Communication Improved

Rece learned to tell us what he wants in a way that is much more subdued than screaming, as seen in previous entry.




The strange noise in the background is my 270 pounds worth of dogs having themselves a drink.

A year with Rece

Jason and I have now lived with Rece for one year. And I guess I should say, Rece has lived (tolerated) Jason and I for one year.

To celebrate this momentous occasion, this entry will be written to Rece.

Rece,

I love you. Three simple words that say so much. I feel obliged to start this letter with those words because they are so true. With every fiber of my being, they are true. Sometimes I look at you and my heart swells up and I can actually feel it becoming too big for my body and it hurts. So I squeeze you and kiss you and hug you and tell you I love you and then I feel a little better. (just a little).

I also feel obliged to tell you that sometimes life with you is hard. It's important for you to know this. It's important for you to know that sometimes I want to quit, but it's more important for you to know that I don't quit.

You should know that sometimes I would rather be reading a book or shopping or cooking than sitting on the floor rolling a ball to you for the one hundredth time, but you should know that I still roll the ball to you.

Because, Rece, that's part of what love is. Giving up anything and everything for the one you love. Even though it is hard, there is nothing (NOTHING) that could make me give it up or even go back and change anything.

It's not all hard. Sometimes...no, MOST of the time life with you is sweet. Life is delicious and quenching and satisfying. (I may be hungry while writing this.)

And funny.

Rece, you make me laugh more than anyone. With just a look, you can have me in tears.

I love the little conversations we have now that make no sense whatsoever, yet at the same time, I totally understand every word that was said.

I love your way of entering into a room with a big smile on your face like you haven't seen me in years.

Looking into your eyes makes me understand what is meant when they say a person has an old soul. There is wisdom in your eyes and at the same time pure joy and innocence.

Not a person has met you that didn't like you right away. You are going to bring happiness to many people in your life.

When I am away from you, I miss you. When I am with you, I am complete.

I can't wait to see what the next year brings.

Your daddy and I love you.

Communication

Rece is learning how to let Jason and I know what he wants. This video is one example.

Doubting Thomas

For all you who doubt...
Here you are: the proof.


Yes, my house is a mess. I like to refer to it as "lived in."
And you are correct, Rece is not wearing pants. Would you, if you had a choice?

Hi!

Yesterday was a big day. Everything was the norm: leave work, break the speed limit to get to Rece, walk in the daycare, watch Rece do his jazz hands when he sees me, pick him up...and this is where things change. I look at Rece and say "Hey Bud." Rece looks at me and says "Hi!" What what WHAT? "Did you just say hi? Did he just say hi to me?", directed towards the daycare peeps. "Hi!" He said it again. Oh my little dude is so cute! The word "hi" never sounded so amazing.
I asked the daycare people..."do you think he is actually saying hi?" They said, "oh, he has been saying that for a while." Ouch! That hurts.
Anyway, the rest of the night was spent saying "Hi Rece, Hi Rece!" He is probably so annoyed by Jason and I.
I love him!

Milestones

Rece now has 4 teeth and I think a couple more about to pop through. His first tooth (on the bottom) came through on his 6 month birthday, October 16th. This is a milestone that deserves to be mentioned in my blog about Rece. So there it is...to remember for all time.
Milestones! When you become a mom you get so obsessed about these milestones. When did he roll over? When did he sit up? First smile? First solid food? (speaking of, what is with the obsession with babies and solid food? There is an obesity epidemic in our country people! It starts early!) Lickety split...(you know what I'm talking about Em:) )
As a mom you start to get defensive about these things. You start to worry. Here's the facts...all these things will occur NO MATTER what you do. A baby will smile without his mom begging and begging (and begging and begging.) A baby will roll over without the little nudges provided. A baby will swallow that infamous rice cereal when he is good and ready. These things come naturally.
A mom has milestones too. They are a little harder to accomplish, but still rather naturally occurring. They can be so painful, but so rewarding to learn.
Here they are:
The moment I realized that spending time with Rece is soooo much more important than having a clean house.
The moment I realized that what works for one child, does not work for my child...and that's ok.
The moment I realized that the more I relax and take things in stride and with a sense of humor, the easier being a mom is.
The moment that everything I said about motherhood, before I was a mother, was judgemental and naive.
The moment I realized how important family really is.
The moment I realized I can't control anything and I never will.
The moment I realized that female intuition really does exist and I should trust it.
The moment I realized that my time is not really my time.
The moment I realized that being selfish is no longer an option.
The moment I realized that pediatricians know nothing about breastfeeding...unbelievable...but true.
The moment I realized that I really could function on no sleep.
The moment I realized that my relationship with my husband is just as, if not more, important than the one with my child.
The moment I came to terms with my striae (look it up) and learned to accept them as beauty marks.
The moment I realized just how important those Kegel's really are.


I think that with these milestones, just as with Rece's milestones, there will be times of regression.

It's all a normal part of growing up.
It's all a part of being a mom.
And I love it!

I wonder what they are saying.
Rece:"What are you looking at?"
Asia: "What are you looking at?"
or
Rece:"You're big!"
Asia: "You stink!"
or
Rece: "What are you?"
Asia: "What are you?"
or
Rece: "Hey Asia, let's look really cute for this picture Nana wants to take."
Asia: "Sure thing, buddy!"

Whatever they are saying to each other, it was definitely a priceless moment.

Gravitational pull

Gravitational Pull: The attraction that one object has for another object due to the invisible force of gravity. The mass of an object affects its gravitational pull. The gravitational pull of the Sun keeps the planets in orbit around it.
This is Rece's head.
Things are attracted to his head. Balls, toys, table legs, the wall...the floor. Pretty much, if the object can move, it will eventually be pulled in by Rece's gravitational force. Although it is comforting that the size of his head isn't big enough to keep something in orbit, as the planets are around the sun. (that could work to my advantage though...hmmm).
So the size of Rece's head is often the topic of conversation in our household. And it has many nicknames...noggin, melon, and Jason referred to it just yesterday as a bowling ball. Sometimes we call him Charlie Brown.
His shirt necks are all stretched out, even with the extra allowance of fabric for typical baby heads. As you stretch and pull the shirt over Rece's head, you can almost hear him thinking "is it going to make it this time?" I think he even holds his breath.
I stopped asking what the measurement is at the doctors office. It's almost embarrassing watching them wrap the tape around his head. (his head is in the 75th percentile, so I guess there are bigger heads out there...yikes!) Rece's eyes look upward like he is scared of the results.
I think he is secretly proud of his head. Sometimes while he is nursing, he will just stroke his head lovingly and sometimes he gives it a little "pat pat." He knows that someday that big head of his will take him places.
Sometimes when he is scooting around on the floor he will just lay his head down. I'm sure it can be exhausting on his little neck to hold that thing up. Maybe thats why he isn't crawling yet, maybe the head is keeping him down?
Rece doesn't have much hair, but I just realized that maybe he does have a lot of hair, there is just too much surface area for it to cover.
Whatever...I like Rece's head. I think it means he is smart.

Snotty noses

Rece is sick and teething (his top two teeth are coming through.) "sigh, yaawwwwnnn, ugh, and sniff." I sigh because it seems like it is one thing after another (for at least the next 18 years plus), I yawn because I am exhausted. Ugh...well...because it's gross. Where does all that snot come from? And I sniff because it makes me cry to see my happy little baby so miserable.
But thats just it, I can tell he is so miserable, but all I have to do is make one funny face at him and he will giggle and smile. He can push through his misery to be happy at any moment. I think I should be learning a lesson from Rece. No matter how rough life seems at the time, there is always a reason smile. To Rece, it's mom's silly face. (Now I am smiling)

Baby Books

This is my first blog. I don't care who reads it or if anyone even does read it. It's for me, for Jason, and most of all for my son Rece. I love him. (Have you ever said that and really truly knew that you meant it with every single fiber in your being? It's a wonderful feeling. It gives me a glimpse, just a glimpse, of Gods love for us.)
This blog is a replacement for Rece's baby book. Here's the thing...I hate, loath, despise writing in a baby book. I don't know what it is about that stupid book, but I open it's cover and my mind just goes blank. I feel so much pressure to write the perfect thing; the precise words to convey to Rece when he is 30 years old and wondering if his mom thought he was the most perfect being ever created (which she does, by the way.) Is this a writer's block? I don't know. Maybe the book limits me? I hate that it tells me what to write about. "Mommy's first words when she saw you for the first time...?" ummm...what? I don't think Rece needs to know that. Really? 22 hours of labor, epidural did NOT work, vomiting, and a big ol'ring of fire in my hoo ha! Really? Who gives a *$#* what my first words were!
So anyway...not wanting to be limited by the baby book or forced to answer such silly questions, I am starting a blog. Each entry will be about what life is like with Rece. What new thing is he doing, saying, eating, pooping? Find it all here!
It may not be daily or weekly, it could be hourly or even just monthly.
You may be offended, you may laugh, you may cry, but you definitely will fall in love with Rece, if you aren't already!