We're ready..

After 130 inches of snow (so far), going through colds and ear infections and ongoing runny noses, and endless games inside, we are so ready for Spring.  We have a little boy who can't wait to get outside and run around.

In the meantime though, we are still having fun inside.  Levi has turned into quite the little helper..or at least tries to be a helper :).  He loves to bring us our shoes.  Anytime I let him, he wants to stir whatever I am cooking.  He recently started emptying the silverware out of the dishwasher unprompted.  

When we had his 15 month check up, we found out he grew two inches since his one year appointment; that growth is definitely showing itself.  He seems to be able to reach almost everything on the table and counter tops.  Just tonight he snagged two pancakes off the table while we were cooking and washing dishes and he was entertaining himself.  We've learned that just about nothing is safe on the table anymore.

Here's to hoping Spring comes quickly!!

Checking In..

Just a little check in here..

About a month ago we decided it really was time for Levi to get a little hair cut.  His bangs (do guys have bangs?) were falling in his eyes unless they were brushed to the side.  I had cut off his curls in the back several months earlier but now a trim was needed all over.

So, off to Snip-its we went.  Snip-its specializes in children's cuts and had more bright colors going on than Levi had seen in his little life.  

Anyway, to make a long-story short, the hair cut didn't go too well.  Because it makes me sad, I'll only include two pictures from the experience: 

As soon as she sprayed his hair to start cutting, it went downhill fast.  And now the time has come where his hair is almost in his eyes again, and this time yours truly will be giving it a try..

On a side note, I know its only been a few weeks since this, and maybe its the longer hair in the first picture, but gosh he looks a lot younger than he does now :(.  I often tell him he can't grow anymore, he can't lose his soft, fine hair, and he can't lose his baby smell.  Apparently its not working very well.

Subject change: have you been watching Syracuse basketball?  In case you haven't, we're (yes, I'm claiming them) ranked #1 and the last two games have literally come down to the last shot.  In case you haven't followed college basketball at all (because that is generally me), Syracuse is one of two undefeated teams - which has made these last two games even more of a nail biter than usual.  I consider myself somewhat of a poser fan but I suppose after living here for over four years, we have endured the winters long enough to claim them as our team.

Well, we had the opportunity to go to the game last weekend through work.  They got tickets to the press box and little Levi was due for his first Orange experience.  The poor kid didn't know so many people even existed in the world.  It was pretty loud, even in the box, and he did great.  

Here's to hoping we actually see those 40 degree forecasted temperatures this week!! We're ready for Spring!!

One Year - Some Sap and a Party

My little baby boy is a year.  Our sweet little baby who brings so much joy and so many smiles has been with us for over a year now!  

Can I just say, no one tells you!! No one tells you what its like to have a kid, and even if they did, I wouldn't have understood listened.  No one tells you that your life changes drastically from the time that labor starts to the arrival of a beautiful baby.  

When I was nearing the end of my pregnancy with Levi, I remember one of my friends saying something like "We need to chat and get it all out because you're going to have a baby soon and won't have any time!"  My response?  "What do you mean? I'll have more time once the baby comes.  I'll be at home not working anymore!"

 But its not just about the time - or the lack of.  And honestly, Levi is a fairly "easy" baby.  I can't complain about not having time because with just him, I have time. It's the rest.  

It's the way everything in life suddenly becomes different.  It's the love that is so strong you don't know if your heart is going to literally break inside of you.  Or, the feelings so intense that you think they may become a tangible object that can sit on a shelf.  It's the fear, demanding your faith in God grow to a new capacity, knowing that He loves best if or when that time comes.  It's that you can't even go somewhere alone (hello new found freedom in the grocery store) without thinking of him or wondering what he's doing.  

But, its incredible.  It's one of my greatest joys in life.
   
Levi has taught me so much.  From the smiles that he gives absolute strangers to the snuggles he gives after a long day, he reminds me how much joy there is to be found in life.  When circumstances are so confusing or answers seem so far away, he shows me a picture of childlike faith.  

And he is our little one year old.  He is full of smiles.  He loves splashing in the bathtub.  He eats like a teenager (ok, probably a stretch but I literally do not know where he puts all of his food).  He dances to music.  He snuggles his stuffed animals.  He plays with any size ball for endless amounts of fun. He giggles when he finds your belly button. 

Just before he turned 13 months, he took a few steps on his own, and has recently started climbing.  The stairs he mastered long ago but now its boxes or ledges or anything that can make him higher.  He makes me laugh on a regular basis and we generally truly enjoy our days.  I often tell people we are having a lot of fun with Levi right now - this season with him is good!

On a side note, we celebrated his first birthday with a Mustache Bash.  It was fun for us to plan his party and celebrate him.  Both sets of grandparents were able to come and a few friends came over.  What a loved little boy we have!

He loved his cake!

Celebrating with our little man!

Cupcakes and party table set up!

Monthly pictures - so fun to look back and see :)

Grandparents picture!

Thanks to everyone who has prayed for us and with us as we raise this little boy!  Keep them coming because I think this is just the beginning :)

11 and 12 Months!

Well, Levi is obviously not 10 months old anymore.  Clearly I'm behind.

Some things from the last two (!) months.  

He finally got his first tooth at eleven months old..on top.  As of now, he has one tooth on top and one tooth on bottom.  We affectionately refer to him as Snaggletooth, and he resembles a jack o lantern.  As of yesterday, his second top tooth has popped through.

(11 months)

He loves to clap as soon as someone else starts clapping or someone tells him "good job" or "yay."  I find this adorable and love his chub little hands.

(11 months)

He continues to stand on his own and has gotten pretty fast at crawling but chooses not to walk.  I think the most he has taken on his own is three steps.

(11 months)

 

He needs a haircut.  I cut off his curls prior to his one year pictures.  We wanted him to look like a little boy and the curls needed to go.  I don't regret it, but I do enjoy when the back starts to curl some days.  His whole head of hair has now grown to the point that he needs an all-over hair cut.  The front falls into his eyes if we don't keep it brushed to the side.

(11 months)

He has turned snuggly on us.  I didn't see it coming.  Don't get me wrong, I love love love it, but I thought the snuggles were gone.  Somewhere right around his birthday, he decided he liked laying his head on Mom's shoulder.  I wouldn't have it any other way.

(11 months)

We've entered into somewhat of an attached phase.  This also came right around his birthday.  Its generally not too bad as he is still able to be distracted.  However, there are certain times he only wants mom.  I usually wouldn't have it any other way.

(12 months) 

He's growing.  Mostly just taller.  He eats tons (if Mom and Dad don't cut him off) but he hasn't gained much weight.  One of his favorite activities is escaping from Mom and visiting Dad in his office.  Here he finds the printer which he used to be just tall enough to reach the on/off button (Dad doesn't enjoy this but Mom does as she knows he is safe and occupied with minimal supervision while not being able to see him).  We also have to make sure things left on the table are pushed away from the edge as he can easily reach up and over, but can't see over.  I one time found him sucking on a banana peel he had pulled off the edge.  Thankfully I learned early and no plates or glasses have been grabbed.

(12 months)

He understands.  He knows what he is supposed to play with and what he is not.  He now has a mischievous look where he looks at one of his parents before doing something he knows he's not supposed to.  This is encouraging to know that consistency is paying off, but definitely a reminder of what is to come.

(12 months)

He loves the vacuum.  Its funny.  He follows me around while I vacuum and if the vacuum is turned off, he knows he's not allowed to touch it (ours tips over easily).  You should see the wonder he has while staring at it and trying so hard to leave it alone.

(12 months)

He continues to love people..especially in the grocery store or one of my favorites, Hobby Lobby.  We made a lot of trips to Hobby Lobby prior to his birthday party and we are now friends with most of the cashiers.  

(12 months)

Boy do we love him! 

10 Months!

Ten months!  We are closing in on the one year mark!  My heart is so full because of the blessing in this little boy!

His new tricks: clapping and standing (each on their own and simultaneaously).  Climbing the stairs.  Crawling intside the cabinets.  Baths in the big tub.  Successfully going up and over the one step landing.  We even get some waving from time to time.  And..sleeping through the night again! 

His little body just wants to go and go and explore so much.  He can crawl at a rather rapid pace when he wants to..and turns it into somewhat of a game for us to chase after him.  He's in a stage right now where he laughs at everything (I know..what an awful stage to be in).  I'll have my eye on him, and then he darts down the hallway.  I ask him where he is, and I hear laughing and the clomp clomp of his crawl suddently speeds up..  He also thinks its funny everytime he successfully craws up and over the landing into Dad's office.  Clay taught him how to crawl down the one step off the landing without face planting, and he has it mastered.

As I mentioned, he is sleeping through the night again from time to time.  Levi has been a great sleeper for us from about 3 or 4 months old but a couple months ago, he started getting up at least once a night - sometimes for up to 2 or 3 hours.  Those were long nights with a little boy who just wanted to sit on mom's lap and play.  But, as with all phases, it has passed and now even if he does get up, its a quick feeding and he's back to sleep.

We take a trip to the library every week or two and get Levi new books to look at.  He loves for us to read to him, but generally favors the same book over and over; we just don't know which book it will be for that week.  Its been fun being able to take advantage of a decent library not too far away, and I've gotten into the habit of reading more for myself.  My selections recently have been a parenting book (Don't Make Me Count to Three by Ginger Plowman - highly recommended!!), a biography of sorts (The Duck Commander Family by Willie and Korie Robertson), and a feminist take on more women of my generation choosing to stay home (Homeward Bound by Emily Matchar).  Quite the variety I know, but I've enjoyed all three of those for vastly different reasons.

I couldn't ask for a better buddy to have with me throughout the day.  We have our rough spots but they are far outweighed by the very bright spots.  Right now I'm enjoying him getting a little older as each month brings more interaction and new "tricks."  We were a bit shocked when he started standing on his own so I guess we'll see what his next trick will be!

Mini Van in the Big City

This post is long overdue, but it might be Levi's only visit to NYC so I figured I should share it.  I have to say, New York City is just not quite my thing.  Visiting in the summer does NOT help make it more appealing but in my defense, I have visited when the Christmas decorations were still up in January and its still not my thing.  Give me some wide open spaces over dirty concrete floor to ceiling any day.

However, I shouldn't come off as such a debbie downer when we really did have a nice trip!  Actually, I'm so proud of Clay earning his invitation on this trip!  We went for a long weekend in July as it was an incentive trip for the reps in his company.

We stayed in the Waldorf Astoria.  This was nice for several reasons but one of the main ones being that we were within walking distance of just about everywhere, but we werent in the middle of the chaos of Times Square:

Levi in Times Square!  We were rather obvious tourists for two reasons: 1. tennis shoes and 2. baby.  Those two things don't really hide in NYC.

 Levi and Clay in Central Park!  I learned on my tour of the city that all of Central Park is man-made.  The tour guide made it a point to say that not even a single blade of grass grew there on its own and that literally every part of it was designed and brought in. 

 My treat on the trip was a stop at Crumbs cupcake shop.  Cupcake shops are rather trendy I know, but I wanted to go and get to pick out any cupcake I wanted.  So we did.

I picked out a chocolate and vanilla milkshake cupcake and Clay went with classic cookies n cream!

To be honest, they were dry.  It was rather disappointing.  However, the most bizarre lady was in Crumbs.  She offered to babysit Levi so we could go to a broadway show.  We were both very surprised by the friendliness of this grandma, but then again, our whole weekend trip showed us that people in NYC love babies (not so much strollers)..and therefore talk to you and your baby.  Needless to say, we thanked her for her generous offer but declined.

Guess what else happened on this trip?!  Clay turned 27!  We were limited in celebratory options but he opted to eat Chinese that evening for dinner, and we both wore shoes other than sneakers.  Here is our selfie picture complete with stroller:

Monday morning I spent on an air conditioned tour bus around the city while Clay sat in class.  God was so gracious as Levi was a very well behaved travel companion.  I also made friends with a mother and son (from Indiana - the Midwest kindness) who were so nice - they were always aware of me on the walking portions and made sure I could get the stroller up and down stairs or tight places!  I know it may seem small, but they were a huge blessing!

One of our walking stops was the 9/11 memorial site:

I took other pictures on the tour but we're going to move on.



That evening we went to eat at a small Italian place.  I thought it was rather humorous that because we had the stroller with us, we were banished to the outside back corner (note stacked tables and chairs behind). 

Just a couple more pictures and we'll be done.  This little guy slept horribly all weekend long.  Oh well.



Finally, for those of you who are not aware, we are the proud new owners of a minivan.  If you are debating, or even considering, the option of minivan ownship, please reach out.  We're here for you and we will convert you as it. is. AWESOME.  Just don't tell anyone we said so. 

All that to say, we welcomed Van to the family by driving her right into the heart of New York City.

View from inside:

Overall, we really did have a great time despite the heat and the fact that we had a 7 month old baby with us in a city that is not really known for their family accomodations.

The sweetest view there was on the way home: