Happy 1st Birthday, Micah!!

It's here! I can't believe it. I'm getting emotional just typing these words. I cannot believe how fast things seem to be moving. It's truly a bittersweet thing. I want to see my boys grow up and learn new things and they are definitely at a stage where they are learning new things every day. But at the same time...I wish it would slow down...even pause. These guys are going to live long, wonderful lives...and sometimes it hurts a little to know that I only get to have them for 18 years. The more the days pass, I understand my own mom more and more.

When we first learned about Micah, I was a little nervous. I was not expecting to have another baby so soon. Jonas was only 10.5 months old...that makes them 18.5 months apart. But once I started to feel him move inside my womb...I fell in love and there was not a doubt in my mind that he was special. I never doubted from the beginning...I trust and know that the Lord's will and his ways are perfect (but that did not mean that I was a little nervous in the beginning).

When I was about 7 months pregnant, Micah was prophesied over by a man that had come to our church to actually speak over Ryan and I. But, his words for Micah was that "there is something special about this baby, something unique. He is going to do great things." I knew that from the beginning...but to have a total stranger tell me these things, in front of the body of believers....well, let's just say...Ryan and I are watching and waiting!

Micah...I love you so much! I can't believe your ours. You are so special. From your infectious laugh, to the way you cling to me, from your quiet curious ways, to your loud squawks at dinner time...I love everything about you! I wrote a blog when you were about 4 months old about all of the things I love about you. They are even more numerous now, because I fall more in love with you each day. I want you to always know that you are such a treasure to your dad and me....you make our family complete. "Every good and perfect gift comes from up above." This is you.

Micah clapping for the first time...saying bring on the cake!

This is the picture of success

Micah letting Jonas and Ethan know that this is HIS toy!

This is what presents time looked like. Me opening the gift, while Micah kept sneaking away. He just wanted to go play!!

Yay!! More clapping!

I love the way he looks at Jonas. There is not a doubt in our mind how much he loves and adores his big brother.

Showing Nana B what a big boy he is by sitting in his new chair!

One of my favorites! My sweet little Pumpkin. Precious.

1 Day to Go!!!!!!!!!!

CAKE!!! Need I say more?? Ok, I will....just a little! Micah is our little pumpkin, so I wanted him to have a pumpkin shaped cake. It was a little tricky, but I think it came out pretty good.

We all gathered around to sing "Happy Birthday" and he was not too sure about what was going on. There was a moment that we were a little afraid he might start crying....but, he didn't!

I put his cake in front of him and I guess, since it was so large...he was a little concerned. But, I gave him a taste of the icing from my finger....and that was all he needed.

Overall...it was a huge success...it was a smash!!

Micah looking at Ryan and I....thinking...what's going on here?!

Slowly investigating the cake

Yes....this is kinda good!!!

I love it!!! (He actually squawked at us when we finally took it away:)

Topping it off with a nice glass of whole milk...ahhhhh!

2 Days to Go...

More shots from the party!! Micah had so much fun playing with everyone. It helps that he has a big brother...because he really thinks that everyone is around just for playtime with him!

Micah and daddy playing catch

Me and my little Micah-boo

Playing with his friends

A little something extra

We all know that Micah likes to eat! This is a video of him snatching up his food...literally!

The Food Snatcher

3 Days to Go...

Yesterday was our Micah-boo's 1st Birthday Party!! We had a wonderful time! I made a pumpkin shaped cake for him to tear into, we ate pizza and the kids painted little pumpkins. When it was time for Micah to open his gifts...he was more interested in running (crawling and cruising) around and playing with everyone. Altogether, though...it was an amazing party. Things went a smooth as possible!! I'll share a few pics each day until we reach Micah's Day!!

Micah trying to feed daddy some of his pizza

Are you looking at me?

Hey!!! Look at me!!!

4 Days to Go...

Sorry about yesterday's post. I've been up way too late the last 3 days, preparing for a birthday party!! Even though I'm way exhausted...it's ok...Micah is totally worth it! Tonight is the night and we are going to have so much fun!!! I can't wait to post pictures the next few days of all of our fun!!

Here are some more of my favorite pictures of Micah-boo. They reflect both sides of his personality!

Goofy boy

Serious boy...watching another goofy boy (their first day at school)

5 Days to Go...

Ok...I know I've already written a blog about these pictures...but, I just loves these pictures and what, eh....I should say...who....they capture!

Quick recap for those that missed it...We looked for two days for Ryan's sunglasses and could not find them anywhere. One morning, little Micah come crawling out of the ball pit with them. He had hid them in there!! I don't know why we did not look there in beginning, because I had recently found other, random objects there as well. This is where he stashes his stolen goods!!

The little thief emerges

He thought it was so funny, too.

Trying to get away with the stolen item!

6 Days to Go...

These pictures are getting closer to where Micah is right now!!! He is so much fun...and he has such the personality!

Brushing his teeth for the first time...he loves his toothbrush and he gets so mad at us when we take it away....I think it's because it's another fun chew toy like his paci!

"Can you guys see that?" I was standing on the other side of my grandparents storm door, in Monahans. I got a lot of pictures of this guy smearing his face all over their door!

Micah doing what Micah does best (and loves best)....eating!!! He loved the lasagna my grandma served. By the way...in his class at school, he is the smallest of the babies his age, but he eats more than all of them (combined, I bet)! On the second day of school they put him in a high chair, so that he would not take the other kids' food!

7 Days to Go...

This is going to be a simple and sweet blog. I love how silly my little guy is. He loves his paci...but more like a chew toy...I think. I'm calling these set of pictures..."Ode to my Paci."

This was the first time he started to chew on his paci. We were in Target and I was so happy I actually had the camera with me....for once!

In Monahans

At Grandma Jean's

In the car getting ready to head home from Monahans
....oh, he makes me laugh...and smile :)

8 Days to Go...

My dad always says that Micah smiles with his eyes...and he's right. Micah can light up a room and melt your heart with those eyes. I love how unique they are. When he was about 3 weeks old and started opening his eyes more often, I quickly noticed that one pupil was larger than the other. I contacted a former student's parent, that was a pediatric nurse. She told me to get it checked out as quickly as possible. More than likely it was just they way his eye was (kind of like a birthmark), but it could also be the sign of something more serious (like a brain tumor). She recommended a specialist that also happened to be the pediatric eye specialist of another family friend. He was an amazing, Christian man that quickly reassured us that Micah was just fine. He has a condition called Anisocoria. While Anisocoria can be more worrisome for adults that develop it later in life, when it is found in babies early on and there are not other underlying issues, it's perfectly normal...and probably something genetic. However, to be safe, we had his eyes checked again when he was 4 months old and we have another appointment coming up in a few weeks. If things look normal, then he will continue to go see Dr. Hunt every year until he is in school and can communicate to the doctor about his vision. This all being said...I love looking at his eyes. Everytime I do, I'm reminded of how beautiful he is and that he was "fearfully and wonderfully made." There is no flaw in him and he is perfect...he is the creation of the God Most High...he is a reflection of of Him!

Yes, you can clean the floors for me

Hey there, blue eyes!

Playing peek-a-boo with me

9 Days to Go...

Summertime!! During our spring break fiasco of a trip to the zoo, we purchased a year-long membership, since the boys were fee. So, the boys and I spent many mornings at the zoo, having fun! Micah does not quite understand what the big deal is about all of those weird looking creatures, he's just happy to go along for the ride.

He also had his first dip in the pool while visiting Ma-Ma and Pa-Pa during Memorial Day weekend. Like most babies, again, he did not understand what was going on. For the most part, he just hung out in his little water chair and watched everyone else. Maybe next year, he'll be more excited about the water!

In the pool with daddy

My zoo buddy

At a zoo-keeper chat with the penguins. A little penguin was on the ground next to us, so naturally Micah wanted to grab it!

10 Days to Go...

Those of you that are parents know that as your baby becomes more independent, life becomes more fun. First step, rolling over, followed by sitting up. Micah was so happy when he could start doing these things because he just wanted to play with everything...and Jonas! I was afraid that he would be a lot more delayed in these skills, since I did not put him down on his tummy as much, due to his reflux. But, I guess that did not stop him and he learned to do these things on his own, pretty much right on target with the average timeline of developing these skills.

He is so much fun!! I just love looking back and seeing him grow....I love him, sooooo much!

Hey, Tigger-roo! Cool hat from Uncle Chris and Aunt Melinda

Playing with his little giraffe from Uncle Kyle

Buddies

What is this thing doing?? He actually loves his Turtle pet pillow from Aunt Hayley

11 Days to Go...

Micah really does have quite the personality. He is much louder than Jonas was. When he gets mad....he is mad!! The neighbors know when Micah is mad. When he wants something (usually food) he makes sure that everyone around knows it. Future jobs for Micah may include, but are not limited to: Lawyer, Politician (the good kind), Teacher, Sports announcer, or Pastor!!

Facinated by a new toy from Nana B and Papa Joe during Jonas' bday party

Mouthing off to Aunt Piper, who took this pic

Easter baby with Ma-Ma

12 Days to Go...

For Micah, starting on solids was a major event and turning point for two reasons. 1) He was very ready to eat real food like the rest of us, and 2) It was very instrumental in helping get his reflux under control. Once he started his medication in conjunction with his food, his spitting up became less and less each day, until one day I noticed he was not spitting up at all. It was so wonderful and I was so happy for him. He became a new baby. I would feel horrible everytime he spit up...poor guy. But, as of August 3, I took him off the medicine and he is doing great! He will still have an occasional spit up, if he eats too much, followed by drinking too much (mostly in the evenings), but overall, he's wonderful! Praise God!

First meal of cereal...he kept trying to take the spoon and grab the bowl from us!

I just can't get over what a beautiful smile he has.

First trip to the zoo!! We went on the busiest day of the year...and it was quite the adventure. You can read all about that in a previous blog from back in March.

13 Days to Go...

I love how limber babies are. It is so weird to think that I was once able to just stick my toes in my mouth without any problems. (Haha...and gross to think of!) I loved it when Micah figured this out...he was doing it all of the time. He's always been a difficult one when it came to changing his diaper...and now it was even more difficult! Such a busy boy!

Yummy toesies

Bath time...the toes are en route to the mouth :)

14 Days to Go...

This was a very cold winter...with record snowfall!! We kept our little Micah buddled up everywhere we went. We even had a little "boot" cover for his carseat to block the cold wind from getting him. I wrote about our fun "Snow Day" in a previous blog...so I won't bore you with all of the details, again. But here are some of my favorite pictures from that time....

Me and my little one....his first time in the snow!

Inside...where it's warmer...having fun playing with big brother (look at that smile)

Hey Gerber baby....he's so precious