Walking the red carpet of motherhood with dirt on my dress
My sister Kelli finally had her baby after over 24 hours of labor! Harrison Blakely was born on May 26th weighing in at a whopping 9 lbs, 3 oz! He is absolutely adorable. I’m so proud of my big sis! I think they are going to be wonderful parents. And I can’t wait for Landon to meet his lifelong buddy!
Today my Mom, Landon and I took a trip to Powell Gardens. It was a beautiful day. The sun was a little hot and I was slathering Landon and myself with sunscreen every chance I got. But it was fun to get out in the sunshine and walk amongst such beautiful scenery. Landon was his usual wonderful little self. Soaking up everything and everyone. He is quite the flirt and is always getting compliments from passers by. He’s just a delightful child in every aspect. I’m so glad he is mine and I love these special moments with him.
Here he is eating the map. Apparently he did not want to be the tour guide.
I can’t get over how blue his eyes are. They remind me of the deep blue seas we saw in Greece, which is ironic because we decided to try to have a baby during our trip there.
Landon posing with a big bunny statue
Having a mommy and son moment on the trail
Landon’s first trolley ride. He loved the cool breeze after being in the heat.
And a few pretty pictures of the beautiful flowers. I was practicing the “close-up” feature on my camera, which focuses on one thing and blurs everything else out. Pretty cool.
“Giant Onions” (hard to believe but that is what this plant is called)
Yellow Peonies (my Mom said that she had never seen that color before and she knows everything about flowers and gardening)
Magenta Peonies
Pink Roses
Our mini trip was exactly what I needed to refresh my weary brain. It was a busy and stressful week but that is for another post. It is hard to look at these photos and be upset about anything. After all, none of the menial stuff outside of my family even matters.
We had Landon’s 9-month Appointment yesterday. It went very well. No shots this time, woohoo! Easy Peasy!
Weight: 21.4 lbs — 65th %
Length: 29 inches — 85th %
Head Circumference: 18 inches — 96th %
I was kind of sad when I learned that Landon had gone down on the growth chart for weight even though he gained 3 lbs. But then the pedi reminded me that Landon is much more mobile now so he’s burning more calories. He also said that he is way ahead on the developmental chart so that made Naaman and I very happy! I guess there is a big brain in that large head of his : )
Overall, it was a great appointment and I had to do a double-take when the doctor said, “See you when Landon is 1-year-old.” Um, what??? Wow, I guess that is the next appointment.
On Mother’s Day last year, this was me at 6-months pregnant . . .
Hard to believe that our sweet baby Landon was in there! Now he has been on the outside longer than he was on the inside! Yesterday I spent the morning with my mother at church (Naaman is still too sick to do anything). I know it’s a happy day but also bittersweet because she lost her mother to cancer many years ago. I haven’t always appreciated or respected my mom as much as I should have and I remain so sorry for that. Unfortunately, there was a period of time when I didn’t want to be loved by anyone at all and that included my mother.
But even when I pushed her away, she contined to try to pull me close and hug me anyway. Many a night, she would sit on the edge of my bed listening to me cry. She would brush my hair away from my tear-stained face when I told her that no one would ever love me. Yet she always reassured me that she loved me and that even though I didn’t believe it, my prince charming was out there somewhere just waiting to love me. She told me that I was one of those people with a glass heart. A heart that had so much love to give and when I didn’t get that love in return it was easy to break. But she also constantly told me that I was strong enough to get through anything. She would say, “You girls always say that I don’t understand. But I do understand. Believe me, I do understand.” And she did, I was just too naive to realize that she was once an insecure teenager too.
At the age of 21 I started to apologize over and over for what I put my mother through during my teenage years. I know that there wasn’t a moment that went by that she didn’t love me and think about me. I know that there wasn’t a day that went by that she didn’t pray for me and for all of my sisters. She has always wanted the best for me and she has been and will always be proud of me no matter what I do. She showed me the true definition of unconditional love. And that love is the kind of love that I hope to show my son, always and forever.
The fact that my mom raised four girls and somehow managed to keep her sanity amazes me
But no matter what I did she always loved and accepted me. She has always shared in my joys and my heartaches.
And now, I will do the same for my beautiful son. The love I feel for him is unmeasurable. There are no words in the English language to describe the love I feel for him.
I know my mother-in-law Connie feels the same love for Naaman . . .
And I know this is unrelated to Mother’s Day, but I still want to say Happy Birthday to my Nephew Levi. This is when he was about 3-months-old and the only picture I have of he and I together. They are stationed in Hawaii for the Navy and so we never get to see him but we still love him all the same. Happy 3rd Birthday today from your Aunt Molly and Uncle Naaman! I hope someday we can have more photos of us together!
Also, a BIG CONGRATULATIONS to Anna, Nathan and Levi! They are expecting their second child in December! We are so very happy for you (and I must say, December babies are awesome)!
Landon turned 9-months-old today. As usual, I am amazed at how fast each month passes. It feels like me and time are in a race. Each month I feel like I’m gaining on time and I’ll pass him in the race and then just as we come to the finish line he edges forward and beats me! Then I’m left wondering why I didn’t win again. Basically what I’m trying to say is SLOW DOWN, Bubba. Mama doesn’t want to leave these moments behind. I love every single second of them.
A few updates:
*He is trying very hard to stand up on his own. He’s got the right idea but needs a few more weeks to feel more sure about it.
*He is trying new table foods. He eats cheerios, puffs, teething crackers, real cut up bananas, whole wheat toast, cheese and much more to come. He eats real food like a champ!
*He is in 12 month clothing but can also fit into 18 month size as well
*He is so close to saying the word “ball” and he has already said “mama” but I don’t think he has any idea what he is saying
*He recognizes many words including his own name. He also knows who Roxie is. He has known this awhile. When I say, “Where’s Roxie?” he will turn his head to find her
*He waves hi and bye bye
*He “dances” to music
*He crawls all over the house. Our favorite thing to do is play “chase.” I get down on the ground and crawl into the other room and he follows me. Then I hide and jump out and say “boo” when he gets closer. He cracks up laughing and turns around the other way so I can chase him. It’s so much fun! It’s like I’m a kid again : )
*He loves Mickey Mouse (just found that out today while watching a new cartoon)
I can hold the sippy cup all by myself and drink like a big boy at meal time!
I am getting lots of teeth at the same time. Look at my big front teeth coming in!
Mommy was really excited when she found a polo with pink in it. She swooped it right up because she didn’t think pink was possible for a boy! But I make this look good.
More photos from our 9-month photo shoot . . .
Hungry Caterpillar ain’t got nothing on me . . .
9-months old . . . I am really growing!
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s . . . Superman? Mama says I’ll know who this is soon. Right now I’m stumped.
Stay tuned for next month . . . double digits coming soon!
If anyone has not heard, Kodak Gallery is now making you purchase a certain $ amount of product in order for you to keep hosting your photos there. They will start deleting my files soon so I was forced to go onto their site and either transfer my albums to somewhere else or buy $20 worth of photos.
I started going back through old albums that I haven’t looked at in ages and I thought I would share a few pictures from one of the happiest days of our lives . . . the day Naaman graduated from nursing school! This monumental event happened before I started my blog so it’s nice to be able to share it with you all now. It was such a special and important day.
Graduation processional . . . third one back! Look at that ear-to-ear grin!
Walking across the stage to FINALLY get his diploma!
It was a very happy day for us! We waited to get married until we were both done with college so this was one hurdle we needed to jump over before we could fully enjoy our big day three months later!
Enjoying a celebratory cake at the after party! Again with the big smile!
It was three years ago in May when Naaman walked across the stage on the lawn of Rockhurst University. College was a challenge for him but he got through it and was on the Dean’s List multiple times. Getting a bachelor’s degree in nursing is difficult, especially when you’re not used to tests and classrooms and studying until all hours of the night. But I really feel like nursing school helped him break out of his shell. He met new friends and became much more social and sure of himself!
And to prove that he continues to be a wonderful and caring nurse . . . a patient’s wife wrote a letter to Naaman’s boss to say thank you to him for taking care of her husband and treating him with the utmost respect while in his care. That letter was forwarded to the CEO of the hospital and a few weeks later Naaman received a personal thank you letter from the CEO regarding the kudos! He’s the best nurse ever.
I know nursing is a trying profession. I will never fully understand what my husband goes through on a daily basis while working in a very busy ICU. But I do know that it is very difficult both physically AND emotionally. I know it isn’t exactly what he thought it would be when he was in nursing school. I know he doesn’t exactly know what his future holds in the medical profession. But right now, in this moment, I am so very proud of how hard he works and how well he takes care of his patients. I could never do what he does. His work ethic continues to amaze me.
And I am even more grateful for Naaman because he has selflessly taken on a second job at a new hospital to try to help us in our quest to be more financially stable. I know it’s got to be rough on him but it has already been a HUGE help to our family. So thanks, honey. You’re the most amazing husband and father and God blessed me in so many ways when we finally met.
Oh, and I might share more “moments” from old albums as I go through more of them!
No, unfortunately I’m not talking about the yummy goodness that is the kit-kat bar. I’m talking about MRSA. Those dreaded letters that continue to take over my husband’s body! It’s back again. It just won’t go away. And the scary Oprah episode where they discussed people dying from MRSA didn’t help. I was a blubbering mess remembering back to Naaman’s days in the hospital.
Of course, he is Mr. Tough Guy. Always downplaying how serious it is. But I know he knows it’s serious. Naaman has now been referred to an infectious disease specialist because it seems his body is “cultured.” No, I don’t have a friggin’ clue what this means. But I’m sure we will reluctantly find out soon.
And now that Naaman finally reads this blog (sometimes) I just want you to know how much I love you. You are my life, honey. I’m sorry this keeps happening.
333333 LOOK TO THE LEFT OF MY BLOG
On Sunday my work will be holding the March for Babies to benefit the March of Dimes in the Power & Light District in downtown Kansas City. We’re expecting thousands of people to come support our cause and help save babies! It’s going to be a fun and amazing day! Pictures to come after the walk on Sunday!
Our team “Landon’s Legs” has raised $515 so far and I’m not yet done fundraising. I’m just so excited to meet many of the families who have a personal connection to this cause. Even if you can’t participate please consider donating to my team to help make sure that every baby is born healthy. All you have to do is click the purple banner on the left of the screen and you’ll be taken to our team’s page.
I’ve already heard many stories of moms and dads whose baby(ies) spent the first few months of their life in the NICU. Just take a minute and think about it this way . . .
“What if the hardest day of your life was the first?”
