My alarm clock

Some days being a mom is... rough. Insert hard, tiring, boring, lonely, exhausting, messy, or repetitive, here! But, it is also the most rewarding job I've ever had, and I love it dearly. What a blessing it is that I get to be here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week witnessing my little guy growing up. Learning his world, learning new things. It's pretty doggone awesome! But, don't get me wrong. There are days! Days when I consider selling him on ebay, or just heading out and joining the circus myself. Days when Noah can't get home early enough, and those are usually the days he works the longest. Lately Gideon hasn't been sleeping all that well. Yup, that's putting it nicely. I call it "faux mmom" speak. As in, "Little Charlie is... spirited" Code for "the child is a hellion! So when I say Gideon's not sleeping well, what I really mean is the child isn't sleeping at all! He's teething, it's not his fault, but it sure makes for some looong nights. And magically, his father can sleep through it all. Man ears are amazing! But, as I glance at my now mobile son, actually crawling around the house like a big kid now, and watch him learn new sounds and amaze me what what he knows (currently working on the high five with dad, and pulling up (heaven help us!) I know that in 15 or 20 years, I'll not remember these sleepless nights, these tough days with a cranky teething baby. I'll remember chubby 9 month hands crawling up Mt. Mommy and sweet baby smiles and slobbery kisses. I'll remember watching him work so hard at something and finally getting it and looking at me with such smug delight, as if saying, "Yup, I finally did it!". And I'll remember waking up to sweet baby noises and coos, going in and getting the biggest smile of the day, with 2 little teeth grinning out at me and those chubby hands reaching up. I'm pretty sure a 15 year old won't wake up quite that cute. Those will be the memories I take from Gideon's babyhood, a mere pit stop on the road map of his life. As we were watching the news last night, there was a segment on newborns and Noah and I both began talking about how it was already getting hard to remember Gideon at that age. So tiny. Was it all a dream? I already cannot remember a time where he wasn't so active. So, while sleepless nights and long days come with the territory, I'll take em'. It's worth it to share in something so wonderful as a day in the life of a 9 month old.

Hope you enjoy the video. Sorry it's upside down- whoops! This is what wakes me up daily, and I wouldn't change it for the world!

#1 Dad!

Today is father's day. A day to celebrate Gideon's wonderful father. We woke our dad up this morning with a kiss and snuggle in the big bed. Noah loved his homemade gifts that followed, and like the true wonderful father he is, got Gideon ready for church while I got ready myself. While sitting in church, I remembered a Sunday of long ago. I was maybe 17 or 18, with Noah in the church we attend now, and had come as guests of his family. I don't remember the reason, but I remember it was one of my first times at their church and I remember the entire family was there. I remember seeing Pat at the head of the pew. In his flannel shirt and jeans. Singing quietly, not making a big spectacle of himself. His family gathered near him. The girls couldn't have been more than 13 or 14, and Pat kept a watchful eye on them. I remember being fascinated by this scene, the family at church. I don't know why. We didn't really attend church when I was growing up, so maybe I was fascinated due to the longing in my heart that Jesus placed there. Not sure. But I do so vividly remember that scene. And I'd totally forgotten about it until this morning, sitting in the pew with my husband. Flannel shirt and jeans on. Singing ever so quietly, while holding our son. I am so in awe at how wonderful of a father he is. Not only is he the playmate, but he's my helpmate as well. Quick to change a diaper, or walk a fussy baby at midnight. Did his father do these same things when he was a baby? I can only think so. Noah is so much like his father. I can't imagine Pat not having such a vested interest in his children. While I did not know him well, I feel that I have a second chance with Noah. I know he possesses so many of the wonderful traits his father had. I know that Noah is a bit sad on days like this, where we rise up and honor our fathers. And I know his father would have been so very proud of the man he's turned into, and the father he's becoming. I thank God for wonderful fathers like Pat who turn their own children into wonderful fathers as well. I hope one day when Gideon is sitting with his own child, gently reprimanding him, or just holding him close and laughing at his baby ways, he'll remember everything his father taught him, and how very much he loved him.

9 months according to Grandma

Today Gideon is 9 months old! When did that happen? I had a blog all planned out for this morning, praising my boy for all he's learned and how far he's come, but then I opened my email and found one waiting with the subject, "For Gideon" from his Grandma. It was just so perfect, I decided to post it here. Seems like the perfect words for a big boy's 9 month milestone!

Happy 9 months, Gideon!! I hope you and mama have lots of fun things planned to do today to celebrate this most important milestone. I can't believe how much you've grown in such a short time and how many wonderful things you've learned. It's amazing to remember when you were first born that you couldn't do anything for yourself. And now look at you! You can grab toys and get them to your mouth. You're almost crawling and starting to try to stand up. You've mastered your bouncy and walker. You're starting to eat grown up food and seems like you're nearly done with the bottle. My most favorite thing that you've learned is to smile at Grandma!! Grandma and Grandpa love you so very, very much. Happy 9 months!!

Sacrifice

It is 10 till 8 and I'm sitting here with a content little boy playing on the floor beside me. He'll go down in a few minutes for the last nap of the day. It's been a busy one, and I'm looking forward to the break to be honest. Such busy hands a 9 month old has! Noah just called and is in route to the house. He tries to get home around 7, but sometimes, ok most times, that doesn't happen. I feel so blessed to have a husband as hardworking as Noah. He is wonderful. And it hurts my heart that tonight is another night he'll not really spend much time with his son. He'll swoop in just in time to eat dinner and give Gideon his last feeding of the night. Then, it will all start again tomorrow. This amazes me. He is so strong. So willing to give of himself so we are taken care of. Does he know how much we appreciate him? Do we tell him enough? I'd like to think so. I hope that he sees how hard I try to hold down the fort while he's away. How I hold dinner and wait for him so he can have a hot meal. How I try to have everything done so that when he gets home, there is nothing for him to do but relax. I know he sees these things because he's quick with the compliment. I hope that I am doing enough here at home to show him how much we appreciate the sacrifices he makes for us. And I hope that Gideon will grow up exactly like his father. While Noah is short on time, he makes it count when he's here. The minute he walks in the door, it's all about Gideon and I. He is wonderful like that. I know that he'll spread himself thin trying to make it to ball games and school performances as Gideon gets older. I hope Gideon will know how much his dad truly does for him. Being a father must be so incredibly difficult. You have to be away so much of the time trying to provide for your family that you miss so much. I know Noah lives vicariously through this blog; he says he loves reading what Gideon and I get into on a daily basis. He loves the pictures I take and the stories I tell. He loves Gideon so much, it astonishes me. I knew he'd be a wonderful father, but I truly had no idea. Gideon is a lucky boy. He is now in bed, I hear little faint noises from his room as he is falling asleep. Noah will be here soon and I've got to finish up dinner. I can't wait to share it with him and hear all about his day. We are so lucky to have him in our lives!

Momma's little sous-chef

I'm not the greatest cook, I'll be the first to admit. But, I'm slowly figuring out my way around the kitchen. Being at home with time on your hands helps. My newest culinary feat- the marinade. I am all about it! I've been marinading anything that stands still lately. So, while I was putting tonight's culinary adventure together, I had a little help. Yup, momma's little sous-chef- if you can't tell, that is Gideon eating a sponge and holding a spatula. The latter, his newest favorite toy. Yup, all that money spent on brightly colored Baby Einstein stuff and the kid picks a spatula. What can I say? He's special! ;)

The difference between boys and girls

It is summer time now. Gideon is more mobile and scooting everywhere. He is getting dirty. He needs new sandals. He has a blue pair, I'd like a neutral pair. While out shopping with Grandma, Gideon and I spy a lovely brown pair at Stride Rite on sale (sale!!) They are sitting with the other 4 or 5 pairs of boys shoes. After inspecting them, I cast my glance to the "other" side of the store. The pink side. Now, for the most part, I am content shopping in the blue department. 2 racks of clothing, not a lot of options, easy enough. But every once in a while, I allow myself to gaze longingly at the pink side. So many choices! Skirts, rompers, butterflies and tank tops! The selection is amazing! So, while at Stride Rite, I allow myself the luxury of looking over at the vast array of girls shoes. Sandals, open toed, tennis shoes, and everything in between. Most options available in several colors! Color! Not just blue or brown! Amazing! I pick up the cutest pair of pink polka dot wedge sandals in a size 1. Yup, 1. That's roughly the length of 3/4ths of your pointer finger. How precious!! And then I think, if I had a girl, I would have to buy these. These would be a need, not a want. And I would have to justify my purchase to Noah, who loves me, but would not agree with me that they were a need. And then I'd need an outfit to go with them. An outfit of just the right pink. They weren't barbie pink, they weren't mauve, they were watermelon pink. Yup, that would take some hunting. While all of these choices swam in my head, I glanced back at Gideon. In a simple tee shirt and shorts, eating his new brown sandal. Thank heaven for little boys! I don't think I'm up to all that girliness, regardless of how cute it is. I think if I need a pink fix, I'll head on over to Carly's and play dress-up with Caitlin and Emma. Caitlin is even more pink that I am, and Emma's working on it. And when Carly's head starts to pound at the thought of matching one of the girls shoes to their outfits, I will gladly let her roam around in Gideon's fuss-free closet. Full of browns, blues and greys.

Splish Splash!

Yesterday I decided to take Gideon for his 9 month photos. Wow. 9 months. I can hardly believe it. What a milestone. Seems he's reaching them daily at this point. He was a little grouch until they turned the camera on. Then it was lights, camera, Gideon! He is becoming quite the little ham. Well, when your mom takes your photo at least 10 times a day, I guess you get that way. I think his first word may just be "cheese!" It's amazing how much he's doing now. Sitting, rolling, scooting and almost crawling. What a miracle he is! Gramma Sandy was here this weekend and summed it up wonderfully, it's like he was asleep for so long and now he's just everywhere! Quite true! Some days I wish he'd slow down, but I'm trying to keep up. I'm trying to relish in every moment, every milestone, every new adventure. We put his baby pool up over the weekend, and have come to realize he is quite the little fish. He loves the pool! He crawls around and tries to chase this little duck we have floating. So cute! And in his cammo swim trunks he looks so much like a little boy. Sigh.