Life's a Blur. Pause. Reflect... on L.

Two facts: I'm not videoing enough and I'm not writing enough. Liams doing the coolest new things every single day.

He's saying new words all the time. Tonight he keeps saying "where it is?" In his own little way. 

He's "driving" his boat on wheels with pride. 

He's crawling up on the couch, sitting quietly and paying close attention to sesame street. 

He brings both me and my dad books over and over, and adores being read to. He will "read" to you too, turning each page, pointing at the words and talking. 

And he tickles us! Saying "teeegy teeegy teeegy". 

Liam finally takes a decent nap without me holding him! And night time sleep has improved by leaps and bounds. Attachment parent mommies and non-cry-it-out mommies, be super patient. This will be you one day too. <3


Liam "runs" and breathes hard while he's doing it, pumping his arms, not sure where he saw this, but it's cute. 

He puts his lips to mine when I say give me a kiss. And he comes up behind me and hugs me all the time when I'm sitting on the floor. 

Liam simply rules. Oh & he exhausts. 
Love this (baby?) boy so much. 

butterflies & airplanes... L and I explore Mounts Botanical Garden

I hear airplanes! I see butterflies!

Gotta TOUCH this one. 

Mommy, check it. Airplanes! 

Let's go mommy! Lots of paths to wander...

A bench nestled amidst a babbling brook.

Perhaps we all should garden...

Always thankful for my Ergo. 

I felt like I was sharing a slice of my childhood with Liam.

We meandered...

And explored...

and crossed over...

On butterfly watch!

There they are!

Butterflies loved these!

Look!

Monet would've approved.

Is it a bug? Is it a leaf?  Cool. 

Hello! No Surprise Here...

BUT OF COURSE i was blessed with the child that sleeps kinda poopy (doing better at this moment though, grateful) And is PICKY PICKY PICKY. I was no easy child... L is his loud, serious, stubborn, determined self. Hmm... sounds like.... me. 
(thank you for the photo, marili!)

we did it! FORWARD on. (i hope.)

joining the line
today was another first for this 1st time mommy. i voted with toddler in tow. 

it began with a 40 minute wait, much of which took place in the sun (p.s. i KNOW 40 minutes is NOTHING compared to many of you that waited as many as seven hours!). i had a piece of banana bread in my ergo pocket in case i needed to bribe L with a snack. 
he was generally awesome while we waited thanks to all the people watching + an airplane and a helicopter in the sky as distractions. 
he got a little restless once inside. flung himself upside in protest for a second there. but then he had a lot sweet elderly ladies to flirt with as i collected my ballot. 
boy did he want my ballot and my pen!!!
a small fit was thrown, sorry voting neighbors. 
in the end we did it though.
and we watched carefully as my ballot was fed through the machine. 
it said something to the effect of "accepted".
and off we went with our super cool "I Voted" stickers!
Hooray! 

right when we stepped into line, i woke him up to vote, thus groggy. 

line moving, L scoping out everyone around us. 

we're inside!

getting restless.

L flings himself upside down out of boredom. whatever works. 

L was by no means the only toddler in tow! 

he looks worried. he should be. we voted in Florida.
i look weird, i know. he's teething and my eyes hurt from allergies.
no matter, we're about to ROCK THE VOTE!

my good boy. 

connect the front of the arrow to the back of the arrow for president!
= weird.

our vote for  FORWARD. 

more snacks in the car for being mostly good.
so cool of the poll worker to give him his own sticker. 

so happy this is behind me. and proud L got to experience with me. 

addendum: we did it.

HOPE. FORWARD. LOVE.

and little L, you were part of that. 

<3