The Adventures of Truman and Fletcher- boy

Viola Davis, star of "The Help" gave the commencement address at Providence College this year.  In her speech she said "You see the two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you discover why you were born."  I was born on August 3rd, 1979.  On September 16, 2011 I discovered why I was born.  I was born to be a mother. I waited a while to have a baby, in fact I had been married nearly eight years by the time I got pregnant.  This was a choice that Chris and I made together for various reasons. I think, down deep, I always knew we'd have children, even if we didn't do it at 25.  Or 30.  At 25 and 30 I was searching for my purpose, but you can't find and embrace your purpose until you are truly ready.  You can search and search for it, but it's not like buying a shirt at the Gap.  Realizing your purpose takes time, patience, self reflection and acceptance that maybe it's not what you thought it would be.  ...

Why is it that every time I take small clothes from Truman's closet to make space for what he's currently wearing do I feel like a little piece of my heart breaks?  I'm so happy that he's growing into a big boy, but when I look at a 3 month vest and remember when it was big on him I find myself on the verge of tears.  Sounds so silly, I mean it's just clothes, right?  Well I've decided it's more than that.  Every onesie, vest, shirt, etc, represents a precious memory that I'm storing away.  It's a chance to remember that when Truman wore corduroy pants for his 3 month photos that he smiled that morning like I had never seen him smile before.  It's a chance to remember that when preemie clothes hung off him that I could hold him and sing to him and soothe him, even though he was so tiny.  There are so many amazing memories in that closet, so I have to remember that as I wipe away a tear that we're just making room for new memories.

Don't drink the water...Thanks Dave Matthews.  Guess we all should have taken your advice.  I mean what is it with babies being born early recently?  Is it just because everyone and their brother is having a baby, or is there really something in the water?  I'm not sure, but I'm ready for it to stop and for these babies to be born healthy and full term. In the past few months I've had two friends deliver their little ones at 28 weeks--goodness gracious, that is so early.  And makes me feel thankful for every single day I got to carry my Truman.  It's hard to put in to words what I feel when I hear from my friends that their babies were early.  I do know that every emotion, anxious feeling and memory floods my system.  It's like I can see the isolette, be distracted by the bili lights and hear the constant symphony of beeps and alarms.  In a second I am standing in the NICU wondering how I got there.  My heart drops into my stomach and ...

5. My son is 5 months old. I now have to use every finger on one hand to count the number of months he's been with us. How in the world is this possible? There have been so many sweet moments in the last five months and everyday gets a little sweeter. Our world is full of toothless, full face smiles and there is nothing like peering over the crib to find a cooing and smiling baby. I love to listen to Truman on the monitor in the early hours of the morning when he's 'talking' to his mobile and entertaining himself. I love sitting in a dimly lit room singing songs and reading books. I love snuggling up under a blanket. I love watching my husband kiss the top of the baby's head with a level of tenderness I have never seen before. My sweet son has discovered his fingers, and man must they taste good. We've also ventured into the world of solid foods and have a love affair with bananas. (It should be noted that every morning of my pregnancy found me eat...

Today is a special day...but let's be honest, they all are with you in my life.  As I spend my first mother's day as your mother, I can't help but be filled with an overwhelming joy that brings tears to my eyes.  In your almost 8 months on this planet I have learned to love with a capacity I didn't know I had.  All it takes is one look from you:  one grin, one slobbery smirk and I know that all is right in my world. When I count my blessings I count you every second of every day...my son, my love. Happy Mother's Day to me.

Truman is almost 4 months old...4 whole stinkin' months. We've seen Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years come and go already! How is it that I feel like I have blinked my eyes and my child is rolling over, smiling, going to daycare and knocking milestones off the list? Here are a list of things that Truman currently likes: 1. Mommy and Daddy--no one gets smiles like Mom and Dad 2. The pictures that hang above the bed in the master bedroom 3. Skippy --the black and white dog with his contrasting colors is a delight to look at 4. Harry Potter--audio books play at night 5. Monkey pacifier 6. Baby Bjorn 7. Being outside and going for walks ( Thank goodness for a temperate January so far!) 8. Naked baby time! 9. Baths 10. Kicking and stretching I am truly trying to enjoy every moment. I've even started to relish our mid-nite feedings as I know before too long they too will be put on the shelf with the preemie clothes. I know that this list will soon ch...