A year ago today...Grady introduced himself to the world.

Years ago as a little girl, I often wondered who I would marry and would I have children and what would life be like. Today, as I celebrated my baby boy's 1st birthday, I sat back and reflected on the gifts God has given me. He gave me, Jon, the wonderful husband and daddy and a Godly man who loves his family tremendously! God also blessed us a year ago with Grady - a handsome, sweet boy who just melts our and your heart. As the weekend before Grady's birthday approached, I would often greet him in the morning and say..." year ago I was..." sharing stories about how I was getting ready to become his mommy. He of course really just looked at me and smiled, glad that I was finally in his room to get him out of his crib. The day before his birthday 10/6, I sat in the rocker glider and chuckled as I told Grady of the "car incident" on the way to the hospital that daddy and I had, how the nurse told me getting an IV was not bad, maybe a little worse then the epidural (both lies) and then about the nurse Dotty, who to this day I am not sure about, and so forth. As I told these stories, I teared up remembering the day. Then the day of his birthday, 10/7, I walked into his room singing happy birthday and again teared up as I looked at this handsome little boy who maybe isn't a baby anymore, but will always be my baby boy. His birthday day consisted of playing at day care for a few hours (so I could get supper made for that night), going to pick out balloons for his seat at the table, having lunch with daddy and I and then a big long nap in the afternoon. Grandma and Grandpa Moseley came over and we opened a few gifts and had supper. As if his 1st birthday wasn't a big enough milestone - he topped it by starting to walk. What a boy! After supper Grandma Jeanette, Matthew, Addison, Lucas and Dawson joined in for cake and ice cream (dad and Athena were sick and could not make it). When all was said and done, we got him ready for bed and the three of us played in his room. It was my night to give him his night time bottle (which I will be sad to give up soon), so I got to rock him in the dark quiet of his room. I hummed happy birthday, like it was a lullaby and again reflected that God has been gracious and of course...I teared up again.

Grady - I still remember hearing you cry for the first time and holding you in my arms for the first time. I also remember thinking that I wouldn't be able to be a good mommy b/c I didn't even know really how to make a bottle or how I could be a good mommy when I had just forgotten a month earlier to let the dog outside. I have soon realized that other than providing and protecting you - I just need to go with the flow and enjoy the role that God gave me: To be your mommy. Daddy and I waited a long time for you and you have given us such joy and we pray that you will continue to be the boy God meant for you to be. To have a faith like no other and compassion beyond belief...oh yeah and to always remain the boy who loves his mommy!

A family photo - he is a hard one to get to sit still and have his picture taken. He loves to be on the go all of the time. Birthday boy waiting for cake!

I made the cakes. I had a small one made for Grady and then a bigger one for the party. Let me tell you - the easy squeeze that I used to spell "happy birthday". Not so easy to squeeze! :-) It almost looks like it is a Halloween cake the way I wrote it.

Grady opening gifts. He will get the majority at his party on the 24th, but you can't have a birthday w/out gifts (especially if I am involved...one gets a birthday week.). He received some cool toys and a fleece blanket that Jon and I both made together. He got pretty good at opening his gifts that night (a trial run for Christmas.)

Happy Birthday Grady Stephen Moseley!

Sorry if it is dark - these were when I was walking into his room as I was getting him up. You'll also get to see what he likes to do with his crib now that he has teeth. Ahhh one of the joys of teething. I still love you Grady! :-)