Happy 1st Birthday Neal!! (June 16)

I started this one Neal's birthday but didn't have a chance to finish. I just wanted to recap the last year in pictures!

Here I am in all of my 213 lbs. of glory. Haha, I laugh every time I think of it! Anyway, this is right before we left for the hospital the first time. We didn't even know what he looked like yet!

Birthday!! Finally after 32 hours of labor and a couple of minutes pushing, Baby Neal came into the world at a mere 10 lbs. 5 oz. and 22 and 1/4 inches long.Going home from the hospital - Blue Devil from birth! Baby blessing day, 3 weeks old 2 and 1/2 months 4 and 1/2 months My little golfer for halloween Almost 6 months old A little over 6 months - it's all my mother-in-law could find that would fit him! I was secretly glad because I thought it was hilarious :) 7 months9 months 10 months going potty - I never have to change dirty diapers as long as we are at home! Almost one yearHe thinks he is so funny and that his daddy is too!

Soooooooo, I am so thrilled to get to talk about being a mother. I love this baby more than anything! He is beautiful, sweet, and funny. I can't get enough of him! I am still often brought to tears just from looking at him making a funny face at me, or when he gives me a cuddle, or when I ask him for a kiss and he leans in with his mouth wide open . . . he tries to make us laugh, grunts when he wants something, and knows where the ice cream is kept. He loves to lead us around by reaching as far as he can in the direction he wants us to go and waves his arm feverishly back and forth to say "no"! He is a very cautious boy with new foods or things that make loud noises, and lays his head into my shoulder when he is being shy, but is also wild and into everything. I think I spent the last 3 months just running after him! I LOVE being his mommy! Even though if Daddy's around that's all he wants . . . but I know he loves me too :) I have so much fun playing with him and reading to him and learning to comminucate with him. I love to learn life lessons from him, I learn so much! He tries to walk, falls on his face after a few steps and doesn't seem to notice. He just goes on crawling, but then gets up to try walking again. He is so forgiving. Any time I have been frusterated with him while trying to get him to sleep when his schedule is off (because of my sleep deprivation) he still greets me when he wakes up with smiles and love and wants to play. I want to be like him! I could go on . . . and maybe I will later, but for now I am going to sleep . . . stay tuned for the birthday celebration!