At 7:22 pm It Became Official

I am now the mother of a toddler. Not a baby who snuggles with me on the couch every afternoon. Not an infant who needs me to do even the smallest of things for him. Nope, I have a full blown toddler on my hands. One who is very independent, very much in charge, and one who I am absolutely head over heals in love with.

I sent Mason to daycare this morning with 2 loafs of home made zucchini bread to share with the kids. I think they came out pretty good. And I am pretty sure the other kids enjoyed a break from the norm. I snuck a few pieces (I love the ends of zucchini bread) and took them to work today. As I ate them with my morning coffee, I wondered what Mason was up to. I wondered if he could blow out birthday candles, what his wish would be for.

Tonight Chris was at darts, so it was just Mason and I when the clock struck 7:22 pm. I quietly sang happy birthday to my son while he giggled that wonderful Mason giggle that just melts my heart. It is so plainly obvious to me that I am his and he is mine and we are in love.

7:22 pm one year ago was not exactly the birth I had planned. I went to labor classes, not c-section classes. But, at the end of the day, I was so thrilled to meet him, to hold him, to touch him, to smell him, that I didn't care how he arrived. I only cared that he was healthy and safe.

That night, in the operating room, Chris kept running back and forth, giving me the blow by blow of what they were doing. Since there was a giant curtain, I couldn't see anything. One of the first times he ran over, he said "Baby! Baby! My son is here! He has 10 fingers toes! I mean, 10 of each, 10 fingers and 10 toes. And JUNK! He has junk!" You could see the smile beaming on his face. Such a proud papa. I was relieved to hear we had in fact had a boy!!

Happy birthday my son. I truly hope that each and every one of your wishes comes true, on this first birthday and every one after this. We will be here, every step of the way, guiding and teaching and helping and loving. You are the most precious gift I have ever been given. And today, on your birthday, my wish, is for you to achieve all of your hopes and dreams.

Love you forever and ever, Momma

We seem to have come through the other side of this recent teething unscathed. The front left one is through, and the one next to it is almost through. I guess the other two will take a little longer. All I know is the fever is gone, the Tylenol is put away and I have my happy kid back. Whew! Such a relief.

Tomorrow is Mason's birthday. My baby will be one. A baby no more, that's for sure.

He was up at the official butt crack of dawn on Saturday (5:15) so I begged Chris to go get him, with his blanket, and put him in bed with me while Chris got ready for work. And what do you know, he cuddled with me for almost an hour. I can't even tell you how much I miss those days. I laid there, and breathed in the smell of his clean hair and listened to his breathing and watched him sleep peacefully. Makes my heart ache for another one. Anyone want to share their lottery winnings with me?!?

Grandma Donna, and Great Uncle Dave and Great Aunt LeAnn are driving up on Friday for the party next weekend. They haven't seen Mason since May. They are hardly going to recognize him! But, I know that we'll all have a wonderful weekend celebrating together.

Standing in His Crib

Mason has finally learned how to stand himself up in his crib. At first, I was quite proud of him and loved to watch him do it. The novelty wore off rather quickly though, because while he has figured out how to get up, he has not figured out how to get down! As I am typing this, he's supposed to be taking his morning nap. I've gone in there 4 times in 15 minutes to lay him back down.

Cutting 4 New Teeth

Mason is cutting 4 new teeth right now. Miserable doesn't even begin to describe him. He's getting both top front teeth, and the ones next to the front ones. He pulls on his ears as though maybe that will solve things. He chews on everything he can get his hands on. And the drool, oh lord, the drool is awful! But, through it all, he's still my wonderful son. I wish there was a magic wand that I could wave. Unfortunately, I think he's just going to have to suffer. I gave him Tylenol last night and tonight. But, he's also been so fed up with it all that he's gone to bed at 6:15 two nights in a row. Why do teeth have to be so hard?!?!