[BOY MOMS] Tara from Tanner and Park

 

 Hi! I'm Tara, and I write a (very new) blog at tannerandpark.com. I'm a wife of almost four years to Will and a Mama to a wild, fantastic red-headed 17 month old that we call Max Henry.

photo by Bella Bambino Photography

When we found out that we were expecting a baby, I really thought we were having a girl. We already had two sweet nieces (and another on the way!) so little girls were familiar territory. I had girl bedding chosen. I'd even purchased a few pink sleepers and started claiming hand-me-down smocked dresses from my friends with girls. But my best friends were adamant that we were having a boy, and oddly enough, every single male on my husband's side of the family as far back as we can trace has had boys first. The night before our ultrasound, I had a crazy vivid dream that the ultrasound tech told us we were having a boy. I remember waking up and telling my husband very confidently that we were having a boy. When the ultrasound confirmed that our bundle of joy was a blue one, we weren't surprised...but we were ridiculously excited.

photo by Bella Bambino Photography

Max Henry was born on September 7, 2012. We had no idea what to expect. To be quite honest, I fully expected him to be a devil baby because my husband and I were both apparently very high-maintenance infants. Instead, we got a relatively easy baby. Although the first few months adjusting to a new baby aren't easy for anyone, it wasn't as traumatic as I anticipated. I think God cut us a break, knowing that I'd be by myself a lot since Max Henry arrived right in the middle of harvest- also known as the time of year my farmer husband is rarely home.
  Fast forward a few months, and we have a house full of tractors, Thomas trains, blocks and toddler-sized power tools. Our sweet, easy baby has become a strong-willed, independent little man who knows exactly what he wants at all times, and is very adamant about getting whatever that may be. He's a whirlwind of activity, and only sits still for snacks and the occasional episode of Mickey Mouse. He is all boy, with a deep love for mud puddles, his two puppies, climbing stairs and dumping water over the side of the bathtub when mama's head is turned. I love everything about being a boy mom - especially this boy's mom. Everyone tells you that kids grow up so quickly, but you don't realize how true that old cliche rings until you have a baby of your own. No one prepared me for how quickly he would change from a tiny, snuggly baby to a walking, talking little person. It's amazing, incredibly joyful and frightening all at the same time. It's the best adventure I've ever been on.

"And she loved a little boy very very much - even more than she loved herself." - author unknown