12 months

 

What in the world? TWELVE MONTHS. You are a whole year. We are now reaching toddlerhood, and stepping out of baby. I can't tell you how thrilling and sad it all is at the same time. Being a parent is literally THE best thing I have ever done. In this past year, you have taught me patience, given me more love than I ever thought I could hold in my heart, and have filled a hole that we didn't even know was there. I love you so much my boy! This month you;

-Learned how to clap your hands

-Started picking up your drink by yourself when you want to take a drink

-Pulling yourself from tummy position to sitting up on your own

-Scooting backwards in crawling position

-Began the Army crawl phase

-You have more expression in your face (the scrunchy face)

-and you take bites of food instead of just shoving it all in your mouth.

I love you to the moon and back, son.

11 months

 

 

Eleven months.

You have been in this world for almost a year, and at this point life would be so dull without you. This month your sense of humor has come out, and you make your papa and me laugh daily. Playtime now is an hourly thing and that's where you shine in your personality. Its amazing to watch you twirl things around your hands. Seeing you learn has got to be one of the coolest things I am able to witness as your mommy. You have learned how to finally scoot your body across the floor (hoping crawling comes before 1..). You can say yes, momma, papa, no, more, and sometimes you even say your name! Another development this month is learning how to wave! You surprised us all when you waved back at your grandma!

 

You also experienced your first Christmas this month! This Christmas you got to meet all kinds of new people in Texas, and you became more and more comfortable with other people holding you. A BIG milestone because usually you want either Papa or me to be holding you or in sight of you. So proud of my boy! Also in Texas you gained a pound; finally you are 17 lbs.

 

Little boy,  I just cant believe you are almost one.

Happy Holidays!

Wishing you a warm and the merriest Christmas!

Love,

The Housels

49/52

 

"A portrait of my son once a week every week in 2014."

 

This week you celebrated your first Thanksgiving. You ate all the bread and sweet potatoes that you could get in your mouth (of course). Not a fan of turkey though really. It truly is a joy to have you my little boy. You make the holidays even more magical.

I just want to see your cat videos

I am writing right now because I am actually very upset but also very confused by all my emotions. This is a super sensitive topic, and I may get all the hate in the world. I just need to say it. First off, this is NOT a white vs.black issue. I clearly see every bit of racism towards blacks in America. I understand that I will never have to feel the anxiety over letting my boy go out when he is a teenager. For the most part I know he will come home.

Here's the thing, as a white person, I am sick of feeling ashamed of being white. It's ludicrous that I have to feel intimidated by someone of a different color in fear of them treating me like I'm a weak white girl. This has happened to me Numerous times. I have been called racial slurs, and then could easily be turned around to be called the racist. I have numerous friends who are black (weird to me to even single them out that way), and I would stand arm and arm with to defend their rights. So I'm asking when... When do I get to be released from this "shame prison"? 200
+ years ago white people did horrible, unspeakable things which I recognize completely, and here I am today still having to hang my head for it. Isn't this what we are trying to overcome? Don't you want equality? Or just justice for blacks? The point here is not "oh poor me, I'm a white girl who burnt my tongue on my perfectly made starbucks latte boohoo". The point is EQUALITY. I truly want that for you! Can we just all do the same? See, when I see a black person on the street I don't automatically lock my car doors. You know what I do do? Lock my car doors when I see a scary, crack head. Black or white. Please for the sake of our future, stop seeing me as your "slave owner" because essentially that is how you are seeing me... With that same hatered like I am evil or something.


This is all jumbled.
All I want to really say is, I love you. Like Jesus does. I'm literally in tears right now because it truly makes me sad that a young man died. Know that I believe in your struggle and do not compare mine to yours. Know that I understand your protesting (peaceful protests), and that I stand with you. Know that I believe in change, and wish we could be friends to where all those dumb stereotype lines become blurred and eventually non-existent.

I believe in EQUALITY. In every sense of the word.


Random, jumbled up post brought to by Horrible Facebook Statuses and 3AM

ALSO as a note. I'm done with political posts on facebook. I'd much rather see your cat videos

10 months

Ten stinkin' months! I remember really starting to prep for you around this time last year, and just doesn't seem like it has been this long already. Two more months and you will be ONE. Don't mind me while tears start rolling! This month you had many milestones such as:

• Got your first AND second tooth
• Held and drank out of your cup on your own, and learned how to drink from a straw.
• Stood by yourself for a few seconds at a time
• Saying "Mama" clearly alllll the time
• Loving bath time
• Finally put away all your 3 month clothes (although some still fit..)
• Doc says you have amazing muscle ton for your age
• Finally starting to and lift yourself to crawling position, but not very happy about tummy time
• Starting to really have a sense of humor
• Still nursing, but it varies every day. When you teeth more you nurse more.
• You LOVE to play and you LOVE to watch Daniel the tiger.
• Using a plate when you eat!
• Starting to use your spoon a little.
• Rolling everywhere which is HUGE for you because you usually just sit there with your toys. You decided to become a little more mobile all the sudden.

48/52

 

"A portrait of my son once a week every week in 2014."

 This week was for milestones for sure. You got your second tooth, learned how to drink from a straw, started holding your own cup, and realized you could go places by rolling. I seriously was in awe watching you learn this week. So much so that I am almost speechless. What a blessing it is to watch and help you grow.