Today is the first snow of the year here in Boise, and I'm convinced that it's confetti from the heavens for my little boy's first birthday. It's crazy to think that a year ago I popped out an 11 pound dough baby that has become the person I know now as my son Porter. It was surprising to me that it took a couple of weeks to develop a real relationship with the tiny person he was, but everyday my heart swells a little bit more with love for him.
The last year has been the happiest, most tiring, proud, worrisome, exciting, emotional, at times frustrating, fastest and most wonderful time of my life. Even a few months ago this day seemed really really far away. Next thing he'll be going to college! Okay, maybe he'll start walking first, but in hind sight it goes so fast.
He's getting to a really fun age of exploring and experimenting with the world around him and I couldn't be happier to share the future with anyone else. I truly believe that we were given the perfect baby for us and that we were destined to be a family together. I've never wanted something to continue growing and changing, but to also stay the same, as I feel about my baby. If the rest of our years together are as special as this last one then I'm surly the luckiest mom. Happy 1st birthday to my favorite baby in the whole wide world!
Resolutions seem destined to fail, or more appropriate for politics. So this year I've decided to do challenges instead. I've been reading The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin and she set up different goals for herself on a monthly basis. I really like that idea. I figure that I can do anything for a month, and that's long enough to see if it's something that I want to implement in my life full time.
For January I decided to not purchase anything other than necessities. Not only did we spend a whooping amount on our new backyard, the furnace and the holidays, but I refuse to believe that I need more stuff simply because I have a bit of an Amazon/Zappos addiction (Amazon Prime makes it almost too easy!) Plus, we're coming off the holidays where we received many thoughtful gifts, for which I'm still trying to find homes.
This means no thoughtless purchases for myself or Porter. Not even for bitty things like sponges or specialty soaps. I do plan on purchasing balloons for Porter's first birthday party, and have to admit that I did buy a calendar. It was a thoughtless purchase, which is why a challenge like this seems important. Making thoughtless acquisitions leads to clutter and wasted money. I've become a master at thoughtless buying and I'm starting to feel like a consumer sheep, being bamboozled by shiny new trinkets.
For Porter's birthday, since it falls a couple weeks after Christmas, I've also decided that rather than gifts he should get experiences. He may not like this in the future, but until he can tell me otherwise, that's how I'm going to play it. This year he's getting a Zoo Boise membership (okay I'm getting it, but he's free with an adult.)
I'm excited about this challenge and curious to see what our bank account will look like after the month is over. It's also exciting to not be contributing overtly to the "consumer culture" that I believe has gotten out of control over the last couple decades. Even though many folks are shouting BUY BUY BUY, and saying that it will save the economy, it just doesn't seem like that's the only way to make change. The Center For A New American Dream website is interesting and has some good ideas on the subject. While they've associated with the whole Occupy Movement, I believe their ideas are greater and bigger than just the 99%. Their video about a Plentitude Economy is very intriguing to me, here it is so you can be in the loop too. What do you think?
Did you make any resolutions for the new year? What do you do to save money or cut back on stuff? I'll let you know how this challenge turns out at the end of the month, and by then I'll have February's challenge ready to go. It's belated now, but
Happy 2012!
His favorite place to play is next to front door. It's seriously freezing there, but whatever.
Guaranteed best pictures...the moment he realizes he has a bowl full of raspberries.
He was thrilled to stick them in his mouth 2-3 at time. Good thing they're mushy.
Mmmmmm.
Despite the cool winter weather, mittens are no good. His newest use for teeth is pulling the mittens off as quickly as possible.
One mitten.
Two mittens!
So excited to be walking next to mom, not in front of her in the stroller.
Here are videos from the last month. It's hard to believe that next week my sweet baby will be a year old, how time flies! I'm more and more thankful for photos and videos so we can always remember these sweet times.
Thanks to my parent's neighbors Mara and Joe for letting us use this neat car for our walk in Capitola.
Drum circle with Porter, Luke and Steve.
A visit with our friend Hattie.
New Year's Day
If you listen carefully you can hear him say "raspberry" right at the end.
Thanks to Grandpa Craig and Gramma Mikie for the awesome wagon, Porter loves, LOVES, walking down the sidewalk.
And some more.
I think letting him stand may end up biting me in the a$$. I mean really, just look at his face.
On nights that Luke gives him a bath they do this pull up routine. Porter pushes off Luke's chest and does the pull ups himself while Luke supports him. With all the calisthenics he's being doing lately, it's no wonder he's eating me out of house and home!
2011 was Porter's first holiday season. He was supposed to have been born right around the holidays last year, but as we all know he came a few weeks late. I think it was better this way, the pictures of baby's first Christmas are so much cuter with his smiles.
We spent actual Christmas with Luke's family and had a lovely visit with Porter's Grandma Teri, Papa Bob, and his Aunties Katie and Anna. There were also plenty of doggies to keep us company and the stomach flu, which tore through the household during our entire visit. It was Porter's gift to us all, so tender. We didn't let that get us down, and had wonderful food, great weather and lots of love.
Out for an early morning walk with Aunt Katie.
I thought it was crazy for Luke to go on the 3 mile walk the morning
after having the stomach flu, and yes it was...crazy. Porter was a big
help too, only wanting to be carried. That boy loves his dada!
It wouldn't be a complete visit with Granny Alton if Porter didn't
learn how to play the Champagne Game!
On the day after Christmas Porter, Luke, Aunt Katie and I drove down to Capitola for 2nd Christmas with my family. The drive took 5 hours (usually a 3.5 hour drive), but it was well worth it to get to spend a few glorious days in Capitola with Gramma Mikie, Grandpa Craig and Uncles Steve and Kumar. I got a new camera for 2nd Christmas, which is why most of the pictures are from the second half of the trip. Here we go!
At the Boise Airport playing in the kids play area with a new friend.
Porter is 11 months and his friend, also a boy, is 10 months.
Bougainvillea growing up the side of my parents house on a foggy morning.
My parents have a large collection of percussive instruments that Porter LOVES to play with.
Porter's latest facial expression.
Gettin' down with his bad self.
A duet with Uncle Steve.
My parent's Christmas tree, beautiful as ever, and more instruments.
Uncle Steve really does know how to play the piano.
Climbing stairs, a new passion.
Steve and Kumar in the holiday spirit.
A leisurely drive along the cliff.
It's no visit to Santa Cruz without a drum circle.
We popped over the hill to visit my childhood friend Brynn and her family.
Look closely. Can you find the dad's with babies?
Porter and Hattie
After mastering the 3 stairs into the kitchen, it was time for the real thing.
A view from the summit.
My Sunset Magazine inspired post Christmas breakfast.
Soft boiled eggs, grapes, Mexican hot chocolate and Cardamom Apricot Coffee Cake.
A triumph!
How many Wilson's does it take to make a coffee cake?
3. Me, my dad and Steve.
Mexican hot chocolate. This will become a regular in my house.
Porter got his first ice cream cone. Oh goody! He wouldn't let me take it away from him,
and then the rest of the evening ensued.
Sleep? No thanks.
The Porter family was a big influence in the Santa Cruz area, including various places in Capitola.
Upon our return to Boise we took a New Year's Eve walk in the foothills with Auntie Anna.
