Happy Birthday continued 6-12 months!!

Well, this basically sums up the most exciting year of our lives.  I had so much fun looking through all of our pictures,  but as you can tell it was so hard to pick a few.  I laughed and I cried going back through these....what a difference one little dude can make in your life.  It's so amazing how fast it's gone by.  I can hear him now in about 16 years saying, "Mom all these baby pictures are so stupid"....I can't wait:):)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WEEK......4-5 MONTHS

I think I should just call this post my butter ball.  You can definitely tell by these few pictures Walker loved to eat...well he still loves to eat.  These are some of my favorites because of his smile. I hope you are enjoying looking back as much as I am.  It's amazing how much he has changed.    

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WEEK.....MONDAY

Happy Birthday week again my little man.  I keep reminding you this is a very special week.  Your daddy and I are trying to get you to old up one finger, but so far it's not working.  Maybe by Friday you will surprise us.  This week it is my goal to post a few pictures everyday reflecting back on this past year. I'm actually picking some of my most favorite pictures of you.  I am having so much fun looking back at you and noticing how much you have changed.  You are growing into such a beautiful little boy.  I think your daddy and I are still puzzled on your blonde hair and blue eyes.  Your hair continues to get lighter and lighter.  When you were first born an up until about two months ago everyone said you looked like your daddy and finally everyone is saying you look like me.......what a compliment:)

We love you and can't wait for Friday!  I hope one day you will look back at your blog and realize how excited we are for your 1st birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WEEK!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WEEK WALKER!!

Many of you know how excited I get when it comes to birthday's.  I start getting excited about a month before.  I usually start with dropping a few friendly reminders, so my special day isn't forgotten.  Yes, you might say it's a little selfish, but my birthday memories growing up are so wonderful.  My mom and dad always made our birthday's so special.  The Ransdell's have always thought I was a little crazy when it came to celebrating my birthday.  I think after twelve years Patrick finally understands my silliness:)

This week starts a very special week for Walker Leigh.  We will be celebrating his 1st birthday on Friday.  I can hardly wait for his big day.  I am trying hard not to get my expectations so high, because I understand he will probably not care about anything we do.  He will definitely be more interested in eating wrapping paper:):)  Reflecting back on this year is so hard to put into words.  The joy Walker has brought into our lives is indescribable.  The three of us have shared so much over the last year.  I never realized how rewarding it would be to see things through Walker's eyes.  It has really made me slow down and appreciate the simplier things. 

Over the last several weeks I've been thinking about how much Walker has grown.  It is truly amazing how quickly he has changed.  When I think about all of the memories we have shared together in just 1 year makes me so excited about the future.  Patrick and I are so lucky to have such a beautiful baby boy.  Walker, you will always be my baby boy!!  We love you with all of our heart and we can't wait to celebrate your 1st birthday with all of our family and friends!!   

We're Back............

We're back..........I have been catching a lot of grief over the last week for not keeping up with my posts.  I apologize for my terrible absence in the blogging world, but NEWS FLASH....I have an almost 1 year old who keeps us on our tippy toes.  Did I just say almost 1 year old??  Oh my goodness just the thought of us celebrating Walker's first birthday next Friday has gotten my emotions flying.  I am so happy and soooooo excited for him, but on the other hand I'm sooooo sad.  Patrick and I were just talking the other day about how quickly this year has flown by. Walker has added so much happiness and joy into our lives!!  We have a very special week coming up.  I can't wait!!

Walker is doing so many different things.  The biggest things lately is when you ask Walker what a sheep says, he says "bbaaaa".  If you ask him what Ribbie says, he says "whoof whoof". He also says "nana" for banana.  He actually points at a banana and says, "nana".  Last weekend I asked him if Dada went bye-bye and he repeated me and said, "Dada bye-bye and he waved while saying it".  I could barely believe what I was hearing.  Of course I was the only one with him, so when Patrick got home I asked him again and he repeated.  I haven't seen a smile on Patrick's face that big in a long time:)  

We officially turned his carseat around to face forward.  He is totally loving it.  It's nice for me because I can see his face and talk to him more.  Coastal Carolina played in the NCAA baseball regionals over the weekend at UNC Chapel Hill.  Walker and I went up with Patrick on Saturday morning to watch the game.  We met one of our great friends that Patrick went to grad school with for lunch.  Stopped by Ben and Jerry's and then went to the game.  By the way, we let Walker have a lick of Patrick's ice cream cone and he loved it.  He did so well at the game, but I think we were bad luck for the team.  

Here we are outside of the baseball stadium.  Walker's very first NCAA Regional Baseball Tournament.  UNC's campus was so gorgeous.  Now I see why it's so easy to become a Tarheel and fall in love with campus.

Walker is playing with the fence that overlooked UNC's football practice field.  I'm not sure if there's any hope for him playing football.  Maybe he could be the kicker.  

Thanks Gina for meeting us for lunch.  We had such a great time catching up.  Hopefully we will be able to meet up more often.

Memorial Day weekend we had two very special guest visit us from Houston.  Our friends Brian and Mary came to spend the weekend.  Of course the boys played golf all weekend and Mary and I spent time with Walker, went to the beach and had some really great dinners together. Thanks guys for flying out to see us.  We look forward to many more "family trips" together in the future.   

Our Happy Boy!!

I have created a new slideshow with our most recent pictures taken from our photographer at the beach and at Brookgreen Gardens.  I could hardly wait to share them with all of you.  I will admit it was much harder this time around getting Walker to smile and sit still long enough for Carol to shoot him.  The most important thing I need to remember is we had a great time both days!!  We actually took the pictures in the gardens on Mother's Day.  What a very special day for me to always cherish and remember.  We hope each of you enjoy watching the slideshow and we hope it brings a smile to your day just like Walker brings a smile to our face everyday:):)

Carol met us for two different photo sessions.  Thank you Carol for being so good to us over the last year.  We are really going to miss you, but we wish you lots of luck on your new adventure. Don't fret you haven't seen the last of us yet.

HAPPY 11 MONTHS OLD WALKER LEIGH!!

Happy 11 Months Old Walker Leigh!!

I can hardly say 11 months old without thinking I can't believe we are almost there.  We will be celebrating your 1st birthday in exactly one month.  The birthday plans are full swing ahead. Invitations are being sent out this weekend for the birthday bash.  I can hardly wait to celebrate one of the most exciting and most anticipated days of my life.  I am so proud to be your mom Walker. You make me the most happiest mommy in the entire world. Your personality gets better and better everyday.  You are such a little busy body and so mischievous.  You continue to torture Ribbie and she continues to take it.  I'm not sure if she will for much longer.  Poor Ribbie has know idea those two little legs are getting ready to take off and chase her:)

You point at things now.  You are so fascinated with lights.  You constantly point up at the ceiling.  You can now crawl up the stairs, but forget you don't know how to come down the stairs once you're up.  We have to be very careful because you usually end of slamming your head on the hardwoods.  Your new nasty habit is playing in the toilet water.  I try to keep all three bathroom doors shut, but if theres a chance we left one open (daddy) you will be in it.  You LOVE to wash your hands and brush your teeth.  This past Saturday you finished your last class of swimming lessons.  We hope to pick up another class in the fall.  It is so much fun to watch your eyes light up when you're swimming in the pool. Daddy and I think you have put on a few pounds.  We are estimating you weigh about 25pds now.  Finally you have two teeth on the top. That makes a total of four.  You also have started sleeping on your knees in your crib. 

Just call him a tadpole learning how to blow bubbles in the water.  He loves to kick his legs and arms.  Doesn't really like to float on his back.  We also dunk him under the water. 

Thank you buddy for a wonderful first Mother's Day.  You and Daddy were so good to me.  We had a photo session at Brookgreen Gardens on Sunday morning.  After visiting with Carol, we decided to walk around.  We visited the zoo and walked on the trails.  You enjoyed seeing the horses, sheep, bulls and birds.  Mommy's not an outdoor type of girl, but I stuck it out for you buddy, especially when a snake falls from a tree right in front of me.  I hope you won't make me go camping with you one day.  After visiting the gardens we had dinner and relaxed together.  I will never forget my first Mother's Day.  I have the best little boy and a wonderful husband. Thanks guys....I love you!!!

Happy Mother's Day Mommy!

Brooke has done 11 months of blogging, so its only fitting that Dad takes a turn and gives Mommy a rest on Mother's Day.  Today we meet our wonderful photographer Carol for the second round of our latest photo shoot for Walker.  We decided that we would use Brookgreen Gardens in Pawley's Island as the backdrop.  We had a wonderful mother's day walking around the beautiful grounds and Walker got to see plenty of wildlife.    

Walker doesn't realize it yet but he is the luckiest kid in the whole world to have a mother that cares so much about him.  Over the last 11 months Brooke has done an amazing job - but i don't have to tell everyone because she does such a great job of keeping all of you informed of our weekly adventures.  

Thanks again Mommy for all that you do - both Walker and I love you so much.  Thank you for giving me the greatest son in the world and being the best wife a man could ever ask for.  I love you - HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! Walker would also like to send out a happy Mother's Day to Jules and Moppy - he is looking forward to seeing both of you soon.

-- Walker and Patrick

Lovin' the Girls!!

Boy, do we have a problem already.  The girls are coming in two's and Walker is loving every minute of it.  

My boss, his wife, daughter and friend came over tonight to see Mr. Peacock.  Some of you may remember an earlier post about our neighborhood peacock...well Mr. Peacock is still here. The girls wanted to come over and see him.  I just had to post these two pictures, because Walker had so much fun playing with Kayla and Whitney outside.  I think they had so much fun playing with him. They played with him in the grass and especially made sure he wasn't eating anything he wasn't suppose too.  I told them they needed to come over more often and help me.  I don't think Walker stopped smiling when they were here.  He LOVED all the attention from two cute blonde girls:) They will be freshmen in high school in the fall.  Thank you girls for stopping by. Walker enjoyed playing with you both!!