Theatrical Thursdays

So Lauren is in a new room at school now, the "Walkers" room. She's not walking yet, but she's getting close, and she LOVES the new room. Lots of new toys, much more structured activity, and they get to go out to the playground and have water play in the summer. She sits in a little tiny chair at a little tiny table and eats her meals with her classmates (vs. sitting in the little highchair with a tray). She sleeps on a cot (!) for a 2-2.5 hour nap each day. It's crazy! Also, they have themes every day: Musical Monday, Talk to Me Tuesday, Wiggle Wednesday, Theatrical Thursday and Flashcard Friday. I walked in last Thursday and about died when I saw her dressed up (see photos below). Of course she started crying because I ran in but then had to run back out to the car to get my camera. Such is life, kid, Mama's got to get the shot.

Sean and I also love the new room, it's more like Lauren is in "school" now instead of hanging out in a different location. We have loved the other two rooms as well, this is just very different, in a very fun way.

My sweet little Babushka!

Here Lauren attempts to apply pretend lipstick to me; she could tell I was washed out. Grandma Becky would be very proud.

Ada was not as interested in the lipstick application. Fair enough, kid.

The Month of May

The month of May is a pretty big deal at the Power House. I met Sean for the first time in May, and knew instantly that he would change my life. I didn't quite know how, but I knew he would do it. And he did. In the most beautiful way possible. We moved in together in May. The next May we got married. And that same May we bought our first house (my first house ever). The next May we took off. Everyone needs a break on occasion. And then, last May, we had Lauren Rebecca Power. And our lives changed forever, in the best way possible. Last May we learned what it was like to love someone so much that you wake up in the middle of the night panicked that she might not be breathing, and then feel such an overwhelming sense of joy and relief when you figure out that she is. We learned what it was like to not care that we weren't sleeping, because all that mattered was that that little tiny creature in the next room was alive and well, even if she was wide awake and crying. We learned to feel such pride when that little girl rolled over the first time, smiled, laughed, sat up by herself, and got her first teeth. We learned that what life was really about, at least for us, was sharing our love and our life with our baby.

May is also the month for Mother's Day, and the month that my Mom died. This year they happened to fall on the same day, which has happened before. My mom died eight years ago, which is far too long to be without a mother. Every other year I've been very sad on this day, but this year was different. Technically I was a mother last year, but I was six days post-birth, sleep deprived, and not thinking about much except surviving. This year I was able to take a step back and give this anniversary some thought.

Sean will be quick to point out that he was the one pushing for a baby. It's not that I didn't want a baby, I wanted one so badly, but I wanted to make sure that Sean and I had some married time to ourselves first. Because as important as Lauren is to us, it's just as important for Sean and I to love each other, and for Lauren to see that we love each other. Just yesterday I was holding Lauren and gave Sean a kiss, and Lauren flashed the biggest smile, like she appreciated that we liked each other.

But back to having a baby. You see, for those of you who didn't know my mom, all she ever wanted to be was a mom. And her greatest accomplishment in life was being a mother. She worked as we were growing up, had lots of friends and lots of hobbies and interests, but most importantly she was a mom. And a damn good one. I can say without a doubt that I got more out of having Becky Auxter as a mother for 22 years than most people get in a lifetime. Without a doubt. So this May instead of being sad I was thankful for the opportunity to be a mother to one Ms. Lauren Rebecca Power, and for the opportunity to know and love my mom in an entirely different way, because although I always knew that she loved me more than any other human was capable of loving, now that I'm a mom myself I can see it in an entirely different light.

Thank you, Mom, for teaching me by example how to be the best possible mom I can be. While I would rather have you here, sharing this with me in person, this May I figured out that what is really important is that you provided me all of the skills I need to do this right, before I ever even knew that I needed them. Mom, you are missed, and you are loved. And although Lauren will never meet you, she will know you and love you, too. Through Lauren I get to know you all over again, and for that I am so thankful.

Swim Lessons

We recently finished up Lauren's first round of swimming lessons. She did so great. She was cautious about the water at first (she's a cautious baby, after all), but was an absolute natural. She has the most natural kick I've ever seen (and remember I used to teach swimming lessons for a living, folks). She like to stick her face in, and although she just swallowed water instead of blowing bubbles, we'll get there. She also tolerated going under. She wasn't giddy crazy about any of it, but she didn't ever cry, which was good. We're going to call Round 1 of swimming lessons a success.

Lauren is One!

We had Lauren's First Birthday Party on Sunday, May 2nd. Aunt Arie, Great Grandma Erma, Grandpa Auxter, Terry, Aunt Ragan, Grandma and Grandpa Power, Aunt Shannon and Lauren's cousin Holly were all in attendance. It was a whirlwind getting ready for it, but totally worth it and we all had such a great time. The weather was GORGEOUS. Here's to May birthdays.

Lauren eats outside with Dad under her Happy Birthday banner.

Everyone digs in: crudites, salad, Happy Gillis soup, pasta salad and curried chicken, egg salad and turkey sandwiches.

Aunt Arie and Great Grandma Erma take in some food on the back deck.

The group cake; Lauren had her own. This was my first foray into baking cakes and making frosting from scratch.

The cake progression. She is curious, excited, and frightened all at once.

Please notice that half of the cake is gone in the photo above.

The inside of the cake, in Lauren's nursery colors.

A very happy Mom after a piece of cake and several mimosas.

All of the excitement wore Lauren out, so she took a nap break with Grandma Power before opening presents.

This was the first time Lauren was really pumped about opening presents.

Golf clubs from Grandpa Auxter? Shocking.

Lauren and Terry take in a mellow moment after all of the festivities.

Sean and I still can't believe that Lauren is a year old. I know everyone says it, but it's so true, the first year flies by. As will the rest of the years, I'm sure. Lauren was an absolute doll at her party, especially considering the fact that we partied right through her normal nap time. It was great to have everyone around celebrating this huge first milestone. The older Lauren gets, the more of a "real" person she becomes, and we are having so much fun getting to know her and introducing her to the world. We had high expectations for parenthood, and it is so much better than we ever thought it could be.

We love you, Lauren Rebecca Power. And we always will. You are the most special gift, and we are so lucky that we get to show you this big crazy world. You are everything we thought you would be, and so so much more.