Sunday Nap

Bored at Walmart

Play time

Two NC State fans playing nicely together...

Location:Forestville Rd,Raleigh,United States

Birthday!

I had an awesome birthday! I have wonderful birthparents and birth grandparents that sent me a whole BOX full of toys for my big day! Mom and Dad cheaped out and bought me a lame carseat and a new high chair. Something about my legs getting too fat for a Bumbo seat? I wasn't impressed with either of these presents. That birthday box was a welcome sight!




I'm particularly enjoying anything that stacks or has balls, so these gifts were right up my alley.


I had a great birthday party with a few family members, and ate pizza and wings till I passed out. Literally. But before I did, I enjoyed some birthday cake. In my humble opinion, I believe I was cut off too soon- next year I will insist on a bigger piece.






You thought I was exaggerating about the passing out part. The following Sunday I had yet ANOTHER birthday party with my entire Barnes family. Grandma was good enough to make me the dumplings I asked for, and followed that up with some delicious chocolate cake and presents! My mom makes an excellent chocolate cake, if I do say so.






Notice my wardrobe change? Mom is so cute when she tries to save my "good clothes" from certain ruin. I'll find a way, don't you worry...




I got more fun toys, and some birthday dinero that I'm sure I won't see a dime of until college. So in other words, keep those toys coming! Thank you to everyone who thought of me on my birthday. I'm lucky to have so many people that love me!

Before we talk Birthdays...

There will be a slight detour on our way to the birthday post.   Mostly because I reached another milestone first-  one that landed me firmly in the Emergency Room!


The day before my birthday, I decided to try my hand at diving off the bed.  I landed square on my noggin, and it hurt a lot!!   I cried for a few minutes, and after some snuggling from Mom, I was on my merry way again.   Who puts hardwoods in a bedroom anyway?   Mom figured I'd have a pretty good goose egg, and that would be the end of it.   Over the next few days, my head started taking on a jelly-fish like quality, with a lot of swelling on one side.   A late Friday call to the pediatrician's office confirmed Mom's suspicions-  I needed to be seen.  They were good enough to see me on a Saturday morning.    The pediatrician didn't like what she saw, so off to the hospital we went!  (In the picture above, the left side of my head is a little large. See?)


The nice nurses at the hospital loved me!  They brought me toys to play with, and told me how cute I was!  Naturally, I obliged them with a little dance, and huge smiles.   What headwound?    I had to take a ride in a wheelchair, and get some xrays in a big donut shaped machine.   A head CT they called it.    I didn't like being held still, but they let Mom stand next to me and rub my cheek.  That helped a little bit.   Dad stood in the next room, and saw my brain on the computer!  They said I had a skull fracture, and my swelling was "impressive."   My brain was just fine, so nothing to do now but wait a few weeks for the swelling to go down.   And no more bed diving.  Doctors orders.



All of that excitement from the CT made me sleepy, so I took a little snooze on my gurney.   By the time I woke up, it was time to go.  I waved goodbye to all my new nurse friends, and told them I'd see them again sometime.   Mom really hopes we don't.

One Year Old! (A mom post)

In honor of your birthday, I will be writing the post today.   Hope you don’t mind.   Let’ start out by doing your fun facts:

1.        You do not like Cheerios.   AT ALL.   The dog, however, loves them.  I can give you a mixture of gerber puffs and cheerios, and you will painstakingly pick out all the cheerios and toss them overboard.  See #8 below.

2.       You still sleep with your hiney in the air, and your arms tucked in. It’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.

3.       Right after you’ve had your nighttime bottle, and just before I put you in bed you nuzzle your little head into the crook of my neck.   It’s one of my very favorite things.

4.       You still won’t crawl!!  You can pull yourself along with your arms, but you’d much rather stand up and cruise.

5.       You are starting to get a temper.   Your threshold for frustration is extremely low, and you let us know it!

6.       The dog is still hysterical to you.   He doesn’t like you too much, but your Cheerio dropping makes you more tolerable.

7.       You had your first bubble bath this week, and were a little perplexed.   You couldn’t see your toys, and that was a problem!

8.       Dropping things over the side of your high chair, booster, playpen, or any other containment device is the activity du jour.  Mom looks like an idiot for retrieving things repeatedly, but I do it anyway.   The best is when you look me right in the eye as you drop it right over the edge. 

9.       You still love the ladies.   And the ladies love you.

10.   You got a big-boy carseat!  No more infant carrier.

11.   You’ve discovered you love raisins.  You don’t love to swallow them, preferring to cache them in your cheek like a little squirrel.

It’s important to share that it’s only 10am, and I’ve cried three times already this morning.    Thinking about where we were one year ago today-  it’s a bittersweet and interesting mix of emotions.   Your birth was a phenomenal experience, and being able to be there is something I never take for granted.  Not many people get the perspective of seeing their child born.   Dads, sure.   But moms-  not really.   I remember seeing your for the first time, and bursting into tears.  Happiness for sure, but mainly relief!   You were gorgeous and healthy, and utterly perfect.  I so looked forward to your birth just so I could stop worrying about you being ok.  Little did I know that all of my pregnancy worries would be replaced with a thousand others.   That number ticks upward the longer I’m a mom. 

This year has been the best year of my whole life, and mostly because I don’t feel pieces missing anymore.   We’re a forever family, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted.   If you’re the only child I ever have, you’ll be enough to make me complete!    Would brothers and sisters for you have been nice?   Definitely.    But instead of dwelling on what life didn’t give us, your dad and I are grateful every day that someone would make a sacrifice like adoption to bring you to us.   How could you ever thank someone for a gift like that?  You can’t.   So we do like we promised-   we’re trying to give you a fantastic life.   With lots of laughing and love and opportunity.    

Happy Birthday Son!   We love you!!!

Mom (and Dad)

P.S. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s birthday party post!...