One Is the Loneliest Number... Whatever!!!

Hi, my name is Dana and I have a one year old. Sometimes I do feel like there should be some kind of support group for moms when their babies make the leap into the world of one.

All in all, we had an amazing first birthday experience. We started Thursday on his actual birthday. We woke up early and I made J. Hogan pancakes for the first time (no syrup of course... I am still "me" after all). He LOVED them. G'Mo and Pa came down about lunch time and we headed to the aquarium. Pa stayed at the house and worked on monkeys for the party. It sure is nice having an artist in the family especially at birthday time.

As usual J. Hogan had a big time at the aquarium. It's funny how he notices different things with each visit. This time his favorite were the Hyacinth Macaws. We watched them for probably 20 minutes which translates into adult time as four hours. We had a wonderful time. Once we were back in the car, he collapsed into a much awaited nap and we headed home.

That evening we had our own little private family celebration complete with spaghetti. That boy loves some spaghetti.

His birthday party was on Sunday afternoon at our church's Christian Life Center (aka - gym). Illness unfortunately kept several of our friends from joining in the festivities and we missed them no doubt. But we celebrated and had a "monkey" good time. There were monkeys on the door (Thanks Pa!), monkeys on the tables, monkeys on the cake, monkey treat bags, monkey crafts, oh and a monkey soundtrack for your "monkey dancing" enjoyment. Oh I forgot to tell you he had a monkey party - just in case you were wondering.

With a one year old, you never know how he will react when 60 of his closest friends gather around and sing to him while mommy brings him a cake with flames coming out of the top. Well, I will tell you how he reacts, with huge smiles, moments of laughter and clapped as everyone sang. We had been practicing blowing out candles and he gave it his best effort. Now I am not big on giving my child sugar, but can I just say, "THE BOY LOVED HIM SOME CAKE!!!" He dove right in and ate with determination and stamina that only a fellow sugar addict could be proud of.

He got gifts, and more gifts, and then a few more gifts. I am always overwhelmed at the thought of how many people love my child. That is a blessing to a mom. I appreciate everyone who was there (and those who were feeling under the weather - I know you were there in spirit). I am so glad all of you joined us to celebrate J. Hogan's first birthday party. It was a blast.

Next year, hmmmm... oh what will I think of next. Maybe a beach theme, on location, in the Caribbean, where it is warm and sunny. Yes, I do believe that will be what he wants.

So now I am off to scarf down a piece of leftover birthday cake. And yes, I will be eating it in much the same manner as my little peanut ate his. One - what a great age, what a great kid.

Dear Year...

Dear Year,

Where did you go? Just this time last year I was checking into the hospital in the middle of labor. That does not seem twelve months ago, maybe one month, but definitely not twelve. I end this day, my final day with a child under the age of one, with such a roller coaster of emotion. I embrace every moment - the good times and the bad. I now look back and understand the importance of sleepless nights. I have my whole life to rest, but I only have a short moment to hold my son in my arms and watch him drift off to sleep. I realize now why nursing was so painful for so many months. It made me stronger, prouder for not giving up. And though this time last year I said I would not allow my child to sleep in the bed with me, I would not trade those mornings when I a gentle kiss on the cheek and the sound of "mama" was my wake up call.

I have no regrets. There is nothing I would change. Every moment you have given me has been better than the last. Tomorrow is creeping up on me like a thief threatening to steal my baby and turn him into a toddler. Year, I won't let you bring the tears tomorrow. I only have room for fun and happiness. I can't let you have the day, because you just took 365 of them, curled them in your hand and hurled them at me with speed only a mother knows. No, tomorrow is a day of celebration because I know it only gets faster. I don't want to blink, I think I shall keep my eyes wide open on you year. Your greed can't be trusted.

Revelation

I just realized what makes babies so cute. It's their wonderful self-esteem. I have never seen one try to hold in his stomach when you walk into the room or one try to hide her thigh cellulite from the other babies. They are the happiest when they are naked and they don't care who sees them.

So maybe if we all act this way our world will be more beautiful. Uh, second thought, let's leave out the happy naked thing. Oprah naked - 'nuf said.

IT SNOWED!!!! now when is spring coming

Today was a snow day. I woke up to a cold, wet, rainy day. Not just a gentle rain, but one of those where you can't even use an umbrella because the rain hits you anyway. I just wrote the day off to a gloomy stay-inside kind of day.

Then it all changed. I put Peanut down for a nap and hopped in the shower. After about 30 minutes of intense beautification, I peaked outside to see not just snow, but a downpour of snow. I was so excited.

This is really J. Hogan's first real snow. In the end, we had about 1/4 of inch on the ground and it melted within minutes, but for about 2 hours it snowed - like is snows in Colorado - continuous - big flakes. It was wonderful.

J. Hogan woke up and just sat in his room for about 20 minutes staring out the window. When I got up there I explained the crazy phenomenon to him and to my delight he belted out a hardy "ow". That's J. Hoganese for snow.

I bundled him up and we went to play.

Then I came inside to hear Punxsutawney Phil said we have six more weeks of this garbage and that just deflated my happiness.

Oh sweet springtime, please don't wait. I long for your sunshine and warm days.

Lost... and not going to look for it.

From day one, I have been a HUGE fan of Lost. Last season, I had to catch up with episodes online since I had the audacity to have a child in the middle of the season. During the catch-up, I noticed that my interest in the storyline was fading. I just chalked it up to the tiny baby that wanted to nurse every 30 minutes, my post pregnancy loss of brain cells (yes it does happen), and I basically new how they ended when friends would discuss the episodes in front of me prior to my review.

Last night I eagerly awaited the arrival of the new season. I did my bedtime routine two hours early and cuddled into the bed for my reunion with a long-lost love - LOST.

I appreciated the recap that was on before the show. It freshened the storyline and gave me even more excitement as to what was about to happen.

In the next statement, I will probably alienate many readers of this blog who are "Lost Crazies". I thought the storyline last night was the dumbest, most hard to follow, mish mosh of ideas I have ever seen. I am starting to think the writers are either writing about bizarre dreams they have or they are consuming some illegal narcotics.

Based on last night's premier, this is one Lost fan that the show just, well... lost.

No Turtles Were Harmed in the Writing of This Blog

It was so cold today that I just did not want to leave the comfort of my warm home. J. Hogan and I spent the entire morning and most of the afternoon chillin' in the crib. (I am second guessing the use of the words "chillin'" and "crib". Do you think I can pull it off?)

Peanut took a good long nap this morning and woke up ready to play. I on the other hand was in the middle of reducing our never-ending pile of laundry. So I combined the too and well, he sat in here and played for about 20 minutes. This is the child who HATES his pack and play, but give him a laundry basket and he is Mr. Happy.



For those of you who are wondering, yes that is a turtle in his mouth... by its head. I think it is safe to say I don't see any pet turtles in our future.

Camera Crazy Mom Seeks Attentive Audience

I took a few new pictures of J. Hogan earlier this week and I thought I would share them with you - just in case you haven't seen enough pictures of him.

I know you all see this picture and think "wow, she must really be a huge football fan since it is the big championship week." Sorry. This is just one of my absolute favorite shirts of his and if it is clean, he wears it. The reason I took this picture is that I realized I did not have any of him in it and that would make me sad in say six months or so when my mind drifted to that sweet blue eyed sports fan. I got this picture in just under the wire. If you look closely, the sleeves are just about too short. Yes, he has his mother's freakishly long arms.

This is his new chair that he got for Christmas from his G'Mo and Pa. When I suggested this gift I figured he would probably be able to climb into in a few months. Surprise! The day we brought it home and put it in the floor, he crawled over and climbed in. I love to see him sitting in it. He looks like such a big boy.

Oh and this is his 10 month old picture. And yes that is the 12-18 month old onesie we use every month. And yes, that would be his chubby belly challenging the sturdy craftsmanship of Pottery Barn Kids clothes.

I call this one "Can You Do This?" No seriously, I am taking a poll - can you do this?

I took this picture because of the conversation he was having with the yellow "Spot" dog on the ottoman. It went something like this -

J. Hogan: Ma Ma, Daddy, Da Do (that's Elmo), thank you, no no, duck... along with lots more J.Hoganese that I have yet to interpret.

Spot: (silence as he stared lovingly at such a remarkable child)

There was also some pointing, clapping, and other lecturing hand gestures. That was J. Hogan, not the dog.

J. Hogan loves this little Spot. His Aunt Joy gave it to him for Christmas and it's been a big hit.

And this was his reaction when he found out I was listening in on his conversation. Can't a boy get some privacy.

This is J. Hogan playing with a Christmas card that G'Mo and Pa sent to him. He loves it and looks for it first thing every morning. It has Elmo on the front and you press a little button and Elmo sings Jingle Bells... every time you press that button Elmo sings Jingle Bells... over and over and over again. Oh did I mention Christmas was over two weeks ago. I believe it's time for Elmo to stop dashing through the snow and find himself a sunny spot on the beach.