Almost 1

Liam just woke up here and his hair is all punked out

I have been keeping busy chasing Liam around. Liam knows how to open the screen door and likes to escape outside onto the grass where he chases birds and pulls up grass. He will turn 1 year old this week and I am almost sad to have his birthday come. I just want him to stay little, cute, and cuddly forever. This past week I have been reflecting upon how much I love being a mother and how my life has changed in the past year. It's amazing how much our focus changes with the addition of a child and what indescribable joys come from seeing your children happy.
Like most life changing events, being a new parent isn't anything you can accurately predict until you are actually there doing it. You cannot imagine how much you are going to love the new addition and you cannot forsee how much your life will change. I remember thinking that my life would pretty much be the same but I would be lovin' on a baby where ever I went. Instead it's like I am in full "mom mode" and occasionaly I get glimpses of my more independent but less fullfilling past. Being a parent is such a balancing act filled with multitasking, compromising, and sharing while trying to mesh new roles with old ones. We will post Liams birthday celebration pictures later this week.

I am enjoying getting paid to workout. I am teaching a weekly running class, as well as 'bootcamp', cycling, and an older adults class. I work only a few hours a day but I love that I can bring Liam, and just look over and see him whenever I'm curious and know how he's doing. Several times a week the DeWitt Library does story time with the kids at the YMCA and he loves that. He is everyones favorite there all the ladies and kids love him, and I can't blame them. He gets along with everybody and loves to laugh.