Year 1
December 15, 2009 | Clark
Where to begin? How do I summarize the best year of my life? Clark changed everything.
I honestly thought before I had a baby, that parenting was going to be drudgery. You know, like even when you have a job you love, it’s still hard to get up in the morning and do the same thing every day. I still wanted to do it, but I thought it was going to feel like that. Was I ever wrong. I am so absolutely in love with this boy. I could watch him do stuff all day long, which I guess, I do. Even when he wakes me up at the asscrack, and I haul myself out of bed and schlep down the hallway, as soon as I open his door and see him standing there in his jammies, I break out in the biggest smile. Scooping him up and hugging him close, feeling his little arms around my neck… ohmygod it’s the best thing in the world. I think back to when I was working, getting up early, I bet the first time I cracked a smile was the fake one I would flash to a coworker in the elevator, three hours after I got up. But now? I’m beaming before sunrise.
When he goes to bed, I savor the free time, but more often than not I find myself watching videos I’ve made of him on my phone, or editing photos I’ve taken of him. Right now he’s napping and I really want to finish this, but when I hear him start to fuss, I’ll be so happy to run upstairs, scoop him up again, and get my post-nap snuggles. Those are the best.
Let me be clear that all of this loveliness was not automatic, for the pregnant among you. I don’t think everyone necessarily gets rocked as hard as I did, but I can honestly say that I was CRAZY for the first 4 months or so. I didn’t feel like I was, I think I held it together externally for the most part, but in retrospect, I was totally nutso. I was not at all in touch with the universe. Everything seemed SO DRAMATIC! WERE WE GOING TO MAKE IT?!? WILL THE BABY SURVIVE?!?
A status update for posterity’s sake: Clark is not walking by himself yet, but he cruises along holding on to furniture very skillfully. He can say hi, Daddy, and yeah. He waves. The waving is the cutest thing you’ve ever seen. He doesn’t just wave his arm about like most babies, he tilts his wrist back and forth like a little float princess. Throw in a ‘hi-eeeee.,” and the cuteness is deadly. He’s pretty much eating everything we eat now, with his favorites being scrambled eggs, toast, bananas, yogurt, graham crackers, cheerios, meatballs, corn, peas, and carrots. We have his 1 year checkup later this week. We’re hoping he finally weighs enough to switch to the forward facing carseat. He’s so skinny!
Anyway, I’ll stop blathering and show you the slideshow. Thank you all so much for coming along for the ride! Clark and I truly appreciate it.
edited to add: Perhaps you’d like to hum along “Beautiful Boy” by John Lennon whilst you watch this clip. It’s supposed to be there. Somehow, the youtubes knew I was using it and busted me. Lame! I’m sure John would appove of this usage.
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December 15th, 2009 at 11:34 pm, dahli Says:
H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y C L A R K ! ! !
I can’t believe it’s already been a year. He’s beautiful & incredibly photogenic too. SO much love to you all.
xoxooxoxoxoxoxoxox
dahli
December 16th, 2009 at 11:55 am, Lucy in UK Says:
What a lovely record of Clark’s first year!
December 16th, 2009 at 7:23 pm, Melinda Says:
Happy Birthday Clark! What a great record of his 1st year! He’s lucky to have such an awesome photographer as his momma.
December 16th, 2009 at 8:52 pm, Camille Says:
Aww…now I want one…*coughs* House first!
He is so frickin’ adorable! Happy Birthday Clark, you have rockin parents!
December 17th, 2009 at 10:28 am, emilie Says:
Jenny, he’s so beautiful and wide-eyed to the world!
Happy birthday to Clark and HAPPY ONE YEAR YOU MADE IT AND DIDN’T BREAK HIM to you and SB! Thank you for the adorableness of that slideshow. Now I can get back to work.
December 18th, 2009 at 11:12 pm, Amy Says:
Happy Birthday sweet Clark! What an amazing gift you have given your parents.
December 28th, 2009 at 7:20 am, Jill Says:
I just cried a little bit. I love reading your blog and love, love, love, hearing about your experience as you grow into motherhood. Happy Birthday, Clark – and to you, Jenny! I really appreciated hearing your birth story in full. I have heard a couple of women talk about their natural birthing experiences in horrific details (i.e, I felt i was being ripped in two pieces and begged my husband to go to the liquor store and get anything that would take the pain away). I really miss you guys and am sad that life has not brought us back to the NW yet….someday. Sigh.