This week has been a rough week, not much sleep, constant go go go all the time, we are getting ready to move again! We have not even started that process. Then Thursday work was pretty rough for me, just a really difficult time, pretty stressful day. Finally after a long day I come in to catch Desmond right before he is going to bed, and this was what I got to enjoy. It fixed everything.

The picture on the left is one my most treasured photos I have of my mom and I. It is one I have looked at over and over. I get joy in see it because I can seeing the happiness on my moms face, and the determination in mine. It was taken 30 years before the picture on the right. The picture on the right is now also a new favorite of mine. I can see the happiness on Desmond’s face, and also the determination to catch me as I run backwards snapping the photos. I also have to give major props to my dad for snapping the photo on the left. Back then he did not have a fancy camera with the ability to snap several photos a second and delete photos that did not look good. He caught a moment in time of my life that I can have forever, and that is why I love to take photos so much.

It also seems that Desmond has found his sweet tooth. Last night at The Cracker Barrel he had just finished eating an entire biscuit, some egg, toast, corn bread, chicken, lemon and whatever else was tossed his way. We look over at him, and he was slumped in his high chair looking both delerious and quite happy with himself. That was until Jackie’s dessert showed up on the table. It was like the boy got a triple shot of espresso injected into his system. He perked up, bounced around and had a look of pure WANT on his face. Hands reaching, eyes glazed over, the family at the next table all stopped eating to enjoy the show he was putting on. He gets that sweet tooth from his mom for sure.

Just a fun little Friday post to kick off the weekend. Enjoy!

Things he will dance for:
1. Cell Phone Ringing
2. Hacksaw Sawing
3. Radio
4. TV
5. All toys that make noise.

Desmond Shaking his Booty

Desmond has now been flipped around in his little car seat to face forward. I made sure I did it on the day of his Birthday, he has found this to be a very big deal, as do I! He really enjoys being able to see all the action. I am sure if feels like a roller coaster being as his mother drives like Dale Earnhardt! No, No I am kidding she totally drives like Jeff Gordon. I drive like Dale. On the way back from Atlanta, Desmond was in the back seat just a jabbering on as he usually does, it never makes any sense usually, and we pay no mind. However this time he just keeps getting louder, and louder, and clearer. Geg!, Geeg!, Gweg!, GWEEG! Jackie and I both turn around and look at him, there he is just sitting there with his toy cell phone up to his ear, calling me on the phone. Of course I pick up my cell phone, and we proceed to have a conversation back and forth about our feelings and what not. He really has a lot too say, and is very insightful.

Enjoy a little clip of him talking on his cell phone, just about anything is a cell phone these days. Toy ones, tivo remotes, sippy cups, even a shoe, or the draw string on my mothers jacket. He must get incredible reception because he is always on the phone.

I have thought of a 100 different ways to write this post. A million different emotions go through my mind when I think about this past year. Jackie and I were talking about 2008 on new years eve, and how this past year has been the most stressful, eventful, joyful and emotional year we have ever had together. It has also been the BEST year we have ever had together. The main reason for its success was our faith in God to always provide for us and give us exactly what we needed to make it through the hard times. The other reason is that little boy you have all watched grow so much in the last 365 days, his name of course is Desmond.

I have never talked on here about the day of Jackie’s delivery. Maybe I will share little bits as the years go by. I remember little things like the night before staying in the hospital. I remember the nurses and how awesome they were. I remember being scared, and I kept telling myself to “be a man Greg, this was it, it is all going to change from here on out, she needs you, he needs you, its not about you anymore, its going to be OK“.  When I first saw him he was crying and I remember his little cry when he came out into the world. The look on his face is something I will never forget. I had just seen Jackie cry and go through all she went through, and as soon as I saw his face and him crying I saw Jackie in him, they cried the same. He grabbed my finger with his hand, and instantly I fell completely in love with him.

I did not feel any different after Desmond was born. I did not feel like a Dad or anything like that until much later. I knew things were going to change, and I had to welcome the change, I did not have a choice. Today I do feel like a Dad, everyday of being a Dad is an amazing feeling. It is my favorite job, and maybe job is not the right word, maybe gift or opportunity, or privilege? I do not know. I do know I can’t remember life before him. I remember life of course, but now its just better. It is never dull or boring, it is always go, go, go. Much different from how I remember life before. Jackie and I have grown so much closer as a husband and wife, we take care of each other, and love each other more then I could have ever dreamed.

So Happy Birthday Desmond, you are now ONE! You are walking, talking some, you want things, you play, you make us laugh every single day, you keep us up at night sometimes, you poop and pee on us, you puke on us, throw food, bite, laugh, smile, wave and say heeeey, lean your head to side like a little flurt, have beautiful curly hair, love to dance and play music, and most of all you love us with all your heart, and for this we love you too. Happy Birthday buddy. Thank you for so much joy.

I have put together a little video of some of my favorite photos over the past year, added a little music by Kenny Chezbutt, and WALaa! Instant Video Cheese So grab a tissue and sit back and have a cry, our baby boy is growing up.

(click here to download video)

It is hurricane season at my house everyday of the week. My little hurricane makes landfall a few times a day. No matter who often I clean up after this natural disaster, he strikes again, harder and with more fury. I have learned to adapt to working in these conditions.

My favorite and most accomplished skill I have learned in working in a tiny kitchen is “Extreme Cooking” you see as I am hustling back and forth from sink to oven to fridge to microwave and back again. I have to jump or leap over obstacles that block my way. It is such a fun game to play, you can’t avoid it. I have tried containing the hurricane in a neutral zone behind a very sturdy gate, but for a few short seconds I hear a “RAAAWWRRRR” then it just gets ripped and lifted and blown to the side, in comes the hurricane to destroy the rest of my world. Last night I walked on a waffle iron, stubbed my toe on a crock pot, had a cooling rack shoved between my toes, ohh and a Tupperware bowl thrown at my nutz. Good times.

Another fun game is leap frog over the gate, Jackie and I have broke 4 toes a piece on this little contraption. It is designed to block off a section of the room. It also makes a good manicure destroyer. (Who’s manicures? I will let you guess). The dog bowl is also not safe and a good water sport. You see Desmond loves water. Poor Scooter is constantly in a state of dehydration, because her water bowl is either dumped out as soon as it is filled, or it is out of reach where only I can get at it. Poor dog resorted to drinking out of the Christmas tree stand this year. Our tree didn’t stand a chance.

Hide the tivo remote is a fun one, this game back fires on me because if Desmond has not already hidden the remote I have to keep it away from him so I have hidden it. So now I can’t remember where I put it, so I have to look in all my usual places and his usual places too! Will he tell me where the remote is if i ask him? His answer is always RAWWWRR!

I sure do love that little boy, he makes me laugh constantly! He is walking all over the place, he is into everything and is makes life so happy and fun. Last night he was teething so bad, his back teeth are coming in. We took him to the park to get his mind off things and put him on the swing. This is what Jackie and I got to enjoy, and get to enjoy everyday.