Happy First Birthday, Shane!

There was a family wedding on Shane's birthday so we celebrated on Sunday, the day after, instead. We had his birthday party at a park on a day that turned out to be 102 degrees! Thank you, Melissa, for taking such lovely pictures.

I made cupcakes for Shane. Chocolate and vanilla, with cream cheese filling and whipped cream frosting. The chocolate were awesome, and the vanilla were dry and heavy. That's what I get for trying a new recipe!

 I asked Nathan to put the letters on Shane's banner, so he used some creative license and wrote "Happy 1st Birfday Shane!" You should be able to click on the picture to see it bigger to see the letters.

 Shane LOVES water.

 It was very hot. And Shane was very, very tired. Poor sweet boy.

 I made Shane a birthday onesie to match the party decorations.

 We skyped a little bit with Grammy Wilkins in Ohio so she could see Shane's first bite of cake and a present or two.

 "What IS this, Mama? I'm not too sure about it." Poke, poke.

 Not too bad, once you try it.

 Daddy's goatee is quite overgrown. Don't worry, he didn't help with the cupcakes! 

 He liked it. ;)

 We were really blessed--so many family and friends showed up! Despite the heat, it was great to celebrate with so many loved ones.

 Grammy Vines did the cooking (burgers and dogs) and then helped Shane open his presents. She was SO hot--what a trooper!

Happy first birthday, kiddo!

A year ago today...

A year ago today, my life changed irrevocably. And I would not have it any other way.

A year ago today, I looked like this:

And then, I met you:

 And I fell in love more deeply than I ever knew I could.

And then today, I woke up with you nursing contentedly by my side.

And I thought back over the past year, with all the memories; all the joys and yes, all the struggles too.
And I thought of my love for you, my hopes and dreams for you, and I thought of how much more God loves you, and the hopes and dreams He has for you.
I loved you before I met you, I loved you yesterday and today and tomorrow and forever, sweet baby boy.

Dear Shane,

Today you are one year old. A whole year! I can't believe we've been together this long, baby.  I love you so much and I'm so proud of how you've grown and changed and all you've accomplished in your short year of life. You've learned to roll, sit, crawl, walk, say a few words, sign a few words, laugh, smile, scowl, and more. Your personality develops more each day and it's so much fun to watch you become your own little person. You have a sweet laugh and smile and are generally happy and laid back. You've learned to scowl recently, and it's like looking in the mirror. You look like Daddy, but you scowl like Mama. It's very cute on you, though. You sign "more" which really seems to mean "I want" as well as signing for mama's milk.  You're working on "all done".  You love to clap for yourself when we praise you, and you give me the most mischevious over the shoulder grin when I catch you being naughty. Which is usually climbing up on the couch or trying to touch Daddy's TV.  In fact, we call you a little billy goat because you're either climbing on something or eating something, anything. You just love to play with Daddy and it melts my heart to see you laughing with him. And of course you love Mama; I can't even leave the room without you crying.  Like I said, you're pretty easy going and happy; you play very well by yourself and I think you have a big imagination already. You like to look at books and pull all your toys out of the bucket. You've learned how to put your rings on the stacker and lids on boxes, and you like to wear Daddy's hats.  I think you're a little advanced in your motor skills and probably normal in speech. You say Mama, Dada, dog, ball, hi, and bye. It's just incredible to me how your personality is coming out even just in the last few weeks and I can't wait to see what you will be like as you continue to grow. I imagine that you will be easygoing but persistent, sweet and funny, but definitely know what you want. I hope that you will be honorable and honest, a man of integrity. And I pray that you will love the Lord with all your mind, heart, and soul. I love you very much baby boy, and I hope you always know it.

Mama

Happy Birthday honey!

Yesterday was Nathan’s 24th birthday. Happy birthday honey! Now we’re the same age again. I made him a spice cake at his request and his mom brought over some B.lue B.ell, which is his favorite kind of ice cream. Melissa and Thomas and Mom and Dad Vines came over to have cake with us. Piglet was doing a happy birthday dance for his Daddy, but his Daddy was busy and didn’t get to feel. I think those were some of the strongest kicks I have felt yet--guess Piglet likes B.lue B.ell ice cream too! Nathan even got all of his candles out on the first blow! Good thing, too—with a pregnant wife I don’t think he could afford extra girlfriends.

A fellow blogger was talking about Braxton Hicks and it made me realize I never posted about having them. I got my first one right around 17 weeks after we got back from Ohio, when we were at S.onic. Since then they’ve gotten more frequent as I’ve gotten further along, but most of the time I don’t even notice them anymore. I forgot to tell Dr. H about them at my last visit so I will have to try to remember this next time. I never can remember anything I want to tell/ask him. He really liked my Christmas cookies though! I told him I’d bring the nurses brownies when I went into labor. Butter them up so they’ll be extra nice to me. He laughed and said that he was sure the nurses would appreciate it.

And speaking of labor, I got a lot of laughs out of this lady’s blog. I wish she would keep posting but I haven’t seen anything in a while. It’s at itsababynotbrainsurgery.blogspot.com/

Not sure how I got from Nathan’s birthday to labor and delivery, but between the missionary and the pregnant brain I’m about to be certified in rabbit trails…

Thanks to all of you for your comment on my last post. I really appreciate the encouragement.

13 weeks, 2 days

Baby is about the size of a peach this week! Only three and a half more weeks until we get an ultrasound to try to find out the little shrimp's gender. Be a good baby and cooperate for Mama and Daddy!


Saturday was my birthday. Nathan gave me some movies and a hair straightener which was what I asked for. His work had called and said he was going to Florida (and all points to Nathan—he asked me if it was okay if he left on my birthday and I told him yes because this is his off season and he doesn’t get a lot of work) So I had to drop him off at the office and then I went home and had a pity party in my bedroom. Then Andrea (SIL) and Daphne (MIL) got me a cake and cnadles and I was sitting there playing with Alie (neice) when Nathan walked through the front door! He said he didn’t have to leave until Sunday morning. What a waste of a pity party, I tell ya! So we went to the mall, and then to church because I had praise practice, and then we went out to eat and went home to watch one of my movies. We had planned to go into downtown to eat and walk around but I was too tired. It was a good birthday, once Nathan came home.

Here are a couple of belly pictures. 4 weeks...

10 weeks...
And 13 weeks!