Lego mania

Boden is definitely crazy about his Legos.  He has many sets of tiny, tiny pieces scattered all over his playroom floor as proof of his mania.  Even though he doesn't play with them everyday, he's informed me they can't possibly be picked up because he wouldn't be able to see them all.  Yep, this is true and that is the point.  While I'm happy he's finally broke free of the instruction book and is starting to use his "magination" to build his own creations, the tiny pieces, a curious crawler, and a mom who would like to occasionally vacuum and clean up the ever cluttered room do not mix.  So Boden gets to lock himself in his playroom during Lego time and August pounds on the door wanting to be part of the action ( i.e. Destroy what Boden is working on like a mini Godzilla and shove pieces in his mouth.). And I get to vacuum around pieces while trying not to get mini megaphones/tires/headlights/sharks/life jackets/etc lodged in my foot in an attempt to keep the dog hair and the dirt that travels with little boys at bay.

"I am Duplo.  I come to destroy you."

Boden- proud of his latest rescue station, complete with landscaping and a lighthouse.

First giggles are so sweet

The only time we've heard August really giggle was in his sleep--not sure what you dream of when you're 3-4 months old, but apparently it's funny stuff.  So, it came as a nice surprise when August, Boden and I were hanging out one afternoon, and Boden, a natural born silly guy, was the first one to get August to giggle while awake.  The camera work is not great, but the giggles sure are.  I dare you not to smile.

One year down...

Boden turned one yesterday and the momentous occasion caused me to pause and wax reflective: if I had to describe the past year in one word, what would it be?  A number of options popped into my head...exhausting, challenging, tough, wonderful, frustrating, overwhelming, focused, eventful, magnificent, questioning, crazy, scary, unclear...All true. 

I asked Todd what his one word for the year was, and his first choice was one of the 4-letter variety and then his second, PG-rated word was something like awesome (I just got off the phone with him and already forgot what he said..."mom brain" strikes again).  But, he said, he's struck more by how Boden is now--fun, cute, playful.  He has already forgotten the endless hours of Boden's screaming each night from the time he was 6 weeks old until he was about 5 months old that made Todd mental and the sleep-deprived wife who was borderline crazy.  How quickly one can forget the bad in light of something much more amazing.

To boil it down to one word...hmmm, I guess my word for Boden's first year is "everything".  There were highs, lows (sometimes both within the span of 10 minutes), goods, bads, moments of blaring clarity contrasted by complete befuddlement and everything in between.  The last year was one wild ride, for sure.

Say cheese

Boden had his one year pics today.  I thought I was being smart by scheduling them in early October so we could get some nice outdoor shots...then we woke up to snow this morning--ha!  To top it off, even though Boden is generally a pleasure and full of smiles in the morning, he was a total Grumpasauraus Rex from the moment he woke up.  Of course, I hadn't planned on needing celestial intervention for everything to line up, but it was turning out to be one of those days, so I didn't know how this picture taking biz was going to work out.  I figured that even if he screamed his way through it, it would be a documented experience that I would look back and laugh (and maybe cringe) over.

Boden did manage to pull himself together for Leann, though.  Leann and I danced around, made silly noises, and made Curious George dance in an attempt to get a few smiles from the little grump.  He was also very interested in Leann's super spectacularly shiny off-limits camera and, after he warmed up to her a bit, he got bold enough to lunge for it a few times. While we couldn't get him to keep any accessories on--he kept tugging his big boy shoes off (actual hard soles, not soft like Robeez) so we didn't get outside for any pics (drats!) and he whipped his hat off almost as soon as we put it on--there were a few moments, when his whole ensemble was on, he had a smile on his face and he looked adorable.

Overall, the experience was exhausting for both of us.  Boden took a long nap shortly after Leann left...and woke up even crabbier; so I guess scheduling the pics early in the morning did work in my favor.  I'm crossing my fingers that at least one picture looks fan-flippin-tastic.

Safety. Dance.

Boden's head continued to break his tumbles this week. In addition to the goose egg on his forehead, I helped him out with another bruise right next to it by dropping a sea shell (my bribe to keep him "in position" on the changing table) on his head. He followed that up with two more bruises at daycare.

I used to feel like I just needed to protect Boden from the big worries (child predators, falling into the lake, tumbling down the steps, getting run over). But learning to walk has led to a new sense of autonomy and adventure for Boden and I now see that every little corner, rift in the carpet, and open drawer is a potential threat to my little one's safety--and it makes me feel like every day is marked with flashing yellow caution/beware lights. Every waking moment I'm with Boden, I'm putting my hand over corners, moving dogs, pushing in chairs, telling him to duck, shutting toilet lids, closing drawers (or getting my own hands slammed in them), re-directing him to "safer" activities...etc. and it's exhausting.

I remember awhile ago, stopping my car for a mama deer and her fawn to cross the road and I yelled to the mama, you need to be safer with your fawn, lady, because I'm not always going to be around. Look both ways! I told Todd if I could make a living patrolling the highways to help animals cross safely, I would do it because the sight of any animal who's met his death by way of an ill-timed road crossing brings me to tears--always. While it's definitely part of my nature to keep my own "little deer" safe, I'm apt to going a bit overboard. It's clear that I'm on the path to becoming the dreaded "helicopter parent". Today, I'm clearing away physical obstacles to make Boden's life easier and in 17 years I'll be writing Boden's college application essays and arguing with college admission's offices about why my son didn't get accepted.

(Video: Boden gettin' his groove on.)

What comes around goes around

I caught up with a friend who had a three week old new babe. Her family had recently left town and her hubby was back at work so she was home getting to know her wee one.

The same friend who listened half-heartedly when I told her stories from the early weeks of child rearing was reciting my same tales back to me (the overwhelming exhaustion, what really happens when your milk comes in, night sweats, lack of schedule...etc.). As I was listening to her version, I was reminded of when I was in the trenches with Boden in those first few (and sometimes horrible) weeks. I remember cursing my friends (in the nicest way possible, of course) for not giving me tips about the littlest things and wondering why no one tells you how exhausting and all-consuming a newborn can be.

Then it occurred to me--no one really cares about the details unless they have gone through it. When you're caught in the minutiae of day-to-day living with a newborn, the only people who understand and can really listen are those who have already been there. It's like a "My kid's a toddler now and I lived to tell about it" support group. I'm sure my friends who had babies before I did shared their anecdotes and warnings with me, but, I was only half listening and full of judgment (roll eyes, pass judgment: "I mean really, how hard can it be?").

I found myself giving my friend the same "oh, yeah--I remember; you'll get through it, too!" pep talk that I got from others. It feels good to be on the other side and I have a little validation that other new parents struggle, too. Whew.

(Photos: Kitchen - nearly complete and mostly usable!; Boden and Sloan playing ball).