We did it! I made my first solo mission with BOTH my beautiful babies. What instigated this bravery? Sippy cups, or lack there of. I don’t know where they have vanished to, but I got fed up with cleaning the remaining few. And of course I needed to restock the “bunny snacks”. We cannot allow bubba to run out of our house staple of organic bunny shape crackers and cookies, no no-or “neh neh” as he would say. Anyway, Tyler was excited to get out, so he walked to the car, which was a bigger contribution to getting them loaded up than one might imagine. I buckled him in and then locked in her car seat to the base. I sat in the drive way and re-checked that they were both there and buckled in more times than a sane mommy would need to. We then arrive at Babies R Us, aka the lucky recipient of about 30% of my annual income. I chose this for our first outing b/c if there was a baby (or mommy) break down, I figured this behavior would be acceptable at this type of establishment. I had rehearsed the plan of action the entire way over there, and it started with parking next to a cart. So of course I pull up and there are no carts to be seen. Not a one. What are the odds?? This parking lot is usually littered with carts that I have to dodge. So with no encouraging words from my friend that I was on the phone with (thanks Steph), I grabbed her carseat/carrier in one arm and him in the other. The thing with Tyler is that he doesn’t “help”, as in he doesn’t wrap his legs around my waist when I sit him on my hip, so this double armed endevour was more difficult than is should have been. i soon realized my main problem: logistics. Reese's carseat took up the basket and Tyler was in the seat, so my items had to be placed with him. He proceeded to throw them out one by one as we made our rounds, but we made it in and out without any breakdowns…just a few stares like “are those both yours?? ”. I even managed to clean down the cart before I put him in it. Sanitary above sanity.

I have yet to venture out on my own with both babies. The fear of hemorrhaging keeps me from lifting them in and out of car seats or strollers, but also the possibility of Tyler having an early attack of the terrible twos while out in public with a crying Reese plagues my thoughts. He is always on his best behavior, but this is my luck and I have to keep it in mind.  Despite this, I need to go to the grocery. Bryce of course offered, but he doesn’t understand that I have been in our home since Sunday night. Haven’t left the house. Not even to walk to the park. So the idea of a trip to the grocery actually excites me at this point. Babies are fed, bathed, and asleep so I make the trek while daddy stays home. Of course the skies open up while I’m checking out and it is pouring when I walk out. No one is walking to their cars and the folks with shopping carts are piling up waiting for the storm to pass. Not I! I walked to the truck, taking my time…even put the cart in it’s place as others flung their bags and left the carts in the lot as if they would melt. See, as a mother of a 14 month old AND 3 week old, I saw this as my opportunity at a shower for the day. Aww, motherhood : )

Tyler is a big brother, and the best one that I know! He has been really good with the "transition", meaning mommy not being able to pick him up but always having this little person in my arms. He ignored her almost completely until a few days ago. Now he is interested in her and watches her eat and sleep in her bouncer. We have to monitor his time with her b/c he pets her and lays his head on her a little too hard. This is what he does with the cat and dog. It is him "being sweet". So we know he likes her, but maybe thinks she I thought there might me b/c we had such a good 2 weeks of mommy time before Reese arrived. He got more spoiled than usual. It has broken my heart though when he comes up to me with his arms up and I can't pick him up, or the fact that I cannot put him to bed anymore. I miss rocking him and tucking him so much!! There have been alot of tears on my part, but he has adjusted just fine to being spoiled by daddy.

We had such a good long weekend as a little family. Last year baby boy slept most of Memorial Day, but my have things changed in a year! He is walking everywhere and still commanding an audience wherever we are. Saturday we had friends over and Bryce cooked ribs at Pawpaw’s while they were out of town. Lil B loves the pool and was fearless as usual. I do not let him see me freak out b/c I don’t want to scare him and I know daddy is there to catch him, but it is hard to watch him leap into the pool. He did not get that from mommy, and it wouldn’t be a bad thing if he got a little bit of caution from my side, but oh well-he has a great time! Sunday we took it easy at our house b/c my 8 month pregnant self needed to take a break after being up on my feet all day Saturday. We did go buy some new toys though. He really has plenty of toys and books, but we figure why not, they will be used again soon right? Haha. Monday we had more friends over and grilled again. We broke out the baby pool and bubble maker for our little guy and he had a great Memorial Day! He would climb in and out of the pool and play with his bath toys we threw in there. He is too cute. The chubby legs and belly just make me smile and I’m so sad that all his walking will eventually melt them away. Until then, he is still has the best appetite for all my crazy organic meals. When he does get a taste of sugar, he goes into overdrive which is really fun for the rest of us to watch…and he sleeps like a rock later. The pedi said his appetite would lessen after he hit the 1year mark, but haven’t seen it yet. He actually eats bigger meals. I love watching him feed himself b/c he enjoys the act of eating so much, typical male huh, and only give him finger foods, nothing pureed anymore. The only thing I have to feed him is his oatmeal for breakfast and his yogurts. We have tried the utensils, and so far failed. All in due time, no need to rush my baby boy. To sum it up, we had another great holiday with our son laughing and watching him explore. Really cannot remember life without him being anything but dull now. 

We had another fun weekend and I had a wonderful Mother’s Day. We took Tyler to Old MacDonald’s Farm, which is a petting zoo, on Saturday. Needless to say, it was hot! That boy loves to be outside, so we had to suck it up. He had a really good time, b/c we could go into the pens to pet and see the animals close up. They are still too far away at the zoo for him to show much interest, but we still go there b/c he loves to people watch. That is why he is so good at restaurants; keep it up kid, haha! He didn’t care for the baby goat that licked his toe, but we got it on video and had a good laugh! The donkeys seemed to be his favorite for some reason. He would whine a little and point to them when we would walk away, but we didn’t want him to get that close b/c they do bite. So we took him on a pony ride (looks like a donkey, right?) aka dad holding him on the horse while the horse was lead around a circle. Tyler loved it and went twice. We ended the trip with a train ride full of diesel fumes, and that was about all we could take of the Farm.

      My 2^nd Mother’s Day was great!  Tyler & daddy gave me a sweet card and beautiful necklace with both my babies’ birthstones. That is how confident we are that she is camped out in there until June! We had crawfish at Kaki’s in the afternoon and daddy took Lil B for a swim. We put his slide at the pool and held him as he slid down it and Bryce would catch him when he “hit” the water. He thought it was great! He makes this certain sound and points when he wants to go somewhere or do something which is hard to say no to, so we did this over and over. He started the morning off wanting a wagon ride at 8am, which daddy had to oblige to. He is the outdoor parent right now. Don’t ask how we knew that was what he wanted, but just knowing these things is one of the perks of being a parent. Another reason why he is never going to talk or walk, why should he when we know what he wants and spoil him silly? So we “made” him walk all day by holding his little hand and letting him walk us around. He is a very busy baby and wears us out! Progress? Yes, he took a lot more steps by himself. The max had been about 3, and he got up to 5 quite a few times Sunday. He normally won’t do this in front of me, afraid of losing his ride I guess, but he was so distracted by being outside with everyone that he would just leave the table or chair he was cruising on and take off. Flagstone probably isn’t the best surface to practice walking, but there were enough of us to catch him and most of the time he plops down on his bottom when he feels his balance slipping. So no injuries for Mother’s Day, just another fun day for our little family.

Baby boy, we had a long night together. You have spoiled us by being this happy angel baby all of the time, but you were not feeling well and just needed to be held. The simplest and best of needs. You let me know this at 1:30 a.m. and we rocked and walked, and then lay down with daddy until 5 a.m. Broke my heart to see you uncomfortable. I just want you to know one day how much I loved these moments. Seriously.  There are no bad nights or days with you. Every second of my life is enriched because of you, even the seconds of the a.m. There will be no nights too long, or cries too loud. No tantrums too bold, or scrape too small. Not for your mommy. I promise you will always find comfort and security in my arms, on my shoulder, for they are more yours than mine.

Tyler had such a big weekend! When doesn’t he? We sure do keep that baby busy, and he seems to have the energy for it! We had his 1^st birthday party at our house Saturday, for just the family. He is still too young to “get” what is going on so we will go through all the hoopla next year with his little friends. Pawpaw (B’s dad) smoked brisket and ribs while the boys played in the yard and Janet and I decorated, it was such a nice day outside. Aunt Sarah baked balloon cupcakes for our desert, and they were so cute. Yum! She also baked Lil B’s first cake. You can tell by the photos that he had a great time feeding himself! We had to take it away after he ate almost half of it b/c we thought he had enough sugar, but he didn’t like being rationed Aunt Sarah’s baked goods. Mommy doesn’t either : )  Pops gave him some ice cream later, and he was really upset when that was gone. Fortunately, he had plenty of toys to distract him from his missing sugar. That boy takes his food very seriously. He received so many gifts, and a lot of fun books!  Kaki & Baba (Bob) got him more savings bonds, which are our favorite gifts : ) A few of Tyler’s favorite gifts were the power wheels fire truck from Pops and the playhouse door thing from us. We brought that door to Kaki’s b/c there is so much to learn and play with on it and she is better at playing with him on the floor these days than I am with my big belly. I always say, if it takes up a lot of space and makes a lot of noise-it’s going to Kaki’s! Haha. He also had a good time riding around in the wagon from Pawpaw and Sissy. Our kids are going to look so cute in it together! We will get a lot of use out of that.  A few other gifts were a tool bench, v-tech toys, train, golf set and clothes. Another Aunt Sarah party contribution was a Tyler stepping stool that she painted….freehand of course. She also made baby girl a couple of gifts if you stop by her site to see. I see lots of glory for Aunt Sarah at future Christmas’ and birthdays. Haha. We had such a great time with our family being over, and it is so wonderful to see how much everyone loves our sweet boy. We are all so blessed to have him in our lives.

We went to Kaki’s the next day for Easter, and after a morning storm, it was another beautiful day. Tyler loves being outside, so he had the perfect weekend. He watched the Master’s outside with Uncles Kevin & Clay, daddy and Baba. He had an Easter basket with some bath toys and bunny book, but no more sugar. It was a relaxed first Easter with our baby boy, but the last of the firsts holidays. Sad but special that we have had a full year of “baby’s firsts”…and we have another round ahead very soon.

So I'm reading about my child's development, etc during lunch and this is what the website has advice for today:

"Each new stage of his development takes him another step farther away from you."

What? My day is now ruined, and I'm so sad thinking about my baby boy's looming birthday. Unbelievable how fast a year goes by. I've been so fortunate with my flexible schedule and plentiful maternity leave to have had so much time with him this year and not miss any "firsts". But stay at home or not, there is never enough time with that precious angel when he is growing so fast.

So I sent that stupid quote to a mommy friend, and her advice for today is:

STOP READING THAT. IT'S NOT TRUE.