A Long Weekend of Celebrating

The celebrating began on Thursday morning, bright and early as usual, and just wound down this afternoon. We had a blast reveling in the big O.N.E. with RF. 

RF woke up all smiles Thursday morning, as usual, and we sang Happy Birthday to him while we all snuggled in bed together. 

Why are ya'll singing that silly song to me, mama? 

We enjoyed a nice breakfast together at home and played all morning. After RF's nap, we headed out to his birthday lunch --- Chik-Fil-A. 

Eating up all four of his chicken nuggets...

Thursday afternoon we headed over to Washington Square for RF to run around outside. He had a blast! 

Love this photo...what was he looking at? See a few photos below...

That face...just want to eat it up! 

Walkin' around the park...

Had to pick up a few leaves and carry them as we walked around...

This is what RF was looking at. He is drawn to flags. He will point and say something (not sure what, yet) every-time he sees one. 

Looking up at the flag...

He will just stand and stare at it...

A cannon, daddy. WOW!

A happy birthday boy in mid-air! 

Friday afternoon and evening we spent preparing for our little guy's first birthday party. It was a complete success - a small gathering of family - just perfect. 

Drink table in the hallway...

Mantle in the dining room...

Months 1 - 3

Months 4 - 6

Months 7 - 9

Months 10 - 12 

O.N.E. 

Yummy desserts...

Food --- meatballs, spinach and artichoke dip

More food ---  baked potatoes, ham and cheese sliders, and a fruit and cheese tray. 

Eating it up! 

Front porch

Homemade 1st birthday wreath...

This morning we packed RF up and headed east to the Naval Air Museum at NAS Pensacola. It was a total boy-fest, but mama had fun snapping photos and wandering around watching my little man (and my husband) all amazed by the airplanes. 

The Naval Air Museum in Pensacola

Guess what caught RF's eye as soon as we walked in?

The flag...

Sitting in the cockpit of a retired Blue Angel...

I found wheels, mama. 

Walking all over pointing, talking and exploring. 

Yep, he found another flag...

We are so blessed to have this little guy in our lives and are excited to see him grow and change over the next year. 

I hope you had a wonderful first birthday weekend, sweet boy. You are my sunshine. You are my heart. You are my joy and you are oh so loved. 

Happy First Birthday, RF!

Robert Franklin, 

It's been one year. 

365 days since our doctor held up the most precious baby boy, introducing us to our son 

8,760 hours since we made the biggest and most important transition of our lives

525,600 minutes since our world was rocked in every way possible 

31,536,000 seconds since we assumed our new role - as your parents

The past year has been full of good days and not-so-good days, but each and every day we met the sunrise knowing that we were amazingly blessed because you came in to our lives. We realized that each choice we made, action we chose and word we spoke was shaping who you are to become. Each day was a day of firsts and brought with it the opportunity for us to show you all of the good in this world. 

I knew I wanted a low- key first birthday for you, but I also knew I wanted to make as many of the decorations and as much of the food myself as possible, because I knew I would need time to prepare myself for this monumental event in your life. Each moment I spent working on your birthday party I reflected over this past year...the most amazing year of my life. 

My thoughts and reflections...
- the euphoria I felt at 7:08pm the night of October 24 as our gazes met 
- I knew I was meant to be a wife the moment I met your daddy and I knew I was meant to be a mother the moment I met you
- how special our evening routine is - laying down with you as you wind down from the day and drift off to sleep and how you snuggle in to me as you get comfortable in your sleeping position 
- getting to tell you each and everyday how much I love you and how proud I am of you 
- the way you rested your arm over your eyes while you ate while you were an infant 
- your love of the water - the bathtub, Papa Tad and Lola's pool, the water hose 
- the look of wonder and awe as you observe the world around you - always looking, always absorbing, always exploring, and always learning 
- that deep belly laugh you let out when you are playing with your daddy
- that smile - it melts my heart each time I see it 
- the way you wake up in a good mood with a smile on your face 
- the way you push things across the floor - a toy, a Tupperware dish, your tricycle, a chair, or a leaf
- your love of all things that have wheels - your trains, your toy car, your stroller, the buggy at the grocery store
- how you say 'gie' when you see your puppies 
- the way you are content with ordinary items as toys - baskets, plastic spoons, TV remotes, car keys, cardboard boxes, a computer keyboard, and even the broom 
- your complete love of the outdoors - the birds, the plants, the warmth of the sun, your swing, and even the dirt 
- your love of food and your willingness to try new foods 
- how well you travel...knock on wood
- your quickness... no seriously, you move really quickly which has aided your mama greatly in getting back in to shape 
- the way your face lights up when you see yourself in a mirror
- the way you hang out and go with the flow as we run errands and spend time out and about 
- the way you look back at me to make sure I'm serious when I tell you no
- the way you watch your daddy while he stacks your blocks on the floor only to knock them over as soon as he gets the stack at a good height 
- your emphatic squeal as you walk down the hallway being 'chased' by your daddy or I 
- your infatuation with the doggie door 
- that cute little freckle on your left ankle 
- your resilience - from shots at the doctor, from a tumble while walking down the hall, and from being told 'no'
- the way you crawl in to my lap and lay your head on my shoulder now when you are tired and ready to go to sleep 
- the butterflies I get each afternoon when I pick you up from school and the way you stop whatever you're doing, run over to me and lay your head on my shoulder and pat me on the back while saying, "mama...mama...mama" 
- your love of Curious George and all things monkey 
- the pure and unconditional love and joy that you bring out in us 

Thank you for picking us to be your parents, sweet boy. We love you more than you will ever know. 

Happy First Birthday, Robert Franklin. 

Mama and Daddy 

Sent from my iPad

The Pumpkin Patch - 2013

How lucky are we that RF's Papa Tad and Lola are photographers? 

They met us at the pumpkin patch last Friday afternoon for a fall photo shoot with RF. We prefer action shots, nothing staged really, so Papa Tad shot away while RF wandered around and as always, the photos turned out perfectly - just what we wanted. 

Thank you, Papa Tad and Lola! 

A HAPPY little boy walking through the pumpkin patch...

One of my favorites...

Where'd you go, mama? Why'd you leave me sitting on this pumpkin? 

Another one of my favorites...

Those lips...he loves to blow spit bubbles now...fun, fun, fun. 

RF and Lola

RF was exhausted, hot and thirsty after running around for close to an hour. 

I love you, little boy.