The Best Days

As I sit here watching my son grin while he pretends to eat cereal puffs out of an empty container, I can't help but think of my friends...friends that are expecting babies, friends that have new little ones, and friends who are waiting for their time to come...and I'm filled with amazement and a little amused by the advanced knowledge at how much better their lives will become. Each day with your own child brings some new wonder, and just when you feel you couldn't possibly love anyone or anything any more, your baby suddenly will become magically more adorable than the previous second.

Now, I'm not foolish enough to think that every parent in the world is a good one and that everyone has love for their children, but the women I have in mind most certainly will. And I don't care how cliche it is, the truth remains that the love you feel as a mother is the best kind of love. I'm also not so insane to ignore the fact that there will always be bad days but for every completely and utterly bad day there are 50 good ones with your child. (that's coming from a woman who battles depression consistently) Last night I was sobbing uncontrollably, but in the midst of it jamie was runnig across the living room and throwing himself at the floor. Then he would roll like he'd had a major spill and giggle, and I couldn't help but laugh through my tears.

Currently, Jamie is laying on me and tickling me waiting for me to laugh. I'm serious. His first word was tickle and he has now mastered the concept. He wiggles his fingers on my arm, stomach, whatever's closest saying "tickle, tickle, tickle" until I belt out my most convincing laugh. I just wanted to take this opportunity to tell you ladies, even the ones with newborns, that you can imagine it, but you truly have no idea of the joy you are in for. Sappy I guess, but true. Even now, I'm surprised every day by this love. I'm so excited to have ladies to share it with.

I need to shave.

Come One, Come All

Here's my sorry that I've been lacking in the blog department. Much has happened since "Bellybean." For starters, Jamie is now a one year old! He's also toddling around from place to place. He's still quite clumsy, but with his 80th percentile head teetering above his 10th percentile body, who could blame him? Those numbers were from his nine month check-up. His 12 month will be next wednesday. I still expect his noggin to be above average. He's sick right now and we had to go to the hospital. The doctor there said he has a large head and when i told him the percentile he was like, "And is someone monitoring that?!" What?! I assume his pediatrician is. Apparently, I have a freak show baby. Maybe I could get rich if I enrolled him in a Circus Tots program. "Come and see the Living Bobblehead! You won't believe your eyes!" I mean, clearly my son has a sizeable head, but I like to think that it's there to house his sizeable brain. Thanks Doc, for giving me a complex, as if I don't have enough of those already. I'm just thankful that Jamie isn't old enough for such insecurities.







His birthday celebration was wonderful. He tried to eat his cake with a spoon. The only part he truly got messy with were the cookie ears (it was a monkey cake). Now my baby is officially a toddler and I adore him more everyday. Just when I think "You're so cute I can't handle it," he gets even cuter.





As for the current pregnancy, I've lost weight so far and I pretty much feel like the infamous pumpkin, unless I'm asleep. Please pray that it ends this time. Not the pregnancy, obviously that will end when it's time. I mean the misery. I know I got through it once already, but I'd really prefer a happier experience this time. Loathing pregnancy doesn't really make it any easier.

5 Weeks+10 Months+26 Years= Unprepared

Well, ladies and gentlemen, it's official. I'm pregnant again. And though I adore my son and children in general, I find myself already questioning my ability to do this again so soon. Jamie is amazing and he's everything I could've asked for in a first child. (notice the neglect to include "first pregnancy") Needless to say there were a lot of questions running through my mind when I realized it was clearly 2 lines on that infamous little stick. What if this is a wonderful pregnancy and a difficult child? What if we don't get into a house with three bedrooms by the time #2 arrives? What if i'm not mentally capable of 2 kids under 2? What will other people think? What sacrifices will we have to make to afford it?

I have to say that there was one thought that hadn't even entered my mind until yesterday. Yesterday was the big day of announcing it to the families. Though they did seem quite excited, I'm positive I overheard someone say "Poor Guy" directly after the news was given. Now, if they were referring to my husband, they are sadly misinformed because he is the one who has been pestering me for #2 since Jamie was about 5 months old! Of course, the most logical thought is that they were referring to my son which, even in jest, I still would've found slightly annoying.

This is a thought I'd never considered. I'd never considered that, because of the new baby being so close in age to Jamie, my son would not get a turn in the spotlight or that he would somehow be forgotten or left behind too early in his young life or passed over by family in favor of the new arrival. I never considered because it's something I would never let happen. Let's face it, with total disregard for tooting my own horn. I'm a fantastic mother...and fabulous with children in general. They love me and it's because i have a true love for them. This second child coming when Jamie is so young might be a bigger challenge financially, mentally, or even socially (because it's seriously hard to do stuff with friends now) but it most certainly won't be a challenge where attention is concerned. If I have enough love to give to 16 kids in a preschool class every single day, I certainly have enough to share with my own two children.

Jamie's going to have all the love he wants; make no mistake about that. And #2 has wiggled it's way into our hearts as quickly as it did my uterus. I have big plans for my family...big plans.

He doesn't know what's in store, but he looks pleased anyhow!