And Another Thing...

Finally, I have some pics for you of Will's first birthday. Here they are...

My Little Waterbaby

Will and I spent a lot of time in the water today. First we went to waterbabies at the Aquatic Center. It's so nice to have class outside in the sunshine. You really have to take advantage of it. After running some errands, doing chores and napping we decided we needed some more fun in the sun. I blew up the kiddie pool that I bought for Will and we played around in it for a while. He really loves the water--that's my boy!

My Ultramarathon Man

On Saturday my husband ran the furthest distance he has ever run in his life--50 miles! Can you believe that?! I know, me either! Mike's parents, Will and I were his cheering squad. We drove up to Mt. Hood together and met him at the half-way point. He was looking good and we fueled him up with water, power gels, and pb&j. Then he was off again. While Mike was on the way down the mountain we were scarfing down our lunch. We were thinking of you, Mike. We met him at the next check point and he was still looking good. The next time we saw Mike, he was crossing the finish line. We were all so impressed with him. What an accomplishment!

Poetry

Some of you have been asking why I haven't posted anything on my blog in a while. Well, it all has to do with the poetry comment on the last blog. Which poem do I want to submit out there to cyber space??? Then it got me to thinking...I haven't written anything in quite a while. There are some random scribbles in my journal, but nothing more. Excuses, excuses--I know! I will get around to posting some poetry in the near future. Please don't go getting your hopes up folks. As for now, I thought I just better get blogging so I can maintain the faithful following of friends who still read my ramblings. Did you notice the alliteration I slipped in there? I'm already getting poetic on you!

So maybe I will write you a little something on how I started writing poetry in the first place, for those of you who don't already know. I guess it started with Mrs. Lincoln in the fourth grade. I loved that woman. She was so sweet. She had us do a lot of writing and I couldn't get enough. She was so encouraging and it always made me want to write more. She also had us choose poems to read out loud in front of the class on this little wooden box, kind of like a platform. That's when I discovered Shel Silverstein. I felt comfortable up there on that little box reciting poetry. Later on in grade school my grandad died. When I found out, I went to my room and just felt like writing. I ended up writing a poem and came out of my room to show my dad. He helped me write the last line. The poem ended up being in the program for the funeral and I read it in front of everyone at the service. Well, I sort of read it. See, I thought I would be tough and not cry during the service so I could read my poem, but all those tears I had saved up all came pouring out just a little bit into the poem. My uncle Calvin was up there with me and read the rest of the lines.

After that I wrote a few poems here and there. In high school I started writing what I like to call scribbles. Mostly just a couple of lines for a poem. My high school English teacher had us write our own poetry. That's when I finally got some of those scribbles together and made a few poems out of them. I'm still a scribbler. Lines will come to me and if I don't write them down they become lost. So, I keep them in my journal or sometimes on random pieces of paper in my purse. The last time I put any of those scribbles together was during grad school when one of the professors had us do a Writer's Workshop. The poem I wrote for that is the one I'm looking for. Not long ago I put a bunch of my scribbles and poems on the computer and our hard drive crashed. I still have hard copies, but I have to find them! I'll let you know when I do!

Numero Uno

Somehow, when I wasn't looking, my baby became a toddler. I'm not exactly sure how this happened, but it did. My little one made it through his first year and so did his mother and father! I am so proud of us. It has been quite a transition into parenthood. From the moment I held Will in my arms I was changed. I remember looking in the mirror at the hospital and thinking, "I am someone's mom". Everything about me took on a different meaning. I have poured all of my energy into raising Will this year. I love him so much.

My love for my husband has grown deeper as well. You learn a lot about each other when you are raising your child together. We have had to work as a team to get this boy to his first birthday. Mike has been a good partner in crime the whole way through. I have been amazed at the love and patience he has shown me through this experience. He has made me laugh, helped cheer me up when I needed it, made me breakfast when I felt like I had been to battle the night before, talked me through insomnia and rubbed my back until I could fall asleep, etc., etc., etc. It has been incredible to watch him grow into his role as a husband and as a father.

Raising Will has been the most rewarding job I have had so far. I know it was what I was meant to do in this life. I've tried to soak up everything this first year. I actually got a little choked up singing happy birthday to him on Sunday. Can you believe that?! I pulled myself together by the end of the song. How could he be one already? I just know I'm going to be one of THOSE mothers blubbering in the hallway after dropping off her kidlet to their first day of kindergarten. Ahhhh, but I get ahead of myself...

The Fountain

Here are some pictures from our newest hang out this week. That's Will's little buddy, Sofia in the first pic. Isn't she cute?! Will and I have been to the fountain a total of four times this week! We just can't get enough! It's the best hang out in town when it is hot outside. Seems there is a lot for a little one to explore. It's so great to see the kidlets screaming with glee as they race through the water. Will takes it all in with a keen eye. He is quite the observer and is enthralled by the older children. I think he's been taking notes on how to run around on two feet. He's getting closer to walking. Right now he's been doing a lot of bear crawling! He is so sweet. We are really enjoying the summer months together. It's been so great to run around outside and visit new places. I LOVE SUMMER!!!

Happy 4th of July!

Mike, Will and I just returned from the waterfront where we watched the fireworks tonight. It was so great just to hang out with my little family. We took a blanket and planted ourselves in the grass. It was nice to take in the blues playing in the background and just be with my guys! I'll try to post some pics tomorrow. I'm going to bed now. Goodnight!