8 days a week

As I start to type this post, my eyes well up with tears and my heart feels like it is exploding. It's hard to catch my breath. While I always wanted to be a mom, I never knew what it would feel like, looking at something so uniquely mine; spending every waking second caring for him and every sleeping moment dreaming of him.

On the eve of his 1st birthday, I reflect on the last 364 days. Last night, Nate and I reminisced and tried to remember all the details of June 3rd, 2008. Nate said one of the most clear memories he had is when I held Emery for the first time. I vividly recalled it, as well. My son.

I can't begin to image my world without him and Nate and I have a hard time remembering what it was like before he joined our family. I feel incredibly lucky to be his mom and to share his life. He truly is my pride and joy.

I don't want to forget a second of the time I have to spend with him and I certainly don't want to forget any of the amazing bits and pieces of who he is.

• Saying he loves music is an understatement. He ADORES any kind of beat and will start bopping to it the second it hits his ears. He especially likes anything by Raffi, "Canned Heat" by Jamiroquai, "Jessica" by the Allman Brothers, and "Grace Kelly" by Mika.
• He is most happy when surrounded by kids and he is outside.
• He loves the wind and is happy to sit in his stroller as long as we are outside and moving.
• He enjoys opening and closing doors.
• He knows how to High-5.
• He likes playing peek-a-boo with a blanket.
• He has 4 teeth on top and 2 on the bottom (with 2 more breaking through next to them).

• He crawls fast and furiously and loves to be chased, picked up, and thrown into the air.
• He is a maniac for straws and will hold one in each hand for hours.
• He loves children and gets excited when his cousins and friends are over to play.
• He can rip off his glasses in 2 seconds flat. He then will proceed to bang them on the floor. We just picked up a new pair yesterday, as the first pair were so scratched up, he was looking over them instead of through them.
  

• His favorite toys are his Elmo head with mirror, blocks that he can bang together, pots and pans in the kitchen, his monkey with a rattle, and anything else that makes noise. He also loves the dishwasher and fridge.
  

• He loves playing with his pink piggy bank and coins with his daddy.
• He wiggles around when getting a diaper change and can flip himself over in a heartbeat.
• He loves to suck on wipes that he pulls from the dispenser after he's flipped himself over while getting a diaper change. And he gets MAD when you take the wipe away!
• He loves him mommy and smiles when she picks him up.
• He points by opening his hand upward and reaching for whatever he wants.

• He is VERY ticklish on his belly, under his arms and chin, and on his legs.
• He has a great laugh when tickled or when mommy and daddy are silly with him.

• He loves to babble-- lots of dadadadada and mamamamama.
• He makes a "BRRRBRR" noise when he's tired and wants his bottle.
• He gets lots of compliments on his cuteness when we're in public and lots of questions about whether or not he keeps his glasses on.
• He loves Max.

• He doesn't like strangers at first, though he warms up pretty quickly.
• He won't usually smile upon someone saying hello to him-- you have to work for a grin from him!

• He gives great open-mouth slobbery kisses.
• He's not a long napper.
• He puts everything in to his mouth. I've had to call Poison Control twice-- once because he ate a piece of shipping peanuts and then today(!) because he somehow opened a bottle of Purell with his teeth and got a swig of hand sanitizer in his mouth. This all goes back to how he finds random bottles and lids fascinating and loves to hold them while in his stroller or car seat. Note to self: no more holding bottles filled with anything other than milk.

• He loves his grandma sue and is sometimes a little nervous about his grandpa bob, though he warms up quickly!
• If he's upset, he usually will perk right up if sang to.
• He does a great job in the car, as long as there is music playing.
• He's a great eater and loves cheese, graham crackers, bananas, strawberries, mushrooms, green beans, and turkey. I can't think of anything that he won't eat.

• He pulls himself up on any and every thing within reach.
• He enjoys bath time and his toys for awhile, but when he's done, he's DONE. Usually, he'll try to crawl out of the sink or grab everything in sight.

• After a good nap, he wakes up with a smile, some babbling, and a big kiss and smile when we get him out of bed.
• He likes playing ball with mommy-- we roll it back and forth and he squeals with delight.
• He doesn't mind the sippy cup, but doesn't do very well holding it by himself. That's what mommy is for. Come to think of it, he feels the same way about a bottle.

Like the Beatles said, I love him 8 days a week, which still isn't enough to show him how I care.