. . . Liam lately (10 months)

I feel like I JUST did his 9 month update and here we are again! Not too much has changed since his last update, but I'll fill you in anyway . . .

I don't have an update on his weight and height because our next consultatiebureau isn't for a while. Liam is still in 12 and 18 month clothing and is wearing size 20 shoe (not sure what that is in American sizes?). He's still in size 4 diapers as well. Lucky for us his Gram Gram bought him some new pj's so I think Liam is set for the rest of the summer! Liam has grown a lot more hair in recent months and so far it's pretty blonde. His dad and I both had blonde hair as babies, so that's no surprise, though I'm sure it will get darker through the years. His eyes are still blue, which I love, but they definitely change color depending on what he's wearing, and even time of day -- if he's just waking up or is tired they are more grey, but if he's wide awake and alert they are super blue. Pretty funny!

1 year anniversary!

Today marks one year that we've been in the Netherlands. The day we left was one of the hardest days I've ever been through. I'm not gonna lie, there were tears. Lots and lots of tears. And that was even knowing we'd be back soon! I've told many people that I can really enjoy this experience knowing it's not forever -- I can do anything for a short amount of time, including pack up all our belongings and move 4500 miles away! If you want to see how the beginning of our journey started, check back here.

Since that day, there have been 365 more . . . awesome ones, terrible ones, and everything in between. Our global coordinates do not make us immune to bad days, and our joys are not multiplied just because we live in Europe. Life is what you make of it, no matter where you are. So the good days are wonderful because we see them as wonderful, not because of the view out our window (although it is a beautiful view!)

. . . Liam lately (9 months)

I didn't think it was possible for one little boy to grow so much in one month! I don't just mean physically, even though he is growing in those areas too. His 9 month stats are:

weight: 21 lbs. 6 oz. (9.7 kg)
length: 29.13 in. (74 cm)
head circumference: 18 in. (45.8 cm)

(side note: when does it go from "length" to height"? Because now that he's standing, I'm tempted to say "height." Or are they always interchangeable no matter what the age? ANYways . . . ) In my last post, I said that my brother had weighed him at the airport and he was 22 pounds, but it's hard to know how accurate that was. It was, after all, on a scale at the airport, with Liam fully dressed, and my brother did the whole "stand on the scale with and without the baby" trick and subtract the difference. So who knows? Regardless, he's grown from his last official weigh-in at the doctor and is in the 65-75 percentiles for his growth.

I forgot to get his Sleep Giraffe, so I had to start over after taking several pictures!

a day at the park . . .

Today Lindsey and I decided to meet at the park near my house to let the boys play, which we've done several times now. However, I guess we've never done it on a Wednesday, because we were in for a quite a shock! I forgot that the schools have half days every Wednesday . . . so that, plus the fact that it was a gorgeous, albeit HOT, day, and everyone plus their brother was at the park today. I'm talking HUNDREDS of kids. We saw birthday parties, parents chasing naked babies, and lots of ice cream eating going on. Luckily, the park is huge and very spread out with lots of different areas for kids to play, including . . . a pool! Well, not so much a pool as a shallow water play area, but still.

I AM MOM ENOUGH

I'm sure most of you have seen the recent TIME cover, with a mother breastfeeding her three year old child and the words "ARE YOU MOM ENOUGH?" I have been thinking about it for a couple days now, and have a few thoughts on the subject . . .

First of all, SO WHAT? This mom chooses to breastfeed her child at three years old (along with many, many others). That's her prerogative. It's not the breastfeeding mother that offends me, but the words "ARE YOU MOM ENOUGH?"

I have the privilege of being around many incredible mothers -- sisters, friends, aunts, cousins -- and the beauty of it is that much like every child, every mother is different too. I've had friends who have done cloth diapers, while others do disposable. Some moms do "Cry It Out" while others don't. I have friends who make baby food and others who do store-bought. Some moms want thumb-suckers while just as many give a binky. I know moms who went back to work and I have friends who've stayed home. And some mom breastfeed while others give formula.

The point is WE ARE DIFFERENT.

SO WHAT??

But the one thing we have in common is that we are doing the best we can. Every day. And, I'll be honest, some days my best sucks. Today was one of those days. But that doesn't make me any less of a Mom to my sweet boy.

What makes me mad is that TIME magazine, and frankly much of the media, wants to pit moms against each other in some fictitious war that they think we ought to be fighting. Stay at Home Mom vs. Working Mom. Breastfed Baby vs. Formula-fed Baby. It's ridiculous! Don't we have enough on our plates than to compare ourselves to other moms and decide "who is doing it better?" Believe me, I put enough pressure on myself to be a good mother without the media telling me I'm doing it wrong.

It is my hope that we Moms see through this ludicrous tactic to gain attention and earn dollars through magazines sales -- we are smarter than that.

We are doing the best we can.

I am doing the best I can.

I am Mom enough for Liam. No matter what. Because I love him so much it hurts. Because I'd do anything for him. Because even at my worst, I'm doing the best I know how.   We all are.

~Jessi