a glimpse of the holidays

I'm sitting on my NEW back deck soaking up a little warm sunshine. I've been in need of a day like today. Post Christmas blues...dirty house, toys everywhere, cold weather...you get the picture. So, today, I'm enjoying a warmer day and a sleeping kiddo (for the moment).

I know what you are wondering...new deck? Well let me tell you about my fabulous new deck.

On one side there is a bench and an awesome coffee table that my handy husband refinished. Note George gazing off into the backyard in search of squirrels.

 This is the grilling station. Isaac has put it to good use the last few weeks, especially since we didn't have an oven for a while!

See the laptop...that is where I am perched for the moment. As you can see by the toys, James also enjoys the deck; however, his favorite location is at the top of the steps.

Back to the holidays. We had our usual tour though Mississippi this Christmas. It began at the Byrd household, which was bustling with energy this year (even though we were missing a few). We then made our way to Kosciusko where the excitement and energy levels only increased. With 5 children under 5, there was never a dull moment. The week was topped off with a 90th birthday party for my grandmother. Here are a few pictures of the week. I didn't do a great job documenting...there was too much going on!

 James in Memphis inching closer and closer to the Christmas tree and snatching all of the ornaments off the lower branches. I think he was caught red-handed in this picture.

 Nana and Big Daddy with some of the grandkids.

 One of the few pictures I have with James. From the visual documentation of his 1st year, I look like an absent mother!

 James quickly figured out how to rip open a present and was an expert by the end of the week.

This is the Watts crew. You can see the lady of the hour, Maw Maw, seated in the middle.

It was a Christmas to remember filled with toddlers, gifts, family, food, football, donkeys (more on that later), runny noses, laughter, exhaustion and delight. Now, on to 2012!

Sick again...

I think one of the greatest lessons I have learned over the last year+ is that I'm not in control. There are times in my day that I have the sense of having things under control, only to then be quickly reminded that I'm not in charge...and it is better that way. I am in the midst of one of those moments. Here is what I mean...Tuesday: "I can totally handle this kid, I have my routine figured out, he's pretty happy, plays by himself, I am merrily wrapping Christmas presents as he WALKS (more on that later) around the house. Wednesday: 103 fever, up 2x/night, house a wreck, haven't showered since ?. It's amazing how things can change in a day...or do they really change?

If I'm honest with myself, nothing changed from Tuesday to Wednesday except my perspective. I can't make James be healthy, I can't make him nap, I can't make him love Jesus. It is a reminder, as every day should be, that it is by God's grace that he is healthy and it will be by God's grace that James is His. I would love to map out my life and tie it in a pretty little bow. But what I would be missing is the freedom to let go; to trust God with each day/week/year; to be wise but not have a false sense of running the show.

Why does it always take a few tears and a little lack of sleep for me to realize this?! Okay, I'm over my word quota for the post, so I'll end with a picture





He is now back to his usual tricks, and the back up babysitter is on her way to help me make up some work hours tomorrow. Thanks Nana!

Happy Thanksgiving

Some holidays are filled with grief, loss, remembering the past and what was....others are filled with delight in the moment and soaking up the joy of that gathering. As the baby of the family, I remember years of real sadness that the days of my siblings all being home for the holidays were coming the an end. This year was one of those rare years that was ALMOST perfect (just one sister and her family were missing). Rather than give you a written play-by-play, here is a visual summary.

 Family picture.

 BIG family picture...Byrds, Hartmans, Potts on Thanksgiving Day...more food than we could eat (3 turkeys), lounging in the sun on the front porch, throwing the football, watching football, and more eating.

 Friday we celebrate James turning 1 and Isaac turning 30! Isaac was delighted to celebrate his birthday with a one year old.

 Cake!!

 He squeezed it, threw it, and then devoured it.

 The Byrds, Brownlees, and Hannah made the trip over to celebrate with us. What a rare occasion to have both grandparents, aunts/uncles, and cousins around to celebrate such a milestone!

Lots of cousins around to play with....James is going to have a hard time this week with just me!

God has been so good to our family. As my grandfather often said..."look at all of these nice people, and they are all related to me!"

what a year

Well, this time last year, I was sleeping, reading, watching t.v. and pretty ready to get up and move. Today, I'd love to spend this rainy day sleeping, reading, and watching t.v. It's amazing how things change. 


I will admit there have been quite a few times in the last year when I've looked at Isaac and thought "what have we done..." such as when I was on magnesium, when I was on bed rest for way too long, when I was waking up every 2 hours with a crying infant, when James has been sick...okay you get the picture. 


But...


The other side of that are days when I think, how amazing to have this little person to enjoy, watch grow, laugh with and at, to cuddle, to bring such delight and joy, to get excited about things to come. 


Oh, I am loving this age. James is so curious. He thinks the strangest things are funny. He is a little wild! He makes our days quite exciting.


I'm tired most of the time; he is a busy man. But, let me tell you, it's a good kind of tired! 


So this Thanksgiving season, the Byrds have a lot to be thankful for....this month, we celebrate the birthdays of my two favorites, Isaac and James. More to come on that later. Isaac is really excited about celebrating his 30th with a 1 year old!

 At Parents' Day Out, James' class is making a scrap book and asked for a "family picture." I am now realizing that James' first year is mostly pictures of him ALONE. So, I'm resolving to get more family shots, if for no other reason, than to have one for his "class project."

This one at least has Isaac's legs...

Fall

Don't you love fall. The leaves changing color, pumpkins, hot chocolate (yes, even in the 60s). We have been soaking up fall here at the Byrd household. James and I spend most of our days outside. This boy loves being outdoors. I have decided that we will just continue to bundle up on pretty days, regardless of the temperature....we get along much better after a little fresh air.

In contrast to last fall, the last couple of months have gone by so quickly. James is growing and changing so much. He took his first steps recently, and I think will begin walking soon. It's amazing to see him begin learning and remembering things. He favorite activities include: putting things in and out, playing tug-of-war with George and his toys, pushing his riding toys, corralling a ball (thank you PTs for that term), putting his toys in very random places, and climbing on pillows on the bed. Most activities end in a loud bang and crying (yep, his head). At the moment he has ~3-4 bruises or red spots on his head. Poor guy...he's destined for the emergency room.

I need to upload some new pictures of this guy, but until then, here is some of my recent footage. James is scooping sand at "My Big Backyard."

On a lighter note...the BEACH

The Potts clan packed up 5 cars with more groceries, toys, and people than we needed and headed to Ft. Morgan, AL. We totaled 5 children under the age of 5, 1 grown-up child (that's you, Michael), 10 adults. We expanded over 2 houses and took up almost every inch of space available.

We only had 1 case of the stomach virus (Dad), 1 fever virus (James)....3 others suffered after the vacation was over (2 of those were Byrds and poor Emily took one for the team). BUT, we had a wonderful trip. The kiddos played in the sand, in the water, on the porch. We lounged around during the day, soaking up the perfect weather and warm sun. We ate A LOT, talked a lot, and laughed a lot. It was  great vacation, orchestrated by the one and only...Judy Potts.

Here are a few pictures of our time together.

 There was a lot of love to go around....Sarah, the caretaker of the younger crowd.

 Pre-fever, enjoying the sand and sun.

 Many sandcastles, race tracks and other creations were masterminded by these two.

 Check out the crawling skills, even in the sand.

 Swinton is quite the walker these days. He could even run after the big boys in the sand.

They are still trying to figure each other out!

This time last year...

This time last year, we were celebrating fall in the hospital. My dear sweet friends and family showered me with pumpkins, flowers, a big tv, food galore, magazines, Rosetta Stone, and anything to take my mind off of the fact that baby Byrd wanted to arrive WAY too soon. As I write this, that little baby Byrd is pulling on my jeans and whining to be picked up. We have come a long way!

On October 12, 2010, I was on day 8 of my hospitalization at Methodist Germantown, and we received the news that my fetal fibronectin test was positive, meaning there was a 60% chance of delivery in the next 2 weeks. I was beyond disappointed. In my journal (a.k.a. my book of venting frustration and sadness) I wrote the following: "I am not in control and this baby is in the hands of the Father. He knows the day he will arrive and He is knitting him together just as he should be and in His time. Our baby has been fearfully and wonderfully made- at 28 weeks and full term."

I am so thankful for those extra 8 weeks God gave us for James to grow and develop. God is and was merciful and gracious to us.

I sang this hymn over and over in my head over those first few days:
Children of the heavenly Father
Safely in his bosom gather;
Nestling bird nor star in heaven
Such a refuge ere was given.

God his own doth tend and nourish,
In his holy courts the flourish;
From all evil things he spares them;
In his mighty arms he bears them.

Praise the Lord in joyful numbers
Your protector never slumbers
At the will of your Defender
Ev'ry foeman must surrender.

Who would have thought that this 28 week- 2  pound, 12 ounce baby would end up weighing 21 pounds at 10 months.

Thank you for Your mercy.