savoring the details

My Baby is One!

How can it be?

I know as mothers we all lament that time passes too quickly, but it just honestly seems to be flying.  All day I have been reliving my trip to the hospital, when Luke was born, my hospital visitors, etc.  It just seems impossible that an entire year has passed!

We are just having a small celebration today with dinner and cake with family and our wonderful neighbors.  On Saturday we will be having a joint party with my niece who was born just three days after Luke. 

Happy, happy birthday to my sweet Luke!  We love you so much!

Tagged!

I was tagged by the fabulous Peg to share six weird/quirky things about myself.  I must say that I know I have many more quirks than these six, but  here it goes:

(1) I cannot cut raw meat.  I know this plagues most women during pregnancy, but for me it is a way of life.  I go to  the meat market and they cut all my meat for me.  I just cannot touch it and I am very fearful of all the bacteria associated with raw meat.

(2) I drink coffee, but only from Starbucks and it must have 5 pumps of Hazelnut syrup in it (yep, lots of sugar). I tell people that I really don't like the coffee...I guess I could probably just get away with drinking the syrup...ha!

(3) When purchasing a newspaper or magazine, I will never select the one on top.  I select one from the middle...one that hasn't been bent or creased or even looked at yet.

(4) As you can probably already tell from the things listed above, I am a germ freak.  I wash my hands repeatedly throughout the day and I have lots of Clorox wipes handy!

(5) When I get up in the morning, the first thing I do is open up all the shades/blinds.  I need natural light to get things moving in the am.

(6) I am slightly obsessive-compulsive (shocking, I know) and before I leave the house, I check the stove numerous times to make sure that it is off.

Well, there  you have it...I am a nut!  I fully admit it.  Thankfully, my husband loves me despite my idiosyncrisies.  I tag my dear friend, maureen.

A Kiss!

When I went to pick Sean up from school yesterday, I could just tell that the teachers were talking amongst themselves and then one of them volunteered to 'talk to me.'  I swear I felt like I was in trouble and I kept thinking, 'Oh no, what did Sean do?'.  The teacher then proceeded to inform me that another little girl in Sean's class has developed a crush on him and while sitting next to him during circle time, she proceeded to 'kiss him on the lips'.  Well, imagine my relief...there are much worse things in life than being kissed by a girl.  Fortunately, Sean isn't into that whole 'girls are gross' stage yet.  I asked him on the way home what happened and he told me the same story and he also told me that he was embarrassed.  I told him there is nothing to be embarrassed about...it is a compliment when people like us.

My little boy's first kiss...yikes!

Just some stuff...

On the homefront, we seem to be turning a corner.  However, not only has Luke been sick, but Sean has been sick too.  He started getting sick on Friday...running a fever along with a stomach bug--ughhhh!!!!!  I took Luke back to the doctor yesterday and he now has a horrible ear infection in his right ear.  The doctor said it must be very painful for him.  I guess that would explain his uncontrollable crying.  Along with that, while his mouth was open so wide from screaming, I noticed that tooth number 9 is coming in--a molar.  Poor guy, adding that on top of his other pain.  I am really hoping that the antibiotics kick in and both boys feel better real soon. It will be interesting to see what happens when Luke is feeling better.  He has been getting up every night around 3:00 am and I have been giving him a bottle because he isn't eating much else during the day.  Any thoughts on how to wean this behavior once I know he is better? 

In other news, when I  managed to leave the house for a few moments this weekend, I ran to Micahaels and I swear I cannot leave there without buying some ribbon.  The ribbons they have in the $1.00 bins are just so pretty.  Here is a photo of a few I couldn't resist. 

Here are two cards I made.  The first is for a friend of mine who is having her second baby, a boy.  Her first son is 7 years old, so another  friend of hers threw a shower for her so she could restock up on some essentials.  I was unable to attend the shower because of my sick kiddos, but I did make this card for her and will be seeing her this week to give her my gift.

This card is obviously for an expectant mother.  I made it for my neighbor across the street who is expecting her 4th baby this summer.

I hope everyone is well and that you all had a great weekend.

Sick Puppy

I guess this photo probably says it all.  Luke has been quite sick for the past few days.  It started on Tuesday with a runny nose and cough.  I was optimistic in thinking it was just a minor cold, but it has gotten much worse.  Last night the little guy barely slept at all.  I attempted to sleep with him lying on top of me on the couch, but that didn't last for long...he is definitely not a snuggler even when sick.  He likes his own space to move around, etc. but would have no part of going in his crib and falling asleep alone.  Kevin was finally able to rock him to sleep at 3:30 am and then he was up for the day at 6:30.  Needless to say, we are all going on little sleep and are cranky and irritable.  I took him to the doctor's office today and he told me to take him for a chest x-ray to rule out pneumonia.  Apparently, there have been lots of cases of pneumonia this year.  Fortunately, he doesn't have it.   I am so thankful!  Jessi, I was thinking of you and all that you have been through recently with Grant.  I am hoping Luke  feels better tomorrow and just praying for a halfway decent night's sleep tonight.  These sleepless nights are reminding me of my life a year ago (almost) when I came home from the hospital with our sweet newborn.

Here is another ice storm photo. I am sure this is just a weed, but I thought it looked neat!

Brrr....

Well, we  have dodged winter for a while now, but there was no escape today.  We awoke today to ice everywhere.

Surprisingly the driving wasn't too bad today, but we are getting more freezing rain at the moment so tomorrow may be much worse. 

There are also many people without power, but thus far we have been lucky.  I hope it stays that way.

Stay warm!

Guess what today was...

Sean's first day of skating lessons.  He was so excited!  It is all he has been talking about for a week straight and all day today he was asking, 'Mom is it time to go?', 'When do I need to get ready?' I know that his dad couldn't be happier that he has such a great interest in hockey/skating. 

He did very well and was moved from his original to a group with all girls.  We were laughing because the teacher kept saying, 'Come on girls and boy.'  Sean didn't know the difference and was just so thrilled to be on the ice. 

The last few minutes are a free skate and this was by far Sean's favorite part...a chance to skate and practice his crossing over and all the things that his dad has been teaching him.

I know that this is just the beginning of many hours, days, years at the ice rink, but I wouldn't have it any other way!

Seriously, the best!

It is moments like these that I cherish...moments like these that I am so grateful that I am a mother...moments like these that I want to savor.  Sean can make Luke laugh the deepest belly laugh and the sound is pure magic.  You might not be able to hear it when you look at these photos, but  I can and I hope I will always be able to.  This is why I love photography so much!

11 Months

It is hard for me to believe that Luke is already 11 months old and that his first birthday is at the end of this month.  I cannot say it enough, that time really does fly.  I wish I had started this blog earlier and been better about recording monthly milestones, but since I can't go back in time, I will begin now.

• sleeping through the night
• takes two naps a day but still cries as a means of falling asleep
• loves to eat--3 bottles a day and 3 meals a day and lots of snacking
• loves these treats
• crawling everywhere and walking around furniture
• very agile and is basically fearless
• loves to play with toys and plays with lots of toys he shouldn't like Matchbox cars that belong to his brother
• loves to open the CD player even though it drives mommy crazy
• has a great deep belly laugh and his brother is the best at making him laugh
• has the loudest, piercing scream and uses it to get what he wants
• is our little love and fills our home with joy