Turning my face up

I always feel guilty these days about not blogging more. I was such a faithful blogger in the beginning--why was that?--oh yeah, I didn't have a baby when I first started this blog. But I don't feel too bad because I keep a paper journal that I write in pretty regularly, so my life and Will's babyhood are being documented. I was reading through it today and found this nice passage about Will and me at the park, dated January 16.

It is 5:30 on a Wednesday and the apartment is quiet. John is still at Pepperdine. Will is sleeping late. Just a few minutes ago I went into his room and put my hand on his back and felt him breathe. I want to remember that. I just stood next to his crib and looked at his little peaceful face and felt him breathe, and I loved him.

He likes to slide backwards down the slides at the park, feet first, on his stomach. It makes him shriek with laughter. He likes to find and pick up and chew on sticks, only I won't let him chew them. I say, "We don't eat sticks," and I say, "Bleck!" which he thinks is very funny. Today there was an abandoned ball at the park, faded blue and dirty, and Will loved it at first sight and held it and chased it when the wind blew it across the grass. Today was the first day it was windy at the park. On the swing Will turned his face up to the sun and smiled.

That was a good day, which was good to remember, because today Will was cranky most of the day. I don't know if he is teething. It's been months since he got any new teeth. Or I suppose it could be that I am switching him over to cow's milk from formula, and that could be making his tummy hurt or something. I don't know. I just know that after hours of him fussing and clinging on to me, on a long day when it's raining outside and we don't leave the house, it's good to think back on sunny days in the park, when we could turn our faces up to the sun.

Learning to point

February has been one crazy month so far. My mom and Jack were here for Will's birthday, and it was so nice to have help with Will all the time. Mom wanted to practice up for when she comes in April (when John and I are going to ITALY!) so she insisted on doing everything as often as she could. I don't think I gave Will a bath for over a week. We had lovely days at the park and shopping for Will's big day.

Will's birthday was pretty mellow, but fun. My mom made this wonderful little bear cake, which is just like the cakes she made for my brother and me when we were one (except mine was a panda and Jeff's was Pooh, but the bear was made from the same cake mold), which was so special, I thought. We also made a separate little cake for Will to smash, which he did with gusto. He didn't actually eat much. The cake was too sweet for him, really, but he did love all the toys and the attention. I got him a little mylar balloon that has been more entertainment this past week than all of his toys combined.

And then, of course there was Valentine's Day. John gave me a beautiful azalea in the morning and later I took Will out to take V-day pictures on the step. (Note: Azaleas are poisonous, so generally not a good idea to mix with babies.) Then we made a hand-made Valentine for Daddy when he came home. All in all, it was very fun.

Will is learning so much. He has just mastered the point, which is so funny. He says UTTTT, meaning UP when he wants to be picked up. I try to take him outside every day, and he is so aware of everything now, of the other kids at the park, of sticks and leaves and acorns and mud and airplanes flying over. He's a cautious little guy, though. He always watches carefully before he does anything. He's definitely a look-before-you-leap kind of kid.