Mother's Day (take two)

My second Mother's Day was much like my first, in the best ways possible. Brian let me sleep in until 9:30 (It's literally been over a year since I've slept past 9)! I woke up to a baby asleep for a nap and came downstairs to breakfast and coffee. Brian framed photos of me with my boy and gave me The Honest Toddler Book (hilarious, you should follow Honest Toddler on Facebook). 

We went to Liz and John's for a delicious lunch made by the boys like last year, and had a fabulous time, like last year. There were delicious cocktails from Brian, Zach performed his Mother's Day songs he learned in preschool, and we all just enjoyed each other's company. Liz is such an inspiration. I'm sure that she gets tired of me pumping her for parenting tips, but I refuse to stop. I can only hope that Nathan ends up being half as delightful to be around in a few years. 

One short (very long) year ago.

What a difference a year makes though. Last year at this time Nathan was 2 weeks old, and I was just starting to get over feeling like I'd been hit by a truck. Everyone wanted to hold our sleeping baby and now we have a toddler with a absolute will of his own. I couldn't be happier to be his mom.

A Mother's Day post wouldn't be complete without an ode to my own very wonderful mother who babysat for us just the night before. Mom, you're amazing and I can only hope to be half the mom you are. 

 

A year ago we'd just moved here and Leah wasn't all that sure about Brian. This was a major triumph.

 Look at them now!

Our photo shoot started out pretty much looking like this -

We got one decent one.

And it ended like this...

These three end up together OFTEN.

Aren't they just the prettiest?

And the goofiest?

Just Because

How cute are these boys together?

Nathan's become more and more interested in the feeding himself thing. I feel so very torn about this. The MESS. But it's also pretty sweet to see him grow up. He's started to fight being fed to the point where he won't allow it, but the moment I put a spoon in his hand he's off like a shot. If we both have a spoon we can alternate.

Enjoying the sunshine

The weather has really been beautiful. Nathan is really enjoying crawling on the grass now (the first time he was VERY skeptical of the new texture). Dirt is his new favorite thing. We've been spending more time outside and loving it. 

After a year of talking about getting it, we have patio furniture! Brian found a table and chairs at a resale shop right near his work. It was a steal, and we can't wait to start entertaining folks outside. We've eaten outside the last two nights to celebrate. It's been lovely!

The dark times...

Nathan is wonderful. Except when he's slightly less wonderful.

I have an app on my phone called The Wonder Weeks. I've only had it for a couple months, and I don't know how much I buy into it but the premise is that babies go through development phases in which they make connections and leaps in understanding. That part, I definitely buy.

The app claims that these "leaps" come in two parts. The first part includes babies being more clingy, cranky, and crying more, whereas the second phase manifests itself while they are trying out their new skills and understanding and they are more independent.  I take this all with a grain of salt, but just before this most recent (what I like to call) "dark time," I had, for a few weeks, just been glowing about how happy he was, how pleasant to be around all the time, etc.

I look at the app every once and awhile, and about a month ago I looked at it and the app showed that we were at the beginning of a "dark time." Hogwash, I said. Have you seen him? He's delightful! He's so happy! You call this clingy? Two days later, the clouds gathered.

Now, let's be clear, he's still delightful, wonderful, and generally fun to be around, but for the last few weeks his fuse has definitely been shorter. He hates getting undressed and dressed and cries like you are pulling out his nails. (Brian and I basically do rock, paper, scissors for that fun task.) Not a big fan of diaper changes either. By the end of the day when he's exhausted we all (Nathan included) just wish he were in bed and sleeping.

Call me an optimist, but I've been checking this app more and more the last few weeks, watching the little baby get closer and closer to the light. It looks like one more week. It may all be hogwash, but at least it gives  me something to look forward to and something to blame other than, "our baby is being a bit of a pain lately." Instead it's, "he's going through a leap, poor fella." It's all about perspective, I guess. I'm banking on a month of sunshine.

Though, is it just me or does that next "dark time" look longer than this one?

In other news, the weather has been just gorgeous the last couple of weeks here. We are getting outside so much more and it couldn't be more refreshing. We were all a little desperate for some Vitamin D. Cathy's been taking Nathan and Jacob on walks almost every day, and they are pretty adorable in the double stroller.

Also, I stole some flowers from Ted and Angela's yard! (Thanks for the flowers guys!) Yup, that's right, they are now the proud owners of a great house about a mile and a half away from us. I can't wait to take Nathan on walks to see Aunt Angela and Uncle Ted once they move here. They may start to wish they had bought something twice the distance! Look at those beautiful flowers! It's inspired me to put my mind to our own landscaping. Nathan even helped me plant our tiny vegetable garden. He LOVES playing in the dirt and has only tried to eat it a few times. (Repeat mantra: dirt is good for babies, dirt is good for babies)

  

  

      

1 Year Randoms

Nathan and Jacob are pretty cute together. When he comes over to our house, the first Nathan does is crawl over to his seat to say hello. 

Nathan's love for our sliding glass doors continues unabated. 

And balloons.