Lucky 13

A couple of weeks ago, Corban started saying "uh-oh" It really makes us laugh. One day he said it as I opened the door to find him playing with the drawers in his room. He is not allowed to do that and was under Daddy's watch, so the "uh-oh" was comedically, and appropriately timed. He has also become intrigued by belly buttons, opening and closing doors, putting stuff in containers, and terrorizing Haley. He will bring me his "oops" book now when I ask him to, and he LOVES to run and collapse into his big bear's arms. He is funny.
He had a tough twelfth month as he has been battling bronchiolitis and had to be put on breathing treatments and 5 days of oral steroids. He was such a champ though. He was very happy, and if you didn't hear his wheezing or cough, you'd have thought he was fine. Thankfully, this past week he started feeling better and headed back to daycare. I really can't wait for cold/flu season to end!! Spent a lot of time this month feeling very thankful for all the support we have when it comes to help with our son. When he first caught it- my mom helped, then Jaime's mom and sis came in and were able to stay with him one day. When he relapsed, I stayed home a day-then my mom took over and even Lily ( my mom's housekeeper) helped for a day. Thank you Mother!! I often think of the phrase "it takes a village!"
Corban loves to figure out things-he stays pretty focused with his "projects" and when people come over, he likes to "show off" all his toys! He gets really excited and has the biggest grins! He sometimes gets so excited that he just has this sudden burst where he can hardly contain himself. He smiles really big, shakes his head back and forth really fast and will swing his legs. So happy. He also nods his head and will say yeh. Meaning yes. He also says joos (shoes) dAaall (ball). He points at everything and LOVES going on walks. He seems so eager to know what everything is. It's amazing to watch the world unfold through his eyes. I still can't wrap my mind around the fact that he is walking so well-neat to see, but a daily reminder of how quickly this adventure will go. As always, everyday is cherished.
He's still sleeping really well most nights. Usually from 7 until 5:45. This morning he slept until 6:30. Amazing how good all that sleep feels for all of us. He will blink his eyes at you if you tell him to show you his eyes. He likes to make us laugh and is silly. He pretend coughs and thinks that's funny.
Today Mammy and Grandpa came over for a little bit while Daddy was working to paint our hall bathroom. Then Corban napped for 3 hours-(!!!!) Then, we went to pick up Uncle Brandon from baseball practice and went to see Uncle Casey and Poppa at the house for a few hours. Corban loves his Uncles and Grandparents! Earlier in the week we got to enjoy a visit from Great Aunt Cici. It was nice to have her over to play! Corban, can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring with you in our lives. Everyday you warm our hearts in some new way.

Happy 2012

A New Year! A new beginning with our 1 year old- It was a big night let me tell you! hahah! I think this was the first New Year's Eve in my adult life, that I was asleep for the ball drop! We all were. I did however think about my Grandmother calling and banging pots and pans at midnight. I also thought about doing the same with my brothers growing up. I reminisced about running down to the Uribarri's and eating (or in my case, gagging down) 12 grapes.
Jaime and I both hope to get the Bible read this year. My mom and Stan realized we hadn't eaten any blackeyed peas (gagged down), so they were kind enough to bring us some. As much as I can't stand them, I'm a sucker for tradition and we both ate our blackeyed peas.
Happy 2012!!

One!!!!

What a beautiful day! Corban woke up happy and I went in to sing to him while the lights were still dark. I was emotional about his big day. I am just so in love. Jaime and I were both pretty excited about Corban turning one!!
Dada had to get off to work, so Corban and I spent the day with one another just laughing and playing and with me just smothering him with kisses and hugs. A big plus to his birthday being 3 days after Christmas is that we will always have the day off! How fun!
I baked him a special low sugar - whole wheat vanilla cake from scratch. It was in the shape of a one and I used the vanilla we made back in September. That morning Jaime and I decided it would be nice to not only have grandparents and uncles over for some cake and ice cream on his birthday-but also to have some of our nearest and dearest friends over. So, we ended up having a humble little cake and ice cream gathering. It was absolutely perfect. Corban was neat as he looked around at everyone as they sang to him! He even clapped when they were finished. We made a special wish and blew out his number one candle. Oh the wishes and hopes and dreams we have for him! The world is his oyster and there is so much potential. I just can't help but think of all the birthdays he'll have and all the secret wishes he will have!
We got him into his diaper, set him on the floor and let him have the aforementioned "smash cake." He enjoyed it! First he stuck his hands in it, as if he were in Hollywood! It was a BIG First birthday for our boy. By the end of it, he was tuckered out. Can't wait to spend another day with you Corban. Looking forward to the next year. (lots more pics to come)

Corban's First Christmas

Christmas has always been extremely special to me. It was the time of year growing up where we would wait anxiously by the door for the arrival of both sets of grandparents. I remember being so excited knowing they were coming that I could hardly contain myself. They would knock at the door and I would giggle with excitement. It was the time of year where all the family was able to get together-still is. Now that we are older-and my family is more spread out, it's the one time that we all see each other, my brothers and I revert back to our childhoods and act silly. It's still hard for me not to have my mom's parents here, but, I know that they are smiling down on our living room from heaven as we laugh and reminisce.
Either James or Dennis put the star on the top of the tree and we take a "gazillion" pics-it's inevitable that Dennis will be making a face and nobody will notice until the pictures are developed. My dad always makes us hot chocolate and having my little brothers always adds to the fun, they are always so happy and thrilled with every box they open. We also enjoy the Christmas service together every year. It was a whole new experience having Corban this year. Jamie and I have our own special traditions that we look forward to and cherish, but they were even better with our son to enjoy. We open gifts with the family on Christmas Eve. On Christmas day, we wake up, and like five year olds, we get giddy and run to the tree so that we can enjoy (and spoil) one another.
We realized that this year, we have the honor of beginning our own traditions with our own family. We have a responsibility to our child(ren) to create the stories they share in the future! So we read to Corban, the story of Christ's birth in the Bible. Our goal and hope for him is that he always knows the special meaning of Christmas and the spirit surrounding this time of year. Yes, the gifts are fun -but the most important thing is knowing that Christmas is the day we celebrate Christ, the saviour. Then , he got to see what Santa brought him! It was a red Radio Flyer Wagon! He stood up and smiled and pounded on the box. Dada spent a good portion of the morning putting that together, along with his buggy from his "Mammy and Grandpa", and a storage shelving unit for me :o) As I sat on the red couch watching Dada, I realized that with having children, this putting together of gifts every Christmas morning will in itself become a tradition. I love our sweet little family. My cup overflows.

Thanksgiving!

Whew! Where has time gone...it's a days after Christmas and I'm just now getting started on Corban's Thanksgiving post. Next up, Christmas and First Birthday! I think I'm going to try something new with this post and add a slideshow of the pictures we took. Maybe. Or, maybe I'll do that for Christmas.
We had a lot to be thankful for this year and shared the special day with the Jamie's family in Austin. We got to listen to some great piano playing by Michael and Maren, and got to have a dance competition on the wii. It was loads of fun. The food was also delicious and the company was wonderful. Corban even took his first steps! The drive up and back was long, but with lots of breaks and stretching it was alright.
We sure have a lot to be thankful for!

Eleven !

Aaaah-one more month and he will be a year old!

Brunch with the Billstones

From Corban 10m Billstone visit and Lily

Last weekend we were fortunate enough to have a lovely brunch with Corban's grandparents, and great grandparents! It was nice to see everyone again. The last time we saw Mimi and Poppy was 3 months ago in Austin and I know Corban has changed a lot! Here are some pictures from the weekend.

From Corban 10m Billstone visit and Lily

Thanks for the cute jacket Mimi-

From Corban 10m Billstone visit and Lily

Loving on Great Grandma

From Corban 10m Billstone visit and Lily

Kisses!

From Corban 10m Billstone visit and Lily