Super Fast Year Update...

Peter is fussing in his room. He's supposed to be asleep. Why won't that boy follow the schedules I set for him? I'm joking of course, because I know by now that my little boy is on his own timetable and has been from the beginning. That's why he started crawling at four months and walking at ten. That's why he yells when we're eating because I won't let him feed himself soup quite yet. He sits with books in hand as though he could already decipher the words. He taps the cardboard pages in pretend counting, just like me. I knew Peter was going to be his own person, but sometimes I forget how much he is coming into his own. I wonder if I'm paying close enough attention to his progress and his needs. Isn't that something all mothers think about?

And despite his grumpy noises, I sit here, writing for the first time in eleven months. Well, let's be honest, it's the third or fourth time. Those posts never made it past the first paragraph before I gave up though. There's too much to say and most of the story isn't mine. I want to write for Peter, but I also want him to able to write his own story. As my world shifts away from a focus on myself to a focus on him and his needs I realize that my writing must still be mine. Every sentence can't, shouldn't be a retelling of his journey. That's inevitably part of me now, but it doesn't consume my being. For a while I wondered if it would be. Would my own journey through life suddenly be forgotten in the rush of diapers and smiles and nursing?

That last paragraph probably sounds a bit selfish. But I've read enough mommy blogs over the last year to know that anything can be taken wrong. Take my words as you will.

So, to get this blog back on track, I'll give you the quickest update of my life ever. A whole year almost. Wow. Sorry guys. Sorry future Amber who wonders what the first year of being a mom was like.

Peter after his blessing, though minus pants. He's totally fine with that!

Neal and Peter having a little staring contest. 

We went to a storytelling festival at the Egyptian Theater. Peter did love hearing all the wonderful sounds!

Peter started eating food, and it seems taking selfies!

We celebrated pi day with several kinds: pumpkin, peach, chocolate, and blueberry cream! No, we didn't have guests over, I just really love pie.

Peter decided he would be a model in his posing.

I dressed up like Eliza R. Snow for a Relief Society program. I dig the hair except the two hours it took and the bagillion knots there were afterward.

We celebrated mother's day with my favorite bow tie and jacket.

I just love having mini picnics in the back, and Peter learned to kick a ball (sort of).

We found a chair perfect size for Peter! Too bad it's in Rexburg with my brother's family.

We made banana popsicles and Peter loved them!

We celebrated the 4th of July by going to my sister Holly's concert in Layton!

Peter adores playing the piano already. We'll introduce the cello soon, but not too soon...

My boys just being cute

He discovered how to undo the baby proofing and try to read Tim and Terra's textbooks.

Now he just likes to feed himself, or paint himself. It all depends on the mood!

Basically guys, that was a super fast update, but now I can blog without feeling guilty for not telling you stuff from the past. So there! Also, I'll try to actually take photos of things and people other than Peter...sometimes.