A trip to the Zoo

Saturday morning, we all headed to the zoo. Although it was extremely crowded (being Memorial Day weekend) and we were awfully close to nap time while we were there, we all had a great time. I didn't snap too many pictures - I'm beginning to see those become more and more rare as Will gets faster and faster! He just doesn't stop long enough for a picture - they are all a blur. But we took Will on his first "real" ride on the carousel. Will took a little while to really enjoy it, being more interested in staring in utter awe at everything around him. But he was all smiles by the time he went a second time with his dad.

As if I needed proof of how much he has grown

The other day, I brought Will's rocking horse back downstairs for him to play with. Will could get on and off it himself, make it "gallop," and sit quite comfortably on it all by himself, thank you very much. This is completely different from Christmas morning when he first got on it ... what a difference 5 months makes...



Christmas:

Now:

With the Big 3-0 comes Big Change

Yesterday, I turned 30 (celebration to come in Vegas in just a few weeks - yay!). And along with the week of my milestone in age (seriously, I can't believe I'm 30...) comes a big decision that I have made with Ellis in terms of my working schedule. Although I usually keep this blog pretty non-personal, I suppose this entry will be a bit more personal than most. I hope this doesn't sound too trite or sappy or make anyone feel unhappy (because this is often a touchy subject amongst us moms), but sometimes just writing and confessing these things is helpful --

For the last six months or so, the balance between my job as a lawyer and my "job" as a mommy, along with everything else in between, has been increasingly difficult. Its so hard to do it all, and as women, we really want to, don't we? Mommy guilt is not just a cliche - it is a real, nauseatingly-annoying thing that I think every mommy suffers from in her own way, whether she works or stays at home or something in between. (We have seriously got to go easier on ourselves!) For me, my career and success at work have always been important to me, but with that goal, I have found that I am sacrificing my time as a mom. When I am at work, I stress about the things that need to be done at home and the things that I wasn't doing with or for Will. It doesn't help that my career involves accounting for every 6 minutes of my day, billing time (an aspect of my job I absolutely LOATHE). When I am with Will or Ellis, I stress about the errands that need to be run, the hours I wasn't billing at work, the laundry that needs to be done ... and forget about any time to just breathe for myself once in a while. I realized more and more that I was not taking enough time to just enjoy time with my family without stressing out most of the time. And when I realized that my decision of whether or not to have another child was hinging on whether or not my stress and sanity could take it ... I realized something had to change. Because I never want to choose my career over my family. Ever.

So, before you jump to conclusions -- no, I most certainly have not quit my job. Because I value my career and the efforts I have taken to get where I am. I also value the firm I work for and the people that I have come to call not only colleagues at work, but friends. But I need to cut back, at least for a while, and let my priority as a mommy take over. So, I've gone on a reduced schedule at work - working 4 days and taking 3 days off. I plan to usually have Fridays off when I can run my 3000 errands and organize this family's life or just give myself a chance to "recharge," as Ellis puts it, so that I can enjoy my family more on the weekends and evenings that we do have together. Plus, I can use the Fridays to occasionally take Will on playdates, get his haircut when the weekend line isn't a mile long, take him to the zoo when its quieter and we can just have mommy and son time ... all those things that working full-time moms miss.

I know the balance won't be perfect, and I am nervous about this choice, how work will go, and whether this will really fix things. At least, the people I work most closely with have been awesome about this transition, and for that I truly feel blessed. I can only hope it will continue as I actually start this reduced schedule.

So, I am off to run my first Friday of a bunch of errands and to mark off some of those things on the never-ending to-do list. Then, I'm going to truly enjoy a weekend with my boys. I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday weekend and a chance to spend time with your family.

He eats fruit!!!

I can't believe it! Will eats one kind of fruit now -- mandarin oranges. The kid just shovels the fruit into his mouth. I'm so glad I found a fruit he will not only touch, but chow down on. Many thanks to Gwen for suggesting I try that one!

(I didn't realize how messy his tray was in these pictures until I posted them. Yes, that would be some combo of milk and cheese on his tray. Sometimes meal times are extremely messy around here...)

The Backyard Project

One of our big projects this summer was to finally get the backyard in shape and make it a place Will can really explore and have fun in (and a place that we would enjoy too). Last fall, we replaced the fence. This spring, we had a horticulturist come in and develop a landscape plan and bring in all the plants. I love to work in the garden - but this was too big for me to think of. It was great to have someone else do all the heavy lifting, and all I have to do is enjoy it (and maintain it, of course). We are so pleased with the final outcome!

Will has been amazingly good about not stomping on the smaller plants. Although, today, we worked on smelling the flowers only and not trying to grab and smush them!

Some of you have asked to see pictures ... so, here ya go --

BEFORE:

AFTER:

The Stats

I was remiss in not posting Will's stats from last week. He went in for his 16-month well check-up. He was a brave boy at the doctor's . He was extremely fearful as soon as the nurse entered to give him his shots, but he quit crying very soon after she gave them.

Weight - 24.8 lbs - 25-50% (kind of broad range they gave us there, wasn't it?)

Height - 32.75 in - 75-90%

And Will's nose is healing nicely, thank goodness. It was probably overkill to take him to the ER, but I'm glad we did to make sure there were no lasting scars.

16 months and growing

As luck would have it, we scheduled to have Will's pictures made last weekend on a Saturday morning - before the big accident (see post below). Here are some of my favorites from the session:

And these just crack me up --

The last time I blogged an "update" of how Will was growing was back when he was 13 months old. I cannot tell you how much he has changed in the last 3 months. Back at 13 months, he still had a lot of baby in him, but now - he is all toddler. So, without further ado, here are some of the big "milestones" of where Will is now. (I know its probably boring as heck to most of you but, in large part, I put it here to remember years from now when I look back at Will's babyhood. :) )

* Will is constantly on the move. He doesn't walk or meander - he runs. He doesn't want to be held - he wants DOWN so that he can explore every inch of where you are. Oh yea - and he loves to climb too . . . on anything and anywhere.

* He loves the outdoors. He gets so excited when we take him outside - and we spend most of our weekends in our backyard. I just let him get into as much dirt and mayhem as he wants to and he usually gets stripped down in the garage before coming inside. He loves to play with dirt, kick the ball around, play chase, slide down his slide, or just sit in the dirt and talk to himself. :)

* The most fun thing over the last few weeks has been Will's ability to communicate. He understand SO much now and, although he can't talk back, he can answer questions with a nod and shake of the head. Its fun to be outside and ask him "you ready to go inside now and have dinner" and have him shake his head adamantly and smile. Or you ask him if he wants to go outside and he makes an excited noise or shouts "yeah!". Or ask him if he "wants more" or "wants some applesauce" or "wants some juice", etc etc etc. Everyday he amazes me with how much more he knows and understands. And I love it.

* Bottles are a thing of the past, and I can't say I'm a bit sad. Sippy cups are so much easier.

* Pacifiers . . . okay, they are so NOT a thing of the past. But you know what? I've decided that is OK! Will always gets a paci for naptime and bedtime - its his comfort and signals its time to go to sleep. I also pull it out in dire emergencies too because he will immediately be quiet. So, while I don't let him run around with a pacifier in his mouth, I am perfectly content with giving it to him when he most needs the comfort.

* Will's dancing abilities just crack me up! He loves to dance and move to the music. He has started to twirl with his arms in the air and I just love it! He also knows the motions to "When you're happy and you know it" - a song I've been singing with him since he was a tiny baby.

* The boy has a TEMPER like you wouldn't believe. Whew. If he can't have what he wants, he will pitch an absolute royal fit. But, I've tried telling him to sit down and then sit next to him and talk to him softly about how he can't have X or can't do Y, and, so far, that seems to be working . . . at least some of the time. Sometimes, as my child is running around a store, refusing to sit still for 10 seconds as I run around after him looking like God only knows what - I can't help but wonder what the people around me think. But I'm trying - I really am. You know those kids at, let's say a doctor's waiting room, just sitting quietly in their parent's lap, reading a book or playing with something? Yea...that is NOT William - at all. And that can be quite exhausting.

* Will is definitely a picky eater. He likes turkey hotdogs, chicken nuggets, pizza, cheese, grilled cheese, peanut butter & jelly, carrots, cereal bars and fig newtons, bread and applesauce . . . and that is about it when it comes to meal cuisine. (At least at home...I think he eats better at day care with all the other kids.) Strangest thing (I think) is that he hates fruit - won't touch it. Strawberries, bananas, melons, pineapple, blueberries - I've tried it all.

* Will talks a lot, but is still just learning to say "real" words (although he certainly understands most of what you say). But he does know, and occasionally use: daddy, kitty, mama, choo choo, cheese, juice, night night, bye, hi, balloon, Elmo!, fish, ball, uh oh, and he knows a cow goes "moo" . . . And today's new word? "Bubbles!"

* Books are really Will's favorite toy. He loves to flip the pages (usually faster than you can read the words). Every morning, he picks up a book, brings it to me, and wants me to sit on the floor so he can sit in my lap while I read the book to him. That's usually how he wants to read his books - in someone's lap who holds the book while he flips the pages. And he has started to point at things in the book and say what they are - fish, ball and kitty are the most popular. I hope this love of books continues!

* The best thing that's developed in the past 3 months? HUGS and kisses! There is nothing better in the whole entire world than when I get down on my knees, spread my arms wide, and ask Will if he'll give me a hug and see him run to me with a grin, wrap his arms around my neck and squeeze. Love it, love it, love it. And he is just starting to learn to give you a kiss too. (He mastered blowing kisses a long time ago.) If you ask for a kiss though, he just opens his mouth wide in a big grin and plants it somewhere on your face.