Time Falls Away But These Small Hours Still Remain

I woke up this morning at three o'clock to Barrett crying. I walked into the nursery where he was standing at the end of his bed reaching for me. After a great search for one of his pacifiers I sat down in the glider to rock him. He snuggled onto my chest and quickly found a comfy spot and went right back to sleep. As I sat and rocked him I thought back to a year ago.  (read about it here) We were awake about the same time too anxious to sleep as we prepared to go to the hospital to meet our sweet little one.

I think back to the first three months that for Barrett truly were a "fourth trimester."  When he had to be held every second of every day and refused to sleep anywhere but my chest. Before we knew he had a milk allergy and how terribly uncomfortable he must have been. I held him, loved him, played with him, slept with him and just stared at him all day everyday. At night I had to sleep sitting upright with him on my chest because I refused to lay him beside me in the bed. I can vividly remember telling several people that he had an instinctive need to be held and comforted and as long as he would let me that's what I would do because it wouldn't last forever. At times it was so hard to never be able to put him down. To do laundry, wash dishes and straighten the house with him in one arm. I don't think Sonny came home to one meal I had cooked while on maternity leave. As needy as he was and as difficult as the first several weeks were at times leaving him to return  to work was earth shattering for me. It took months to cope with leaving him everyday even though he stays with one of his most favorite people.

As time has flown by I have really made it a point to enjoy every stage and milestone he reaches. Looking at him over the last several months he looks less and less like my little baby and more like a toddler. Although at times I miss my sweet little infant so much we have reached such a fun age. 

He is so curious. He knows who we are and loves on us when we get home like he has waited all day for us. We catch in him cabinets, behind chairs, under tables and eating dog food. He throws fits, laughs at himself and loves playing chase.  He gives big open mouth kisses and can tell you what his truck says. I love to watch him play and learn. He makes everyday interesting and most importantly he knows he is loved.

We had a small party on Saturday to celebrate his first birthday! I really wanted to keep his party simple and small so he would enjoy it! We had it outside on the back patio at our house. Even though it was a little warmer then we planned it was a wonderful day!

He was way too busy eating to take a picture with his parents!!!

Some of my favorite moments of the party!

He dropped a potato he was eating on the ground and is peeking over the side to find it!

While opening his gifts he kept crawling away to pick up leaves on the patio!

I really thought he would just dive into his cake! He was so neat about it and only ate the icing off the cake! I have some sweet videos from the party but for whatever reason they take a million hours to upload so the pictures will have to be worth a thousand words! 

Out of the ten years Hovatter and I have been together each one has been unique and wonderful in its own way! I would have to say this year has by far "took the cake!" Barrett is such a wonderful blessing. We are ever mindful and thankful that God choose us to be his parents. We strive to love him and care for the best we possibly can! 

My only hope for his party and his birthday today is that he is happy and feels love! 

 Our family portrait has changed so much in the last year but we are so thankful Barrett is ever a part of it! Happy Birthday Little Hovatter! We love you more then you'll ever know!

This is one of the songs  I always listened to while pregnant! I rarely listen to it because I don't want it to lose the feeling that takes me back to anticipating my sweet little one! I thought it was fitting for a birthday blog!

Good Things Come To Those Who Bait

Last weekend was the 80th annual Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo or "the rodeo" as the cool kids call it! It also just happened to be Mr. Barrett's first rodeo. The first day we arrived we started the trip out by going to the Estuarium on the island. 

The first time I went to the estuarium was my very first rodeo ten years ago when Sonny and I had recently started dating. We walked in and somehow managed not to have to pay. I was completely obsessed with the sun fish this trip. 

My second trip was when the girls were little. I was so obsessed with learning about the light houses this trip. 

This particular trip to the estuarium was so much fun. We took Barrett to the zoo several months ago and enjoyed it but he was only kinda interested in most of the animals so we really didn't know what to expect. We never could have guess just how much he would love it!  We started out looking at the smaller fish and turtles. I'm pretty sure he would have crawled into the tank if Sonny would have let him. Once he saw the larger fish it was over. He could have careless about the smaller fish at this point. He talked to them and reached for them and spent a good hour looking at the two larger tanks. Anyone who knows Sonny or if you have read about him you know how obsessed he is with fishing! He loved every second of the experience with his "little buddy." I included a ton of estuarium pictures it was just so much fun!

Look at that sweet reflection and proud dada

I feel like I should clarify that is my shirt and not my bra strap

The little one is standing now

He is as big as a snapper

Shark!

Boat captain 

He grabbed the rod and bowed up like he knew just what to do

The poor touch tank will never be the same after Barrett

Our little diver

The following day Amy and Emma Grace joined us for Barrett's first trip to the beach. He has been to the beach probably ten times this year but has spent all of his time by the pool. This was the first time he actually went on the beach. It was very windy and he was very unsure at first. This picture of him screaming makes me  laugh!

It probably took him fifteen minutes but he warmed up to the beach and LOVED IT!

The following day Whitney joined the fishing team so Erica and Brenley joined us for Brenley's first beach day! We seriously took some of the most adorable pictures of them on the beach.

The beach wore them out and they both napped by the pool!

Getting some Aunt Erica loving

His Aunt Michelle bought him this outfit specifically for the rodeo! It was so cute on him with his little hat but he had already tossed it aside! (this picture looks nothing like him to me and he looks huge!)

DADA loving at the weigh in

He wasn't feeling the family photo

The rodeo crew! It was so much fun can't wait until next year

He was breaking it down to pontoon

Barrett got his first Billfish foundation T-shirt which should fit him in two to three years but its cute! His first rodeo t-shirt which will probably fit him about age ten! We also got him a souvenir Christmas ornament at the estuarium! Overall, we had a fantastic rodeo/mimi vaca! Can't wait for Destin in a few weeks!