hit it(gently of course!) He laughed from his gut everytime. So fun!

I ♥ faces

This weeks theme is "Silhouettes" over at I ♥ faces. I tried to get a good one, but the light wasn't right and the setting wasn't great. So I went for the shot that captured my son. Patrick is so into pushing anything these days, chairs, carts, boxes, garbage cans and of course his stroller. This is the perfect shot of him in action even if it isn't the "perfect" shot!

Bathtime

Patrick is so fun in the tub and has the best expressions. If only he would quit trying to stand all the time!

1st Haircut

Patrick had his first haircut tonight.
It was time, the back was getting really funky looking.
I think I did an ok job for the first time out, but certainly messed a couple spots up. oh well!

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall

Well, so did Patrick.

Patrick fell down a flight of stairs on Wednesday evening. It wasn't a large flight, only 6 steps, but I am still shaking just thinking about it. He has done great up and down the stairs for weeks now but has wanted to try going down like we do. Well, he was flirting with this idea the other night when I caught him and said "Stop, turn around"

My voice was enough to shake him off balance and down he went. It felt like he just bounced off each step as I stood screaming. I scooped him up immediately to check him over and then nurse him. He was moving everything and acting fine. Turns out he only has a small bruise on his cheek and nothing else!

Crazy, but so scary. So anyone have the Mother-of-the-year award that they want to hand over?

Playing in the park that fateful night before this all happened.
Patrick loves to push anything he can find. The stroller is a favorite of his. However, last night the garbage can did just fine as well.

Here is Patrick going down the slide all by himself. He thought it was really fun to do this until he realized he could stand up and run away from me instead of going down.

I try to comb Patricks hair after his bath. Now he takes the comb and wants to do it himself. So cute! Sorry for the bad picture, it is all I have so far of this.

Here is another picture of Patrick combing his own hair.


And a milestone that his friends mastered months ago... Patrick claps! finally! He will clap, but only when not prompted... figures.

Play date with Shay

Friends Rachel and Shay came to play the other day. (yeah, i'm a poet!) We always have a great time together.
I love it when friends can come to your home, help themselves to their own food and drinks, chill on the lawn and don't care when your toilet hasn't been scrubbed in a while.
I appreciate that in a friend. It frees me up for much better conversation, which we always have a lot of!
I am lucky to have friends with kids that are Patrick's friends as well.

We have an unspoken understanding of what each other is going through while learning from one another as we go.

We are lucky indeed!

Lawn Man

"oh, the things I do to help out around here"

"Dad, I'm trying to get some work done, quit making me laugh!"

"Oops! Missed a spot back there"

"Now, I'm on a roll"

"Shoot. Engine quit on me."

"Dad, can you help me fix it?"

Playing outside

I am outside with Patrick as much as possible. He used to just sit there and watch the world go by, but now he is getting more brave in this new enviroment. He has begun running away. Well, more like running towards. Towards the garage. That is where his wagon is stored and he knows it, and remembers it, so it is where he is usually running to. Here are a couple pictures, just because.

Is it Saturday yet?

And you wonder why I can't get up for work in the morning.

For the love of the swiffer

Meet Miss Swiffer.


She is Patrick's new love.

In case it was missed

My baby celebrated a golden birthday of sorts yesterday.
13months old on the 13th.
Miles had this birthday last month.
Now he's 14 months but his birthday is still on the 13th.
In case you can't do the math yourself.
Which I can't most days.
I think it's because I stopped taking math after 10th grade.
oh well.
I was going into the social sciences anyway.
I didn't need math.
Then I got a job that required statistics.
And another that required accounting.
So much for math.
Thank goodness for Grant.
Wait, he sucks at math too.
Thank goodness for calculators and Ryan.

13 months

What's up in Patrick's life lately?
Walking
Running
Barely crawling
Climbing up and down the stairs
Talking bunches:
Dada
Mom
Kitty
Up
Puppy
Dog
Layla?
Gained a whole pound and grew an inch all in a month!
12-18 month clothes
skinny waist
Size 4 shoes
Sleeping ok(up 2-3x's per night)
Starting to take 1 nap
still nursing,
but drinking whole milk now
eating everything in sight
Waffles, fruit, veggies, chicken
strong willed,
but so gentle
Good car rider
great cheesy smile
Love his laugh
Independent yet likes to be snuggled

A little fun with Photoshop

I think my husband had too much time on his hands last night...
original photo


Ryan's "rocker" version.


Health update:
Had an appt today to do a follow-up weight check. The boy is weighing in at a whopping 21.4lbs and 29in. That puts him around 20% and 16% its been a good month for eating and growing!

Blah, blah, blah

Patrick has become very verbal lately. It appears he is really working on his words. He has said "up" rather clearly lately along with "Dada". "Mom" comes once and a while too. When he sees kitty now he clicks his tongue like we do when we are calling her. There are other sounds that may be words, but we haven't quite learned them yet. Last night it sounds like he repeated us with "uh oh" after dropping his spoon on the floor. Hopefully more words to come soon from him.

Here is Patrick and I enjoying a little wagon ride on Mother's day (Patrick is the one in the wagon!)

I ♥ faces

Oh I am excited about I ♥ faces "laughter" week! Not only is Pioneer Woman the judge, but laughter is Patrick's middle name.

This picture was taken just yesterday. Patrick was in our yard and heard the strangest sound. He was a little frightened at first and then realized that it was daddy mowing the lawn. As soon as he saw his dad peek around the house, he started giggling and laughing and running towards him. I love that.




wait, I just realized that PW is the judge! that means she is reading my blog... holy cats! like, my blog. Does she feel like the celebrity that she is? Well at least in the blog world. but you just wait, blogs are the new Hollywood!

Not an entry, but the next picture in the series...

Mom's day

I awoke this morning to a peacefully sleeping baby. It was about the first time all night that he was peacefully sleeping, but when you can see his sleepy face you kind of forget about the rest of the night. When he awoke, Ryan took him downstairs so I could sleep abit. As I lay there falling back asleep I thought about how I might spend my day. sleeping in, drinking coffee, enjoying a solo shopping trip. Then I realized that I wouldn't even be celebrating this day if it weren't for my beautiful baby boy.


This year is much different then last. Last year, my baby was such a baby. I was still in the whirlwind of being a new parent. Sleep deprived and just learning who this little baby was that made me a mom.
I really didn't FEEL like a mom yet. That title was new and unfamiliar to me. I have witness lots of wonderful mothers. My sisters. My own mom. My Grandma's. But I had not undestood what this new relationship was.


As I lay in bed this morning, I couldn't sleep long. I already missed the boy who made me a mother. I was excited to see his beautiful toothy smile, and feel his little body warm against mine. I was looking forward to fingering through his snarly hair and making it smooth again. I couldn't wait to watch his little feet trying their best to carry his body in his new wobbly walk. I really couldn't wait to kiss his cheeks that truly feel as soft as rose petals.

I didn't need to drag myself out of bed today. For I knew this was a day I was proud to celebrate. I have grown into this day, becoming a mother. It doesn't happen at the birth of your child. That is just the beginning. It is a role that you sort of grow into and evolve with.

Thanks to the mothers around me who help me to become a better mother.
To my mom for being a quirky yet amazing model. She originally taught me how to love even through sleepless nights.
To my sisters, who have showed me a variety of ways to raise amazing children. Their quest for new knowledge and patience with thier own children help to give me a path to follow.

To my mother in law, who gave me a wonderful man that is so helpful in this journey.
To my grandmothers, who spoiled me as only grandmothers can.

A good day indeed!