What You Won't Know

The other day I was jokingly explaining to Ashton that Grandma Church has the last land line known to man. This made the wheels turn. What you might you not remember as grown men? I compiled a list:
Residential Land line- Cellular phones
Long Distance Charges- SKYPE
Wading pools- spray parks or skateboard parks
Payphone
Video stores- Netflix and the Redbox or videostreaming
Music CD-MP3s
Tube TVs- Plasma and LCD
Wires for computer and phone- Wireless
Fax machine- Scan and Email
Answering machines- virtual voicemail/text message
35mm cameras- Digital camera and recorders
Ice Cream Parlor- Cold Stone Creamery
Garage Sale- E-bay and Craigslist
US Postal Service- online banking, email and UPS
Atlas- GPS
Encyclopedia- Google
Dictionary- Predictive word/spelling
Phone Book- 411
Address Book- Excel or Smart Phone
Newspapers- YAHOO.com
Bank Tellers- online banking and direct deposit
Cash- Pay By Touch
Check- Debit
Cursive- Texting
English- Any1 no were 2 by tix 2maro? (Anyone know where to buy tickets tomorrow?)
Floppy Disk/Hard Disk/CD-RW- Memory Stick
VHS- Blue Ray
Kit Kat candy bar in silver wrapping- Kit Kat syrup in a latte

Back Post- 2/23

I have back posted 'To My One Year Old' On February 23, 2011. It is my letter to Ashton for his first birthday.

Back Post- 2/21

I have posted 'The Scream of 2/7/2011' on March 21st. It is about the day Ashton's finger was caught in the bathroom door.

Phew....

Okay, so here is the deal. I am behind. It seems the month of February had our family in and out of Providence so frequently that I was unable to focus on writing. I have been spending the last several weeks getting us back on track. I am not ahead, but caught up!

I DO NOT like back posting. However, far to much has happened not to post. So, I am going to go back and plug in our story. I have a few pieces already created ie Ashton's 'amputated' finger and of course his first birthday letter, which I wrote at the beginning of the year. Kaden had his tonsils removed and figured out how to escape his room as well as finds himself back in his crib. All of these are days I want to hold tightly and not forget. I want and need to record these events.

As I back post I will simply put a blurp in that reads, "Go to (insert date here) for (insert summary here) to catch up!

I look forward to sharing what is far behind us to begin sharing what is ahead.

Baby Locks

It was past time. I don't know why we waited so long to get your haircut, but we did. It was party day, so it was scheduled. Your hair was an over the ear mess. We took you to our favorite salon: Sit Still. You sat like a barber shop pro!

There is something about your child's first hair cut that tugs at the heart. You received a certificate to commemerate the occassion!

Ready for your party in your freshly styled hair-do.

Grand Slam B-Day

Ashton your first party was a Grand Slam! I think we hit it out of the park as everyone had a good time.

Your original party was postponed due to Kaden’s surgery. So, two weeks later everyone gathered at our home for a 12:30 party:
GG, Papa Rardin, Ama and Papa Glover, Ama and Grandpa Church, Papa Blackburn, Grandpa and Grandma Rardin, Uncle Jake, Auntie Larissa and Bee, Tata, Aunt Jana, Uncle C, Brad, Mac and Cale, Lala, Boo, Zon and Baby Gray and Dawa. Dave stopped in for a bit, too!

We had a fun time decorating for the baseball theme. After all you only ‘Hit The BIG O-N-E’ once! All the kids had goodie boxes as if they were at the ball park: tattoos, Cracker Jacks, baseball pencils reading: Ashton hit the BIG one, MVP ribbons that can be used as book marks and baseball balloons. All were put into popcorn serving boxes.

We hung a banner above your chair.

I of course had a tshirt made that read: Hitting the BIG One! Ashton’s Number One Fan. And YES, I do plan to wear it to future tball and baseball events!

We served hotdogs and chips- just like the ball park. There were peanuts to be shelled and sodas to drink. The cake was delish. It was marble with custard and whipped cream frosting.

We sang to you your "Hoppy Hoppy" (as Kade calls it), which you really liked. You wanted to get after that cake, but Daddy kept pulling it away from you!

You made an absolute mess. Papa Rardin had a good majority on him as he picked you up for tub soaking. Cake really isn’t your thing. You prefer ice cream to any other sweet treat.

You received many wonderful gifts. Please forgive me I accidentally tossed the list into the recycle once the thank you cards were sent. However, I will note that Papa Blackburn made you your own rocking chair.

You wanted to crawl all over it. You sat in it. You stood in it. You just wanted to touch it. His work is continues to amaze. I cherish every piece in our home. Now, you, KK and I all have rockers from Papa! In my book that is pretty neat!

You sat through the entire gift opening. You didn’t dive into open, but you were engaged once you saw the gift. I am still in disbelief how well Mr. Cannot Sit Still did for the opening of everything at one time. Good job, birthday boy!

I applaud you, for you didn’t get cranky even without an afternoon nap. You were bright eyed and full of fun for your party. You loved the attention and the busyness of the people. You were free to play and go. It was definitely a good day.

We have not hosted a birthday party at home until yours. I think it is the best way to host a little person’s special day. It made it much more enjoyable for Daddy and I, but most importantly you could roam around all you wanted. Since you are a walker we didn’t worry about concrete stumbles. This was gift all its own!

I cannot believe your first birthday is now behind us. It doesn’t seem possible a year has passed. We say it all of the time, but your first year REALLY did go by super-fast. I often wish for a few more ‘first’ days with you because it was gone in a blink of an eye. As life moves ahead I have to look forward. I may not be able to go back to those ‘first’ days, but there are many-many more first days ahead. My Sprite-Guy, this is the beauty of life. Fill your cup and always know you can have your cake too!

Bleed Vulnerability

Throughout life we have monumental periods, which will change life's course. It is during these times one must sit and think... I mean really dig deep picking through our selves. We have to wade through our choices and the decisions we are making; and in doing so evaluate how our actions and words will affect our future.

Life is a constant rolling of hills. Relationships are no different. My girlfriend said it best- she is like the family pet: water, feed and pet her and she will thrive. How true this is for so many women! Remember this analogy. It is so very simple and true. However, it gets forgotten. Also, when you are in love vulnerability is often more important than pride. To be vulnerable I don’t mean become weak or susceptible, but open yourself to exposing your emotions and truths. Be true and honest during lifes cycling of the peaks and valleys, for it will see you through. This may become your saving grace.

"Bleed Red"

Let’s say were sorry ‘fore it’s too late
Give forgiveness a chance
Turn the anger into water
Let it slip through our hands

We all bleed red we all taste rain
All fall down loose our way
We all say words we regret
We all cry tears we all bleed red

If we’re fighting we’re both loosing
We’re just wasting our time
Because my scars they are your scars
And your world is mine

You and I
We all bleed red we all taste rain
All fall down loose our way
We all say words we regret
We all cry tears all bleed red

Sometimes we’re strong sometimes we’re weak
Sometimes we’re hurt and it cuts deep
We live this life breath to breath
We’re all the same we all bleed red

Let’s say were sorry ‘fore it’s too late

We all bleed red we all taste rain
All fall down loose our way
We all say words we regret
We all cry tears we all bleed red

Sometimes we’re strong sometimes we’re weak
Sometimes we’re hurt and it cuts deep
We live this life breath to breath
We’re all the same we all bleed red

-- R. Dunn