Letters For Lucas

Wonders, Mishaps, Blunders and Joy.. commentary on my life as a mom in the form of letters to my son

One Year Ago

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Exactly one year ago today, March 3, I wrote this post: Safety First. We were having our home baby proofed by a professional baby proofing company (because God knows we couldn’t have done it ourselves) and discovered that our home was unprotected by a carbon monoxide detector.

This was shocking news to me because 1) I thought we had one and 2) My parents died of carbon monoxide poisoning. Boy, did I feel stupid! We immediately rectified this oversight. I urge all of you to make sure you too have a CO detector and that it is in working order. It can save lives!

Also a year ago…

Lucas turned nine months old, just learned how to clap, went into a swimming pool for the first time and started wearing the Doc Band, my sister turned 26, we were starting to really listen to nursery rhymes, I was lusting after Pretty Things and I read Kelly Corrigan’s beautiful memoir, The Middle Place.

Last week I wrote my 500th Letters For Lucas post, Lucas is almost 21 months old, Leah will be 27 on Monday, we have a new address, my husband has his own vintage car showroom, which has been (knock on wood) very successful so far and I’m reading One Amazing Thing by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni and I’m still lusting after pretty things:

Bailey Console Table – Pottery Barn

Love Letters Sheet Set – Anthropologie

Wall Art – Land of Nod

The last week has been rough. Lucas has been sick with the worst cold/flu of his young life and we have been to the pediatrician’s office twice, most recently to find out he now has a double ear infection. I’ve been sick too and so has Todd. Taking care of a sick child when you’re sick too is no fun!

Never a dull moment…

As always, then and now, our life is full of ups and downs, but also a lot of humor along the way.

How has your life changed in one year?

This post was written for Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop Prompt 3) What were you blogging about last year at this time? What has changed?

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A Year Full Of Possibilities

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My Barnes & Noble Silver Lining Paris Remembered 2011 desk calendar finally arrived this week and I can’t wait to start filling it in!!For as “high tech” as I am or try to be with my iPhone and online calendar, I get a big charge out of keeping track of my so-called life in black-and-white and multi-colored highlighters.

There is nothing better than a brand new, crisp, clean calendar.

Plus, I keep track of everything!

You probably didn’t know (or care) that I moved my body 735 miles last year in the form of walking, running, bike riding, the elliptical or StairMaster, or that I took Lucas to the Bay Area solo four times? How about that I saw 12 movies – in the theater and ate lunch at Subway 51 times (don’t judge!). I got my hair colored five times and had five massages, which is about 10 too few, by the way! I also noted that Lucas’ last day of wearing the Doc Band was June 3, he took his first steps on July 6, had his first hair cut on August 1. Looking back on 2010, I have a very blessed life.

And now, a whole entire year lay before me, page after page just begging to be filled in with birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, play dates, many more spa appointments, visits to Grandma and Grandpa’s, visits from aunt Leah, lunches with friends, dinners with my husband, long walks, yoga classes, weekend get-aways, Lucas’ milestones and a whole lot more!

A whole year full of possibilities…

How will you fill your 2011 calendar?

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We Did It!

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Since my February 26, 2010 post, You Should See The Other Guy, if you are one of my (three) regular readers, you may have noticed after my tag line I have been counting down the 100 days of Lucas wearing the Doc Band.

Today is Day 85 and it is Graduation Day!! 15 days early!! We are so excited.

Your head has moved almost 11 millimeters, which we have been told for a baby that started treatment so late (you were 8 1/2 months when we began this process) is superb!

Call me biased, but in my eyes your head was always perfectly shaped, but I would be lying if I said I didn’t see a noticeable change in the shape and yes, even improvement in the symmetry of your facial features.

I can’t praise the staff at Cranial Technologies in San Diego enough for their care and courtesy, but it’s really Lucas himself that was the trouper. He made this so easy for us because he never once fussed (unless he got too hot) over having to wear the Doc Band around the clock. I don’t even think he noticed having it on and in some ways might even miss it.

I grew during the last 85 days too… I learned that I will do whatever is necessary to help my child and that no matter what our future faces with him, we are proud of him.

I learned that your family, friends and even strangers on the street might just surprise you with their kindness, support and understanding.

I also learned to have a little more compassion for those that have way more serious health issues.

We have come a long way and I am thrilled to be done with it!

The best is yet to be.

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Young Love

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Poor Brenna is one of the only girls in our Mommy & Me playgroup. She is as cute as a button and so sweet and demure.

Here, she and Lucas have stolen a moment to gaze out at the garden together. Lucas was obsessed with a spinning flower on a stick.
The best is yet to be.

Day 84/100

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My First Mother’s Day

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Today was my first Mother’s Day.

That still sounds weird.

I bought a card for my Mommy & Me friend, Jenn and it sums up this crazy ride very well:

The pay is short. The hours are long. It’s a 24/7 kind of job. Training is learn-as-you-go. Patience and wisdom required from day one. Retirement isn’t an option. Being a mom is a lifetime job and nobody does it better than you!

I love to bitch about my job, but I really do love it and today was especially perfect.

It started off with a nice long hot shower followed by scrambled eggs, waffles, crispy bacon and orange juice, and then a couple of much needed hours at the nail salon getting the full treatment while I read blissfully.

I haven’t even gotten to the perfect part yet…

Spending the afternoon with my two favorite men.

An early dinner at one of my favorite local bistros.

Not even 7:00 and we are all jammied up… my favorite time of the day!

Cocktail napkins from your dad… talk about perfect and he obviously reads the blog!!

I hope every Mother’s Day is just like today.

The best is yet to be.

Day 75/100

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Half Way Point

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Today marks the half way point of you wearing the Doc Band. We had our fourth follow up visit this afternoon and your head is moving in the right direction, rounding out in the way the therapist is pleased with and your facial features are noticeably more symmetrical.

This has been an interesting journey and I’m grateful for how easy you’ve made it on us. Since day one it’s like you’re not even wearing it. It hasn’t seemed to bother you in the least bit, however, we do see an extra spring in your step (AKA swagger in your crawl) when it’s off and we know that it’s hot and must be uncomfortable by the end of the day.

I have been so pleasantly surprised at the encouragement from strangers and how many people have come up to us at the park, grocery store, shopping mall, airport, etc. to tell us how successful the Doc Band was for their own children, grandchildren, friend’s children, nieces and nephews. It seems as though we are a part of a special group now and when yours comes off, I’ll be sure to do the same. In fact, your grandma and I saw a little girl wearing a Doc Band while walking through La Jolla last week and I had to stop and comment on how adorable she looked it in. Her parents had painted flowers all over it, where as we have been partial to stickers.

The first 50 days went by in a flash and I know that the next 50 days will as well.

The best is yet to be.

Day 50/100

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On The Move

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Guess where you headed yesterday morning?


Scary! Thank goodness we had the house baby proofed almost a month ago.

It’s crazy to think that just a week ago, I could put you on the floor and know that you couldn’t get very far by pivoting and scooting around on your belly. Now, you are a little man on the move who has completely embraced crawling. And, if there is a lone Cheerio on the floor, you are sure to find it.

It has been so fun to watch you enjoy your new found independence and explore our ENTIRE house. You are definitely keeping me on my toes and I should be able to lose that last five pounds of baby weight in no time. 🙂

The best is yet to be.

Day 34/100

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Wild Animal Park

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Today, your aunt Leah and I took you to the Wild Animal Park. It was hot, but we still had a lot of fun.

We pet an antelope, saw a bat display, pretended we were a butterfly and took a cool ride on the merry-go-round (I even took your Doc Band off so that you could enjoy the wind), but visiting the baby elephant (born February 14) was our favorite activity.







We bought a membership, so we’ll be back soon. Next time we want to check out the gorillas!

The best is yet to be.

Day 32/100

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Nine Months

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What a month! You are turning into a toddler right before our very eyes…

This month you:

  • Attended your third birthday party.
  • Went to your first Super Bowl party and watched the New Orleans Saints (31) beat the Indianapolis Colts (17).
  • Met my favorite dog, Winston.
  • Learned how to clap and can do it upon hearing “clap”, “pat”, “good job”, and “yay Lucas” AND seeing it on TV.
  • Went in a swimming pool for the first time.
  • Had professional photos taken at Sears Portrait Studio.
  • Have almost eight teeth! The last three weeks have been torturous waiting for those incisors to break through.
  • Were fitted for and started wearing the Doc Band.
  • Fell in love with the swing and everything else there is to see and do at the park.
  • Love cause and effect toys (Silly Town, blocks) and games (peek-a-boo and hide-and-seek).
  • Are able to roll a ball back to me, hand me objects and feed me snacks from your stash. There are Cheerios and puffs are over this house!
  • Had to have your crib lowered because you are almost at the stage where you are pulling yourself up on things and that’s just dangerous.
  • Rock back and forth on your hands and knees and scoot backwards. Thank goodness we had the house baby proofed in anticipation of you crawling soon…we hope. 🙂
  • Your eyes are still blue.

The best is yet to be.

Day 11/100

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