A year

Today is Attison James' birthday.  1 year old!  What a wonderful, magical year it has been.  One year of a new baby - growing, learning, laughing, moving, talking, entertaining. I'm so thankful for how great this past year has been and of the little family we have started.

I'm not a poet or even a very adept writer, and as I sit here I am just crying as I reminisce on how we got here.  I'd like to share one memory and then some of my favorite pictures from my little baby boy's first year.

I went on a silent retreat in October of 2011.  One day, 8 hours of silence, except for some group prayers and a short break for lunch.  The retreat was at the Sisters of St. Francis grounds outside of the city and it is directly adjacent to a cemetery.  Not being able to stand silence unless I'm trying to sleep, I went for a long walk to and through the cemetery and prayed for a baby boy. I had taken a rosary with me and I prayed the rosary for my not-yet-conceived child.

God must have agreed that it was indeed time because it wasn't long until we figured out our good news that our lives were about to change forever. Thanks be to God for this little boy.

 0  months

 1 month

 2 months

 3 months

4 months

5 months

6 months

7 months

8 months

9 months

10 months

11 months

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death. Amen.