Almost a year? For real?

I can't believe it's been so long since I've blogged. My friend D inspired me to start writing again (even though her blog is waaaaay more interesting and cool). Anyway, my "baby" will be 11 months old in two days. How did I get here? It's amazing and freakin' crazy all at once.

Bear is now standing, "furniture walking," babbling all the time, taking swim lessons, and has five (probably six now from how he's been acting the last few days) big ol' teeth. He's a joy, hands down THE BEST thing Steve and I have ever accomplished. It's so funny to actually say that, considering I've been able to do some pretty cool things in my short life. But nothing, and I really mean nothing, comes even close to being Christian bear's mom.

I think before I was actually a mom, I might have rolled my eyes at that declaration. "Oh gosh, that person is totally losing their identity to 'mom status'--ugh. I'll NEVER be like that." Oops. That said though, I'm also amazed at how Steve and I have been able to really maintain a pretty healthy social life and sense of individuality even now as parents of a little guy.

Of course I owe a lot of that to my fab mom who watches him 5 days a week, 8+ hours a day, and for the few vacations we've even taken. Steve's parents also watch him and give us time for movie and dinner dates. We're truly lucky that way, to have super support systems, but I think that's what's also made us good parents. We have a balance--no, we NEED a balance. I think that's just how I'm wired.

I'm still able to get my book club meetings in, dinners with friends, shopping, reading, etc. AND be a working mom. All those things really mean a lot to me in addition to just being mom. Sometimes I do really feel guilty, the typical mom guilt of ever spending time apart from bear, especially since I also work a lot. But when I start to glaze over or go a little cuckoo from not enough "me time," I know I'm not doing myself, bear or Steve any good!

Speaking of Steve, talk about an amazing partner in this adventure. I think a large part of my ability to function well as a working mom is having him in my corner always. People at work always comment that I don't seem like a frazzeled first time mom at all. To that I say two things. One, stop blowing smoke up my ass. And two, it's because I have amazing loved ones. Anyway, it hasn't been the easiest year, but it has definitely been the most fantastic year of my life.