Paper Mama: Family

I love this photo. There is nothing sweeter than witnessing your baby see the ocean for the first time. Loved our time in California. Can't wait to go back.

 Love my boys.

Photo bloopers

I probably have taken over 5000 photos of Oliver since he was born. This one tops the list of my favorites. It was taken on Christmas last year and I think that it's a classic. Definitely one that I will be pulling out 15 years from now and showing all the girls. I love the unbutton jeans.

Linking up with Growing up Geeky for TAT topic: Photo bloopers.

TAT: Favorite Photo

Linking up with Growing up Geeky at Toddle Along Tuesday! I have so many photos that I love that it's so hard to choose. This is our most recent from our trip to California where Oliver and I both saw the ocean for the first time.

For the first time...

I want to start off by saying that you have an amazing grandpa that loves you very much. I am very thankful for grandpa Juan. I know that he will always be there for you, he has been there from the very beginning. He was there the day you were born, where he slept in the hospital waiting room over night just to see you come into this world. It is a blessing to have somebody come into your life and take on the responsibility as a grandparent.

There is alot to my story. The story of my life, my family and where I came from. There are many people that you have never met and may never meet that have impacted my life. Someday I will sit down with you and answer any questions that you may have, if you ever happen to have any. With that being said, yesterday was the first day that you met your grandpa. By grandpa, I mean my father. To be completely honest, he never knew of you until yesterday. He never knew that his baby had her own baby. There are many things that have happened in my relationship with my father that led us to become almost strangers to one another. That made us grow apart and move in different directions. I never stopped loving my father though. He has been and will always be the first man I have ever loved.

I want to say that I do have some wonderful memories of my father growing up. He took care of us. He gave me the wonderful home that I grew up in. I have so many memories in that house. That is the house that I lived in when I met your father. That is the house that your father used to chase me home from school to when we were 8 years old. But eventually we all grew up, people moved away and my whole world changed.

Yesterday was a very difficult day for me. Your great grandfather who I have not seen in almost 3 years passed away. It is unfortunate that you will never meet him. But I have so many memories of him that he will forever live on in my thoughts and prayers. I truly believe that people never really die. They are forever with you in your heart and mind. It is heartbreaking to lose a family member, but they do live on forever. As my grandpa will in the many hearts of loved ones.

We lost someone very important. Someone that is loved very much, but we also gained a bond. Whether or not my father decides to be involved in your life, he knows you. He knows that there is a wonderful, beautiful and amazing little boy named Oliver. A little boy who looks like his daddy with his grandpa's dimples! My little boy. Although my relationship with my father has not been the best, there is no looking back on the past and dwelling on what can't be changed. I can honestly say that becoming a mother has made me a better person in every way. Being your mother has helped me heal as a person from all the people that have hurt me or left me. Loving you Oliver, has made me complete. I no longer feel the need to hate or hold grudges towards anyone.

I will never forget how happy my father looked when he was holding you for the first time. I will never forget the love that I saw on his face for you. He never had a son, but he does have a grandson. I think that we are all very lucky to have you in our life Oliver.

13 months old.

We spend everyday together - laughing, crying, playing and learning. You are getting so big and learning so much everyday, you never fail to amaze me with all that you do. You are definitely ALL BOY, that's for sure. You run into walls, climb everything in sight and bump into every object in your path. But you never care, you never cry! You get back up and keep on moving. You are so strong and I admire your willingness to try new things.

What are you up to now!

-Your walking is so much better and now you are starting to run!

-Pasta is your favorite food.

-You love to climb everything. You are very determined to climb the sofa that you have even starting pushing objects in front of the couch to climb onto.

-You have 8 teeth still and I believe that your molars are making their way in as well.

-You love to point to every picture in your books and say "Dada."

-You love Twinkle Twinkle Little Star!

-Finally you are starting to fall asleep on your own.

-For some insane reason you love to wake up at 3AM and stay up until 5AM. Hopefully this ends soon.

I love watching how much you are changing. I love looking back at old photos of you and realizing that you are no longer a little baby anymore. You will always be my baby, but you are growing into a little boy now. It's not always easy to capture the perfect picture anymore. You are definitely a little mover and a shaker!

12 month and 2 days!

Well it's official, my little baby boy is 1 year old. I have always thought about what it would be like once you turned a year old. i often wondered what it would be like to be a mother of a toddler, not only a toddler but also a boy toddler! You are quite the challenge sometimes I have to admit. You test my patience on a daily basis. You have quite the personality now and I am constantly having to watch you at all times to make sure that you are getting into trouble! But I wouldn't change a thing, you are perfect in every way and I love you!

What have you been up to this month!

-Walking, walking and more walking. You walk everywhere now. You don't like to even be held anymore because you want to walk everywhere.

-You can say no, what, dada, mama, baby and a few other words.

-You got your second haircut and you look so handsome!

-I honestly believe that you are a man of steel. You run into walls, fall and flip all over the place and you just get back up and keep going without a tear. All I can say is you are boy, ALL BOY!

-You eat pretty much everything that we eat now. Pizza, pasta, you name it! You love green beans and tomatoes right now.

-Your birthday party was on Sunday and you got alot of wonderful gifts. So many people love you!

-You love to dance and shake your head yes and no.

-There is something about our bathroom that you just love. I have no idea why you are so obsessed with our shower?

-You love to open and close our bedroom door. It has become quite the pass time for you.

-You are becoming very interested in books. You love it when I point to a cat or dog and bark or meow.

-Sprout pretty much has control over the TV now. Kipper, Thomas the train and Sesame Street are your favorites. Elmo is now your best friend!

I am so excited for what is to come in 2012. Soon you will be talking even more and I can't wait! Mommy and daddy love you so much!
-

11 months and 6 days

Once again I am overdue in writing your update... Sorry. Although I am very excited to announce that we are less than a month away from your birthday. Like I always say it's hard to believe that you are growing into a little person and becoming less of a baby baby.

What have you been up to this month?

- Number 1 on the list has to be walking! You are all over the place and I mean ALL OVER THE PLACE! It's so cute to see your little wobble butt run around the house. You started walking at 10 months and I am so impressed by how far you have come since than.

-Your new favorite toy is your Alphabet train that you got for Christmas. You can sit and play with that train for almost 20 minutes straight! Yes 20 minutes is a long time in baby world.

-You can say mama, dada, baby, whoa and yeah!

-Yes I do let you watch TV. Favorite TV shows are Sesame Street, Calliou and anything that PBS has on.

-You love to hide underneath everything. Your favorite places to go are under the kitchen table and chairs and under the jumper.

-Nose picker! You love to stick your tiny little finger up your nose.

-You like to throw all of your toys over your baby gate. Our kitchen is full of blocks, balls and bottles!

-We are starting you on whole milk and my goal is to have you off of formula by February! That is going to be such a money saver for us!

-You are climbing everything! You are such a little boy, it's amazing to see how fearless you are becoming!

In 3 weeks you will be a year old! I love you and I can't wait for all the amazing things that are to come this new year with you!