Hello again!

Well, March was a bit of an adventure and now it's almost halfway through April. M had been healthy all winter and then got hit by an awful stomach virus followed by pneumonia. Not so much fun.

Before the tummy plague struck when we were visiting the inlaws in Maryland.

Most of the visit was spent like this:

But we had lots of happy moments. M loved meeting his Grandma's new puppy.

And Mama got to do lots of this:

Thankfully the boy has recovered (and is sleeping again!) so it's back to posting.

M was a very, very lucky boy this Christmas - one of his favorite presents is his tricycle.


He immediately spotted it on Christmas morning (and the fact that we put a new stuffed doggie in the basket turned it into the ultimate magnet for our son.)


He's still a bit little to touch the pedals, but it has a handle at the back so we can push him around and he LOVES it! Plus, it's the same brand Elmo rides when he's in the park with his daddy! (I've had this song stuck in my head for a week!)



We had an iconic parent experience one evening the weekend before Christmas when we assembled all his presents.



It was a "how many grownups with graduate degrees does it take to figure out instructions," type of evening.

I've never had that much fun being that frustrated!

Holiday Traditions: Winter Books

One of the family traditions I'd like to create is reading special winter/holiday books during December. Merritt has started picking up a book, walking over to the closest parent, and tugging on our leg until we sit down and read to him. He won't sit through a whole book, and often wants to look a the pages in his own order - two pages forward then one back, etc. - and sometimes he'll "read" to us in his sweet little jabber. I love it! I like the idea of special books for the seasons.

So far we have:
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
The Tomten by Astrid Lindgren

Ok, only 22 more to go! (Not that I want to get them all this year...perhaps one or two a year) I've been finding inspiration on various mama blogs but have no idea what would be good this year.

M and Daddy reading.

Pumpkins

On Sunday we went pumpkin picking with friends at a local farm. I met the moms and their daughters about a year ago at a new moms group. It's still amazing to me to think how much we've gone through over the past 12 months.

It was a perfect fall day. We went first thing in the morning, which was good, because by the time we left at 10:30am it was packed.

The kids are such buddies. Whenever they greet each other there are many smiles and much mutual nose beeping.

We went on a hayride to the pumpkin field. M sat on Daddy's lap and wasn't to sure of things.

At first M wasn't too sure about the pumpkins.

But then he realized that they make good drums.

And that they're fun to try to roll.


And then it was true love.


We didn't have all that much luck getting three old-year-olds to pose for a picture together. I think this picture is hilarious, and represents all three personalities well.

Our Little Family

Poor M, always having to put up with kisses from Mama and Daddy...

Cousin Alex

M met his cousin Alex for the first time during our visit to the Cape.

Alex is five months older than M. We had a few incidents of both boys not not wanting to share and a few hugs that started out sweet but went on a wee too long, but in general they got along really well.

I have this sneaking suspision that they're going to have lots of fun growing up together...and get in lots of trouble...

370 Baths

M at 4 months smiling at Daddy.

We realized recently that we have given M a bath before bed every day of his life, which means he's had 370 bedtime baths (not counting the hospital baths and a few extras when there were vomit incidents.) Bedtime baths didn't have an auspicious beginning, he screamed and I ended up in tears. Usually it's both Mama and Daddy, sometimes it's just one parent, but bath time is always cozy ritual to close of M's day. I had lots of grands schemes and plans about child rearing, many have already fallen by the wayside, but I'm glad bath time stuck.

I'm not going to try counting diapers - too scary - especially considering he's already pooped three times today and it's only noon...

Saturday Play

My active little guy!

One year ago...

A teeny, tiny M being burped by Daddy.

Now we are one

M turned one while we were on vacation. We planned to have a party with family and friends on the Cape today, but ended up heading back to NJ on Thursday because of Hurricane Earl. (Which turned out to be only slightly more than a stiff breeze... *grumble*) I'm a bit bummed that he didn't have a first birthday party, but I know he won't remember it. Instead, J and I got our favorite pizza and a little cake. M liked gnawing on the pizza, but wasn't so sure about the cake! It was pretty wonderful to be home with my boys.

So, happy birthday my precious little boy! I really can't believe that it's been a whole year since a became your mama. It's been an incredible 12 months and I love you more and more every day.

Pause for vacation

We're on the Cape. Much good fun, family and food - unfortunatly a very bad internet connection...

One year ago...

It was my first day of maternity leave and also M's due date. I was preparing to go to my final doctor's appointment. And by preparing, I mean probably lying on the couch watching tv. Not, unfortunately, doing something useful like having breakfast. Something I regretted five hours later. Instead of spending my first day of maternity leave having breakfast at my favorite diner, getting a pedicure and doing a bit of last minute shopping, I ended up being sent to the hospital by my doctor because my BP was high. I spent the morning hooked up to machines, starving. I was so grateful at 1pm when the nurse told me I was being induced and let me sneak out and get food at the hospital Au Bon Pain.

It was my first lesson of motherhood - always have breakfast, because kids are unpredictable!

This Moment

This Moment - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. A beautiful idea from soulemama.

Looking back

Playing, originally uploaded by linseyclair.

M at four weeks playing on his mat for the first time. He still has a bit of the awful impetigo, which covered his face in a rash during weeks three through five. This was the first day he showed an interest in toys, so I put him on the mat and he batted it around a bit. For such a little thing, it was so exciting. (Not as exciting as having my cute baby reemerge from the gross rash, but still pretty nice.)

Happy Birthday GramAnna!

Today is my wonderful, beautiful Gram's 92nd birthday. Gram has inspired me in so many ways with her energy, creativity and her positive outlook on life. I have so many happy memories of spending time with her during our summer trips to Maine. I think my favorite memories are the small ones – helping her dry dishes after meals, walks down Pott’s Point, the grown ups having drinks on the porch while I explored the chest of family memories, picking blueberries for buckle (best dessert ever!)

She always let me have free run of her fabric stash – a true gift to a budding little sewer! And her stories, I love her stories. About fifteen years ago she started writing down stories, vignettes from her life and sending copies to the family. It has been such a wonderful gift for us and for future generations. I cherish each and every one, rereading them often. From the everyday to the momentous, I love having a chance to know so much about her life.

Gram wearing a suit she made.

I was so glad to have her meet M, the newest little branch on our family tree, in May. M is a carbon copy of my husband – we joke about needing a “maternity test” – but every so often I see a little glimpse of Gram in him. Something about the way he looks at you and the set of his nose. And it always makes me smile.

So, happy, happy birthday Gram! I hope you have a wonderful day!

Gram with her four daughters.

Weekending

This weekend my brother came to visit from SF. It was such fun to see him. He hasn't seen M in about five months, and he is much more interesting now. (And by "he" I mean M, my brother has always been interesting!)

Sunday was another hot day in NJ, but threatened rain, so instead of the town pool we filled up the kiddy pool and splashed about. Lots of fun!

Sunday night, M had mango with dinner. He didn't let me finish peeling before he attacked it. Apparently, he likes mango as much as hummus.

Cape Cod

We introduced M to The Cape last weekend. Jon's mother has a house and he spent much of his summers there growing up. It was loads of fun seeing Grandma and Bampa and swimming in the ocean.

Checking out the kids beach with Daddy.

We drove out on Nauset Beach and practiced walking on the sand...

...and falling on the sand...

...but mostly playing with the sand.

Sometimes the sand played back. (Playing "so big" with his shadow.)