Rain, Rain Go Away

My first day at the "new job" started early - 5:50 a.m.  Someone thought we should go ahead and get up (hint:  it wasn't me).

The day was great.  We visited the library and the indoor playground at the mall, mainly because outside it looked like this:

A torrential downpour all day long.  Driving rain.  The kind of rain that makes you want to put your feet up and put on a Lifetime movie.

Thankfully, Wes had a long afternoon nap that allowed me to recharge as well.  (Rain makes kids cranky.  Getting up before 6 makes kids and adults cranky, too).

Luckily after his nap, the rain slowed down enough for us to put on rain boots and a rain coat and go stomp in some puddles:

We ran into our friends Sara and Megan (2 yrs) and they came over for some inside play.

The best part of the day was when daddy got home and we got to play on the porch, with the driving rain all around us:

Aaaahhhh...heaven.  But now, I'm going to bed.

~Kristina

My New Job...

Today was my last day at Kenan-Flagler...I have a new job. Stay-at-home mom and chief playmate of this little guy:



I definitely had mixed emotions while leaving the building this afternoon. A while ago when I set the date of May 14th it seemed as good as any. And it came pretty fast...too fast for me to process it and get nostalgic, really. I've been at Kenan-Flagler since July of 2006, when Neil hadn't even started law school yet. So much has changed since then, and my co-workers have been through it all with me.

But, it's time. I'm ready to spend my days playing outside in the sandbox, fingerpainting, and taking care of Wes. And in September, his sister will join us and a whole new chapter will start!

Aldersgate Preschool Dedication...and the saddest little face ever.

You just have to love this picture of Wes.

His preschool dedication was Sunday at Aldersgate Methodist, and the children of the preschool sang songs in front of the whole congregation.  This kind of stuff makes my heart palpitate, and I'm 30.  So I had no idea what to expect from a slightly shy two-year-old that's just like me.

We sat down at church and Wes was a little wiggly, but good.  I loved seeing him get excited to see his friends and wave.  The threes class sang first and did a great job.  They stepped aside and the twos class was called up.  I watched in shock as Wes climbed down from the pew and walked up to the front of the church all by himself (I was sure I would have to take him up there).  All the little boys went up and took their places at the church - they certainly had practiced.  When they started Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, the boy beside Wes belted it out in a scream...and that's when Wes lost it.  His face turned all red, the lower lip puckered out, and he did his silent cry....the one that means, "Hey.  I'm really upset here."'

Thankfully, the lovely Ms Julie swept him right up in her arms and he made it through the rest of the song and the next one.  I met him at the back of the aisle when it was over, his face streaked with tears, and swept him up in a big hug.  I told him how proud I was of him, just for making it up to the front of the church.  And I really meant it.

-Kristina

"Mommy, reach. Too high."

Wes' language development really took off at the beach. I don't know if it was the fact that he was surrounded by family chatting him up all day, the new experiences, or if it was just time, but something clicked in his head. He's now asking for things in sentences and it's so weird. Yesterday he wanted a cookie for breakfast (of course). He went to the pantry, tried to reach it (they're on the top shelf for this very reason), couldn't, then turned to me and said, "Mommy, reach! Too high." I laughed and said, "No cookies for breakfast, Wes." (We did make a deal for a cookie later in the afternoon in exchange for him eating two good meals.) Anytime you try to reason with him now, he thinks about your offer and then says, "Um.....Deal."

This morning instead of the usual, "momaxruby" when Max and Ruby went off, he said, "Watch. More. Max Ruby." (How can you argue with that?) I'm loving this phase and watching him learn more and more by the day...and being able to reason with him is an added bonus.

A beach post will follow soon...I left the photos on my mom's computer, so I have to wait for this weekend when she returns!

Looking back on a year...

Yesterday was Wes' 2nd birthday. Sometimes I can't believe it's been two years, and sometimes it feels like it has been much longer. Either way, I can't remember what life was like before him. Even when he goes to "Camp" for a few days (my mom and dad's house) and the house is quiet and I can pretend like I have no responsibilities, the house seems so empty without him there. I find myself wondering what to do next and being lonely without him. The truth is, the chaos and cleaning up and teaching and disciplining are part of the wonderful joy of motherhood.

This was a big year. A lot of things change from the time a baby is born until he's one, but it's all predictable growth. You know about the smiles, the rolling over, and the crawling, and you're excited when they happen. But sometime around Wes' first birthday, he really gained a personality. He started to look like a little boy - no longer a baby. He did things to see how I would react. He finally learned to walk. And eventually, now, he gives me hugs and kisses and tells me what he wants for breakfast. Between one and two, he has become not only a boy, but WES.

He finally learned how to walk at about 15 months. We thought the day would never come. The truth is, he knew how to walk all along, but the perfectionist in him (don't know where he gets that) wouldn't allow him to take the chance that he might fall. So he held on to couches and chairs and coffee tables until he could walk perfectly. And when he did, he was a walker. No toddling stage for Wes. He went from holding on to walking perfectly in literally a day.

In January, he had tubes put in his ears. After about eight ear infections and some fluid that wouldn't drain out of his ears, we had to do it. Holding Wes while they put him under was the hardest thing I've ever done. But he was brave, it was quick, and the doctors and nurses were fabulous. Mr. Cow even got to go in the operating room. The day after his surgery, he had already learned five new words. With the fluid being gone, his language started to flourish quickly.

Wes is the most gentle, most loving little boy I've ever seen (I know I'm biased, but I think it's true). He kisses his animals, walks up and hugs us for no reason, and says the sweetest little things. We laugh together all the time. We hide under a blanket (and Wes steals kisses while we're under there) from daddy when he comes upstairs, we chase each other around the room, we dance and play the piano, we go to the park, we pretend, and we're silly all the time. These have been the best two years of my life, and I can't wait to see what's next!

Wes' first birthday, August 2008


On campus with mom, August 2008


First birthday party, with Molly Harrell


Cupcake time!


Ready for the first UNC football game


Little Tar Heel


Sweet smile, September 2008


With Thomas the Tank Engine


Could still dress him in pink at this point...


Loving the balcony at TOPO with Daddy


Bath time!


Messy, messy eater


Carving our first pumpkin


Halloween 2009


Starting to pose for the camera, November 2008


Thanksgiving 2008 and Christmas card photo session


Eyeing the Christmas tree


Christmas morning - Santa came!


Pushing his little cousin Diem around


A new ride, January 2009


Favorite food = Beans!! February 2009


Running up the hill at the park, February 2009


Sweet boy, February 2009


Cuddle time with Dad, February 2009


Wes' first big snow, March 2009


Wearing dad's shoes, March 2009


Easter Egg Hunt, April 2009


Playing at the park, April 2009


Mother's Day/Graduation Brunch


Loving to be outside, playing in the dirt and water, June 2009


Franklin Street fun with mom, July 2009


The Future's So Bright...August 5, 2009

Tuesdays.

Tuesdays are hard for me. I'm with Wes all day on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, and when Tuesday comes along it's hard for me to leave him. He wanted to go outside and see me off this morning. He and Neil walked along the side path and he yelled, "Bye-eee Mom-meeeeee!" and blew me kiss after kiss. It's hard to drive away from that.

At least I get to look forward to the "HEY MOMMY!" when I get home from work.