My Sweet Boy

Oh, this boy. He's just so much fun. Eleven months old already and I can still just stare at him all day. I'm so amazed at what God has blessed me with and motherhood remains an overwhelming and awe-inspiring endeavor. He is growing so fast and I'm filled with such joy that I'm able to be right here with him day after day to watch him grow and learn.

I've been busy planning his first birthday party - and even as I type that I still can't believe it. My goodness, how fast this year has gone by! We're having a small get-together at my parent's house in Galveston which just goes perfectly with the nautical theme of the party :) I've had so much fun planning this and making decorations. My craftiness seems to have been reawakened which is so exciting! I've been sewing banners and hot gluing nautical themed ribbons and anchors on just about anything that will stand still. I can't wait to see it all come together and I'm sure I'll have plenty of pictures to post.

And speaking of pictures - here's what we've been up to the last few weeks:

Pop and his grandbabies. This was at Ms. E's 4th birthday party. 

Too sweet.

First swim in Barton Springs!

Playing in the dirt.

Happy baby.

I'm sure he's going to just love all these bathtub pictures one day.

It's not an illusion - he really is bigger than his 4 year old cousin.

Being tortured by Aunt Sara. 

This is his new scrunchy face - it entertains me endlessly.

Lazy bones.

Eating Cheerios and cheese - yum.

I love this.

Ten Months!

Nine Months and Counting

My sweet boy is almost 10 months old! My goodness. We had his 9 month well baby check up a few weeks ago. He weighs 25 pounds, is 28.5 inches tall and has a head size of 49 cm. Speaking of that noggin...our pediatrician was concerned with just how big it is. He ordered a cranial ultrasound to rule out a condition that causes excess fluid around the brain. I was, of course, very alarmed but was able to get in for the ultrasound the next day and the doctor called me with the results that same afternoon. Baby G is completely fine and has now been officially diagnosed with a big head. :)

He isn't crawling yet but he is standing up really good (with some balancing help, of course). He is also starting to take longer naps which I have been looking forward to for a loooong time. He loves to play with new toys, read books with Momma and still loves to be held and cuddled. He is just so sweet and easy going.

Here are some pictures from the last few weeks:

First swim! 

First swing in a big kid swing!

I lovingly shelled and pureed these fresh, organic English peas - and then this happened:

Buddies.

Oh, this face. And check out the curl.

Too sweet.

He loves the teething biscuits.

Look! First little teeth!

Found this picture in Daddy's phone. 

Can't leave out this pretty girl.

My beautiful sister and niece at her first dance recital. Precious.

So Proud of My Best Girl

My best friend, Ms. Erin Barker, was featured in the Lake Charles American Press. She is wonderfully talented and I'm proud to know her. I love you EB.

Galveston Vacation & Easter Weekend

George took a few vacation days and we went down to my parents' house for the first week of April. He and my dad did some fishing and this momma did some relaxing. I didn't wash a single bottle or give any baths or do any laundry all week. Nana did everything! Oh how the definition of vacation has changed.

Oliver. He's too big to fit in the back next to the car seat. 

Headed to Nana & Pop's!

We took a trip to the Moody Gardens Aquarium.

Sorry Erin.... :) 

My two favorite boys.

Easter weekend was spent around the house. Georgie and I went to visit my parents, sister and some family friends that live nearby. My dad's friend is a pilot so I got to take a trip up in his plane. It was so fun! Me and my boys spent Easter Sunday lazing about in the backyard and enjoying the beautiful weather. 

Canyon Lake from 1,000 feet.

Don't worry...this little one stayed on the ground.

Learning how to pet Oliver. 

Seven Month Pictures

A Thank You to My Parents

Family is a funny thing. You live in a house for 18 years and are shaped and molded by your parents. Then the time comes to leave the nest. In my case, I moved 5 hours away just a few weeks after my high school graduation and that was that. I'm so incredibly grateful to my parents for letting me go. Now that I'm a mom, I can fully imagine the gravity of that process. But they did it so gracefully. They let me go to make my own life, my own mistakes, form my own opinions and learn how to move through this world as an adult who isn't afraid to be independent. There is a true separation that happens and it is completely necessary. Sure, we kept in touch and visited but they were no longer part of my day to day decision making. They weren't hovering over me throughout this time in my life when I was becoming an adult and I'm so thankful they were able to let me do that on my own.

But there is a two-fold process here and there comes a sort of odd phase of getting to know the adult child. It's tempting to revert to old roles and patterns of behavior in order to keep the family dynamic the same as it's always been. Even as an adult, there is a strong impulse to please your parents and be the person you think they want you to be. But I am thankful that, instead, my parents prefer to know the person that I've truly become. Sure, my father probably wishes that I was not a registered Democrat but I know that he still loves me and is proud of me. What I'm trying to say is that there is value in getting to know your adult children as they truly are and not as you want them to be.

This all may sound quite simple and obvious but the more I contemplate this phase of parenthood the more I realize it's probably not very easy. Giving up control, cutting the cord, and taking a back seat while your children grow up and then loving them unconditionally once they "return." That is what my parents did and that is what I will strive to do with my own children.

Thank you to my Momma and Daddy for loving me and my husband and the life I've built for myself.