Kathy, HELP!

Kathy, my hair is OUT. OF. CONTROL!

I can't wait to see you to get my first trim - 20 days and counting!

Please make me look extra handsome for my very first birthday party. Love, Alex

Our Week in Photos

A week full of...

Checking out toys.

Playing with the ball. And eating it.

Rocket rides.

Visiting old clients and seeing the monster truck Grave Digger at their offices.

Which Alex liked until he sat in the driver's seat. He wanted none of it.

We also got to see Grinder.

Meeting Lupe, Grinder's driver.

Oh, yeah - it was a week full of adventure.

And a little progress being made on the house. We've gone from this...

To this...

To this... Ol' girl's lookin' good!

At the end of a long week, it's nice to kick back and relax.

Swing a little.

And have some conversations with Daddy.

Alex: "Will she ever stop with the picture-taking?"

Daddy: "Probably not, son."
Alex: "That's what I thought."

Alex: "Guess we'd better let her get her picture so we can go home."
Daddy: "You've got it. Smile for the camera."

Brusha-brusha-brusha*

Little Man is learning the importance of good oral hygiene. 

*(This title goes out to all my Grease-loving friends out there. =) )

Splish Splash

Time for a little fun in the sun!

And maybe a little grass nibbling, too. =)

The Pony Whisperer

"Whoa, little Rody Pony. Easy does it, now. I've got someone who wants to meet you."

"Ok. Rody Pony is ready. First, let him get used to your scent – touch him gently on his nose."

Sammy and Alex - 10 Months

"Listen, Sammy. I know my mom. She won't let up until she gets a good picture of us."

"I'm going to try to convince her that we're more likely to give smiles if she takes us over there."

"See, Mom? Isn't this so much better than trying to make goofy faces at us to get us to smile? You're happy, we're happy. It's a win-win."

Ten months and Little Man seems to have his momma figured out, huh?

He's also figured out how to

• click his tongue
• pull his socks off with his teeth
• drink from a sippy cup (kind of - he still needs to learn how to tilt it up more, but he's getting the hang of it)
• wave (kind of - this is fairly new so he's still working on it)
• walk behind his push toy

We've also taught him to sign "all done" when he's finished eating. Jerry and I get so excited when he signs it at the end of his meal. The funny thing is that he also signs it when we go to change his diaper as if to say, "I don't want to do this. I'm all done."

Little Man is eating more table food. He loves just about anything with cheese - eggs with cheese, macaroni and cheese, broccoli and cheese, cauliflower and cheese, cheese grits, american cheese, cheddar cheese, string cheese, cheese goldfish. He also loves baked sweet potatoes. And cheerios.

Being parents really is more fun than we ever could have imagined. Alex, you delight our hearts!

Happy Mother's Day

Two years ago I was on the fence about having kids. More on the "no" side than "yes." And one day my mom pulled me aside and said, "I would be remiss if I didn't tell you all the joy that you'll experience from being a mom. Yes, it is hard, but it is also the most rewarding thing you'll ever do."

My response? "My life is already full of joy. I don't feel like I'm missing anything. I don't feel like I need a baby to complete anything. I have a great husband, a great job, great friends, wonderful family - I love my life just as it is."

Reflecting back on that conversation, I now realize that, for me, having a baby wasn't about completing my joy. It was about adding another layer.

Mom, as usual, you were right. Thank you for sharing your wisdom. And for being the example I'm proud to follow. It's hard not to be there to celebrate with you. But I'm there in spirit. I love you always!

PS - How can it be that the last photo I have of just the two of us is at Blackberry Farm? I will be remedying that this summer.

Before I Was a Mom

Before I was a Mom, 

I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,

I never held down a screaming child 

so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put him down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom.

– Author Unknown

Happy Mother's Day weekend to all the moms out there who know just how true the words of this poem are. May you be blessed richly.

Friday Fun

Today was Friday fun-day for me. 

Alex assisted me in a morning photoshoot for my friend Lauren's little girl. Meet Charlotte. Isn't she just precious? 

This dress was Lauren's when she was a little girl. So sweet.

I tried to get a few pics of Alex on the side. He wanted none of it. 

This is the closest thing to a smile I got.

And Lauren and I had to work hard to get this one! He could have taken a few lessons from Charlotte. She flashed grins all morning! 

Happy Birthday, Pops

Dear Pops,

These steps are lonely without you. They're the perfect place for a birthday celebration. All kinds of fun could be had here.

I wish you were here so that you could pull up a seat next to me. I've got you a space saved right here, see? Then we could laugh and play together.

Won't be long now, though, and then we can go for a boat ride together. Mommy says you've got a life jacket that's just my size. I can hardly wait.

I hope you have a happy birthday. I sure do love you.

XOXO,
Little Man

Mirabelle's Face Lift

If you were to walk the perimeter of our home and look up at the soffits, this is what you would see on all three levels of our home.

Water damage. Rotted wood. Cracked paint. Everywhere.

We have a hidden gutter system on our home that has eroded over the years and has caused serious damage to the wood underneath. So today the construction crew began the month-long project of repair. (Notice the entire soffit that's been ripped off from the second level.)

This is one of the biggest investments we've made in Mirabelle in our effort to "rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated." Thank goodness all the work being done is OUTSIDE this time and that we don't have to live in a mess. I think she will look fantastic once her face lift is complete. I'll come back and post "after" pics when they've finished the work.

What Have I Done?

I just signed up for a Facebook account. All so that I could get a coupon. Long story. Bottom line is that in the half hour I've had the account, I've already decided I want out. What have I done?

A Weekend of Festivals

This weekend we hit a couple of local festivals that were happening downtown.

The first was the Annual Chili Cook-off Festival. I sure wish someone could tell me who decided that a chili festival should take place in May - and why. Especially when the temperatures are closing in on 90º. I like my chili as much as the next person, but in May? I vote they move it to the fall!

It was so hot that Alex sweat most of the day. Poor little guy. He loves the outdoors, but even this tested his limits.

After the chili fest, we went to the 30th Annual Strawberry Festival. Now that's what I'm talking about!

I wish I had gotten a picture of our giant strawberry shortcake, but it was eaten so fast that I didn't even have time to get out the camera.

Little Man played in the park while we listened to live music. I let him borrow my hat so that he could have some shade from the sunshine.

On our way back to the car we stopped off at the local farmers market to check out the fresh produce and plants.

Little Man had been a real trooper, but he was ready for his nap. And some cool air! Mommy and Daddy were, too!