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.

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?

Swimming Lessons

One of the things each week this summer, I looked forward to was swimming lessons. I signed Brady and I up at the YMCA Lakeview. Class was for 10 weeks on Thursday from 11:15-11:45. We had a blast. Here is what I learned:

• Songs are addicting. I find myself singing about pancakes, who has come to swim today and the itsy bitsy spider at Target, in the shower or while I am running.
  
• that I now understand why I hated teaching swimming lessons when I was in high school. You have no choice but to jump right in when you have a "mobile" 9.5 month old waiting for you and it is COLD!
  
• blowing bubbles is still disgusting
  
• that my fear of poop in the pool paralyzes me for thirty minutes every Thursday and I check Brady's diaper every thirty seconds.
• that it takes us 1.5 hours to get all of our stuff together, change our clothes, pack our swim bag, get to the Y, get our locker, get undressed, get showered all for 30 minutes....
• but it is all worth it!

Waving Hi to Grandma Witherow

Looking at the lap lanes coming out

9 Months Stats And...... WE ARE CRAWLING

Yes, yes it has finally happened. Brady has decided that he wants and is ready to crawl. What is interesting about it is that sometimes it is a crawl but a lot of the time it is this "gimp walk" as I like to call it. He refuses to put both knees down so he puts one down and drags the other one behind. Honestly, it is pretty darn funny! Excuse all the commentary...I was as excited as he was.
Nine Month Stats:
Weight: 24 pounds 9 ounces (85%)
Height: 29 and 3/4 inches (95%)
I would have thought he would be in a higher percentile but I think his height makes him leaner. I am also interested to see if he loses weight now that he is on the move! Here is a video...enjoy!

Nine Months

Nine months or 3/4 of year! And as most of you know, I always want to capture any event in pictures.

So here they are... compliments of the talented Heidi Peters...

All this... and the poor kid was sicker than a dog! More to come on that and the nine month stats in a couple of days! Enjoy!

Summer is Flying By...

Summer.... my favorite season!

So, it was here before we knew it and it is now going away as fast as it came! I go back to work in five weeks! I am so not ready and not looking forward to it! I promised myself I would spend this summer enjoying every minute with Brady and Glenn and soaking up all the things we could do!

Swimming lesson = AWESOME! He loves the water...he gets so excited when we get there and he truly loves to splash, play, and put his face in!

Music lessons = QUESTIONABLE! Some weeks he loves it, other weeks not so much. The one thing he loves is to shake his music maker! He usually shakes it when he is not supposed to but it is still pretty funny!

We had a great 4th of July weekend in Bloomington! No fireworks this year, but I made a promise to myself and to Glenn that we will take him starting next year. It was such a big tradition growing up...an annual rite of passage if you will. Popping the popcorn and putting it in the grocery bag, packing the cooler, getting a blanket, finding some bug spray and making sure we had a radio with fresh batteries so we could listen WJBC's tribute to America while watching the sky light up.

It was hot, but we found a splash park that is a little more "baby friendly" than the one by our house in Chicago! Brady and dad had a great time playing in the water, going on the swings, and walking around!

Did I mention he will be nine months on Monday? ZOMG!

Off to music, but will post after the nine month appointment!

Sunday Fun

It started like this....



And ended like this...



But his hair is cut! And I have to tell you, after much persuading from my besties, husband and mom, I have to tell you that it looks adorable and I am glad we finally cut it!