Wednesday, October 27, 2010

The Beauty of Innocence

**If you haven't had a chance to read about Landon's helmet scroll down!**

Have you ever wondered when we started becoming insecure about ourselves? Was it in elementary school when you realized there was a social hierarchy? Or that not everyone played together on the playground? Was it in adolescence when you discovered your first zit? Or when the person you were pining over didn't return the sentiment (and it felt like everyone knew about it)?

Parenting has brought it's own new set of insecurities ... and I'm pretty certain I'm not alone in feeling them.

But I look at Landon and just think ... how on earth could you EVER be insecure and not know how incredible you are?

And you know what ... I'm sure our own mother's felt that way about us. When did we stop listening? And when do children stop listening to themselves? Because I assure you ... right now Landon still knows he is really cool ... and very handsome!

Case in point:

This morning I took him into my bathroom to sit on the counter in front of me and look in the mirror while I finished up getting ready. It's something we do most mornings. Landon is a huge fan of himself in the mirror :)! But I wondered what he would do since he hadn't really seen the helmet on his head yet.

Well ... let me tell you ... he was THRILLED to see himself ... just like every morning!! And he didn't even seem to notice that there was something different about him at all! He just embraced his reflection like he always does with a big grin!

It made me want to cry I was so happy he felt that way! Don't you wish you would have been able to do that at 13? 23? Or how about this morning when you noticed the bags under your eyes ... or that pesky 5 lbs. ... from the last holiday season you just can't seem to get rid of.

I'll admit. I am guilty of not being able to do that.

But Landon? Not yet ... that kind of innocence is so beautiful, and I will do everything in my power to let him know that he is wonderful just the way he is - and to embrace all the things that make him unique. I know he'll have insecurities at some point ... but I hope to help him be resilient enough to overcome them.

I'm grateful for the support we have available to us as parents to help give our kids what they need. When my mom came over this morning to watch Landon the first thing she said to him was that she thinks he is so handsome. Does he understand the words? Nope, but he definitely understood that she loves him and that was enough to make him smile again.

And perhaps by facing some of my own insecurities and admitting my own imperfections openly will help both of us to be stronger and more confident in the long run.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Landon's Helmet

Landon got his helmet today! He was a little upset about the whole thing at first, but he has done fine with it the rest of the day. The real test will be if any of us get any sleep tonight! We took some pictures to really capture how he was feeling.

The waiting room has two cool fish tanks ... this is Landon's favorite part of the office! We are certain he would spend hours just staring and trying to grab the fish. Clearly a trip to the aquarium is in the works.
Waiting in the "kid" room at the office. And if you are wondering if the room is really as ugly as it appears it might be from this picture the answer is YES! If they were going for fun and whimsical they failed big time.This is just before they brought it in. There were a few final "fittings" while we were there just to make sure they got everything just right. Jeff took the day off to come with us ... and boy were we both glad!
This is the look Landon gave the Dr. when it first got put on. I'm not sure anyone has gotten such mean and disbelieving looks from him. Ever. He wasn't very happy about this part at all. And I don't blame him ... a strange man putting something even stranger on and off his head ... not cool.
And then he immediately tried to take it off.
It was finally done and the Dr. put it on him for the final time. This picture just breaks my heart. He was so sad ... do you see the look in his eyes and the little tear forming? He just really didn't understand what was going on, and other than Jeff being behind him the Dr. still had to be front and center which made him even more upset.
Luckily a few minutes later he was feeling better about life. He is such a little trooper ... and we think he is quite adorable with his helmet or without!

Monday, October 25, 2010

Storm

Last night Jeff and I woke up at 2:30 in the morning to the noise of a crazy thunderstorm. I haven't heard a storm like that in ages (and I lived in the Midwest for a time ... and when it rains there it really rains!). We got up to check storm warnings, double check to make sure the windows were shut tight and to make sure Landon was warm enough. Then we just laid there listening to it ... and I just kept thinking about how fortunate we are ... to be inside and warm against such a storm and most importantly that we were all together. And really, what else matters?

Monday, October 18, 2010

My Little Maestro

Landon LOVES to play the piano. It is so funny! He can even be really upset and if I play with him or just let him play by himself he gets so happy. He will sit there for a really long time by himself and play ... and he loves it when we sing primary songs along with his music (Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam is his personal fave) :)! Apparently he likes to play like me though ... he accidentally hit the metronome button and when it started to tell him what his beat should be he got really ticked off :)!

Look at those fingers fly!

So proud!

Friday, October 15, 2010

Friday Confessions...

*I ate a pumpkin chocolate-chip cookie for breakfast. (Naughty maybe ... but delicious!)

*I fed Landon dessert for dinner the other night (in my defense I had no idea they even made dessert for babies and just assumed it was like any other jar of fruit ... he liked it though and I'm sure it won't be the last time in his life :)!).

*I eat PB right out of the jar ... so borrowers beware! (and I single-handedly ate an entire jar by myself last week ... yep it's love)

*I was contemplating if I were stuck on an island for a month and could only have one thing to eat the entire time what would it be? Yep ... I decided on PB. It was a toss up with chocolate, but in the end I decided PB was more practical.

*I sometimes wonder why I still work. Then we have days when I don't wonder at all. It's still a catch-22.

*I sometimes wonder exactly where I belong. I'm not fully a stay-at-home-mom (nor do I have a toddler like everyone else seems to have)... but I don't work full time, so I don't quite fit there either. I seem to float ... which is sometimes great. And sometimes not so much.

*I really like my new hair color. I have told a million hairdressers this is what I want and this is the first time it has been right! YAY! (The same is true for my summer highlights ... so Janalee ... I'm clearly a big fan of your work).

*I miss Jeff when he is at work during the day.

*I read People.com and other people's blogs way more often than I do the news. Hence the reason why I have no idea what is really going on overseas, but a very good idea of who is having a baby/getting divorced/has a new haircut in Hollywood. A little pathetic, maybe, but I love it :)

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

I love...

...the beautiful bouquet of fall flowers sitting on our kitchen table ... especially because they were from my Mr. "just because"

...the crisp, fall air. Doesn't it just feel refreshing?

...the anticipation of an upcoming trip to the Pumpkin Patch.

...the fact that Landon looks so cute it overalls it almost kills me!

...the smell of pumpkin-flavored desserts ... so delicious (and tempting!)

...that Landon and I are getting invited to activities. He's still a little young, but it sure makes us feel good to be included ... and he loves to be around other kids!

...that they rescue workers got all of the Chilean miners out of the mine. It is wonderful and refreshing to see something happy in the news.

...everything about fall.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Helmet Casting

Landon's little head isn't perfectly round (or round at all in the back for that matter), so he needs to wear a helmet for a few months. We were hoping that he wouldn't have to, but it just didn't round out enough on its own.

Last Thursday we went to have the helmet casted. The Dr. warned us that it could be really messy and he could cry a lot, so we were expecting the worst. He did great though! He only got upset the last minute, so we were really glad. I think it really helped that Jeff was playing with him and the Dr. was wearing a red shirt. Red is Landon's favorite color (he is fascinated by it!) so he kept watching him also.

Jeff got some great pictures ... here is our little trooper!

Getting prepped. He thought this part was really funny.
Getting started ...
About half way done...
Almost there...
Here is when he decided he was done with this whole process ...
He will get his helmet in about a week and a half, so I'll post some pictures of him showing it off :)!

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Let the Spoiling Begin...

Two days a week Landon gets to have one-on-one time with Grandma while I am at work. We are so lucky to have them live so close. Landon just lights up whenever she walks in ... it's like he knows the next 4 hours are going to involve nothing but spoiling him and playing with him!

Case in point:

Today I forgot an address I needed at work. So I called home to get it. My mom had to walk upstairs to get it, so Landon came with her. Then before she could look for it she found something for him to play with (and the first couple of suggestions were rejected ... she found just the right thing eventually) chatting with him the whole time. Then she looked for the address for me ... still talking to him most of the time :)!

I could feel him smiling through the phone - it was so cute!

I love that they both get that time ... and that he is so happy when she is around! So Grandma ... let the spoiling continue ... you have one major fan in Landon (and us of course!)!

Monday, October 4, 2010

Have you ever ...

Have you ever had this much fun eating green beans?

I didn't think so :)!

**(BTW ... he generally does actually eat with clothes on ... this night was just all kinds of fun!)**