Nicholas' First Birthday

Nicholas' birthday was Saturday, November 24th, which was also Iron Bowl Day. For those of you who do not live in Alabama or who do not follow football, the Iron Bowl is the Alabama/ Auburn game. Everything and everyone in the state of Alabama stops to watch the game. We decided to have Nicholas' party as an Alabama football party and watch the game together. After we compiled a list of everyone we wanted to invite, we decided to have his party at the church so that we could watch the game on the big screen projector. The picture below is of the birthday party invitation. Unfortunately after we ordered the invitations, the game time changed, so we had to send out a time change card with the party invitation.

The party invitation reads, "A football game, a birthday cake, let's get together and celebrate!" Nicholas is dressed in his Alabama best to invite everyone to the party.

We ordered pizza for the party as well as having several other snack foods for the game. Here is one of the family tables eating dinner!

Nicholas entertained himself during dinner by riding around in his walker. He even walked himself into the gym to play with some of the big boys at the party.

Aunt Erica and soon-to-be Uncle Jack play with Nicholas for a while.

Aunt Sarah was helping Nicholas grab one of his birthday balloons. The balloons were definitely a big hit with Nicholas!

Time to open presents!! Nicholas had SOOO many presents given to him. At first I let Nicholas open his own presents, but with so many gifts and a football game starting in about 45 minutes, I took over the present opening. I didn't know opening present after present would be so draining! I guess that is the toll it takes on pregnant Mommy.

Nicholas had to take a break to check out each gift. Here he is reading one of his books.

Below, Nicholas checks out a new DVD that he received. Looks like he and Thomas the Tank Engine will become very good friends!

So, now it was time for Nicholas to dig into his own personal birthday cupcake. Nothing like eating your very own elephant cupcake. YUMMY!

Dude, somehow I got the icing all over my face. All I know is that this is what Daddy told me to do. Sorry Mom!

Hmmm....from the picture below, it seems that the elephant cupcake is missing. Has anyone seen it? *Hint: Scroll down to find out what happened!

Here is how it started:

And here is where it ended:

Luckily for the older people, they were able to enjoy the cake pictured below. And believe you me, it was some good cake!

Nicholas had a great 1st birthday. Thanks to all of our friends and family for making this such a special day for him. Even though Auburn managed to win the Iron Bowl for the 6th year in a row, we still had a great time.

It's a ....

Tuesday was Ultrasound Day. I have had the feeling that the baby was a girl. I even called the baby a girl when someone at school was talking about it. I am very excited to show the pictures of the ultrasound to see for yourself the great news. Keep reading to find out!



Here is a picture of the baby's head and spine. Daddy says the markings above the forehead are another baby's face, but I told him that was definitely not true.


This is a picture of the baby's face, body, and arms, a little twisted but I think you can still make it out.



This is my favorite picture. Our little gymnast has its legs stretched over its head trying to do a flip. I think I have been feeling those flips lately!





Here it is, the picture everyone wants to see. It's a ...



BOY!! No, I am not disappointed that the baby is not a girl. I would like to have a girl, but the doctor told us the real news that I wanted to hear. The baby looks perfect. I guess Brad and I will have to decide (in MANY years) if we want to try to have a girl. Until then, it looks like I am definitely outnumbered now!

Halloween

Halloween week was set to be a busy week for us. We had plans to go to our church's annual Halloween carnival on Halloween night, then we were set to go to Louisville for the weekend. Since we were going to be busy on Halloween night, Mom and I decided to take Nicholas all dressed in his monkey costume to see my Grandmother, Grandfather, and Great Aunt.

We first went to my Grandmother's assisted living facility. Nicholas was a little fussy, but we figured it was because he had fallen asleep in the car and had a little cold. We got a few cute photos there in all their harvest decorations before leaving. We then headed to see my Grandfather. Nicholas was not too happy, but we figured he was just hot in his costume. We visited there a little while. Finally we headed to my Great Aunt Jean's house. I knew it was getting close to dinner time for Nicholas and we had to go. Before leaving, Jean wanted us to take Nicholas over to her neighbor's house so she could see how cute he was. As I was walking down the neighbor's front steps, Nicholas let us know why he had been fussy. He vomited all over me, his costume, and the neighbor's front steps.

I got Nicholas and myself cleaned up enough to go home. I took his costume off to wash, hoping that his vomiting was just a one time thing. Boy was I wrong. Nicholas continued to throw up throughout the evening and night. Brad stayed home with him the next day and took him to the doctor. It was the stomach bug. The doctor said it would last about 12-18 hours. Good we thought, he might can go to the Halloween carnival and we can still go to Louisville.

Nicholas had not thrown up all day and we were getting him dressed for the Halloween carnival. Just as we get his costume on, he vomits again. Needless to say, we stayed home on Halloween. Our neighbor counted over 700 trick-or-treaters at his house, so our few pieces of candy would not have lasted long. We sat with the lights dimmed playing with our sick baby.

Thursday and Friday Nicholas was no better. The doctor said that as long as he was not dehydrated, the virus would just run its course. Brad left for Louisville Friday morning, with me staying home with Nicholas. By Friday evening I was feeling horrible. My mom called to tell me something, but all I remember is telling her that I was very sick to come over. She stayed the entire weekend to take care of Nicholas while I was sick with the stomach bug. By Sunday I was feeling better so I cleaned the house top to bottom to kill all the sick germs. Brad came home Sunday afternoon. Luckily he nor my mom got the bug.

Of all the weeks for Nicholas to get sick, he definitely picked a busy one. I just hate he missed his first Halloween. At least we got a few photos of him all dressed up before getting sick. Below are the photos we took.