A whole year...

7/8/09
Baby Boy,
I remember this moment a year ago, when they laid you on my chest and I saw your sweet little face for the first time. My heart was so full of love for you! I remember going to the hospital thinking it would be cake this time around, since I was only having one baby. I couldn't have been more wrong! You just didn't want to come out, and I have to say I loved having you in there too, feeling your kicks and movements. After 16 hours of labor, three hours of pushing, I held you in my arms, and you were even more beautiful than I imagined. Your name means "praise," and we have been praising God for the joy you have brought into our lives from the second we found out about your existence.

I can't believe my baby is one. You are sweet and happy, but have a strong will and quite a temper when you don't get your way. You are the darling of your brother and sister, and can do no wrong in their eyes. They love to mother you, play with you, and share their most precious belongings with their "baby brother." You are crawling everywhere and you have recently mastered the stairs(which you are quite happy about).

Your favorite time of the day is bath time, and you always yell at me for getting you out. You wake us up in the morning by standing in your crib, talking loudly and banging as hard as you can for someone to pay attention to you. You are pure sunshine, and you have brought so much joy into our lives. Happy first birthday, sweet boy.
Love, Mama

Rain Rain Rain

Its raining, again. Now, I love me a good rain, thunderstorms are my favorite. I love sitting inside with a good book and a steaming cup of coffee, listening to it pour outside. I love the clean smell of it when you step outside, I love the bright green of the grass and the crazy growth of the plants in the garden. I love rain, probably more than most people, but, after three weeks of it (yes, you heard me correctly, three. weeks.) I am sick of it.

Not just the being-cooped-up-in-the-house-I-am-losing-my-mind aspect of it, but the fact that I am basically a prisoner with these three (and sometimes six) tiny people, that are losing. it. Their little bodies are aching for sunshine, exercise, and space. They want to be digging in the sandbox, riding their bikes, playing outside. I must seem like the warden to them, instead of a fellow suffering prisoner. The whining, tattling, and just plain misery are echos of my own feelings, but, being the mama, I have to put on my brave face and find some creative things to do to keep little minds occupied. After three weeks of this, I am running out of ideas. There is just so much play dough, crafts, painting, candy land, movies, reading and fort building you can do. Please PLEASE sun, come visit us soon. The natives are getting restless....