Beckett's 1st Birthday Party

What a reason to celebrate!!!  Not only did our little boy celebrate his 1st birthday, but mommy and daddy survived an entire year of parenthood!  But, it wouldn't have been possible without God, we are impressed with God...he created Beckett for us and he did an outstanding job!  I don't really know how to describe it, but Beckett always seems to know how to smile when we need it, laugh when a conversation is funny (yes, he does this), how to pretty much always be in a good mood, and how to make you feel gushy inside because he wants to cuddle and give kisses just because.  We love him more and more every day, which seems unfathomable and quite impossible today...but tomorrow will come and tomorrow I will realize that overnight, God stretched my capacity to love my son even more.  I understand God's love for me more clearly because Beckett exists.  So, in saying all this, we love Beckett and have LOVED the privilege of having him in our life for a year.

Happy Birthday Beckett!!!
p.s.  Beckett's actual birthday is Oct. 19th, but we couldn't wait to celebrate and be thankful!

Beckett LOVED his J.D. trike.  He sat on it the entire time I opened his gifts!  

Again, not letting anyone else play with it!

Well, before we could even sing "Happy Birthday" Beckett snatched some cake when mommy wasn't looking!  He was anxious to eat that cake he had to stare at all morning!

An eat it, he did!

And more...

Look at this great ball!  I'm thinking HOURS of entertainment with this gift!

One Sunday

Hey All!  Here's a piece of our fun day together yesterday (Sunday).  We HAD to take it easy because daddy threw his neck out.  So, while daddy was recovering, mommy and B had lots of fun playing together!  As you will notice in all these pics, Beckett is battling a cold, hence the reason I am home from work this morning!  It's amazing the things I can get done while B is napping!!!

Look at that face!  TO DIE FOR!!!

B loves anything that has wheels!  He loves to make the "vrooom" sound!

Beckett being silly!  It's so fun to see his little personality shine!

Playing with his farm eggs.  

"Look at my eggs Mommy!"

Beckett and his racing 4-wheeler...and his matching riding suite (aka pajamas!)

B typically spends more time figuring out how his 4-wheeler works as opposed to riding it, I don't mind!

Beckett LOVES looking out the front door!  Daddy's neck was feeling better, so he was outside doing a little work.  Beckett wanted to play!

Watching Daddy work.

Beckett got a new nerf ball.  He LOVES it!  He even took it with us on our walk and only dropped it twice!  Nice hands B!

Yep!  I'm walking everywhere!

Who's out there?

Still has his ball!  It's such a cool toy!

Since February... (Katie, this is for you!!!)

Oh my...has it really been since February that I posted last?  That goes to show that selling your house, ending a school year (with many tears), buying a house, closing on both houses within one day of each other, moving, remodeling, remodeling more, and all the while trying to keep up with our 9 month old...time can get away from you!!!

So, I'm going to take you on a picture walk of the past few months of our lives!

Little Beckett passes the 4 month mark!  He got so big so fast (and it just continues...)

Obviously Beckett doesn't like Mommy's monthly pictures anymore...he's outta here!!!  (4 months)

Beckett started cereal and the sippie at 4 months...he couldn't wait!  He literally drooled over Mommy and Daddy's food so we couldn't hold him off any longer!  (check out those crossed legs...how funny!)

Beckett wanted to crawl so bad at 5 months, but he just couldn't figure out how to go!

We went to the park a few times this spring!  Beckett loved to swing (and still does)!!!

I'm 6 months old today...April 19, 2010!!!

I love playing with Daddy!  We like to wrestle!

And I love my jumperoo!  I can jump high!!!

Mommy and Daddy started packing in May and I loved playing in their boxes!

Mommy and Daddy dedicated Beckett to God on Mother's Day, May 10th.  What a wonderful Mother's Day Mommy had!  (Oh, and that's Beckett's girlfriend in the back, Kayla, she helped in the infant room at church)!

Beckett graduated out of his baby bathtub!  He thought he was big stuff!!!

This is serious moving!  Mommy HAD to get something done and Beckett was not letting Mommy leave the room without him.  Solution - attach child to adult.  Worked like a charm and Mommy got some packing done!

Our wonderful friends, Matt, Ambrah, and Kaiden let us stay with them for a whole week!  Kaiden was showing Beckett how his cool jeep worked.  Beckett only went backwards, if only Kaiden could see him in his walker now!!!

We closed on our Salisbury house and immediately got to work with destruction! (more house pictures later)

We're having fun in the sun!  We've gone swimming in Grandma and Grandpa's pool at the farm!  It's so fun!

Mommy found Beckett standing up in bed one morning!  I think Beckett was just as surprised at himself as Mommy was!!!  What a fun milestone!

Beckett's hats are starting to fit and he seems to like them, for now!  Beckett and Daddy match now!

Mommy, Daddy, and Beckett celebrating the 4th of July!

Just moved into the new house on July 10th!  Beckett's already controlling the remote!

B loves the new house because he can cover every square foot in his walker!  (and yes, look closely, B ran right out of his shoes)!


Hope you have enjoyed this glimpse into the past few months of our lives!  Beckett turned 9 months old on Monday, July 19th, and we are settling into our new house and new (or old) town.  We are enjoying Casey's pizza, family stopping by for visits, backdoor visitors, playing at the park with Aunt Lou, going to mom and dad's for lunch, Grandparents' babysitting, leaving our cars unlocked, and our ice cream runs to Casey's!  Although we knew we would miss so many things about Grain Valley, Zach and I have realized that benefits of family and "small town" are much greater than we ever imagined!  We are so pleased with God's plans for our lives!

Zach, Diane, and Beckett

New Babysitter & New Moves!

Beckett has a new sitter!  Her name is Jenny and she is wonderful!  God has completely helped us feel at ease with Jenny, her style of caring for our son is exactly what we have been looking for.  And Beckett seems to love it there!  He especially likes one little girl, named Ali.  She is about 2 years old and they are flirting with each other every time Zach or I pick him up!  Ali is always so concerned about Beckett.  She offers him his binky and lovey, helps with the car seat straps, puts his cover over him, waves good-bye, among many other things!  It's so cute!  Of course, I won't be saying that when he's a freshman wanting to date a senior!  Thank God for giving us wisdom to change sitters and comfort in making the transition.

In addition, Beckett rolled from tummy to back Friday evening.  Mommy and Beckett were reading a story about barnyard animals while Beckett was having tummy time.  All of a sudden, he rolled over!  And we rolled him back to his tummy and he did it again!  It was such an amazing moment AND we caught it on video.  I'd love to share the video, but I don't know how to upload it to my blog anymore.  The little icon is gone.  So, you'll just have to envision our cutie-pie making his first moves!

We love you son!  Keep movin'!

3 MONTHS OLD!!!

Well, I am a little behind.  I had this blog written up about 12 days ago and was waiting to post it until I took pictures.  Here I am, 12 days later, finally posting his 3 month blog!  Enjoy!

"Beckett is 3 months old today!  We can't believe how much he is growing and changing on a daily basis.  We have definitely seen our little baby boy transform into a "pre-toddler".  He is cooing, laughing, giggling, wanting to roll over, eating great, sleeping great, moving and squirming!

Not only did Beckett turn 3 months today, but he also went to a different babysitter.  Our former babysitter was wonderful, we never felt that Beckett was not well taken care of or loved on.  However, the environment in the home was much less structured than our home and this made for a very tough transition back-and-forth to the sitter.  So, with a little help from my "second mom" (my secretary, Shelly) we have found a wonderful sitter who thrives on structure like mommy!  He had a great day today, and the sitter was even able to help Beckett take a 3-hour nap this morning!!!  So far, it's going great, please pray for Beckett as he gets to know the new sitter and all the other babies!  He was totally flirting with the two baby girls that were there this morning!  Atta boy!  Here's a picture from today (January 19th)!"

All Giggles

Beckett giggled for the first time on Sunday! We weren't fast enough to get it on video, but we have an awesome memory of the belly laugh! He hasn't done it again since. :(

Snow Days are the BEST!

What started out as a terrible week (because mommy had to go back to work), ended wonderfully with THREE snow days! One of the BEST things about working in education are the random, surprise "NO SCHOOL" days during the winter months! I am especially enjoying them this year as each snow day means one more day I get to spend with my little boy. I have realized that although I work 10x harder as a stay-at-home mom than I do as a school counselor, each day I am at work is one less day I get to spend with my little boy and one more day I will never get back. Although this is the MOST depressing thought ever, I try my hardest to love every moment with Beckett.

So! Here's some fun memories from our first THREE snow days together!

Mommy's attempt to get the mail failed. So she sent Daddy to the mailbox. Note the snow shovel in hand. Yes, Daddy had to shovel his way to our mailbox!

Beckett says "I LOVE MY NEW BUMBO SEAT!!! THANKS GRANDMA and GRANDPA!!!"

Daddy bought a blue bumbo and Mommy didn't want to hassle with returning it for a gender neutral color. So, if Beckett gets a little sister someday, she's going to have to deck it out in diamonds or something! That would make Daddy think twice about buying gender specific from now on!

Beckett is in shock after the Tiger loss to Navy in their bowl game. "Seriously Pinkel, what kind of coaching was that?!?!"

Beckett loves his lovin's from Mommy. Can't you tell?

Christmas!

The Christmas season was definitely a fun one, celebrating with our new baby boy, we had many firsts! The following pictures are in reverse order of events, I uploaded them wrong.

Christmas at home in GV on the 26th. Santa visited Beckett while we were out of town!

He got some cool blocks that rattle (see above), blocks that will help him learn his shapes (see below), and lots of books! Santa was good to him, of course, Beckett hasn't had much time to be bad. :)

At NeNe and Papa's house. Santa visited there too and gave Beckett some things in his stocking, he's cool like that.

At grandma and grandpa's house. Santa visited there too! Again, Santa is really cool.

Beckett gave grandma and grandpa a picture of himself. You can only do that up to a certain age...not sure when that is, we'll let grandma and grandpa decide!

Just chillin' with daddy at grandma and grandpa's house. Beckett likes to watch football with daddy.

Beckett got to meet his great grandma Vulgamott! He loved laying on her lap!

Family Christmas picture. Maybe next year we will do the cute Christmas card where the picture is part of the card...this year, just too much to organize!