HAPPY NEW YEAR!! 2015

        I simply cannot fathom that an entire year has come and gone so quickly! It feels like just yesterday Joe and I were watching the ball drop on New Years Eve, holding our sweet and tiny 3-week-old baby girl! Wow! Words escape me when I try to recall all of the sweet memories we have experienced throughout this past year! It is nearly impossible to put 2014 into words, just know I am actually really sad that this year has come to a close! 

     At the start of this year I found myself feeling so consumed in complete newborn bliss that I remember thinking I wanted time to freeze because there was no way that tomorrow, or the next day could be better then the one we were in. I was wrong. Well, sort of. Everyday this year has been filled with love, wonder, learning (both on Hayden’s part and ours!) as well as challenges and daily frustrations! This year we have watched our round little 8 pounds 15 oz baby turn into a walking, talking toddler! How can this be?! It’s nearly impossible to remember a time when she napped, stayed still, and quite simply just existed with out little intervention on our parts!

     Early in 2014 there was little to report. Typical newborn heaven filled with: snuggles, nursing, pictures, nursing, baby kisses, nursing, pictures of me holding Hayden while nursing oh and did I mention, NURSING? The child was a moose and had “quit the appetite for life!” Although I know that there were days when I wanted to say forget it kid, drink from a bottle! I am so proud that we were able to make it work for the 13 months that we have. I loved the bond that instantaneously ensued while nursing her; it is such an incredible feeling knowing that there is something only her and I could experience.
     Being that my child was often on my chest more than a shirt was, it was hard to leave her occasionally, if ever! I know our families would agree with that J Truth being told though, I didn’t want to! I still don’t! I think I speak for us both when I talk about how unprepared we were in regards to how attached and protective we would be over this tiny human! She is simply the best thing ever!  

             Speaking of amazingness, this year was also the year we got married!!!!! I am still in complete awe of the fact that this incredible man would vow to take me as his wife for the rest of eternity! Our wedding day was more perfect than I could have ever imagined it to be! Seeing all of our family and friends come together to celebrate the love and the life that we share was truly indescribable! Also, being able to have our daughter be apart of the biggest day of our lives was amazing! She will not remember the day, as she was barely 6months old, but we will. Having her witness us vow our lives to each other before God, family, and friends makes me that much more driven to be a dutiful wife as well as hopefully lead by example that one day she find her own saving grace as I did. Added bonus, it didn’t rain! Which is a huge blessing in itself as our venue was outside and we did not have a back up plan!

       The rest of the summer passed with mom’s birthday, Joey’s birthday and plenty of pictures to fill in the gaps. Miss Hayden got her first tooth in May, then quickly added 3 more by the end of the summer! She learned to sit up in late June and by August was on the move (crawling.) OYYY! Just when we thought we had “parenting” mastered! LOL. Even writing that makes me laugh. God has a great sense of humor because two months later little miss went from a couple of steps to full on sprinting. Our days are now filled with more diving catches, swatting, and heart attacks as we watch our baby sprint, trip and run full speed in to anything and everything! Is this why people go prematurely gray? Yikes! 23 feeling 43 over here!

           

      Fall consisted of more or less the same routine: Joey in school, me working nights, and Hayden being fantastic per usual. We did squeeze in a couple trips however! Hayden and I went by airplane to visit Granny and Poppy! She did amazing on the plane and didn’t even cry! She is a star! In October Joey was on fall break from school and I took a week off from work to be able to spend some much needed time together! We visited my parents who were staying in Panama City for a part of the week! What a special time being able to take our first trip as a family together! Especially great was we got to spend time with Megan’s family and those precious boys!! Oh I could just eat them up! Hayden sure enjoys her cousins!

            Thanksgiving was extra memorable this year as we were able to travel to Tennessee for a  long weekend! I just love being able to spend time with my family and extended family while we are all in one place! It is so rare these days that we are able to all gather together, in the same city, let alone the same house! That’s right! Mom, dad, Megan, Marcus, Clayton, Sawyer, Morgan, Granny, Poppy, Joey, Hayden and I all stayed at Granny and Poppy’s! How the house is still standing amazes me J We sure missed Joey’s side of the family though! Christmas was extra special this year as Santa made his very FIRST visit to our household this year for a very special little girl! I’ve heard that Christmas changes the older you get, but I most certainly am so happy for these changes as there is nothing like seeing my daughter excited about her very own presents! An extra special treat this year was having Joeys family join us for church on Christmas eve! I will never forget having our families together to worship our savior’s birth! I love that our families live close enough to each other to celebrate events, holidays, or just casual gatherings! We have been blessed with the most amazing families any couple could possibly ask for.

           
 So there is our year in a jumbled, more then needed detailed recap. As I said, I loved 2014. I am pretty sure it will always hold a special place in my heart as so many first took places. We have been blessed more than we deserve this year. Our family is in good health, we have a roof over our heads and a perfect baby girl by our sides? What more can we ask for of the coming 2015? I’m not sure, but if 2015 is anything like this year, I know we will spend it laughing, crying, learning, and loving every second together!