Listening to my little fella trying to talk is my new current high. He's got the "B" sound down to a, well, a "b." Everything would sound the same except he points at whatever he's talking about. For example, "Buhhh" could be "bus" if there's one around, but it could also be "ball" or "bar." "Buhhh-buhhh" is "bubble," but "baa" is "bath." He's also adding the "D" sound to his vocabulary, as in "duh-duh" for "duck-duck" (goose, but we haven't made it that far yet).

I love watching him experience the world. Everything is new and exciting for him; he only sees the good in everything. Even when he pulls the bike over on top of him, the tears only last for a few seconds because (the good) he gets lots of hugs and kisses from Mama. He has learned the squeal/shriek and uses it quite often, but because he is always using it in a happy, excited way (not that Gimme-some-attention-I-don't-want-to-take-my-bath way), I'm okay with that.

I find, surprisingly, that I'm generally okay with most of what my charming, fearless, enthusiastic, curious little boy does. I hope cynicism never touches his heart. His smile is much too priceless.

Where Has the Time Gone?

Oh, my! My little fella is 15 months old! It's been a while since I blogged, but I have not been sitting idle! Wesley is now fully mobile, and he is definitely on his way to being the world's greatest climber. All he wants to do is climb; he's even started trying to climb the walls - literally. He will stand at the wall, hands fully flat, look over at Charlie or me, and do that "Help me, help me" grunt he has. Too cute! We are working on getting him some type of swingset that will allow him to burn up that climbing energy safely. Why does everything have to cost so darn much?

He's also a big talker (no suprise there - not in this family). He can say Ma-Ma, Da-Da, Nan-Nan (or sometimes Nan-Na), Ba-Ba (for Pap), and then bu (for bus, ball, or bubble, depending). He's fascinated with a basketball, and any ball for that matter. He's a pretty good throwing, and he's even starting to learn to share (although if it involves a ball, odds are not in your favor). I watch him and just marvel at how wonderfully sweet he is! He always wants to play with people, it doesn't matter how big or small they are. The more action going on, the better. He is learning how to go to sleep on his own without crying, and this is a BIG step. Still, I miss the days of rocking him to sleep.

He's so smart! I love his genius! He can identify animals in pictures (cows, elephants, horses, dogs, pigs, ducks, kitties, and sheep). He's even starting to try to say their sounds. Last night on our walk, when we saw the cows grazing in the pasture, he tried to say "moo." Of course, it came out just "oo," but still I'm proud. He's so observant - he can watch someone doing something and will try his hardes to mimic it. Charlie said at wrestling practice today, the boys were rolling on the mat in one of their exercises and after watching them for about 3 or 4 minutes, Wesley laid on the mat and started rolling right after them. Brilliant little boy!

Fifteen months - it's been a wild, wonderful ride so far. The ups have far outweighed the downs, and for that I'm grateful. I can't wait for tomorrow.

Motherhood: A Grand Adventure

Wesley's first birthday is three weeks away. Three weeks! It seems as if no time at all has passed, yet my baby boy is pulling up and walking with Mama down the hall. First steps are not that far away.

I cannot believe still, to this day, that I am a mother, let alone a mother to the sweetest baby ever born. I looked at Wesley tonight as I rocked him to sleep and I kept thinking, "I cannot believe he's mine. I cannot believe I'm his mother." When did life get so surreal?

I never really pictured myself as the mother-y type, yet God saw something I didn't, for He blessed me with a little angel. Now that I am a mom (that looks really weird, by the way), I can't imagine life any other way. This past year has been a true adventure, the kind you can't rent at Blockbuster or book thru a travel agent. From poopy diapers and breastfeeding to rolling over to crawling and pulling up, from first holidays to eating big people's food, from playing chase down the hall to walks in the stroller - everything has been an eye-opening experience. What a way to see the world! I never knew cats and horses could be so exciting (neither was I aware that a barking, snarling dog intent on chasing us down the street could be cause for joyous squeals and flailing arms, but there you are).

It's not easy being a mom; I never expected it to be, but boy! there are some days where I'm sure the mommy god is having a good laugh at my expense. Still, at the end of the day, when Wesley is snuggled up in my arms, or first thing in the morning when he's cooing and singing to Zebra in his crib - now those are the moments that turn the joke on that mommy god. His first birthday - wow! I'm almost sad in a way to see it arrive, for it means the (near) end of breastfeeding and the start (soon anyway) of first steps down the hall. At the same time, these new adventures will definitely provide more thrills than not, and that is the greatest advantage to motherhood.