Is ONE the new terrible TWO?

To say Ryan is an active baby is a bit of an understatement. Two words come to mind: constant motion. And this past week he's kicked it up a notch.

Usually on the days when I have him at home (he goes to Auntie Patty's two days a week), I bring my laptop out to the kitchen counter and I'm able to work while he plays.

But this week? I've had to intervene about every 30 minutes if not more. It made for long work days since I had to do more work at night after he went to bed.

But he's so darn funny and cute and I took advantage of the time and played with him a bit more than I usually do. But he sure is a messy kid.

hiking with Ryan

Last weekend we hiked in MillCreek Canyon.

Ryan loves being outdoors and he loves riding in his backpack on daddy's back.

Tony's always trying to get me to go hiking with him. Since moving to Utah, I've become a bit of an indoor hermit. I think it's the long, cold winters. I hibernate. And then we have 2 days of spring and it's 90 degrees.

Plus, it's so nice to have a few hours when Ryan's asleep and Tony and Abby are off in the mountains to clean and get a few things done around the house.

But really, I need to get out more.

a year ago today...

I was sitting at my desk at home, talking to my boss David on the phone. And then I felt it. A rush of liquid running out of my body and there was no controlling it. I said to David, "I think my water just broke." He replied, "you'd better go" and he hung up. I've never had anyone get off the phone faster with me.

And with that, the roller coaster ride of our life began. It was 2 months until my expected delivery date, so of course I wasn't ready. I didn't have any baby gear, so I certainly didn't have a bag packed and waiting by the door.

Since I hadn't even thought about what I might possibly need, Tony patiently gathered different articles around the house. And then I'd think of something else, then something else, and then something else. It began a long exercise of patience for Tony that would continue for another 29 days.

After a short 2 hour stay at SL Regional, they decided I needed to transferred to the U of U hospital since I was our baby would be so premature. An $895 (five-minute) ambulance ride later, I was admitted to the U where I was hooked up to more tubes and machines than I thought possible.

Several hours later, it was apparent that our little baby wasn't ready to enter the world, he just wanted to make a big splash (no pun intended) and cause a bit of fuss. So we settled into my new digs and this became my new home for the next few weeks:

As I ponder the events of a year ago, it's almost surreal. It's hard to believe that I spent 17 horizontal days in the U of U hospital. I'm glad I don't have to watch the 24th of July fireworks from this tiny window.

I also think about the kindness of the nurses in the ante-partum ward and it makes me tear up with gratitude. Those nurses were seriously the kindest people I've ever met. I felt pampered and cared for. Even when they had to wake me up every 3 hours through the night, they would turn on as little light as possible and work as quickly and quietly as they could as they took my vitals and pricked my finger for my bloodwork. They would always apologize for waking me up and ask if there was anything they could do for me.

As I think of those wonderful women, I am grateful for the medical profession and for the kindness with which they care for those of us in need.

And it makes me strive to be a little more kind to those around me.

This is the video I watch every night...

Hello from Atlanta...

Our show is going well, but I'm missing my boy. I work in a world of high design and luxury which is a bit of an oxymoron for my life. I am anything but high design. I'm more like shorts and a t-shirt girl myself.

But it's a good job and a good company. And heavens knows, it's good to have that these days.

Anyway, here's the video I watch every night. It's of our little squirrely boy. This was taken at bedtime. The amazing thing about this boy is he can be totally hyper, but as soon as I put him in his crib, he rolls over and goes to sleep in about 2.5 seconds.

Thank goodness he gets his sleeping genes from his dad.

ps...sorry if you can't view the video...not sure what's wrong, but I'll try to fix it soon cause it's a funny one.

I have a toddler?

In a few short weeks, our little baby will be ONE. How he became a year older while I didn't age at all is beyond me, but there it is.

I've been asked more than a few times if I'm having a party for Ryan's big day and when I reply "no" and that Tony and I are planning on taking the day off and spending it with Ryan - just the three of us at the zoo, they say, are you at least going to have a cake? Well, actually, the only one who asked about the cake was my sister, but still...

Again, my answer is no. Tony and I are off sugar and I'm sure not going to start the first day of Ryan's second year with sugar that I can't have. So, no. We aren't even having a cake.

Does not having a first birthday party and a birthday cake make me a mean parent? How about a weird one?

If the answers are yes, I guess I can live with that.

Afterall, I'm the one who got married without a wedding dress, cake or flowers. And who does that??

The same mom who doesn't throw a big party for her first-born son.

But all I really want to do that day is spend the day with Tony and Ryan - just the three of us. Unless of course anyone wants to join us for some cake-less celebratory fun, in which case, you are cordially invited.

backyard picnics

It's been a wonderful eight weeks home with Tony and Ryan. I knew my travel-less days would come to an end and I've been dreading it. DREADING.

But I've been spending every possible minute hugging, kissing and playing with my cute little boy. It's been wonderful.

Yesterday we had a picnic in our backyard. Ryan doesn't like the feel of grass so I knew he would be a willing captive on a big blanket on the lawn. Equipped with his favorite book, a binkie, bottle and Cheerios, we lounged on the blanket for a couple of hours. It was the perfect temperature - warm with a cool breeze. And every time the wind blew, Ryan would stop and listen and look at the leaves with wonder. It was lovely seeing the miracle of nature through his eyes.

I was even able to convince my wiggly boy to lay on his back and look up - although it took several attempts. But once he saw the sky through the tree he was captivated....for about a minute. And then he started wiggling again.

It was one of my favorite memories of these past weeks. Tickling Ryan, reading to him, cuddling with him in the warmth of the sun.

In one of his calmer moments I told him that I was going on another trip but that I would be back in a week. And then we would have more picnics. Many, many more.

getting his way

This picture cracks me up - it's as if Ryan's expression is laughing in delight because he got his way...which is exactly what happened.

Tony and I usually eat after I feed Ryan. The thought is we'd be able to eat in peace since little one has his tummy full and is content. But he's not content until he's sitting one someone's lap.

Ryan's found that daddy is softer than mommy. When Ryan pulls himself up and hangs on mommy's leg, she will walk him back over to his toys so he can play, but daddy? Daddy will pick him up. Everytime.

And sometimes daddy doesn't move his plate quite far enough and that's when the fun begins!

sew cute

I realize I am totally biased, but don't you think this is a cute boy? The best thing about this boy is he's pretty much a nice baby. That's what my Grandma Mano used to always say....I can hear her voice loud and clear in my mind..."he's such a nice baby."

And I always say, "he's a really happy baby, except when he's not." He's taken to randomly screaming at a glass-shattering high pitch. And lately he squirms around when you're changing his diaper or his clothes like a fish out of water. But most of the time, he's all smiles and laughter.

And he's a pretty good model for these shorts that I sewed for him out of scrap material. The shorts pattern is the one I used when my brother Trent was a baby and takes about 30 minutes to make.

It's nice to have a hobby again.

The Wall

Just in case anyone has wondered (and if you haven't, I will not in any way be offended), I've lost another pound....total of five....and I've broken through that wall that I've faced so many times.

Here's the thing - I've never worked so hard to get 5 pounds off this body. Back when I was in my 30's, I would've lost AT LEAST 10 pounds or more. Seriously, as if making it harder for women to lose weight wasn't enough, now they're making it excruciating since I'm 45. Not fair, I tell you, not fair.

But 5 pounds is 5 pounds. Nevermind that I have another 5 to go till my pre-pregnancy weight. And nevermind that I have another 10 to go till my pre-marriage weight. And...well, nevermind.

The scary thing is I start traveling again next week. Starting next Thursday, it's a week in a hotel. So my goal is to lose another pound before I go and then go on maintenance for a week until I get back home.

And then I'm home for about 5 days until my next trip, and then home for about 10 days until the next. See what I mean? Not fair.

But for now, I'm going to pat myself on the back for busting through that wall. And then I'm going to go work out. Again.

fireworks and flashbacks

Since I've been enjoying a break from work travel, we decided to stay in town this year. It was such a nice, relaxing weekend in spite of working around the yard (Tony) and the house.

On Monday we were able to go to another Mano party - this one at my cousin Sandi's house in Highland. They've done some renovations in their backyard and it is a kids' dream backyard with a sport court, a trampoline and a brand new swimming pool.

Ryan loved the water and by the time his fingers and toes were shriveled up prunes, he was "swimming" on his stomach, kicking his legs and paddling a bit.

After the swimming, we were sitting on the deck while Mark and Shauna made snow cones for the kids and Sandi said something like, "the older I get, the more I think life is about these moments."

And it made me remember some other moments when we were the kids and we were the ones swimming.

When we were young, we used to come to Utah to visit all the relatives every summer. And one of the favorite activities was swimming at the pool at Grandma's condo. I have lots and lots of memories of swimming, playing tag, Marco Polo, you name it in that pool.

It warmed my heart to see all those kids swimming, chasing each other, playing basketball and enjoying more Mano family moments.

Later that night we were back home and sat outside on the back porch watching all the fireworks. There were fireworks going off all around us - many were far away, but were still beautiful to see across the valley. There were quite a few so close you could feel them as they exploded.

In my humble opinion, it was the best seat in the valley. If you want to come see for yourself, come on over next 4th of July!

Abby

Tony and I had been married just a few short months when a serious bout of insomnia hit me full force. I spent several nights tossing and turning unable to sleep and after the third or fourth night, I decided to get up and watch a bit of TV.

After not being able to find anything, I turned to the On Demand Channel and found that there was a channel to watch little video clips of cats and dogs available for adoption. I spent about an hour watching clip after clip and I was a goner.

The next morning I announced to Tony that I thought it was time to start looking for a dog. We had decided to wait a few short months to start a family, but thought we'd speed up the process by starting with a dog.

I think we visited every animal shelter in the Salt Lake area and while Tony connected with several dogs, I was waiting for that "moment". I just knew that I would know the right dog when I saw it. But after looking at dozens and dozens of dogs, I was about to give in to a big black lab. But then we decided to head back to one of the other shelters to take another look. And that is when I saw Abby.

I actually didn't pay much attention to her because she looked so scared and lonely and sad sitting in doggy prison (as Tony calls it). But she kept catching my eye. Finally, I said, what about this one?

We asked for a visit and then sat in a windowless brick room waiting for them to bring Abby in. She came in and sprinted for the only cover she could find - the one chair - and dove under it. Tony is a bit of an animal whisperer and he couldn't even coax her out.

It was pretty clear she had been abused, but we were sold.

A few days later (they had to give her all her shots, etc), we went to pick her up and bring her home. And ever since then, she's been a true joy in our lives. She and Tony go running in the mountains everyday and she is the perfect running partner for Tony.

She follows me around the house, sleeps at my feet while I work and watches for any chance of affection I might offer her.

And Ryan? She patiently sits while Ryan grabs at her fur, pulls her tail and tugs at her ears. They are great entertainment to each other already. And Ryan doesn't even realize that she is going to be one of the best friends he'll ever have.