On His Birthday

I couldn't leave out one more post about Beckett's birthday, and that is how we actually celebrated his special day.  I also have to make sure I include a little of what he's up to these days so that I won't forget.  (With my memory, I need all the help I can get!)

We started off August 16 by singing Happy Birthday to our sweet boy when he woke up.

He's always happy, but a little like his momma, he takes a few minutes to wake up.  Once he gets those few minutes, he is all huge smiles.  The loud singing, and excited big sister, were a little much for him :)

He got to open his presents--a new, big boy carseat and "running shoes" and socks from Micah.
 

She was so excited to help him and talked about his birthday nonstop all day.

We ate yummy donuts for breakfast, a first for Beckett, and we spent our day playing.

I had to take a picture of my baby boy at 11:40am, the exact time of his birth.

We got Beckett his favorite, Chick Fil A, for lunch.  The kid loves him some chicken.

We even spent some time in the pool after the kids' afternoon naps.

We finished up the evening with having the grandparents over for some more cake.

We loved celebrating Beckett's life and the gift he has been to us over the past year.  We love our little man to pieces!

At one year old...

-you weigh 19lbs., 10 oz. (15%) and are 29 1/2 in. long (50%). You wear 12-18 month clothes and size 4 diapers

-you can stand all by yourself anywhere and don't even need anything to pull yourself up. You have terrific balance and can stand for long periods of time. You have taken one or two steps here and there, but you seem to have no interest in walking yet.

-your favorite toys are still balls. You love to throw them and take them in and out of toys. You love to play catch and just light up when we sit down to play that with you.

-your grin lights up a room.  Seriously, those dimples and that smile can win over the hardest heart.  And, your giggles have to be the most amazing sound ever.  You are babbling a ton these days, and I love hearing you try to make words.  It'll come :)

-you love Wrigley and have really started to take interest in him.  You love to find his toys and crawl over to him with them in your little hands.

-you are still a momma's boy, but I can see you starting to build a serious attachment to your daddy.  I couldn't be happier to watch this.

-you are a fantastic sleeper...11-12 hours at night and two 1 1/2 hour naps every day.  Bless you, child. You also always put yourself to sleep.  I love, love rocking you, but I also love that you can soothe yourself.

-you eat like a champ and like a bottomless pit :)  Ever since we introduced table food to you, it's like you cannot get enough.  You rarely turn any food away, and you LOVE meat and cheese.  You are only nursing once a day in the mornings, and I think we are both still pretty attached to this one.

 

Love him!

Full

We are on an adoption journey, and we are just beginning. Right now, we are just waiting.  Waiting for the paperwork to be approved.  Waiting for the research to be completed.  Waiting to hear that yes, our little boy can come home to be with us.

Waiting can be hard.  It has been hard.  Not necessarily because I'm not good at waiting (although I'm not) but because my heart and mind are still processing what exactly awaits us.

I have to admit that there are many days that I just want to pull the reins a little bit and slow everything down even more.

There are days that I have to remind myself that this little six year old boy is ours.  The Lord made that abundantly clear, but sometimes my heart needs a little reminding.

That is hard for me to admit, and it scares me.  But, it's truth.  Honest truth and from what I've heard and read, it's normal.

Today is different though.  

Today was one of those days that it feels so right.  I know in my heart that he is ours and that the Lord has called us to this.  I got to hear his voice on the phone today.  I got to hear him say in his precious Ghanaian accent "hal-lo mummy." My six year old boy called me mommy.

He has no idea what is in store for him, and it is going to be hard.  But, he gave me a new identity today.  One that terrifies me and humbles me and brings me unspeakable joy--I am his mommy.

In that moment, as tears ran down my cheeks, I knew that it is all going to be okay and worth it.

He is worth it.  He is my son.

I am confident that this adoption thing is going to rock my world in ways I cannot imagine.  It's going to challenge me to my core.  It's going to reveal things in me and my heart that I'd rather not know or have to acknowledge.  It is going to be tough.

But, I am certain after today that it is going to bring me and my family joy like we have never experienced.  I know this because God called us to it.  He is with us and for us.

And, after seeing Micah's face when she heard her big brother's voice, I am even more certain of this joy that awaits us.  It may be a long road, but we will be okay.

My heart is full tonight. I will definitely be going to sleep with a smile on my face and thanksgiving on my lips.

I heard some pretty amazing words today.  I won't ever forget them.  It was holy ground.

Up, Up, and Away!

Beckett loves balloons.  Loves them.  So it was easy to decide what direction to go for his birthday party.  

This awesome invitation designed by FrillyMilly (check out her etsy shop here) fit perfectly with the vision I had for his party.

His party was seriously so much fun!  I think with each party I've done (a whopping 3 so far), I am getting less stressed and learning to enjoy the moments more.

We had lots of balloons and streamers on the food table.   

We served pineapple, watermelon, and a trail mix bar.  It was a hit and super easy!

Check out the awesome cake and cupcakes!

My sister's roommate is an amazing baker and offered to make and decorate Beckett's smash cake and all of the cupcakes.  She did an incredible job.  They looked amazing and tasted amazing.

I hung his Happy Birthday banner and monthly pictures above the cake.

Beckett was a big fan of the cake as well.

(Sorry in advance for the large number of smash cake photos coming your way.  I just couldn't pick!)

Lots of friends and family were able to join us in celebrating our sweet guy.

The kids had lots of fun playing outside in the baby pool, sprinklers, and trying to break the regular balloons I bought and filled with water.  I clearly don't do this often because I had no idea there were such things as balloons made specifically to be water balloons.  Oops.  I'll know next time.

The party was seriously so much fun.

We are so thankful and blessed by all the people that have walked with us through the first year of Beckett's life.  We felt very loved.

One Year

Beckett Lucas,

You are one.  This first year of your life flew by so quickly, and it seems unreal that your birthday has already come and gone.  I know this is cliche, but I really feel like it is true.  On one hand, I remember the day of your birth so vividly that it seems impossible that a year has passed since then, and on the other hand, I feel like I have known you forever.  As I rocked you one night last week, I was thinking how it feels a little sad that you are already one, but then, I realized that I cannot imagine that I didn't know what your face looked like, that you would have the most precious dimples, or that you would be such a chill and happy baby just over a year ago.  I am so thankful to know you and to have you in our family.  You are a gift.

You have changed me in incredible ways.  Your life has made my life better, and not just because you have increased my heart's capacity for love but because you have increased my capacity to live life fully.  We have spent many hours together, feeding, rocking, playing, snuggling, and in many of those moments, especially the ones spent in the glider in your room, I have felt the presence of the Lord so clearly.  He has shown me how to be more intentional, and He has shed light on things that need to change to make that happen.  He has urged me to pray more intently and boldly for you and your sister and to believe that those prayers will be answered.  He has opened my heart to more of His character because of you, my son.  In so many ways, I am not the same person I was on August 16, 2011.  I am so thankful for the ways you have already blessed me with your life.

Your sweetness is so endearing, and I just want to soak it up every single second.  I love that you immediately smile when we walk into a room, and I love the way we know how to get those smiles even when you aren't so happy.  I love your precious giggles that we hear so often.  You love life, and that is so evident in the way that you will laugh so easily.  I love that about you.  It never gets old to hear you and your sister laugh at something silly she did in the back seat of the car.  You love to crawl over to daddy's office door, stand up, bang on the glass, and just laugh and laugh.  Your contentment is life giving for me.

Being your mommy is one of the biggest blessings of my life, and I am grateful to watch you and be with you every single day.  I thank God each day that He gave you to me and your daddy because you really are a treasure and a gift.  You are discovering new things about your world every day, and it is so fun to watch.  You are babbling more and more and learning so much.  You are in love with your daddy and your sister, and you daily make my heart melt.  Those dimples never cease to get me every single time.  Kissing and hugging you will never get old.  You bring us endless amounts of joy, and I am so excited to continue watching you grow.

Beckett, "the spirit of the Lord is upon you.  You have been anointed to bring good news to the poor, release for the captives, sight for the blind, and freedom for the oppressed.  May you be a man who brings God's favor here and now." You are gifted, my son, and the Lord has great plans for you.  My earnest prayer for you is that you will be bold and strong, respectful and kind, compassionate and loving in the Lord.  What an amazing first year it has been with you, little man.  You have grown and changed and become this amazing and precious little soul, and we have grown and changed right along with you.  I could not be more proud to be your mommy.  Happy First Birthday, Beckett!

I love you, to the moon and back!
Your Mommy

One Year Ago

On August 15, 2011, I went to bed at almost this exact time with much anticipation welling up inside of me. It was the last night we would go to bed as a family of 3, and the last time I would sleep with my sweet boy nestled snuggly in my womb.
The last time we tucked Micah in as an only child, and the last time we loaded just one carseat after dinner out. The last time we prayed for Beckett Lucas Field with hands on a swollen belly, and the last time I drifted off to sleep only able to dream of what his face would look like.
I remember the anticipation I felt that night so clearly, but I never could have imagined the blessings I would have experienced in the next year of knowing our sweet boy.
Thank you, Lord, for exceeding our wildest expectations with our little man.

Summer Fun in Pictures

Warning: massive iPhone photo dump ahead