Our Little Monkey Is 1!!

Our sweet baby boy turned 1 year old on June 21. I can not believe he is already a toddler and not a baby anymore. Life definitely changed in a year. I think we have all learned a lot; mostly Kade has taught Tim and I. :) We now know all about tummy aches, ear infections, and teething. Most importantly we had to learn how do the at home concussion check, because we have such a wild little boy who should be wearing a helmet most days. The Internet became our guide to parenting often, even though sometimes it gave information that scared us to death. In the past year our lives have definitely become crazier, our house is way messier and louder, and sleeping late is no longer an option. All of those changes are well worth the joy of seeing Kade's face when he learns something new, gives you a big kiss and hug for no reason, that little laugh that just melts your heart, and his cute little smile. I thank God everyday for giving me the wonderful blessing of getting to be Kade's mommy.

Each month I took Kade's picture with his age and weight. As he got older he added a little more challenge each month to take his picture. By the 12th month he was definitely done with me taking his picture. Looking back now it is so amazing how much he has grown and changed.

Getting ready to go home from the hospital.

5 Years Ago

Monday, June 21, 2004 I was sitting in a summer college class when I got a message from my brother to come home now that mom was sick and going to the hospital. What? Mom was never sick, couldn't be a big deal. So I left class and started driving home to Haltom City from Denton.

The day before was Sunday and mom had been in bed all day with a headache. She never stayed in bed all day; she got up everyday took a shower and put on her makeup even if she was just staying home all day. I was busy doing homework all day and really didn't pay much attention. I asked her that night if she wanted me to make her something to eat. Mom just asked for crackers. I usually slept with my mom and that night I woke and she wasn't there. I went looking and found her in the living room on the couch. I asked her what was wrong and she said her head just hurt and she couldn't sleep. I just went back to bed.

The next morning was a rushed morning as usual getting ready for my early drive to Denton. My mom was teaching summer school and got up to take a shower. I didn't pay much attention to her that morning as I was rushed as usual. She was standing in her room in her blue pajamas as a said in my rude morning voice, "Are you still sick? Why don't you just stay home?" My mom never missed work and was not going to today. I rushed out not even sure if I said goodbye.

I had called Brandy who is now my sister-in-law, she met me in Keller and drove me the rest of the way to the hospital. By now I was really worried. When we got there my mom's brother was there with my brother and my mom's friend. My mom's friend had driven her to the doctor where she collasped and was rushed to the nearest hospital. The doctors had already decided that she needed to be taken downtown to a more specialized hospital for strokes and head trauma. My mom was unconscious and when I saw her in that bed it was the worst feeling in the world. I will never forget the look on the nurse's face and she said, "I'm sorry." I became angry what was she sorry for, my mom was going to get better.

We went to the hospital downtown; tons of family and friends came. The nurses and doctors really couldn't tell us anything. It was such a long wait. They finally said that mom had a stroke caused by a brain bleed. It was late by then and they said the doctors would be back in tomorrow to see how the night went and where we would go from there. All we thought was okay she is going to have to have a brain surgery and she will be fixed. I just kept praying she would be okay; she was all we had in the world she had to get better. My brother and I slept on the hospital benches with some family and friends. Early that morning the phone in the waiting room rang. They said to call all the family to come back. My mom died early in the morning on June 22, 2004. I remember screaming; "No, you have to help her!!" It was like I was in an awful dream; I had the worst feeling inside that I can't explain.

The next week is all a blur to me. For a long time I was very angry and sad. Why did she have to die? That was the question I asked over and over. I know that God was ready for her to be with Him and I probably with never be able to understand the reason she had to go so soon.

I had just turned 21 and my brother was 18. We grew up really quick after that. My brother and I were pretty spoiled. I did not even know how to do my own laundry until my mom died and I had to learn. She was such a great person, with a kind heart. I can still remember how she smelled and what it felt like to hug her. When she first died I was so scared I would forget those things, but I think those memories will always be with me. I think about her everyday. Some days I still cry because I miss her; other days I laugh about a funny memory of her. I always think gosh I wish I would have asked her this or I would how she would feel about this. Like things a 21 year old would not think to ask her mom about.

4 years later June 21, 2008 I was back in the hospital for a happy reason. My baby boy was born. I think people are right when they say that "God works in mysterious ways," because he made a very sad life changing day into a very happy life changing day.

I am very blessed to have such a good family. I have two sweet aunts and cousins who love Kade and treat him so special like my mom would have. I have a great husband who goes on shopping trips with me (even though he hates shopping) like my mom would have. I have a good brother who listens to me ramble on about anything like my mom would have.

I wanted to share some fun pictures of my mom....

My brother's highschool graduation.

This is Christmas 2007; my favorite picture of mom.



My mom loved to have parties. She found an excuse to have a party for anything. This was one of the best parties I can remember that she had; it was a college graduation party for my cousin Tonya.

My 21st birthday.

This is mom with her friend Rita and my Aunt Sharon eating dinner before our annual Kenny Chesney concert.

Mom with Aunt Patsy.

Our dog Oliver loved her and was always where she was.

This is mom with my cousin Tonya having fun on one of our Girl's Trips.

Everyone piled in the bed before Bradley's graduation.

"No, you can not take my picture!!"

Let me start by saying that getting an almost 1 year old's picture taken is a complete nightmare. Yesterday I had an appointment to get Kade's 1 year old pictures taken at 12:00. I had decided to try a different place in the mall that my cousin Angie had gone to and they did a great job taking pictures of her little girl Julia. Kade usually naps around 12:30 or 1:00; so I decided to get him to take a nap at around 10 so he could get some rest before the picture. He woke up on his own at 11, had lunch, got him dressed, and then we headed to the mall. My brother met us there. My plan was to do two different outfits; one in a nice shirt/shorts and the other in his monkey swimsuit with beach balls and his monkey.

We set him down and he immediately threw himself back and started rolling around the floor screaming. I gave him his pacifier for comfort and the photographer lady started talking to him and trying to get him to laugh. He took out his pacifier, threw it at the lady, and started screaming again. We tried everything cheerios, throwing the ball, funny noises; nothing worked. The photographer at one point, talking to my brother said, "Dad try to tickle him." My brother quickly said, "I am not the dad, just the uncle!" After about 20 minutes, the lady said we could try to give him a nap and come back at 5:00.

So we went home and both took a nap. My brother said he was not going back with us and I can't say I blamed him. After nap Kade had a snack and I was trying to be as silly and happy as I could to get him in a good mood. We drove back to the mall and as soon as we sat him down the same show started over again with kicking, rolling, and screaming. So we made an appointment to go back today at 4:00 to make sure he got a normal nap and his routine was not interfered with.

I was a little embarrassed to be going back a 3rd time, but really wanted to get his 1 year pictures done. I was just praying that today would be different. In the waiting room he was in a great mood smiling at everyone who worked there, he even sat down and tried to color in their play area. I was so excited thinking maybe yesterday was just a bad day. Well we walked back to the studio part and the same scene from yesterday started over again!! They finally got him to get up and play a little. We actually got some cute shots out of all 3 times put together. He was definitely showing his personality.

I have a feeling that the toddler years are going to be very interesting!! I told Tim yesterday after we got home that I wanted to go back to work. But then Kade came up and kissed me and I said never mind!! He is definitely worth all the chaos and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Concert

For my birthday Tim gave me George Strait concert tickets. It was a really sweet planned out gift. Also, if you know Tim then you know how completely out of his comfort zone that going to a country music concert was; which made it even more sweet. Although I think the fact that the concert was at the new Cowboys stadium is what really encouraged him to buy the tickets! The stadium was pretty amazing. We sat down and just stared around that the massive structure we were in and I have never seen such a huge t.v. in my life. It was crazy!! We had a great time on our date. We hardly ever go anywhere just the two of us, so it was nice to just be Heather and Tim again for a night.

This is us in front of the stadium. I think we walked around the entire building; according to where your seats were you could only go in on that specific side, which we did not know so we parked on the opposite side of our seats.

Here is the massive t.v., this picture does not do it justice.

George Strait was great!

Reba's show was fun.

**********************************************************************************************

This week my cousin's son Jordan is spending the afternoons with Kade and I after his music camp. Kade was amazed by Jordan's every move. Jordan played the drums on Rock Band today and Kade loved watching him. Tonight after Jordan had gone home Kade found the drum sticks and decided to try out the drums himself. Who knows maybe we will be going to his concert oneday!?! But he definelty will have to learn from Jordan because Tim and I have no musical talent at all.

First Day of Summer

Today was our first day of summer and we had lots of fun. The day started out quite a bit earlier than my past summer mornings of sleeping in until 10:00 or 12:00. Kade was ready to start our day bright and early at 8:00. We decided to have a lazy day and stay home doing nothing today. Yes, we stayed in our pajamas ALL day! It was great not having to get dressed up and put on make-up. We had breakfast, watched the View, and played. I think we pulled out every toy in the house. At lunch Kade enjoyed using his spoon for his fruit. It was so funny he was really interested and demanding about using the spoon today. He would pick up the fruit, put it on the spoon, and then put the spoon in his mouth. When he started to feed the dog with his spoon lunch time was over. This weekend he bit Tim on the arm and we were kind of shocked; he thought it was hilarious. Well this afternoon he was playing and he bit me on the leg! I said, "No, no!" He thought it was so funny. He kept running towards me and trying to bite me again. I guess biting is something we are going to have to learn to control before the summer is over. I don't want him going to the babysitter's house biting other kids. I remember my mom telling me I was a major biter at home and daycare. She said she used to get so embaressed when she would come to pick me up and I had biten another child. I hope I am not getting paid back and my little biter learns to control himself! We had a fun, silly day and are excited about the rest of the summer.

Being silly rolling around the living room.

This is his favorite new book, we read it several times today.

Such a big boy; he always throws his diaper in the diaper genie.

He had lots of fun throwing every book in his book basket out into his room.