And no- I didn't believe my husband

When as I was crying into my scarf on the way home from a good, and yet very very bad football game last night that my son had done the impossible and SAID. MY. NAME. And yet- he picked a good time to lie, because this morning my son would not stop saying my name. While POINTING. AT. ME.

It is truly a wonderful day. Even if the Steelers lost. And even if we were (*shocked beyond belief*) unable to procure tickets to the World Series. And even if I should be in the shower and now could be very very late... I had to mention what a wonderful day it is. =)

Done Worn Out

I need a nap. Unfortunately, my house feels like I have been napping for the better part of a year and in the meantime a giant tornado blew through it creating much havoc. But I'm pregnant- and right now, there's just not much I can do but give in to the urge to lay down and sleep for a little bit.

I do have birthday pictures to post... and I'm sure I owe the occasion more than an "It was great!" but really... that just about sums it up. The party was a lot of fun- despite a lack of anything resembling a decent nap- Brody did great, and seemed to have a fantastic time playing with all of this friends. I just wish that I could have spent a little more time with everyone- but when you divide 2 hours into 40 people, I guess it just doesn't work too well. Not to mention that there were things like presents and cake and such that required my attention and took away about an hour and a half of that 2 hours. =) But it was wonderful. And my baby is now officially not a baby anymore, and there are mixed feelings about that around here. I have to wonder if I would be crying less about it if I weren't so tired and hormonal! =)

We also had his one year check-up yesterday... he did great with the shots... he weighs 24 pounds, 13 ounces... he is 31 inches tall... both of which put him squarely at 75% for kids his age- and mean his mom is a pretty good estimator at how big he is! =) He is developmentally right on track and she is pleased with how well he is doing. She did say he is working on the top tooth that still hasn't poked through, and not one molar like I thought... but 3... FUN!

OK- he finally gave in, so I am off to nap as well!

Happy Birthday Broderick! (Almost!)

Brody,

This weekend you will turn 1 year old. I’m starting this letter now because I know the next few days will be very busy for us. We have your 1 year pictures, your birthday party, and a fun day picking pumpkins and going on wagon rides planned. I am hoping that you will enjoy all of it as much as I will enjoy sharing it with you.

Words cannot express how happy you have made me past year. Though I wouldn't have believed I could ever love you more than I did the first moment I saw you, my love for you grows exponentially every single day. I could list the things that you do now… like trying so hard to walk (you can take about 5-6 steps before falling), or how you have grown, (I don’t know exactly how tall you are or how much you weigh, but I am guessing about 31” and about 24 ½ pounds), but those aren’t the memories that I cherish from this past year.

When you are big and grown, I want to look back at this year and I want to remember your smile and your hugs. I want to remember how when you are very tired or hurt, you reach for me and lay your head on my shoulder. I want to remember how you like to kiss/bite my toes, how often you do it, and the lengths you will go to if my feet aren’t readily available. I want to remember how everyone not only stops to tell me how cute you are, but also what a good baby you are. I want to remember how you laugh when I try to get you to say “mommy” or when I tell you no (because next year, I won’t think it’s cute anymore!) I want to remember how you love to be outside and how watching the bunnies makes everything better. I want to remember how curious you are, and how you will spend hours exploring somewhere new without caring how many toys are laying around being ignored. I want to remember how much you love emptying the Tupperware cabinet and the dish towel drawer, and how proud of yourself you are when you are done. I want to remember your look of complete bliss when I caught you playing in the toilet- and how you love to chase the kitty (who doesn’t love that game NEARLY as much as you do.) You are just so cute when you know you are doing something you shouldn't! I want to remember how when you stand on your own, you wave with both hands like your little Spiderman toy. All in all, it’s these things (and so many more that I don't have the space to mention) that make you the little boy that I am so proud to call my son. It’s these things that make me look forward to each and every day that I am blessed enough to be woken up by your cries, or even better, your babble.

The next year will be filled with so much fun, and so much learning and changing, and I am sure that I will love the next year just as much as I have loved this one. I just can’t wait to see what you do next.

I love you,
Mommy

Bring on week 14!

Yeah! I have officially bid farewell to the first trimester. But funny enough all that magical energy that I am supposed to have now is still alluding me. Perhaps if I could sleep… but that’s a pipe dream. It’s been over 3 months since I have gotten more than 2 hours of sleep without waking up to pee, or because Brody has woken up, or because Matt has stolen the covers (or worse has dared breath on me in my sleep!) And I don’t see it changing anytime soon.

But I am feeling better in general. And I think the quality of my 2 hours of sleep is getting better… so hopefully that’s a sign of good things to come. I know that with the holidays coming up and such time will pass quickly, but at the moment I feel like I’ve been pregnant a lot longer than 3 months, so the next 6 seems like It will never pass.

I think I am buying our double stroller soon. It appears that the color scheme that I want (and the one that matches our infant carrier) is being discontinued. There is another color that is close- but if I can get this one 31% off, and it is the one that I actually want- why not save the $70? It just has to sit in storage for a few months… but better than spending more money on one that I don’t like as well, right? Right. I’m glad we agree.

In Brody news- we are gearing up for his birthday, and I am getting excited about his party! I have everything planned and ordered. I just need to wrap presents and pick everything up on Saturday and we’re all set! There will be lots of friends for him to play with, and cake to smear all over! Fun, fun fun!

Did I mention that he is taking his first steps? He can take about 5 or 6 now before he simply lunges forward or loses his balance. My baby truly is growing up! *Sigh*

Dreams

I had a dream about Brody last night. He started talking... in full sentences. In fact his first word was "Tanya", followed immediately by "won ping pong." How crazy is that? I'm not sure who Tanya was supposed to be, or why we were playing ping pong, but whatever. It was strange to hear Brody talk- even if it was in a dream.

We think Brody has his first word, though he just says it all the time and not because he wants one or even to repeat us if we say it... so I think it's just a conglomeration of sounds that don't mean anything yet... but it would be a pretty cool first word (well, not as cool as mama, but ya know!) It's hug. And even if he doesn't know what he's saying, it's still awfully darn cute.

And even if he isn't talking- he's definitely getting more communicative. He never shuts up these days. Not crying, just all out screaming babble most of the time. He's also clapping a ton, and even sometimes to show that he's excited.

It's definitely helping me realize that he's growing out of the baby stage and will soon be a full fledged toddler. (I say as I hold back the sobs...)

Teeth!

So we have a tooth... ok, so you can't see it unless you look really close, but don't get your fingers too close or you'll be sorry! =) There is another one that should be through in the next day or so. Even today Brody is a much happier baby, and I am one relieved mama!

(Oh... and if you haven't checked out this site, please do, leave a comment or email me and I will send the invite!)

Whoa Baby... look out!

Since I think it's been awhile since I've done an actual update on all of Brody's new activities, I figured I would catch everybody up... well, and I'm not feeling very creative and simply can't think of anything else to write about...

Brody is officially crawling. Well, has been for a few days now. He's also started using something besides mommy and daddy to pull himself up (you can interpret something else to mean everything and anything that stands more than an inch off the ground.) My mom swears she's going to buy him a helmet?

Did I mention he's also a very good basketball player? He's already VERY good at making baskets with his little basketball hoop. The kid is amazing I tell ya! =)

I think he's also going through a pretty big growth spurt and/or may finally sprout some teeth. He's definitely gaining some weight, I may have to start calling him thunder thighs if he doesn't start getting taller too! And he is INSANELY clingy and grumpy. It's quite tiring.

But all in all, he's doing great, and continues to be the best baby boy ever...it sounds cheesy, but there are so many times every day, whether he's playing, laughing, or sleeping where I wonder just what we did to get so lucky. (I don't so much think it when he's screaming his head off, but ya know...)

Is there a weekly award?

Because it is now absolutely confirmed, that whenever we leave the room or are not watching- our son sits himself up... but he absolutely will. not. do. it. if we are watching. Stubborn little bleepity bleep bleep bleep....

Bad Mom of the Day Award Winner!

YEAH! Congrats to me!

So we have this daily routine... Brody and I get up in the morning, and since it's usually his least fussy time, and he is, for the most part, content to play on his own with little interaction, I let him. Mainly because it is when he typically will not get too frustrated by trying new things, and ends up learning a lot as a result. Plus, I need coffee and internets to start my day or I am a very fussy mommy.

So after a little fussiness when the lobster bit him (it's stuffed, but he was still convinced those pinchers were real!) I laid him back on the floor to let him crawl around. I SWEAR I put him down on his tummy... but the next thing I knew, I looked up from the internets and he's sitting up.

Now, I'm not convinced that I am not losing my mind and that sometime between laying him down and looking up at that moment, I hadn't assisted him in getting this way, but I SWEAR I don't remember. Leading me to believe that I might not be losing my mind is that yesterday morning, he was SOOOO close at doing it. I kinda thought it was an accident, but perhaps not.

So now I'm on Operation Spy. I am pretending that I'm not watching by typing this, but I have one eye on him just waiting to see what he might try next. I'm sure that typically, as soon as I look away he just gets up and starts running around, and now I am determined to catch him in the act!