Laughter abound.

After seeing that how could anyone be angry?  This is a normal occurrence at my home, and I never ever want to miss a minute of it. 

Words......oh so many words.

Orion has changed so much lately that I really don't even know where to start.  His vocabulary is expanding super fast and he makes me laugh all the time with his parrot-like ability to repeat absolutely everything.  Last night he even repeated Seth's frustration but mimicking "shit."   I thought I would make a list of the words that he is using right now to kind of give you an idea:

Mom
Dad
Mouth
Nose
Eye
Dog
Puppy
More
I don't know
thank you
baby
yes
no
uh oh 
....ok so I'm sure they are more but I really can not remember them....but at least you get the idea. 

He has morphed into a total daddy's boy and Seth and Orion tend to sit around giggling profusely all day long.  It's so contagious.  Orion is also a funny kid in general, so he has me rolling all the time, even when he is being really naughty (which tends to be frequently) For example, last week Orion crawled up onto the couch and grabbed the remote control from the back of the couch.  Seth tried to stop him and said "Orion give me the remote." Instead of handing it over he threw the thing across the room.  Seth put on his mad dad voice and said "Orion Alexander!"  to which Orion replied "Uh Oh."   I lost it. I had to leave the room I was laughing so hard.  It's very hard to stick to my guns when he acts like that!!  I love him and his sense of humor. 

15 Months

Yesterday was a pretty eventful day.  Orion had a Dr. appointment early in the morning, so I took the whole day off to hang out with him.  We started our day by going to get our oil changed in the Tucson.  Not thrilling, I know, but Orion likes to stand at the door of the shop and watch the mechanics as they work on the car....and I love to watch him doing so.  After that was done we went to Target where we got him some new shoes (since he wore holes in the soles of his current ones!) and wandered around wasting time until his doctor's appointment.  When we finally arrived at the doctor Orion received the last 2 shots that he'll have to have before Kindergarten!  I can't believe he's done with them, but am incredibly grateful that he is.  They weighed and measured him too, and he weighs 22 pounds (20th percentile), is 30" tall (20th percentile), and has a 19" head (75th percentile).  I think that means he is built like a bobble head, but it's the cutest thing in the world.  After the Dr. he went to work with daddy for a while because I had an appointment I couldn't drag him to.  I then went to pick him up and we went to get some lunch with Daddy, which meant Orion got to hang out with him more.  The older Orion gets the more attached to his daddy he seems to become.  He's slowly moving away from being a mommy's boy and towards being a daddy's boy (and I'm sure Seth loves every minute of it).  After lunch we went to the capitol so that Seth could show off Orion just a little bit more.  On the drive to take Seth back to work Orion fell asleep in the car.  I let him nap for a little while, but then woke him up so that we could go to the children's museum.  He loves to play in pretend  kitchens with dishes and food.  He will take them out of the cupboard and put them on the table over and over.  His little brain fascinates me.  I also let him paint his own face.....in what I think was supposed to be camouflage.....or maybe a butterfly.  I really don't know. We went to the "special exhibit" which was all about sounds.  Orion loved seeing all the different things and making lots and lots of nose.  After running around like crazy hitting up the blocks & every button he could find, we went downstairs to the water play area where Orion splashed around like a mad man.  He was having so much fun that he didn't want to leave, but the time came and I had to gather him up and drag the soggy, multi-colored, sad baby out the door and back to meet up with Seth.  We got back in the car and started to head home, but decided to hit up a drive through in order to grab something to drink (the Children's museum is thirsty work I tell ya) which ended up morphing into a super healthy meal of chicken nuggets and chocolate milk.  We got home and gave the boy a bath to wash off the contaminated water and face paint that managed to get not only on his face and hands, but in his hair.  Quickly after that Orion grabbed his blankey, crawled up to the couch, and fell asleep.  Such a big day for a little person.  Now we're back at the grindstone, him at daycare and us at work.  *sigh*  I want to go back home and play with him instead.

Laughter abound

Orion is amazing.  His laughter is contagious.  I wish there were words adequate to fully explain everything that he means to me, but alas, I am at a loss. He's so incredibly intelligent that he blows my mind.  Purely by observation he has learned where things are located (like his favorite cookies) and will go to the right cupboard and point up when he wants one.  He also can locate a loaf of bread in the breadbox, or the juice in the fridge.  He is also extremely curious, and his growing height means a whole new level of things for him to see for the first time and no surface he can reach is safe.  He loves to look at books, and will often bring them to me to read to him.  He loves to throw or kick a ball.  He absolutely loves going on walks, and playing at the park.  He's starting to understand questions and when you ask him something he'll almost always give you an answer (usually "yeah").  He can even nod his head.  He just may be a genius, but he is stubborn as heck.  No matter how many time I tell him no, redirect him, or anything else he will do what he wants to whether I want him to or not, most of all playing with my Stephen King books (which secretly makes me proud as hell!).  We even rearranged the location of the books to put his books where the SK ones were previously located thinking maybe that would stop him, but instead he just changed where he goes to look at them.  His favorite is my "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon" pop-up book.  I try to keep it away from him most the time, but usually end up breaking down, pulling it off the shelf, letting him crawl into my lap, and read it to him...and let me tell you that it's just terrible to have to do that (sarcasm anyone??)  Also, he dances.  He loves music, bobbing his little butt up and down, bouncing around the house with a smirk on his face.  By watching us he has learned to headbang (every rocker momma's dream).  However, he hasn't learned the appropriate time yet to do so, which makes me laugh so hard.  This lead to one of my favorite ever geek moments from my little dude. 

I have a recently discovered obsession for Stargate, specifically SG-1.  Lately I've been watching it daily in an effort to complete the entire series (I'm half way through season 5) which usually means that I am rocking Orion to sleep and watching Stargate at the same time.  He loves the show, which is something that makes me want to tear up anyway, but the other day he took it to a new level.  I started the show, and the theme song starts, and Orion, who is standing next to me begins to dance.  He's bouncing around, laughing...and then starts head banging.  My son is standing in my living room, headbanging to Stargate.  I have never in my life been more proud of my tiny geekling, and the potential hidden deep in him. 

Dancing.

Of all the things I love in this world, watching Orion learn something new is probably my absolute favorite.  He dances now.  Not a lot, and not often, but he does it.  It's mostly a quick squatting up and down to the beat of some music, but it's one of the cutest things I think I have ever seen in my life.  He loves to bop around listening to music, and giggles profusely any time daddy or I decide to dance with him.  Yesterday he was rolling with laughter in the back seat of the car as I tried to show him the proper way to head bang.  I'd do it, and then look at him and he would nod and laugh.  Oh, those moments fill my heart to the brim so close to overflowing.  He is also trying to blow kisses, which is heart melting.  He puts the back of his hand up to his mouth and just holds it there, but headed in the right direction.  So if you've read this, you'll now know that my heart is full and melting....sounds like we could very quickly have a mess! 

First Birthday Party

Orion's very first b-day party went off pretty well (if I do say so myself).  We had it Spiderman themed since those seem to be the colors he likes the most.  His cake was adorable, and decorations were kept very minimal (I mean, come on.  He's 1!).   The family arrived and gave gifts and there was absolutely no drama.  That was pretty exciting.  Orion and Blake played really well along with Griffen. Orion ended up getting a TON of toys and not nearly as many clothes as I had expected (and kind of hoped for) but I think he pretty much made out like a bandit!  There was lots of laughter and giggles.  My mom spent the morning getting food ready (which I know I over did) including a veggie tray, meat/cheese tray, crackers, cake, and ice cream...not to mention the lasagna and salad lunch I served like 1 hour before the party.   I like food, what can I say.   I am super grateful my mom was around to help me out though.  I felt like a damn chicken with my head cut off.    A #1 candle was stuck into the cake, but I didn't light it (fire + baby = not a great idea).  Happy b-day was sung and thanks to Holly the cake was cut and served.  I spent my time dishing up ice cream though and completely missed all of Orion eating cake....which made me sad.  I did get to see the aftermath of it though.  I also was so busy making sure everything was taken care of that I didn't take a single picture.  I'm hoping that I can get copies from the family that was there taking pictures.  UGH!  So anyway, it went well.  Everyone had fun, cake was eaten, presents were unwrapped, laughter was made......and I'm damn sure glad that it is over (and doesn't occur again til next year!!!). 

One year---a reflection.

If you've never experienced the first year of being a mother, I promise you that you have no idea how quickly time can go.  It truly seems like last week when I first held my beautiful boy in my arms...first kissed his beautiful face.  It seems like days ago that I first saw my son's smile and begged him to roll over.  Only yesterday when he first got up and started to crawl, and just this morning when I first cheered in glee as he took his first steps across my kitchen.   I don't understand where my time has gone.  How has my tiny bundle of baby somehow morphed into a giddy toddler so quickly??  I find myself sitting here begging time to slow down, terrified that I am going to miss something....or worse, maybe I'll forget that these little things ever even existed.  Our son is amazing.  He gives hugs and kisses.  He loves his mommy and his daddy like crazy.  He's friendly and playful, but shy and flirty.  He's happy.  I think that's most important.  I honestly believe that Orion is happy.   Not to mention that he is SO dang smart.  He can walk, uses a sippy cup, feeds himself, is starting to try to use silverware, and turns the pages in a book, found out how to turn objects sideways to get them out of a latched cabinet.  *sigh*  I'm amazed and entertained by him every day.  All it takes is a single look from him to make me smile.  Yesterday was his birthday, and on Sunday we're having a birthday party with all of the family.  I know he's little and doesn't know what is going on, but I want to celebrate not only his birthday, but our first year as a family.  So happy happy birthday baby Orion, who is not really a baby.  I hope that someday you can understand that me and daddy are both better people because you exist.   We love you very much!