Rylend is ONE!

Well, today was the day!
My baby boy turned ONE. It is so crazy to think that I have now been a mommy for one whole year. It feels like it has barely begun, while at the same time as if I have been a mommy forever!

I woke up this morning and ran into Rylend's room yelling "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" He started squealing and jumping around, super happy. The rest of the day we did our usual routine, minus me baking cake and cupcakes and wrapping presents.

Then once Shane got home, we headed up to Grandma and Grandpa Merritt's. When we got there we saw they had already decorated...aw! I set to work on icing the cake (I have NO icing skills, unlike my mom who is very good. So yeah...the cake TASTED great, but looked like it was made by a very very very amature lol) and Shane played with Rylend and the fam.

It finally came time for the big ole birthday cake!
We strapped Rylend into the high chair, and started to sing. At first he looked at all of us like we were nuts. Then he quickly smiled and started to laugh and cheer us on. It was so cute! Grandma brought the cake over...and after looking at it a moment Rylend reached forward for some, candle still burning! haha! Daddy had to help him blow it out...then I handed him his cupcake.

Here is a vid of us singing to him...he is so funny!

He held it in his hands for a moment, squishing the frosting around. Then raised it to his mouth and CHOMP, in it went! The smile on his face was priceless. He started to laugh again, and we cheered for him. Oh my, this kid LOVES the attention! He sat there eating his cupcake, quietly going "mmmm mmmm mmmmm" the entire time. Mmmmmmm

Here is a vid of Rylend when we gave him the cupcake. Its actually way longer and even cuter...but the program I used to shorten it so I could upload it only let me do this small part...sigh. If I find a better way of getting the whole vid up, i will do it and let you know!
At least you get to see his first reaction!

After that we sat down to open the presents. Rylend still doesnt understand why we let him open something, look at it...then make him set it aside to open something else. We had to open them quickly to keep him happy, then he set to work exploring his new toys. He got some awesome puzzles and books, along with cute church clothes from Grammy and PopPop Mason. And he got this cute little baby laptop from Grandma and Grandpa Merritt that I ALMOST bought him but luckily didnt! Tania got him some new sippy cups with straws, Great-Grandpa and Grandma Merritt got him a new bib and some sippy cups, the Lloyds got him a cute little train with lego type stackables...then when we got home later he had some packages from more people! Wow this kid is lucky!! New clothes from Herbie and Tessa...more new clothes from John and April! Letters from Donna and from Brandon...I know my kid is well loved and I love all the people who are making sure he knows it too. He has such amazing people in his life.

So I am sitting here now, thinking about my little boy. How amazing he is and how blessed I have been to be given him. He is so smart. So so funny. He had a blast today and deserved it. Rylend is always bringing such joy and adventure into our lives, regardless of his bad days. I love Rylend so much and cant wait for tomorrow to see what new laughter and learning moments he will bring into my day.

(Below are a few pics Ashley took for us of my little family. I love them so much!)