ONE

Well, the biggest milestone of them all has arrived and I must say I am pretty proud of myself! I have made it to Calvin's first birthday with minimal tears and maybe only one anxiety attack over the past week. It's so wild how quickly it went, and how many moments are frozen in my memory forever. This day a year ago, I was marveling at  my newborn baby boy and today I played with a happy, healthy, silly one year old who is able to look right at me and call me Mama. This day is more than my son's birthday, it is the anniversary of me becoming a Mother. I always knew I wanted to be a Mom, but I never grasped how truly life altering it would be. The moment I became pregnant, my world changed. It was no longer about me, my wants, my needs. Everything I ate, listened to, and looked at grew newfound perspective. My relationship with God also grew and stregnthened because I now had a better idea of how God sees us, His children. That unconditional, never failing, no-matter-how-many-times-you-mess-up LOVE. It's truly the most powerful thing. Parenthood comes with its fair share of challenges, and the last year has by no means been easy. It puts new laugh lines on your face, but also deeper wrinkles under your eyes from sleep deprivation. It brings your relationship with your husband to an amazing new level, but also brings new ground for arguments and testing times. It quickly weeds out friends who are all about late nights or show no interest in your "new" life. I feel like the last year has taught me more than any college course ever did, and I have truly found what God wants me to be. Elio's Wife, Calvin's Mom. Although there are so many more facets to who I am, those are the cornerstone to my overall purpose in life. Serve God, take care of my family, be a good friend, and throw my career in there somewhere. You could even take my career out, for all I care at this point. I cannot wait to see what the future holds, even though there were so many times over the past year that I said with tears in my eyes "Can't we just freeze him like this forever?"
Calvin is such a sweetheart and brings joy to everyone who meets him. I know God has big plans for him, and I'm content to just sit back, watch, and be his Mommy. Happy Birthday, Calvin Robert!

A look back...

Grateful

I have to take a moment to just thank God that this picture is even possible. So many people have been praying for my family and loving us, and my heart is full when I see my son with my Dad.


I've had a rough week. Work stress, financial worry, and the "working mom" grind had me down. Not to mention the fact that I still have a husband who works just as hard and moments alone are few and far between.
The reality is that I am SO blessed. I have a home, a man who loves me, a healthy, happy baby, and my family is doing well. Some days are better that others, but isn't that just life? It is so easy to become weary with the menial tasks of each day and the stress of staying afloat in this oh-so-lovely economy. Not to mention the constant juggling act of work, baby, and the boys...which makes me feel like a deficient circus performer. Trying to find some peace and quiet in the middle of it all is nearly impossible.


This moment happened over the weekend, and as I snapped the photo I couldn't help but think about how none of the "stuff" matters. The bills, work, laundry, dishes. The things I don't have, the things that don't get done or I can't afford to do. None of it matters. People matter, love matters, and most importantly a relationship with a Father who hears our prayers and provides endlessly to meet our needs-that is what matters. 




“The willingness to be and to have just what God wants us to be and have, nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else, would set our hearts at rest, and we would discover the simpler life,
the greater peace.”
~Elisabeth Eliot

Almost One?

I absolutely cannot believe that October is upon us. It literally feels like a few minutes ago that I was getting his room ready and packing a bag for the hospital. Here is an update on what our little...err..big pumpkin is up to:
-If you say "Puppy Dog", he sticks his tongue out and starts panting. One of my personal favorites! haha!
-He is constantly saying "Dada, Daddy, DAD" Calvin loves his Dad and is very vocal about it! He wants only Mama at bedtime though.
-Calvin has decided he is moving past pureed baby foods and is ready for more substantial food. I realized this when he went on "strike" from eating purees, but reached for a Goldfish cracker and proceeded to eat it like it was nothing. He has 7 teeth so I guess we're ready for "real" foods! He of course eats like a champ for the babysitter, but at home we're focusing more on whatever we're eating, just in Calvin sized portions. Most of it ends up on the floor, but oh well!
-Calvin can stand independently but still gets nervous to do it on his own. He is so close to walking, and I have a feeling that he will be doing so by his first birthday.
-He loves any game... hide and seek is hilarious to him, he loves to be chased (especially if he has something he isn't supposed to have), and he LOVES to laugh! Just last week Elio was playing a game with his blocks where Elio acted like he was hurt when Calvin would throw the blocks at him. (They're soft blocks) Calvin was laughing hysterically and actually fell over from laughing so hard!
-Calvin is a pro at giving kisses, and is so sweet.
-He has become so perceptive. My Mom watched him for us while we went out to dinner for our anniversary, and he started waving Bye Bye to her when she arrived to pick him up! haha! He knows when something is up.
-Calvin loves the boys. He plays so well with them, and they are so sweet with him! I'm blessed to have my firstborn surrounded by other boys he can learn from and interact with.
-If you catch him doing something wrong, he immediately starts "clapping" his hands! I guess it's to show you he's too cute to be in trouble. :)


Here are some of my go-to products, and favorite items for our growing boy:
-I only use Burt's Bees baby lotion on him! It's hands down the best.
-Pampers Cruisers diapers. They hold everything in- even the messiest diapers. The big boxes usually have coupons in them, and if you shop at Target you will get register coupons as well.
-Earth's Best Organic baby tooth paste. It's all natural and comes with a finger brush. Calvin was unsure of it at first, but he now opens his mouth for me and loves to have his teeth brushed!
-Cheerios. Perfect finger food, and they're healthy.
-Aveeno Diaper Rash cream. Calvin developed a diaper rash for the first time, and I literally tried every cream there is. Aveeno is the best and cleared it up right away. It's also all natural and a little goes a long way.
-The "Wonder Weeks" Book or App for iPhone or iPod. It's so on target for where your child is developmentally and explains why they may all of a sudden be fussy or not be sleeping well. I have the app on my phone, and it's a great, accurate resource.