➑ 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗛𝗦!

⫸ 𝕋𝕠𝕡 𝕋𝕖𝕟 𝕋𝕚𝕕𝕓𝕚𝕥𝕤 ⫷

➙ 17 pounds 5 ounces

➙ 27.5 inches long

➙ only sits still for Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

➙ rather nibble on own feet vs. dinner 

➙ “Mr. Crazy Squawky Pants”

➙ hits fists on mouth to make funny sounds

➙ huge fan of peanut butter 

➙ loves when Mama sings ‘Open-Shut Them’

➙ highly offended if binky is offered  

➙ obsessed with banana puffs

⫸ 𝕄𝕒𝕞𝕒’𝕤 𝕄𝕠𝕤𝕥 𝕄𝕒𝕣𝕧𝕖𝕝𝕠𝕦𝕤 𝕄𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥 ⫷

After a little wrestling, I clipped you in the “big-boy seat” of our stroller. You do not like the idea of being confined, yet Mama has a way of convincing you to relax and enjoy the ride… all your frustrations quickly dissipated after tucking a blanket around your sides, popping a banana puff in your mouth, and placing the bumpy dino-teether within your grip. It’s always a good sign when the bottom of your heels begin to clink together with excitement… 

…and away we went! 

It was the first nice weather day of the year; your big sis was in school, and Daddy was sleeping from night shift. You, my little 8-month baby, have the ability to make as much noise as a whole football stadium of fans in an overtime game. We call them “squawks”, but honestly, they’re more like long drawn-out bellows that also have the ability to reach decibels I didn’t even know existed. Sometimes I’ll catch myself instinctively trying to coax you into softening your tone; I press my nose against your drooly cheek and whisper sweet gentle sounds into your ear, but you, Arthur, are definitely not one to be easily persuaded. You whip your head around, look me directly in the eyes as if I’ve insulted you and then let out the biggest: “AHHH-GAHHHH!”. Needless to say, being outside after a long dark winter felt absolutely ‘freeing’, for us both. Your voice didn’t have to bounce off our walls any longer, but instead it beautifully echoed within the trees. 

The birds were matching your volume. The wind still carrying winter’s chill. The hot sun landed it’s rays on the top of my head like a warm hug. As we continued walking down the bike path, I closed my eyes and deeply inhaled some of that heavenly atmosphere. Just then, a few tears began to leak out of the corners of my eyes; it was as if I was already internally overflowing, and that fresh breath of air actually expelled what needed to come out. There’s something about nature that makes me feel so close to your brother, Theodore. Maybe it’s existing around everything that’s completely untouched by man? Maybe it’s not being contained by four walls and having the ability to fully interact with the unknown? …or maybe it’s the opportunity to simply connect with our “inner-child”; becoming ‘loud’ with our feelings, and having no fear of judgement from the birds and the bugs…  yep… “AHHHHHHH!” – this time, it was me who belted it out, straight up to the heavens with no barriers in-between… you paused, and looked up at your goofy Mama with a huge smile of approval. I love you, Arthur. 

Alexandria

… join me by #FallingRightSideUp 

when life gets turned upside down