Sigh...

Chris's new hobby: fish

There are few wives who can empathize with me (Ali)...

What (at times) he's not good at: cleaning... the tank itself, around the tank, etc.

Our conversation a few nights ago:

Heidi: "Did you spill fish food over here?"

Chris: "No."
Heidi: "There's fish food all over the floor."
Chris: "Then probably I did, then."
Heidi: "Nice."

What shouldn't come as a surprise: It's still all over the floor, just waiting for Jack to discover.

One!

On the morning of January 28th, Chris and I crept into Jack's room to find a smiling boy standing up in his crib, barely able to see over the railing. He was excited to see us both, as usual - not knowing that anything had changed. One thing had; our baby was one!

As I left the room to grab a present for him to open, Chris pulled him from his bed and sat with him in his rocking chair... holding him for a few small moments while our busy boy held still, which rarely happens. It abruptly came to an end when I brought the bag I held behind my back out for him to see. He immediately wanted the present - if only for the packaging it was in, and was happy to discover what was inside, all but climbing into the bag to do so.


Having fun with dad

We spent the day at home, doing what he wanted - and only stopping to bake his cupcakes when he was napping. As I reflected on memories of my mother baking my own birthday cakes through the years, it was a bit surreal when I thought about having a child of my own old enough to have a birthday. It's my turn now to be the mom - something that is still a miracle to me.

We invited our family and close friends to my parents' house for cupcakes that night, and had a full house. We are so grateful for family and friends who love Jack!


We didn't think he'd have a problem diving into the cake... we had a small birthday "preview" a few weeks before at family dinner, and this boy had no shame...

...And left behind a fun mess for mom to clean up.


He wasn't quite sure what to think of this one, though... Maybe the fact that it was so pretty made him unsure? (Made by my friend Jacci. She rocks.)
He kept himself entertained while he waited patiently for us to light the candle.

Not sure what to think...

You want me to do what?

Dad showing him how it's done...

Testing...

...Like this?

I think I'm in love...

And, there it is. A match made in heaven.

In the zone...

Though it was made just for him, he was very thoughtful to share some with mom and dad. It was especially yummy coming from his slimy little hands.
All done!

He wasn't too interested in unwrapping all of his gifts that everyone brought, only playing with them... which left mom to do most of the unwrapping. We actually hadn't planned for everyone to bring a gift; he was one spoiled boy. Unfortunately, our basement apartment has a major lack of extra space for toys, but we've managed.


It's hard to believe the love that grows for your child each day.
We love Jack more than we ever thought possible, and can't believe we've had more than 365 days with him. It's been a fun year.... we're excited for more to come!

A Few Things I've Learned...

It's hard to believe that at this time last year, our tiny one-year-old Jack was still supposed to growing inside of me... and, that we were still awaiting the day that he would be released from the hospital. We are so grateful for our little guy and the exciting (and somewhat scary) new things he achieves each day.

Some things have come to mind over the last few weeks; bits and pieces of things I've learned over the past year.

First, and most importantly: three words. Nap. Nap. Nap.

Your child will love you no matter what... it's ok to let them cry after expending all of your effort to make them stop.

Don't take any moment for granted. Don't let anything pass you by; it goes too quickly.

Enjoy cuddling while they can't get away from you. It won't be too long before they are too busy to slow down, even for a minute (or in Jack's case, two seconds).

Clipping tiny fingernails is hard to do. Even when they're asleep (which is the only time it can be done past a certain age without a fight).

Bulb syringes are a necessary evil.

Your new and only brand of perfume will be spit-up (as any other kind you put on will be overshadowed immediately).

Growth spurts aren't an enjoyable time for anyone.

(Try to) laugh at the naughty stuff, and take pictures when possible.

You will learn (and re-learn) songs... primary songs, silly kids' songs, etc. It's amazing how quickly you run out of the ones you remember!

Hand-me-downs are awesome.

I have loved being a mother, and I'm looking forward to the many years to come... even if (trying to) laugh at the naughty stuff is an every day occurence.

Notice that he is standing up in the cart (backwards), still buckled in. It's amazing how fast he is at it, even trying to stop him.

However, the result is usually what is pictured below.
Both legs forced into one leg hole, and a stuck baby...

crying his eyes out.
Thanks for making me a mom, Jack. You're my favorite little man (even in situations like these).