My sweet birthday boy

My dearest Jack,

This has been the best year of our lives. You are such a wonderful little soul and the greatest blessing we could have ever hoped for. We just love you. In honor of your first year, we wanted to PARTY! The night before your birthday, we decorated the house with streamers and balloons. You woke up the next morning very excited and eagerly pointing at everything. You are very into pointing now and you grunt, as if demanding to know what you're pointing at. I went around all day narrating your life. We must have said, "yes, balloon. yes, that's a balloon" like a thousand times. We were so pleased that you liked everything.

That evening, we ordered pizza and let you smash a cupcake. Grandparents and Aunt Katie watched and cheered you on via FaceTime. You did great!

The day before your party, Granna and Papa came into town to visit with you and spend a little quality time. Not to mention, help get ready. It was wonderful to have the extra hands and they really enjoyed spending time with you. Daddy and I were able to sneak out and run errands.

The morning of your party, Katie, John, Mima, Pops, and Nana came into town and were busy at work hanging more crape paper lanterns, balloons, etc. Dad set up and roasted his very first oysters. It was a big success. Kristi, Kyle, Mason, and Hunter came to your party, as well as Shannon, Maury, Luke, Reed, and Julianne. And can't forget about Sherry and Whit. We had BBQ and ordered the most precious cake. You were so pleased with all the attention you were getting. You were a great little show baby, hamming it up for the camera.

Here is the cute pintrest inspired turkey that Granna made for you out of crackers, cheese and pepperoni. There wasn't much left of him after the party :)

Aunt Shannon made you the most precious turkey shirt to wear so you had a wardrobe change from your cute smocked long all before we ate. You smushed your cake all over the place. When you would eat a bite, the crowd would cheer. It startled you at first but then you clapped and laughed, and smushed and ate some more. You even shared some of your cake with me and daddy...such a precious little fella. When you were done, you reached out for me with your icing hands and gave me a big hug. Icing went all in my hair, it was a blast. We'll have to get those pictures from Granna later. 

You did very well opening your gifts too. Pulling at the paper and very interested in the packages and boxes. It really couldn't have gone better. After the gifts we headed outside for oysters and Nana seemed to really enjoy shucking them. In fact, I think more people were willing to shuck them than eat them :) I snuck one or two and they were delicious! Daddy did a really great job! Papa helped too.

That evening you were eager to help daddy put together your toys. First up, was the big blue car Mima got you. Daddy was hammering so naturally, you got out your hammer and got to work :)

It's bittersweet to celebrate your first birthday. We are so proud of how well you've done this year and count our many blessings of having such a beautiful, healthy boy. Your dad loves you so much too and he is a wonderful father. I am very, very thankful for that. Every day has been so precious and wonderful. My favorite moments have been your first smile. The first dada and mama. All of our snuggly afternoon naps (my absolute favorites), watching you and daddy chase one another around the new house...you pushing your walker and him running behind you, your big belly laughs, watching you play and eat (throw food), and bath time, which you always look so forward to. While I'm sad to see every stage end, the next one is even more fun!

I'm soaking up every minute with you before baby #2 arrives in March. You have such a sweet temperament (must have gotten that from your daddy) and you don't seem to mind when you see me holding other babies. I think you'll do very well.

As we gear up for Christmas, I get more and more excited for all the fun that is in store for us. You are the best part of our lives. I hope you always know just how loved you are.

Here's a look back on the best year of our lives...

Granna giving you a bottle for the first time...you are the first grand baby she every fed. It was too sweet!

Happy Halloween!

This Thursday, we celebrated Jack's first Halloween! It was a blast! Also our first Halloween in the new house. We were so excited for the neighborhood trick-or-treaters that I went a little overboard with candy...okay, a LOT overboard. We have about 10 pounds of candy left over.

The trick or treaters were so cute! Most of them were very young in age. Really fun to meet our neighbors. One treater, in particular, was the cutest of all!!

Dad decided to get an action shot...he's being attacked by the dragon. :)

Jack did so well in his dragon outfit. Its was 80 degrees outside the night of Halloween so he got warm really quickly. He lasted in the costume for about 30 minutes before I just had to let the poor guy out. Then he wore a pirate patch for the treaters that stopped by. He helped pass out candy. It was fun.

We really enjoyed carving our pumpkins! Justin and I enjoyed it more than Jack did, I think. I brought back great memories. I just love the smell of fresh pumpkin. Jack had fun digging in the pumpkin with a spoon and playing with the guts :)

A few weeks ago, I bought Justin a pumpkin carving kit with an electric blade. I was nervous. But he made it out with all fingers intact. 

Scooping out pumpkin innards...

I crafted Jack's pumpkin too look like him. He has two teeth, the one on the right is a little bigger than the left. Hehe.

Not bad for Jack's first Jack-o-lantern!

We weren't going to decorate the house but the afternoon of, I just couldn't help but check out the discounts at Rite Aid, across the street from where I was. I got orange lights, a scary CD, and light up eyes to hide in the grass that are motion activated. One kid said she was almost too scared to come up to the door! But the lure of candy was just too tempting :) Lots and lots of fun! The spooky CDs really made it. We got lots of complements from the teenage treaters.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM THE ARCHIES!!

Home Sweet Home

Return to modern society!! We have internet! Thankfully! It's been four long weeks since I've been able to get online. And in the mean time, so many life changes have happened :) The most exciting is saved for a post of it's own. But, the second most exciting, we MOVED!!!

Above is the beautiful wreath Sherry made us. I've gotten two complements on it from neighbors. :)

The big move was on October 5th. Dad and Mom were in town to help and help they did. The house was a mess only hours before the movers got here. You know I'm desperate when I give Dad a trash bag and leave him to pack our entire kitchen! :) He did a great job. He's moved more than anyone I've ever known and he has packing down to a science. Mom was super helpful with our busy little boy. We certainly couldn't have done the move without them!

We hired Two Guys and a Truck for the larger items and boxes. They were fantastic. Those two dudes worked SO hard. Only taking a 20 minute lunch break. We only got one scrub mark on the wall up the stairs when they were carrying the sofa to the game room. Not bad at all.

The very next weekend, I was it Pittsburg visiting Britt and Tara. It was my first overnight trip away from him so Justin and Sherry sent plenty of pictures so I wouldn't miss him too much. Below he's shopping with Granna to get all the goodies for our beautiful burlap wreath.

Morning play time at Granna and Papas :)

While away, Cliff, Justin, and Sherry drove down to Charleston and really made a HUGE dent in the unpacking. I came in on Sunday to the delicious smell of chicken casserole and crock pot mac and cheese. Most of the boxes were unpacked and as I went around the house that evening, everything was exactly where I would have put it! Cliff and Justin worked very hard getting the condo in working order. It's amazing just how much there was to do there!

So finally, we're getting a little settled in. This is the first weekend, since the move, that we've been home on a weekend. Our plans for today include going to look for a couch for the living room and visiting the pumpkin patch at Boone Hall Plantation. They have a corn maze and hay rides. I think Jack will like it :) These pumpkin pics were taken at the roadside pumpkin patch two weeks ago. Jack picked out a few.