1st steps, caught on camera!

12 months, 3 weeks & 5 days... you took your first little steps.  The fact that I was able to be present for  this was the best gift of all (considering I've missed the majority of your milestones thus far).  You just got out of the bathtub and I was putting away some laundry when all of a sudden you stood up in the middle of the room and lifted your left foot with all of your might and took a step, then your right foot followed and soon enough your left again... 3 steps!  I screamed so loud for you daddy to come see it and he was overjoyed when he walked in the room and you did it again, on video.  I'm sure by next week you will be running but for now your wobbly little teeter is the cutest darn thing I've ever seen!

Boy do I have some bloggin' to do!

11 months, 1 year birthday... my oh my do I have a lot to write about but for now enjoy some pics of my lil' indian at Halloween!  He won a costume contest with his Aunt lo as well, no candy just adorableness & fun!

On the farm

1st annual Pumpkin Festival with Borgia's... Think it just might have to be a new yearly tradition!

hjl - 1 year

weight: 26 lbs

height: 32"

size: size 4 diaper &18-24m/2T clothing
eat: bottle breakfast bottle snack bottle lunch bottle snack snack again bottle dinner bottle ( you love to eat and you LOVE your bottles)

sleep: back to sleeping pretty good - down at 8 up at 6
current loves: the dogs, make loud noise, your wagon, water

I'm a bit emotional today as I lay here at 6 am and look at my sweet baby boy who is officially the  big 1 year old.  This time last year was the happiest and scariest day of. my. life.   You were brought into this world early and your little body just wasn't ready for it.  I remember being so scared and feeling so helpless in an already overly emotional state.  You were whisked away from me before I even had the chance the to hold you.  

You were...

-placed in an incubator within 24 hours

-had a chest tube inserted into your lungs when you were 2 days old

-were fed intravenously (had iv's and wires covering your little body)

-were place in a calm 2 day environment with light noise and little touching

-you were a fighter 

When I tell people about your rough start they are in shock as they look at you now.  

You are my little champ, my whole world and have hung the stars and the moon in our book and you continue to expand our hearts every day with your little personality.  You are loving, hilarious, healthy, happy and just plain perfect.  You give open mouth kisses and bite down with your 4 little teeth.  You give high fives and shake your head no at everything, even if you mean yes.  You dance and clap and rock back and forth.  You laugh, you giggle and like to put on a show.  Still crawling but cruising on all furniture.  You love to be in your wagon and be where all the action is.  You had your 1st visit to the ER... You were strapped in your BOB and it went rolling off the porch and flipped over, you hit your head so hard and I totally freaked out.  All was fine and your a tough little cookie but it was probably the 2nd scariest day of my life! You're a rough boy so I know you will have many more bumps, bruises and falls but for now let's stay out to the ER.  You love to throw balls and make loud noises with the cabinets, toys and pans.  You copy us and hold the phone to your ear.  You love to share and say "dane doo" aka thank you.  You don't quite understand sweet hands, gentle or the word "no" so we are working on that.  I got to spend my first birthday as a mother on Sept 29, Birthdays are much more meaningful now that you are in my life! Best birthday ever! You are so incredibly amazing I could go on for days but I will end this with thanking you.  Thank you for making this past year the most memorable, amazing, loving and adventurous year of our lives.  It brings me tears of joy to think of all the fun things ahead of you in your adventurous and exciting life and we can't wait to watch you grow!

Love you to the MOON!

Momma 

hjl - 11 months

Double 1's! You are 11 months old!  I can barely keep up with all that you are doing, you are a speed crawler, pulling up on anything and everything and starting to do a little elvis shake and balance.  You love to dance, wave, clap, babble and now talk... Dada, BALL or aball... so cute... I think Momma, Lo LO (or wo wo) and something that sounds like gugh is next!  You are a ball of energy, you never cry and love to be around people especially other children... anywhere that a lot is going on.  You are a total ham and a half still and the funniest thing that you do is laugh at yourself all day long... you had the entire front of Target applauding you the other day because you were putting on a laughing show, someone actually walked up to me and said "you need to put him on you tube, he's awesome," so we may have to just put a video up for everyone to see.  You love music, tv, your dogs and anything to do with the outdoors.  Your little personality is coming out and you are perfect in every way!  This month you went to your first FSU game, of course you went in style sitting in your Papas Bull skybox, leaning up against the glass clapping your hands as the fans in the stands clapped for plays.  You met so many of mommy and daddy's friends and you got to visit with family including your new Uncle Will (mommy's new baby brother) and your great grandmother Gigi, along with many of your aunts, uncles and friends such as Allie Boone and Hayes.  This was such a fun month, your little personality is coming out and you are just perfect in every way! We love you so much baby boy!  Happy 11 month birthday!

Momma

Hagens 1st word... Ball!

9 month pictures with Briana

You've heard me talk about the amazing, talented and incredible photographer Briana before but she has completely outdone herself with these latest pics.  We met her at our wedding and she has captured the milestones from maternity, Hagen's homecoming and the months in between.  She has portrayed Hagen and all his sweetness in adorable images that we will forever cherish.

Hagen - 9 months