Tristans 1st birthday letter

Im here sitting next to you on the lap top amazed that a whole year has gone by! What a year. I cant even think of where to begin. The weather today is snowy and cold, and we are at home trying to stay warm..and I think that last year was a nice day and I was just grateful because I was a week overdue and the next morning going to be induced( finally!) Today you are sick. What a surprise. You've been sick off and on most of your first year starting with the day we brought you home no less! But its been a hard week- this week especially. Daycare called and they've only done that a couple of times in the last year. Today it was because you've been listless, inconsolable, fussy and wont eat. I dont blame them as soon as I got you - its been the same for me although to be honest Im a bit more immune to you. Oh not heartless, but I know you a bit more I think. You are pretty miserable, but with your typical sleep patterns Ive got the notion that really all you need is more sleep and you'll be fine. Ive given you some Tylenol and Im hoping you'll start to feel a bit better after a good nap. Anyway back to my reminiscing...

Your dad and I have loved every twist and turn you've given us- through 5 months of solid colic and being up almost constantly through the night during those months, to marveling at each new developmental milestone. You rolled over so early, sat up, crawled, and walked ahead of schedule and we were constantly amazed! You are the apple of your daddy's eye and truly the love of our lives. Your older brother was worried that you would take over everyones attention and you have, but hes been very sweet with you, and to be honest you battle back and forth like siblings should. I hope as the years continue on you will become the best of friends.

Some of the little quirks that make you - you was your routine of going to bed. Once you no longer had to be on us and fall asleep sitting upright, the next step was putting you to sleep on your stomach. But it wasnt any normal process- oh no- we had to put our hand on your bum and pat almost hard enough for you to bounce back up from the mattress - again and again- for upwards of 30 minutes for you to fall asleep. My arm muscles thank you. Getting you to sleep was no easy task day or night and unfortunately still isnt. I would like to say that you have decided to sleep through the night but its a week to week thing. When you are healthy you tend to get through well enough- but anytime you have a bug, well all bets are off. Tristan your mom and dad are tired. Very very tired. Also napping would be nice. We can count on about 1 hour nap a day...anything beyond that is unexpected.

You have always been a very happy baby- in spite of the colic. We could always catch you , photograph you smiling and being a complete ham in front of the camera. I dont know why this is...but people never believe me when I said that you cried almost non-stop the first few months of your life, when all they saw were these happy photos of you....LOL

You took to solids well...we started feeding you rice cereal around 4 months and really loved everything we gave you with the exception of green beans. You still haven't developed a liking for them. Your favorite food is the Gerber yogurt drops. Its like an addiction for you. Put those things in sight and everything else goes to pot. You can be a finicky eater - one week eating anything we give you and the next - nothing but cheerios...so we are working on that. Your dad is very excited about the cake we are making for you tomorrow...it will be all yours...we will see what you do with that.

You continue to be off the charts for growth both in weight and height and I really cant complain about your eating as long as I know you are growing and you are eating a variety of food and its not junk huh? I definitely notice that Im much more relaxed with you - I think having done this once before Im not so crazy about everything ...count your blessings bugs.

You love the water and I know will be excited about swimming this summer- you already put your head under the bath and try and blow bubbles- all you end up doing is sucking in but you try and its adorable! But I love it as your brother really didnt like the water all the much and it was such a struggle to get him to enjoy it. You are active, and full of energy - beyond even what I expected of a 1 year old. It takes all my attention to make sure you are safe. I have to admit you have had more bumps and bruises than Im comfortable with and I imagine you might be the kid with the broken bones from all the jungle gym mishaps in your life. Your adventurous to a fault and fearless Im afraid. But we love your crazy spirit and attitude about life that is already so apparent. I want to wish you a Happy Birthday- its now your actual Bday( sorry it you were really sick yesterday and you needed me a bit too much for me to finish the post then) I thank my lucky stars I am the mother to TWO incredible boys. You Tristan give me joy beyond measure and I pray not only for your safety daily( haha) but that your Dad and I will be able to guide you, love you, and raise you into the man we will be proud of. We are so looking forward to the journey that will be each new year with you...and I know that the only thing we can expect from you - is the unexpected! All our love- MOM and DAD

Grandmas Funeral

Im still getting around to collecting photos of my grandmother and putting together on paper if you will her life story. Im very excited to do that and anxious to share. However the easy part is sharing some of the funeral and the photos...its kinda weird to say that the funeral was so much fun but it was. While there was some sadness to it....remembering our grandmother and the remarkable woman she was- she left an incredible legacy. We dont often get together as our family is all over the country and so we had an wonderful opportunity to catch up and spend some time together. These pictures are a little backwards...bummer really so you are seeing things from the end to the beginning.

On our way home we got stuck in Montana. The weather was so bad that they shut the freeways down and we had to spend an extra night in a hotel. I was very upset. I was already feeling very anxious from being away from the boys for so long and to add another night was excruciating....I was done from being in the same clothes for two days and since I was the only NON-couple in the group I had the lovely FLOOR for the night. Made the best of it.
Here are the happy couples...glad they all had beds!!!
Mom, Uncle Peter, Aunt Ann, Uncle Rick, Uncle Robert- Bennee Legacy Family that attended the funeral
Several snap shots while around the house prior to the funeral in the am...
See didnt load in order....GRR...This is the shot of all the cousins.
Here we are practicing for a song that the grandkids were going to sing at the funeral. I was not happy to be singing again in church. However it was lovely in the end.
Michelle and I. I love this woman.
Trying to catch Lindsay as she runs from the room. She was pretty fast.
Doug and Layne in deep discussion.
Dougs kids
Stella and Matt-- and Stells oldest. Doug and family
Cousin Jordan
Mom, Cousin Annie and Roxanne
My sis Raegan and our Cousin Jason
My uncle Robert , his kids and grandkids.
Cousins Stella and Jordan and Raegans little one Ian
Uncle Robert...So dashing!!!

Again couldnt have had a better time catching up with everyone and being there to celebrate the life of our beloved Grandmother. We will miss her and always love her.

Happy Anniversary My Love!

To the love of my life...while it wont be the most romantic of days....I thought these might help some. I love you Jonathan.

You're so far away...

...and I miss you desperately. Stange for a boy that stayed single most of his life because he wanted his time to be all his - free to do what he wanted, when he wanted to. You've changed me in so many ways; all of them for the better. Our second year of marriage soon approaches and I need to express how wholely smitten I am with you! I also have to tell you how grateful and thankful I am that you sacrificed your mind and body - went through the most horrible pain a human can experience - took a massive step again into something that frightened you terribly, to bring to the world this remarkable little boy.

I know that you miss him terribly so I wanted to share our afternoon with you in pictures. I can't wait for you to get back Amber. Call me co depenant, but I'm incomplete without you...

AND I HAVEN'T SHOWERED FOR THREE DAYS!!!!! hahahahaha (I joke, I joke)

I am indeed a terrible father as I didn't put shoes on him... Don't worry honey, it was dry and warm out ;-)

I absolutely ADORE the little sumo-squat he does nowadays. Check out his hand position! He's ready to shart Chopin's Prelude in Dminor!!!

Preparing to play his masterpiece... we'll have to curb him of his drooling problem prior to stage performances.

Yes, yes, I know that part was difficult to master but you have it down!

Paparazzi BEWARE, this one makes getting that perfect shot a challenge!!

Tubby time has been mine for the most part and I can't wait for it every day. Some of the sweetest moments have been when lil'monster is all sudzy and happy.

Quite the ham...

Classic loopy/happy shot...

Last Park Pictures...

We are leaving tomorrow for Canada and so I wont be posting for a few days. I wanted to get the last of the park adventure pictures posted before I left....

Yes bugs did attempt to eat this here bark...and no it didnt taste very good ...

I cant tell you how it warms my heart when these two play.
Goodness look at this picture!! I love this little man to pieces.




Yes we really enjoyed hanging around at the playground that day...Tristan did love getting dirty and playing. I tried not to care that he was picking up things off the ground and trying to eat them. I did learn one lesson however. I would bring his pacifier next time. He wouldnt try and put everything in his mouth that way...

Yes, I AM going to brag about my patheticness!!!

It was a sore battle the whole race but eat my shoe-dust Brad Wolverington, I KICKED YOUR CAN!!!

Swings

He wasnt so sure the first push or two but by the time we had to go he loved it!