NYE

As we prepare to put another year in the books, I'm a little unnerved at how quickly the holidays snuck up on me this year.  I knew it would happen, since we were traveling in December, but add in the sickness and it all went so fast!

In respect to my motto for next year "Snag the best, let go of the rest" I decided we'd let go of setting up our goals for next year before the New Year.  It's only a date, and we have plenty of time.  But then as today rolled up, I couldn't help myself and I decided to spend a little bit of time reflecting on last year's goals and dreaming about next year's.

What a fantastic year it's been.  I honestly couldn't have asked for anything better.  We settled into life as a family of three.  We all survived my transition back to working full time.  We spent time as a family, we traveled, we laughed, we learned.  We tried to focus on the things that really mattered and let go of the trivial things.  We were all healthy (with the exception of the last month!).  We couldn't have asked for anything better from the year.

We set up some goals last January, and honestly for the most part, we crushed them.  I had a very successful tomato garden, I happily fit into my prepregnancy clothes months ahead of my goal.  We had a weekly family meeting every single week.  We worked hard to work together on making parenting decisions for Colin.  My goal that I'm most proud of accomplishing is our Monthly Date Night.  Every single month this year, Gavin and I have gone on a date together. We have been so lucky to have my mom around most months to keep Coiln and the time has been incredible for our marriage.  In even bigger news, Gavin successfully completed his degree at TCU! So overall, we had a very successful year goalwise as well!

As the year draws to a close, I pray next year will be as smooth, fun, and fulfilling.  Happy New Years!

Knotts Merry Farm!

Last Christmas Colin was less than a month old.  Still, my mom asked if next year we could all go to Knott's Merry Farm.  We agreed, but due to scheduling, we didn't make it until the day after Christmas.

It was an absolutely gorgeous day.  It was in the mid 80's and sunny all day!

Rare Picture of just mommy and daddy!

Since it was after Christmas, Santa Claus had gone home to start preparing for next year, so daddy just took Colin to see his chair!

We rode the old steam train.

While we were waiting in line for dinner, my parents took Colin exploring.  This picture just about made me cry!  Look at what a big guy he is standing all on his own!

One of the high lights of Knott's Merry Farm is the Snoopy on Ice show.  We loved watching the show.  Colin watched about 10 minutes before finally giving in to a much needed nap!

A high light for Grandpa was his ride with Colin on the Merry go Round.

It was a great trip and we all had a good time.  Once again, Colin did great and made it all day on only his short Snoopy on Ice nap.  At the end he was a bit tired, so he rode in mommy's carrier for a while to relax.  I can't wait until he gets a little older and it's time for our first trip to Disneyland!!

Sick

It's been a very sick December.  Both Gavin and I were very sick during our trip to Texas, making our return flight by far the worst flight I've ever endured.  I was admitted to L & D that night and spent about 12 hours trying to recover.  It took me forever to recover and finally the week of Christmas, I was able to start eating normally again.

Then Christmas Eve my dad got sick.  Everyone was fine on Christmas and we had a great day and a fun outing the following day as well, but that night, we had a horible night.  Our entire family was up sick all night.  Colin was the worst, of course.  It's miserable watching your baby not feeling well!  He seems to have made the quickiest recovery and seems okay now.  Gavin and I are still trudging along.  An alarming number of my calories this month have come from cup of noddle and I am just exhuasted.

I am really hoping that by new years we are all back to normal again!

Christmas Day

I've always felt deep down that Christmas is for children.  Last year was such a miracle Christmas with our almost one month old baby.  But this year was magic!  Colin was so excited and so much fun.  What a fantastic day!

Yum, milk!

Very Fascinated by the Christmas tree and nativity

Christmas Eve Dinner

We were so lucky that my parents were able to come spend the holiday with us.  It was so much fun to have them to share the excitement.

Christmas morning was so exciting.  When we came around the corner, Colin's eyes lit up at the living room full of toys!

Colin's First Car!

Grandpa wasn't feeling well, so we decided to hold off on opening presents.  Colin didn't agree to the plan and snuck over and opened one of his presents!  It was adorable.

The day wore him out, but he had so much fun!

I am so excited that the years to come will only bring more excitement and fun with little ones running around.  Merry Christmas!

Gavin Griffin, TCU Graduate

Goals are a funny thing.  Often they seem so easy to set, and the path is so clear to get to them, until you start down that path. But sometimes as you stagger out of the road less traveled, you realize it was exactly the path for you afterall....

Gavin's journey to his degree was longer and more varied than most.  In total: 14 years, 3 schools, and some pretty major life accomplishments outside of academia.  He met a girl and helped her become what she was meant to be, including a mother.  He walked a very difficult path to becoming a father and is the most involved and loving dad I've ever meet.  He set off on a career that some people dream off, and others can't fathom and not only survived, but excelled, averting the obvious and more subtle pitfalls.  He's set records, travelled the world, and never lost himself in the glitz.  

I couldn't be prouder of him.

Husband, Father, Pet-dad, Uncle, Triple Crown Winner, Professional Poker Player, Writer, trivia buff, golfer, OC Resident, DnD nerd... college graduate is hardly the most impressive on the list, but now it's there!  The first time Gavin and I discussed him finishing his degree, I think he thought it was a pipe dream.  It sounded great, but it also seemed like it would be a huge pain.  Every time we would look into a new avenue, it would seem daunting.  When it would come up, I would encourage Gavin to keep trying.  So he kept taking a few classes.  Eventually we contacted TCU to find out about completing his degree there. Surprisingly, it seemed doable and they worked with us to make it happen.

It certainly wasn't without challenges.  A summer without daddy wasn't easy for anyone.  We are so lucky to have loving and accommodating grandmas to help fill the gap.  For us, the summer flew by: I was really too busy staying afloat to worry much.  We'd set a course and we were all chugging along to the finish line.

Our adventures in dorm living were pretty exciting and funny.  It's unlikely Colin will ever want to livin in a dorm with his mommy again so I cherished the time. <3

Daddy After his last class!

  

Future Frog?

As a peripheral benefit, we now have a college football team to cheer for!  Expect to see a bit more purple here come football season!! (Hopefully, at least....)

Gavin, I am so proud of you.  You started out with a goal, and you achieved it.  I love you, always.  Congratulations!!

Go Frogs!

A Quick look at Colin's First Year.

Colin's First Birthday Party!!

Colin's First Birthday!  The numbers:

Birthday Boy: 1
Adults: 31
Babies under 2: 7
Pounds of Beef: 5
Number of Rolls: 72
Ounces of Gravy: 128
Balloons: 52
Smiles: Totally Enough!

I was a bit busy having a SUPER fun time to take tons of pictures during the party, but we really did have so much fun.  It is so wonderufl to know there are so many people who love our little guy as much as we do!

Overall Colin had a great time.  When it came time for cake, he was a little intimidated by the 60+ eyeballs staring at him while he was supposed to eat his cake.  Instead, he wanted mommy to hold him.  My baby rarely wants me to hold him, so hold him I did, while he ate his cake over my shoulder and all over my clothes instead. <3  

Thank you so much to everyone who helped make his day special!

Living in Wonderland (& Thanksgiving!)

Life has been so beautiful here the last week.  I haven't had a moment to sit down and reflect about it all adequately, let alone write about it!

We were so lucky to have my family in for Thanksgiving  We had a beautiful day and a beautiful dinner. Last Thanksgiving was exciting, waiting for Colin to make his appearance, but this year was so relaxed and fun.  Colin loved having so much family around to spoil him, Gavin appreciated all of the help in the kitchen and I appreciated having some time to relax and sleep!!

I truly do feel like I'm living in wonderland.  I made Colin a book for his birthday and I found the perfect quote for it from Dr. Seuss:

"You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams."

My life today is better than my dreams, better than any dream I could imagine.  And while we were pretty sure there was nothing in the world that could make it better, we were wrong.  Our family will be growing this summer!

Happy Birthday, little man!

We had a lovely and very special day with our little man.

Birthday tent!

 We were able to spend the entire day together and with our family.  Colin had a great day and had so much fun opening presents and playing with his family.

I love my mirror, Aunt Cheryl!!

 It is no surprise that cake was a big hit! :)

We had one of Colin's favorites for dinner: hamburgers!

Overall, it was a great day!  Colin had a doctor's appointment and is right on track!  He weights almost 22 lbs and is almost 28 inches tall.  He still has a big round head! :)

It has been a fantastic year and I wouldn't change anything.  Colin is such a fun and playful little boy and I am so glad we get to be his parents.

Happy birthday, Colin!  I love you!

Colin's Birth minute.

One Week.

In exactly one week, my baby boy will be a year old.

Everyone warned me the years were short...

It seems like the last year has flown by. 

My little blue eyed boy has gone from an 8 lb 8 oz squiggly infant to a big (not sure how big yet!) happy, toddling, toddler!

I am humbled by the experience of motherhood.  I am in awe that I have the opportunity to help this little person grow and learn everyday.  I have never experienced anything like it.  He changes so much everyday.  Today he is starting to give high fives, and happily climbing into my lap (only for a few seconds for a big wet kiss!), but I'm going to blink and it will be off to school! 

Everyday I'll treasure our weird games of peek-a-boo (Colin covers his ears for some reason instead of his eyes...), hold my baby as tight as he'll let me and enjoy the ride. 

The other Colin's First Birthday!

Last week we were so honored to be a part of Colin B's first birthday celebrations!

Happy 1st birthday Colin!

It has been so awesome watching the Colin's grow this year.  I can't believe this Colin is already a year!

Colin's new ride!

Proud Parents

New friend!

Colin had a fantastic time smashing his cake.  He did a really remarkable job!

It is so much fun having another baby around who is so close to Colin's age and I have truly enjoyed my new friendship with Colin's family

Sharing!