It's the Final Countdown

The final countdown to Colin's first birthday, that is.  Our little dude is one week from his first birthday, and we are down to our last couple chair pics!  He was so cute this week flirting with Stephanie while I clicked away from behind the camera.

This week has been a week all about mobility.  Earlier in the week, we had a package delivered, so there was a cardboard box hanging out on our living room floor.  Colin found it, stood up on it, and decided to use it as a push toy, sliding it all over our apartment.  He was thrilled, and that is when I remembered - duh - we have a toy made for just this purpose.  He has mostly been playing with the buttons and gears on the front of it, but once I put him behind it, and he realized what it was for, off he went!  Colin's interest in walking definitely grew this week, as he is finally happy to walk while holding onto my hands as well.  I expect that steps (and then full-on walking) are not too far away.

It has also been a challenging week because Colin has a molar coming in on the upper right.  He is not pleased about it.  Not at all.  For so long, I've been incorrectly assuming that teething is the cause of every problem that initially, I was more surprised than anything when I felt his gums and realized that there was finally truth to that presumption.  Thank goodness for Baby Advil.  While he is still not thrilled about this whole teeth thing, the Advil works wonders helping him sleep and relax enough to play when he is awake.   Our other great trick has been carrots - full-sized carrots cold from the fridge make a great teething tool/snack for teething - especially for molars, because he can slide it a bit further into his mouth.

Finally, I finally uploaded the photos from my iPhone that have been hiding on there for quite a while, so here is some general cuteness from the past few weeks.

This day in (our) history

Seven years ago today, David insisted that I come to Columbus from Athens to celebrate my sister-in-law Stephanie's first Mothers Day.  He was adamant that it was far more important than Greek week, and little did I know, but he had an elaborate plot in the works to propose.  I was not only surprised by the ring, but he shocked me even more by orchestrating a big joint family dinner with our parents and grandparents to celebrate.  With all of the excitement, I barely noticed Mothers Day that weekend.

Last year on this date, I was overdue, waiting anxiously to meet our little man.  I was frustrated when Mothers Day came and went; I was supposed to be a mother on Mothers Day, and there I was: still pregnant.  That day, we hopped the bus to the Lincoln Park Zoo, and we walked.  And walked.  I am pretty sure I made David walk nearly all the way home after hours of strolling through the zoo, because I was determined to walk that child right out of me.  (I did not.  Obviously.  I did however have very sore joints and lots of Braxton Hicks contractions.  Fail.)  David was so patient and kind as my hormones drove me to a state of pure crazy, and my family and friends were so sweet to wish me a Happy Mothers Day in advance.

"Mothers Day?  Who cares...I'm comfortable in there..."

That night, we went to dinner, ate spicy food (of course...more failed home induction attempts), and talked about the year to come - our hopes, our goals, what we expected.  If only we could have imagined what the year to come would entail.  The love that grows and grows, not only for our child but for each other.  The challenges, the sleepless nights, the hugs and snuggles, the giggles and goofy fake laughs.

This year, we celebrated my first true Mothers Day.  While last year I was so upset that I could have my baby out of my belly and in my arms, I think in retrospect, spending the past FIFTY weeks parenting my child have made this day, my first official Mothers Day, even more special for me.

David and Colin did so much to make the whole weekend special.  Yesterday, David watched Colin all day so I could have the day to myself for a photography class.  This morning, David handled the early shift with Colin so I could stay in bed, and "they" (David) made me breakfast, which was delicious.  David got me a tripod for my camera and a purse (both of which I got to pick out - that is definitely our gifting style), Colin got me flowers, and they both gave me sweet cards.

After I got to shower and relax while Colin napped, we took a family trip to the zoo - just like last year but totally different.  Colin got to enjoy the view this time, and I got to take him on his first ride on the carousel, which he absolutely loved.  He giggled and smiled every time we spun around and saw David watching us and taking photos.

At the "Farm at the Zoo"

First Carousel Ride

Family photo time!

When we got home, Colin napped, and we had some down time at home, cooking and catching up on work.  Once Colin was up, we took a quick family trip to Target and then came back to grab Kenzie and took a nice long family walk.  We came home, fed Colin, David handled bedtime, and then we feasted on a "challenge meal" - number 11 of 24: Lamb and Orzo Stuffed Peppers.  They. Were. Delish.  David's last surprise was that he picked up some amazing dessert - Graeters ice cream and salted caramels.  I couldn't have asked for a better Mothers Day.

Me and the Dude on our family way

Stuffed pepper yumminess

Playing with the new tripod - trying to catch a good family pic...

On top of everything today were two awesome perks that made today unique:
1)  I didn't have to touch anyone's poop.  No diaper changes or doggy doo-doo to deal with today :)
2)  I got to go to the bathroom alone.  No baby in my lap or playing near my ankles while I peed.  Heaven.

And above and beyond all that, so many wonderful friends called, texted and facebooked, my parents sent an adorable card, and Jacey gave me a crazy cookbook of insane desserts that may make life a little dangerous (for the waistline, that is...).

To all my mama pals out there - I hope you had a wonderful Mothers Day too!  And to my mama, thank you for being the greatest mom of all.  I couldn't be luckier if I tried.

Weeks 49 and 50 - down to the weekly photo wire

There is a part of me that is sad (and quite possibly freaking out) about Colin's upcoming birthday.  How can my little baby be turning one?!  Where does the time go?  Who stole my baby and gave me this opinionated, mobile, crazy almost toddler?

And yet, I am so excited about what is coming.  Vocabulary that will replace the mini-tantrums that have already started when he can't express his needs and wants.  Walking that will lead to a nice break for my back as I schlep him up and down the steps.  And I'm excited to reach the 52 week mark, when I don't have to wrangle a wiggling baby to stay still with his tush on the chair long enough to snap a cute photo. (Yes, I know I don't have to take these pictures, but goodness, I have gotten this far - I can't quit when we are this close!). Thank goodness for David and Jacey who help to create great distractions to keep him looking at the camera and stop from jumping right off the chair.  The best laid plans...

The past couple of weeks have been so interesting, as Colin seems to be having a little language explosion.  We hear him babbling using many more syllables (da, ya, la, ra, ba, ga, - still no "ma-ma", even with Mothers Day right around the corner), making vowel sounds other than "ah" like "oh" and "ee" and "ai", making "sssss" noises, and generally experimenting with his voice. 

A couple of weeks ago, he said his first word, "Hi" and then his second word, "Da-da" meaning dad.  He doesn't always use them, and he uses them for other purposes as well, but it is incredible to see him look at someone and say, "hi" and wave, or to watch him look at David when he walks into the room and hear him exclaim, "Dada!"  (Yes, I am jealous.  "Mama" will come, I know.)

Last weekend, my parents came to watch Colin while David and I skipped town to celebrate his birthday a bit early with some of his closest friends on a couples getaway to Wisconsin.  It was a pretty amazing weekend, because all parties involved were so excited and had a blast - David and I with our friends, and Grandma and Grandpa having a blast with their darling (if not a bit exhausting) grandson.  Thanks again mom and dad for all of your help and for hiking all the way over to our place to watch Colin.

We have had quite a bit of fun around here in the past two weeks.  Colin loves to play fetch...with himself.  He grabs the ball, "throws" it (usually drops and lets it roll - occasionally it flies a tiny bit), and then crawls along after it.  Grab, throw, chase, repeat.  It's hysterical.  He also loves climbing up the steps of our apartment building - yesterday he climbed from the entrance all the way up to the door out to the roof (5 full flights!!).

We've had a great handful of play dates over the past couple weeks - with our regular Friday crew, with Jacey and Sadie, and with Elia, Lily, Lila and their mamas.  Colin is getting much better at being "independent", clinging less to me and venturing further away from me without freaking out.  Since the weather has been erratic, we've spent time hiding from the heat in the shade at the playground and getting out on rainy days by hanging at Bubbles Academy's open play.

For the past several weeks, I have been really quiet here on the blog, mostly because we are all tired over here.  David is working up a storm, and Colin has been tiring me out during the day and sleeping poorly at night.  Finally, a little tweaking of our evening routine (returning to an extremely early pre-6 p.m. bedtime) seems to have addressed (and hopefully ended) the 5 a.m. cranky wake-up call coming from the crib.  

Every day has felt quite a bit like a marathon, and thankfully, I am hoping that as our sleep returns, my momentum on the blog (and in getting away from the junk food and off of the couch) will return.