1 year old!!??

I have the uncontrollable urge to write a blog post about Aiden turning one.

But, it is hard to write a blog post when you have so many different feelings. Maybe a list will help...

I feel:

1) Pride- watching my son grow from the minute he was born to a year is amazing. You can't help but wonder about all of the wonderful possibilities life holds for him.

2) Relief- I made it through the sleepless nights, teething, infant reflux, RSV, Hand/Foot/Mouth Virus (3 times), all the while moving to a different state, quitting my job, and completing my master's degree. But, we made it through it all and really, all of those things are nothing when it really comes down to it.

3) Fear- Will we raise him to be a great man? Will we raise him to be a good person? Will we make it through the rough teenage years in one piece? How will we take it when he gets hurt, the kind of hurt that really affects who you are and who you become?

4) Excitement- Each day is exciting with Aiden and how much more excitement lays ahead?

5) Sadness- My baby is growing up...enough said.

Pictures from his birthday party

Walker

Aiden will be celebrating his first birthday in under a month. He wants a walker so bad. But, if are a mom you know that time right before a holiday or birthday where you refuse to buy anything because your child will get presents. So this is what he did yesterday since his mom is so mean. As we were putting up dishes we decided to get resourceful with the diswasher basket. He did this all on his own, no help from mommy.

Adventures in mommyhood incident report #1216

This morning when Aiden rose bright and early, I lifted him from his bed to sit with him and give him his bottle, which is our sweet mom and son ritual. You see, Aiden must have his bottle immediately. So we do that first thing, or else he acts like well, a baby. I love each morning with this little guy. He is so happy and excited to see you. While he was drinking his bottle, I noticed he had 2 spots on his forehead. So as his mother I of course promptly licked my finger to rub it off. I did this about 5 more times to get the mark off. Licking my pointer finger and rubbing his forehead.


Then it happened. I looked down and realized that Aiden had poop coming out of his diaper. Lots of poop. All down his leg, all over his arms, on my legs from laying on me while he was taking his bottle. Getting up from the chair I see it all over his sheets too.


::Light bulb moment::

Gag! That was what was on his head too! I just licked my child's poo!


Having been an elementary school teacher, I thought I was completely prepared for all of the gross things that come with mommyhood. I mean for goodness sake, I dealt with pee, poop, drool, boogers, and snot for several years. Let me tell you, nothing prepares you for the grossness that comes with being a mommy. NOTHING!!

Jay~ I can't wait to give you a kiss when you get home. :)

Beach 2010

My best friends and I take a week long trip to the beach each summer and thus will be our tradition for years to come, if I have anything to say about it.

This year:

Catherine, Luke, Aiden and I went on many walks. One where we got caught in the monsoon of 2010, saw a tree fall down right beside us and a very nice couple pulled over to give us a ride back to our home.

Jaimie and Jimmy got engaged! Amazing! Thank goodness I don't have to keep that a secret anymore from my best friends. I thought I was going to die.

I had to deal with a husband who asked for a motorcycle every hour because Will brought his. I am still in the process of forgiving Amy.

Aiden cut 3 teeth while there. Really? That is my luck!

Can't wait until next year!

Joy and frustration

Again, how is it possible I have a nine month old?? The time is flying by.

Nine months ago I left the hospital and felt good about the way I looked. I mean, I thought "oh yeah...I look good for a woman who just had a baby" I was proud of my post-partum figure.

Fast forward nine months and I am beyond frustrated with my figure, the scale, my daily eating, and working out. They always say to you...."It took 9 months to put on the weight, it will take you that long to get it off." Well, 9 months later it is still lingering.

Around March I got serious about eating better and trying to loose the weight. I also started working out again. It was hard, but I did it. I got back in the gym with thoughts of fitting into my pre-pregnancy clothes. I bought a scale to monitor my weight and got a wonderful trainer who kicks my butt every week. Jay ended up having to take the scale away from me after I would weigh myself sometimes twice daily. So instead of stressing out about the number on the scale, I continued what I was doing and tried not to pay attention to how much weight I was loosing. Then I foolishly got on the scale at the gym the other day. And it did not budge at all. Tears started welling up and I got a lump in my throat. One of my best friends reminded me that I was building muscle.

When I look at Aiden and spend time with him, I realize that I am truly happy. Never in my life have I been this happy and fulfilled. But, it is difficult for me to realize that I made poor eating choices when I was pregnant and I am solely responsible for those decisions.

Some people ask when Jay and I will have another baby. My immediate thought is "Never!! I am not doing this to my body again!" Yes, it is selfish. Very selfish. Which obviously proves that I am not ready for another baby. Hopefully, next time I will remember my previous pregnancy errors and it won't be so bad.

As I started this post I went back to find pictures to compare what I looked like before I started working out and now. Yes, there is a difference. But, I want more!! That is just me.

March 2010



June 2010

Bad Blogger

I know, I am such a bad blogger. It comes in waves!

I did finally graduate with my masters in Educational Leadership. It was an experience I won't soon forget. Now I am at home full time with my little man and I could not be happier.

Aiden is crawling everywhere and getting into everything. You have to watch him like a hawk. He will find dust bunnies you never knew existed and then promptly put them in his mouth. He loves to talk and can say mama and dada. Although I think he doesn't really know what he is saying. He has started to cry when you take things away from him. But, I think Jay and are doing pretty well with standing our ground and not giving the items back to him.

I am not sure when he grew up, but he did. It is hard to believe that he has spent more time outside of my belly, than inside. He makes us so happy and we never really realized how happy life could be until he came along.

Here are a few pictures and a cute video of him playing peek-a-boo. I am looking forward to this summer, all of the trips we will take and posting them.

Crawling