It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!!!

I am very excited about Christmas this year!!!!  Bryson is definitely going to be INVOLVED in Christmas morning and I can't wait!!!!  I bought his Christmas outfit this weekend and we are taking him to see Santa sometime this coming week....hope he doesn't scream!!!!  It has been a while since my last post.  We have been very busy with life lately.  It is definitely hard being at work all day and away from Bryson so when we are with him we make EVERY minute count!!!!  Our Christmas will be spent at home this year- our 1st in our 7 1/2 years of marriage.  Brett and I both grew up celebrating Christmas at home and keeping family traditions alive.  We will be creating our own traditions and waiting patiently for SANTA at our own house!!!!!  EXCITING!!!!!!  I will post some pics of Christmas soon!!!  The past 17 months have been the best of our lives and God has definitely blessed us!  We are sooo thankful for our miracle!!!!!  Keep us in your prayers as we continue to expand our family.  We are seeking God's plan and timing and we pray that Bryson will be a BIG brother sooner than later!!!!!

What we can do NOW!!!!!

Bryson has really come into his own personality.  He is such a talker!!!! 
Some of the words he says are:
1. Momma- been saying that the longest - since 6 months.
2. Dadda- by far his favorite word!!!!
3. If he does not know how to say a word he points to something and just says /D/!!
4. Kitty Cat- points to our cat and says it!!!
5. Duck- he loves ducks and when he finds one in a book he points to them and says duck!!!
6. D- means dog when he points to Maggie Mae.
7. Gigi- my mom- he says this sometimes
8. Tank ku- means thank you!!!  He says this back to us when we use them with him.
9. Dat- he points at things he wants and says "that"

He says a few more but I can't seem to remember them all!!!

LOVES:

• playing with all of his toys
• books- he pulls them all out and points at the pictures and words and says "ta, ta, ta" over and over
• crawling like a speedster- he is extremely fast
• he walks and then decides he is done so he just all of a sudden will start crawling again.
• ELMO!!!! 
• FOOD!!! not picky except about ground beef
• Dancing- when he hears music he just starts belly bouncing and when he is standing up he starts stomping his legs and waving his arms!!!
• getting into our cabinets and drawers- this is my least favorite thing he has learned to do
• being outside!!!!- swinging, playing with the bubbles, etc.
• Learning about new things!!!!!
• Pointing to the parts of the face we name- example- nose, eye, mouth

I love to watch him respond to new things and people.  When people tell you that children are like sponges they are very right.  Children only learn what we teach them and they are always watching even when we don't expect it.  This age is definitely fun and keeps me extremely busy- I wouldn't change it for the world!!!!

1st Birthday

Bryson turned one on June 26th but we celebrated with a big party on Sat. June 25th at a local neighborhood pool house. We all had fun and of course little man was spoiled.  I had a friend of mine make his birthday cakes and they were gorgeous and delicious!!!!!   I of course cried when I lit the candle on his cake.  Thinking back on how unbelievably blessed we are by him.  The child that we thought was beyond our reach is in our arms and here are celebrating a year from the day we first held him.  Talk about emotional!!!!!  With God ALL things are possible and our family is living proof!!!!

Sunday June 26th all of our family gathered at our house and we had lunch and sang to him!!!  What a wonderful weekend- fun and exhausting!!!!!

What a fabulous summer!!!

We started the summer with a week long family vacation to Panama City Beach.  This was Bryson's 3rd trip to the beach and by far his most fun and active.  He is used to being in the water since we go to the pool in my parent's neighborhood at least once a week and he loves it!!!  He liked sitting on a towel at the beach and touching the water, but when his feet hit the sand- OH MY- he screamed.  The feel of it was not one he enjoyed.  I hope he grows out of that!!!! Can't wait to see how he responds to it next year!!!

On the MOVE!!!!!

We are officially crawling and it is soooo much fun to watch.  He started out with an army crawl which he was super fast at but just recently he decided to crawl the normal way!!!  Since he has been mobile our lives have changed yet again.  He no longer wants to sit in his exersaucer or be still in any way.  All he wants to do is constantly be on the MOVE.  We are sure glad that we childproofed our house very early because it has paid off.  One day he is observant and the next he is mimicking and into everything!!! 

 We have spent a few Saturdays at the pool in my parent's neighborhood and it has been a blast watching Bryson enjoy the water.  He may not look a lot like his Mommy, but he sure does act like me and enjoy most of things that I do. Our Summer is sure to be one either spent at the park, pool, or the beach-FUN!!!! His mobility sure allows him to be indpendent and very curious.   I love to watch him figure out how things work!!!!

 Little Water Baby-- Just like his Mommy!!!!

 Easter!!!

 Our Easter was fabulous this year!!! I remember last year knowing that I was about to be blessed with this little boy and when I was in church a sobering thought came over me- Could I give up my son?  I have felt the heartache of a loss of a child (I know it would have been worse if I would have held that baby in my arms, but still I think of my 1st child that wasn't strong enough to make it and it saddens me) and I know that I couldn't. I would gladly give MY life for his but never knowingly sacrifice my son whatever the reason.  This brought me to my knees and thanked God for the selfless act of sacrifice and the LOVE He has for us is one that is unparralled!!!  This year was the same!!! Being a Parent makes Easter even more of a blessing in my eyes.  Thank you Jesus for your death and resurrection!!!!  You have triumphed death over death and paid it all for us to be one with you again!!!

 Bryson with his GiGi and PawPaw!!!  (My Mom and Dad)

I grew up with lots of traditions and now that Bryson is here I really want to have family traditions of our own.  A blend of Brett's and mine and some of our own I am sure will be what we choose.  Even though Bryson is way too young to know what is going on it was sooo much fun to dye eggs and hunt them.  I know next year will be one where he participates much more!!!

The past 10 months have flown by and before I know it his 1st Birthday will here.  I have started planning and am very excited to celebrate this miracle child that we thought we would never have.  With God all things are possible and we are living proof!!!  God Bless!!!

2011 Thus Far and Valentine's Day!!!

Wow!!! 2010 I have to say was THE fastest year of my life.  The most fun part is definitely seeing and experiencing the world again for the 1st time through Bryson.  The smallest things just mean the most to me right now.  My life before Bryson is like a blur.  I don't miss any part of it.  Sure I am soooo busy and I never get to do things just for myself, but all of that doesn't matter.  Christmas was awesome!!!! I have always loved giving to others, but when it is for your own child - WOW!!!! Toooo much fun :)  Since I last posted a lot has happened.  We have moved Bryson from the daycare he was apart of- not out of unhappiness, but because a spot opened in a much smaller setting and we could not be more pleased.  He has been much happier and healthier.  God had HIS hand in that move and what a blessing it has been. 

Bryson has really started to become a little boy instead of a baby- exciting but sad at the same time!  He LOVES all food and begs for it.  While we are eating he just stares in hopes of a nibble or a taste.  He also loves to grab everything and figure out how it works.  And then of course it ends up in his mouth!!  We watch him like a hawk and have to sterilize things more than we ever thought possible.  He is starting to try to crawl.  He gets on his knees and rocks for a short while and then just ends up rolling all over the floor to get where he wants- super cute! The talking is starting to sound like words- sometimes we hear a little mom-ma,  lala, and the occasional da da da.  I can't wait for him to look at me and say Momma- I will just ball tears of joy!!! I think that will be the most special moment!!!! 



My Valentine's Day shirt "Prince Charming!"



It may not taste good, but it sure is fun to play with.

                                                      

 Valentine's Day!!!!!

This year we spent Valentine's Day at home with our little family.  We grilled out and just enjoyed each other and playing with Bryson.  He got lots of Valentine's from friends and family and at his school.  They all exchanged and it was soooo cute.  He played with the cards and the balloon we got him along with his book.  It was the BEST Heart day I have had with my two Valentine's - Brett and Bryson!!!!



Bryson's Valentine Bag from school!!!  It was full :)



Daddy reading Bryson his Valentine's Card from Mom and Day!!!  He wanted to hold it soooo bad!



He obviously likes Snoopy!!!!

Valentine's Day socks !!!!!





Trying to eat all of the Valentine's he got from his school!!!





The book I got Bryson for Valentine's Day "Baby Love."  Soooo cute!!!



 

                Bath Time!!! 

What fun!!! He loves to splash, play with his bath toys, and read his bath books.  Well, books of any kind are his favorite!!! I love this since I am a teacher!!!

 

Splashing in the tub!!!!  So much fun!



My book is so much fun to read in the water!!!

Ohhh and seperation anxiety has begun!  He absolutely always wants his Mommy!!! It sure makes me feel loved, but sad when I have to leave him and poor Brett gets his feelings hurt.  I hope he always loves and wants to be near me, but will have an easy time with me leaving him when I need to- just breaks my heart!

With Thanksgiving and Sadness!

November has been a bittersweet month for us.  Bryson has really started to LOVE food.  At first it was hard to get him to really eat, especially the cereal, but as he begins to experience real food I can't seem to get the spoon in his mouth quick enough.  So far we don't have a picky eater on his hands.  I think if his little tummy would allow it he would eat most anything. 

Bryson also met his cousin Kaylee for the 1st time that weekend.  What a special moment.  They are only 15 weeks apart and as they get older I am sure that they will be very close.  Can't wait to see them play and grow-up together.                                             

     

Thanksgiving has always been a time that has completely revolved around family.  As I grew up, we always visited both sets of grandparents during the Thanksgiving holiday.  It has also always been when my birthday falls each year.  This year I rushed up to my Mother's Mom's side as we found out she was in the final days of her struggle with Alzheimer's.  I wanted to see my grandmother and be sure to let her know how much she means to me and how much I love her.  Another important thing for me was to let her meet Bryson.  Last year we let her know how excited Brett and I were that we were finally going to be parents after our 3 1/2 year long struggle.  She was so happy for us!!!  By the time I made it up she was already unresponsive and unable to see.  It was hard to see someone you love that way and even harder for me to know that my Mom was going through the hardest thing she had been faced with. 

 Tuesday- Nov. 23rd was my 29th birthday and I had a lot to be thankful for.  Not only a wonderful baby boy but a chance to spend it introducing Bryson to both of his living great-grandparents on my side of the family.  A chance for generations to meet is so special. Sadly the day after my Grandmother Gilbert passed away, but a blessing that she is with her Jesus and suffering NO more.  We will miss her dearly and keep her memory alive. 

My friend Erica made this Camo Turkey for Bryson's 1st thanksgiving.  It was sooo adorable on him!!!

He loves to play with his Winky Lamb as he gets his diaper changed.