Merry Christmas 2012

two cookies

one for each hand.

that was my plan to get him to sit 'still' for a picture in front of the tree.

durham had other plans.

cookies.cookies.cookies.

Santa Sucks

just sayin'

santa was not a hit with durham.

I didn't have the heart to throw him on the big guys lap alone for a picture since he was already crying just looking at him from 5 feet away. hahaha. family picture it is!

Happy Birthday!!

 Durham turns ONE!

The first birthday should really be a party for the parents. The parents should be able to celebrate making it through the first year. we did it. we made it. we not only survived, but we thrived this first year. It was tough of course, especially those first few months, but we got our grove and we are doing great.

we celebrated d's 1st birthday at our house with family. we kept it small (because our house is small) and because we wanted to really be able to focus on what was most important, duh, durham.

We had cupcakes and cookies that I made. and we ordered out BBQ for lunch. a big tray of pulled pork, and some chicken tenders, Brunswick stew and sides... it was delicious and low maintenance. I loved it. I also made durham's cake. I used an adapted carrot cake recipe from Wholesome baby food to make his smash cake (I left out the oil and raisins, and added 1 cup of pureed peaches), and decorated it with coolwhip and sprinkles.

had a blast smashing his cake and opening presents. baby got so much cool stuff that we put half of it up in his closet to bring out in the summer when we need a little newness around here. We are beyond thankful for those who came to celebrate with us and love our baby so well.

big thanks to aunt ra who took all the pictures so I could just focus on my baby. she's the best.

Open letter to my baby...

Durham, 

My sweet little baby... today you turned one. 

This year went by so fast. Faster than I ever imagined. I tried to cherish it, I tried to drink you in, to smell your skin, to memorize the curve of your chubby legs, the sound of your laugh, the way your lips curve into a smile. I tried to forever keep you my itty-bitty, but you still grew bigger. You still turned one. 

This year has been amazing. A year of learning for your daddy and me. We did our very best. Those first few weeks were hard. Us learning you. You learning us. But we made it. We bonded, and there is nothing we wouldn't do for you.

I remember the first time I saw you. I loved you before you were even born, but when I saw you my heart melted into a big puddle. I remember your first smile, your first laugh, and the first time you rolled over. I remember the first time we survived a blow out diaper at the store, and the time you threw up all over me in line at Publix. I remember wearing you in our sling all day... doing laundry, dishes, and checking in on facebook all with you contently sleeping on my chest. I remember all the nights we spent in your rocking chair, and all the mornings you woke up happy to see me. I remember your first trip to the beach, your first bites of food, your first word ('dada') and the way my heart exploded when you finally said 'mama' about 2 months later. I remember watching you learn to crawl and then stand, and now walk just before you turned one. 

I hope I can always remember the little things... the way you wrap blankets around your arm, the way you wont give kisses but 'head hug' instead. I hope I remember how much you love blueberries and bath time, and how you light up when dada comes home from work. I hope I can remember that milk time is my favorite time because that is the only time you will snuggle. and I hope I can remember how crazy I am about you... how I crave you at work when we weren't together, how I scoop you out of your crib at night for midnight snuggles, and how I bomb instagram with your pictures. Because I do love you, my baby. I'm crazy about you.

As I sit here writing with tears running down my cheeks, I am trying to put to words what my heart knows... my heart knows that you are perfect. You were made to be with us, and to give us purpose. You fill our hearts with so much happiness and we are so thankful for you. The love we have for you is indescribable. I know that you wont possibly understand that until you have a little baby of your own.

I wish this year would never end, but I know that the next year will be even more fun. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life watching you grow up. It is my biggest joy.

I love you, momma's baby,

momma


our first look 

Thankful for Thanksgiving

We have a lot to be thankful for...

our health, our happiness, our beautiful love. 
our little family, our amazing little baby, food. yummy yummy food.
our home. small and full of memories.
our jobs, our responsibilities, our support system.

we are thankful for...

forgiveness, understanding, and unconditional love.
the Sunday paper, trips to target, and sunday night on Shotime.
friends that feel more like family, and the promise of new babies next year.

this year was extra special as we celebrated thanksgiving with both sides of our family. Durham's first time to join us. We snuggled him extra tight knowing that this time last year we were waiting for him to get here... and feeling like we can't remember our life before him. One short week from now we'll watch him turn one. we are thankful for Durham.

Our Trip to the Mountains

For the past few years, we've gone up to the north Georgia mountains in the fall... 
to see the leaves change, to spend time together, to relax. 

this is where we stayed this year... CABIN. and we would recommend it to anyone with pets!

Last year was one of our favorite trips because it was our baby-moon. our last vacation 'just the two of us' before Durham came. I was almost 8 months pregnant. We had a blast. This year we got to bring Durham with us (and Cole came too) and it was so much fun! Honestly way more fun than the trip we took to the beach in June. Partly because fatty is older now and cruizing around and having fun playing, but partly because we didn't have to pack up and track all our crap down to the beach everyday. 

We headed out in the morning for the 2 hour drive up, we planned to leave right before nap time so d would sleep in the car, and that worked great. We shopped for groceries and cooked all our meals at the cabin. Yummies like eggs, sausage, bacon and biscuits every day for breakfast and hot dogs on the grill, alice springs chicken... I was in heaven because the hubs cooked every meal while we were there. Yes. I said every meal. I am so blessed.

The cabin was on a lake/pond and it had a creek that fed into it... this alone is endless entertainment for the hubs. There was a canoe that Chris went out fishing in everyday. I was afraid to do it by myself and we couldn't/wouldn't leave Durham sleeping in the cabin alone. Maybe next year we'll put a life vest on him and paddle him out with us. 

I was worried about not bringing the highchair, not sure how he would eat without it (or stay focused on eating) but we just cleaned the seat of a chair and put his food there. He stood unassisted and ate his bites. This weekend was when he started standing alone. a lot. all. the time.

We brought the pack-n-play and he napped and slept at night in there. It's not as comfey as his crib, so he did wake up once or twice in the night. I would just go in and snuggle him back to sleep. There was a full size bed in the room he was sleeping in, and there were many naps we took together snuggled in there. I loved having 5 days alone. Just me and my boys.

 

and a few instagram snaps too... just to prove I was there!! haha The hubs promises to get better with the camera so I'll have a few pics of me with baby d too!