Gualby Nation

I did not have a "real" camera until Conor bought me one for my 24th birthday. I used film. And not in a cool sense of "I'm a photog. and I use film to allow for the best natural light for truly organic life moments captured." I used the orange and yellow Kodak disposable cameras. On big weekends I would buy the fun saver pack with two in them. Then I eagerly awaited the photo results after dropping them off at Walgreens, hoping most of them turned out. And because I am an awesome friend, I always paid for doubles so I could share. The world of digital photography was something I didn't even want to be a part of. The cameras were expensive and I break shit plus I liked pictures I could hold in my hands; and place them on college cork boards and refrigerators. Who needs all this advanced technology with tons of buttons and zooms and options just to take a picture? I feel the same about all the advancements in cell phones. I am the last generation that formed friendships without the use of a cell phone. I didn't get a cell phone until I was a sophomore in college. When I met Conor he called my Zack Morris-esque cell phone from the pay phone at theWinn Dixie down the road from his house. And we managed to get married. All of my best girlfriends I met before I owned a cell phone. Perhaps needing to see someone face to face to talk and planning a time to meet up and having to keep it because you can't send a generic text to cancel means, mentally, we were in a place to form longer lasting relationships. There was a higher degree of accountability and reliability, a seemingly greater amount of commitment given to trying to form a relationship. Or perhaps, I don't know what the F I am talking about and I am just jealous of the people that can check their email, bank accounts, and facebook while getting directions and syncing their ipod/pad/book/droid/fairy dust sprinkling device with their bluetooth magicalness in their icey cold air conditioned car. My point is that I don't totally embrace all advancements in technology. I liked the days of when you were out, you were out with the people you met, no checking your texts to see if someone better is trying to hang out with you. The days of when you committed to the friends that called your home phone first or to the boy that had the cojones to ask you on a date face to face, not text you to see what you were doing later. However, I am embracing the hell out of taking, sharing, and uploading digital photos. I am in love with the ability of taking 8,000 pictures of the same thing because I know one of them will turn out. I'll have at least one keeper in a sea of blurry Elwood's. I can't find any downsides to having as many photos and videos of this little man as I can possible take. And I can easily post these photos and videos on this blog or send them via email to friends. I can't, however, scan them through my bluetooth to my Ifire tablet and text them to anyone, while I simultaneously get a news feed of kim kardashian's baby weight gain. . . and I think I'm okay with that.

If I was only using the fun saver,
this would be my photo. . .

Instead of this cuteness

"Here, Pen. I don't mind sharing my stick,"

"Seriously, go ahead, take it."

"Ooh, gotcha. Still got it. Sucker."

"So, Pen, is this the right bite technique?"

This guy does squats all day long

"Um, hello, Dad get off the phone and come get me please."

A few more photos for the future
wedding day slide show

Woody got a beach cart for his birthday

Fishing Buddies

Birthday beach cart doubles as a cozy napping nest

This past year has been the most beautiful year of my life. Elwood, having you has brought an immeasurable amount of joy and love to my everyday life. Life truly has more meaning, beauty, innocence, wonder, forgiveness, love, and happiness in it. I am a better person, mother, wife, sister, daughter, friend because of your love.

What you are like at 1 year old:

Woody, you are truly a joy of life. You are happy almost every moment of the day. We walk the dogs together every morning and people passing by us say, "Oh there is that smiley boy again!" or "Does he ever stop smiling?" People yell down to us from their balcony, "That is the happiest little kid I have ever seen!" You have this light about you, people are happier when you are near them. Especially the people that love you. Conor and I love you more than we ever thought possible. We are so proud of the little person you are becoming. You are curious,adventuresome, and brave. You climb up, on and over absolutely everything. You love being outside. If you are ever upset all we have to do is take you outside and find a leaf or flower to look at and the tears stop and that million watt smile spreads across your handsome face. You love your Dad. You talk about him all day long while he is at work and you absolutely light up when he walks in the door. You jump out of my arms into his to give a chuckle and a snuggle. You love music. We listen to it most of the day and when you hear a song you like you stop, listen for a second as if to feel the rhythm, give a huge grin, and then start bobbing your head to the beat. I think your favorite genre is bluegrass. We have dance parties and you squeal and flap your arms around as you spin yourself in circles. I don't know who loves our dance parties more, me or you. You absolutely love when Conor plays the guitar. You get up real close with this great big smile, dance around, make some happy sounds, and pump your feet back and forth real fast into your "happy feet dance." You are affectionate. You crawl into our laps to say hi and give a cuddle. You bring us books and then place yourself in our laps to snuggle in for a good read. You love being read to, we can read 7 or 8 books in a row. You give hugs and kisses, big open mouth kisses. . . you even give them to the dogs. You like to hold hands. You love to wrestle on the bed. Your face lights up as you smush yourself into the covers trying to get to me and Conor. You still look like a mini version of Conor, and although people seem to feel the need to apologize to me when they say that as if I would be offended that you don't look like me, I LOVE that you look just like your Dad. You are both handsome as hell. And now that your personality is showing through more each day, more of me is showing up! You are social. You love love love story time at the library. You get a huge grin of your face when you figure out where we are and then you "make your rounds" as the other Mom's call it. You go around and gently say hello to all your friends; with a pat on the belly, a touch to the arm, or you just give a huge, loving smile. You love the water: bath time, beach time, pools, buckets, the hose, the dog water bowl, toilets (unfortunately), anything and everything that can get you wet. Our little Pisces. You love animals, especially our dogs and birds flying in the sky. You are always on the look out for birds and airplanes, you are usually searching the sky for the plane before I can even hear it. You are an enthusiastic waver. Your waves started as gentle little wrist twirls, very much like a Queen in a royal parade. Your waves now are full arm up and downs with an excited, grinning face to match. You are happy and playful but you have your quiet moments through out the day. We catch you with this pensive expression, intently looking at things, quietly thinking and observing the world around you. You are not the best at riding in the car, as long as I have toys and snacks you do ok, but just barely. You are starting to run and it is freakin adorable. You started trying a few weeks ago but it was basically a few very excited, rapid steps and then a fall looking as if you were trying to slide into home base. You are much more stable now that you are 1 and we run around the yard laughing with delight at each other. You say all sorts of sounds but I can't say for definite what your first word is. You say dada (all day), muma, nuna, yaya, pa, ba, T, and th sounds. You definitely know who "Dada" is and he has gotten a few excited "Da!'s" but we are not sure if they are intentional or coincidence. Conor and I both think we have heard you say bird. You say it with a New York accent, "Baaahd." and it is definitely when you get excited and see a bird but it has only happened a few times so we are not sure that is exactly what you are saying. So, for now, undecided first word. Your hair keeps getting more blond by the day, your eyes are a dark blue with green/hazel around the pupils. You are a pretty good eater with blueberries the clear front runner as your favorite food with grapes, cheese, and spaghetti and meatballs following closely behind. You have four top teeth and two bottom teeth. The Publix scales tells us you are about 22 pounds, and although you have a little bit of a Buddha belly you are still quite buff looking for a baby. Perhaps you are doing sit ups and push ups in your crib and that is what is keeping you up at night. Oh, Woody, you are still not a very good sleeper. You are trying and I am trying and it is getting better. . . slowly. Here's the thing, the two things that make you a tough baby to put to sleep you get from me. So, really I have no one to blame for your poor sleeping habits than myself. You like to be part of the party. You would rather fall asleep in the sling while still being a part of the party than go to bed. (I have fallen asleep on countless bar stools and couches instead of just putting my tired ass to bed) The other Mama habit you have is you like to cuddle. When we let you sleep with us you rub both me and Conor through out the night. If you startle yourself awake all I have to do is let you hold my hand and you go right back to sleep. You snuggle in and sleep peacefully. You are just about the most heart warming little cuddle bug I have ever seen. We are trying to get you to sleep in your crib and if I stop patting you too early, without opening your eyes or hardly moving, you put your chubby little hand through the crib slates and open and close it until you feel my hand in yours. It is equal parts heart breaking and adorable. Oh, Woody, my little love. Happy First Year of Life. You are such a loving, sweet little man. Conor and I love you more than life itself and we are trying to be the peaceful parents you deserve. We are trying to show and give you a life of simplicity, peace, kindness, good will and respect towards every being on this fragile, beautiful Earth, laughter, patience, joy and love. I love you with my whole being, Elwood Wakon.

March 2012