Birthday Extravaganza!!

Let the birthday weekend begin............

We started Walker's birthday off with one of his favorite breakfast foods...blueberry pancakes, but with one difference...a birthday candle.  He didn't really know what to do except grab for it. Uh, sorry I know it's your birthday and you get everything you want, but you can't have the candle.  As you can see his face I think his first birthday surprise started off spectacular.

My mom and grandmother arrived on Wednesday night, then Patrick's parents arrived on Thursday just in time for dinner.  The rest of Walker's aunts, uncles, cousins and friends arrived for the big bash on Saturday.  We all had such a wonderful weekend celebrating Walker's birthday.  I think he really enjoyed all of the attention.  Walker is so lucky to be loved by such wonderful family and friends.

Here he is opening his first birthday present.  A red car from Moppy and Papa.  He absolutely loves riding in his car.  He even knows exactly where to put his hands and he acts like he's driving the car.  Curious came along for our first ride around the neighborhood.

On Friday night, June 12 we celebrated Walker's birthday with the grandparents.  This was his first taste of chocolate and icing.  I think his face is priceless when he sees the candle again.  I would love to know what he's thinking.  Also, Walker's godmother one of my oldest and dearest friends spent the weekend with us too.  Megan and Walker are two peas in a pod.  Thank you Megan for coming and sharing such a special time with us.  You were a HUGE help!  We love you!

Finally Saturday arrived........YYYIIPPEEE!!

Walker had so much fun eating his monkey cake.  Walker's cake was actually the ears on the monkey.  He didn't get as messy as I thought he would, but still messy enough to get a quick bath before opening presents.  I do think he was a little overwhelmed with everyone starring, laughing and taking pictures of him all at once.  This was by far my favorite part of the day.

Walker enjoyed playing with his friends.  The top picture is his girlfriend Caroline.  She gives great hugs.  So great that it makes Walker cry:)  I know most of you remember JD.  JD and Walker actually share the same birthday.  JD was born around 9:30pm and Walker was born at 11:06pm in the same hospital.  We celebrated JD's birthday on Sunday at his house.  

My dear friend Diana, her little boy Mason and Mama Rich also came to help celebrate.  Mason and Walker remind me so much of each other.  Diana and I have been friends since second grade.  It has been so much fun going through this past year with her.  I'm not sure if I would have made it without her much needed advice.

Are all these toys for me......We had so much fun opening all of his presents.  Most of the paper went into Walker's mouth:)

Thank you so much for everyone who came to celebrate such a wonderful day with us.  Patrick and I are truly blessed to have wonderful family and friends.  We thank you all from the bottom of our hearts!!!  We love you.

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.