CJ's First Birthday Party

On Saturday, we celebrated CJ's first birthday with some of our family and friends.    I love having birthday parties for our kids at home and making their day extra special for them.  Of course, anyone who knows me knows that there MUST be a theme and that theme is carried through out the party...even down to how we dress!  The theme for CJ's first birthday party was mustaches with a red and teal-blue color scheme.    The theme greeted you even before you entered!

During the first month of his life, I took pictures to capture how he had grown and changed.  Seeing all of those pictures on display to compare how he had changed in such a short period of time was overwhelming.  Looking back at those pictures makes celebrating this day even sweeter.

Oh boy is this baby spoiled!  We have some pretty wonderful family and friends!  Thank you all for making CJ's birthday so extra special! 

Yes...the theme continued throughout our house....

I caught myself staring at this display constantly.  The picture is the first time I touched CJ.  He was only a few hours old and I only got to touch him for a brief second.  That second I held close to my heart until I was able to hold him again a week later.  Every time I see this picture, I am reminded of just how fragile life is and how each and every soul is precious.  The display of diapers shows again how much he has grown in just a year.  The first diaper was too big on him at birth.   He is truly amazing.

We had a taco bar set up for all of our friends and family for dinner, buffet style.  Our guests could make burritos, tacos, nachos, taco salad...what ever they prefer!  To satisfy their sweet tooth, everyone could indulge in a RED chocolate fountain (I wasn't kidding about the theme EVERY WHERE!).  After dipping the pretzel rods in chocolate, you could choose a topping of your preference...coconut, nuts, mini-marshmallows, or sprinkles. 

 Oh, and of course there were cupcakes...red or blue velvet...again with the theme!

CJ's "smash cake" was in the shape of a mustache.  

Another extra-special display...Mommy and Daddy's first pictures with our miracle baby.

CJ's seat of honor....

 Before eating, we all sang "Happy Birthday" to CJ.

He got a little shy from all of the attention.

Never fear...Mommy and Daddy were there to help reassure him.

After dinner, CJ had plenty of help opening hid gifts.

Finally, it was time for his smash cake. 

Which he dove in to without hesitation!

When Mommy wanted a bite...

CJ didn't like that idea!

He thought they cake was hand clapping good!!

Thank you all so much for helping us celebrate the miracle and blessing that is CJ!

 Now.....time to start planning the next birthday!!

CJ is ONE YEAR OLD!

When my water broke at 21 weeks pregnant, our world was turned upside down, inside out.  We were told it was ok to have an abortion. We were told that I would most likely go into labor within 48 hours and our baby would not live more than an hour.   

Seven weeks later, our baby was born.  He was born with only a 70% chance of survival.  If he was to survive, he would mostly have serious medical and mental complications.  

Today, that same baby turns 1 year old.  He was perfect the day he was born and he is perfect 1 year later.  

 We lovingly refer to CJ as our miracle baby, but in truth all babies are miracles.  We have been very blessed to receive 3 miracles from God. 

We've spent the last year surrounded by numbers and statics about CJ.  How many days I would reaming pregnant, how many days I was in the hospital without my family, frightened by the samll chance of his survival, obsessing over his weight gains, how much milk he would take, counting the many days...then weeks...then months he remained in the NICU, counting down the minutes that I could hold him when he was so critical and wishing those minutes could last days,..

Today on his birthday, I'm not concerned with any of those typical statics.  I don't really care today how much he weighs, or how long he is....those numbers mean nothing to me today. 

Today, I'm not sad at how big he has gotten or how quickly this past year has flown by...

Today, I feel nothing but joy and peace.  Our family would not be the same without this little miracle baby who has forever changed our lives for the better. 

I know at one point, I'll be concerned with all those numbers again, but today...

Today I enjoy this precious blessing from God.  

We will spend our day with snuggles and cuddles...laughing and tickling...playing with his brother and sister...

And counting our blessing that is this little miracle, CJ. 

We love you! 

Rub-A-Dub-Dub

This is how little CJ bathes in a BIG bath tub! 

CJ at 11 Months

Hey CJ....Guess what?! 

You were born 11 months ago!  You are almost 1 year old!

 I know!  I can't believe it either! Our miracle baby is 11 months old and healthy and happy.  We couldn't be more over the top in love with him!

At 11 months old CJ, who came home on a feeding tube, is eating EVERYTHING that he can get his hands on!  The majority of his diet consists of baby food, but he does eat "real people food."  I am hesitant to give him too much of this food since he really only has 2 bottom teeth and I'm still conscious of his possible milk protein allergy.  He has eaten mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, all different kinds of bread, different types of rice, and anything else that I have to eat that he can easily mash with his little gums.  He drinks from his sippy cup and still nurses 3 times a day.  

CJ is full time at the babysitter with his sister while I am teaching during the day. He has made the transition to go to the babysitter rather seamlessly and I couldn't be more relieved.  He loves that attention he gets there and getting to interact with different people.
   CJ is working on getting his top middle teeth, which have finally broken through, but have not yet came all the way in.

Oh this teething business is rough...but necessary.

As for mobility, CJ is not yet crawling but he gets where he needs to be by rolling and "inch-worming"  to his toys.  He also scoots himself all around in this walker.  He will definitely walk before he crawls, but this is the exact same with his brother and sister.  He has started to pull up on objects.  He will "dance" when he is sang to or hears music.  It is the cutest thing...we do this often with him.  If you know our family personally or read this blog regularly, you know that often break out into spontaneous dance parties...which may not be so spontaneous if we do it so often...hmmm...

Getting "tummy time" is hit or miss now since he knows he can roll out of it....

Oh those feet...always straight up in the air...just like the little monkey he is...

CJ is wearing size 3 diapers and wearing 9-12 month clothing.  He sits in his high chair by Clayton and Lacey when eating and loves that he can be right next to them. They don't like it too much when he reaches over and tries to take food off of their plate...but Mom and Dad think it's hilarious! 

These frames Lacey found and were wearing them. Luckily, CJ's eyes have always been healthy, but he sure is cute in these frames!

He still prefers to sleep with his hands and arms up by his head, but he has started to sleep on his side or flip to his stomach when sleeping.

 He still loves his muslin blankets, loves cuddling with them and chewing on them for teething.  He has become more vocal with his squealing and "talking".

I love on the weekends that he gets up a little bit earlier than his brother and sister so that we get some one-on-one time.  He is just the most precious little miracle and the sweetest little love.

First Days of School

School is back in session for all 5 of us starting Monday. Curt is starting his 3rd year as a principal (10th year in education) and I'm starting my 9th year as a teacher after being off all last year with CJ.

   Our first born will be starting his first day of first grade. He is beyond ready and super excited! 

Lacey will start her last year in pre-school at the babysitters. 

 

Our miracle baby will start his first time ever at the babysitters.

No one is nervous...everyone is excited and we couldn't be more proud of our wonderful crew!