Ten Things...

1.  Last night, we lost our cat.  Jade loves to be outside and as soon as the weather gets nice, she not-so-mischievously lurks around our feet, awaiting a chance at her freedom.  We let her get a taste of freedom every now and then, but she usually takes advantage of it by eating the patch of grass about five feet from our front door.  She doesn't really understand the whole outside thing, but she likes to think she's dangerous.

So last night, Beau and Cruz and Jade were outside on the front steps.  Beau brought Cruz in so I could give him his supper and forgot that his precious feline friend was still outside.  A half hour later, as we were getting ready to pick up some subs from Subway, we realized our claw-less kitty was left outside, alone to defend herself against the carnivorous clique of neighborhood cats.  So, the three of us, Cruz on his dad's shoulders, walked up and down the street, calling out our cat's name.  We felt cool.  And as much as I wanted to find Jade so we could get on with our plans for the night, a part of me loved that little moment. 

We found her, eventually, but not before our neighborhood kids had began a full out search party.  Ty, our next door neighbor, marched out of his with a look of determination and a jar of cat treats.  "Don't worry, guys, I'll help you find Jade."  Up and down the street he went, gathering his friends and making a plan for covering the entire neighborhood in as short amount of time as possible.  Beau and I laughed as we thought about 'Missing Kitty' signs, complete with Jade's big-eyed Puss n' Boots picture, taped to every tree in the neighborhood.  The kids actually looked disappointed when we announced the search was off.  And of course, Jade, who we found munching on a blade of grass in our neighbors' backyard, looked oblivious to it all.

2.  More neighborhood news.  Last night, our neighbor called Beau from Florida.  They flew there yesterday for his cousin's wedding.  He was panicked because his wife had forgot to pack the dress she had planned to wear to the wedding.  He asked if we'd ship it overnight to them.  So, we used the spare key we've used so many times to find the dress.  Guess how much it cost to ship that dress to Florida overnight?  $105.00!!  I thought it sounded like a great excuse to buy a new one, but I guess when you have a dress that works, it works! 

3.  After a visit to the UPS Store, we decided to grab a couple of subs at Subway.  As we were waiting to order, we noticed a cute little toddler drinking from a sippy cup in his bike trailer outside the window.  He looked too little to be unattended, but seemed content.  A few people ahead in line was a man with a bike helmet.  Puzzled with why this young dad wouldn't bring his son in with him, we didn't have to wait for an understanding too long.  Beau recognized him and struck up a conversation.  

"We went on a bike ride to pick up supper and I guess I pushed my luck.  I thought he could make it to the bathroom, but I was wrong.  Bad dad."

Sure enough, the little cutie was contently sitting in his bike trailer, drinking from his sippy cup, with nothing on but a little white t-shirt!  I'll bet he caught quite a breeze on the bike ride home!

4.  Last night, we had a picnic.  We went to the park next to our neighborhood, a place I hope to call a second home this summer.  We ate our subs, played with Cruz, and made a pile in the early evening sun.

5.  After supper, we tried out the swings.  And Cruz, well, his face says it all.

 

6.  Today, I stood in front of a class of 50 seniors and gave a graduation address on their last day of school.  When I was asked to conquer this task, I was honored, yet not looking forward to the agonizing feat.  It ended up being one of my proudest moments as a teacher.
   

7.  After a very nice senior class luncheon, I had ten minutes to jet over to school to teach my final two afternoon classes.  Today, my sophomores would welcome a few more 'students' in the classroom, one of them being Jason Glass, current Director of the Iowa Department of Education.  He came in, pulled up a chair next to one of my Socratic Seminar circles, and talked Catcher in the Rye with the students.  He was real, cool, and empowering to have in the classroom, not to mention, he 'tweeted' about us later that night!

8.  Subway's Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki Sub = Delish

9.  I love neighborhood stroller rides.  Last year, as I waddled around the neighborhood, baby bump and all, I couldn't wait for this.  A baby, a cozy blanket, a cool night, and a stroller ride through the neighborhood. 

It's even better than I expected.  Now, as we cross Monterrey Street and head down Aspen, Cruz drifts off to sleep.  The bumps, and crickets, and Mom and Dad talk lures him to a sweet sleep, the perfect night cap before bed.  

10. Every morning, as I drive to drop Cruz off at daycare, I sing.  I turn up the radio and sing loud enough for my little one to hear.  Today, I put the sunroof down, turned Bruno Mars', "Lazy Song,' up, and sang my heart out.  And although I can't seem to follow a tune to save my life anymore, I still sing.  And when I open the car door to free Cruz from his carseat, he always gives me the same smile.  One of reassurance, confidence, and unconditional love.  As if to say, we rocked it, Mom.

 

We rocked it.   

Seven Months - At Play Photo Shoot

Last week, we were finally able to strike a compromise with Mother Nature and get outside for Cruz's 'six month' photo shoot.  We traded rain for 90 degree temps in April!  After cancelling a few times due to rain, colds, and just generally yucky weather, we were determined to get outside, humidity and all!  

We trudged through prairie grass, ducked under branches, swerved around thistles, and found the perfect little spot to capture our family at this stage in Cruz's first-year journey.  Cruz was turning on the charm for the first half, but the heat eventually got to him!  He was so tired by the end of the session that he fell asleep as Beau was carrying him to the car.  Darcy happened to snap one of my favorite shots during this moment.

So thankful for all the memories frozen in time.  

Check our session out here:

http://atplayphoto.com/blog/?p=2481

Big Rocks and Little Rocks

Every now and then, I can stop long enough to see that my life is passing me by.  I'm a goer and doer, I always have been.  I approach my to-do list with a pair of tunnel-vision glasses and have a hard time feeling accomplished unless I'm crossing things off.  This system worked for me before I became a mom.  Now, it's a failing system.  Failing because it's taking me away from the things that are of utmost importance.

Taking me away from my big rocks.

 

  
Like cooking.  

I haven't cooked for two weeks straight.  And instead of getting myself in the kitchen last night, I wasted over an hour gawking at pictures of amazing looking dishes from Pioneer Woman.  Roasted red pepper fettuccine, lemon blueberry pancakes, malted milk ball cookies.  My mouth watered and my nerves spiked.  Why can't cooking meals for my husband, setting the table nice every night, and taking my time putting dishes away be enough? 

And cleaning.

I used to love cleaning.  I still like to clean; however, hold a grudge toward anything that takes me away from playtime with Cruz.  I used to consider my house 'dirty' if my baseboards were dusty, my towels weren't hung 'just right,' or if my cans weren't stacked in alphabetical order in my pantry.  I'm slowly learning that I like things a little messy.  It adds a little color, a little spice, a little reality and humanity to our little abode.   

And looking good.

Lately, I've been counting down the days 'til the end of the school year for a variety of reasons.  One of them involves my lack of wardrobe.  It's been a rough go in the clothing department since having a baby.  This, plus the fact that the daily Victoria's Secret magazine sits staring at me from across the kitchen table as I drown my image sorrows in a delicious scoop of Cookies n' Cream ice cream, is no way to deal with a post-pregnancy body.  So, I woke up at 5 am, forced myself on the treadmill, and caught up on the news.  Who knew Arnold Schwarzenegger cheated on his wife and fathered a baby ten years ago?       
  
And them.   

My boys.  They're always there, reminding me that my world is much bigger than the everyday stresses of the last weeks of school.  They are there to cheer me on, make me laugh, and allow me to forget about the mindless distractions of all the little rocks in my life.  They're my life, my strength, and the center of my heart. 

So tonight, I climbed out from the pile of little rocks.  I made supper.  I set the table.  I spread a blanket out in the backyard.  I stacked wooden blocks and watched my little nugget try and figure out where the birds were.  At one point, he lost his balance and fell gently to his back.  His eyes became fixated on the tree branches above him.  I watched his face and felt absolute peace.

 

Later, I sat face to face with my baby boy in the recliner, TV off and windows open.  I let him push his face against my chest over and over again and played with the blond hair filling his head.  We sat there together, just taking each other in, and I soon forgot about everything else.  Babies will do that to ya. 

 

It's hard to change who you are.  A part of me feels like I will always struggle with trying to maintain a structured, do-it-all mentality.  It's just who I am.  And in life, ruts are inevitable; however, it's how long you choose to stay stuck in the rut that matters.  Last week, in our school's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People training, I learned that it's good to schedule, but it's what you choose to include in that schedule that matters.  Schedule your big rocks first, the things that matter most.  Whether it's knitting, biking, soaking in a tub, or cooking...these must take precedent over the little rocks.

I don't know where I'd be without my big rocks.

We're getting close...a random post

They got a late start this year, but the magnolias and crab tree blossoms are starting to show their colors.

And although the cotton candy trees don't stay around too long, the green is here to stay.  And after an entire Saturday of rain, the grass is showing off its true colors.

 

Summer is coming.  I'm starting to feel it in my bones. 

The days are getting longer, my grading is becoming a little more lax, and school nights morph into hamburgers on the grill, a big bowl of fresh fruit, and a post-supper neighborhood walk.  

Soon, we won't have to be up before dawn and out the door by seven.  Soon, my nights will no longer consist of the busy, rushed routines of supper, grading, baths, laundry, pick up, then crash, all while trying like mad to be the best mom, best wife, and best teacher I can be.  Soon, my rituals will turn into clothes hung on the line, sun tea brewing on the driveway, and patchwork quilts spread on the grass.  Soon, my days will consist of pools and sidewalk chalk, the smell of sunscreen on warm baby legs and sticky fingers from ice cream cones.  Soon, supper will be served on checkered picnic blankets, and walks will be taken in the moonlight.  It will be my first summer with Cruz, a summer I've waited for since I held him in my arms this fall.  It's gonna be a good one.  

Cruz loves it outside.  He thinks the wind is hilarious and closes his eyes and screams when it breezes across his face.  

 

  
He is amazed at the colors, textures, and sounds.  He loves watching our neighbor boys play outside, and is awestruck when a car drives down the street.  The other night, he even had his first encounter with Harlow, the neighbor's yellow lab, and he survived the slobbery kiss with a smile on his face.  

 

  
And like most little ones, the sights and sounds of the outdoors lull our little one to a peaceful sleep at bedtime.  As the sun begins to set and we begin to lose our daylight, Cruz began to lose his neck...

 

  
It was a busy weekend, but a good one.  We started a graduation marathon this weekend, an opening act compared to the twenty-plus parties we have next weekend.  It's one of the blessings and curses of teaching high school seniors.  One part of me loves these receptions, especially now that we have a baby to take along and woo the crowd.  But the other part of me feels like I'll be seeing evidence of the potato salad, barbecue pork, and oodles of graduation cake for the next week and a half.  

Although Cruz missed his nap today because of the festivities, his personality didn't show it.  He traveled from party to party with us, usually entering in style on his dad's shoulders.  He was a big fan of graduation parties, and a bigger fan of all the cute high school girls that passed him around.  Beau and I laughed at the fact that we probably could have dropped him off and ran some errands for awhile, and no one, including our son, would have noticed.  If he's getting to a stage of separation anxiety, he sure didn't show it tonight!  

 

  
I've been fighting the longest cold in the history of the universe, or at least it feels like it.  And because it feels like the bowling ball that is my head is about to crash into the set of pins pressing against my forehead every time I bend over, I decided to forgo my piles of laundry in the basement.  To be quite honest, I don't exactly know what I accomplished yesterday.  Consider it a practice for summertime, I guess.

Cruz decided to sleep in 'til 8:00 both mornings this weekend, so Beau and I caught up on our new found idea of 'sleeping in.'  Afterwards, we partook in some pajama time before church.  

Look at that hair coming in!  He's gonna be a blondie!

Doesn't he just look like he could pick up and go?

Ready for crawling, ready for summer!  Happy Monday!

Splish Splash I Was Takin' a Bath...

...in the sink.  

It's true Cruz is getting a little too big for his whale tub.  It's also true I've had a mad desire to give my baby a soak in the kitchen sink.  It's the way we used to do it, right?  Well before the whale tubs and baby spas, we soaked our baby bottoms in the same sink we soaked last night's dinner dishes.  It's retro, it's simple, and it's oh-so-cute.

Cruz liked soaking in the sink, and especially liked his bath toys that have been collecting dust in his closet.  His little toes and fingers shriveled up like prunes, and all was happy.

Our Seven-Month Old

Well, we've just about made it.  With just two weeks left in the school year, I am looking ahead to a summer break with my seven-month-old!  Time truly does fly by, and now that the weather is finally getting warmer, it's making me all the more ready to soak up summer break with my growing boy.  And by growing I mean losing his neck and gaining lots of rolls!  

The month started with another doctor's appointment for Cruz, and another round of shots.  His stats were pretty expected: 28" long and 18.2 pounds.  His weight is surprisingly still at the 50th percentile, but he climbed the charts in height...85th!  He's definitely hit a growth spurt since then, however, and I wouldn't be surprised if he's over 20 lbs. by now!  He's an eater!

 

Cruz Man LOVES eating!  Sometimes I wonder if he would ever stop!  This month, we introduced the concept of meals to his life.  He still gets about 3-4 bottles a day, but also gets breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  He loves his cereal every morning, but really loves his baby food.  This month, I started getting a little creative with my recipes, and Cruz has relished being my number one taste tester.  His favorites this month have been green peas, cauliflower gratin, bananas and blueberries, and bananas and mangoes!  I have become obsessive about my baby food and have started stocking my freezer similar to my mother-in-law's pantry.  It doesn't matter that I have weeks of baby food stored in the freezer, every time I use some, I feel the need to make more to re-stock!  I think Beau's mom has three bottles of ketchup on hand at all times!  I guess I'm prepared for a produce freeze at the grocery store!

In addition to his veggies and fruit, Cruz has also started eating Gerber Puffs this month.  I've discovered these are great tools for practicing Cruz's fine motor skills, as it's quite the feat for him to grab one and get it in his mouth.  It's adorably pathetic to watch, and I usually can't stand it for too long before I just help!  His strategy is to grab as many as he can in his little fist, then stick his entire fist in his mouth, hoping to grab one with his tongue.  He's typically successful and is getting better all the time!

Tonight, we went out for supper after a trip to Sam's.  Beau was holding Cruz across the table from me.  All the sudden, he started waving at me, opening and closing his little fist over and over again.  I couldn't believe it and shrieked in delight.  Little did I know, he had a puff stuck to his palm the whole time!  It was nearly dissolved by the time I discovered the reason for his wave! 


Although he hasn't officially started crawling yet, Cruz is becoming more and more active and mobile.  He rocks back and forth, shakes his head back and forth, and pretends he's in his jumperoo when being held.  The simple task of changing his diaper has become a wrestling match; if we don't distract Cruz with a bottle of Aveeno lotion, he's all over the place.  Gone were the days when his changing table served as my safe zone.  We decided to lower his crib this month, and it won't be long before we will be Cruz-proofing everything else in the house!  

 

Cruz also started jabbering a lot more this month.  My favorite is when he exposes his bottom two teeth and does his 'yah, yah, yah.'  I swear he's said mom a few times ;)


Despite Cruz's usually good health, a couple weeks ago we encountered 'Poop Week.'  Monday morning, we picked Cruz up from daycare for what we thought was Post-Easter recovery, or teething.  After four poopy diapers in about three hours, he was exiled from daycare for 24 hours.  Tuesday, I stayed home with him.  Still pooping.  Wednesday, Grandma came to stay with him.  Still pooping.  Thursday, Dad stayed home.  Still Pooping.  And Friday, Grandma came one more day to change diapers and watch the royal wedding with our poop monster.  We never did pinpoint whether he had a bug or not, but we sure got our money's worth of daycare for the week (or not)...

Other 'loves' to add to the list this month???

...still loves his dad's (or grandpa's) shoulders.  He squeals and acts as though he's king of the world.

...Wheel of Fortune.  It's the only TV show he really lets distract him.

...putting his pacifier in his mouth.  taking his pacifier out of his mouth.  putting his pacifier in his mouth. you get the idea.

...his crib!  Cruz still loves his snuggly crib and loves to sleep.  He still loves to snuggle, but also loves curling up with a blankie in his bed. 

 
...his plastic stacking cups.  His Sophie.  Anything paper and anything food.  He had his first taste of ice cream and bawled when I wouldn't give him more.  

...peekaboo.  It's the easiest way to score a giggle.  

...playing with his toys.  He loves his toys and will stay occupied for so long attempting to figure out the capabilities of his contraptions.  

...being outside.  He thinks the wind is hilarious, walks are perfect opportunities for naps, and playing on a blanket outside is the best combination in the world. 

 

 

...the bathroom sink.  I swear he knows what to do with a toothbrush!

...apple juice.  We started giving him a little bit every now and then to off-set his love of bananas.  He guzzles it down!

I have loved this month!  Every new sound, smile, snuggle, and expression are so exciting.  So thankful for our happy boy...

 

Happy Seven Months, Cruz Bennett!

My First Mother's Day

It was a good weekend.  It's true Beau was gone to Chicago for a bachelor party, but he made sure to acknowledge and honor his baby's mama all weekend long.  

I came home to a clean house on Thursday...

And left school Friday afternoon with a box of chocolates, and a box of tulips.  Beau loves sending me flowers that I have to put together myself ;)

And as it turns out, I love tulips.

The rest of the weekend was spent hanging out with my baby boy.  It was a wonderful excuse to do nothing but be a mom, drag out morning routines, and snuggle together on the couch.  Although I missed Beau like crazy, it was also fulfilling to get to try things out on my own for a few days.  I have a whole new appreciation for single moms after this weekend!  

Saturday morning, after an early morning breakfast and sudsy bath in the kitchen sink, I packed up Cruz and headed to spend the day at Mom and Dad's.  It's been awhile since I've spent the day at my parents'.  My dad always gets protective when Beau is gone, and Mom was itching for some Cruz time.  It was beautiful outside, finally warm enough for short sleeves and bare feet, and it felt like the perfect day to escape my grade book and catch my breath again.

We picked out flowers...

And listened to Cruz scream in delight every time he passed by an older lady and petunias.

We had a picnic in the car, complete with barbecue chicken, baked potatoes, coleslaw, and Gerber Puffs for Cruz.    


We tanned our toes and played with plastic cups on Saturday afternoon.

Sunday, Mom, Dad, and Taylor came and took Cruz and I to church at Orchard.  Cruz hammed it up in church with his Grandpa Curt, but slept through the sermon in this proud mama's arms.  It was special to have my parents there, and as Dad carried Cruz out on his shoulders after church, I think Cruz was grateful for his grandparents too!

(And let's not forget Uncle Taylor...)

After church, I met the family at Applebees for lunch, planted my flowers, and anxiously waited the arrival of my hubby.  

For my Mother's Day post last year, I envisioned a seven-month old baby crocheted to my hip all summer long.  I'd say I got it right ;)