Learning not to Worry

Jaron had his 12 month appointment yesterday. He is 28.5 inches long (10%) and 19 lbs. 8 oz (13%). He has only grown an inch and gained 1 lb. in 6 months. While the doctor didn't seem overly concerned, she did say the dreaded words of "this isn't normal" and "we are going to watch him." Words a mom never likes to hear from the doctor. I have known in my heart for a couple of months that he hasn't been growing but I pushed worried thoughts out of my head and tried to focus on his amazingly happy personality. But to hear the doctor say those things, the worried thoughts came rushing in.

So now I am learning to not worry about what I can't change. Learning to not think what if I had done this or that, but to focus on all the great strides in development Jaron has made (even if he is a little behind) and to continue to do what I have been doing all along...loving him the best that I can. And as I look at him happily playing on the floor with his toys...listen to his giggles when he plays peek-a-boo with me...hold him close to me as I rock him to sleep at night...I think to myself, if this is what "not normal" is like, then I am okay with that.

Jaron is 1

A year ago Jason and I made the treacherous trip in an ice storm to have Jaron delivered. While Jaron had issues with his lungs when he was born you would never know it now. He is a very active, happy little boy. It is hard to believe all that happened a year ago...seems like just a few months...and yet I can't remember life without him. He is a perfect addition to our family and the world has definitely been blessed with his laid back, smiley personality. Not a day goes by that he does make us laugh.

Today we did a little celebration for Jaron. His birthday almost sneaked up on us. Jaron, Jason, and Josiah have been really sick, plus I was gone for a few days for the memorial service for my grandpa so things have been a little crazy. We were going to have some friends over but since our family was sick that didn't work out. But we did make a cake for him to play in. Below are pictures of the experience.

The first few touches, trying to figure out what it was.

Then he discovered he could grab fist fulls.

YUM!!

"OH!" A piece of cake just fell on the floor.

He really liked the cake and cried when I decided he had enough. Then he opened a present from his brother. I don't have pictures of that and it wasn't very exciting because he was not at all interested in tearing the wrapping paper. I had to do it for him.