Happy 1st Birthday to my Baby!

This has been such a bittersweet day. Feelings of excitement over watching my baby grow up to be a sweet, smart, strong, and hilarious toddler are mixed with feelings of sadness over my baby not being so little anymore. I once read that we eagerly await our child's "firsts", but never really know when their "lasts" will happen. Last time taking a bottle, last time in the baby tub, last time playing with a certain toy, last time being nursed to sleep. The feelings going through my mind are so hard to explain. I'm sure other mommies understand. Since I'm having such a difficult time expressing how I feel, I'll just write my sweet angel a little note and leave some pictures. The tears are already falling. This is so hard!

Dear BroBro,
Happy 1st Birthday baby boy! Words just cannot express how much love I have for you in my heart. The second I laid my eyes on you, I was so in love. I honestly never experienced a love so intense and so instant. You have brought such joy and life into our home. I can't remember a time without your contagious laugh, your head-butting, your blue lovey, watching you suck your thumb, your sweet wave, stinky diapers, and toys all over the house. I treasure our memories we've made this past year, especially nursing and rocking you to sleep every night and singing "our" three songs over and over. I am just so blessed that God has chosen me to be your mommy. I know that He has big plans for you! I love you so much sweet baby!
Love, Mommy

Just minutes old...6lbs.7oz.

So peaceful

Checking out his new world

Our little family :)

Oh how I miss my teeny weeny baby...now he's a wild man! :)


What a difference a year makes!

Birthday cake #1

Birthday cake #2

The birthday boy on the way to church...19lbs.

Relaxing with Daddy on his birthday

Me and my sweet baby!

1st Birthday = 1st Chilly Willy :)

Birthday supper at McDonalds...yum yum :)

Update

Things have been very busy lately...time is moving too fast! I thought I'd just let everyone in on our last/next couple of weeks:

-June 19th was PRC's 3rd Annual Family Night at the Park and it was a huge success! Last year when I went, it was ONE week from my water breaking and Brogan beginning his SLOW entry into this world. This year, he rode the train, grabbed our pizza and took some bites, and enjoyed Matthew, Emma and Kennedy's snow cones. I think he preferred this year :)

-Tadd just got back from preaching at Revolution Church in Canton, GA (where he used to be on staff). He had a horrible experience trying to get down there. I doubt he'll ever fly US Airways again. His checked bag didn't show up until he went back to the airport to come HOME! I have heard, though, that he did an incredible job on Sunday. God really gave him an excellent message to share with the people of Revolution.

-I found a bakery to bake both of Brogan's birthday cakes. They are reasonably priced and would do exactly what I wanted. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they turn out nicely! :)

-We are getting excited about Brogan's first birthday. Sad, but excited too. Sometimes when I look at him he looks like a kid. Other times he looks like a baby. Of course I'll always picture him as my baby, but he's starting to look older. His hair is growing super fast and he's getting taller and leaner each day.

-I'm getting my hair done on Thursday. WOOHOO! It's been since March and my hair is crazy right now, since I'm still taking prenatal vitamins. Three months is TOO long to go, but it's a good way to save money.

-Tadd was out of town for Father's Day this year...so we celebrated Thursday night at Cracker Barrel. He opened his present from Brogan in the van at the airport before he left. Brogan got him a coffee mug with a collage of pictures on it- all of him and Daddy together. And a bag of Reese's Pieces :)

-We are still deciding what we want to do for vacation this year. Traveling with a one year old kind of limits our options. I'm not sure I want to fly on a plane with him yet. He's not the "calmest" of children, that's for sure. We're looking into the Great Wolf Lodge, the beach, and Orlando as possible options. Any advice? Recommendations?

-Brogan has his one year portraits on the 29th! I am super excited. Andrea Halsey is doing them (andreahalsey.com) and she has her own little cottage. I know they will turn out great...if Brogan cooperates. I'm nervous about that. Brogan will miss having Tandy take his pictures this time, but we can't wait for her to take some more when we visit!

-My best friend, Rachel is visiting us in July! WOOHOO!!!! I can't wait to see her- it's almost been a year since the last time she traveled south to visit.

-Here are a few recent pictures of BroBro. He is hilarious! Always getting into something...just like his daddy and Uncle Bryan (uh-oh!) :)

Playing at the pool like a big boy!

Crawling around on mommy and daddy's bed

Playing with Anna Claire!

First Snow Cone!

Quiet baby=Trouble!

Four Years Ago...

I married my best friend. It was my idea of what a perfect wedding should be: outdoors in a rose garden, pink and green as our colors, summer time, and of course with the man of my dreams!

Our first kiss!

So excited to be Mrs. Tadd Grandstaff!

On our way to our honeymoon...and the rest of our lives!

On our honeymoon- Sandals Montego Bay

One year anniversary- Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale, Bahamas

Two year anniversary- Sandals Ocho Rios

Three year anniversary- we don't have a picture because I was hugely pregnant and not in the mood. We went to see Kung Fu Panda and I was in pain the whole movie...dumb bladder infection. Here's a picture of us a month before our 3 year anniversary

This year- PF Changs while my parents babysat Brogan

I am so blessed to be Tadd's wife. He is an amazing husband. He encourages me when I am down, tells me I'm beautiful when I don't feel it, loves to clean the house, irons his own clothes, will eat leftovers and never complain, encourages me to not work and stay home with Brogan, takes care of the yard, likes holding my hand, takes care of the bills, kills bugs, watches Jon and Kate plus 8 with me, even when a ballgame is on, always takes the trash out, never forgets an important day/holiday, listens to me when I talk about coupons (and acts interested), lets me choose which movie to see and where to eat, keeps quiet when the house is a wreck, lets me vent when I'm frustrated, lets me sleep in every Saturday, gives Brogan a bath almost every night and on and on and on! I am so thankful that God put Tadd in my life. We make a great team...and always have fun together- even when it means going grocery shopping on our anniversary :)

I love you Tadd! Thank you for being an amazing husband to me and awesome daddy to Brogan!

My baby is 11 months...

When the hay diddle diddle did that happen? I know I say that every month, but goodness! Last year at this time, I was cleaning out my classroom and having early contractions (caused by a UTI). A year later, my BroBro is a toddler! We are busy getting everything ready for his big birthday bash and trying to capture all of his firsts on camera and video. It seems like he does something new everyday.

Brogan...
-can say "dada", "dah" (dog), "babababa" (baby or byebye), and I've heard "mama" twice!
-waves byebye
-can sign "more" and "all done" when he's eating
-has taken a few steps without falling
-claps for himself when we say "Yay!!!!!"
-loves to laugh at our dog
-likes to play in the refrigerator and pantry
-tries to play in the dishwasher and dryer
-plays peekaboo with his lovey
-still nurses 5-6 times a day
-is almost DONE with baby food...give this child some MEAT (just like his daddy!)
-pops his thumb in his mouth the second he grabs his lovey...every single time
-will shake whatever is in his hand if we sing "shake your booty!"
-will bounce if we say "jump jump jump!"
-still suffers from bad eczema- especially on his hands and feet :(
-takes 2-3 naps each day
-weighs about 19lbs.

I really can't imagine our lives without our BroBro. The smile he greets us with each morning just makes getting up in the mornings so worth it. I've already started getting really emotional lately, looking at his newborn pictures, putting away clothes that no longer fit, and toys that he isn't interested in anymore. I can't imagine how I'm going to feel on his actual birthday. It will be very bittersweet I'm sure. Here's to hoping the next 23 days go by slowly.