Some pics

I am currently sitting in the backseat of our car as we drive through the fields of Iowa on our way to Minnesota for a week with Matt's family and to celebrate his sister's wedding! (Ok, we are not literally driving through the fields, I believe we are actually on I-35 at this point) While I've got time to update the blog that I've neglected this week, I figured I'd upload some photos from my phone. Nothing too crazy exciting by way of new pictures here (especially if you're my friend on instagram), but it was a fun week!

We welcomed the birth of Benjamin's newest friend Adele (daughter of Bri and Howie), enjoyed time catching up with friends at various coffee shops, wine bars, backyards, and restaurants, ran lots of errands, and I even got to sub two days for my old students, which was awesome since it was their last week of school. One student gave me a ticket to attend their 8th grade continuation because she actually talked about me in her speech!! It was SO sweet (of course I teared up during it), and it just reminded me how much I enjoyed working with those kiddos. We also got to see Matt play once again with Travis Kaker (this time at the Rooster & Moon coffeehouse/pub) and actually got our very first babysitter for the occasion so Benjamin could go to bed at his regular time and we could stay up a little later with friends. It came in handy to be a teacher as I had my pick of many great students who offered their services and of course chose the most responsible one :) Both she and Benjamin did great! And when we took him to the nursery at church the next day (another first), he did great and smiled through most of it!! Our little rascal :) Oh, and I chopped a ton of hair off and cut real bangs! I hadn't been to the salon in TEN months, so it felt ah-mazing.

And now we are in the middle of a long road trip... with a baby who doesn't love being in his carseat on a regular errand run let alone a 14 hour drive! Pics and stories to come later....

For now, here is my random phone dump of pictures from this week (in no particular order because the mobile blogger doesn't seem to think that is an important feature) :)

Happy Memorial Day!

First Baseball Game!

Sunday was Benjamin's first outing to a baseball game, and no, it unfortunately was not to a beloved Twins game as I'm sure Matt had dreamed :) This year, though, the Twins aren't what you'd call "good", so it probably hurt a little less.

The day was perfect for taking in a game at beautiful Coors Field, and we got to sit with great friends to make up for what I consider to be some of the more boring aspects of the game (like, most innings) ;) We threw Benjamin in the Baby Bjorn, jumped on the lightrail, and walked from the beautiful new Union Station plaza, and it all turned out pretty well despite Benjamin being pretty tired most of the game. Not excited about our long walk back to the lightrail after the game, we picked up a pedicab and made it back in 1/20th the time we would have on foot :) Thank you pedicab!  Overall, a successful first baseball outing!

first time on the lightrail!

Walking on Purpose

(**hope this works, I'm trying a mobile post for the first time!)

Last week we saw lots of hot, sunny days, but of course the day planned for this year's Great Strides walk for cystic fibrosis decided to be quite the opposite. But wind, rain, and chilly temps couldn't keep us away! We were happy to take part in the event to raise money for such an important cause. And we were grateful to have a few friends brave the weather and join us! Pics from the day (in no particular order) are below.

After learning during my pregnancy that Matt and I are both cystic fibrosis gene carriers, we automatically got thrown into a world we didn't know anything about. We only had a limited time to learn what we could about this world before the baby came and we'd know one way or the other about his prognosis, and we have been extremely grateful since finding out that Benjamin does not have the disease. But the reality of the situation still lives with whenever we think about the possibility of another child or simply remember the tens of thousands of people already suffering with CF. And though they are making great strides (pun intended) in treatments, there is still so much to be done. It is amazing that children with CF now live through and well past elementary school. And it is even more amazing that some adults with CF will be able to live into their 60s! This would have been absurd news even ten years ago. And since so many discoveries and advancements have already taken place, I know there are even bigger things ahead. (A CF doctor I met at our recent NC wedding festivities gave me so much hope as she talked about how many things are happening in the CF world - the next 10 years will be unbelievable!) We don't know what this means for our own family just yet, but I hope it means only absolutely amazing things for many many families out there. For now, we were honored to be a small part of the effort. And thank you to those of you that helped - I more than doubled my goal!

Mother's Day & Thoughts on Motherhood

Sunday was my first mother's day as a mother, and it was a fabulous day.  I was spoiled with a delicious brunch made by my husband from scratch while I got to hang out in bed (with Lincoln) while Benjamin napped in his room.  It was a sweet day getting love from my wonderful husband and my fabulous son.

And in light of the day celebrating motherhood, as well as the controversial Time Magazine cover photo that stirred so much debate this week, I wanted to share a few of my thoughts on this new job of mine (shocking!).

I love being a mom.  And it is no lie when mother's say that it is the hardest job one could ever have.  To try and care for, love, and meet the needs of another human being at all times requires a lot of hard work, sacrifice, patience, forgiveness, love, and grace (for all parties). Oh, and sometimes tears. As much grief as I've given my own mother over the years, taking care of my own baby has made me so appreciative of how much she did to love and care for me when I was so tiny and helpless myself.  (I mean, I happen to think I turned out pretty darn well.)  And we moms just try to do the best with what we have.  In the end, I have come to believe that this is all that really matters - did my son know how loved he was and that I was willing to do anything for him?  I sure hope he'll always know that!  And during times like we've had the past week at the Larson home when Benjamin has had some more tummy problems which have resulted in lots of tears and sleepless nights (again, for all parties), I hope he knows somewhere in that little heart of his that I stayed up every night with him trying to help him feel better, rocking him to sleep, shushing his cries, loving him as best I could in a sleep-deprived and frustrated state, and praying for his health and happiness all the while.  I don't think he'll remember much about what toys he played with or what clothes he was wearing, but I do think he'll remember and learn from how much love we surrounded him with.  Like I said in a previous post, this is something I need to regularly remind myself.

With regards to the Time Magazine article that brought to light some of the attachment parenting theory topics often discussed in mom circles and blogs, I can't help but put in my own two cents.  Do we carry our baby around in a sling everywhere?  Nope.  Frankly, Benjamin never really loved the popular Moby wrap, and he's just as content hanging out with his toys as he is cruising around in the Baby Bjorn with us.  Do we co-sleep with our baby? Well, our pediatrician recommends against it due to safety concerns, so only when my boy is feeling rough and needing lots of extra attention will I take snoozes with him on the couch.  Will we breastfeed till our baby is four?  Well, of course this part is obvious.  Since I wasn't able to breastfeed (something that still haunts me to this day), of course we won't.  (Nevermind that we are now on our fourth "special" formula to try and control the milk allergy that has been giving Benjamin so much trouble.)  And do I think my ways are best for all babies?  Of course not.  But do I think they are best for Benjamin?  You bet.  I don't think someone else could ever tell me that the love and care we give (or how we give it) to Benjamin won't help him grow into a standup young man who is kind, thoughtful, smart, and loving.  I am pretty confident it will.  And I know that he is already becoming that young man in small ways every day.  The joy that emanates from his face and the love he has for being around others are just two tiny pieces of evidence that whatever we're doing is working so far for us and for Benjamin. So fellow mothers out there, I hope we can all appreciate and love one another for the ways - as different as they may be - that we raise our children.  There is no one right way.  Sure, there are lots of wrong ways, but sometimes I suppose we need to learn those things too.  And in the meantime, as long as we are loving our children as we help them grow and develop into amazing young men and women who are in turn generous, loving, and gracious towards their fellow humankind, then we're doing a great job.  

This, of course, is no small task.

***

Some photos from my Mother's Day:

 

some couch time with my boys

And some sweet words and laughs with my boy: