Birthday Boy!

For Griffin's first birthday, in addition to a pumpkin party, we hosted a family dinner at our house! We had a great time having dinner with family! Another one of those traditions we started this year is family dinner with steak and crab! Yum!

Griffin lovin' him some T-bone!

Time for cake! Since I devoured an entire cake this morning for my birthday pictures, Mommy and Daddy thought it was a good idea that I only have 1 slice after dinner!Big handful....yum!
So FUN!

The little budding artists!!!
Happy cousins!

Rylee chasing a squealing Griffin on his new bike!
So fun playing with Aunt Bryn! Thank you for all of the fun birthday presents!!!
Griffin on his new "ride" from Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Terry!

I would rather climb on my presents than open them!!! So fun!

Thank you all for sharing my first birthday with me! Love you, Griffin!

Birthday Breakfast!

I wanted to start a fun tradition for Griffin for his birthday...so we had pancake birthday breakfast! We finished it off with desert (which this year we had at the photographer's studio)...those pictures to come! He definitely loves pancakes! Here are a few pics from our early morning tradition!:

Letter to Griffin James on your first birthday!

Griffin James,

One year ago today we became a mommy and daddy for the first time as we welcomed you into the world. It feels as if you were born just yesterday, and yet always been a part of our family! We have watched you as you learned to walk, crawl, and sit and stand. You have grown so quickly from our newborn baby to our climbing toddler! (And you climb anything you can!!) Where did the time go! You make us so proud to be your parents and we couldn't imagine our lives without you!!!

You came into this world as a ball of energy and haven't slowed down since. I believe you have taught us more than we have taught you. You have taught us to love more than we thought possible, laugh until we cry, and when we are completely exhausted from chasing you around all day, you show us your big toothy grin and you melt our hearts all over again!! We love seeing your beaming smile when you have done something new and are so proud of yourself! You are a big personality for a little man!

Mommy and Daddy LOVE you so much Griffin James!! Happy birthday baby boy!

Reflecting

This is quite the week for the Ellis family! Our little boy turns 1 on Friday, which blows my mind, because it seems like he just got here yesterday! I also can't help but reflect on where I was this same time last year!

Our doctor had us convinced (maybe we just wanted to be convinced) that Griffin was coming "like yesterday"! I would call Quentin the second I felt more than 2 contractions thinking that any minute we would be scrambling to get our things together and rush to the hospital....and I would call my doctor at any sign of my impending labor! We also took lots of pictures the last few days before we met our little man! Which now I am thankful for, then...not so much! Thought I would post a few! (Try not to gasp...remember, he was almost 10 lbs. ;)

38 weeks

40+ weeks...yowza!!!

(I was sporting Quentin's sweatshirt....one of the few tops that would fit at this point!)

Arrrgh, Matey!

Griffin went to his friend Trip's birthday party today! Yep, you guessed it, it was a pirate party! At the party he was suited up with bandana, eye patch, earring, and even sword. He was such a cute little pirate!!!

Our little monkey!

We knew Griffin likes to climb (anything and everything) but as Q and I watched him maneuver these obstacles, our jaws hit the floor! I just happened to be snapping a few pics of our cute little man when he decided to show us what he can do!

Mommy is in serious trouble!!! He got to the table in no time flat! He looked up at us with a huge grin, he was so proud of himself!!

"Anything like me"

There is a new song out by Brad Paisley, "Anything like me" that reminds me so much of Quentin and Griffin. After hearing the song, Q agrees completely! So cute!!!

I remember saying I don't care either way
Just as long as he or she is healthy I'm ok
Then the doctor pointed to the corner of the screen
And said "You see that thing right there well you know what that means"

And I started wondering who he was going to be
And I thought heaven help us if he's anything like me
He'll probably climb a tree too tall and ride hes bike to fast
End up every summer wearing something in a cast
He's gonna throw a ball and break some glass in a window down the street
He's gonna get in trouble oh he's gonna get in fights
I'm gonna lose my temper and some sleep
It's safe to say that I'm gonna get my payback if he's anything like me

I can see him right now knees all skinned up
With a magnifying glass trying to melt a Tonka truck
Won't he be a sight with his football helmet on
That'll be his first love til his first love comes along
He'll get his heart broke by the time he's in his teens
And heaven help him if he's anything like me

He'll probably stay out too late and drive his car too fast
Get a speeding ticket he'll pay for mowing grass
He's gonna get caught skipping class and be grounded for a week
He's gonna get in trouble we're gonna get in fights
I'm gonna lose my temper and some sleep
It's safe to say that I'm gonna get my payback if he's anything like me

He's gonna love me and hate me along the way
Years are gonna fly by I already dread the day
He's gonna hug his momma, he's gonna shake my hand
He's gonna act like he cant wait to leave
But as he drives out he'll cry his eyes out
If he's anything like me there's worse folks to be like
Aw he'll be alright if he's anything like me

Here, Griffin climbed up on Quentin's chair and then started yelling at Q for him to look. He wants to be just like Daddy!!! They are quite the duo! I am one lucky lady!