Where have I been???

I can't believe it's been 2 weeks since I last posted on here...I feel terrible! We've had some HUGE milestones over the last couple of weeks and I have YET to post anything about them! What are those milestones, you ask? Well, Daddy turned the big 2-7 on May 14th! Happy birthday honey/daddy! We love you VERY VERY MUCH and are SO thankful that you're in our life! The big day was pretty low-key - we went to work, then came home and went out to eat at Feldman's for dinner! Nothing major...we've both learned b-days are now a priority for the little man in our life!

Speaking of...the next big milestone was, Mali's 1st B-DAY!!! And it went smashingly! First, let me give a shout-out to my cousin, Angela over at sophiessassystitches.com for the absolutely adorable t-shirt she made for the occassion! I sent her a picture of the invitations for Mali's b-day and here's what she came up with - ALL ON HER OWN!

Okay - I know this isn't a very good picture, I'm still busy compiling all of them! BUT, she hand-sewed this design after only looking at a picture online! CHECK HER TALENT OUT FOR ONE OF A KIND PIECES!!!

Thanks to Angela for the adorable shirt - it was perfect! I absolutely fell in love with this design for his b-day and thankfully I was able to coordinate everything the way I wanted to!

Here's the cake/cookie table! You can see his "smash cake" there in the center, the traditional cookie cake off to the left and little "1" and "M" coordinating cookies spreading the gap! The bakery we used was AWESOME, and, AGAIN, from a plate I took them, made the cake and matched the colors for the cookies perfectly!!

A Close-Up of his "smash cake!" Isn't it a dead on match for his decorations???

Every year at my b-day growing up, I would get a cookie cake and now the tradition continues!
The "Accessories" Table - haha
I'm 1!!!!I ordered this plate online and the tradition began for him to eat his b-day cake on it EVERY YEAR!! Isn't that fun?

Digging in - HINT: Blue Icing = Green poop - haha!

MMM...Tastes good, but I do NOT like having my hands dirty!

Here Mom - you can have some!
Malachi - Why are your boogers blue?
Laughing at Cousin Karter!


Pre-Blue Icing Takeover - we opened presents! (Okay, Mommy opened presents while Mali crawled around, played with his old toys and Cousin Karter chomped at the bit to help!!)


The Three Amigos - L to R

Malachi, Connor and Grayson - all born within 6 weeks of one another and destined to be Best Buddies!

Watching Mom open presents while I chew on my rings!
Hello? (Newest trick! Everything's a telephone!!)
Can I PLEASE just go play?

Okay Karter - help him out!

My dear sweet baby boy -

Mommy cannot believe you are already a year old. It seems like just yesterday you were only a dream of what we hoped would one day be a reality. Then, life changed. That first positive test showing us that you were on your way, the first sonogram seeing your little heartbeat, watching your toes curl on a tiny screen, watching you kick, while I felt it...it all seems like yesterday. Then, going to the Dr. begging him to just let me meet you already...then crying because he said yes!! Waiting anxiously to see if you would have hair, and who you would look like (even though we knew you were a daddy's boy) and finally holding you for that first glorious time. Having your daddy hand you to me and burying my face into your chest crying and thanking the good Lord for his miracle. Thanking Him for letting me keep you for a little while and begging Him to make me a good mom. Malachi, you are incredible. This last year, as quickly as it has flown by, has been more fun than I ever could have imagined. Your daddy is so good with you and has ALWAYS been, even since the day we brought you home. Yes, I've been anal at times, but I'm your mommy and I won't apologize for it! And now, when most are bragging that their children are sleeping through the night, and I come to work very tired sometimes, I cherish each moment I have alone with you! Just last night you woke up around 1:45 and wouldn't go back to sleep without your bottle...and while I was sleepy, I sat in the rocking chair holding you, watching you drink, watching your eyes as you fought SO hard to stay awake and held your sweet little hand so THANKFUL for the opportunity I have to hold you like this. It won't be long before these late nights are distant memories and I will miss rocking you. I already miss so many things about you as a baby, but your laugh and smile and new tricks replace that feeling of missing you with an anticipation I've never felt before. The anticipation that I get to see the new things you're doing every day. The anticipation of watching you figure out how to crawl just right to get to your favorite toy (daddy's yellow golf ball) after it's rolled under something. The anticipation of watching you learn to stand on your own...soon you'll be walking and crawling will be one more distant memory. So for now, I cherish the moments when you pick up the TV control and say "hello" waiting to hear a voice on the other end, and the moments when you still need mommy to move the laundry divider to get your ball and the moments when you cry for mommy and all you need is to lay down with me and everything is right with the world. I cherish the times when you cling tightly to me SO not wanting to go to the nursery at church, and the times when I leave you at daycare in the morning with a "bye-bye" and a smile as you pull up to the toybox or crawl to the big blue bouncy ball! These are memories I want to always remember, but moments I want to enjoy as I live them with you! You are a treasure, my son and God will use you for mighty things! Please know that my life is nothing without you in it and daddy and I cherish, love and adore you!! Thank you God for giving me this little miracle to protect and love for as long as you choose - I am so unworthy of being this little Monkey's mommy, but so thankful that I am!

Love,

Mommy

What a great 1st Mother's Day!

My 1st Mother's Day was absolutely nothing short of wonderful and memorable! As you know, my mom, Lynn Brown, won in the News Channel 7 "My Perfect Mother" contest and Sunday she was treated to brunch at the Big Texan...you know the one...home of the free 72 oz steak dinner if you can eat it in an hour! So, Sunday morning, I awoke to two beautiful cards, one from my handsome son and one from my wonderful husband thanking me for being such a good mom and other sweet words! I also got a new cook book from Taste of Home Magazine and a wonderful spice rack with 20 spices on it!

The cookbook has recipes for ALL SORTS of foods, but the best part is, it teaches you to cook each recipe (for main courses, anyway) 4 different ways! You can cook it the traditional way for a large family meal, the 30 minute version, the 2 person version and the lighter side version! Although a cookbook wasn't what I was expecting, it was a nice surprise since, most of you know, I don't cook. But, I'm trying to change that and my sweet husband put a LOT of thought and effort into his decision! I've been trying some new recipes out over the last 2 weeks in an effort to save some SERIOUS money on eating out since that's our BIGGEST snafu every month! I even used one of my spices last night when I made a new recipe. Pizza dip with cream cheese! YUMMY! (Okay, Thomas thought it was yummy, I thought it was just okay!)

Then, after getting ready for church and attending Sunday School, it was a mad dash to get back home to await our limo ride to the restaurant! I was a little bummed that I couldn't attend church on MY first Mother's Day and finally get to stand up during the special prayer for Moms, something I've waited a LONG time to do, but it was worth it to honor the woman who raised me!! Malachi LOVED the limo ride, and had a BLAST looking out at everything! (And yes, it was the limo with the longhorns, for all of you locals!) We then got to the restaurant and that's when the CRAZINESS - CHAOS - ANY OTHER WORDS I CAN USE TO DESCRIBE THIS memories were made! We took shots at the shooting range waiting for our table (we had reservations, but still had a 20 minutes wait) and then took lots of pictures. (none of which I have, but as soon as I get them from my mom, I'll upload them!) We sat down, at separate tables (yeah, 'cause we weren't celebrating or anything) and were handed our meal tickets. Let me just tell you, thinking that an approximately 8 or 9 year old boy can handle taking tickets from multiple adults, and hand them plates on MOTHER'S DAY...is STUPID. Okay, I don't like that word, but it was ridiculous. This poor little boy had 20 HUNGRY people standing around him waiting like wolves to get their plates (1/2 of which were dirty) before they could get to the buffet line! It was CRAZY! But, the food was good and it was an experience! Word of caution, though, I wouldn't suggest trying to go to the Big Texan on Mother's Day...or any other holiday for that matter!

Once we got home, Malachi, of course, had taken his nap in the car and was up and attem! So, I stayed up for the first 2 hours of the afternoon while Thomas laid down and then Thomas got up so I could lay down. Of course, Malachi fell asleep 10 minutes after I went to sleep, but that's alright! Daddy pulled some weeds, we ate a little more dinner at Lolli and Pops' house and then called it an early evening!

So, all in all, my first Mother's Day was a success! Tomorrow is Thomas' birthday (the big 2-7!) and then Saturday is Malachi's 1st B-day!!!! I can't believe it! We've got everything planned and ready to go! Friday night, I think Daddy and I will go out for a romantic date and spend some time just the two of us (something we haven't done since the Nutcracker with Aunt Bubzees and Uncle Dub right before Christmas) for Daddy's birthday! Then, Saturday will be busy! Setting up for the party, gathering all the goodies, airing up the balloons...WHEW, I'm tired just THINKING about it! But, I'm super duper Sad/in disbelief excited that my little boy is turning a year old! More to come after our busy weekend! Wish us luck!

My First Mother's Day!

First of all, I have to say a quick CONGRATULATIONS to my mom who won the "My Perfect Mother" contest at KVII, Channel 7 this morning! I nominated her late in April, but thought I had missed the deadline, so I told her about it and posted a quick update on facebook as a sort of "sorry, but I tried" move! Well, it turns out I DIDN'T miss the deadline and my mom ended up winning with 67% of the votes!! WAY TO GO MOM! You TRULY ARE the world's best mom and I feel SO blessed to be YOUR daughter!!




Here is a copy of the letter I sent!

Mom Holding Malachi Hours After His Birth!

As far as moms go, my mom tops them all!

As far back as I remember, my mom has always been my best friend! She has made me the woman I am today, showing me who and what it is I'm supposed to embody as a Christian mother. She has always been fun, but fair - friendly, but firm.

She is an incredible grandmother (Lolli) to my son, but also plays a motherly role to 85 other children at the daycare she owns, Playhouse, in Canyon.

I have always had to share her with those other children (and parents, and teachers) at her daycare but have NEVER felt as though I came in anywhere but the top of her list! She gave me the world's most incredible little brother and raised us both with a wonderful father!
She now keeps my son with her at daycare and I wouldn't have it any other way! He recently graduated from a cradle to a playpen in her office and rarely is he anywhere but by her side! I'm thankful that he has her everyday since I'm unable to be with him while I work and if I could move closer than the 4 blocks away that we currently live, I would!
My life will be a success if I can be half the mother to my son that she has been to me and my brother!

Thanks, Mom - I love you!

~Submitted by Jamie Allen, age 26

The voting was REALLY tough, but we pulled it out and she won! Now, she's getting $1,200.00 worth of prizes! It's SO worth it!! More updates after this weekend and we get to celebrate with her!

Now, onto MY first mother's day!

Malachi is moving SO FAST these days! It seems like just last week I was telling you he MIGHT get his top tooth in...WAIT, that WAS last week! That top tooth broke through the same day I said it might and now we're waiting on the 2nd to come through! Then, he somehow figured out how to give kisses (the BEST EVER) almost on his own and now we can't get enough of them! We tell him to give us kisses and he leans over with a huge open mouth and just lays it on you! Does it get any better than this? I ask you!

He's saying mamamamamamama all the time now, he now says "bye-bye" when he waves, and is saying ba-ba-ba-ba when he plays with his favorite toy (his golf ball!) He will sit for hours in the kitchen throwing the golf ball, laughing, then chasing it down and throwing it again! Last Saturday he sat about 3 feet away from the refrigerator and kept bouncing his ball into the refrigerator, and cracking up when it rolled back to him! Incidentally, thanks to daddy for finding said golf ball this morning! He lost it Wednesday night and we have looked EVERYWHERE for it! Turns out he put it in the basket of whites that has been sitting in the living room for the last couple of nights and lost it in between the socks and t-shirts! Oh well...he got it back this morning and you would've thought he'd found his long lost kitty! He was SO happy!!

He's also pulling up now and starting to get his feet under him! It won't be ANYTIME before he's cruisin' the couch and walking!

We got his pictures made last weekend and just looked at them last night! They are THE BEST! He's smiling SO big! I'll have to post them as soon as I get them!!

Next weekend is the big 1st b-day and we're working HARD at planning everything! I'll post more updates as soon as I get a chance, but just know, I could not be more blessed with a more perfect little boy! Thank you Lord for bringing him through the tough year he's had and for giving him such a sweet countenance!!

I love you Malachi!