Flying by...

I received my first terrifically ugly mother's day gift the Friday before my first Mother's Day. I can't decide what is worse, the gold paint or glitter letters. I thanked Jackson, but told him he really needed to step it up a notch or two next year.

Also, the Friday morning before Mother's Day I realized that in my fantasy driven desire for the Perfect Mother's Day, I forgot to send cards to my own mother and mother-in-law. So...there's that.

Robbie and Jackson let me sleep in Mother's Day morning, surprised me with coffee, Dunkin' Donuts, a card and bud vase. It was very sweet and honestly, one of the best days. When Jackson went down for his morning nap Robbie helped me work on whipping my art room back in shape. We organized and cleaned and rearranged. It was a chore I needed to do and had been putting off. Robbie was a big help. Thanks Robot for a wonderful first Mother's Day. The bar has been set. Next year you need to help Jackson with his arts and crafts project.

Our Stay-cation was nice and consisted of hanging around the house, hanging out with my Mom and Jackson and still getting up at 6:00 am. Next year, we're leaving the kid and getting the heck out of Dodge. I'm just sayin'.

My job is a hodge-podge of activity which, honestly, is just the way I like it. I rarely have a week that duplicates the last and with this diversity comes additional responsibilities. Overall I enjoy going to work everyday and look forward to my trip to Washington D.C. in June.

So with the American Academy of Pediatrics changing their stance on when to introduce those "forbidden foods," I present to you this adorable picture of my son enjoying his first PB&J.

In only 15 very short days my baby will be celebrating his first birthday. I am dumbfounded. Honestly. When I was a kid summer vacation felt like forever. Going back to school in the fall was brand new all over again - people had aged, things had happened, life was different. Now I realize summer vacation was no time at all. A mere 2 1/2 months...if that. A year, however, was different... a full 360 of the calendar meant things could really change. People could age, things could definitely happen, life could most certainly be different in a whole year.

So, now, I know just how much. Watch an infant grow in a year and you're watching a flower bloom in 5 minutes, witnessing each flap of a humming bird's wings, Summer turn to Fall turn to Winter turn to Spring all in the blink of an eye. It's hard to believe, but my future is here staring me in the face, smiling, laughing, playing with toys and engaging in life as he knows it.

I tried to cherish each moment, I really did. I forgot about the dishes long enough to savor the kid. I chose not to answer the phone because I was certain he would roll over at any moment. I rushed to his crib first thing in the morning to capture that good morning smile. I promise, I slowed myself in ways I didn't think I could so I wouldn't miss any of it....I promise I did!

And what I've discovered is this: no matter how much you're paying attention, it still goes so fast.