One Year Update.

Poor little Gage had to get 4 shots at his 12 month check-up :(  He took them like a champ, as always.  He did cry this time though.  The nurse literally stuck him 2 times in the right thigh and 2 times in the left thigh in less than 10 seconds.  Once I gave him my phone, he was good!  We go to Southlake Pediatrics and we absolutely love Gage's pediatrician, Dr. Collier.  She is so sweet and personable.  I love that she has her own kids and can totally relate to us raising our first child.  I am going to post some pictures of her and Gage checking out the stethoscope.  She was letting him listen to his own heartbeat, he was amazed and sat very still :)

12 month measurements:
Weight:  21 lbs, 10 ounces (28%)
Height:  31.25 inches (86%)
Head:  46.75 cm (58%)

One Year.

Gage Timothy is officially one!  I CANNOT believe how time flies, like seriously, a year?!  Although I don't feel like I was just pregnant, I do feel like Gage was just sleeping peacefully in his swing on and off ALL day and waking up every 3-4 hours.  I am posting from my perspective of this past year, but I know that Erik would agree.  This has BY FAR been the funnest, most emotional, life changing, exciting, challenging, and amazing year of my life.  Erik and I knew that we wouldn't wait very long to start our family after we got married.  When I found out I was pregnant (right after our year anniversary), I was nervous because I did not know what to expect.  I have 6 nieces but I didn't have my own, what am I going to do, what are we going to do?!  Well.....I couldn't have asked for an easier pregnancy...well, until the end.  I did not get sick once, I was able to work up until the day I had him, I was emotional from time to time, but other than that, I was so thankful for a smooth pregnancy.  Towards the 38 week mark, I became REALLY swollen.  I remember it like it was yesterday.  It was Monday, March 19th and I worked that day.  The Friday before that my feet were hurting so bad and were so swollen that I had to go lay down in the nurses office at school.  Well on the 19th, I had my 38 week appointment.  I raced to get there after school (we don't get out until 4:10) and Erik met me there. I sat down on the table, blah blah blah and the midwife took my blood pressure.  It was really high, like I think it was 180 over 120, or is that possible?  Maybe I'm way off, but it was REALLY high.  I told the midwife that I had to rush to get there on time so maybe thats what it was.  They told me I had to wait there for 20 minutes and they would check me again.  Well, after I was checked again, it was still REALLY high.  The midwife told Erik and I that I would have to be checked into the hospital so they could regulate my blood pressure.  At this point I was sorta relieved because the midwife said after my blood pressure went down, they would send me home and I would be put on bed rest until it was time for Gage to make his appearance :)  I was pretty excited about not working and getting a chance to rest before Gage came.  Well.....we got tot the hospital and my FAVORITE midwife, Cathy was on call.  She came in and said, "Well, you ready to have a baby tonight?!"  Um, excuse me?  The midwife at the doctors office said I would be sent home, I don't have any of my stuff?!  Well....come to find out, I had preclamsia....basically high blood pressure that can cause the baby anxiety so the safest thing was, was to get him out.  That's when I started to get nervous.  I was in labor until his was born around 5 that next morning.  I threw up a few times, got 2 epidurals, and ate LOTS of popsicles!  I pushed for 45 minutes (GOOD LAWD, that was tiring) and out came our little miracle :)  Seriously, babies are miracles.  The whole process of a baby growing inside of a woman and being pushed out and BAM, you have a baby! Totally a Miracle.  Anyways, after Gage was born, all of our family was hungry.  I told them to all go eat and I would order room service.  I seriously ordered E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G. on that menu.  I mean it was "free" right?!  Meemaw stayed back with me and helped me :)  It was a rough stay at the hospital.  With the preclamsia came sickness, lots of meds, and a catheter, ugh.  I couldn't get out of bed for 4 days, talk about miserable.  I was quite emotional at times because I just wanted to go home.  I was supposed to go home that Thursday but Wednesday night I spiked a fever of 103 so I had to stay ANOTHER night.

So then our year began!  The worst night was the second night we were home with Gage.  He did NOT want to sleep.  I remember thinking, "what did I get myself into?!"  After that, he was a great sleeper.  He got up about every 3-4 hours.  After I stopped breastfeeding (right at 7 months), he started consistently sleeping through the night.  Once he started teething, that was all out the door!  He now gets up in the middle of the night about 2-3 times a week.

Now to the mushy stuff.  I don't know what I did to deserve such an awesome miracle from God, but Gage has really taught me so much about life.  Besides God, my husband, family, and friends.....nothing else matters.  Nothing matters but spending time with my family and making memories, even if Gage won't remember them right now.  I know that I use to "bring my work home".  Not.Any.More.  I come home and any bad moods are completely wiped away.  Seriously, when I see him, I realize that nothing is worth stressing over or worrying about.  Life is to short.  Gage is always smiling and will laugh at ANYTHING :)  He is laid back, "tougher than a set of woodpecker lips" (Who do you think came up with that one?!), but busy, busy, busy.  He will make you work but he is TOTALLY worth it. He brings so much joy to our lives and we couldn't imagine life ANY.OTHER.WAY.

Here are some things Gage enjoys doing:

• crawling on the dishwasher door when I am unloading it
• taking everything out of the cabinets
• slobbering on my phone
• slobbering in general, boy goes through at least 10 bibs a day
• taking a bath
• drinking water....that boy loves water!
• drinking whole milk...we are so close to NO formula, yay!
• watching Mickey Mouse dance (Thank you Aunt Alicia!)
• watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Doc McStuffins
• pulling the bumber off his crib
• giving open mouth kisses 
• crawling at 50 mph
• crawling all over Daisy
• Saying Mama
• Saying Dada
• Roaring like a lion :)
• Listening to a CD our church gave us (if he is fussy in the car, I turn that thing on and its instant silence)
• Laughing

Some firsts (the ones I remember)

• Dedication:  May 24, 2012
• Swimming in the Pool:  May 28, 2012
• Beach:  June 17, 2012
• Rolling Over: July 30, 2012
• Eating Oatmeal/Cereal:  August 4th, 2012
• Solids (Green Beans- not very successful):  September 26, 2012
• Trip to the ER:  November 29, 2012
• Crawling:  January 2, 2013
• Teeth coming through:  January 11, 2013

*Walking, I'm sure that will be....Coming Soon!

I am no professional, nor do I have a professional camera, so don't laugh at his monthly pictures :)

All you photographers out there....calm down.  It's JUST a picture :)

Ok this picture right here, s.t.r.u.g.g.l.e - this boy would not stay still!

Camo Jammies :)

Morning time birthday eggos!

 We love you Gage Timothy.

Happy 1st Birthday to the sweetest little booger we know!

First St. Patty's Day.

Of course we have to blog about ALL of Gage's firsts.  On his first St. Patrick's Day, we went to the Whitewater Center with our neighbors, Luke, Megan, and Evelyn!  At the WWC, they turn the rapids green to celebrate St. Patty's....so cool.  However, It.Was.Crowded.  Like, put you in a bad mood...crowded.  Gage wasn't in a bad mood because he LOVES being outside.  It was a B.E.Autiful day so that helped lighten the crowd :) We took Daisy, m.i.s.t.a.k.e.  She has no manners and would not be still.  We stayed about 2 hours and then cooked out later that night with Gage's girlfriend (Sloan) and her parents :)  They just sold their house so we have to get all of our gatherings in!  We are sad to see them leave the neighborhood but happy for their new endeavor!  Ok, got off topic.  Anyways, Kelly (Jared's GF) spoiled Gage and bought him some St. Patty's gear so we HAD to take some pictures!

Gosh I love this boy.  WE are the lucky ones.

Go Heels.

As much as we LOVE the heels, especially Daddy, they stunk it up against Duke.  We were good sports anyways and went and watched it with our family that like Duke, ew.  Gale cooked dinner for everyone and then we watched the game.  Let's just say we left at halftime.  Shame.Shame.  Here are some fun pictures that we took in our Carolina gear :)  Daddy CANNOT wait to take Gage to some games (basketball, football, baseball, all of um')!

Our little fam :)

This is Kelly (my cousin, Jared's girlfriend).  Gage LOVES Kelly.  She spoils him too!  We love Kelly to pieces and are so thankful for her!