Happiness!

Okay, as cheesy and ridiculous as this is going to sound, I'm going to tell it anyway. Last night I had a dream. In this dream, I went to the mail box and found a beautiful package. On this package was the "Keelie Lipscomb Photography" logo. The package was all pretty and tied up with fancy ribbon. I opened it and inside was a disc of pictures from the photo shoot we did a few weeks ago of Talent for his first birthday.

I know why I had this dream. I knew today I was going to be getting the disc from that session and I was so excited about it. You see, I love this kid. And capturing every single bit of him that I can on film is just another perk to being his mommy! We had this session with Keelie a few weeks ago and I have been DYING to get my hands on this disc. It's the first family pictures we've had since he was born really. I know it sounds silly to be so excited over pictures, but I was.

Now they are in my possession and I knew I wouldn't be disappointed. Keelie did an amazing job. She always does. She is such a talented photographer. The pictures I received today made me so happy. So I thought I would share a few of my most favorites with you today. So sit back and enjoy! Oh and if you live in our area or know someone who does, refer them to Keelie for pictures, you won't be sorry! Click here for Keelie's page!!!

Silly boy!

Happy Birthday!

My sweet little family!

Nothing makes me happier!

I love this life of mine!

He's the cutest little OU fan ever!

Standing by himself!

The beginning of his fake cry! 

12 months shots!

Well on Friday we took Talent for his one year check up. I was dreading it because he's one and I figured he would be able to figure this shot thing out pretty quick. He did great for the nurse. He loves her. Brandi is always so good with him. He screamed at Dr. Herndon and he wasn't even doing anything but listening to his lungs (which he could tell were just fine by the screaming!) and ask about his development and sleep. Then came the shots. 5 shots in his little legs! Oh he cried, I tried to sooth as I held him down. It was awful.

Last year when Talent was born he weighed 7 lbs 6.8 oz and was 18 1/2 inches long. This year at his one year check up he was 22 lbs and 30 inches long. I can't believe how fast time has gone and how much he has grown. He is learning so much every single day and it is just so cool. He has been taking a few steps here and there on his own but he hasn't quite "taken off" just yet. He can say momma, uh oh, and bye bye. He is just so neat. I have fun watching all of the things he learns. His latest thing is what I call "fish face" where he makes his mouth open and shut over and over like a fish. He doesn't make a sound usually when doing it other than the smacking of his lips. It's entertaining to me. I love teaching him things.

Oh and he gives "five" now. He does something new all the time. I love it. Anyway. This is the latest that's going on here. Just wanted to share.

One Year Old!

Well, it's official! Talent is one year old today. One whole year has flashed before my eyes. I don't think I fully grasped how quick time flew until this year. It has been such an amazing year for our family. I don't know what the future holds but I know whatever it is, it's going to be awesome.

Today we got up and we ate our breakfast. I sang happy birthday and he smiled so big. Then he played and napped. Then we took a trip to the store for cupcakes. We had lunch, cupcakes, and sandbox time. It was a great day.

Tonight we got to see his grandparents. Both sets came to see him for his birthday. My parents came bearing gifts! My sweet Aunt Leaoma, Aunt Johnnye, Uncle Peaches, & and my mini's sent him a package! It was full of his favorite breakfast food, snacks, a dancing singing elephant, and lots of clothes and pj's! He's one lucky little boy!

Like I said before. It was a great day. He had fun and received wonderful things. We played and spent time together as a family.

I dot know what I did before I had him. I love being a mom. I love being HIS mom. He is so funny and smart. He always makes me laugh and I know that this day is always going to be a special day for me. I realize it is his birthday. But it's also the day my whole life changed in such a wonderful way.

So happy birthday to my sweet baby boy! I love you more than you'll ever know!

Memories.

One year ago at this moment we were getting wheeled to the OR for a c section. My labor had lasted as long as they were going to let it and I was beyond exhausted. I couldn't feel anything from my neck down and that was the scariest thing ever. I had a great team of people in that OR though. The man that did my epidural was amazing and so very sweet. His name was Andy. He came by the next day to check on me and to see Talent. Everyone else was really great too. And in exactly 56 minutes from right now, I heard my sweet baby boy cry for the first time and saw his slimy purple face. It is a memory I will never forget. Most moms will say it was a beautiful sight and they thought their kid was the most beautiful thing ever. Not me. I knew once he was cleaned up he would be. But he was covered in slime and gunk from being inside of me for so long. He did not look cute the first time I saw him. He looked purple and pissed. And slimy. But he was mine and I've never been so happy to see something so slimy in all my life.

I can remember Seth telling me he was proud of me. Words I don't know if I've ever heard come out of his mouth in the 9 years we've been together. And I can remember the first time my husband ever held our son. He had never held a baby before. Sharing that moment with him was special. I'm glad it was just us there. I remember I was so exhausted but I wanted to stay up and hold him. They took their sweet precious time bringing him to me. And I stayed up as long as I could and finally I had to call the nurse to come take him for a little while so I could get some sleep. He was so beautiful and sweet. He is such a blessing to me.

I'm sure I will post one more time before the end of his birthday. Here's another now & then pic.

Sleep.

This time last year I couldn't sleep. I stayed up until around midnight watching tv and just trying to get comfortable. Nothing was working. Tonight I'm trying to get comfortable and make myself go to sleep and all I can think about is what my body went through a year ago. At this moment last year I had swollen ankles, feet, hands, and, well, everything! This year I'm not swollen but my back is aching from helping build a little boy a sand box today.

I can remember calling my best friend, Elizabeth. I can remember meeting her at the hospital. She got there before we did. I think she was just as excited and nervous as I was. I can remember texting Seth and telling him to come to the hospital. Calling my in laws while I waited for my parents to get here. An calling my baby brother, who was living in Illinois, and telling him we were headed to have his nephew. I can remember every single moment of it. And this week it seems that those memories are just flooding back.

I checked on Talent before I came to bed and I just stood there for a minute and looked at this precious little boy. I can remember when he slept in a swing in my room, right next to my bed. And when I finally moved him to his cradle (still next to my bed) and let him sleep there. And I can remember the very first time we put him in his crib. He slept fine, I was a wreck. I just stood there and watched him sleep for a minute tonight. He has grown so much. He is learning so many new things every single day. It is so fun to see and be a part of. But there are moments, like today, when he takes three steps on his very own with our realizing he did it by himself, when I wish it would slow down.

I'm sure this isn't the last post you'll see this week. Sorry I'm so gabby. But hey, when you are pretty sure you're only having one kid, why not relive the experience and make it exciting every year? It was one of my favorite things about the Gilmore Girls. Lorelei always retold Rory's birth story to her every year. While it may not work out that way for me since I have a son, I can blog about it. So I'm sorry, you may get to hear this snappiness every year around this time.

Now here's a picture of my big boy. Now & then.

One year ago....

One year ago this "Goodyear" rotation I was big, huge, pregnant, and miserable. I had asked my mom to come out and help me around the house. I was just feeling plain horrible that Sunday. I remember waking up at 3 am feeling like I had wrt the bed. All alone in this house with just my two dogs, Seth working nights, and my water broke. I got up and called my parents to come get me, texted my husband, called my best friend to meet me at the hospital, and called my in laws. I was able to stay calm and get our bags, take care of my sweet puppies, and change my clothes. Then my parents got here and we were off. I got a hold of Seth and he headed to the hospital to await the arrival of our sweet baby.

Labor was pretty intense. They had to induce because my water broke and I wasn't contracting. Every time they upped the pitocin I got SO sick. Every time they laid me down in the bed to check me, I got sick. I guess looking back, it was pretty fitting. I was sick for 9 months with this kid. Why not be sick all through labor with him too?

After 22 hours of labor we finally were told I was going to need a c section. I was so tired that I didn't even care. I just wanted Talent here and I wanted him here safely. This was the best option. So we headed to the OR, just my sweet, loving husband and myself. With a team of doctors, nurses, and other random medical staff. Seth held a bucket and my hair while I was sick during the c section. He was so great to me. I could have never imagined loving that man more than I already did, but, this experience made that possible. He's more than amazing.

At 12:58 am on April 12, 2011 I heard the most beautiful sound my ears have ever heard and saw the most beautiful little slime covered baby ever. I remember being so overcome with emotions. I cried tears of happiness because Talent was finally here. This sweet little person that I had carried in my body for 38 weeks, he was finally in front of me. For me to hold and love. I knew then, my heart would never be the same. And it isn't.

This week is full of so many emotions for me. Happiness because becoming a mom has been one of the biggest blessings of my life. A bit of sadness because this year has seriously flown by. I see this beautiful and smart boy growing and changing everyday right before my eyes and it is so bittersweet. As exciting as all these milestones are, it's hard because time seems to just go so quick.

So tonight as I sit here in a house that is slightly less quiet than it was this time last year, I just want to say, enjoy your time. I know babies and children can be frustrating at times but that doesn't mean you can't cherish those times as much as any others. They grow so fast and these little moments are only here for a short while. Enjoy every second you have with them. You can't get them back once they are gone. I know for me, I'm determined no to miss a second of Talent growing up. I enjoy him so much. Seeing all the silly things he does and the things he learns make my world go round. So enjoy your babies. Let them know you love them.

A year ago....

So a year ago I was big, pregnant, and miserable. Impatiently waiting for the arrival of my sweet son. I can still feel the kicks in my belly as he was running out of room in there. I looked back on the blog today to see what I had been blogging back then. It's funny to read those entries a year later. I still feel like it was just yesterday. And next week he will be one. I can't believe how fast this year has flown by! So today I thought I would post a picture or two from last year. Just a few of my very favorites from my maternity session with Ashley. That shoot was a thing I did just for me. And I've never been more glad I did them. It was something I did to remember the beautiful time in my life. Being pregnant was an experience I will never forget. I can honestly say, nothing in life will ever compare to the feeling of growing another human being inside your own body. Becoming a mother has been one of the two most amazing things that has ever happened in my life. I'm loving every second of it!

Sweet Riley dog!

Big Redick!

Talent's First Birthday Party!

Well Saturday we had Talent's first birthday party! We had to have it a little early because it was the only time when Dad & Seth were both off! So we did it 2 weeks early. It  was a blast! Talent loves Sesame Street so we had a Sesame Street party! I made invitations in photoshop and sent them out to family and a few friends. We had Jennifer (one of my very best friends) make a smash cake and some cupcakes. We had a blast. Talent got toys, clothes, books, and even money! He is just so blessed and he doesn't even know it yet!

So for those of you that don't live close and don't believe in having a facebook, here's a few pictures to keep you in the loop! I hope you enjoy them and I will be posting pictures from his one year photo session with Keelie Lipscomb very soon!

Talent's Smash Cake!

Cupcakes!

Nisa & Flynnard Skynnard! (I give him a new nickname everytime I see him...poor kid!)

Such a handsome boy, enjoying his burger!

Looked up at his Auntie Rhyan and gave her a funny look!

PRESENTS!!

He stopped playing long enough to look at his Auntie for a pic!

Let's do this!

YUM!

Do I have something on my face?

There's cake, I don't have time for a picture with you, Mom!

Jenny Cakes are yummy!

I think I need more!

I will even show you my big chompers!

Time to turn the bath water blue!