On Year Down X To Go

Sorry I've waited almost a month to write this post -- no excuse. On the first of February, our son turned the big One. We celebrated with a nice family lunch at our house then a large play party at Gymboree with what was at least 50 people and kids. Our son was a bit under the weather -- a combo of ear infection, cold, bronchitis, or pneumonia, take your pick -- but survived the festivities. He certainly enjoyed the blue icing from his special birthday cupcake, so much so that he stayed up well past his normal bed time to tell us all about it.

It's been an interesting year (now 13 months), to say the least. I'm sure that's not news to anyone with a child, of course. But for me it had so many highs and lows, some of which I was expecting and others (the lows) shook me worse than I ever would have imagined. I knew raising a new child would be "work" and "change your life" since I heard it practically every day prior to the birth, but it's quite obvious AND an understatement at the same time.

I quickly found my son's crying/screaming to be incredibly saddening and grating to my nerves. I desperately want something to be done to calm him as quickly as possible but I lack the patience do be of adequate service. I make it worse for my wife, who was obviously born with patience to spare, because now she has a baby and a husband freaking out. It's taken a while but now when the boy is upset I feel I have a better understanding of his needs. The racket he makes is still hard to bear but now we he is getting better at communicating his needs and I/we are better able to provide for them. My biggest hope/wish is that I will gain more patience as time goes on and be a good role model for my son when he is able to speak, instead of getting too easily frustrated and making my wife deal with him.

For over a month now our son has been trying to walk and getting more able every day. These days he would rather try and walk than crawl, which is fun to watch. He still is in the "Frankenstein" mode of stiffly walking, but he can crouch, pick up something, and get back up without touching the floor with his hands. Watching him turn corners is funny, and though the thought of him fully mobile presents a new slew of concerns, it's this time of his life that I've been waiting for.

Seeing him develop has been the most rewarding part of this year. I was really worried his numerous illnesses, ear infections, etc., would hinder him in some way. But his sight, hearing and all the other main areas are developing well. He does, however, need to get tubes inserted into his ears in a couple weeks to alleviate the constant fluid in his ears, the cause of his about 10 ear infection of the past year. We are confident this common procedure will go well, and the tubes will make him an even happier and healthier boy.