A tribute to the most wonderful husband and father.

It isn't nearly often enough that I gloat about my husband. So, let me take a moment to do so.

When I'm feeling faint of heart
With little energy left,
He's the one who lifts me up
And gives me needed rest.

When baby J is fussing
As he has been all day long,
He's the one who assures me
That I've done nothing wrong.

When dinner is cold and chewy
But we've nothing else to eat,
He's the one who challenges me
To not concede defeat.

So while I'm a lot of effort
And sometimes not much fun,
He's reassuring me that
I'm his only one.

While it may seem trivial
To feel so deeply wanted,
He has always done so
And never needed to flaunt it.

To him I am grateful
For the life we three share.
And so I dedicate my heart
To my husband dear.

Who does he look like.... at 6 months?

People often ask me whom baby J looks more like. This is one of only 2 pictures that I have from my husband's childhood, so there isn't much to compare. You be the judge. :)

Memories are made today

While talking to my mom about an invasion made on her computer by some hacking hooligans, I suggested that she immediately back up all her digital photos onto compact disks to ensure their preservation. The conversation got us thinking. If there were a fire and you had opportunity to grab one thing (after loved ones were already safe), most of us mommies would say that we would take our scrapbooks. Virus on your computer?Same thing, save the photos.

Our memories are priceless. They are more valuable than any material possession and have greater impact on who we are than heredity. But life often becomes so hectic, that our memories become digital documents or glossy pages, instead of fixtures of our minds. Please understand that I am in no way degrading photos. Photos are both a creative outlet and valuable documentation of events. But sometimes I find myself forgetting that an event even occurred until the visual image is presented.

So, as we embark on a new year which is a wonderful occasion for new beginnings, I am going to slow down. I hope to create just as many memories as photos. Then, when in need, I can draw the memory and feelings to mind without relying on something physical.

The physical can be easily destroyed but who we are as a person is enduring.

Have a happy, memory creating weekend!

Becoming A Big Boy

Baby J turned 16 months old last Friday. I suppose that while he is my baby, he isn't really a baby and friends will soon start correcting my reference to him as such.

He is walking (sprinting, in fact), climbing, hurdling, jumping, bouncing, and chatting. His curiousity is abounding with nearly constant 'ats dis? (loosely translated as "what's this?") and dat (translated "that"). He is infatuated with every sort of animal and anything with wheels.

The realization grew even more apparent as he had his third (yes, third) haircut in 3 months. I love his naturally highlighted locks and how as a baby he could get away with the shagginess. But the struggle that ensued each time the scissors grew near his head caused great anxiety. True, a bowl of popcorn and his own comb calmed the situation, but the anxiety was still present. So, in an effort to reduce the number of occasions to pin him down to have his lovely locks snipped, poppy and I agreed to a shorter cut. While he still maintains the pudgy cheeks and the tiny nose of a baby, he has begun to look like a boy.

While it is inevitable, does it have to creep up so rapidly?

Doesn't Every Mom Need One?

While changing quite possibly the most putrid diaper of my entire existence, I realized that there must have been a mix-up at the hospital. After Baby J and I were released, we received the complimentary diapers, wipes, and the little hat. But they forgot to give me the stomach of steel. That would have been handy this morning.

Oh my, these are big shoes to fill.

Sorry that the picture is blurry, but he moves so fast these days! Even with an instant shoot digital camera he's blurry.

Never try to match wits with a Sicilian when death is on the line.

Hahaha Hahaha Hahaha Haha Thud.

Sometimes having a toddler is like going to battle with a Sicilian, except death isn't on the line. Sleep is.

The past few weeks, baby J has acquired a few new, somewhat strange habits. He is determined to continue to nurse frequently at night. And, I, the Norwegian/German that I am, am determined to have my way.

His first battle was realizing that if he coughed, he got mommie's milk. In the beginning, it was a legitimate cough. And because I would never withhold anything good for my son, I nursed him. But then I began to notice that the cough continued, except he had no congestion or drainage. Yet, he would wake up and start coughing. Strategy: Cup of water on the nightstand. Success! Sleeping baby!

His second battle was crawling out of his bed and crying. This worked to his advantage, because when his papa got up to retrieve him, he tripped over him. Both returned to our bedroom in hysterics. So, we put the baby gate up on the top of the stairs each night, propped even more pillows in his bed, and were able to avoid an accident. Success! Sleeping baby!

Tonight, he must have thought, Forget it. They're onto me. I'm a pretty light sleeper these days, so I was surprised at what I heard next. There were small footsteps pattering quickly. Then came a shadow. He looked light a miniature football player barreling towards our bed. I quickly sat up, took him in my arms and cuddled him as he sipped the water. In record time, he was asleep in our bed. Success! Sleeping baby.

I think that I will join him now.

Lazy River Laziness

I had been quite bummed. Many of my friends had ventured away for the weekend. I was feeling very left out and wanted nothing more than a few days away. So, my hubby surprised me with a trip to Timber Ridge Resort & Lodge in Lake Geneva, WI. It has an indoor waterpark and each room is a suite. He told me the morning of our departure of his plans.

It was wonderful to get away, especially in light of the impending snow storm. We made the trek northward and enjoyed the warm indoor excursion with a beautiful view of the outdoors. It felt almost like being in a snow globe, except with the snow on the outside of the glass. We played in the pool and baby J went down his first mini-waterslide. Shortly before the fun was about to end, baby J and I floated on the lazy river. He was tired and very relaxed. He said that he wanted NeNe, so I positioned him gently and nursed him until sleep found him. That is how we ended our retreat. What a lovely way to bond!