a year!

I have not posted anything on this blog for almost a year. I can't believe it, but we have been a little busy...

...bringing brother into the world

 ...welcoming him home

 ...giving him kisses

...hanging out

 ...playing in leaves

 ...and snow

 ...visiting Mickey

...waiting for Santa

 ...camping

 ...and some more kissing

...taking brother to the zoo

 ...marrying our friends

 ...turning 30

 ...getting chunky

 ...eating

 ...swimming

 ...eating peeps for breakfast

...playing baseball

 ...sitting up

 ...turning 2

 ...boating

 ...and eating

 ...and eating some more

 ...bathing

 ...being cute

 ..drooling

 ...and growing up way too fast!!!!

I really wanted to use this blog to help me record so many of the wonderful moments and have a way to look back.  I hope that I can start to do that again because the days are going by way too quickly.

A year later

Last fourth of July we went to my friends parent's house in Santa Barbara. They always have a really nice gathering and it has seemed to become kind of a tradition to either spend that day or at least some time around the fourth with Kate, there. We decided to take a picture of our boys in the same spot as last year and it is so cute to see the difference.

2010

2011

I can't wait to see what they look like next year.

I like hats!

New life

I am pregnant. I don't think I have officially declared that anywhere yet, and it feels good to say. My beautiful son is going to have a playmate, a best friend, a brother whom he can torture, love, and bond with. Although it is so exciting and scary, it also leaves me a little puzzled and slightly sad. When we found out that we were pregnant it seemed that all at once we got news that four other very close friends were expecting as well. I could not contain the excitement that I had!!! And then all of the the sudden that extreme high took an enormous hit. Miscarriage. Something I know all too well, something that is actually common, but something that is so mindblowingly devastating it is hard to describe. Two of those very special people to me are no longer expecting a child, and my imense capacity for empathy leaves me in a horrible depressing state. Maybe because memories of surgery and pain and loss flood back to me. I know how it feels and it is not a feeling that I wish anyone else to experience. At the same time, I hope that I can be a source of knowledge and support, and most of all, a source of hope. When I first went through my difficulties in keeping a baby, I was really blown away. I did not know women went through this. I did not know that it could eventually work out. I did not know if I would ever have a baby. Now that we are expecting our second wonderful boy, I hope that I can help to reassure my friends that even though this is happening now, there are wonderful things to come. I can't wait to eventually help them welcome their little ones to this world.

So happy!

4 more days of school and I get to be with this adorable munchkin all summer!!!! I cannot wait to go to the park and the beach and hang out with friends and to just be able to be with him all of the time. I feel like I miss so much when I am at work all of the time, and I just can't wait!!!!

Walking

I'm really good at this walking thing until somebody moves the truck.

Yippee, I'm one

This picture was taken on the morning of his first birthday, which was already 3 weeks ago! I just can't believe it!

364 Days

I have been a mother for 364 days. My beautiful boy was born the day after Mother's day last year, so I have had to wait the longest amount of days possible to be able to celebrate this day with my husband and son. It has been the most incredible, challenging, entertaining, emotional 364 days of my life, and I have truly loved it so much. I never knew that my heart could yearn and ache for someone so much. I never knew that I could feel so guilty, and tired, and frustrated at times. I never knew that my life could be so different but feel like it has always been this way. I love you mom so much, and I have such a deep appreciation for what you have done for me and my sisters.

Happy mother's day to every woman that shares their love, caring, and knowledge with others in their life. You are amazing!

Swimming

Last Saturday Christopher had his first swimming lesson and it was awesome! I knew he would love it because bath time is his favorite. It was so much fun to see him just take it all in, and watch the other kids. He was splashed and dunked and took it like a champ! Daddy could not come because he had to work, but Auntie Whitney came to take some pictures of us. I can't wait until Chris can get in there with him next week. It was a really great morning.

My little model :)