One, Two, Buckle My Shoe

Last year around this time I was feeling apprehensive about being the mother of two children.

And when Spencer was born, it was, indeed, an adjustment. But I still remember clearly an afternoon shortly after the cub came home: he and Lucy were both crying. Both sad. Both needing attention. There was nothing to do but scoop one into each arm and sink into the bedroom rocking chair. As I waited for them to slowly calm down, I recognized a new feeling creeping into the corner of my heart. I looked from him to her, from her to him. I felt so grateful. Grateful for two arms. Grateful for two children.

Not that I hadn't always been grateful. We were thrilled when we found out I was pregnant with Spencer. Overjoyed when he was born. We wanted two children (we want ten!). But that afternoon in the rocking chair brought a different kind of gratitude. A comfortable sense of completeness and the hope of normalcy on the horizon.

Now, a year later, two is the only normal we know.

On the above afternoon (last May, I believe), Spencer fell asleep rocking with his big sis. Grandma Truman, who was tending at the time, said that Lucy stayed oh so still and oh so quiet for something like 45 minutes until little brother woke up.

In June, we dropped Spencer and Lucy off to be tended by their big cousins while we attended the temple with a group of family members. After our session ended we called to check on the kids. "Spencer cried for like an hour," my nephew told me. "But then Lucy put him to sleep." Later, I asked her what she had done to help her brother relax. She shrugged, "I just crawled in his bed (pack-n-play) and rubbed his legs."

Of course there is often frustration, and hair-pulling, and unwillingness to share. But the smiles are quick to return. And the laughter! Oh, the laughter is the gladdest sound in the world.

Can't believe it!

Summer's about done!

School has begun!
The little man-cub is almost ONE!
Time flies when you're having fun!

For Spencer

Spring has become summer, and your little baby toes......are becoming big boy feet.

Feet that really want to walk!

(Although you still like to ride.)

I like nothing better than to hear you laugh (very possibly my favorite sound in the world) or to see you pop out your little pointer finger (makes my heart melt) which you wave in time to a song or use to point out something interesting (you loved those Forth of July hot air balloons).


I love to feel your hands climb up my calf while I'm working in the kitchen, or to feel your wet, open mouth kiss on my cheek or collar bone.
I love the way you dive down in my arms for a drink of milk (only to pop back up seconds later looking for a laugh with your sister).
I love how seriously you take your new abilities to clap and wave (your noisy new clap is delightful, but I confess I will miss watching your little fists flying, trying to connect in those old concentrated attempts to master the skill.)
Happy 10 months, Man-cub! I'm so glad you're growing up in our house. So glad.

I Hear Babies Cry, I Watch Them Grow

Sunday afternoon at my parents' house.
Louis Armstrong singing from my dad's stereo.
Spencer giggling as I hold him and dance for the duration of a favorite song.

After the whirling and twirling, Dad says with a sentimental smile, "You'll have to do that again when he's two inches taller than you."

And I think to myself...
Two inches taller than me?

That won't ever happen.

(Will it?)
What A Wonderful World

Nearly Nine Months

He sounds like this:

And looks like this:

And we love him.

Why Do We Take So Many Pictures of Babies Eating??

'Cause it's the cutest thing ever?

Lipstick Kiss

He's going to hate that when he's thirteen.

For Spencer

Everything I have to say is cliche:

Time goes so fast.
I can't remember when you weren't part of our family.
I never knew I could love someone so much so quickly.

Remember how hard being born was? Remember how bruised and swollen you were? My labor was so fast. Your heart rate indicated that you didn't really approve of the pace. But you made it. I remember all the nurses talking about your banged up, blue little face. A brave little face.

And then you started growing.

And you keep growing. And my heart, hardly able to keep up, doesn't quite approve of the pace.

So I'd just like to have it on the record that when I come into your room in the morning or after one of your naps, you (laying on your tummy) kick your legs vigorously, the way an excited puppy dog would wag his excited tail.
I love this.
I also love the grin you occasionally give me after a particularly satisfying feeding. The kind of grin that lets a tiny stream of milk escape your mouth and slide down your sweet little cheek.
That yummy grin makes me want to EAT. YOU. UP. Happy Half Birthday, my man-cub.

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes, Part I

When Lucy was a baby I signed up for and faithfully read all kinds of developmental milestone articles. You know, the "Ages and Stages" e-mails that clutter up your inbox until your child is almost four and you decide it's finally time to unsubscribe.

I remember reading a particular article about young babies being fascinated with their hands. And so I kept waiting for Lucy to look at hers. To be endlessly entertained by them. So that I could do the dishes or read two paragraphs of a book.

I waited.
And waited.
And it never happened.

She never gave those darling, dimpled little digits more than an uninterested glance or two. She learned how to use them just fine. Grasped objects, held toys, perfected the pincer. But she was never visually intrigued by them.

Spencer is.
And so much for doing the dishes or reading a book.

I can't stop watching him watch his hands!

I have tried endlessly for about a month to capture the riveted, surprised, concentrated expression he wears as he watches. But because the camera is his second favorite visual stimulus, it is almost impossible!

Feet are also fascinating these days.

And while Spencer's intrigue with his appendages has been entertaining, it has also be inspiring. A needed reminder to appreciate our beautiful, capable bodies.

I have more to say on this subject. But it's late. And you don't want to read a never ending post. So I'm going to end. But let's have a little Love Your Body week on this blog, eh??

Gear up. It's gonna be fun!