Who needs Santa...I've got Grandma!

Tyler was so much fun at Christmas! He didn't quite get the hang of unwrapping presents...he just wanted to pull off just enough paper so he'd have something to chew on! HA! He was so funny. He was overwhelmed with the presents. He didn't know what to play with first. He was so excited. And I have to admit, between my family and Frank's, Santa looked pretty sad. He's going to have to kick it up a notch next year if he wants to hang. Here's some of my favorite Christmas pictures.

Our Happy Little Boy on Christmas morning.

My new ride...

After all these presents, all I want to play with is the paper... My first Boo-Boo! Mommy tried to tell me not to climb up the coffee table, but I didn't listen.
Ohhhh, look mommy. It's talking to me!
His first look at what Santa brought. What should I play with first?
Christmas Eve at Nana's....my first present I've unwrapped.
My family

Dear Tyler,

It's late at night, and I just checked on you. You were sleeping so soundly in your crib. All curled up with your little butt sticking up in the air. You're so sweet and innocent. And you are just growing up too fast! Tonight as I watched you sleep, I realized how big you've gotten so quickly. I wanted to just scream, "STOP! STOP the clock. Time is passing too quickly!" And then I just wanted to grab you and hold you tightly and rock you, because I know one day you will claim to be too big to rock. And I wanted to squeeze you and kiss you and take all your sugars, because I know one day you will be to embarrassed to kiss your mommy. And then I wanted to get on the floor and roll around and play all night, because I know one day you won't want to play with toys. And most of all, I just wanted to spend time with you. To tell you how much I love you and I how lucky I am to be your mommy. And how you are more than I ever could have imagined, dreamed, or hoped for. You are my sweet, sweet little boy. A little boy that can light up a room with his smile, and who has a giggle that's contagious. I wanted to tell you all of this because I know one day you will be too busy to sit down with mommy, and hearing this would make you blush. I wanted to do all of this at once because I am scared to miss a moment with you. You get bigger and bigger with every passing day and I love ever minute with you. I love you more than words could ever describe! And I am so blessed to have you! I pray that you will always be as sweet and as loving as you are right now. And that you'll be my little boy.

Love,
Mommy

Look What I Can Do...

This morning I heard Tyler playing in his crib so I went in to take a look. And this is what I found...

Tyler has figured out how to pull himself up and stand in his crib! I was so proud of him. And he was so tickled with himself. He would hold on to the side of the crib so he wouldn't fall.

Tyler is also getting a 2nd tooth! The first tooth is just coming in and already another one! It's coming in right next to the first one. He's going to be so cute with 2 little teeth showing!

Tyler is getting so big and I continue to be amazed at how much he is learning and growing. I love to watch him examine whatever his tiny hands can hold. He is such a happy baby. He cries when he's really sleeping or hungry and that's about it. Although he has learned if he "cries" when we walk out the room we'll come back in. And he's milking that right now, but when you walk back in he's just so darn cute! He keeps saying Dadadadadada. I'm working on Mama, but no luck yet. But he sure does love me. He gets so excited when I pick him up from 'school'. And when we are playing on the floor, he'll crawl up to me and put his hand on my face and cuddle next to me. And my heart just melts! He has definitely won my heart a million times over. I just can't believe how much I love this little guy. I read once that having a child is filling a place in your heart that you never new existed, and that's so true. My prayer is that Tyler grows into the child and man that God has designed him to be. And that Frank and I can be the parents that God has called us to be. What a huge blessing God has given us!

Supper Club Christmas Party

We had a wonderful Christmas Party with our supper club last weekend. Even Santa came and handed out presents to the kids! Tyler had a great time. He loves watching the 'big kids'. We're so lucky to have such a great group of friends.

Belly Flop!

Tyler has had another first....he fell off the bed! Actually, he crawled straight off the bed and did a full belly flop onto the hardwood floors! It SCARED ME TO DEATH!!! It was so loud! And it scared him to death to. He cried, I mean the "Mommy I think someone is trying to kill me" cry, or more like screaming at the top of my lungs type cry...for 15 minutes straight! Then he threw up and got sleepy. Now let me say, he just had a bottle, and he always spits up and then takes a nap after the bottle, so I don't really think that had anything to do with the fall, but still. I was thinking, ohmygosh!! He's got a concussion! I watched him for over an hour and he was fine. So I think it scared me more than anything, and my heart just broke into a million pieces when he cried. I know I will have this feeling a million more times as he grows up and I am not looking forward to it at all.

Now for the disclaimer (since my husband has already asked how I "let" him fall off the bed.) I put him in the center of our king size bed every morning so he can have his bottle while I get ready less than 2 feet away from him. I also surround him with pillows...tall pillows. So it wasn't that he just crawled off the end of the bed. He had to crawl up and over 2 big fluffy pillows (stacked on top of each other) and then go off the side of the bed. So it was not an easy task for a 7 month old. And, let me also mention, he only army crawls. So we are not even talking a full "stand on all fours" crawl. I think he's going to be athletic because that took some skill. So no Frank. I did not 'let' him crawl off the bed. Tyler saw the pillows as a challenge that he was determined to overcome. And our smart, athletic little boy accomplished his goal...but quickly realized that mommy put those pillows there for a reason.

Oh the joys, and tears of motherhood.