Friday, September 17, 2010

WALK (T)HIS WAY...


It happened... it has been coming for weeks. Really, it has been manifesting itself since the middle of August. But, people it is here. The day is finally upon us. BRADY IS WALKING! WALKING! No, not just every once in a while. Not holding on to anything. Walking. He walks to the things he wants. He walks up to us when we are in a different room. He walks to the toilet. He walks to the screen door so he can smush his face up against it. He chooses to walk 95% of the time. He is darn fast crawling but he continues to only want to walk. Not even 11 months and the boy is walking.

Here is the thing... I kept thinking about how much I wanted him to walk. We kept talking about how great it would be when he walked. And now, he is and I am not ready for it. It is just another sign on independence. Of him not needing us anymore. Yes, I am excited for him to be able to explore on his own, go to the park and run around but dang, I am sad not glad.

Well, here it is. The first is of him walking in on Monday (admist the bathroom redo from hell thanks to Tile Outlet, more on that later) The second are the first true steps in August.



Friday, September 10, 2010

9 Years Later

Another mama blogger does a "I Believe" post on Friday and today, I feel like it is one of those days, one of those nights that deserves more than an update about Brady.

So, this is a different direction and a different kind of post. But you know what? The day, tomorrow, 9/11, it deserves its own post.

In class today while discussing current events, I asked my students where they were 9 years ago. Most said, first grade. Most said they didn't remember. And my response was that I do. I remember everything about that day.

In that time, I was feeling invincible. I was working in corporate America, doing what every other 22 year old does in the Chicago. Drinking after work at happy hour, going to the beach on the weekends, eating out at the newest restaurant,worrying about nothing and soaking up all my life after college had to offer. And then it happened.

Nine years later, I am in a different place. A more reflective place. A better place.
I am married.
And I am a mother.
A mother who BELIEVES in the good that mankind can do when we simply accept one another.
A mother who BELIEVES in the power of unity and the larger power of a divide.
A mother who BELIEVES that each of us are different but that we have a responsibility to our "littles" to teach them tolerance so we can all exist in this melting pot of a country.
A mother who BELIEVES in acceptance. Acceptance of the things that I cannot change and a willingness to learn about things I can and don't know about.
A mother who BELIEVES that you can't judge an entire population because of the action of a few.
A mother who BELIEVES in unconditional love. Because, the reality is, every person is this world is someone's daughter and son. And every person belongs to someone and deserves to be forgiven.

So, tomorrow, remember that this day. And ask yourself, what do you believe?