Cut Cut

I gave D his first haircut last night! :(

Okay - we DO want to let his hair grow out - but the back was growing much faster than the top - and he looked like he had a SERIOUS mullet - so I cut the back only and now it's almost the same length as the sides.

Photos later.

So weird though - giving my baby a haircut...

Flavia

Many of you may be familiar with "Flavia" art. This collection of inspriational art and writings is created by Flavia Weedn. Her work is very recognizable.

On D and I's last trip to the library - one of the board books we checked out was a Flavia book called "When I Grow Up" - and we LOVE it.

As we do with every library book we have for the week (or two week) stretch between visits - we read at least one of them in the bedtime book rotation each night. This book has made it in every night. It's a great book - only a few words on a page with Flavia's great illustrations.

When I grow up, I might be...a rainbow or a wise old tree. Maybe a fireman, or a nurse, or a doctor with an alligator purse. I could be a clown with a funny hat...or a red balloon, imagine that. I might be a drummer in a marching band, or the ruler of a magical land. When I grow up, my dreams will come true...because I'm special just like you.

I love that this book promotes imagination. If you want to be a rainbow someday - be a rainbow. If you want to be a red balloon - it floats with me. If you want to be the ruler of a magical land - rule on. Dreams are limitless...I want D to believe that his opportunities are too. In fact, I hope he becomes a wise old tree :)

This is Halloween

D survived his first "real" Halloween. He did great and didn't even hate us too much for the lobster costume.

We had a play date in the early afternoon with our old pals from breastfeeding group. It had been so long - it was great to see everyone. All the babies are so big - and there's only 2 of us left that are breastfeeding. One of the girls even announced that she's pregnant again!

Here's some photos from the play date:
D and his buddy LJ - who has been on the blog before...
D and his little girlfriend Ruby - these two play together so well!
Our attempt to get the 5 kids that were there to have a Halloween costume picture. Madness ensued...my child is on the move:

Then we moved on to "trick or treating" (3 houses) including a stop at Great Aunt Patty's - where we met up with the cousins Meyer...

D seemed so off in all the pictures yesterday - and we thought he would have a breakdown when we put him in the outfit again today for his 1 year pictures. On the contrary though! He took moderate pictures (okay still adorable) in his sweater and pants, but lit up when he was back as the crustacean! Get ready to see those pics. Seriously...unfair amounts of cuteness. Stay tuned...

1st B-day Par-tay!

We had D's first birthday party the day before his actual birthday - on a Saturday because, you know, the Bears play on Sunday. (Can you visualize the eye-roll that I'm doing right now?)

Our house was too too small for the event (we thought it would have sold already!) so we hosted at a room through the Geneva Park District. We chose Peck Farm Park on the far West end of Geneva. We rented the "Orientation Barn" (it's 3rd in the picture below) which actually is a corn crib for you farm kids out there.
The inside is completely redone and it was the perfect size and location for D's party.

We went with a pumpkin theme...everything was pumpkin. We had a pumpkin shaped cake (made by me!), orange plates/cups/napkins, a pumpkin Happy Birthday D banner (made by me!) and photos of the little man from each month of life mounted on pumpkin-print mats around the room. We had candy corn, green/orange streamers/balloons, pumpkin bars (made by my mom), hot apple cider and the AMAZING view of the forest preserve.

D had a good time. Spent the majority of the time playing on the floor with his cousins Amelia, Adam and Kellan. He was a bit overwhelmed by the gathering of people to sing Happy Birthday to him in his high chair - he stuck his bottom lip out and looked a bit like a deer in the headlights. However, he left the candle burning on his miniature pumpkin cake through the entire song. He ate some of his cake - but not until I cut a piece out of it for him.

He got some great gifts and we had a great time. I still can't believe he's one!

I'm hoping to post the video of the birthday song on here soon - and some more photos that my sister will send me because I didn't have much time to snap many photos...boo...so if you're reading Theresa - let's get on that eh?

Biggest Inspiration

Unbelievable. Do you watch The Biggest Loser on NBC? (I won't tell you what Dain's nickname is for the show...)

This show always inspires me - to see these individuals change their physique and their attitudes and their LIVES season after season is just amazing. It's must-see TV for me (or more like must-DVR TV since I no longer watch anything live). There are always such amazing people with extraordinary stories or situations, and they completely make over their bodies and souls.

This season on NBC is no exception. However, it has one person that took inspiring and unbelievable to a whole new level - Abby.

Abby is a teacher in her mid-30's who 2 1/2 years ago lost her husband, 5 year old daughter and 1 month old son to a car accident. In one fell swoop, everything was gone. Watching her featured parts of the show was an exercise for me...an exercise of emotions. They did an extended story on it a few times this season, and bawling was an understatement.

I'm including two videos below. The first is her "introduction" video that aired on the web before the show began. It briefly tells her story, just gives a glimpse - if you're at all emotional, don't watch or grab a tissue.


This next video is the "where are they now" video - as she was voted off the show on this past Monday's episode. Just watch a few minutes. It shows how she looks now and what she's doing...


WHAT? This woman is not only getting out of bed everyday - but she is getting out of bed and being a positive person and putting positivity out into the world. She's touring the US from what I've heard, and speaking to schools about second chances at life. Her story is literally my worst nightmare - MOST people's worst nightmare. When she got voted off, she thanked them so much for bringing the light back into her eyes. She said she felt like herself again, or at least was starting to. A huge group met her when she arrived back to her hometown and her parents & family thanked the show for bringing her back. She was so positive - and as you can see in the "where is she now" video - she's an inspirational speaker now. That's just plain amazing.

She makes me realize how lucky I am. Working full time, having a one year old that wakes up in the night, tight finances, not being able to sell our house and all my other "problems" are really put into perspective. This woman would probably give all her limbs to get up in the night with her little ones. She'd probably live in a cardboard box on the street to have her husband back. She would most likely take a 100 hour a week job just to have her family back. I can endure my problems - I'm lucky to have only my problems. I will forever be motivated and inspired by this woman from reality TV. I'm guessing you will be too.

One Year Ago

One year ago, I had a baby. I went in to the hospital to get checked at 34 1/2 weeks pregnant and came home 7 days later with a baby.
I went through the hardest experiences of my life that day...18+ hours of labor with Pitocin, a forced C section, getting my baby taken away as soon as I delivered with barely a glimpse, not seeing him for multiple hours then meeting him in an isolette with wires everywhere, etc.
I spent the 7 days that my baby was required to stay in the hospital there with him, in my own room Howard Hughes style, only shuffling back and forth to NICU for feedings every 4 hours with barely a nap or shower in between.
I came home with a baby on an apnea monitor which was attached to him and the wall at all times. After two months we bid adieu to the monitor - and I finally felt like I had a baby like everyone else did from day one - and then I was whisked off to full time work one week later.
After all we went through in the beginning, and all the hours of breastfeeding, milestones, viruses, tubbies, songs, cuddles and cries since - we made it a year. I can't believe it.
My life is changed forever. I worry like I never thought I could, smile like I never thought I could, cry like I never thought I could, and love like I never knew was possible. I have the best baby in the world (even if he still is up multiple times a night). D is the sweetest kid in the world. He amazes me daily - with his love of books that allow him to sit and flip pages for hours, his quiet side among a crowd yet his loud songs and words with just a select few, his eyes that have defined a new color of blue, and his peaceful smile that reminds me what is truly important in my life.
Happy Birthday to my little man. I can't believe one year has gone by.

D on day one:

D on year one:

Does it Count?

Does it count as "making" my son's birthday cake if it's a Duncan Hines mix?