Happy Birthday Colby!

Sweet Colby's very first birthday fell on Thanksgiving this year!  The night before we put together his gift and did a little decorating.  Clearly Daddy did the putting together and I did the decorating :)

 When the birthday boy woke up he was really ready for breakfast (he is REALLY ready to eat when he wakes up in the morning).  So we had a birthday waffle!

Then he saw his truck.  Mr. ONEderful LOVED it!

 That day we celebrated Thanksgiving and Colby's birthday at Gran and Grandad's.  Of course this boy had some birthday pumpkin pie.

The next night everyone came over to get ready for his birthday party the next day.  It turns out this truck is made for 2!

If your birthday is going to fall on a holiday every so many years, I'd say Thanksgiving is a good one to have it on.  Certainly we are always mindful of all that we have to be thankful for!

12 months!

One year.  365 days and nights of life-changing little boy love!  This last month of Colby's first year was crazy and great!  Can you handle these little clapping hands?

 And these walking feet?

 The boy that will climb on anything.

 What a difference a year makes... especially when it is your first.

Quick synopsis of the twelfth month:
Colby is a full time walker now after learning to stand up without the need for assistance.  He loves it.  He is a dancing fool!  He loves to get his groove on which usually involves pointing his pointer finger while he bobs up and down.  Sometimes he shakes it up and shakes his fist like a president giving a speech while he dances.  He talks and talks and it is almost always started or ended with "dada."  He loves to stack things and put small things inside of bigger things.  We are in the process of weaning and are down to nursing 3 times a day and plan to be done in a month.  He doesn't like cow's milk and just let's it fall out of his mouth.  Sleep went through a rough patch at the beginning of the month but seems to be back to a great place.  There was also a lot of wanting to be held this month and fits when he got put down, but that also seems to be improving.  We started a class at My Gym and I fear that it will just encourage his need to climb without fear up anything.  We love it though.

There is so much no one tells you about being a parent.  It's best that way.  They might tell you about the sleep deprivation.  They mention the overwhelming amount of stuff that takes over your home and the way the money disappears from your bank account.  And there are things no one tells you because there aren't words enough.  There is no way to explain little arms wrapping around your neck, rocking a sick baby through the night, watching those wobbly legs take their first steps, or that watching him laugh makes me so happy it hurts.  God has given us the purest joy in sweet Colby and we are so grateful!

Every child born into the world is a new thought of God, an ever-fresh and radiant possibility.
-Kate Douglas Wiggin

We are Baylor.

There is nothing better in the fall than Baylor homecoming!  Except maybe your 10th homecoming!  Clearly I love love love Baylor and I couldn't be happier to take my sweet boy there and share that love with him.  Truly the best part of the weekend is just seeing amazing friends... and now to see their children and for them to meet mine.  We had a great weekend!  On the road trip up C took a nap.  When he woke up he was ready to be out of his car seat.  Sadly we were still 45 minutes away.  Enter Sesame Street on the iPad and cheerios.  Such a big boy.

When we arrived in town we hit up Common Grounds and hit the bookstore.  Then we wandered around campus.  When we walked into the student union, we found the Heisman and the women's national championship trophy on display.  So cool!

Then it was time for a little stretching of the legs. 

We didn't get to stay up for the bonfire this year.  But they did have so many fun things to do beforehand and great food!  So this boy went on his first ferris wheel!  He was excited.  About a quarter of the way up the power went out on it and we started sort of falling back the other way.  I suddenly felt like a moron for taking my baby on a carnival ride!  I proceeded to hug him so tight while also having a death grip on his thigh until we got off.  The view was beautiful though!

After that we headed to check into our hotel and get some sleep.  I emphasize some.  Sleep in one room with a baby who can stand up is just not as restful.  But we survived and were up and ready for the parade!  This is the best place to see friends and we loved it. 

Then it was back to the hotel so Colby could get a nap in.  Except he wasn't quite ready to lay down.  So he just kept standing up and talking.  Of course he would never go to sleep if he saw Rick and I.  So we took our lunch into the bathroom and ate it standing looking at ourselves in the mirror.  Parenting is hilarious!  Then we got to nap too so we were all ready for game time!

I only have this picture from the game because after half time we had to leave due to bad weather!  We had fun though and the Bears won!

We went to dinner with our friends the Foleys and then headed back to the hotel to crash.  Literally.  Colby was so tired that when I tried to put him in the bath tub he completely lost it.  No need to hide from him that night... he was passed out. 

Something about homecoming is just good for the soul!  Baylor truly changed who I am and I will forever be grateful for the blessing of going there.  And grateful for any chance I have to go back! 

Our Little Blockhead

Disclaimer... the title was Rick's idea :)  We had such a fun first Halloween with our little Charlie Brown!  Our sweet little bumblebee Lexy came over too.  We had dinner and then handed out candy to all of our sweet little neighbors.  We even watched It's a Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.  I realized as I was putting Colby to bed that this was his last first holiday!  It sure was a fun one :)