Quack, Quack, Quack...

Yesterday afternoon I was in the kitchen when I suddenly heard quacking coming from the sunroom. Was it Matthew making a duck noise? Nope! Did a duck make its way into our house to play with us? Nope! I peeked my head around to look in and here is what I saw:

My mom got Matthew this adorable book that tells the story of a duck from the time it hatches until it grows up, and it has a button you can push to hear a realistic duck noise.

Matthew loves this book!

I try to read it to him but he just pushes the button over and over and over again to hear the quacking! It is so funny. I love that he found the book on his own and sat there entertaining himself with a duck noise :)

I think we'll have to go to the park soon to see some real live ducks!

If You Need a Giggle Today...

...then join Matthew! He was very much enjoying a game of peek-a-boo today...this kid seriously woke up on the right side of the crib this afternoon :)

Having Some Fun

So I hate to admit it, but last week I was a G-R-U-M-P-Y mama. Please note the capitals. Matthew is teething and I think has some kind of cold, nothing major but enough to make him very whiny. He has also been growing and changing soooooo much lately (as he should be, of course!) and is into everything at the moment. I found the combination last week to be enough to just about push me over the edge into crazy-woman-ville :)

Last night by dinner time, Brad and I were both just exhausted. We sat down at the table to eat, and I looked at him and we just started laughing. What a long weekend it had been! I don't know what came over me, but I suddenly realized we needed to have some FUN. We had been two crankapotamuses (that's what Brad calls me when I'm cranky - kind of like hippopotamus only cranky....should I be insulted by that?!!) and it was time to lighten up a bit.

What better way to fix grouchiness than to build a FORT?!? Even grown-ups need to build a fort once in a while. We rearranged the living room a bit, got some blankets, and TA-DA:

The fort was a big hit - Matthew and Daisie both loved it! We played for a while, chased him around, played peek-a-boo and all that good stuff, and then settled down among the blankets to watch "The Jungle Book". It was a lovely evening and totally drove the "crankapotamus" in me away :)

I realized this morning that part of the reason Matthew has been getting into everything (other than the fact that he's one and that's just what they do) is because he has been bored. So today we tackled a bunch of new activities and had so much fun! We colored a picture for daddy and traced our hands. We built a tower and knocked it over (this was not a new activity, but it's a favorite!). We read books and did puzzles. It was wonderful!

We had a blast playing with a bucket filled with rice and some of his toys. It is amazing how much he loved this! I kept asking him if he was done and he would just say "more....more!"

I don't want to be a cranky mama. I know sometimes it will happen but I was reminded today by all the fun we had that with a little more effort, staying at home can be all I dreamed it would be.

Daring to Cut Hair

I was pretty nervous, but I decided to give it a go tonight. I gave Matthew a haircut! He has had a couple of haircuts since he's been here, but none by me. I figured that if worst came to worst we could always use the clippers and give him a buzz cut :)

I know it isn't perfect, and it needs a bit of touching up tomorrow, but overall...

I'm happy!

I shouldn't really have worried about it...

I mean, is there any possible way I could have ruined this cuteness?!?!

{Six Months}

Six months ago today

this sweet little boy was placed in my arms

for the very first time.

And oh, how I loved him!

From that first moment I saw him, I loved him.

In an instant he became my son, my very own, a part of my heart.

These last six months have been so many things:

amazing

wonderful

overwhelming

joyful

challenging

Watching our little boy grow

is like unwrapping a new gift

every single day.

We have treasured every moment

and are so grateful for

six months

of hugs...

Six months of becoming the ones he reaches for...

Six months of dressing up for special occasions

(like being dedicated at church)...

...and dressing down

(for the pool!)

Six months of laughter...so much laughter!

At first it seemed like the journey was over;

We had arrived - we were parents at last!

But as the days go on, we learn the truth...

...the true journey was just beginning!

Monday's Ramblings

I'm ecstatic that we paid off a school loan today!

I hope that the nice weather returns soon.

I'm glad that I got a new phone today (to replace the Daisie-chewed phone I was using!)

I'm feeling grouchy about the never-ending dirty dishes...and contemplating going to all paper products :)

I'm happy we got to spend time with Brad's family tonight to celebrate his mom's birthday.

I loved seeing my Mom and Dad this weekend, even if it was just for dinner.

I'm excited to see my college roommate on Wednesday!

I'm sad that Matthew is sick...again :(

I'm praying that his cough doesn't go to his chest.

I'm bummed that we won't be able to go to our Moms and Toddlers group at church tomorrow (because of the stinky sickness).

I'm thankful that I didn't have to cook dinner tonight.

I'm thinking about going to bed early...like, right now maybe!