S M Squared: November 2010

My Rotary club's primary service project is The Christmas Store. Each year we fundraise and buy toys and books for children in Lafayette County who wouldn't have a Christmas otherwise. We have already purchased toys and books for over 700 eligible children this year. This year there has been a definite increase in families emailing us asking for help. Each of these emails just breaks my heart. Granted, I've become extremely emotional since having Sullivan, but just imagining what these parents must be feeling when they write to ask us to please provide some toys for their children for Christmas is heart wrenching. I recently read online about families who are drying and re-using disposable diapers because they cannot afford more for their children. There are so many families living paycheck to paycheck or worse who are struggling for just the most basic necessities. I know all my friends who read this blog probably already give during the holidays, but if this post will encourage just one more person to give, it will have been worth it. We take so many things for granted in our daily lives. If you want to make a donation to The Christmas Store, you can go online here or find a child in need in your area using the Angel Tree online form here or help provide diapers here. I hope you will each thank God for your many blessings and pass on some of your good fortune.

Sullivan's first birthday has come and gone as quickly as the year has passed! I've been extremely sentimental and emotional over the last few weeks leading up to his first birthday, but it's very hard to document all of that here. I am very thankful to have this blog to document the milestones we've achieved over the last year.

After re-reading my post about Sullivan's birth a year ago, I realized there are a few other things I wanted to document, so this will be a random list!

My labor and delivery nurse, Jennifer, shares Sullivan's birthday
I listened to track #4 (possibility) on the New Moon soundtrack on the way to the hospital pretty much on repeat. I'll bet Daniel knows that song by heart now! I found it calming.
As I was wheeled to my room after delivery, several of the nurses greeted me as 'super woman'. I guess my quick, drug free, tear free labor was the big news that night! I'm actually hopeful they greet every woman like that since any Momma is a SUPER WOMAN!
I loved being pregnant and giving birth. Both definitely have their negatives, but it is also such a miracle. I feel so blessed that I have been able to experience both. I would have a soccer team of kids if I could!
I never knew true love or real fear until I had Sullivan. The maternal instinct is a powerful thing. There is nothing I wouldn't do to keep my little Pooh safe. I also spend way too much time thinking about all the bad things in the world that could hurt him. At the same time, I want him to experience all the wonderful things this world has to offer! It's so hard to sit back and let him experience even when there are risks!
Parenting is the hardest job in the world. I have so much respect for stay at home parents. the pressures to love, educate, entertain, stimulate and get anything else done are enormous! I actually think working makes me a better mom in a lot of ways. I definitely appreciate the time I get to spend with Sullivan. Although it would be easy to let work and life stress interfere with our time together, we make a point to use the hours after work to have quality time with Sullivan as a family. (and then he goes to bed and I fix a glass of wine :))
I made a red wine beef stew the day I went into labor. It wasn't that great, but I had considered starting a tradition of making it every year the day before Sullivan's birthday. It didn't happen this year, so I guess I'm off the hook for that.
I'm STILL working on Sullivan's stocking! I have made lots of progress and am determined to have it ready for Christmas this year! I actually brought this to the hospital thinking I might have time to work on it before labor got going or maybe after the baby came? HA! How clueless was I?
Daniel and I forgot camera chargers when we went to the hospital, so our video camera and regular camera were both dead! Thank goodness for cell phones with cameras!
I sent Daniel to Newk's to get me a Margarita pizza after my water broke. I stayed home and showered and packed and attempted to rest. In actuality, I was so full of nervous energy, I called Daniel about 5 times while he was gone. I should have had someone come sit with me while he ran to town I guess because I got PARANOID when he left. :)
We had a baby pool at work to guess the delivery date. Everyone was WAY OFF since Sullivan came 3 weeks before his due date. I'm pretty sure that means that I should have gotten the money. No idea who actually got it??? DANIEL?! :)
After Sullivan was born and they put him on my chest, I kept trying to see his face! I had only seen it for a second before they lay him on me and I just wanted to study the heck out of his every feature. Instead, all I could see was mainly the top of his head and an ear. It was more than enough for me to see that he was the most beautiful, perfect thing I had ever seen though.

So, what is the birthday boy up to these days? We had a big family birthday party last weekend at the cabin for him. I think he was totally overwhelmed by the number of people we squeezed into Bebe's cabin, the balloons, the noise, the children, the presents, the cupcakes! He was in good spirits as usual though! His first taste of his red velvet cupcake icing made him shudder from the sweetness! He enjoyed smashing the rest of his cupcake with the plate rather than eating it. As the weekend progressed, his aversion to cake was lessened since we gave him a bite of many leftovers! We had a small (Sullivan, Daniel, and I) celebration Monday evening with another small smash cake. Sullivan has enjoyed playing with all of his new toys and books! *an aside here* have any of you read the book I'll Love You Forever? I seem to recall reading this book before, but holy moly! SO FREAKING SAD/EMOTIONAL!!! I've cried every time I've read it. I couldn't barely speak when I tried to read it to Sullivan. It's a doosy! I guess I recommend it, but don't say I didn't warn you.

Sullivan is doing great with his walking! He'll go 5+ feet between Daniel and I regularly. We've seen him take a few steps towards things he wants even if we aren't there to encourage or catch him. Totally shouldn't be in a hurry for this, but it's still so amazing to watch him learn and to watch his excitement over his new tricks! He has started to motion with his hands to show things he wants and says 'dat' or 'da' to indicate something he sees and/or wants. He will repeat Momma and Dada on command and correctly associates those most of the time. He can identify all of the following items if you ask where they are: spoon, bowl, dog, cat, momma, dada, bottle, juice, cup, ball, diaper, nose. He can splash on command, clap hands, patty cake, peek a boo, give eskimo and open mouth kisses. He loves to pick out his books off of the bookshelf each night. He also loves to remove every book on the shelf if we let him! He likes to flip through books and turn pages and often gets cracked up when we are reading a book at who knows what. He will eat absolutely anything off the floor, but usually won't take food you try and put in his mouth. He wants to pick it up or take it from you himself. He has so many new tricks that I couldn't probably keep going and going here forever! I suppose all parents are that way. Every stage of the last year has been special in it's own way, but I really love Sullivan's ability to express himself now. I love that he loves us and wants to hug and cuddle us!

We had a follow up appointment with the ENT on Sullivan's birthday and it was decided that he did need tubes in his ears. Since the ENT does this procedure every Tuesday, we went ahead and went in yesterday. It is incredible how quick the procedure is! I had made it through 1 article in the magazine before the doctor came out and said he was finished! 5 minutes tops. Having seen some of the yucky junk draining out of Sullivan's ear yesterday, I'm glad we went ahead had had the tubes put in. I can't imagine how it must feel to have that in your ear all the time! YUCK and annoying! Glad everything went smoothly and hopeful for a full and quick recovery.