12 Month Back to Backs

So it has happened. Baylor has officially turned 1 year old. The back to back pictures of Baylor and Brighton are below. I had planned on stopping these at this point, but I have so much fun looking at the two of them at the same age, side by side, that I may still do it periodically. Just not every month.

Baylor 12 Months

Brighton 12 Months

Little Baylor Tide is a joy, a cutie, and full of his own rambunctious spirit!! He tries hard to keep up with his older brother. He does a good job of keeping his parents in the pursuit of him... fast little guy! He is not yet walking, as I guess he feels he doesn't need to. Nothing stops him from getting where he wants to go. He is eating very well, hardly drinking bottles anymore. We are waiting on our trip to the allergy specialist before we switch him to milk. He sleeps like a dream, and wakes up every morning with a smile. He still waves and says bye bye all of the time, and loves to do "So Big". I took him to his 12 month check up and they said he was doing just great!

Denver Days

Every year in Denver (of the South), that we now call Home, the community puts together a fun little fall fair. It is not to big or fancy, but something to get the kids excited, and to remind us all that school is back in session, and we are on the cusp of Fall!!! 

We took the boys yesterday evening. It was opening day! Not to crowded at this time. The weather was iffy, but the rain held off. Brighton got to enjoy a few rides and games.

The stroller was the only ride that Baylor took. He had a good time taking it all in. He people watched and looked at all of the lights, and colors. Maybe he will be able to join some of the action next year!

1st Birthday Party

This was Baylor on his birthday morning. Sometimes the box is more fun than the actual gift!! His birthday was nice, but the real fun was on Saturday, when we had his party. 

Brighton was so excited for the party! 

It was great to get so many of our family and friends together to celebrate our special little guy. We had it all set up outside with ring toss, corn hole and the swing set but unfortunately as the guests arrived, so did the drizzle.  We were still covered sitting on the patio, with the deck above us. 

Cake Time!! 

I think Baylor enjoyed the destruction of the cake more than the eating of the cake! 

He was very interested in his packages!! 

What to open 1st??? 

Of course the child needed nothing, but was spoiled by all that love him. Thanks to everyone who joined us for this celebration. It was such a great day!! 

Birthday Post for Baylor a Day Early

I doubt I will get to blog tomorrow. Tomorrow is a very special day though. It is my  baby boy Baylor's 1st birthday. Oh my sweet, precious, rough and tumble, hoss of a baby Baylor!! What a year!
Let me recap the year a little bit. A year ago today I was a hot mess while I was feeling guilt for Brighton. I was sad that  would be the last day that he was my only child. It just felt like I should spend special time with him that day. I have always heard mothers say when they are having a second baby that they don't know how they will ever love the 2nd child as much as they love the 1st. But then of course, they do once it happens. I honestly never felt like that. I knew that the love I had for Brighton was so special and incredible,  how could I not have that same love for a second child? Brighton taught me all of that. Just by being there and being MINE. I was excited to give him a sibling and I wish with all of my heart that they will love and cherish each other the way that Lacey and I do. It may take years, but I hope that they get there. (At this point I would like to thank my mom and dad for giving Lacey to me!!) Anyway, onto my recap. So, saying goodbye to Brighton the morning of September 20th was hard. We talked about his new baby brother and listened to his favorite song "Rocket Man" in the car on the way to drop him off at his grandparents' house. I cried as I left him. Secretly of course. On to the hospital. Everything went smooth just as it did when I had my 1st C-Section with Brighton. Baylor came into this world a tiny little thing!  Under 7 pounds!!! He was a cutie!!

Jason and I once again loved our hospital time. This time we were ready to get home and start life with Baylor and Brighton though. The newborn days were sweet and I did not mind the getting up in the night part at 1st. Of course, I have to credit Jason for so much of that as he was wonderful about helping me.  We made it work together. I loved my maternity leave. It was all glorious, spending that time with my baby boy. Going back to work was tough but we have all adjusted. Lets see, then there were the struggles of the 1st year. What struggles?  Consistant Projectile vomiting, Cranial Technologies helmets, and him not sleeping through the night until he was  10 months old!! Oh well, that is all behind us now. His sweet smile and bright blue eyes make up for EVERYTHING, every time I see him! I am sad that they grow up so fast but what a blessing it is to be able to see it all and take it all in. Our family is complete thanks to you Baylor. I have a feeling he has a lot in store for us in the years to come. He's got that twinkle of mischief in his eye!! Pay back is HELL Mommy!! 

Happy Birthday to my BABY!! Baylor Tide Flowe

Poor little thing has been sick this week so these pictures are not great. He loves to sit and listen to Birthday Bear sing happy birthday. Baylor is developing such a cute personality. He is doing "So Big!", high fives, and waves and says bye bye at totally inappropriate times. I love it. He is ALL OVER THE PLACE and I am constantly chasing him to reach him before he gets to the bathrooms and the dog food dish. I have had to resort to the oldy but goody trick of sitting him on the floor with pots and pans. It's loud as hell, but works every time. For at least 5 minutes, sometimes 10! He is eating a lot of food too! Only a couple of small bottles during the day. Some baby food, lots of apple sauce, bananas - whole and smooshed up, puffs, mandarin oranges, grapes (cut up teeny tiny) and last night he had bread for the 1st time. He is going to LOVE his cake!! 

We will celebrate him all day long tomorrow and his birthday party is Saturday!! 

Happy Birthday Baylor!!! 

Someone's Having A Birthday ...

We are celebrating this little guy all week. 

Stay tuned...

Weekend in Charleston

We spent the weekend in Charleston, visiting  Shayna, David, Remley, Rhett and Vera. As always it was a great time. 

The babies played and the bigger kids had a great time together! We got to have a boat/beach day on Saturday. 

It's always fun for us to catch up and have these weekends. Recovery the next week is tough though as Shayna and I forget that we are not the young girls that we used to be! We do okay though. We would not do it any other way!! 

Brighton is trying to talk Jason and I into moving to Charleston. He says we could get jobs there. He is already wanting to go back!! 

Our Weekend

Brighton went to the beach with his Gigi and Pop last weekend. That kid might have the record for the most beach trips in 1 summer!

The rest of us stayed close to home. Jason did a lot of work in the yard and went to the Panther's game on Sunday. I did house work, and attempted to shop for Baylor's birthday party. I kept getting distracted by all of the new Halloween stuff that was out and everywhere. Makes me kind of excited to get out my glittery fall decor! 

Watching DaDa aerate the yard

 

Labor Day Weekend

We always have a lot to celebrate on Labor Day Weekend. The long weekend that represents the end of summer :(  , intro to college football, and of course, Jason's birthday!! We hung around Lake Norman all weekend. 

We celebrated Jason's birthday all weekend, filling the days with tons of family and friends. 

In the spirit of the summer coming to an end, so did our boat. Something happened to the gear shifter and so we had to tow it in to be repaired. Nothing helps you say goodbye to summer like a broken boat!! Hopefully it won't be a big deal and we will for sure have it ready to go by May 2014!!

 It took 4 whole months of Jason trying to get Brighton to jump off the dock. He was to scared all summer until this weekend. Now he is addicted and wants to go do it everyday! Poor thing. Wonder if he will pick it back up next spring, or if it will take him this long again? 

After a long, fun filled weekend, Brighton and Baylor started back at Denver Baptist on Tuesday. 

Brighton's 1 day of school. The 3 year old class. He will learn letters this year!