So, August’s Birthday went off without a hitch, and in due time, we’ll be sure to post photos and videos of him tearing through presents, and mashing cake in his face.
In the meantime, here is a video of him walking around in a chicken suit, which, as you can imagine, is quite entertaining.
This being the eve of August’s 1st birthday, I have been reliving what I was going through exactly a year ago today. At the time, I couldn’t bare to be pregnant for one more minute (even though my due date was two weeks away). Besides being tired of the gestational diabetes, the leg cramps, the seemingly continuous Braxton Hicks contractions, I sincerely felt like I was carrying The-Boy-We–Now-Know-As-August so low that he might just fall out at any moment. I had nightmares that I would be walking down the sidewalk and suddenly – Boom! – there he would be, lying on his back, squirming like a fish out of water. I couldn’t imagine why any one would get pregnant more than once. How foolish women are to put themselves through such torture!
So, I began that Thursday, August 20, 2009, hoping that I would give birth very soon (but not in the middle of a sidewalk). I went to work, came home, had dinner with Eric on our back deck. It was after dinner that I felt the first labor pain. The contractions continued to get stronger, so I decided I would jump in the shower to relax. This certainly made me realize why some women choose to give birth in the bath. The hot water was like the magic elixir. Not a bit of pain. However, after I got out, the pain was intense. At about 10:00 that night my water broke. Eric and I immediately went to the hospital. Most of the delivery progressed pretty well, until the monitors began to lose The-Boy-We–Now-Know-As-August’s little heart beat. A rush of nurses came pouring into the delivery room. I began pushing but the doctor was afraid my pelvic bone was too small. They quickly wheeled me into the OR to prepare for a possible C-section. Fortunately, this wasn’t necessary, and at 4:23 a.m., August 21, 2009, August Eamon Murray made his grand entrance.
And as I sit here a year later, watching my remarkable little boy romp around the living room, I look back on that time with great affection and nostalgia, and the day he was born as The Best Day.
As of about two weeks ago, August is officially walking! He’s been taking many steps on his own for several weeks, but it wasn’t until about two weeks ago that he was able to stand up on his own from a sitting position without any help from anyone or anything. He seems to know what a feat this is, as he often claps for himself as he’s waddling around. Will post video soon. (No, really…I promise this time.)
It has been far too long since our latest post. Our lives just seem busier than ever lately. Between work and our active little August, Eric and I often find ourselves with heavy eyelids by 8:00 at night. And so, the blog has been a bit neglected. There is now so much to catch you up on, I hardly know where to begin.
August is now nine and a half months old and is a pro at crawling, climbing, and standing against furniture. He has four incisors coming in seemingly all at once. He can pick up and gum baby finger snacks like nobody’s business. He can shout “Dadadadada” from the top of his lungs. And he can almost hang on to his rocking horse all by himself (still is a bit wobbly).
His talent at waving bye-bye to people has been replaced by his love for giving high-fives. When his Dada comes home from work, August proudly holds out his hand for the high-five.
Last week Grandma Golly and Papaw took him to the zoo for the very first time. The bears and the monkeys were his favorite.
Last weekend August learned what it is like to graduate from high school, as he attended his Aunt Boo’s graduation. Although he was, of course, exceedingly proud of Boo’s accomplishments, he was most impressed by her hat.
This week August began taking swim lessons. He likes making big splashes.
Who can say what next week will bring? Lots of fun, excitement, and hopefully a bit of relaxation for Mama and Dada.
Today August officially turned eight months old. And the picture above really captures the essence of his life right now, which involves constant, non-stop movement. He has just recently begun crawling, can now sit by himself and pull himself up on things, and has two front teeth coming through! Unfortunately, the teeth are making him quite cranky and this new mobility is making him quite accident prone. Baby Orajel seems to soothe the teeth. But the accidents… Just in the past week the boy has pinched his fingers in the doors of our entertainment center, bonked his head, and gone face first into his bath water (which seemed to frighten me more than him). And these incidents all occurred with either me or Eric right by his side. But things happen in a split second, and needless to say, this has my nerves a bit fried lately. I’ve seriously considered just keeping the boy in a cage, like some wild beast. Or perhaps I need one of those leashes? Or better yet, a harness. I joke.
I suppose there is a world of dangers out there and I can’t shield him from them all, no matter how badly I want to. But it is indeed difficult to find that balance between allowing him to explore his environment and creating some necessary boundaries.
Hope to have some video up soon of our bold and daring boy in action.
You mean to tell me that a life-sized bunny visited my house while I was asleep? Next thing I know you'll be telling me that a fairy will be taking all the teeth I lose.
Spring has sprung here at the Murray household. And although spring in Indiana can often mean lots of rain or even snow showers, we haven’t let that keep us from getting outside and breathing some fresh air. August is big enough now that he can sit upright in his stroller. He straightens his back proudly as if to say, Look at me, World! I am so strong!
We have also been spending some time in our backyard where August has been getting to know grass and trees. Sometimes he likes to sit and stare at the grass, and then other times he likes to grab big fistfuls of it. Hasn’t put any in his mouth yet, but I know that will come soon. It is, after all, how he experiences most things in his world. His feet, his books, the edge of the coffee table – all these things are apparently experienced best when gummed.
Speaking of gums, he has recently sprouted two beautiful little pearly whites in his bottom front gums. No sign of any others yet, but since these two seemed to come in over night, I wouldn’t be surprise if he woke up tomorrow with a full set of chompers!
