the BIG ONE!

We've made it to the BIG ONE! This weekend we will celebrate Kamden's FIRST birthday! It's unbelievable how quickly this year has gone by. This time makes me think about all that Kamden has brought into our lives, and the many things we have learned over the past 12 months. I wanted to take this time to reflect on where we've been and how far we've come since this little angel was sent from heaven.

Pregnancy:

Since the day we found out we were expecting, our lives have never been the same again. This was the greatest gift and blessing in disguise the Lord has ever given us. The one thing we learned through this stage is making every minute count. God makes those 40 weeks for a reason! Time has never went by so fast, and since then it only sped up. Of course we were anxious to meet the little man, but we needed each one of those two-hundred and eighty days to prepare for his grand entrance into the world. No matter what obstacles was thrown our way, I wanted to make sure to remain calm and keep a positive outlook on life. I've always been a firm believer that your spirit and disposition throughout your pregnancy has a profound impact on your child. My favorite day in my pregnancy was the day we found out it was a boy! Hearing his heart beat and seeing him on the ultrasound, made my heart skip a beat. I had the biggest smile on my face that day, and it hasn't left since then!

Birth:

Our little boy decided not to debut on his own. We had everything in it's place the day we went to be induced for labor. Our original birth plan did not go as planned, and we overcame the emergency c-section. This was the day we learned to always have faith. No matter what happens, keep the faith in your heart that it will all work out in the end. Seeing his little face for the first time, and hearing his faint little cry was worth every thing we went through to get him here. I wasn't able to hold him right away, since I was on the operating table, and that was my biggest regret. I remember looking over at Keith the first time he held Kamden, and never had I ever witnessed a smile so sincere, proud, and happy. I've never seen him smile like that. I've also never felt that amount of love in my heart. It was like a natural high. There has never been a day more serene and full of love, than the day Kamden arrived. What made it even more special was being surrounded with family and friends that genuinely showed their care and support.

• 7 Pounds 7 Ounces and 19.5 Inches Long
• First bath
• Kamden watched his first college day football kick-off
• First NFL Sunday
• First trip to church
• First walk around the neighborhood
• First Dance with Mommy
• First public outing
• First trip to the Doctor

1 Month:

Being a new parent wasn't as hard as we originally thought it would be. Sure, it is a challenge and it's a total life changing event, but within this first month, most things came natural. I was worried that I wouldn't know how to do this or that, and in reality I was concerned for nothing. Once he was here, I felt like I had been parenting all of my life. Being a parent is a God given gift. It's something that is instilled in us. Our bonds with our child gives us the extra sense to know just what to do at any given moment. The one thing we discovered within the first month, was what unconditional love felt like.

• First Fall Season
• First Family Pictorial
• First road trip to Chapel Hill
• First time celebrating his Daddy's 27th Birthday!
• First trip to the Farmer's Market to pick out a pumpkin
• First Halloween

2 Months:

This time of year was very busy for our new little family. With birthdays, holidays, and everything going on, there was never a dull moment-- especially with baby Kam. I enjoyed my last few weeks of maternity leave with the baby. Most of our days were spent around the house, and I got used to having mid morning and afternoon naps with him! We had fun on our walks downtown, shopping, and having the freedom to go and do as we pleased. Going back to work wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be, but I did miss Kamden every day. The second month showed us appreciation for life. We were so grateful to have Kamden and thankful to everyone around us for all of their help. It made us realize how special every minute is, and not to ever take them for granted.

• First Thanksgiving
• First time celebrating Mommy's 24th Birthday!
• First laugh and smiles
• First time holding his head up
• First time sitting up supported
• First time rolling over
• Favorites are bath time and music!

3 Months:

This was a fun month! This was the first major transition from a newborn to an infant. Kamden's development really started to take off around this stage. He also began to grow into his own unique look. Between the holiday season and returning to work, this taught us all time management. We finally found a balance and routine between work, school, and home. It took a lot of cooperation and team work with each other to be able to meet Kamden's needs and ours as well.

• First sign of teething, chewed on anything and everything!
• First time focusing his head and eyes on things in the room
• First time grasping objects
• First at experimenting with his voice by making unique sounds
• First snow
• First trip to visit Santa Clause
• First time decorating the Christmas tree
• First Christmas
• Favorites are kicking and laughing

4 Months:

This was the start of some brutally cold winter days. We didn't do much, but stayed home keeping warm and cozy. Kamden's curiosity peaked around this time. Everything captured his attention, he didn't miss a thing! Life started to slow down after the holidays passed, but over the time we've shared with Kamden up to this point, the most valuable lesson we learned was patience. Keith and I never thought we had much patience before, until we became parents to Kamden. It is still a struggle to this day, but it becomes less of a challenge in time.

• First time holding his bottle
• First time sitting propped up
• First round with baby cereal and stage 1 fruits
• New Favorites were being tickled and eating

5 Months:

The winter weather was still an obstacle, but we tried to make the most of each day. The one thing we learned early on through Kamden, was not to take one single day for granted. To live life to the fullest and cherish every last moment. At this point, Kam seemed to pick up something new every day. Sometimes you have to realize what is most important and let everything else go to the wayside. By this stage, we figured out you can't do it all. Although, I try, there are never enough hours in the day. Kamden has shown us to slow down and take one thing and day at a time.

• First Super Bowl
• First Valentine's Day
• First time celebrating his Great Grandfather's 88th Birthday
• First trip to the park
• First time seeing a tree and it's branches
• Favorites are tummy time and looking at everything

6 Months:

Things really started to shift about this time. Kamden's looks and personality really started to blossom. The most obvious lesson we learned around this time was trial and error. Every child is different, so works for one is not always the same for the other. We feel very lucky with Kamden, because of his laid back personality. It makes everything a lot easier and less stressful to handle situations. Half the year is already gone by, and through experimenting with different foods and activities we are really starting to see what Kam likes and dislikes.

• 16 Pounds 12.5 Ounces and 26.5 Inches Long
• First time scooting to get around
• First time sitting in a tripod position
• First time shaking his head
• First time starting to mimic others... loves to fake cough
• First St. Patrick's Day
• First time sitting up straight in grocery cart
• First time trying big people foods (pickles and donuts...thanks to Granny & Pappaw)
• New Favorites are rolling over, babbling, and scooting under the couch
  

7 Months:

By this time we had learned to be productive. At this stage we know the ins, outs, ups and downs of being a parent. We've finally mastered being able to take him anywhere with ease. We always have, but it has taken a few months to be able to do this as simple as possible and with minimal accessories. We've figured out short cuts to things and minimizing the excess. Now we know exactly what is needed, and being able to eliminate things that are unnecessary.

• First two teeth (front bottoms)
• First time visiting the Easter Bunny
• First chance at petting an animal (goat)
• First Easter
• First WORD: Momma!
• First time giving high fives
• First time standing supported
• First time sitting up on his own without support
• New favorites are shaking his head "no" and playing patty cakes

8 Months:

At this stage, Kamden started to grow more independent. One thing that started to come together for us around this time was responsibility. Of course, this started to come way before he even took his first breath, but the importance of making sacrifices in life and always doing your best became more apparent.

• First time moving (From Hendersonville to Asheville)
• First Mother's Day with Mommy
• First time waving and saying "Buh Buh" as in bye bye.
• First time feeding himself
• Two more teeth (front top... 4 total)
• New favorites are playing with toys and copying sounds people make

9 Months:

Everything that Kamden has learned over the past few months, he has mastered them by now. He started getting into everything! We really had to start baby proofing the house. As a parent you can never take your eyes off your child. You always have to be prepared, and expect the unexpected.

• 19 Pounds 13 Ounces and 28 Inches Long
• First time brushing his teeth (3 more this month...the side front on top, so 6 teeth all together)
• First Father's Day with Daddy
• First time saying his third word, which was "Da-Da"
• First time clapping his hands
• First time pulling himself up to stand
• First photo contest (came in 22nd out of thousands of babies for Parents Magazine Cover)
• New Favorites is having a conversation with you in his own little language and playing peek-a-boo

10 Months:

Kamden is always full of surprises. His curiosity grows more and more every day. This was when he started to become more social. As new parents, we learned that communication is key-- among everyone, especially the littlest one. One thing I believe that has helped Kamden's development is talking to him and positive reinforcements by praising him when he does something new. We ask him questions and talk to him, just like he is one of us. He responds in his baby babble, but never underestimate how smart children are, even this young. We continue to be amazed every day by the things Kamden can say and do.

• First Independence Day and Fourth of July Holiday
• First time trying to walk side to side while holding onto furniture
• First time crawling in the correct position
  
• First time learning how to bite
• New favorites are swimming and swinging on the swing set

11 Months:

This is the time our baby grew from an infant to a toddler. He is already starting to look and act like a big boy now!It doesn't matter how fast or big he grows, he will always be our little baby. I know all parents say that, but he is as precious today as he was 15 pounds ago, all tiny in our arms. The one thing we learned this month is tolerance. Kamden is starting to show signs of being spoiled possibly, or maybe it's just tpyical toddler behavior. He shouts or whines when he doesn't get his way or you take something from him. He doesn't act that way all the time, only on occasion. Normally he is an exceptionally well behaved child. It's also helped us to stay consistent and try to be more understanding of each other as parents, and of Kamden.

• 8 Teeth now! Four on top, and four on the bottom
• First family vacation and beach trip to Myrtle Beach, SC
• First time standing up without support
• First time saying his 4th, 5th, and 6th words: "Eddie" "Dog" and "Duck"
  
• First time sipping from a straw
• First time being sick... just a cold.
• New favorites are sharing (giving you things) and loves to dance!

12 Months:

We are just beginning the twelfth month, so there isn't much we can say at this point. He is trying his best to walk, so that should come within the following weeks. Were also trying to start weening him off is bottle, and get him used to a cup. We are currently in the process of learning to adapt. We are making the transition from a baby to a boy. This includes cleaning out the old, and bringing in the new. All new clothes, all new toys, and the whole new next stage of life!

• First "Big Boy" Car Seat
• First single step
• First time understanding the meaning to words (Bye, Hey, Dog, Duck, Kiss, Etc.)
• First BIRTHDAY Party!
• New favorites are giving kisses and crawling really fast, to try to get us to chase him!

1 YEAR:

There are not enough words to sum up this past year. This has been a huge chapter in all of our lives. Having Kamden around has taught us many great valuable lessons as a parent, and as a person. He has opened up our eyes to so many aspects about life. He has a profound impact on everyone around him. He helps is all to strive to be a better person each day. He truly makes life worth living, and making each moment of that life count. He is very special to us... and even though he is just turning one year old, I think he somehow knows how much he means to everyone in his life. He is always a happy, go-lucky, smiling kid-- so we must've got something right the past 12 months! We are all looking forward to what the next year holds.

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6