Hair Cut

Curly Locks! curly locks! wilt thou be mine?

Thou shall't not wash dishes, nor yet feed the swine

I gave X his first (minor) hair cut yesterday. His hair is so long, and so curly, and so beautiful that I didn't want to cut it at all until he wanted it cut, but it kept getting in his eyes during mealtimes and subsequently he would get food in his hair at breakfast, lunch and at dinner!

Alas, the haircut day had arrived. I only trimmed the front, though, into little tiny bangs because X kept moving his head! It is pretty much the worst haircut ever. I also almost cried after cutting off even just a few of his curls. He looks sweet, though, like a little old-fashioned boy.

He also looks like Bartholomew Cubbins from the Dr. Seuss story!

Sunbeam

There was a bright sunbeam shining into X's room this morning, the day after Hurricane Irene. We are far enough inland that the storm didn't do much harm to our property -- a few small branches and lots of pinecones and acorns are down all over our yard. The weather is always insultingly glorious after a major storm, isn't it?

X used to love to play in sunbeams. When he was not yet mobile, I would sit him down in a sunbeam and he would smack it with his hands and try to pick it up, and sometimes try to taste it on the floor (yucky!). When he started to crawl, he would go into the front hallway and sit in the sunbeams from the setting sun, and follow them as they climbed the wall. Random bits of sunlight were a delight to pluck at on my shirt, or my arm.

It seems he barely noticed the play of the light on his bedroom floor this morning. He didn't shriek with delight, or try to grab up the glow. He is the sunbeam, now.

One Year Old

X's birthday was on Tuesday of this week -- one year old already!

I'm sad about the fact that I spent the day at work, which, of course, I regret now. X was a little grumpy grump when I got home due to some major teething pain, so it was pretty anticlimactic.

We had a small celebration last Sunday to do the traditional first birthday cake and presents, with some friends. I made cupcakes from scratch because we suspect X has an egg allergy or sensitivity -- so he's a total hippie kid, having eaten vegan for his first ever cupcake! He seemed mesmerized by the candle and didn't really know what all of the fuss was about (of course!) but he took everything in stride.

The night of his actual birthday, I rocked him to sleep and sat holding him for a while, thinking back over the last year. There were so many transitions, so much that my husband and I had to figure out, so much that X had to learn and master. It's astonishing how much he has grown, and even more amazing that I have been blessed to have been there for each and every day.

Happy birthday, funny boy. I love to watch you grow!

A Year Ago Today

I was in hospital, agreeing to take drugs to help me sleep through some rough back labor. We were hoping that being able to relax and get some rest would help things progress. We didn't know what we were in for...

Big Boy

My X is getting so big -- almost a year old now. He is just about walking, and the proud owner of 3 pearly whites!

I can't believe how quickly it happens. One day, he was a snuggly little worm, content to lie in my arms and sleep. Now, he's all OVER the place, laughing, shrieking, playing with toys, pulling up, pulling things off of tables and counters.

I miss the baby times, but I'm looking forward to everything that's coming up.

My sweet boy -- how I love him!