one year later

Today I did not get the dishes done.

I did not catch up on laundry,

and I did not mop the floor.

I planned to do all these things.

Instead I wrapped presents.

I decorated a polka dot birthday cake,

and I snuggled you....for a long time.

1 year ago you came into this world.

1 year ago you changed my world.

Honestly, I've dreaded your 1st birthday. I tried not to think about it. I didn't want it to come. It means you're not my baby anymore. It means you're growing up. But I can't make it stop and I can't slow it down.

All I can do is love every minute of it.

Every slobbery kiss,

every wobbly step,

every cupboard emptied for the millionth time,

every giggle,

every grin.

I can pick you up and hold you when I'm supposed to let you cry yourself back to sleep. Like I did today. You take fabulous naps. You go down without so much as a whimper. Today you did not. So the dishes stayed dirty and the laundry unfolded, while we took a nap together. Because today you needed me. And today I needed you.

Soon enough you won't want to take naps with me. Soon enough you won't want to bury your head in my neck and stay there.

Today you did.

Today you turned 1.

And I'll remember them both forever.

back to school

backpacks. lunch boxes. new clothes. teacher gifts. back to school party.

And with that...

They're off.

(and next year I'll take pictures BEFORE we brush teeth,

as to avoid the water drips down the front of our shirts)

It's just me and you, kid.

summer photo shoot

Seriously, my kids are adorable. And way too grown up.

Thanks Taryn, for the great pictures!

probably not the safest walker in the world

The boy got away from me for a few minutes today.

I found him here: Somehow he managed to get inside the legs of the stool

and was pushing it around the living room.

And pretty proud of it too.

Vacation

South Padre Island

pool side. Seriously yum.

we stopped swatting mosquitoes just long enough for this one the boys' pirate ship adventure

Already planning next year's trip. Such a great vacation.

remember me?

Oh hey, I'm back. Well, sort of.

I may even post a picture or two.

Happy Summer!

(South Padre Island, August 2010)

another letter

To the little love of my life,

9 months.

Really? 9 months?

That's how long it took me to grow you. Parts of that 9 months- the weeks of nausea, the waiting, the uncomfortably restless nights, the contractions and the pushing- felt like they'd last a lifetime.

This 9 months felt like trying to hold a pile of sand in my hands- all of it running though my fingers with no way to stop it or slow it down.

You're not my little newborn anymore. You're a busy baby on the move. You crawl, you stand up and you get into everything. It's fun, in it's own way. You're so happy. You make us all so happy. It's a joy to watch you relish in your new freedom with new places to explore, new toys to discover, new trouble to get into. Never stopping. Never holding still.

But somewhere in the midst of all the energy and the growing up, I am still able to find those quiet little moments when my heart speaks to yours.

Like in those early hours this morning. It was too early for either of us to be awake, yet we were. Exhasted, I wrapped you in my arms and crawled back into bed. You snuggled right into my side, settling in the bend of my arm that fits your little body so perfectly it must have been created just for you. You held one finger in your fist. You were so still, so calm. I felt your warm breath on my skin, and knew you had fallen right back to sleep.

Just before sleep won over both of us, I lifted my head to peek at your face. There you were. Not sleeping. Staring. At me. Nothing moved but your big blue eyes to gaze into mine. Our hearts connected. You wanted nothing more out of life than to be right there, right then. And neither did I.

I turned my face to brush the side of my cheek softly across the top of your fuzzy little head, back and forth, stopping only briefly to kiss it. I hope you don't grown hair for a really long time. I waited for you to move, to roll over and crawl away. You didn't. You stayed- completely awake, completely still, and completely content in my arms staring up at me.

Eventually, we both fell asleep.

Then you woke up and tackled me with a big slobbery grin.

the special day

Such a great kid.

Such a great baptism.

So great to have family here with us.

So proud of him.

baptism

It's hard to believe it's here. Garrett is 8 years old. Garrett has chosen to be baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Words can't describe it. Special kid. Sacred occasion. Super emotional mom. Love him.

Roses

Dear blog,

Someday, I will give you the attention you deserve. But for today, only this:

I have flowers. In my garden.

And I love them.