For some reason one of the big deals to me when I became a mom is seeing my boy in some kind of school concert or show. When I was young, I participated in shows and band concerts, and I’ve just been so excited to be on the other side waving, smiling, taking pictures and video, and beaming with pride.

I got my chance last night!!

Lincoln was in his very first concert, and he did awesome.

I thought for sure he’d pull his shy act or see my husband and I and run toward us, but he didn’t! He was completely professional and loving every minute of it. My cheeks still hurt from smiling so much.

In addition to a great show, I had yet another example of the miraculous things teachers do. I mean, 14 toddlers singing, clapping, staying on their line, and smiling. BRAVO! WOW!

And, yet again, I was reminded what an amazing privilege it is to be a parent and what incredible people our kids are at any age. Just unbelievable.

Do you enjoy these events? What do they mean to you?

From my family to yours, have the happiest of holidays and the best year in 2013! Talk to you next year!

XOXO

There was a showdown outside my son’s bedroom door on Tuesday night as he sat on his bed screaming and crying. My husband and I were whisper arguing back and forth about going in and not going in.

In this corner…ner…ner…weighing in at 200-some poundsssss…Adam…fighting for not going in!

Aaaaand his opponent…nent…nent…weighing in at none of your businessssss…Erin…fighting for going in!

DING!

I think it’s pretty obvious I’d be the one who wanted to go in and scoop Lincoln up to calm him down. I think it’s obvious, too, that a lot of you will tell me I’m wrong. That’s cool. I do a lot of things “wrong.” Also, I apologized for going against Adam’s thoughts on bedtime. I don’t think I’ve ever done the opposite of what he thought should be done with Lincoln until now.

Anyway, I went in. He was asleep in 15 minutes.

Why we’re just dealing with this bedtime thing now is a story for another time, but I will not let him cry and hyperventilate himself to sleep. I don’t think that’s a good way to end your day.

I’m not one of those types who will say no a million times to something then yes. In fact, I pride myself on being strong. However, this is not the way I want bedtime to go in our house. So, I’m not going to start him alone in his room then go in. I know that’ll prolong the crying until I go in. I’m just going to start out in there.

I like spending that time with him, rubbing his back, having a little conversation at first about his day and the next, listening to music, etc. It’s good. He goes to sleep. I don’t even mind that I may have to do this for many, many years or the hours it may take some days to get him off to sleep. It’s worth it to me. There’s nothing else I need to do at that time than ensure he calmly drifts off to dreamland.

Erin Hill is a first-time mom to Lincoln, who was born in January 2010. She's learning as she goes and is experiencing everything a new mom goes through while seeing the humor, irony, and enjoyment in her adventures.

Erin is a full-time technical writer, a freelancer for Patch, and co-creator and blogger at SlimSavers.com. She lives in Plum with Lincoln, her husband, Adam, their dog, Roxie, and five (yes, five) cats, Nirvana, Gary Roberts, Elvis, Talbot and Forrest. (Anyone want a cat?)

Recently, I somehow got myself involved in a conversation about parenthood with two, 23-year-old-guys who have no children.

At first, I wanted to immediately break and reverse myself right on outta there (because I was feeling OLD) until one sweetly asked, “is it tough being a parent?”

I answered honestly, “shhhhhhhhhhhhhyeah!”

Followed by, “if you’re not ready, take every possible step ever invented to avoid it. If you think you’re ready, think again.”

I proceeded to tell them that my husband and I were ready and having a kid almost knocked us on our butts. I know I’m not telling you guys anything new, but when I think about it, I can’t believe how hard this has been.

I’m BEGGING you not to see this as whining, and I could go on and on about how grateful I am for my sweet, beautiful, healthy boy, Lincoln, but you all know that I am (I hope). We all are grateful for our kids (right?), but this thang called parenthood is bananas!

I couldn’t explain to those guys the worry. I couldn’t describe the feeling of helplessness when Lincoln gets hurt or is sick. I could not put into words how much was ahead of me that I’d have to deal with and how terrifying it was. The decisions that need to be made every day, the insecurity, the waiting, the rushing, that feeling in the pit of your stomach – I couldn’t stress how much is unknown until you’re in it.

On the flip side, all the good stuff is by far as amazing and cancels out all that other stuff up there. I didn’t tell them that, though. I save that info for my first-time and scared preggo friends. They need to know how good it all really is.

Erin Hill is a first-time mom to Lincoln, who was born in January 2010. She's learning as she goes and is experiencing everything a new mom goes through while seeing the humor, irony, and enjoyment in her adventures.

Erin is a full-time technical writer and features freelance writer in her "spare time." She lives in Plum with Lincoln, her husband, Adam, their dog, Roxie, and five (yes, five) cats, Nirvana, Gary Roberts, Elvis, Talbot and Forrest.

Like most new parents, when Lincoln was a baby, we took a lot of pictures of him. He’d just sit there, being cute and “pose.” We have so many cute pictures.

These days, I get five to 10 a week on my iPhone and most are blurry.

He’s two, almost three, and doesn’t sit still. He makes funny faces and does an immeasurable about of picture-worthy things, but doesn’t hold anything long enough for me to capture it forever on my Canon. Also, when we’re participating in something monumental, like trick-or-treating, or at and event or something like that, I’d like to be there. When I’ve got the camera in my hand and I’m snapping away, I feel like I’m missing something. Maybe I can’t do two things at once like that.

I don’t feel so bad now about this, but will I later?

Recently, I went through my parents’ photo collection. There are significant gaps, both in their lives and the lives of my brother and me. Where are all the Halloweens, the Christmases, the photos of my first bike ride or my brother on the skateboard I remember him loving so much? At first, I was sad. We really had minimal record of things I couldn’t remember.  Then, I thought, we probably don’t have these pictures because my parents were helping us open gifts or waiting to catch me or my brother when we fell.

I look through Facebook and everyone seems to have such nice memories captured that I have maybe three photos of. Theirs are all fancy and look professional and mine are blurry or the back of Linc’s head.

Should I put more effort into taking pictures? Should I not feel like I’m not in the moment being behind the camera? I don’t look at other people and thing they’re missing something taking a million pictures so why do I feel that way about myself?

Do you take a lot of pictures?