To Smile With My Whole Body

Well, Arthur is 7 months old and I can't believe how quickly time has flown.  People said it would go fast, but no one could have prepared me for how quickly he would grow up.  He is such a fun little guy.  He won't stop moving and has to be standing up most of the time.  He's super social and loves people.  Almost everyone.  He is naturally inquisitive and he loves to watch people. He watches people and then as soon as they made eye contact he smiles.

He's recently started blowing raspberries.  With his teething, he's got a lot of extra spit which ends up everywhere due to his constant raspberries.  The other day I was in costco.  He's big enough to sit in the cart now and he LOVES it because he can people watch.  It was just like any normal shopping trip, except that his new trick made it one of the most amusing trips ever.  See, where he used to make eye contact and then smile now he makes eye contact and immediately gets a mischievous look followed by pfffffttttthhhhhh.... with spit a-flying.  The entire time I was in costco, I could't stop my stifled laugh because he was just spitting at everyone!

One of my favorite things about being a mom is seeing the joy that Arthur naturally embodies.  And the simplest things bring him joy.  When someone looks at him, sings to him, plays with him or simply pays attention to him.  His joy is full.  Of course then comes bedtime and he turns into a beast... but for the most part his primary emotion is joy.  Oh, to embody joy.  To look at the world with wonder and to simply not be able to contain the happiness I feel.   Today I am longing for that kind of joy to permeate my being.  To smile with my whole body.

Oh man, I really wish this photo wasn't blurry, but he was moving all over the place when I took it.  But, here's a picture of him doing his raspberries.

Gratefulness:

18. Cheesecake-- the other day we went to Cheesecake factory for dessert and it is always AMAZING

19. Date nights with my boys

20. Arthur's ability to express his dissatisfaction... by growling (I wrote this at the beginning of his growling phase... it's cuteness is waning) :-) 

21. Kisses on the lips

22. People who are worse than me at Zumba

23. Water

24. My Friday!

25. Things to look forward to