Two Years Ago

I am repeating this post from Jack's birthday last year, because it absolutely still rings true for me.

Two years ago,

"At 7:34, Jack Eugene Stewart entered the world, weighing 9 pounds, 1.4 ounces and was 20 and 3/4 inches long. He was very healthy and happy and just perfect. His daddy went to the nursery with him while I got stitched back up and sent to recovery. After an hour in recovery, I was taken to my postpartum suite to wait and wait and wait for Jack to come out of the nursery. Finally, around 11, they wheeled him in and I was able to get my hands on him! He's gorgeous and perfect and everything I've ever dreamed of."

I couldn't have known then that that last sentence would be one that I would repeat aloud, and especially in my head, millions of times, daily. In his first year, I have witnessed miracle after miracle as he has grown before my very eyes, discovered so many things in the world that surrounds him, changed from a helpless infant into a walking, talking, climbing machine and continued to be the little boy that had been my dream.

I have said before that he has been the gift that gave my life purpose, and he is. I knew the moment I first saw him, just like I know right now, that I was born, put on this earth, to be his mother.

To hold his hand when he needs it held, and to let go when necessary. To comfort him when he cries, and to leave him alone. To teach him, and to learn from him. To love him, and be loved by him.

Happy 2nd Birthday, my Little Man Jack.

It Is Decided.

I am making this:

From Here

to hang on the little man's door for Christmas. I think it's just delightful!

If it goes well, every door in the hallway might get one!!!

Edited to add: I cannot find the right wreath form, OR any gumdrops anywhere! What is the deal?

Disasterpiece

The last two mornings have been filled with mischief and surprisingly, with patience.

You see, yesterday morning, I accidentally left Jack alone in the dining room, where I had accidentally left an ink pen laying on the table. I discovered he had the ink pen when he came into the bathroom with his entire right leg covered in markings. I confiscated the pen, cleaned his legs and went to the kitchen to pack his lunch, where I discovered that he had made a canvas of one of my dining chairs. (If you look closely, you can see the ink pen, below all that marker, which I'll get to.)

Incredibly, (and knowing it was too late to scold him since I didn't catch him in the act) I took a deep breath and said to myself, "Self, this is ink pen, on a microfiber chair. There is a way to get that out!" and carried on into the kitchen to pack lunch and get out the door. Then, this morning started off beautifully. I needed to be to work early so I got up early and was almost entirely ready to go, had lunch packed, clothes laid out and only needed to finish my hair and get dressed myself by the time Jack finally got up (thank goodness for a long, late play date yesterday!). I left him in the living room with his milk and his trains and retreated to my bedroom to put on the finishing touches.

I came out a few minutes later to get him changed and ready for the day and discovered him with a Sharpie. A big, black, permanent marker. As I rounded the corner, I immediately wondered where in the world he found that, while simultaneously breathing a sigh of relief, as it appeared to still have the lid on. Rather than fighting him for the marker on this close to perfect morning (since it still had the lid) I kept on into the kitchen. But, as I neared the table, I could see that the lid clearly was NOT on the marker (so much for my 20/10 vision!), since he'd made yet another crazed art show of my dining chair. I bolted across the room to him to snag the marker, took a VERY deep breath and calmly explained to my little Michelangelo that we do not mark on the furniture or the walls, but only on our paper. And then I said to myself, "Self, you cannot get permanent marker out of that chair. At least he made a bigger disaster of the same chair! Not to mention, you hate micro suede and had always planned to re-cover those anyway."

Yes, mischief and patience. Lots and lots of patience.

Trick or Treat '09

Oh! We had SUCH a great Halloween! Jack loved his costume this year...he didn't even fuss with the hat! And of course, he loved his Thomas bucket! It was fun choosing something this year that Jack likes, rather than just guessing at something!

We started off our trick or treating evening around 3 in the afternoon, heading over to Gruene Harley Davidson, where they had advertised this HUGE Halloween bash. Turned out to be a big disappointment, so we headed straight to downtown New Braunfels to kick off the real trick or treating.
I really like avoiding trick or treating in neighborhoods from some reason. It's just nice to walk on the sidewalk and for everyone to be out on the street, and not have to approach dark houses.

Downtown New Braunfels is one of my favorite places anyway, so it was perfect to be able to trick or treat there. (Though I do have to say, NB's got nothing on Canyon Lake's downtown trick or treat!)
We stopped off at the Train Museum to pose for a quick photo...


Then we went to Landa Park to ride the Landa Express, since he was dressed for it!

After a little while in NB, we headed back out to Canyon Lake for their trick or treat. Since it's so big, we had to bust out the wagon. Last year, my mom and I traded off carrying him (since he was such a new walker) and both thought we'd lose a limb before the night was over.

The wagon was great too, since there are cars on the street, I'd hate to think of Jack darting off into the road. Of course, after only a few stops, Jack was digging into the bucket...and I broke the cardinal rule and let him eat some! Boo on checking it when you get home! That's the other great thing about this trick or treat! These are business people, all of whom I know, so I can trust their candy!

After we had sufficiently worn Jack out with the trick or treating, we stopped into the VFW for a quick beer and a game of pinball with Deeda! (Yes, I took my child into a bar. But it's a really nice bar, with really nice people, and about a dozen other kids since it was Halloween!)
After that, we made a quick stop by the babysitter's house (she did some alterations on his costume for us!) so they could see the little man all decked out and get some yummy treats! Then we finally headed for home around 9. SIX hours of trick or treating! It's like a record or something!

It was such a fun Halloween, and seeing him all dressed up and having fun is just so fulfilling. I never thought I'd get so much joy out of a holiday I never really liked, but I do, and I'm so glad!

So Excited!

Jack is on the schedule for the highly coveted Santa pictures!

I was totally thrilled with his Santa pictures last year, and can hardly wait for this year's pictures!

On a completely separate note, I went to look back at last year's photos here on the blog, and am just astounded at how much Jack has changed in the last year.

My parents and I almost never stop talking about how much he has changed and how much he is growing. Just last night we were noting what a difference there is in him now and just since Chris deployed, and the change over last year is shocking.

Last year at this time, he had zero of those curls we all love so much!

So, this year, it will be Santa and the curls! Can't wait!

Cuteness

I had a handful of super cute pictures of the little man that I thought I'd share...

Here he is on his kitchen stool, eating some breakfast and being his usual silly self. His hair was WILD this morning!
He's just so stinkin' cute, if I do say so myself! Who could resist that smile?

I tell ya, that stool was some of the best money I've spent lately. It has saved me a lot of time moving him out from under my feet when trying to cook or clean, since he can get up and see what I'm doing, or help out!

Most mommies know the best place to give your kid a sucker is in the bathtub, since that's where they'll ultimately end up!

He's such a little cheeser! Thankfully, we've moved past the rough stage we were in for a few weeks, and he's his regular ol' happy self!

And lastly, this morning in his Halloween shirt! Can you tell he slept in VERY late this morning? He's been doing that lately, thanks to the darker mornings!

We are looking forward to a big day of Halloween festivities and trick or treating tomorrow, so look for a new post soon of all the Halloween goodness!