More Family Fun

As with all of our family gatherings, I took several hundred photos. This last visit was no different. I wanted to share with you all some of my favorites of our family fun or as my mother-in-law likes to call it, FFF. Forced Family Fun. I consider myself very lucky that my family and Ron's family get along so wonderfully. Being so far away from our loved ones, they are literally forced to see eachother very often and to the amazement of my friends they enjoy their time together. Yes, we are very lucky to both come from such wonderfully loving and welcoming families. Thank you to all of my family for coming down to spend Grant's birthday week with us and for all the tremedous support and help in preparation of Grant's first birthday party, we couldn't have done it without you!

Grant opening a gift of wooden carved toys "that go" from his Great Grandma Yaeger on his actual birthday

Puzzles from Momma and Daddy!
They're Here!
Grant helped his cousin George unload the car after their long drive

Grant loved opening presents!

George was a huge help opening them as well

Of course, George was not forgotten, he received this firefighter costume from Mimi and Poppy

George and Grandpa watching cartoons

Bathtime is always a blast with these two little monsters

Show us your scary face!

Poppy pushing Grant's new car with George's help

Jody, George and Lesley with Baby #2 on the way!

Lesley and Lanier, the best brother and sister-in-law in the world!

Grandmomma and Granddaddy Tew celebrating at Grant's party

"Y'all come back soon now, you here!"

Our Little Squirt Turns One!

We celebrated our little squirt turning one yesterday with a whale themed birthday bash! Grant sensed the excitement in the air all morning and refused to take his routine afternoon nap, despite his lack of sleep he did wonderfully at his birthday party and had a blast! It was great spending the day with our closest family and friends and reflecting on the past year of our baby boy's life! Enjoy the pictures, it was hard to pick from the several hundred (not kidding) that were taken but I did my best!

Grant awoke from his morning nap to find all these balloons in the dining room. He scooted towards the room excitedly clapping and screaming, "OOOHhhhhhh, OOOOHhhhhhh!"
I oringinally planned to have the party outdoors and have several baby pools and slip and slides for the kiddos. When you live outside of the rainiest city in the United States you can almost always count on rain. The party was officially rained out so we moved everything and everyone indoors.

These two couldn't resist the urge to play in the pools despite the rain. This is Henry and my nephew, George. They are both two and a week apart in age, they had the best time playing in the rain!

Football in the rain was also enjoyed by the little boys

The party decor

Grant's Happy Birthday sign

Yum-O cupcakes, all homemade!

Grant's own personal smash cake

Love the cupcake toppers!

Favor buckets for the kids that read, "Hope you had a whale of a time! Love, Grant"

The goods: I even found rubber duckies with whales on them!

Poppy grilled hotdogs and hamburgers for everyone, we also had "whale" goldfish and animal crackers in sand buckets for the little ones.

Ron and I with our baby boy at his first birthday!

Present time! Grant and I insisted the other kids helped us open the presents!

Grant really racked up!

A monogrammed beach towel from Grant's friend, Brooks!

Thank you to all of our friends and family who could come!

Grant loved his shopping cart from Poppy!

Henry and Ward loved it too!

Grant loved when we serenaded him with the Happy Birthday Song

Let the fun begin!

"This cake is yummy!"

"I think I'll just dive on in!"

Here's a video of Grant eating his birthday cake!

One Year

Dearest Grant,
On the eve of your first birthday I am flooded with emotion over the thought of my precious baby boy turning one! I have fond memories of the eve of your birth. I had the most fabulous "last meal" where I ate my heart out on a cheeseburger, french fries and banana pudding, the anticipation of what was to come was tremendous! Your Daddy and I anxiously checked into the hospital and prepared for the sleepless night ahead in anticipation of meeting you the next day. It seems like yesterday I was pacing up and down the street in our neighborhood praying that you would decide to join the world and give my ribs some much needed relief from your soccer star kicking! I also was dying to meet you, dying to see your face, dying to be your Mommy! Now, one year later, it's unanimous. You have brought so much joy into your Daddy and I's life. There is never a dull moment in the Yaeger household. You have taught us so much about life and about ourselves and also taught us to love in way we didn't think possible. Today we shall celebrate you, my little man. Grant, you are such a blessing, Happy Birthday sweet boy!
Love,
Momma

It's time, Momma was 10 centimeters and 100% efaced at 1:45pm

My sweet angel, you took my breath away
It's official, Grant Fitzgerald Yaeger has arrived!

Present day and on the move. Grant loves BALLS! He wakes up first thing in the morning and says "Ball, ball!"

He is also great at throwing them and juggling multiple balls at once

Grant loves the outdoors and loves to swing

My baby boy with bed head, he plays so hard in the mornings

Into everything. Literally.

Walking behind his push toys. Grant cannot be stopped!

Kim's Creations

I consider myself very lucky to have several "once in a lifetime friends." That's exactly what I've found in my dear and crafty friend Kim. She and I became close when our husbands were deployed together in 2007. Kim lived down the street from me and we were eachother's lifeline during those grueling seven months. Kim suprised Grant and I last week when we received a package in the mail for his first birthday. Kim has been hard at work the last several weeks whipping up some handsewn creations for my little guy. I was shocked by all the goodies and they all look fabulous on him! Thank you Kim for being such a wonderful friend and for remembering Grant on his first birthday!

Grant and his Aunt Kim on our last visit to NC

All of Grant's new goodies:

We love all of the appliqued onesies!
Grant loves his new shoes!

Baby "G" is quite spoiled now, Kim

Too cute for words. Have you ever seen such a thing?

To top it all off our on last visit home, Kim greeted me with my own personal trashbag she made for my car! I love it and it has been so convenient, thanks Kim! You're the best!

To Do...

Babyproof the entire house IMMEDIATELY! (This means you, Ron)

*Grant was under adult supervision during his exploration of Momma's bathroom drawers.

Brush Your Teeth!

Along with Grant's first tooth comes the new responsibility of keeping it healthy and strong, thus we purchased Grant's first toothbrush! Our first time brushing his "tooth" was a hit. He loved the toothbrush and actually cried big crocodile tears when I tried to take it away from him. He took over the job of brushing his tooth after a few seconds and has enjoyed it ever since!