The first two-word combination I ever heard my son say was this past Thursday. He carefully shuffled into the kitchen wearing a pair of my high heels and proudly exclaimed, “Mama’s shoes!”

Sadly, I was not able to capture that moment in photo, but that day seems to have started an obsession: a deadly combo of the Toddler’s interest in my shoes, and my interest in taking pictures of him wearing them.

The Husband does not approve. My answer to that is, leave more of your shoes out in the open, and he might choose to wear yours instead. Although, mine are much more fun — who can blame him?!

Here he is on Saturday, wearing my sheep slippers …

And on Sunday, after I got back from my workout …

He looks better in my shoes than I do.

And the grand finale, my favorite gold flip flops.

Work what yo mama gave you, son. Work it.

My Saturday plans included working on my tan and pulling some weeds, but the weather was AWFUL all day. So I had to readjust. I cheered up after the Toddler got up and hung out with me in his monster jammies while I made breakfast.

The feet are so cute!

He soon tired of the pictures (it’s increasingly difficult to get a decent shot because he’s constantly on the go!) and asked yelled for breakfast!

Q: What do you do with a 1-year-old when you’re stuck inside all day?

A: Make a fort!

Hi!

Come inside my fort!

It’s AWESOME!

I have all I need in here …

A
bucket …

A sleeping
bag …

 … I’m starting to get a little worn out …

And … done.

It’s been a very long day, but we found a lot of imaginative ways to keep busy. Here’s to hoping I can get some of my errands done tomorrow!

I’d like to lie down now. Thank you.

I have been humbled many times in my 30 years, but never so much as I have been in the past 20 months. Raising a child has put me in my place.

People told me that becoming a parent would radically change my life. That meant nothing to me, because I didn’t understand what that meant. Now, I think I’m getting an inkling. Mothering the Toddler is truly the most awesome task I’ve ever been charged with. Every day is a new strange mixture of excitement, fun, laughter, and maddening frustration.

I am humbled by motherhood because it brings out the very best and very worst in me. In every other avenue of my life I can hide behind circumstances, or personality differences with other adults to explain away my bad behavior or lack of patience. But with my child, there is really no excuse for my shortcomings except to admit that I am only human.

We got back last night from a whirlwind trip to see family in Mississippi and Louisiana, and I’m not sure how long it’s going to take me to recover. The Toddler does NOT travel well …

 
Here’s my boy on Easter morning. Pure happiness.

Is it weird that we let him wear this while he was looking for Easter eggs in my grandparent’s backyard?

Here we are before church. Husband had to work, which was a HUGE bummer. We went to Church of the Highlands which was really good. I’ve been hesitant to go … but I plan to start attending regularly. It made me feel like a good person making good decisions for myself and for my family.

I’m off to CRASH … more soon!

I made a little trip to heaven today. It made me so happy.

Organic Harvest is like a small-scale, more affordable, down-home version of Whole Foods. I love these types of establishments. It’s always been a secret dream of mine to own a heath food store/coffee shop. Something about being in that kind of environment makes me feel energized and refreshed.

I plan to pay a visit there more often. It’s very healing.

The toddler has his 18 month checkup today … one month late. I dread these. He usually recovers from the shots really well and he handles it like a champ, but I always feel so sorry for him. He’s so unsuspecting.

When I visited the herbalist earlier this week, she informed me that I have a pretty major calcium deficiency. This is due to about 10 years of drinking lots and lots of caffeine in the form of Starbucks, tea, diet soda and energy drinks. I didn’t bother to tell her that I’ve spent a lot of money on fat-burning diet pills as well. She was shocked enough at my coffee consumption.

I was instructed that I am only to have ONE cup of coffee at the most per day, no other forms of caffeine and drink lots of water. I also have 4 different supplements that I need to order from nature’s sunshine. I rebelled against the herbalist’s instructions this morning had 4 cups of coffee. I just want to hurry up and use up the rest of the coffee in my fridge so I don’t have to hear it calling to me anymore. I figure I’ve been “peeing out my bones” for 10 years now, so a few more days won’t make a difference.

I’ll miss you, my friend.

I’m going to the dentist for the first time in like 8 years tomorrow. I’m not looking forward to it. I have a major phobia.

When I called to make my appointment, I was shaking. I made it clear to the receptionist I have fears that will need to be addressed with some sort of dental drug.

The only reason I’m going now is because I made an agreement with a friend. She kept her part of the bargain, unfortunately. So … off I go. I keep telling myself this is yet another way I can set a good example for my child. Dental health is important.

What I do NOT have to tell my child is how many happy drugs it actually takes to sedate me to the point that I will open my mouth for them to see inside.