And he takes off...

Xander started walking a week and a half ago, taking a few timid steps before sitting back on his rump. Now, he's walking around everywhere, barely crawling at all! He's SO happy! Check him out!

Stumbling into Toddlerhood

"Put you hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it feels like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it feels like a minute. THAT'S relativity." - Albert Einstein

My sweet baby boy, is turning into a sweet toddler... More often than not, he stands up and tries to walk where he wants to go, rather than crawl. I'm so proud of his fierce determination and his inexhaustible spirit! At 10 1/2 months, he's blown me away. I think some of his inspiration comes from his little playmate Josephine, who is 2 months older than him (although fittingly smaller, as a petite fille should be!). I swear he's trying to keep up with her!

Today I baby sat the two of them, while her mother caught up on some work stuff. I wish my camera hadn't run out of memory... I have never seem them so hyper before! They did laps around my living room squealing at the top of their lungs while they chased (combination of stumbling walk and crawling) each other. It was their first game of tag. My smile was plastered on, as I tried not to laugh at our little zombies - arms reached out, hands grasping, droll sliding down faces, as they stumbled around on inexperienced legs. Too funny!

Even though I didn't get any footage of the two of them together, I did get some footage of Xander walking earlier that morning... I love my little zombie toddler!

The Cat is out of the Bag

"Nobody has ever measured, even poets, how much a heart can hold."
Zelda Fitzgerald

Well, it's no secret that I've been absent from the blog world this last few months. The reason, you ask? I little surprise in the proverbial oven. I didn't know I had some Irish in me, if you get my drift, as my children will only be 16 months apart... which is a big difference from the 3 years difference from me and my brother and the respective 20 & 23 years difference between me and my half sisters.

To be perfectly frank, I was not thrilled with the news... I still had the last 20lbs to loose from my first pregnancy (yes, Xander put 55lbs on my 5'4" frame even without eating junk food, fast food or sugar), I was slated to lead the Fall Teacher Training track at Yoga Yoga (yeah income!) and we were finally starting to get some sleep!
Then I get hit up side the head with a 2 x 4! Happy Mother's Day! Two dark lines on the pee test...

(Mental note: next time, for hubbies birthday, go the traditional route of a BJ not sex)

So here we go again... I've made my peace with the news, and realized that if it hadn't happened on accident, who knows if I'd be willing to go through the whole process again with me being 35+ and getting spoiled by having an older (and easier t0 manage) toddler.

Good news is the baby isn't due until January 3rd, which will put my 3rd trimester in the fall and winter instead of the horrendous Texas summers of 100 degrees like we did last time. I've got a better idea of what will happen with my body as well as familiarity with labor.

To counter act my bodies tendency to go past 40 weeks (Xander was 2 weeks late) my AMAZING accupuncturist/Ayurvedic doc Craig will be on hand to do some 3 day in row sessions to get labor going on my 39th week. I'll also be able to continue walking/exercising outside during my 3rd trimester (instead of being so swollen due to the heat/humidity that my feet couldn't fit into most shoes!) and I'm determined to make sure I don't gain anywhere near 55lbs this time! I wish they had Crossfit for preggers....

On the other hand, the looming reality of what is to come has started to bare it's head. Already this baby hasn't gotten the attention that Xander received in utero. Half the time I forget that I'm pregnant, since I have a 9 month old that is demanding attention, and I feel that I don't give enough attention to Xander due to the morning sickness and bionic tiredness I've been feeling. How does one keep all these plates in the air? The reality is you don't... somethings gotta give. I'm trying not to feel guilty about it.

Other mothers of two tell me that your heart just expands and that you love the next child as much as the first, and nothing is taken away from the first... it must be true, I know, but at this point in the process I don't how it happens. I look into my little boy's bright blue eyes, and don't know how he cannot be the center of my Universe... how is he gonna feel about sharing Mom and Dad? How will I be able to give all of myself to the next baby and to Xander? Maybe it's a question left up the theoretical physicists of the world.

Ready, set... GO!

"If you obey all the rules you miss all the fun" - Katherine Hepburn

Well, it's official! Xander is now crawling! From an unsure scoot and pull, but full out tummy off the floor and a determined destination in one weekend! No longer will my baby stay put in the place I put him... and in fact, all the places I'd rather he not go, he finds in a heartbeat (such as under the entertainment system and the dog bed). I'm finding that my new mantra is "Not for baby!", which usually received with a loud yell or even tears as he's put facing the opposite direction or as I confiscate his immediate obsession.

To be truthful, John and I have been talking about baby proofing for months, but we've been procrastinating. It would entail finding a tall console table to put the Blue-ray player, computer and sound system on, as well as figuring out how to mount the flat screen on the wall. We cannot wait any longer, he's heading for anything and everything that's at his eye level, as well as everything that he can use to pull up to standing.

Now, given that John threw his back out yesterday (sprained a ligament along his spine) and is sequestered to the couch and on both pain medication and muscle relaxers, makes this new crawling thing a whole world of fun! Poor Daddy...

Xander also had THE best time at the pool this weekend with his cousin Zoe... he splashed around the kiddie pool a bunch and forayed (with me of course) into the big pool. He had so much fun, that he ended up passing out at 7pm that night. Whew! Nice break for Mama!

My Biggest Fear

My biggest fear came true today. I had a dream when I was pregnant that our half lab and half chow dog Casey would try to bite our baby Xander. Well, today, while John was sitting on the rug with our little boy, playing and laughing next to a calm (it would seem) Casey the world suddenly stood still. Even as time slows down, you never seem to be able to quick enough. Little Xander reached over and grabbed Casey's neck and the dog growled and snapped, striking Xander in the face. The chaos that in sued was phenomenal... I yelled and grabbed the dog's collar and tossed him out side. John swept little Xander in his arms to check out any damage. Little Xander started crying, mostly out of fear than pain. Xander escaped with only a welt on his forhead and cheek - the result of Casey's teeth scrapping against his skin.
I grabbed my baby from John and told him that the dog must go, he had ONE chance, and now it's done. Xander did NOTHING wrong. He was simply playing and exploring. He didn't hurt the dog, but simply pet him, and the dog's reaction was UNACCEPTABLE.
We've had one warning - luckily Xander was not permanently scarred, either mentally or physically. But there will be NO next time. Since becoming a mother, I have a single-minded protective instinct that supersedes any other thought. Protect my child above all else. Nothing else is as important.
Good bye Casey... I will chose Xander EVERYTIME.

Finding Balance

"I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

It's ironic that once you get into a grove, everything turns upside down... I'm finding that I'm working just as hard as little Xander in finding balance. As he become more mobile (not quite crawling yet), I'm becoming a little more rigid. Yes, the yoga teacher is become more inflexible. Ahhh motherhood... what surprises do you have left for me!
Xander is pulling up a lot... and trying to find his balance. He's learning that feet farther apart tends to allow him to stay up for longer stints, and that he can lean on objects (sometime people or animals even!). His passion is astounding! He will keep trying to stay up standing, over and over again. The more tired he gets, the more determined (and frustrated!) he becomes.
My job is to make sure he doesn't fall too hard, because fall he must. I fight the urge to catch him, and only make sure his head doesn't hit the tile. It's hard to hear his cries of frustration as his limbs don't do exactly what he wants, but it's important for him to work through it. If I pick him up and set him back on his feet every time he'll never learn how to do it for himself.... so I fight the urge.
Now as all this new and exciting stuff is happening, I'm finding it even more important to keep to his routine, some thread of consistency in this daily storm of new adventures and milestones. Xander does not tend to agree... nap time has become a struggle of wills, bedding down for the night becomes a long and arduous process and diaper or outfit changing is now a full on wrestling match!
Thank goodness for my Yoga Mama friend Lisa and her daughter Josephine! As Josephine is a full 2 months a head of Xander, Lisa has been where I am and helps to keep me sane. Here I am, a yoga mama trying to find my balance in a quickly moving current that is my baby's life.

Play dates

"Friendship is born at the moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one.'" - C.S. Lewis

One of the most rewarding and fun experiences Xander and I have together are play dates. Every week we go see our little cousin Zoe, who is 2years old. Xander is utterly fascinated with her and watches her like a hawk... studying every nuance and movement. When in the car together, Zoe holds his hand sometimes, and recently he's started reaching for her!

But I have to say, I think his favorite play date is with Josephine... she's a pretty little girl, just 2 months older than him. Her mama and I used to swim at Barton Springs while pregnant during those hot Texas summer months, and I swear, they energetically remember each other! Everytime he sees her, his face breaks out into a HUGE smile. I swear, they are Pebbles and Bam Bam... he hasn't yet clubbed her but he has taken her toys... Ah, the courtship begins...