Blog Challenge Day 5: A Picture That Makes You Happy

My guys. Aren't they handsome? Watching them play together makes
me so happy. One of my favorite times of day is when Ben comes home
from work. Seeing Will light up when he sees his dad is heartwarming.

Blog Challenge Days 1-4: Me, My Blog, My Job, My Family

 

The fall semester starts on Wednesday, and we all know how hard it is for me to blog frequently when school is in session. To help keep me motivated, I'm linking up with Katie over at Katie's Journey for her 30 day blog challenge! I'm a few days behind (the challenge started September 1), so I'm going to get caught up today!

Day 1: Introduce Yourself

Mother's Day (2011)

I'm Sam. I'm 28 years-old. I'm originally from Minnesota, but I now live in Wisconsin with my husband Ben, our one year-old son Will and our crazy Great Dane Stella.

For the past year I've been a stay-at-home mom to Will, which has been rewarding, exhausting, fun and frustrating. I'm actually going back to work part-time next week (more on that later), which I have mixed feelings about. Part of me is really ready to back in a professional environment, but another part of me can't imagine not being with my baby every day. I'm hoping working part-time will provide a nice balance for our family, but it will certainly be an adjustment.

What else? We moved into a new house two months ago, and we're loving our new space. We're a very active family, spending lots of time walking, biking and hiking. I love to eat, so going out to a nice restaurant or trying a new recipe is a total thrill. Most of my spare time is consumed by graduate school (I go part-time in the evenings), but when I'm not studying I like to run, read fiction and blog.

Day 2: Your Blog

What's the meaning behind your blog name?

My blog is titled "Baby Steps" because it's mostly about my child, but it's also a nod to the journey I've taken as a parent. The tagline I use to describe my blog is "You can have it all, just not all at once." I think this statement is so important. I fully expect to have my relationship, family, career, social life, hobbies, etc, but perhaps not to the fullest degree possible all at once. In life you have to make priorities. 

How long have you been blogging? What made you start blogging?

I've been blogging since 2009 when my husband and I first got pregnant with Will. With our friends and family scattered all over the country, I started the blog to keep our loved ones updated on our life. The unintended awesomeness is that people I don't even know read it an enjoy what I have to say. Cool!

What are your favorite things to blog about?

My child. He's so incredibly awesome. One of my favorite posts to write are my monthly letters to Will. I use the blog as his online baby book, so it's where I look back to remember what he did and when.

What is one tip you'd give a new blogger?

Find your own voice. I see many people mimic bloggers they enjoy reading, which is flattering, but completely unauthentic. I adore Jen over at Maybe if You Just Relax. She's real and witty and brash. I truly love reading her stuff, but her style wouldn't work on my blog. It's just not who I am. But it's awesome coming from her.

Day 3: Your Job

I've been a stay-at-home mom to my darling Will for the past year, but I'm going back to work part-time next week. I think I'm (mostly) ready, but I'm really, really, really going to miss being with my sweet baby every day.

My new job will be as a graduate assistant at the university where I'm getting my master's degree. I will be working 15 hours a week in my program department, focusing mostly on marketing and assessment of our program.

In my pre-baby life, I worked in nonprofit marketing and communications. I designed and wrote publications, web sites, advertisements, press releases, you name it. I also got to help throw a bunch of fun parties for donors, and plan huge fundraising events. It was a cool job with a lot of cool perks!

Day 4: Your Family

Family wedding (2011)

My family is my everything. Ben is a wonderfully supportive partner and an amazing dad. He is very family-focused and always puts Will and I first. 

Will is our whole world. Everything we do is for him and we wouldn't have it any other way.

My family all lives in Minnesota. I have one sister (younger) who has always been cooler than me. She is fashionable, funny and smart. I've always envied her strong sense of self and unwavering confidence. She's an incredible aunt to Will. I can't wait to hear about all their adventures together when Will gets a little bit older.

My parents are both divorced and remarried. It's been that way for practically my entire life, so it's not really a big deal. My parents have always been very encouraging and accepting of the relationships we have with our step-parents. In fact, my dad and my step-dad both walked me down the aisle when Ben and I got married in 2006.

I'm super close with my mom. Although she lives three hours away, we make a point to see each other every other week. She's the strongest, most hard-working, amazing woman I've ever met. Not to mention my number one fan. I love you, Mom!

Until just a few months ago, we lived within a mile from my in-laws. I used to joke that my life is "Everybody Loves Raymond", but I absolutely adore them. Even now, after our move, we only live 20 minutes away. They are incredibly loving and supportive parents and grandparents. Ben's mom will be watching Will when I go back to work next week. I'm so thankful to have them in our life!

Ben's brother and sister-in-law also live close-by. We used to spend more time together pre-baby, but we still get together for Sunday dinners and family vacations. They are such a wonderful aunt and uncle to Will. Uncle Andy has been having so much fun playing with Will as he gets more mobile, and Aunt Mandy gave Will his favorite book, which we read every day about a thousand times.

Whew! That should get me caught up. Looking forward to linking up with Katie and the gang throughout the month of September!

Speaking of Baby Steps...

Bye-bye, Mama

Every summer, I get together with four of my best friends from high school for a fun-filled slumber party weekend. I love these girls so much. They have known me since I was a gangly, glasses-wearing, brace-faced, 11 year-old girl. Before babies, or blogs, or husbands, or college, or prom, or boyfriends, or broken hearts, or (as Maggie put it recently) puberty. We've been doing our annual summer sleepover every year since 2002, and it's always one of the highlights of my year.

The slumber party rules are simple: 1) No significant others (we now plan a separate "family weekend" to spend time with each others families) and 2) no children (unless they're itty bitty, brand new babies). Will doesn't quite fit the itty bitty category any more, so he will be staying with Daddy while I jaunt on over to Minneapolis for three days of chatting, relaxing and over-eating. Sounds heavenly, yes?

Most definitely yes. But... I am going to miss my sweet baby terribly. The longest I've ever left him was 18 hours (12 of which he was sleeping). So this is a major moment for me. I know it's good for both of us to spend some time apart, but I'm going to miss him so much. I fully anticipate I will be crying in the car nearly the entire way to Minneapolis. Luckily I'll have four dear friends around to help mend my aching heart.

Twelve Months Old

Is this big boy my baby? When did that happen?

Dear Will,

Wow. Just wow. I can't believe you are an entire year old. It literally feels like we just brought you home from the hospital at a mere 6 pounds, 8 ounces. Now you're nearly a toddler (so close to walking!), weighing in at a whopping 21 pounds. Actually, that's a bit small for your age (28 percentile), but it seems huge compared to where we started. I honestly can't believe how far we've come in twelve short months.

You continue to be a very busy boy. You are cruising, crawling and constantly grabbing for our fingers to help you walk. You started walking with the assistance of only one hand this month, which has been a life saver on our backs. Plus now you have a hand free to explore! You also like to walk behind your push walker. It was so wild to see you propel yourself across the floor on your own. You're quite good at orienting the walker where you want it to go, and moving it when you reach an obstacle.

Daddy and I both believe you could walk on your own (you have the balance and the coordination), but you like the security of a little extra help. So we continue to indulge you (most of the time). When we let go of your hand, you will take a few steps before you realize you're on your own, then promptly sit down. Or simply stand there bewildered and slowly lower yourself to the ground. As with most things, you will walk when you're good and ready (and not a moment before).

You are downright obsessed with wheels. Wherever there's a wheel, you must stop and inspect it. Doesn't matter if it's on a car, stroller, grill, toy truck, etc. If there's a wheel, you're there. You also love big trucks and airplanes. You get so excited when I point out an airplane to you in the sky. And if a truck passes us, your eyes get as big as saucers and you will crane your neck to watch it as long as possible.

You simply adore Stella. Whenever we come home you squeal when you see her on the couch. You love to play with her tail and poke her nose. And you recently started pushing in her nipples (ha!). She's so good with you though. She lets you crawl all over her, waiting patiently until you're done to seek refuge on the couch or in her bed. She gets rewarded for her tolerance though. You feed her quite generously from your high chair several times a day.

One of your favorite games is sorting objects, especially putting things in containers. This has been exceptionally helpful when we need to tidy things up. Every night Daddy gets you undressed and tells you to put your clothes in the hamper. You pick up the garments, crawl over to your hamper, pull yourself up, and methodically drop them in. It's so cute!

You started waving bye-bye this month, which is so sweet. I love seeing your little hand bobbing up and down. And you love the attention that people give you when you do it! Many times you get stage fright though, and can't seem to wave bye-bye on the spot. I can't tell you how many times I've tried to get you to wave bye-bye to the store clerk or a friend, only to have you start waving a few minutes later (after they're long gone).

A year is a major milestone, not only for you, but for us as parents. We did it! We made it! We kept him alive for a year! (Just kidding. Sort of.) At all your friends birthday parties, amid showering the birthday boy or girl with well wishes, I also make it a point to congratulate the parents. It's a big moment for the entire family.

We love you, darling boy. Thank you for the best, most chaotic, most joyful, most incredible year of our lives. You literally make our world go round.

Love,

Mama

Breast Cancer Care Package

Breast cancer hit close to home within this past year. Despite an overwhelmingly positive prognosis, it was a terrifying time for our family. Although I am exceptionally close with this person, I often found myself unsure of what to offer or say. Is it better to be comforting? Ask questions about treatment? Return to life as normal? Does anyone really need another casserole or restaurant gift certificate?

In our case, the best medicine was lots of baby hugs. But I wish I would have had this article from the NY Times Well Blog when our loved one was going through her experience. It offers 10 suggestions for building a breast cancer care package. I love this because a) it's thoughtful, b) it's sensitive to what the patient is going through, and c) it's unique.

In case you know someone who could benefit from this idea, I thought I'd share.

First Haircut

Will had his first haircut today! I half expected him to freak out, but he did great! No tears, and lots of smiles.

Ready to go in my cool fire truck chair

The first few snips

Playing with the fire truck wheel 

Just a little off the sides please

Almost done!

A quick blow dry

Checkin' out my new do

I look good!

Summer Wedding

On Friday, we were guests at a beautiful wedding at the Paine Art Center and Gardens in Oshkosh. Given our gorgeous surroundings, we took a moment to snap a few family photos:

My loves

Busy boy

I'm outta here!

Out for a stroll

Exploring with Mama

Let's go, Daddy! 

Big smiles