1 year old already?!

It isn't quite the time of Brandon's birth, but I am going to post a birthday blog now.

At 12:22pm January 30, 2008, Brian and I welcomed our son, Brandon into the world. That day was filled with such joy and excitement. I cannot even believe that a year has already gone by! I can still remember how scare Brian and I were when we found out that I needed a c-section. I only vaguely remember Brandon's actual birth because I was on so much medication. I do remember crying when I heard Brandon cry for the first time. After my time in recovery, I was reunited with Brian and Brandon. Due to the side effects of the medication, I was extremely shaky, but as soon as I held Brandon for the first time, I stopped shaking. It was such an amazing feeling, holding my son for the first time. He was so perfect. I was overwhelmed with love and seeing him made me realize how truly blessed Brian and I were. There is not a day that goes by that I do not thank God for giving us a healthy baby. Brandon has filled our lives with so much love and has given us such wonderful memories. He brightens everyday with his smile and energy. Watching him grow this past year has been wonderful! He has grown so much and learns something new everyday. He never ceases to amaze us. So, Happy 1st Birthday Brandon! Mommy and Daddy love you SO much!!!

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Last year at 9:15pm CST (so, 4:15am 1/30/08 in Germany)......

I was having my water broken. After no progress on the cydotec and pitocin, the doctors decided to break my water. They had to do it carefully because Brandon was not low enough in my pelvis. They were concerned about cord compression, but it was successful.

THIS is where it started getting interesting. Around 5:30am Germany time, I got my epidural. What a joke. It never worked. Ever. Despite "boosts" to the medication, and completely changing out the medication with a narcotic based medication, the pain still persisted. To say that it sucked, or that it was painful is the understatement of the century. At that point, I was on the maximum dose of pitocin, so breaking my water brought my contractions on HARD and FAST.

Yeah, it was bad. Not fun AT ALL.

I will post a final "This time last year" blog tomorrow. Now, I must go get a tissue because I am blubbering like a baby. :)

And...THIS time last year.....

I was starting the SECOND induction which FINALLY resulted in Brian and I meeting our son!!! It is 12:22am CST, which would make it 7:22am in Landstuhl, Germany. At 7:22am I was just checking into our room, and getting my IV and getting set up. So, nothing major had really happened at this point. I remember being extremely excitied to finally meet Brandon and anxious because we didn't know what to expect with the labor.

Remembering back, is so wonderful for me. It brings all of these wonderful memories of how exciting and new, and blessed that time was. The 29th-30th of January 2008 was a day that changed our life forever. We will never forget those days.

This time last year......

As Brandon's birthday draws near, I am becomming more and more setimental. This time last year, I was being released from Landstuhl Labor and Delivery because my induction failed. After 2 days of trying to get me to go into labor via foley-bulb, pitocin, and cydotec (sp?), I was discharged from the hospital. I was SO upset that I had to leave the hospital without our baby. Officially 40 weeks 6 days pregnant, I was READY to meet our son.

My, how time flies! The days after the failed induction seemed like they took forever. I couldn't wait to meet Brandon. Now, the time seems like it is speeding by and I am powerless to stop it. I just want time to slow down. I want Brandon to be my little baby forever!!!

Nostalgia

As Brandon's birthday draws near, I am becomming more and more setimental. This time last year, I was being released from Landstuhl Labor and Delivery because my induction failed. After 2 days of trying to get me to go into labor via foley-bulb, pitocin, and cydotec (sp?), I was discharged from the hospital. I was SO upset that I had to leave the hospital without our baby. Officially 40 weeks 6 days pregnant, I was READY to meet our son.
My, how time flies! The days after he failed induction seemed like they took forever. I couldn't wait to meet Brandon. Now, the time seems like it is speeding by and I am powerless to stop it. I just want time to slow down. I want Brandon to be my little baby forever!!!

Carseat Safety

I came across this video while doing some research on carseats and turning them forward facing. Personally, I had been looking forward to Brandon's birthday and turning him forward facing! After watching these videos, I am now NOT going to turn Brandon forward facing until his maximum weight limit for his carseat. The maximum weight limit for his carseat is 35 pounds, and he is roughly 28 pounds, so he will be rear facing for a while longer. I wanted to share this with any other Mommy out there in the hopes that it may save a child's life, or at least educate in some way.





Considering that the American Academy of Pediatrics have had WAY more college and training than I have, I will take their advice over anything else. I just wanted to share this with you all.

Just a thought....

So, my sister and I just went to see Revolutionary Road. It was a great movie, and I don't want to ruin it for anyone, so I am not going to give away any specifics. As obvious by the previews, the movie is about a couple that are unhappy in their life/marriage.

This brings me to my thought. Why is it that people never seem to be satisfied with their life? I mean, why is it that people are always complaining, or seeking some sort of "excitement" all the time. Don't get me wrong, I like excitement in my life, but I get excitement from simple things. Seeing my baby boy happy, and accomplish something new is excitement enough for me. Talking to my husband and cracking up together is exciting enough for me. I mean, sure, I'd like to take a crazy vacation, or take up some random hobby. Those things I will do someday. I just don't understand why people are so unhappy with their lives. Maybe I am bing naieve, who knows. I just think that life is what you make it. If you are bored at your job, GET ANOTHER JOB! If you are unhappy in your relationship, work on it, and if all else fails, leave. I understand that those things take effort and real planning and resources, but what is the alternative? Living a life that you cannot stand? Why? There is absolutely no point in being miserable. Besides, you have no excuse to be miserable if you make no effort to change the things in your life that you are unhappy with. I guess that people just like having something to bitch about, and if that works for them, so be it. It just seems like such a miserable existence. I'm not judging anyone, and I realize that there are some circumstances that require some amount of enduring some kind of unhappiness. Trust me I understand that. I am currently living in a situation that I do not find particularly enjoyable. However, the difference is, I try to find the positive in the arrangement. Brian will be home for R&R soon, Brandon is healthy and makes me laugh everyday. Honestly, just having him and Brian in my life is enough to sustain my happiness for eternity. Sorry, I got all emotional for a second. My point is, why settle for being unhappy and complaining about it? Especially when you are the one that is in control of your life? It just is so perplexing to me.

Just call me Mrs. Optimistic I guess. I just like to be happy as opposed to being bitter and grumpy. My life has WAY too many blessings to focus on the negative all the time. I will say that people should do what works for them though. I'm not one to tell people what to do, or how to live their life. Which brings up another subject.

WHY, OH GOD WHY, do people feel that their way is the only way? Seriously. I mean, I understand that people like the way they do things, and that is great. Your way works for you, great. But, my way works for me. To each their own. Why force your opinions on any given topic down someone else's throat? I mean, who made you God? I guess my point is, people should really attempt to not pass judgments on other people. Really, there is no reason to judge.

The last paragraph is kind of off topic, and a little of a tangent, but the main point of this post was to state my confusion of why people are never satisfied with what they have. Lord knows that I cannot be happier with the cards I have chosen and been dealt. I am truly one of the luckiest women on the planet!

The Smash Cake Video

I just uploaded some video footage from Brandon's birthday party last night. It is the all important cake footage. Enjoy! :)

Brandon's First Birthday Party!!

We had Brandon's first birthday party this evening! We were fortunate enough to be able to have the party at Grandpa Joe's Fire Station! We had a fire truck theme to the party, so the location was perfect! (Thanks to Grandpa Joe and his crew for being so hospitable!) The party was such a whirlwind. We were so glad to see all of our friends and family that were there! Some friends couldn't make it for one reason or another and we definitely missed them. Brandon had a great time! He got to eat brisket, baked beans, bread, and potato salad. He loved every bit of his dinner. Brandon was showered with tons of gifts and further spoiled rotten. :) He got to play with his friend Cara from gymnastics. They were SO cute playing together. They were both so excited to see each other and were all smiles. After presents, it was cake time. Brandon dove right into his cake. He made a HUGE mess, but it was all worth it. As he was eating his cake, he kept saying, "Mmmm...Mmmm." It was adorable! The party was a huge success, and full of wonderful memories. Now on to the pictures...

Dare I say.....

we are bottle free??? I think I will!! So far, we are on day 3 of NO BOTTLE!!!! Instead, Brandon is getting his formula in sippy cups and is taking to it extremely well!!! He has not resisted at all.

I knew that I wanted him to be broken of the bottle by a year because I am not a fan of toddlers walking around with bottles. So, I started randomly exchanging the sippy for the bottle, and sure enough, it stuck!

Our little man is growing up so fast! It kind of makes me sad that he doesn't take a bottle anymore. I still rock him with his last cup of formula for the night. That is our special time, and I am not ready to give that up yet. He doesn't fall asleep to me rocking him, but he stares at me and I talk to him and just look at him. I look at his little hands and feet, and look at how long he has gotten. It is my favorite time of the day. I don't know if I am ever going to want to give up that time with him, but all good things must come to an end. Besides, how silly would it be to rock my 15 year old son at night??? Hahahaha

20 days until our little man turns a year old!!! :)

For your viewing pleasure....

I cannot believe that B is almost a year old. It seems like the past year has flown by. If this is any indication as to how the next 17 years are going to be, I want to make sure to cherish EVERY moment! He changes so much everyday. It seems like everyday he learns something new. So far, in the past week, he has learned to lift his arms when asked so Mommy can tickle him, clap when Mommy says clap or good job, say "aaaahhhh" after drinking something, stick out his tongue when asked, wave to the fan when Mommy says, "Say hi fan," and look for the dogs when I ask him where the dogs are. He is so curious and wants to explore everything. Like Mommy and Daddy, he is clumbsy. The thought of his clumbsiness and the injuries we are in store for gives me heart palpatations and I am sure that my hair is going to be grey very soon! His most recent injury is a busted lip. When he is crawling, sometimes his legs push him faster than his arms can move him. Poor guy. :)

Yeah, this blog is a little rambly, but I just have enjoyed watching him grow up so much and want to share it with everyone! Here's the video! Oh, please forgive the shaky filming in the beginning. I was on my bed and trying to get situated without him noticing me. :) Enjoy!