"If I Could Turn Back Time..."

Well, no. I wouldn't turn back time, even if I could. But how is it possible that I am the mom of an almost 1-year-old?! Seriously...how is that possible?!

11 months old! (These pictures are hard with a wiggly toddler!)

During our trip to Columbia for Easter we got to see Aunt Carrie and cousins Jack and Grace Anne.

"You're a baby!" "No, you're a baby!"

We got our first soccer lesson from Daddy last month. And it is apparently hilarious when Daddy kicks the ball. I would show you video of how funny it is, but I'm too busy laughing myself to grab the camera.

My little man is growing up SO fast! We've had to childproof all the doors and drawers in the kitchen. We already had one incident where Matty slammed the drawer on his finger and drew blood. There was lots of crying. Matty wasn't happy either. LOL.

Luckily, Matt had some help with the childproofing...

"Daddy, you have to attach it there. Otherwise, I can easily break in."

Finally...FINALLY! It is pool weather! Matt got this plastic bubble wrap solar pool cover thingy (technical term people, technical term). It is supposed to heat up the pool by at least 15 degrees. So far, so good. I even ventured in past my ankles.

The plastic bubble wrap solar pool cover thingy

Our next door neighbor Chris came over...

All the boys in the deep end.

Everyone knows that the pool water has to be at least 85 degrees to go in. None of this...oh, it's 85 outside so it's warm enough to take a dip. Whaaatttt? No sir. It has to be warm outside and warm in the pool. Otherwise we are talking about what feels like a polar plunge, and I'm just not that into that.

Matty tried out his pool legs. He went in briefly last year, but now he can wear sunscreen, and this oh so adorable hat!

Not impressed, Mom.

Daddy is still the funniest thing in Matty's life. He loves rough-housing with his dad. Boys...

Let's see...what's the latest on our little guy...

At last check, he was around 20-21 pounds. He is also pretty tall for his age. He is walking GREAT! A little too great. He's decided it's more fun to walk really really fast. For little legs that are still a bit unsteady, NOT a great idea. We've had a few bumps and bruises. And lots of tears. Again, Matty hasn't been too thrilled either.

A few pictures from the last month. I apologize that there aren't as many as usual. But what can I do? I'm running after this guy for most of the day. Apparently when they can walk, they WANT to walk and not just sit quietly and play with a toy in the middle of the floor. You know, where you can see them. Where it is safe. Where you know they aren't getting into any trouble.

"What? This is totally how you drink out of this cup!"

"Finally, a chair that's my size."

"Who are you calling a hobo?"

This guy...what can I say. I love him more and more every day. It is amazing how much you learn about your capacity to love when you become a parent. The thought of him being in pain brings tears to my eyes. (I don't know how we're going to make it through sports.)

I mean, how can you not want to always see a smile on this guy's face? It's TOO cute!!!

And just because it is too cute to now share...sorry babe.

Coming next time: Matty turns 1!!!!

Until then...

Danger! Danger!

Did you know your house has hidden dangers? They are all over and you probably have no idea. You may be thinking to yourself - when will these dangers emerge? Who will it hurt? How can I find it?

Can you spot the hidden dangers in this picture?

Want to know how dangerous your house is? Just ask the parents of a newly-mobile toddler.

That's right. Matty is walking.

Matty's first steps on camera

Did I say walking? Did I mention climbing?

Looks like my baby boy is no longer a baby!

10 months old

We have had the most fun 10th month with our little (big) boy.

Once he figured out how to walk, we've been on the move. We still have our living room blocked off with dining room chairs on their sides, but I feel that is closely coming to an end and we will have to let Matty have full access to downstairs, especially since he has figured out how to climb the chair. No going over head first just yet, but I figure it is only a matter of time.

This month was fairly calm, experience-wise. I mean, walking is big enough, right?

We did have our first bites of spaghetti...

And we loved it!

"Yum Mom!"

We went to see Lynnie and Grandfather.

Hanging out at Red Robin with Grandfather so Daddy can get his endless bucket of french fries

Matty took his first trip to Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia.

We started with the cuddly, yet smelly, koala bear

Matty was not impressed with the lions

Or the "bubble-gum butt" monkeys

Mr. Bear had an icicle cake - although it was quite chilly

We walked through the kangaroo and wallaby exhibit

Apparently the zoo's construction has the mama kangaroo on edge 

One gorilla has a huge gash on his shoulder

Another just looked sad

A third thought being upside down was funny

We saw the meerkats

And of course the elephants!

The incredibly curious, and brave, flamingo

And the penguins. They donned their formal attire for our visit. :-)

"Hi Mom!"

Matty and I also fed a giraffe, but those pictures are on my mom's computer. Hey, I was taking part in the experience. I couldn't document it as well!

We were there over Easter, so we dyed eggs with my parents, went to Sunrise service (which Matty did a great job with!), and had Easter dinner.

Getting ready to dye eggs

The stencil did not work correctly

Lynnie and Matty observing Mama and Daddy working

Silly Daddy and Matty

Lynnie and Matty before Easter service

It is so much fun watching this little guy grow up and figure things out. For the first time this past weekend, I noticed Matty was very interested in putting toys inside his dump truck. I was hoping he was cleaning up (I wouldn't mind a tidy child), but he moved the truck less than a foot and started unloading it onto the floor. Oh well...

I fall more and more in love with this little guy every day. I LOVE being his mom. How could you not love this adorable face?

What about our furry child, you ask?

Really guys? Does the kid have to walk too?

For those of you who don't know, Cobb was diagnosed with feline diabetes and has required twice daily insulin shots for the past year. We found out last month that his diabetes is complicated by a condition called IAA (insulin auto-antibodies). To explain it as simply as possible, his body produces antibodies that bind to ("attack") the insulin and won't let it work properly to bring down his blood sugar. You have to overcome the antibodies, which can take large amounts of injected insulin.

After several awful vets in the Atlanta area, we packed Cobb up and took him back to Dr. Verbrick in Columbia. (Columbia friends, here is my plug for a cat vet: Dr. Shawn Verbrick at The Cat Clinic on Forest Drive.) The last vet we saw here in Atlanta wouldn't touch Cobb without him being sedated. Dr. Verbrick popped open his carrier, pulled him out and gave him a good exam, including his teeth. Cobb just growled and hissed a few times. Seriously Atlanta vet? You seriously had to sedate my cat for an exam? :rant over: We had one vet that had me convinced Cobb's bad glucose numbers were solely due to the new baby and the stress the baby was putting on Cobb. (That didn't help a mother's guilt, now did it?)

Yeah, Cobb looks REAL stressed out, doesn't he?

I will tell you that Cobb is doing great with Matty. He even let the baby hug him from behind yesterday. Nervewracking for me, but it's good the two of them are getting along.

Matty's newest "skill"/trick is breathing really hard through his nose. I don't know if he just discovered it, or if it was stuffed up and he found it funny or what.

I don't think the video does it justice as to how funny it really is...

Another one of Matty's favorite things: running from Daddy. He finds it to be hilarious.

Maybe he's just anticipating what comes next...

What's next? Who knows. I guess we'll just have to wait to find out.

Until then...some pictures for the road.