Presto

 he's turning into a little boy

right before my eyes!

 at 15 months,

he started walking,

got a haircut,

molars...

 he loves to play outside,

in the wading pool,

and the gravel,

he has discovered Otter Pops,

cheetos,

and how to use the word "MORE"

a couple of my favorites...

 his little navy blue salt water sandals,

and these conductor short-alls

and best of all,

the way he pats me on the back when

i put him to bed at night



four generations

the ladies in my life,

teach me.

love,

tenderness,

compassion,

honesty,

forgiveness,

joy,

patience,

empathy,

laughter and giggles,

tidiness,

 sweetness,

and youthful glee

i am surrounded by great

women.

i am blessed to call them mine.

growing

 My Preston boy is growing, and so is his hair.

  Documenting his hair at 15 months.

 I made an appointment to get his baby locks cut. 

 He was fascinated by the cape, the lights, the attention.

 I asked for a longer cut, so she used scissors.

Notice his little curls in the back,

it was hard to see those go....

Behold the finished product.

One handsome little boy,

who looks a little older

now.

sometimes sammy

 Sometimes, I am in wonder of this Sammy boy.  The boy who eats peanut butter and jelly for breakfast, sometimes "fast eggs" or occasionally cereal.  He calls his cereal, "honey nut the cheerios"
I laugh, every time, and he never knows why.  It's one of the bright spots in my morning.  Maybe because I'm  the one who's slightly nuts.

He's the boy who told his dad last week, "I'm glad I'm a boy, so I can have dangerous toys."  It's true, I've seen play hammers  and paintbrushes and even legos turn dangerous when he is  around.  His imagination turns them into other toys and he can pretend for hours.

Today he was a caterpillar in a chrysalis waiting to turn into a butterfly....he didn't wait long....not enough patience.  Sam showed me his trick today, a front flip on the trampoline.  The sight of it, nearly stopped my mother heart.  Too dangerous, I said.  And, by the way, when did he learn to do that?!

Last week he got a letter welcoming him to the Two Way Dual Language Program next fall.  Can he really be starting school already?

   Sammy is the boy who is convinced  that white crayon doesn't show.   This picture would suggest differently... 

Today I wanted to record some of the things he has been doing and saying lately.  Because, he is growing before my very eyes.

Then as the day progressed, things didn't go exactly as we had planned.  Rules were broken, consequences had to follow.  Tears followed and anguish over lost privileges.  It was a morning that felt hard to be a mom.  I'm sure it felt hard to be a 5 year old boy.  It's hard for me to see you sad.  By afternoon, we moved on and tried to learn from the process.  Then tonight before bed he said, "Mom, sometimes when I get in trouble, I feel like you don't love me."  To him, my Sammy boy, I said, "I love you sooooomuuuuch and that's why we have rules and consequences.  I want you to be safe because I love you."  We had a big hug and stories.  I hope that he remembers both.  That the rules are for his safety and that I LOVE him soooomuuuuch.