Merry Christmas!

From our family to yours...

family photoshoot 2011...

We had a one-year photoshoot with the awesome photographer that took photos at Deacon's 1st birthday party and they turned out so great!  Deacon was feeling much better for these and it's evident in his happy little one-year old face!

1st birthday...

We had a small family get-together for Deacon's first birthday party, a few days after his actual birthday.  My parents were able to come, along with my brother and his family, and some friends who came to take photos for us so that I might actually end up in some of the photos.

Mommies, you know what I'm talking about.

I already regret how few photos there are of me with Deacon (or of our family of 3) throughout this first year so it was important to me to have someone take photos so I could enjoy the day with my son and family, but also so I could have those photos of me with him and our family to look back on.

Mad props and photo cred goes to my man, Larry Thacker!  Thanks so much for documenting this momentous occasion in the life of our family.

Okay, so back to the par-tay.  :)

I made most all of the decorations so it was pretty low-key but I'm super-proud of how everything came out.  They basically consisted of something to hang on the front door, announcing this milestone, a birthday banner to hang across our living room/kitchen area, a photo mobile hanging from our ceiling fan in the living room, and miscellaneous decorations for the food table, including cupcake toppers.

We served pizza for lunch along with cheese curls and rainbow-colored goldfish, sugar wafer cookies and cupcakes, of course.  Adults had sodas or water to drink, kiddos had caprisuns.

The party began at 12pm but Deacon was napping so we let him sleep until 1pm while everyone ate.  My poor baby was the sickest he's ever been in his short life...unbeknownst to us until AFTER the party was over and done with, he had strep throat, of all things.  He had been battling a rather high fever for 4 days prior to the party, and had also developed a runny nose with a little cough.

He really did well, considering, and participated for the most part during his party, but we just didn't get as many smiles as we would've had he been more like my happy baby boy.  :(

You can tell that in the photos, but he's still the cutest thing ever.  See for yourself:

His cake...funniest thing.  He didn't bother with using his hands at first.  He just went "no hands" on that thing!

Presents...he wasn't too into it, but he did like it when I "rrrrripped!" the paper.  That got him giggling a little bit.

Happy birthday, baby boy!  We have so enjoyed this first year with you and look forward to so many more, watching you change and grow and learn, and hopefully becoming a better mama and daddy in the process.  :)

We love you, doodle, with all that our hearts can contain.

one-year well check...

Deacon had his one-year well check a couple days ago (late I know, but we had to move it back a little because he had a bout with strep throat, of all things; he's totally over that now, praise the Lord!).  He got a great report from the pediatrician:

Weight: 20 lbs, 5 oz  (14%)

Height: 29"  (21%)

Head Circumference: 46.4cm  (49%)

Okay, so he's a short, lightweight thing, but I'm totally fine with that.  He definitely isn't scrawny by any means, with those chunky legs and apple cheeks.  Oh, I could just eat him up!  :)

He got 4 vaccines at his appt, boo.  2 sticks in each leg and boy, he didn't like that, but 15-20 secs after I was able to pick him up, he was over it.  Such a tough guy.  In fact, they had to stick his big toe for a hemoglobin test and he didn't make a peep over that.  He just looked down at the nurse while she squeezed the mess out of his toe to get enough blood and was like, "Hey...watcha doin' down there?"

He liked her purple gloves.  :)

So he's good for another 3 months, until his 15 month well check.  And I'm sure that will be here before I know it.

roar.

Our little guy was a lion this year for Halloween -- thanks, Aunt Jill, for the costume!  It was a 12 mo size but was still pretty big on him.  He did surprisingly well with the "hood" -- the head of the lion.  He kept it on without really messing with it at all.

Unfortunately, he has been sick with fever, cough and (very) runny nose so he wasn't in the best of moods for Halloween.  I'm figuring that sickness or not, every parent has at least one photo of their child in a costume crying their eyes out for one reason or another.  Anyone?

Yeah, we have one.

In an effort to be the best parents we can be avoid making things worse, we opted out of taking him around to the few houses we were going to take him in his lion costume.  Instead, we dressed him up and took him out to eat to celebrate Jeff's birthday at Outback Steakhouse.  :)

He did pretty well there mostly because there were lots of distractions, I'm thinking.  We heard an audible "awww" from everyone who walked by the table.  As a matter of fact, I DO have the cutest lion you've ever seen, thank you.

My, my -- how so much can change in a year...

pumpkin patch...

We took Deacon to a pumpkin patch last weekend.  Well, it's more than a pumpkin patch...it's Mike's Farm!  And those who live around here know or have heard of what I'm talking about.  It's a great "autumn thing" to experience -- a hayride to a pumpkin patch, a cute little country store with lots of fudge flavors for sale and yummy family style dining!  Oh, the restaurant is awesome, ya'll!  Country cooking including homeade mac & cheese, ham biscuits and banana pudding.  Mmm...

Deacon, of course, is a little young to even know what we were doing but he was a trooper through the waiting in line for hayride tickets, waiting in line for the hayride itself, waiting for our names to be called at the restaurant...

It's a pretty popular place this time of year.

He did fine on the crowded hayride, checking everything out along the way, as he always does.  We got some cute photos at the pumpkin patch which, of course, is the whole POINT of this trip.  :)

Shhh, don't tell anyone -- we didn't even get a pumpkin.  I wanted to get a small one for Deacon, but they were all gone (or smashed).  We didn't get one because Jeff has his own pumpkins growing and we're planning to carve one of those this weekend.  At least one of them, should be close to ready to harvest by then.  I hope the "guts" will be good because I'm planning to bake with it!

one.

My sweet Deacon-baby,

So much can happen in 365 days.

One year...that's how old you are today, punkin.  It's so hard for me to believe that we've had you for that long already -- it went by in the blink of your pretty blue eyes.  :)

This time last year we were welcoming you into our family, and what a perfect fit you are!  Today, we're celebrating the milestone of your 1st birthday and all that you've accomplished.

It has been so much fun to watch you grow and change this past year.  You have grown from a 7 lb, 2 oz cuddly newborn to a healthy, happy 20 lb + baby boy (and you're still cuddly :).  You really are such a happy boy -- you have a ready smile for anyone and everyone, and your laughs and giggles are the most precious thing.

What a joy it has been to watch you learn new things like clapping and talking (my word, you are a chatterbox!), crawling and cruising.  I could just sit and watch you for hours; you bring me so much enjoyment.  And entertainment!  You make me laugh all the time, booger!

You are such a laid-back kid, just like your Daddy.  :)  You've done well with pretty much everything that's come your way this past year -- from doctor's appts and vaccines, to new foods and all the "1sts".

You got your 1st tooth (+ 4 more!) early on.  You met so many family members for the 1st time this past year, all of whom have fallen in love with you.  :)  You experienced your 1st hurricane, Irene, which wasn't scary at all, and you've had so many 1st holidays already.  You've taken your 1st bike and boat rides.  You've gone to the beach for the 1st time (and taken more trips since then), and have been in a pool for the 1st time (of many!).  You love the water!

God blessed us so much when He chose you to be our son, and we are so thankful to Him for the opportunity to watch you grow into a godly man who is kind and generous, full of integrity and trustworthy.  This is my prayer for you, buddy.  This, and so many more things I want for you, but for now, I just want you to know that I adore you.

Happy 1st birthday, doodle.

Love,

Mama

1st haircut...

Deacon got his first haircut a couple days ago and he really did great.  I wasn't sure how, um, cooperative he would be, considering that when I just try to brush his hair after a bath, he's all over the place trying to see and get the hairbrush.  But it wasn't really that bad and with a little distraction (the boy loves Jay-Jay the Jetplane), Joanna was able to work her magic and clean my baby boy up.  :)  It took all of 10 min.

Jeff and I have had numerous discussions about his first haircut, with Jeff pushing for one and me pushing right back to WAIT.  I mean, for pete's sake, he didn't hardly have anything for me to keep!  But Joanna was so sweet to save a few wisps for me, and Deacon really looks great with his haircut.  I honestly didn't think you would be able to tell much of a difference, but his hair was apparently longer -- and more out of control -- than I thought.

He's still the same adorable kid, but much more handsome now.  :)

a visit from Grandma Sherry...

At the end of September, beginning of October, Jeff's mom, Deacon's Grandma Sherry, came to visit.  Most of Jeff's family lives up in IL (where he's originally from) so Grandpa Duane & Grandma Sherry don't get to see Deacon near as much as they'd like to.  While Grandpa Duane had to stay back and work, Grandma Sherry booked a flight and came to visit for about a week.

(I think she secretly enjoyed having Deacon all to herself. :)

I went to a scrapbook retreat in Ocean Isle Beach Sep 30-Oct 3, and Sherry arrived in Wilmington on Sep 29, staying through Oct 6.  I gave Jeff a hard time about planning when she would come, saying he was a "chicken" about being with Deacon by himself for 3 days but truthfully, it was the perfect time for her to come (and I knew Jeff would be just fine with Deacon by himself :).  I was in OIB and Jeff began a new job of sorts that Monday I was gone (working from home all the time now) so Jeff's mom was able to take care of Deacon for us (saving money on childcare is always a good thing :), which gave her some really good quality time with him.

I know she enjoyed every minute!

They took walks and bike rides together (on our new bikes!), played on the floor with Deacon's toys, sat outside and blew bubbles, enjoying the beautiful weather we had while she was here.  We had lots of sunshine and comfy temperatures while she was here and I know she was so thankful to be able to get out and enjoy it with Deacon.

She always asks us if there's anything we'd like her to make when she's visiting (or we're visiting them) so we got to munch on some of her famous apple crisp, beef stew and yummy banana bread.  We enjoyed having her just as much as Deacon did!  :)  Love you, Grandma Sherry!

1st bike ride...

For my birthday this year, Jeff got us bicycles.  A few months ago, he had suggested saving for bikes that we could get out and ride as a family once it got cooler.  I thought that was a great idea so we did start saving.  Little did I know that was just a ruse -- he had planned to get them for my birthday!

So we're actually saving for a fence.

But getting back to my story,  my birthday fell on a Wednesday and Jeff brought the bikes home from Jacksonville that Friday afterward.   His mom happened to be here during that time (another post about that coming soon) so she was able to get some photos for us of Deacon's first time riding (on the back of) a bicycle.  It was a beautiful day to ride!

The bikes are really nice -- Jeff did a good job picking them out.  They're an easy ride, cruiser style with a few gear shifts.  The seat for Deacon switches between the 2 bikes fairly easily so either one of us can carry him when we ride.  He loves being outside so we think he likes riding pretty good.  The helmet, not so much, but he doesn't whine about it.