Our Baby's 1st Birthday!

I've been avoiding this post because I feel like it marks the end of something.  The end of my baby's first year of life.  The end of being able to call him a baby.  The end of my "baby book." 

No wonder it feels like a daunting task, huh?  So, I've decided to treat it as it should be treated...a celebration of Griffin's first year and a way to preserve the memories of this fun day!

Griffin's actual birthday was pretty low key - a typical Thursday at home with Mama - but we had the treat of meeting Dada for lunch at Chick-fil-a!  Griffin even got to eat some chicken nuggets and french fries.  Then we played on the playground before Dada headed back to work and we headed home for a birthday nap.  (As I wrote that I laughed to myself because on G's birthday, everything was a "birthday something"...birthday breakfast - same blueberry waffle as always - birthday nap, birthday lunch, birthday bath.  Things just sound more special if you add the word birthday in front of it!  haha.) 

It was fun thinking back to "a year ago today" and saying things like, "a year ago today Chad was eating a McDonalds breakfast in the delivery room with my dad, while I looked on (unable to put anything in my body except for ice chips) and waited for the nurses and midwife to say we were ready to start pushing."  Or, the absolute best was when Chad called me in the car after we had just left from lunch and said, "It's 12:34.  A year ago today Griffin was born!" Sure enough, the clock read exactly 12:34.  I lost it -thinking back to all of the emotions that were happening at that exact moment in the delivery room.  I just love looking back on that day...nothing but fond memories and I hope those memories never fade.

***Pause to take a deep breath and wipe my tears as I'm writing this.  Motherhood has made me an emotional basket case!***

Okay, on to the party weekend!  Gram and Grandpa came in town on Friday so we could all go out to dinner for Chad's birthday.  I think they wanted to make sure that their baby's birthday didn't get overlooked.  Sweet Chad...I think he's more than happy to give Griffin the birthday spotlight! 

Once Saturday came, I was in full "party planning" mode.  Everything was pretty much in order, just had to finish decorating and pick up a few things from the grocery store.  Most of the day was spent with me sending up silent prayers that Griffin would take good naps and be a happy boy for his party! 

Once the house was ready, the guests started to arrive!  It was just a small, family event...perfect for a small birthday boy.  Thankfully my prayers were answered and G had good naps.  Though he was a little thrown off when he woke up from his afternoon nap to find all these people at his house, he warmed up pretty quickly and was a perfect party host.

I'm pretty sure one of his favorite parts of his birthday was the balloons.  He had fun playing with them for days after the party was over.

After opening his great gifts, it was time for cake....

He was NOT too fond of his birthday hat.  I kept trying, but he wasn't having it. (Though it made for great photos.)

So, of course we all gathered around to sing Happy Birthday to Griffin, anxiously anticipating what he would do with his smash cake!  I think most moms secretly hope for a good show...you know, face first into the cake; a messy chow down as he shovels cake into his mouth...but I wasn't really expecting that from Griffin.  He pretty much did just what I would have predicted.  He liked the taste of the cake, but was thrown off by the texture of the icing all over his hands.  (Or was he thrown off by all these people standing around staring at him?)  He kept squishing and squeezing the icing in his hands.  haha...it was cute.  He eventually put a few bites into his mouth...

....and he even shared a few bites with Dada.  See the icing all over his face? 



I love everything about this picture.  GinGi's 85th birthday was just 3 days after Griffin's 1st birthday.  A perfect picture of young and old, in deep conversation, no doubt.


After everyone enjoyed some cake and Griffin took a dunk in the bathtub, he had fun playing with his new toys and we all had fun watching him.

A perfect birthday celebration for a perfect litte baby boy.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET GRIFFIN!

First Steps!

Exactly a week shy of his 1st birthday, Griffin took his first steps!!  He has been practicing since Christmas with the help of his friendly green dinosaur (which he L.O.V.E.S...evident by the picture of him kissing it), but on February 3rd, Griffin got the nerve to try a few steps on his own!  

It all came about very naturally and unexpectedly.  I was playing with G up in his room and set him down on his feet and then sat right in front of him.  He was balancing really well and then just took some steps towards me!  I'm talking like 2 or 3 steps, but he knew he was doing something new because he had a huge smile on his face!  We did the same thing 1 or 2 more times, but then he'd had enough.  I immediately e-mailed Chad at work and told him we had a new trick to show him when he got home.  Luckily, G felt like making his Dada proud and took about 7 or 8 steps for him!  He was great!

Sadly, I don't have pictures to post (shocker, I know), but we did catch some steps on our video camera.

Since the big day Griffin hasn't shown much interest in walking much more.  He's so fast with the whole crawling thing, he probably doesn't see the point yet.  Until then, we'll enjoy a few steps here and there and will be cheering him on every step of the way!

A Day at the River

This weekend we had amazing weather with temps in the mid 60's, a much needed break from the cold, January weather.  I think all of Atlanta took the opportunity to get out and about, and we were no exception.  G had spent the night at GiGi and Charlie's the night before, so when I went to pick him up on Saturday, we decided to go spend some time at Jones Bridge Park.  Fun times!

Griffin liked being pushed REALLY high!

Then he had a lot of fun playing in the tunnel.  He crawled back and forth and liked looking out the holes in the side.

Peek-a-boo! 
(I am in love with this picture...and this little boy!)

Then we headed down to the water to check out the ducks.  It was so beautiful out there!

Some kids beside us shared their bread so G cold feed the ducks.  He couldn't quite understand that the bread was for the ducks...he kept eating it himself!  haha.

Such a fun day in the sun and warm weather!  Come on Spring...we're ready for you!

Little Rascal

We've certainly got a rascal on our hands. It's so funny to watch what Griffin gets into. At this point, he's still pretty predictable, but we can just see the wheels in his head turning...I'm sure he'll be pulling fast ones on us in no time.

He really likes getting into bags and pulling everything out of them. I keep the diaper bag and my purse on this chair in the dining room and G goes through them at least once a day. I've learned to keep things I don't want him playing with out of his reach, but since this occupies some time and seems to hold his attention, I let him do it.

He has also figured out how to open our storage ottoman and knows that his toys are in there! It's really funny to see him lift if because he gets down low to push up with his legs and grunts like a body builder. Once he gets the lid up, he loves to pull EVERYTHING out of it. Rather than walk around to reach the toys on the other side, he climbs up in there and struggles to get what he wants.

"Mom...a little help here?!"

(He got stuck with his legs down between the side and the basket....I had to help him wiggle his way out of there.)

My wallet has proven to be G's favorite item in my purse (foreshadowing?). The leather must feel good on his gums because he loves to chew on it. Sometimes if we're out shopping and he's really fussy (making a scene), I give that to him because it shuts him up pretty quickly. My money is usually a little soggy afterwards, but I figure that it's pretty harmless.

It's so fun to see what this little rascal gets himself into! I'm sure we'll have to start keeping a closer eye on him as he gets more and more adventurous, but it's so fun to see how that brain is working and how he remembers everything! We've got a smart boy!

Snow Bird

Seeing as though we live in Atlanta, a place that gets snow (or a wintry mix) maybe once a year, I think it's funny that in Griffin's short lifetime, he's seen snow 3 times! The first was the day we brought him home from the hospital, the second was Christmas, and now on his 11 month birthday! This time we saw a pretty good bit and even took the opportunity to go out and play in it.

When G woke up that morning, we took him out on the back deck to check everything out. Chad and I were both surprised at the amount that had fallen overnight! We got about 5 1/2 inches.

I swear, this kid loves cold weather. Or else, he just loves being outside so much that it doesn't bother him. Once he woke up from his morning nap, we decided to bundle him up and head outside so he could really check out all that white stuff on the ground!

Please mom, can we go?!

We were hoping he would be able to push his dinosaur though the snow, or that we could build a snow man or something, but it turns out that on top of the snow was a sheet of ice! Not very good for "playing", but G had fun anyways.

As I'm writing this post, it is three days later and there is still a good bit of snow (ice) on the ground. We've pretty much been trapped inside for the past 3 days due to dangerous road conditions. Today we are making it a priority to get out of this house! I think Griffin and I both are about to go a little nuts from cabin fever.

Griffin, your dad and I are glad you like the snow and cold weather so much. We think we could handle taking you snow skiing at a young age because of it (though you should have seen us trying to get all of your "gear" on you. I know I was in a full-on sweat after getting you ready to go!).

Best Year...Ever!

I think it's safe to say that the year 2010 has flown by faster than any other year of my life. I also feel confidant in saying that it has been the BEST year of my life. I know that's a bold statement, but I've thought it through, and I really believe it.

The year started like this....

...and very quickly moved to this....

...and in the blink of an eye, ended with this!

So many awesome things have happened this year, the obvious one being Griffin, and, I'll admit that most of the other things have revolved around him, but that's normal, right? Outside of the sheer joy I've had watching him grow and learn these past 11 months, having him in my life has also made my love for Chad grow stronger and my appreciation for my parents and family shoot through the roof!

With G's one year birthday quickly approaching (can you believe it?!) I'm trying to not be sad about how fast this year has gone by, but thankful for all the blessings this year has brought us. We are so excited that our little man is growing and developing as he should be and is becoming more and more fun to be around (and more and more of a rascal, if we're being completely honest).

So, here's to an unforgettable 2010 and hopes for an equally awesome 2011.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!