Landon's First Bash

The Big Bash is over! Kinda sad but I won't go there again. Landon's first birthday was a success. I think everyone had a good time. We had our usual birthday crowd of about 30. The birthday boy pooped on his outfit right before the guest started to arrive so back up outfit we had to find although this too came off right after the happy birthday song was sang and his lone candle was blown out by the help of big brother. He was striped down to his size 3 diaper and the chocolate red barn was placed in front of him and that cake didn't stand a chance. He has been to so many birthday parties but this was his first bite of cake or shall I say fist full. He wasn't interested in opening his gifts but Aidan and Hayden were and so they tore into 'em one at a time. My favorite two things about birthdays are the gathering of people (I love any excuse to get people together) and the cake. I don't really care to eat cake... I mean it's okay but I really prefer the appetizers and veggie trays... but I love the design of the cake. I love picking out the style and theme of the cake. I know I won't have too much say in them for much longer before the boys start telling me what they want. I have used the same lady since Hayden's second birthday (his first birthday cake was a disaster) and will continue to do so until she doesn't make cake or we stop having big parties. She is amazing and can make just about anything. Not only does it look incredible but according to those cake lovers out there it taste even better than it looks. We had french vanilla cake with raspberry filling, strawberry cake and then Landon's section was chocolate. It was so pretty I hated to cut into it. The day concluded with the kids getting a box of chocolates and a pony on a stick to carry on our farm theme. I thought this was fitting since Old McDonald is the nursery rhyme Landon is sung everynight by Hayden and me. So for the last time I'll say, "Happy First Birthday Landon"

Happy Birthday Landon

Landon,
Wow! I can't believe it's been a year since I first held you in my arms. All of you as perfect as can be down to your ten little fingers and ten little toes. How you have grown in these past months. From needing me and your daddy for everything. In fact you needed so much that we had tons of help to try to comfort and calm you down in the first few months. Aunt Peggy, Grammy, Aunt Jilly, and Dede were familiar faces to you from the beginning. Your reflux and hernias seemed to make your first four months miserable. Not sure if you truly had colic or not as you seemed to cry nonstop. You were rocked, held, worn, shooshed, swayed, and swaddled all in an attempt to make you feel better. Your daddy and I took shifts caring for you. I got to rest from 1-4 am while you and Daddy got acquainted. The first three months you lived in your swing in the basement while we took turns sleeping on the couch beside you. I tried something I said I would never do.... co sleeping... until your pediatrician scared me into putting you back into your swing. At around 5 months you were doing better and we had moved you into your bed. We eventually had to do with you what we did with your older brother and let you cry it out. It really wasn't too bad on you. While daddy was out of town I helped you to learn that you didn't need to wake up every 45minutes to an hour. After two nights you were sleeping 12 hours a night and boy everyone was thrilled with these. You turned into such a happy baby although you do have a serious side to you. You learned to roll over and crawl and babble just as the milestone charts said you would. You loved to be cuddled and rocked and this time I have let myself enjoy that. With your older brother I thought this might foster bad sleep habits but this time I thought I would risk it since we both enjoyed it. You have a great big brother that looks out for you and does a pretty good job sharing his toys. He loves to kiss on you as much as the rest of us do. Your fine hair and the little you have of it makes kissing you irresistible. You are a picky eater and don't enjoy your milk that much. You quit nursing at 8 months after starting to fall of your growth curve. You don't like veggies at all but do seem to like fruit except blueberries and bananas. You love bread, rolls, and anything that is high in carbs like pizza and grilled cheese. You can thank your brother for the tv you get to watch. He had to wait until he was two to watch cartoons but you've gotten to watch right alongside him. You can also thank him for having McDonald's and other fast food before your first birthday. His love of McDonald's has rubbed off on you as you can polish off several nuggets. You don't really say much that has meaning we can understand although I am convinced you are talking about things that are very important to you. You light up when you see Linus and Papa. You get angry when I change your diaper or clothes and yes you already have a temper. I am sorry you inherited that from me. You tug at my heart when you lay your head on my chest and hold tight to my shirt as I rock you before bed. You love to patty cake and play peek a boo.
I love you so very much and wish you a happy birthday. May you always feel God's love and comfort. I pray that as you make your journey on Earth you grow closer to God and become a man of God. I pray that when great things happen you will praise and give thanks to Him and when things aren't going your way and get tough you turn to Him for guidance and seek comfort in His love. I recently read a letter from a mother to her daughter on her first birthday and she said it best, "I love you completely, and I'll love you always. But even as much as I love you, God loves you so much more - how wonderfully amazing!" This is so true and is the best gift you will ever receive... on this birthday and all the ones to come.
Hugs and Kisses and More Kisses,
Mommy

Birthdays by the Dozen (Almost)

Wow has November been super busy. We started off mid month with the first two of seven, yes seven birthdays we are celebrating in five weeks. The first party was a 2 for 1 celebrating Uncle Tobin and Aunt Peggy's 50th. It was at Jim Beam and was very nice. Hayden had a great time that day and paraded around like such a big shot. He has been getting some at-ti-tude as of late and that particular weekend he was in good form. We had fun playing games with Aunt Jilly on the ride home. She would describe an object and then Hayden would guess what it is. He was pretty good at it. When it was his turn to describe an object he said "i'm tinking what Daddy's tinking" That got a chuckle out of us.
The following weekend we headed north to celebrate Avery's first birthday. Again, another great celebration. It's fun to watch him and how different he and Landon are. Landon still has that baby look and is not showing any interest in walking, (which is fine with me)he is quiter and more reserved than Avery who is fearless, all over the place and very vocal. He looks more like a toddler and could easily pass for an 18 month old if not older. He was unsure of his cake but after that first taste he devoured it and let everyone know his displeasure when it was taken away from him. My how fast a year goes.

This past weekend we celebrated in a birthday style we had not done before. Pancakes and Pajamas. Too bad it wasn't the adults that were invited to arrive in their pj's. If that was the case we actually might have been on time. This particular morning we started off with two kids that slept in til 8:30 and one of which did NOT want to wear his pajamas. On any other morning it's like pulling teeth to get him into clothes but the one morning pj's are the dress code he's wanting no part. So Hayden was the only one that wsn't in pajamas but I have quickly learned some battles are worth the fight and this was not one of them. I am hoping this becomes a birthday tradition for Addison because it was different and alot of fun plus who doesn't love to start the day off with bacon, sausage, pancakes, donughts and sausage balls.
This weekend will be another two-some, Landon and Grammy. It is bittersweet. Obviously I am glad he is a healthy, growing, days away from being a one year old but a big part of me wishes it just wouldn't go by so darn fast. I love the period of 6-12 months and believe me after the 0-6 month period of hernias, colic, reflux and sleep deprivation I so do enjoy the 6 months that come afterwards. I wish I could just slow down how fast one day turns into the next. I also know that the first year seems to go the slowest because Hayden went from 1 to 3 in the blink of an eye and I know Landon will follow just as quick. I do find some comfort in knowing, hoping and praying that I will get to do this all over again with another baby in the next couple years but what after that. What happens when your last baby reaches all these milestones with no one to follow behind to make it a little easier?

Well I will just enjoy my two teeth, blonde haired, blue eyed, fast crawler baby that is still 0 years old for a few more days. I love how when his feelings are hurt or he's really tired he puts his face down into the carpet in defeat. I love his contagious giggles and his slobbery wet kisses, his hand clutching my shirt as I rock him before bed and sing him nursery rhymes since I don't know any lullabies. I love how he bites his tongue like my dad does and looks like gumbi when he cries. How he loves to be cuddled and refuses to hold his bottle for me. How he 'talks' to Hayden and likes to get into the bathroom drawers and eat Gold bond powder (which poison control was contacted... all was okay)
I love how he is perfectly him.

Firetrucks Up Close and Personal

Sunday afternoon Ty took us to the firehouse to give Hayden a tour and experience a fire truck up close and personal. Let me tell you Hayden was impressed. He thought Ty was great and the trucks even greater. He sat in the truck, tried on the gear and got a tour of the entire firehouse. I actually learned quit a bit too. Didn't know that some stations run entirely on volunteers (such as the one Ty is assigned to)and when a call comes in it all depends on people to just voluntarily come in. What a sacrifice these men make to leave the comforts of their home and family to risk injury to save others homes and families. I thought that maybe there was a rotating schedule or certain people were "on call" but no it's just the call comes in and whoever wants to show up does. I would think with that comes a big and real risk that one day no one would show up. Actually it was explained to us that usually too many show up and those with seniority get to go on the run. No calls came in while we were there so Hayden was able to see as much as he wanted and he seemed to be taking it all in. I think trains are still his biggest passion but firetrucks are definitely second on the list followed by construction equipment. Thanks Ty for the grand tour and for being so good with Hayden.