The big #1

Well, we made it!  Sydney turned 1 this past week, and we have made it thru the first year.  There have of course been some very minor mishaps, but for the most part I consider it a success.  We have all our limbs, I think Sydney still loves me, so what is there to complain about, right?  In all seriousness though, it has been a truly amazing year.  I never knew what it would be like to love a child.  I know I have said this before, but let me say it again, there is nothing like it in the world!  Time has flown too quickly.  The special moments happen too fast, and the next big event is here before we know it.  What are we left with?  Amazing memories, brilliant photos, but most of all, better knowledge and a greater love for one another.

Some of the best memories include:  

-Your first cry

-The day we came home from the Hospital

-The first airplane ride

-Completing our first marathon together

-Visiting NYC for the first time together

-The daily run with the stroller

-All the firsts:  First tooth, first roll over, first army crawl, first steps, first laugh

-Being the cutest turtle in the world for Halloween

-Your first Christmas, and how terrified you were of Santa

-The crazy Aunts and Uncles (Amy, David, Derek and Jared included) that love You to death!

-That first smile that you know is for you

-The first hug

With all of Sydney's accomplishments it was definitely time for some celebration.  What parent does not want to throw their first child the best first birthday ever?  Well, we decided it had to be at Chuck E. Cheese's.  Granted Sydney had no clue what was going on, but his cousins sure thought he was cool.  It was a great night of endless tokens, funny games, messy cake and one really scary rat.  

The day was a success!  Sydney had a great time, as did his cousins.  Maybe next time he will be able to enjoy it as much as everyone surrounding him.

Congratulations Sydney, you have made it thru your first year!  We love you to pieces!!!!!  Thanks for being the joy of my life and bringing such happiness to our family!

Everything This Year...

Being the wonderful, on top of it, mother that I am, I have absolutely failed in keeping my blog up to date.  It was LG's first Christmas, and I have not even posted anything yet.  So here is, my attempt to summarize the Holidays and bring you up to date on our other goings on. 

From this photo you may think that the trip to visit Santa was nothing but a success.  The truth of the matter is, we should have kept the shot when he was hysterical and pulling at Santa's beard.  I thought that he would love Santa!  After all, it is his first Christmas.  Little did I realize, he is just too young to appreciate all the good and happiness that Santa Clause will some day bring to him.   I do have this question, why is it that Christmas becomes a million times more enjoyable with little kids around?  Their excitement  is so contagious, it brings such a new and different level of enjoyment to an already festive time of year.  Maybe I should start a business called "Rent-a-Kid for the Holidays".  It would certainly bring something new to those who don't have little ones to enjoy their Holidays with them.  

There is no better way to say it other than, Christmas was magical with our LG!

 

After recovering from the Holidays, we went out to visit TJ on the road with "Ain't Misbehavin'"  Visited some good friends, had some good times. Froze to death!  You know the things you do on the East Coast during the winter.  We played in Philadelphia, took the bus to NYC, played in NYC and then back to good ol' Utah.

 Now for the really exciting part of our lives, Sydney has finally decided that he can walk on his own.  Back in mid December he took his first steps on his own.  We thought he would be walking all over the place within a few days, perhaps a week...but for some reason he just got scared.  He made up his mind that he could only walk if he was holding on to someone's finger.  Not just anything, it had to be a finger.  With that finger he would go anywhere, at full speed!  But yesterday he finally got the confidence and decided that he could venture off on his own, sans finger, sans walking aid.  He is awesome!  We now have a walking maniac on our hands :)  But he is cute, and we LOVE him!!!!

It is absolutely crazy to think that this year has gone by so fast!  Sydney will be 1 year old on February 12.  I really can't believe it.  I think of myself at this time last year, as big as a house, hoping and praying that this guy would come join us on this earth a week early (only to have him show up 9 days late :( ).  Every time I look at him I do so in complete and utter amazement.  TJ and I created this beautiful human being.  He is a wonderful blessing from heaven and the complete joy of our lives!  We love you LG!!!!