Jeff's Christmas Present

I caved and gave my husband one of his Christmas presents early. I couldn't help it. I bought him a 2009 yahmaha v-star tourer in liquid silver! He loved it! He has wanted a cruiser for so long. This Christmas I decided that I would do it. I won't have Christmas or a birthday with him next year, so I went all out. We had the bike delivered Friday and hid it very well in our garage. This morning I just couldn't wait. I wanted to see the look on his face when he realized he got a bike for Christmas. He was pretty excited!

SANTA!

It's absolutely amazing the things that can happen in a year. My little man was only 6 days old at this time last year. We went to have his picture taken with Santa. He was so little! But it was so fun to watch my small newborn be held by Santa and know that this was the beginning of a tradition! Now, a year later I chose to take Seth back to Santa on the same day. It was so funny when I put these pictures side by side. It's even the same Santa! Made me laugh. So anyway, this year will be so much more exciting than last year even. Seth will be able to play with new toys and eat a Christmas meal. We will be able to just spend time together as a little family! I'm a nerd but I am so excited about it!

One Year Old!!

Seth's first birthday was today! It was so much fun. He was officially 1 at 5:59pm today and we reminisced about that day a year ago for a little bit while we counted down the time! It was funny to think about all the things we were doing a year ago and that up until that exact minute, we had been a family of TWO and Seth wasn't even in our arms yet! It was very fun and I am so grateful that we were able to have a wonderful first year.


Seth loves Blues Clues so we had a friend from high school make the cakes for him. (Thank you Angie!) Seth had his own muffin sized cake that he was able to rip into!



We actually had TWO parties for Seth because we wanted all of our family and friends to have a chance to celebrate with us. So on Thanksgiving Day we had a small party at Aunt Kelly's. Seth had so much fun and really went to town on his cake. He really liked it and had to have a bath afterwards!



Seth's second party was today and he had just as much fun. He had lots of friends and family with him. He didn't really seem interested in his presents until they were open and all of the sudden there were NEW TOYS to play with. He got some really neat stuff (a roller coaster!) that he had lots of fun with. He really wore himself out today!

So, this year was amazing. I can only hope the next will go as well. We have another MAJOR event coming with Jeff leaving for Afghanistan. That is definately going to change our lives. He returned home from Ft. Hood on Tuesday and we were so happy to have him home. Seth has gone back to saying DADA (which he doesn't say at all when Jeff isn't around) and I have my sleeping partner back! Everything is normal again for a little while!

A November to Remember

It's really been a crazy few weeks and it seems as though it will remain this way. October 31st Jeff left for Texas and that evening my father passed away in his sleep. It was so hard for me to accept his death (like I had a choice in the matter). I still had anger and frustrations that I wanted to make him hear. I still wanted to know the father that all these people thought was great but I never saw. How did time slip away from me? How did I let this last year pass without sending a single picture to the man I tried so hard to love? Will I regret that? That said, my dad was a sick man. Since the motorcycle accident in 2003, his health had deteriorated significantly. He died in his sleep while camping in Tuscon Arizona and I can't think of a better way to pass. I know he is happy and healthy now and I know he is with our Father and He will take care of the rest.

I have another funeral to attend. My partner @ work lost her significant other in a very tragic accident on Tuesday. He was crushed by a car he was working on. I can't even imagine how her family is coping and I just hope that our thoughts and prayers reach her in her time of need.

On a lighter note, Seth's birthday is in ONE WEEK! AHH! Where did this year go? I just don't get it. We are having a party for him on Saturday November 29th. It's a Blue's Clues theme. (Thanks so much to Angela Bailey for creating his cakes this year!) He is just the sweetest kid and LOVES to watch Blue's Clues. I had a migraine yesterday and I didn't have a choice but to lie on the couch and ride it out. I dozed off at one point and startled myself awake searching for my son. He was sitting in his chair watching Blue's Clues on the TV. I just giggled at him. Thank you Lord for giving me a wonderful son!

Jeff will be home on Tuesday and we will celebrate Thanksgiving together. I am so excited. I can't wait to have him back home. I can't wait to see him with Seth again and to see his amazement over all Seth's changes. They just grow so fast. Jeff leaves for Afghanistan in less than a year now. I just want to enjoy all the time we have together.

Seth Daniel Year 1

Our Wedding October 22, 2005