Garrett's 30th Birthday

This is the year. The year we turn 30. Garrett had the honor of being first on September 29. We kept it pretty low key since September was such a crazy month for us with so much going on. The boys wanted to decorate before he got home from work that day so I took all three kids to Target and we bought stuff to do just that.

Happy Birthday Garrett!!

Garrett turned the big 2-9 today. I can't believe we're almost 30. I really don't feel that old. We went out for pizza and had ice cream cupcakes to celebrate!

Happy birthday! We love you!




















Ice cream cupcakes. What will they think of next?

It also mustn't go unnoticed that two days ago marks 16 years that his mom has been gone. Oh how I wish she could be here to see all of her grandchildren grow up. I am certain they would love her.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Happy Birthday Garrett!

Garrett turned the big 2-8 today! We gave him his present last night like I mentioned in the previous post and we went to dinner at Macaroni Grill tonight.

Just remember dear, you're only as old as you feel!

 Birthday hugs!

Hudson was trying really hard to get up there...more on that soon.

It's a Love Without End

 I want to start off by wishing my dad a very Happy Father's Day! Thank you for all that you have done to help get me where I am today. You are one of the hardest working people I know and we want you to know that you are appreciated.

 

 

To my husband,

I could not have hand picked a better father for my children and I am a better person and a better parent because of you.

You have been there every step of the way, fighting the good fight with me, and I don't know how I could do it without you. My heart beams at knowing that our sons will be brought up by a loving, humble, kind and selfless man. I know I never met your mother, but I know she would be so very proud of you. I think of her every time I am reminded of just how lucky I am to spend this life with you.

I could never say thank you enough for all the meals you've cooked, the baths you've given, the books you've read, the prayers you've said or the hands you've held, but I hope that you know that we love you and we couldn't ask for more.

Happy Father's Day!

 

Let me tell you a secret

about a father's love

a secret that my daddy said

was just between us

Daddies don't just

love their children

every now and then

It's a love without end

Amen.

God Blessed the Broken Road

I thought I would participate in Kelly's Show us Your Life Friday: How You Met Your Husband and not write about my kids for once.

I wrote a little about this back in September, but I will elaborate.

I truly believe that everything happens for a reason and our "love story" can attest to that. I went on a few dates with Garrett's best friend,Kyle, my senior year of high school and Garrett dated my best friend's little sister. I actually met Garrett once at Laci's house, but he was going to the prom with her little sister and I had a boyfriend.

Fast-forward a few months later to the fall after graduation and my longtime on-again, off-again boyfriend was moving away to college and after years of getting my heart absolutely broken, I decided it was time for us to part ways. To this day, I know that God gave me the strength to do this and find the one who would love me the way I deserved.

Garrett and I crossed paths again the beginning of our first semester of college, only he was going to Texas Tech and I was going to Angelo State. I told myself I wasn't ready for another serious relationship, but we talked on the computer (this was 2001 people!) and had many late night phone conversations. You can hear more about our first few dates in my September post.

Long distance relationships are no fun, but in some ways those were some of the most special moments we shared. We would talk for hours about who knows what and he would come to San Angelo almost every weekend and I would cry every time he left. I guess absence really does make the heart grow fonder.

I knew very quickly that he was different from the rest. He didn't have an arrogant attitude, was very respectful and he always (and still does) made me feel like I was the only girl in the room. I wasn't constantly looking over my shoulder to see if he was picking out the next best thing.

I decided to move to Lubbock to go to Tech in 2002. I broke up with him twice over the course of the next two years because I was young and dumb and scared. My brothers had both gone through a divorce and the thought of marriage terrified me. However, the road always led back to him and he graciously welcomed me with open arms when he should have kicked me to the curb.

We were engaged in December of 2005 and got married December 9, 2006 in front of 300 of our family and friends. Kyle was Garrett's best man. It was the perfect day and the beginning of a beautiful life together.

Some of the things that drive me crazy are some of the things I love most about him. I tend to gripe a little (okay, a lot) and my mom and my brothers remind me of this constantly, but I'm working on it. He has one speed...TURTLE, but he is slow to anger and quick to love and I am thankful for that.

And now, I get to spend my days with him and two precious boys as we try to figure out this thing called life.

What a Week

Let's backtrack...

We went to eat with Scott, Christi and Connie at Carrabba's for Garrett's birthday last Tuesday. The fact that I don't have a good camera is REALLY driving me crazy. But I have my eye on one that I'm hoping I will get for Christmas if I'm really good. :)

My mom and my niece came on Thursday and went with us to my doctor's appointment. The nurse and my doctor both tried to see if we're going to have hairbows or dirty socks, but they couldn't tell for sure. I think it would be fun to keep it a surprise, but I don't know if Garrett or my mom can stand it. The nurse was not surprised that I have already been feeling movement for a couple of weeks because this baby was all over the place on Thursday. She said they like to see active babies because it means they're healthy!

We heard the heartbeat and my niece thought that was pretty cool. We could also hear movement through the doppler. Such a beautiful sound! I have gained about 15 pounds and that's all I'm going to say about that. He said the symptoms I've been having could be hormonal, but to follow up with the cardiologist to be sure.

Now on to Scott and Christi's wedding weekend! The bridal lunch was on Friday and we went to this neat little place called Moonshine. Then my mom, Jill and I had pedicures and that sweet woman rubbed my feet for 30 minutes. It was fabulous! The wedding was beautiful and we had a blast at the reception at the UT Golf Club. The band was awesome and Hayden danced the night away! I have a video that I'll have to post later. That boy loves him some rock music. Hayden and Robby were the ring bearers and they were precious. They did such a good job and looked so handsome in their little tuxedos.

Look at that belly!

 

I had the cutest date there!

 

The blushing bride and groom!

 

Oh, this boy! So silly.

I am absolutely exhausted from the weekend, but it was a great time!

Hopefully this week will be restful. We are going to "A Day Out with Thomas" on Sunday. We're going to ride a train led by Thomas and take our picture with Sir Topham Hatt!

Until next time...

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth...

I will get to the purpose of the title of this post later, but for the sake of going in chronological order, I will start from the beginning.

Hayden and I flew to Lubbock on Friday for Garrett's graduation. He had fun on his first plane ride and did really well. Fortunately, I ran into a girl I went to college with in the airport and she was very helpful! I tried to get a "cute" sling to put him in so I didn't have to take the stroller because I had the suitcase, the carseat, the diaper bag and him all by myself. Well, I had to throw the cute factor out the window and just go for functional and I'm glad I did. I strapped him on and it was so much easier to get through the airport and he liked being so close to me.

Hayden looking out the window of the plane

I took him to the doctor in Lubbock on Friday because he had a cough and I thought I might as well get it checked out while we were there. They said it was just allergies so we went on our way.

Then we headed to a reception for Garrett and to graduation. John McCain spoke at his graduation and gave a very good speech. It was really neat to see him speak! He talked about things that happened to him while he was a prisoner of war and regardless of your political views, you have to respect him for what he did for his country.

Garrett's thesis model...very cool!

John McCain

Hayden with his Daddy after graduation!

Saturday night was Garrett's graduation party in San Angelo. I will have to post pics later.

Hayden wasn't getting any better on Saturday and by Saturday night, he really wasn't feeling well and he started wheezing so we took him to the ER at Shannon. They saw him right away and he had to have a breathing treatment, chest x-ray, prednisone and an antibiotic shot. He was diagnosed with bronchitis and the doctor said he also thought he had a little bit of pneumonia. He most likely has asthma, but they don't usually officially make that diagnosis until they're two. My mom offered to keep him because I hate asking off of work when I just started a new job, but I just couldn't leave my sick baby so she drove us back to Austin Sunday night. He wasn't any better so I took him to the pediatrician yesterday and he tested positive for RSV. My sweet baby boy is very sick. He has allergies and the move to the land of cedar is wreaking havoc on his little body. Then on top of that, the RSV led to the bronchitis and pneumonia. 

AND, as if all of that isn't enough, his first tooth broke through on Sunday and the one right beside it is about to...looks like he will be getting his two front teeth for Christmas! I'm sure that isn't helping the situation. He is still sleeping through the night even through all of that. He is such a trooper. He has been really good even though he is so sick. I couldn't have asked for a better baby. I wish he wasn't sick so much, but his last pediatrician told me that some babies just get sick more than others regardless if you breastfeed or not, which I did in hopes that he wouldn't be.

I am hoping and praying that this too shall pass...