A Word From Kyle

Hello everyone!  Today is my birthday party!  I am so excited!  I slept in this morning.... It is Saturday and I know Mommy likes it when I sleep in on Saturdays.  When I woke up, I heard rain drops on the trees outside my window.  I played in my crib for a while with my animals before Dad came in to get me.  He took me in to Mommy where we had our usual snuggle time and I ate breakfast.  Then, Daddy took me downstairs to play.  

After my morning nap, I got dressed up for my big party!  See my new outfit?  Mommy made it for me.  She picked lots of colors for the balloons and I watched her smock them.  Then, she cut out the pattern and sewed it all together until the very end, with Lollee's supervision.  Sometimes I watched her sew, sometimes I napped while she sewed.  I like this outfit.  Mommy says it makes my eyes look bright blue.  Do you like it?

Getting ready is so much fun when Daddy dresses me!

Team effort.

Wow, shoes? This must really be important!

My guests started arriving around lunch time.  Lollee, Pops, my aunts Lacy, Holly and Maggie and my uncles Ryan and Caleb all came to help me celebrate my very first birthday!  I have a lot of other aunts and uncles and a Grammy and PaPa.  Mommy said they couldn't be here today but she took pictures so they could see, too.  For lunch Mommy chose things I could eat just like everyone else.  She made Yummy Goodness, a sweet and savory Temple favorite consisting of crescent roll dough, meat, cheese and a drizzle of syrup on top.  Delicious!  She also served a fruit salad and vegetable plate, chips and lemonade.  

I liked the Yummy Goodness! I ate it all up!

After lunch, I opened my presents!  That was a lot of fun!  I am so glad everyone gave me lots of paper to play with 'cause that's my favorite part!  Thanks to everyone who sent me gifts for my birthday!

Thank you, thank you everyone for coming to my birthday party!

Being one is fantastic!

Snuggling my Teddy Bear from Grammy and PaPa

Studying the outfit from Grammy and PaPa

My aunts and uncle were excited about watching me open their gifts!

Big, fun toy from Trent and Kaylee

Lots of stylin' jammies from Uncle Ric and Aunt Rachel

Stuffed monkey from Uncle Ryan.

I got a few other gifts like a water toy and a Mr. Potato Head but, Mommy's camera died and she couldn't photograph anymore right then.  Thanks everyone!

Cupcakes were saved for last.  Mommy made them all bright colors like the balloons on my outfit.  They tasted yummy and I demolished almost a whole one by myself.  

Chowing down on my cupcake like a pro!

Pretty soon I'll be taking another nap.  My party was so much fun it wore me out!  Thanks everyone for coming!  You made my day extra special!  And thanks for sending me lots of presents, cards and well wishes.  This has been the best year of my life!

~Kyle

The Apple of My Eye

A year ago, I barely knew how vastly my life was changing.  A year ago, I barely knew the joy motherhood was bringing.  A year ago, I hardly understood the responsibility I was being handed.  A year ago, I began to grasp love.  As a seven pound-nine ounce soft, slippery, screaming child was laid on my belly, I was engulfed by the power of emotion I felt toward my own son. The child I wasn't sure I'd ever have.  The baby boy I had longed for for years.  His face was sweeter than I could've ever imagined.  His lips were even bigger than the glimpse I caught on the sonogram.  His skin was velvety soft.  Like a feather in my arms, he seemed to weigh nothing.  He was brand new; just out of the womb - the purest of lives.  My very own son to nurture, love, train and cherish.  It was like I had dreamed him into life.   Words cannot adequately describe what I felt in that moment.

Before long the nurse offered to turn down the lights so he could see better.  He opened his eyes wide and looked deep into mine as if to ask, "Who are you?" "I'm your mommy, Kyle," I thought to myself,  "I promise to care for you, teach and encourage you, cherish and love you every day God gives me with you.  You can count on me.  I'll always look out for you.  I'll always protect you.  I'll always be here for you, my son."  

In my sheer exhaustion after over thirty hours with no sleep, all I wanted to do was snuggle up with my perfect baby and take a nap.  So, we did just that.  It was pure bliss.  The sweet smell of a baby just hours into the world.  A semi-comfortable hospital bed.  His breath so soft again my chest.  A bulky and completely unflattering hospital gown.  Nurses in and out every half hour.  So, yeah.... It had the potential to be perfection, but a few minor details hindered that a bit.  Nevertheless, that moment was one of the very sweetest of my entire life thus far.  Indescribable.

This year has been the most delightful year of my life.  Kyle has changed me, stretched me, taught me and caused me to rely on God for strength and patience.  I find that every day is a new adventure with him, as I watch his excitement for life and everything he hasn't yet explored.  It is a treat to wake up to him every morning, play with stacking cups, chase him around the living room, read books, sit with him outside, snuggle with him before nap time and spend my every waking moment with this sweet boy.  Some days are more trying than others, when my arms feel like they could fall off or I can't possibly think of why he could be crying.  But, they are all rewarding.  Every night when I creep into his room and watch him sleeping softly in his crib, my heart swells and sometimes my eyes sweat a little.  He is absolutely the apple of my eye.

It is a sobering reality to be entrusted with the life of a child.  I am committed now more than ever to live a life worth mirroring.  It is my prayer that in all things, if Kyle follows my lead and example, he will draw closer to God daily.  I pray that he will grow "in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and men."

Mommy loves you, Kyle baby.  You are "my beloved son in whom I am well pleased."  Happy first birthday!

~Abby

All Expenses Paid

Over a month ago we received an unexpected anonymous monetary gift in the mail.  Because we don't know for sure who gave it, I figured whoever it is might like to know what we did with that money.  In addition to buying a toaster oven to keep from heating the whole oven all the time, we decided to take a trip to Charleston to visit Brad and Hannah for the weekend.  We drove down Thursday evening and stayed until Sunday night.  Ryan came down on Thursday night as well and we were able to spend a couple days with him.  It is rare that we are all able to get together for more than a dinner at my parents'.

(re-heating yummo corn fritters and BBQ beef pizza from Pizza Hut which is amazing!)

We did a lot of nothing on Friday, which was a very welcome change for me.  I could hardly remember the last time I had lounged around all day with absolutely nothing I needed to get done.  It was fabulous!  Kyle enjoyed playing in Brad and Hannah's apartment - crawling around and getting into everything which wasn't yet baby-proofed.  By the time we left, I think that the place had turned into a giant play pen for him with no way for him to get into trouble.

On Saturday my parents and the youngsters drove over and we enjoyed an afternoon at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens together.  We skipped the gardens and opted to explore the swap instead.  While Dad paid, we got to pet the ponies who were eager to nibble grass from our hands.....

Kyle helped Daddy navigate down the driveway to the swamp.  We strolled around for a long while and met these guys...

Mr. Baby had the best ride.....

After dinner at Kickin' Chicken, we celebrated Ryan's 25th birthday with Holy Cow Cake.  A wonderful ending to a memorable day!  No photos of this part.... Too busy eating.

During our visit, we started talking about how silly it is that the majority of young girls take countless photos of themselves from the same angle......about a foot above their head.  Deciding that it is certainly time for a new trend in popular camera angles, we played with my (new:) camera and have determined that this angle is certainly one to be considered for the next favorite.  We'll call it the "shoot for the sky."  We all got a good laugh out of this.

Of course we got a photo of the newlyweds....

.... And sweet Kyle....

And of course the SILs went gallivanting in town. 

Time we are able to spend with family is deeply cherished.  Knowing that in the future we'll be "missing out" on family gatherings like this make each one bittersweet.  I am indescribably thankful for the opportunity to be here nearby my family and Jonathan's in the upstate.  It is truly a blessing and I know one day I'll look back through these memories longing to come home and make more.  So to whoever it was that sent the money for us to enjoy this weekend together, thank you!  Know that it warmed and encouraged our hearts.

~Abby

Quick

After day two of information overload at AIM's candidate week, I feel like a horse headed to the stable tonight.  Wanted to give a quick update before I crawl into my bed and pray that my hours of sleep produce multiplied energy for tomorrow.

We are thoroughly enjoying our time here.  Meeting new friends is always an encouragement to us.  Our days have been completely packed.... My head feels like it is swirling with information which my brain still needs to file.  Fortunately, all of it is helpful and most of it is exciting.  The prospect of contracting malaria wasn't all that exciting....

We covet your prayers for stamina as we continue through this week.  Also, for my little mama heart which misses my baby boy during the days.  Lollee reports that he is doing well without us, so I shouldn't worry too much.

~Abby