Erin's Diary Entries Diary Navigation: Choose A Diary Entry -------------------- Latest Entry: 12/11/00 -------------------- 11/29/00 11/14/00 11/7/00 10/25/00 10/17/00 10/4/00 9/26/00 9/19/00 9/6/00 9/1/00 8/18/00 8/11/00 8/6/00 7/27/00 7/17/00 7/4/00 6/26/00 6/21/00 6/13/00 6/7/00 5/22/00 5/15/00 5/8/00 5/1/00 4/26/00 4/23/00 4/17/00 4/10/00 4/5/00 -------------------- Erin's Introduction

Introduction

It seems like only yesterday -- but it's been one whole year -- since you came down from Heaven and brought your sunbeams here!

That is an excerpt from one of the cards that Tyler received yesterday. One of the MANY cards! This is the phrase that brought the tears to my eyes and caused me to reflect even more upon the events that were about to happen at this time last year. Even while I type this entry I get chills that go up my arms and little twinges that I feel in my eyes that mean tears may be just around the corner. I can feel that lump forming in the back of my throat and I tell myself that I should at least hold off until AFTER I've written this entry!! But, this has been the scenario that I have experienced several times this weekend, throughout the preparations for my baby's first birthday party. I've just been looking at him all weekend and soaking in how much he has grown and how different he has become since the day that he was born. I remember when he just fit right in the crook of my arm and would nestle there for so long and sleep comfortably for hours.

Ahhhh, the memories ...

Let me reflect on things first, then I'll tell you all about the big bash. Well, my little bear is no longer on bottles at all. The night time bottle is gone and he is loving it (THANK GOD). So, this event brought on the tears for me. I took down the bottle rack that had been sitting next to our sink and telephone since about 2 weeks after he was home. As I did that I was remembering everything that we went through in those first few weeks. I remembered how I used to pump for my baby every two hours, and how I would have to clean all of those damn parts to my pump after each time. After I did that I would set them on that bottle rack to let them dry. I remember trying to keep Tyler happy as I held the pumps to my breasts and pumped his next meal. Picture this: Sitting on the couch, barely dressed in a robe, two pumps suctioned to your breasts, and trying to bounce a fussy baby in his bouncy seat to keep him happy for the fifteen minutes that you need to pump his milk. At that moment, it wasn't so funny -- but now, just picturing it makes me laugh (out loud!). God, I was SOOOO nervous at first, and just look at me now. I feel like I've emerged from a shell or something and have really found out what life is all about. I have to say ladies and gentlemen that our babies ARE what life is all about. As much as my life has changed in the matter of just one very short year, I wouldn't go back to the way it was for anything in the world.

This year has literally passed by in a flash, and even though it went by at the speed of light, I do remember just about everything that happened. I'm thinking that that's because of this diary. Writing it all down has really helped me to remember every little detail that went on during my son's first year. I've been looking back at his pictures and just remembering all those "firsts" that he achieved this year. The first smile, his first laugh -- I'll never forget that first laugh. I even remember what he was wearing when I got him to laugh for the very first time. I was SHOCKED when he did it. It was right around Easter because it was a Friday and everyone was coming over for fish (in the Catholic religion you're not supposed to eat meat every Friday during Lent). I had Tyler in just a little white onsie (undershirt) because the Spring weather was just starting to hit us. Tyler and I were sitting in the rocker and I, of course, was making silly faces at him and pretending that I was eating his belly. Suddenly, this deep, warm, giggly belly laugh just erupted and he just kept doing it every time. I was in Heaven because, it must be said, I think my baby has the BEST laugh out of anyone I have ever known. His laughs are so sincere and so deep that I truly believe they come from right down in the depths of his belly and his soul. And of course, once everyone got there that night, he was all laughed out and wouldn't do it again for a few days. What can I say, maybe I had too much fun with it??? So, that was just one of many firsts, and there are so many more to come. My Tyler-bear is truly becoming a toddler. Even though I am going to deeply miss the baby that he was, I am welcoming the toddler he is to become with wide open arms.

All that said, let's move in to the big BASH!!! What a day it was -- full of streamers, balloons, presents, cake, family and friends. We all had a blast and Tyler never whined or cried even once. He was the king for the day and he lived up to that title very well. Guess I'll tell you about the preparations for the party ...

Well, they really began on Thursday when I went and did the grocery shopping for the big day. Friday was kind of a relax and prepare for chaos day before Saturday hit. Steve let me sleep in a bit because he knew that I had tons to do. I got up around 8:30 a.m. and began preparing the meat that needed to be cooked and cutting up the veggies for veggie pizza. The meat cooked for five hours and during that time we straightend the house and finished up the cleaning. I had done most of the cleaning throughout the week, we only had vacuuming left to do. Once the meat was done I took it out, shredded it, let it cool and then popped it in the frig for the night. Then I made the veggie pizzas and baked Tyler's cake -- I saved the icing for Sunday morning. Soon after Tyler went to sleep on Saturday night Steve and I broke out the decorations and taped balloons to just about anything that stood still and draped streamers over the kitchen table and tossed them around Tyler's high chair, excuse me, I mean "throne." We also taped balloons to his high chair. Steve and I had tons of fun decorating. We also put balloons outside, all over the mailbox. Once Sunday morning arrived, I still had things to do. The cake had to be iced, which took about 2 1/2 hours and the meat had to be put in the crock pot to be heated through. At least the veggie pizzas were done and I didn't have to do anything with those. So, I had to color all the icing according to Pooh's colors and then I had to put it in the bags and outline and squeeze little stars all over the cake. You know the what I'm talking about, right? Well, I'll post a decent picture of it with this entry so you can all see what I did. I have to say that I was pretty proud of it. It was the first cake that I had ever decorated like that and I was very nervous about doing it. But it turned out great and everyone enjoyed it, including Tyler! Soon enough, 1 p.m. was here and the guests started to arrive!

Once everyone got here we all ate and then moved on to opening gifts. Tyler got so many great things -- tons of toys which he honestly did need. That's no lie. He was getting so bored with his old toys. Tyler got an activity table, activity walker, a Winnie the Pooh chair (which he adores!), a little tricycle type thing (not a real tricycle, it's made for 1 year to 3 year olds), a baby basketball hoop, a little kitchen thing and several other small things. So, he has tons and I plan on buying NO MORE for Christmas. We have four Christmas presents for him and that is IT!!! He is in love with all his toys though and he is keeping rather occupied with them when he plays. After we opened gifts it was cake time!! We took Tyler's shirt off and just left him in his pants and onesie. We covered his bottom half with a towel. Then we lit the Winnie the Pooh candle and sang Happy Birthday, which he truly enjoyed. Once I cut the cake I gave him the first piece and he LOVED it. He picked at it at first, but then he really got in to it. He only ate half a piece because I didn't want him to get sick or anything -- he hasn't really had much sugar before. After that Tyler just sat and played with all his toys. Oh, he was in Heaven!! What he really loved though, was sitting in his Pooh chair and moving the basketball thing he got up close to him so he could play with it. When he sits in the chair he is at the perfect height for it! Too cute!!

Well, I guess that was his big day. It really turned out to be a great day and one that I will never forget. Too bad Tyler won't really remember, but he can read this and hopefully it will give him a little glimpse of what his very first birthday was like.

Tyler~

You are my love and my life. Thank you for bringing so much love in to my life and filling it with so many smiles, hugs and kisses. I only hope that I can fill your life with as much love as you have already filled in mine. I love you my little bear, and no matter how big you get, you'll always be my baby.

Love,

Mom

So everyone, this is our last entry at Babies Today. I just want to say thank you to all of you for being such wonderful friends. I only hope to continue our friendships over on Toddlers Today. It's been a wonderful ride, and it's just going to keep on going!! Yes, I plan on continuing, it just might be a little late -- I still have to send in the agreement!! So please, bear with me, I will send it in and Tyler's diary will continue!!! So til then, I'll see ya!!!!

Erin

P.S. Pictures are of a) Tyler in his "throne" and b) the Birthday Boy and his Uncle Nick (my sister's husband)