18 Months...

David Scott,
You are 18 months old. We watched your Uncle Brad (Uncle B or just B) graduate from college this weekend; I remember when he was born. I know that in the blink of an eye, we'll be watching graduations for you too. Man -- I don't even want to think about that now or I'll tear up like I did when watching a commercial about some computer thing the other day. Anyway, you had your 18-month well-baby visit with Dr. Kelleher today. You are currently:
• 26.2 lbs
• 31.5 inches tall
• wearing size 4 diapers but it may be time to move on up to 5's
• still wearing size 5 and 6 shoes, 12-18 month and 18-24 month clothes. However, it should be noted that you frequently wear some cotton-y pants to sleep in; they are size 3 months. It's hilarious...they are almost knee-length on you now but they were so big when you wore them just 15 months ago. Daddy makes fun of me for putting you in them, but you look so precious in them!





• saying so many new words: cold, sit, Doodle and Shadow (Mamaw and Mimi's dogs), Deuce and Suzy (Boo and Dusty's dogs), Annie (one of Gran and Papa's dogs), pool, pa-pa (what you've started calling the paci), not nice (said with much enthusiasm and sometimes a finger wag!), bad (usually to Lola), wa-wa (water), Mimi, Mamaw, car and truck (and you know the difference between them. We haven't seen an El Camino yet to get your take on whether it is a car or a truck.) You literally had a conversation of indistinguishable phrases with Daddy yesterday evening. It won't be long before you're speaking in complete sentences.
• loving your Papa, who might be your second favorite person -- behind me, of course. No one else exists when he walks into the room. It's sweet; he adores you as well. Everyone does. Even the check-out ladies/girls at the grocery store.
• running everywhere and just last week you learned how to jump, which is so entertaining to watch.
• are a leader in your class at daycare/school. I say that b/c you apparently let your classmates onto the big kid playground (for the second time) so you could play on the big kid slide last week. I was picturing the escape of inmates from prison when your teacher was telling me this. They say you have so much personality and energy. Ya think?!?
• able to "wash" your hair when you're in the bathtub. Mr. Independent. It reminds me of a book I read as a kid called "I Can Do It By Myself."
• loving Jello as a snack at Gran's house. You and she even have a special dance (the jello wiggle) that is done when enjoying it. So cute!

Speaking of dancing, several nights a week we will break it down in the living room. We find a song on one of our phones and you'll go to town with your smooth moves. You love music and will frequently clap to the beat (or close to it) if a good song comes on the radio. This makes me happy. You also love books. Specifically, we've read "Brown Bear" a thousand times if we've read it to you once; you also like "Goodnight Moon." I hope you keep a love for the arts as you get older.

You still play golf in the backyard every day, much to the delight of Daddy. Also, you seem to be pretty coordinated and will play basketball in your room. You go nuts when you make a basket and we just egg you on with encouragement and multiple high fives.

Also at your appointment today, we got the go-ahead to start trying peanut butter, chocolate, and strawberries. Your palate is about to thoroughly enjoy this expansion!

Life with you continues to get better and better with each day that passes. And although I can't wait to see what kind of person you become...I'm just not ready to watch YOU walk across that stage just yet.

Love,
Mama


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Being a Mother...2011

Sweet boy,
We are presently playing outside with you as we enjoy this beautiful Mother's Day...my second one with you here in the flesh. Lots has changed in the year since I wrote my last Mother's Day post, or more specifically, you have changed so much. You are nearly 18 months old and are just a ball of energy. You see and hear everything and Daddy and I both have to constantly remind one another to, "don't say that" or, "don't do that". Everywhere we go, there's always something more to learn, whether it's identifying an item, or what color something is, saying someone's name, or how to do a task. A mother's work is never done. Literally. Figuratively. Seriously. And one day when you become a father to my grandchild, you will understand. But right now you don't, and that's okay because there's plenty of time to grow up. You're growing up quickly enough as it is.

Overnight it seems you are really testing boundaries so we're really getting a taste of parenting and not just being the givers of your care. And although I know you will be testing your limits for the rest of your life, it would be great if we weren't constantly having to tell you to "get out of that drawer" or "thank you for bringing me the cell phone charger that was charging my phone." :)

However, when you say, "Purple!" and you're correct or when I ask you, "What does the elephant say?" and you make a trumpet sound, all the frustration and time and effort make it all worthwhile because I know you really ARE learning and absorbing everything going on around you.

I am so blessed to be your Mama and I really do love every minute of it. Dirty diapers and tantrums will pass (hopefully), but I will always be here for you to teach you, to guide you, to challenge you, and to comfort you. You will always be my little monkey, no matter how big you get.

And just to let you know what we did today, I made breakfast (yes, I did), then we went to J. Alexander's for lunch (always an experience with you at this point), then went to the mall to get a few things. One of those things was a gift from you and Daddy -- a facial cleanser thing that apparently has three different models, which must have confused Daddy as he was looking for this particular item. :) Once we got home, you drank the remainder of Daddy's strawberry icee which got everywhere, so you got an impromptu shower in the backyard. You peed all over the place and pooped a little too. We could not stop laughing at what was happening. So we brought you inside for a real bath which you always love. The perfect day for me...


Love,
Mama


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Noteworthy...

Since this blog serves as the baby book/remembrance book for DS and our family, I thought it to be noteworthy to do a post on recent events. On Sunday night, Scotty and I were shocked to see the news: Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks, and much more, was dead. This tyrant had finally been dealt with, and by a company of US Navy SEALS and CIA operatives, no less. The best of the best, they said. For me, this event caused me to remember the events of 9/11/01. This year will mark the 10-year anniversary of that fateful day, and I remember it like it was yesterday.

Living in Harper (private dorm) at Tech my junior year, I was asleep when I got the call from my mom. She asked me, "Do you know what the hell is going on?!?". "No, Mama, I just woke up. What's going on?". "A plane just flew into a building in New York!". "Big deal," I told her as turned on Good Morning America. And then it happened...a second plane flew into the other of the Twin Towers. That could not be a coincidence. I don't remember getting off the phone with her, but I know that I must have. I was glued to the tv coverage of the developing events. I remember sitting on my bed, crying as I watched the buildings collapse. At that point, I hadn't been to NY. Truth be told, I don't even recall knowing about the World Trade Centers before that day. But I knew there was no way those people in the buildings could get out -- the majority of them anyway. And I was sad for them, and for their families, and for what we only knew to be "not random coincidences" that would turn out to not only change the skyline of such a famous city, but would forever change the lives of nearly every American. I had no class and didn't have to be at work until noon. I took a quick shower and slowly got ready affixed in front of the tv. I walked over to Chick fil-A about 10:45 to grab a quick bite before leaving for work. As I walked, I could hear a plane overhead and briefly thought, Not here, too! Why somebody would fly a plane onto Tech's campus didn't make much sense, but as I got closer to the building, I saw the shadow of the plane overhead. Later on, I would learn that all planes had been grounded and President Bush, on his diverted route back to the White House, flew into Barksdale AFB. The plane I'd heard and seen the shadow of was Air Force One.

The rest of the day was a blur of trying to work but finding every excuse I could to watch or at least walk by the tv near the front desk area of my office. Being obsessed with the news and waiting for any update was how I remember spending the next day as well as that weekend. When it was all said and done, Osama bin Laden took credit for all the plane hijackings and deaths that day. He was now public enemy #1.

In the days, weeks, and months following 9/11, America banded together and felt a renewed sense of pride and patriotism. We went to war (on terrorism) overseas. And many of the brave soldiers in our military who were sent to fight for our freedom, did not make it back home. Nearly ten years later, we're still over there. Some of my friends and family have husbands and brothers who are currently at or who have gone to war over the last few years. I cannot imagine the anxiety they must go through each day so I pray for their loved one's safe return.

Rachel and I had the opportunity to go to NYC (for my job). On the 5th anniversary of 9/11 and just two weeks before I got married, I might add, we were at Ground Zero as President Bush conducted a remembrance ceremony. It was an awe inspiring experience to happen to be there at the time this was going on. And then when Scotty and I went to DC last year, we visited Arlington Cemetery, one of the most hauntingly beautiful places we've ever been. It caused us both to shed tears with its beauty, the magnitude of the place itself, and the humbling feelings of gratitude it brought out in both of us.

Soldiers (and their families) past and present have given up so much to serve our country. Many times, the ultimate sacrifice has been made. The same can be said for the 9/11 victims and their families. Perhaps some of them have closure now, but I'm sure many don't. They know, too, that the war's not over. But hopefully it won't continue too much longer now that the Ringleader of Terror has been eliminated, potentially dealing a fatal blow to the terrorist groups still out there.

Our military -- not just the team who participated in this mission -- and certainly not just this president -- deserve all the accolades and thanks we can give them. Without them, our world wouldn't be as safe or as free as it is.

In other noteworthy news from this weekend and on a less serious note, my childhood crush, Prince William of Wales, married his college sweetheart Friday morning. It was a beautiful ceremony, she was gorgeous and he was handsome, and they lived happily ever after...

David Scott, I tell you all this so you'll have a sense of what things were going on in the world before you were born and while you are a small child. These events will shape the world for us, for you, and future Baby Rains.




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