Malcolm hit thirteen months over the weekend.
I figured that it was about time I put together a little retrospective video for him ...
October 25, 2010
October 22, 2010
the frustrated football face
This is the expression that all Cleveland Browns fans wear when their team takes the field ...
As you can see, Malcolm caught on quite early!
As you can see, Malcolm caught on quite early!
October 19, 2010
taking it all in
Sometimes, after being cooped up in the house all day, its nice to sit outside for a while!
Just look at that serene look in Malcolm's eyes ... He is positively enthralled by the smell of the crisp autumn air, the vibrant blue of the fall sky, the fiery leaves dancing on the neighbor's trees ...
Or, maybe he is plotting his escape.
It could easily be that, too.
Just look at that serene look in Malcolm's eyes ... He is positively enthralled by the smell of the crisp autumn air, the vibrant blue of the fall sky, the fiery leaves dancing on the neighbor's trees ...
Or, maybe he is plotting his escape.
It could easily be that, too.
Hooded sweatshirt: Old Navy ($8.00)
Tee-shirt: Baby Gap (thrifted for $0.50)
Jeans: Circo ($4.00)
Socks: Walmart (pack of ten for $6.00)
Shoes: Stride-Rite (thrifted for $3.00)
Tee-shirt: Baby Gap (thrifted for $0.50)
Jeans: Circo ($4.00)
Socks: Walmart (pack of ten for $6.00)
Shoes: Stride-Rite (thrifted for $3.00)
October 18, 2010
making beautiful music together
Last weekend, Malcolm and I made a "surprise trip" to southern Ohio (with my mom) so that we could see some of our extended family ... But probably, more importantly, so that they could see Malcolm!
(I've come to grips with the fact that I am merely part of the entourage, just another "thing" that accompanies my son.)
As always, he was quite the trooper ... Making the drive with little complaint and being a perfect angel once we arrived. He is still really outgoing and accepting of all new people (no real signs of "stranger anxiety" just yet) so he loved seeing all the new familiar faces. I don't think he minded all of the extra attention, either ... Or the extra hugs and cuddles. He's turning out to be quite the sensitive little fellow.
Although he was a big hit across the board, out of everyone, my grandparents from Pittsburgh (his "Great Gram and Pap") were probably the most excited to see him. Thinking back, the last time that they have seen him "in person" was when he was four months old! Since then, they have really only watched him grow through the photographs I send their way ... Something that, while acceptable, really isn't good enough.
A piece of paper is no substitute for the real thing!
As a kid, I was also lucky enough to have one set of great-grandparents ... Yet I barely remember them. Like Malcolm, they were my mother's grandparents, and they lived out of town, so our visits were few and far between. I don't know if there are even any pictures of us together (if there are, I don't remember seeing them).
The morning we were to leave, I made it a point to have my camera ready. While the sheer quantity of photographs I take has dwindled, I know a precious moment when I see one.
And this was a precious moment:
They sat like that for what probably seemed like hours to a one-year-old, taking turns "playing" the xylophone. I truly hope that Malcolm has the opportunity to make many more moments like these with his "Great Gram."
And I hope that I'm around to capture them with even more pictures!
(I've come to grips with the fact that I am merely part of the entourage, just another "thing" that accompanies my son.)
As always, he was quite the trooper ... Making the drive with little complaint and being a perfect angel once we arrived. He is still really outgoing and accepting of all new people (no real signs of "stranger anxiety" just yet) so he loved seeing all the new familiar faces. I don't think he minded all of the extra attention, either ... Or the extra hugs and cuddles. He's turning out to be quite the sensitive little fellow.
Although he was a big hit across the board, out of everyone, my grandparents from Pittsburgh (his "Great Gram and Pap") were probably the most excited to see him. Thinking back, the last time that they have seen him "in person" was when he was four months old! Since then, they have really only watched him grow through the photographs I send their way ... Something that, while acceptable, really isn't good enough.
A piece of paper is no substitute for the real thing!
As a kid, I was also lucky enough to have one set of great-grandparents ... Yet I barely remember them. Like Malcolm, they were my mother's grandparents, and they lived out of town, so our visits were few and far between. I don't know if there are even any pictures of us together (if there are, I don't remember seeing them).
The morning we were to leave, I made it a point to have my camera ready. While the sheer quantity of photographs I take has dwindled, I know a precious moment when I see one.
And this was a precious moment:
They sat like that for what probably seemed like hours to a one-year-old, taking turns "playing" the xylophone. I truly hope that Malcolm has the opportunity to make many more moments like these with his "Great Gram."
And I hope that I'm around to capture them with even more pictures!
October 14, 2010
work in progress
When I made the switch from working woman to stay-at-home-mom, it was a little bit too easy. I mean, it took absolutely no time at all to adjust to being at home and caring for a little person full time. It was practically instantaneous ... Like taking a breath, it was something that just happened naturally and effortlessly, and felt for all the world like it was something that I was meant to be doing.
The one job that was literally made for me.
This new transition, from stay-at-home-mom to work-from-home-mom, has (already) proven to be a bit more challenging. Although my day-to-day routine has not yet been completely established, I am beginning to see what a "day in the life" is going to look like ... And it is going to be tricky! If being just a mom is any indication of the juggling act that one must perform, this working-from-home mom stuff is going to add about ten more flaming torches to my repertoire. It is going to be really difficult being torn between the duty I feel for two things at the same time:
My son and my job.
It's too darn bad that I'm so loyal and diligent in my endeavors!
About a week ago, as things were just getting started, Malcolm was crabbing and crying at my ankles as I typed away on my work laptop. Instead of reaching down to comfort him (as would have been the case on a normal day), I forced myself to keep working. It was only tired crabbiness ... He wasn't hurt, hungry, or dirty. He could wait. The tears running down his cheeks were merely of the crocodile variety ...
As I quickly glanced down at him, my heart shattered into a million little pieces.
He looked so sad.
What kind of mother would I be if this became the norm? How could I justify the paycheck, yet neglect the one thing that is worth so much more than money?
Suddenly, I felt as miserable as he looked. Turning away from the laptop, I scooped him up into my arms and sat down with him on the living room floor. As soon as he had my attention again, he was all smiles and giggles, his little nose crinkling up on the left side only.
Such a simple solution.
Like I said, mothering this boy is too easy.
That job was made for me.
So, knowing that I now have two important jobs, I fight to seek the balance between being someone's mother and being someone's employee at the very same time. Things are getting better. This past week, there have been no breakdowns (from Malcolm or myself) and a routine is beginning to establish itself. Naps are happening at more convenient times and "new" toys are being presented to keep someone occupied a little longer.
A transition is in the works.
Although it isn't going to be easy, I have a good feeling that we're going to make it work.
The one job that was literally made for me.
This new transition, from stay-at-home-mom to work-from-home-mom, has (already) proven to be a bit more challenging. Although my day-to-day routine has not yet been completely established, I am beginning to see what a "day in the life" is going to look like ... And it is going to be tricky! If being just a mom is any indication of the juggling act that one must perform, this working-from-home mom stuff is going to add about ten more flaming torches to my repertoire. It is going to be really difficult being torn between the duty I feel for two things at the same time:
My son and my job.
It's too darn bad that I'm so loyal and diligent in my endeavors!
About a week ago, as things were just getting started, Malcolm was crabbing and crying at my ankles as I typed away on my work laptop. Instead of reaching down to comfort him (as would have been the case on a normal day), I forced myself to keep working. It was only tired crabbiness ... He wasn't hurt, hungry, or dirty. He could wait. The tears running down his cheeks were merely of the crocodile variety ...
As I quickly glanced down at him, my heart shattered into a million little pieces.
He looked so sad.
What kind of mother would I be if this became the norm? How could I justify the paycheck, yet neglect the one thing that is worth so much more than money?
Suddenly, I felt as miserable as he looked. Turning away from the laptop, I scooped him up into my arms and sat down with him on the living room floor. As soon as he had my attention again, he was all smiles and giggles, his little nose crinkling up on the left side only.
Such a simple solution.
Like I said, mothering this boy is too easy.
That job was made for me.
So, knowing that I now have two important jobs, I fight to seek the balance between being someone's mother and being someone's employee at the very same time. Things are getting better. This past week, there have been no breakdowns (from Malcolm or myself) and a routine is beginning to establish itself. Naps are happening at more convenient times and "new" toys are being presented to keep someone occupied a little longer.
A transition is in the works.
Although it isn't going to be easy, I have a good feeling that we're going to make it work.
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