HAPPY EASTER!

What a whirlwind of a day! We had a wonderful day with lots of family and friends. Michael and I had fun watching Thomas enjoy all the Easter festivites. Brother George preached a wonderful sermon (as usual), we had a fabulous lunch with both sets of grandparents and then headed to Montgomery to visit with more family!

Although this is really Thomas' second easter, it felt like his first since last year he was only a few weeks old. Being a parent helps me to really appreciate the awesome fact that God gave his only son for you and me.....what a truly amazing gift!!!!! Here are a few pictures from our day. Hope you enjoy!

It's My Party....

This post is a little late...okay really late! However, Thomas' 1st birthday party was on Saturday, March 8th. Thomas had lots of family and a few close friends to help him celebrate. Just like the Friends episode, he was sound asleep when the party began and we finally had to wake him up so we could get the party started! He was a little shell shocked as everyone serenaded him...his face was priceless (thank goodness for video cameras)!

As you will see from the photos, he loved his cake. He was a little hesitant at first and wanted to point to each thing on it before taking the giraffe cookie off to eat it. Thomas quickly figured out the best way to get the good stuff was to get his hands right in it. He ate a lot for a little one and even shared a few bites with Daddy. Even though Thomas had no idea what was going on, it was so evident that he knew it was for and about him...what a ham!!

Thomas was not that interested in opening presents...but his cousin Clyde sure was. He helped me open every last one. Next year will be a different story and I bet Thomas will not be able to open them fast enough. His Nana and Grandaddy gave him a blanket, which was much appreciated since it is the same as his lovie, and bedtime without it is not an option. As soon as the balnket was opened he grabbed it and started sucking his thumb, which was pretty much what he did the rest of the time we opened presents. Too cute....now I can stop worrying about losing it since we have a back up!

Thomas' first birthday was everything Michael and I had imagined and hoped for. We are so grateful to everyone who chose to spend the afternoon celebrating with Thomas and us...thank you! We missed everyone who could not be with us and there are lots of pictures for you to see.

Playgroup at the Park

Thomas met up with some friends today at the park. The weather was beautiful! We ate a picnic lunch in the grass and then let all the babies swing. I think I was as tired as Thomas when we got home! What a day. Enjoy the pics!

A Year in Pictures...
In honor of Thomas turning one, I wanted to share a year worth of pictures with you. Look at how much he has grown and changed. Hope you enjoy!!!

Happy 1st Birthday Thomas!

Dear Thomas,

Happy Birthday little one! We can not believe a whole year has past since God blessed us with the arrival of you. It seems like only yesterday that we were all in the hospital bed together at 3:00 in the morning. Everyone had gone home to sleep and Daddy had crawled in the bed with us. We stared at you for the longest time, amazed at how precious and innocent you were. We thanked God that he had entrusted us with someone so special and asked Him for guidance in raising you. And then we finally gave you a name....Thomas Grant. We could have never imagined how your arrival would change us forever.

Your first year has seemed to fly by. It has been so rewarding to see you grow and develop. You have learned so many new things and which each one, we have been as proud (if not more) as you. You are happy, curious, mischevious and cuddly. You love to talk and will have complete conversations with us, although we have no idea what you are saying. You love your grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins and oh how they love you. Your best buddy is Maggie, our chocolate lab. You give her hugs daily and she showers you with wet kisses! Your newest trick is walking. You love to cruise around the coffee table and to walk holding onto our fingers or by pushing your toys.

You have truly been a blessing and we can not wait to see what the next year brings. We love you lots and lots Thomas!!!!!!

Love and Kisses,
Mommy and Daddy

P.S. Below is a video of you taking your first steps by yourself. I don't think you really knew what you were doing yet, so there was no fear involved. Now that you know what falling feels like, you have been less reluctant to take off by yourself. I could not help but to include this...it is too cute. You get so excited that you stop to clap for yourself...precious! Mrs. Ali captured this on her cell phone at her house. How lucky we are...how many people have videos of their baby's very first steps!

Puppy Love

Stirling left Thomas the sweetest love letter on her blog last night (check it out by clicking on The Wilson Family under the Friends link or by visiting www.aliandbrad.blogspot.com). After reading it to him, Thomas really wanted to leave her this Valentine’s Poem:

To Sweet Stirling,

Roses are red, violets are blue
Just like all the other girls, you’re in love with me too

Cheerios and a bath, that’s a good way to my heart
I’m lucky to have found you right from the start

From your brand new teeth, to your pretty blue eyes
This fat boy would even share with you, his hamburger and fries

So on this Valentines Day, I must say…
I’ve got a crush on you in a major way, and
my daddy is going to think this is really gay!!!

Love,
Thomas

P.S. Check out the Valentine I made for you!

ONE Month to Go.....

I can hardly believe that in less than a month Thomas will be one year old. Time has flown by! Although I am excited about seeing him grow and have loved each stage more and more, a part of me is sad that he is quickly becoming a toddler. I am so scared that I will forget all the sweet things about him and his first year. I feel like I have already forgotten so much. If it was not for journaling, (Jenny's sweet idea) I would not have any details to share with him one day when he is grown.

Michael and I are so excited about planning his first birthday party. We feel so blessed to be able to share in the excitement with our family and close friends. His party will be small, at our house, and after nap time of course! God continues to bless our family and we are most thankful this past year for Thomas. I thought I would share a little about him for those of you who have not heard or seen him in a while.

He is a sweet natured and very curious baby. He is becoming fiercly independent and will most defiantly have a strong will. I wonder which parent he gets that from? Below are a few tidbits about him:

• Closing every door in the house has been his favorite activity of the week. More than once, I have stepped out of the room for a moment and then quickly heard a small frighented cry from behind a big closed door. He closes it and then gets scared when he realizes he is alone and can not get out.
• He gives you the biggest most precious smile each time you get him up from a nap...almost as if he has not seen you in weeks and thought you were never coming back. Lately I have been playing peek-a-boo with him by hiding behind the bumper pad and then popping up between the rails in the baby bed. He gets so tickled and reaches his chubby hand through the rails to grab my face.
• He loves to read and will sit in your lap to read ten books or more if you were willing. Although, he has his favorites and if you pick one that is not on Thomas' Book Club list, he closes it shut and fusses until you get a new one. He has always had favorite books and thankfully the list has grown to include more than just Who Said Moo. For a couple of months this was the only book he wanted to read and read and read and read!
• Thomas LOVES to eat and thinks food is such a treat. I guess all the spicy and flavorfull meals I craved so badly during pregnancy had an effect on his tastebuds.....once we had introduced table food, he wanted nothing to do with baby food anymore. Who can blame him? Last night we decided to feed him before we were to meet The Henthorne's at Mikata (yummy). He ate a whole Gerber Graduate Meal and probably three handfulls of Cherios. Then at the restaurant Julie and I could not put the piles of Puffs out fast enough until his teriakki chicken child's meal was ready (yes, I ordered an 11 month old a child's meal of his own). He ate a good bit of rice, all but two pieces of the chicken, a quarter of my soup, and the whole bowl of icecream his Daddy ordered for him. Talk about a chunk!!! Maybe he is making up for lost meals from being sick last week...or maybe he just likes good food as much as his Daddy and I do.
• He laughs when I tell him no no in my meanest mommy voice. If you don't believe me ask Ali...he laughed at her too. He really is a good and fairly laid back baby, but I have learned that boys are into things that little girls don't even notice or care to get in to!
• Thomas' favorite family member hands down would have to be Maggie, our ten year old chocolate lab. He looks out the window for her every morning and is beside himself when I let her in the house. Poor sweet old Maggie gets attacked by little hands and ear piercing squeals and she graciously responds with lots of wet sloppy licks all over his face!
• Last but not least, he has three of the cutest chipmunk teeth I have ever seen two more top teeth are popping through. There is something so sweet about tiny white baby teeth.
  
  Sorry that was so long, but there was so much to say since I have not updated the old easysite since my first and only post at five months old. By the way, the easysite is soon to be terminated and I promise to post here lots more often. I'm doing good so far...two posts in two days! Be sure to check out the slide show at the top to see recent pictures of Thomas.