we're sinking!

Trying to speed up the getting-ready process, which includes picking up and setting down Patrick multiple times as he refuses to self-entertine for the 5 minutes I need to put on my makeup, I set him in the sink and got ready right behind him. The result: I got my makeup, he got clean teeth.

eat that!

Eating like a big guy - so proud!

I don't remember the last time a year had so many moments in it

We were given the chance this weekend to reflect upon the past year - not because of the new year, but because of Patrick's birthday! A whole year has gone by - his entire life, 1/25th of ours, and it has been JAM PACKED. Possibly because we did so many fun things and saw so many people, but probably more because every day consists of hundreds of little moments that were never there before. I love to get big hugs from my husband, but a big hug from my son melts my heart like I can't explain. Maybe because mere months ago he didn't really know how to hug, so this is a cool milestone? Maybe because it's crazy that he loves me in spite of the fact that I have no idea what I'm doing? Maybe it doesn't matter why, I just don't need to explain it.

Everything gets stretched out as you grow up. Newborns have 12 days and nights every single day - every time they wake up it's a new day! 24 hours is just too much to handle, so they break it down into chunks they CAN handle and then sleep in between. As they get older kids take fewer and fewer naps because they can handle longer and longer hours; their activities become longer and more involved and those once-long days now seem quite short, those once-long years go by in no time at all. I have been SHOCKED at how time has gone back to standing still at 24 (now 25) years old. To be home and be completely absorbed in Patrick's world, where 24-hours means so much more than one day - it could be the day he went from sitting and staring to reaching and interacting! The day he went from stuck-where-ya-put-me to scooting around on his own! The day when he didn't need my hand to walk him across the room anymore! - THIS has made the days crawl by.... but crawl in a good way. When I think about the hundreds of moments we have had together, I would be in serious trouble if time DIDN'T crawl! It's gone by much too fast as is! The naps break it up nicely, of course, but those moments where my heart melts come right on top of each other; if life were going at its old pace, I would have missed half those moments (probably more if I'm honest with myself). So thanks, Patrick, for packing enough good times into every day to make it seem like three, and happy birthday to YOU!

Newborn

One Month

Two Months

Three Months

Four Months

Five Months

Six Months

Seven Months

Eight Months

Nine Months (nine up, nine down!)

Ten Months

Eleven Months

Happy Birthday!

For Kari, because she asked

Patrick sliding on his own! Kinda crashes at the end since I only have one hand to catch him, one hand for the camera.

Oh, the weather outside's delightful...

60+ degrees here in Fort Collins! On the days that it AREN'T outrageously windy we like to soak up the outdoors while we can. On the days that ARE outrageously windy we like to go the pool, but getting in and out of the car means either having your kneecaps broken from the door slamming you into the car frame or dinging the car next to you because the wind caught the door full-force the other way! So here we are, in January with no wind, playing at the park. I didn't get a photo, but Patrick goes down the slide by himself now! I just catch him at the bottom. What a STUD.
The park looks empty, but don't be fooled! We're just the only ones in this particular corner. It is actually has a bazillion day-care kids just out of view on the left. We're not the only ones enjoying the sun!
Shoveling sand to make wicked-awesome sandcastles
Is this what winter's like? If this is torture, chain me to the swingset!

Happy Early Birthday (to us!)

For Patrick's early birthday present we're going to re-train nighttime! Oh, JOY. I posted about our (very small) battle a month or two ago, complete with sad photos, but after 2 night he slept GREAT! We could leave the room while he was still wide-eyed and he'd fall asleep without crying, then he'd wake up twice a night, tops, but usually only once or (heaven preserve us!) not at all. Then Christmas hit, and hit hard, and we haven't had a decent night of sleep since. I think he's gotten somewhat used to us sleeping with him, but co-sleeping just doesn't work for me, so now that he's alone he wakes up so much more often - and more angry! Still, 6 nights out of 7 I end up in his twin-bed with him since I don't want to bring him to our bed (yes, I feel like there's a difference, and his bed is surprisingly comfortable!) but more than once I WAKE UP in his bed and don't remember getting in there! A sure sign I am delirious with fatigue. Since under-eye bags just aren't all the rage this year and we'd like to get some sleep before he turns 6, we've been working up the guts to try it again. He had a new tooth coming in and we took a trip to Pueblo, so it hasn't been good timing - UNTIL NOW. With one week to work out the kinks all engines are go for beauty rest for the entire family by the time he turns one! Wish us luck!

We're avoiding you

Okaaaaay.... not really. But if you happen to call Joe's phone and it is no longer in service, don't panic! We MEANT to do that. You can still call MY phone, which is now OUR phone (guess I should change the voicemail message so when other girls call they KNOW not to leave scandelous messages.... since THAT HAS ACTUALLY HAPPENED). Or feel free to call our home/business phone. Although I post every other little thing about our life on here I feel weird about actually posting FACTS, not just spur-of-the-moment ravings about my celebrity crushes and new year's resolutions, so if you need either of those two numbers... email me. I will also not give out my email on here, so good luck finding us!

But seriously... we're not avoiding you.