Use Your Words

I've heard myself saying that to Haydon a few times this week.  

We're on the cusp of language.

Before we get there, there is this frustrating time, as his little personality, his STRONG will develops, and he wants..
.but he can't tell me what, or how, or when.  

Frustrating for him, frustrating for me.

And I hear myself say

"Use your words!"

I fee like I, too, am in a place of needing to use words, but not yet having them.

I have come across some incredibly beautiful writing lately. 

Writing that stirs me.  

Word-craft that reminds me just how beautiful carefully placed letters can be.

And I am reminded that I, too, can craft words.

And that this craft makes me feel alive.

And that, maybe, I should be spending more time making my words live.

The problem is - the process of bringing forth life - well, they call that labour.

And - writing - well, it's labourious.

And I'm not so sure this full-time workin', not-much sleepin' mama is ready to use my words.

Maybe not even yet able to use my words.

But, like my son,

 his screwed- up reddened face, wailing in frustration

I think I have things to say.

(for some more thoughts on words, and some stunningly beautiful writing, I'd encourage you to visit

Ann Voskamp's blog 

-  a place I have been truly blessed to discover this week!) 

12 Days of Haydon - May

May.

Mother's Day is in May!

And Haydon's first food was in May.

And I'm sure other good things happened in May but I haven't had the time to mine through my past blog posts and face book stati.

This sling was my mother's day gift.  We like it.
He puked ALL over me seconds after this...

Have I mentioned we like our slings?  This was at church one Sunday.  Mmm.  So cozy.

Victoria Day weekend camping trip with the youth group.  My favourite summer hat.

And, I leave you with a video of Haydon's first solid food...

To quote St. James as we looked over these things...
"I like him.  He's pretty great."

'Tis true.

12 Days of Haydon - month the 5th

April.  

I didn't take many pictures.

Luckly, our talented friend Jeremy Curry did.

(look for more great work from Jeremy later this month...)

These were from Haydon's dedication, April 11, 2010.

our fam at the church

Haydon, with his Uncle Andrew, Nana Smith, and Great-Papa Smith

Ugh, have I mentioned how talented Jeremy Curry is?  Seriously...

I <3 my family.

12 Days of Haydon - March

Ugh, March already?  This whole first year thing goes quick!

March was good.  I started to get into a groove I think.

Also - less pictures for some reason.  Maybe I was busy trying to do things rather than just snap pictures of the boy?  Not sure.

 Toys started to become interesting

My favourite hat and sweater.

Grabbed food off my plate for the first time!

love.this.so.much!

12 Days of Haydon, month 3

February.

This was my FAVOURITE! outfit. 

Hel-LO, gorgeous!

You'd think these people liked him or something...

Is there anything better than snuggling with a sleeping baby?

12 Days of Haydon - January

January.

One of the January highlights was a party held by a group of dear friends that I grew up among.

Ahh, January.  

A review of my facebook statuses (stati?) from January reveals a lot of trying to figure out how to be a mom, and being exhausted, and being overwhelmed with wanting my house to be clean and my baby to sleep.

Oh, and I wanted to be able to walk and stand comfortably and I wanted nursing not to hurt.

But, that's me.  

My son...

...he was busy being adorable.

12 Days of Haydon

My boy will be a year old in twelve days, can you believe it?

I've gotten pretty sappy sentimental as I think about the fact that my son is growing up and becoming independent and all that jazz.  Picking up his sippy cup on his own.  Taking steps.  Freaking out when I take away things he shouldn't play with.  A real live little personality developing in there.

So, I decided I'll do a little reminiscing.  In the twelve days counting down to his birthday, I'll do a photo walk down memory lane of each month of his life.

So.  Here's December 2009.

 You can read more about his horrible delivery blessed arrival here if you like

The first photo ever taken of my boy.  Under 10 minutes old. Nice nose, eh?

First hour in the hospital.

Getting to know you, getting to know all about you...

In December...

We came home.

We did a lot of Christmas visitting (which was absolutely exhausting.  Next time I give birth, it had better be at least a month before a major holiday.  I was so tired and sore).

We participated in a Christmas Eve service in which my beautiful boy got to play the part of Jesus - and there were lots of misty eyes, I tell you (I really wish I had a digital copy of the picture!).

We went for our first family shopping trip.

We were surrounded by lots of helpful family and friends.

Sleep was as to be expected with a new baby.

Nursing sucked.

Come back tomorrow to see about January!