The Best Year Yet...

I started this post right after Tate turned one and of course it has taken me over a month to actually get to it!

I have officially had my best year yet, complete with a baby boy who I adore and who teaches me and makes me laugh {A LOT} everyday. Here's a few recent pictures:)

He got his haircut on his bday, before that it was a little out of control!







.TATE LORIN MERKLEY.

I watched you grab my finger the minute you were born as if you already trusted me, only something a newborn would do..

I watched you smile your first little smile and hold your head up like such a big boy!

I watched you get multiple heel pricks for jaundice, broke my heart everytime..and then you had to be put in a Bili Blanket! {I hated that thing} But it helped your levels improve.

I watched you go from being a pretty big baby to being a tiny lil guy who wore newborn clothes till you were 3 months old.

I watched you learn to sit up, and lovee anything elmo.

I watched you fall asleep in my arms almost every single night, you NEVER wanted to be put down..I miss that so much now.

I watched you learn to say mommy, daddy, hello, nana, bobba, bompa...etc. & pretend to talk on the phone

I watched you learn to crawl, and crawl up the stairs at just over 5 months.

I watched you learn to pull yourself up to the side of your pack n play at 6 months and 3 days.

I watched you take your first vacation to California, and go to Sea World, Disneyland and the Beach. You loved playing in the sand!

I watched you take your first steps at 9 months, but not learn to walk until a little after 10 months.

I watched you grow out of your first car seat and your size 5 shoes :(

I watched you be such a perfect and happy baby, everyone absolutely adores you but no one loves and adores you more than I do. I have just had the most amazing time watching you grow and watching you learn and become so smart already. You could not be more perfect. I remember finding out that I was having a boy, I was surprised by how excited I was..I really couldn't imagine being more excited for anything in my life. From the moment that I heard your heartbeat and saw you on the monitor..and the moment I felt you kick I just knew that I would love you more than anything, but never knew it would be this much. You are my Favorite lil boy ever and now you are going to be a big brother and I will have two favorite boys :) I can't wait to see you as a big brother, I know you will be the best big brother that there ever was or is. Thank you for the best year of my life and for letting me watch you grow and learn along with you. <3

We are so excited that there will be another lil boy bringing fun into our house in no time..I know Him and Tate will be Best Friends. January 22, 2012 <3

6 days....

I am going to have a one year old in 6 days, wow. . .

Tate is learning new habits and new words. He now says momma, dadda, bobba(bottle), hey, ball, uh-oh, and bompa(grandpa). It is seriously the cutest thing to hear him talk and he always has a look on his face like he knows he figured something out. He is so smart..almost too smart for his own good! He figures things out that I can't believe and some things, I'm not super excited about.

I pictured this week from the time he was born, figuring I would be crying and just sad that my baby really isn't a baby anymore..But actually, for the most part I am really happy and so much looking forward to what the next year brings. I'll be Watching my favorite boy in the ENTIRE WORLD grow and learn, and of course I'll be learning right along with him.

I have learned so much as a mom, and honestly feel that nothing compares to that joy. My life changed so much when I had Tate, and I realized that I took a lot of things for granted..Even just some of the things that were EASY before being a mom. A lot of things are harder, and nothing is really convenient but I never have questioned my choice of being a mom and I never will. It is better than anything I had ever imagined and is the highlight of my life. There is nothing greater.

I hope to post some of the pictures from this past year, and do a little catch up. It has been so fun looking back and seeing all that has changed. And...I think he gets cuter everyday;) For all of you that have been awaiting Tate's haircut, it is coming soon!!!

Tate loves to get into everything especially in the kitchen, he is busy busy..
He loves fruit, especially grapes..and Whenever dad has an apple Tate waits for him to throw it away so he can snatch it from the trash..(We have learned just to give it to him before its gone!) He loves being outside and especially going on walks, it always calms him down. He is so good at sharing and if you ask he will share anything, except his bottle! He loves birds, still..and always wants to play with a ball! He blows kisses and waves--most of the time. Tate pretends that just about anything is a phone and he always picks things up, holds them to his ear and YELLS "hey" (that is unless someone really is on the phone..then he just wants to listen:) ) His favorite movies are Curious Buddies and Elmo in Grouchland. He can watch either one for hours on end, dad hates it. He is also a very very good dancer:) he doesn't get that from his mom. AND SO MUCH MORE, he is so fun!!

What a Boy..

As for Tate's first Easter it was fun! We spent time with his Grandma's and Grandpa's and Meme & Bompa. We had an Easter Egg Hunt and a Great Dinner! We were able to get him to pick up a few Easter Eggs and he LOVED the toys and candy. He LOVES sour candies and Hershey's Chocolate pie..His favorite thing is toy cars. He is so adorable and has the natural boy instinct to push lil cars all over the house. So for Easter he got a couple tractors and a Shake-N-Go Batman Car. I need to take videos and post them, it is so funny to me that an 8 month old can catch onto that..And he's been doing it for about a month! He also loves Basketballs, Birds, and doing this funny blowing thing with his mouth everytime he sees something he likes. I love it.

MIA

As you can see I haven't been posting much..I am one of those that believes you have to have a picture with any post to make it interesting! I had been taking so many pictures that I took my camera everywhere and managed to lose the charger..Hopefully I find it soon. For now, I rely on not so great cell phone pics and good mom's who actually keep track of their camera's ;)

Lil Mr. Keep Me Busy

Life is going so good right now....
Tate has been crawling for almost 4 months now, and is already trying to walk..I give it about a month, we'll see! Not sure whether that is good or bad but I just love watching him grow! He is definitely going to keep me busy, He is already into everything..He finally got rid of his nasty cough and also has now celebrated his first Valentine's Day & his first Easter! It has gone so fast, it's really kind of sad!

Last week I was getting dinner ready and Tate was sitting in the front room watching Elmo, or so I thought..I look over and see that he's not in front of the TV but instead he had pushed the chest I have filled with movies down the hallway! Apparently he was trying to tell me his toy box isn't good enough for him...At least that's the impression I was getting!

Then just Yesterday I was watching him with this wrapped candy bar wondering why he was being so good and content. After a few minutes I realized why! I noticed the chocolate starting to smear around his mouth and I realized he had chewed it so much that it started to come out of the wrapper..Needless to say, he got his first taste of a Snickers!

Just a little while later Brandon and I were watching Dancing with the Stars and Tate proceeds to stand up by pulling himself up on the poles of his swing..Before we knew it he started giving us a Chippendale's show..I don't know where he got the pole dancing Idea from but it was hilarious..I got a video, sadly it's a little dark but I might just have to post it sometime;)

Then this morning I get him out of his crib and leave the room for a second to grab a diaper. I come back and I don't see him anywhere and then I hear him in the bathroom. I walk in and within about a minute he had rolled half of the toilet paper off the roll!

Wow....what are we in for..It is going to be a great next few years! I love being kept on my toes;)

What an Adventure!

Last Week

Last week was a crazy one. Let's just say work and school consumed too much of my life but there were a few highlights of moments I spent with Tate. Luckily those save me from going insane. Tate has kept a little cough so we are going to do breathing treatments again to get that all better! Poor kid absolutely hated the doctor yesterday and started to pass out from crying so hard when the doctor checked his ear..probably because he still has a bit of an ear infection.

Just over a month a go Tate had RSV and was so sick and miserable but it lasted about two weeks and he was back to feeling better after lots of medicine and breathing treatments. Some days he loved those and would even do them all by himself while he watched cartoons. Other days it was hard to get him to cooperate but we are so lucky to have such a good baby.

Tate started crawling up the stairs last Tuesday. I can't believe how fast he is growing. I think life is busy with a crawler and then he learns a new trick but he is getting so fun and even though he keeps me on my toes I love watching him explore and learn. He also waves when you say hi or bye to him, how adorable! That is not perfected but he's getting better everyday. As for pulling himself up, there is not a waking moment that he is not crawling around or standing up on the silk plants, piano benches, couches, chairs, laundry baskets or something! Who knew that would happen at six months. It is quite an adventure with that little boy..before I know it he'll be walking! Last night I was going through pictures on my phone and seeing how much he's grown..I literally remember almost every moment that those pictures were taken even if they were just simple and everyday things. He melts my heart , and those brought tears to my eyes! I miss having my little cuddlebug lay next to me and just put his head on my shoulder...he is way too big for that now, he thinks he's too cool for it I guess!

My birthday is in four days! My first birthday with my little guy! I am excited to hopefully spend a day with the boys & with family. I can't believe all of the blessings the last few years have brought to my life.

My BEAUTIFUL sister.

We had nothing to work with and some of these are completely unedited! I am looking forward to shooting with furniture & at better locations, starting Monday! She still made these pictures perfect!

I have decided I want to start doing photography..
I think I might team up with someone and get started, just experimenting.
It's always been a huge interest of mine but I've never taken initiative and pursued it. I have seven credits left to get for my associates degree and I have to take twelve in order to keep my scholarship for Fall of this year, I'm debating..and thinking I might take photgraphy classes since I think they wouldn't only be fun and useful..but also free..Even if the credits won't transfer..

It's not for sure..but it's a tentative plan, I'm also considering retaking one of the classes I ended up with a B in..But afraid of the possibility that I would end with the same result, and it doesn't affect my GPA enough to matter anyway..
So I have to decide...Take Anatomy again..or not. We will see.



And..for anyone interested, I would love to experiment by taking pictures of YOU.

In the mean time I will just enjoy lovin on my little..
He is my world.

Cute Moments of the Week ♥

I adore him. This week, he was cute as ever. He makes me smile, I'm just a bit sad that he won't look at the camera for pictures anymore..he knows, I guess that means I've taken too many.

One night, when we were getting ready for bed Tate crawled around on our bed for a few minutes before deciding to fall asleep on Brandon's leg, he was also asleep. IT was adorable to say the least.


This smile, it gets me everytime ♥
He is my PRINCE:)


He will be one handsome lil baseball player!
And this right here..

..just has to be the cutest face ever.

My not so little 6 month old

I love my little six month old! Wait a minute..6 months old? Omg that went way too fast! Tate growing up has been everything I expected..Very Bittersweet Loving each stage as I miss the last!But my lil man now has a personality and a half, that's for sure! He is the sweetest little guy and just melts my heart, I think he probably gets annoyed with the 5 billion kisses he gets each day but what can I say..I can't resist! He is getting very active and loves to crawl around everywhere which means I have to keep a much closer eye on him. Homework with him in the room is nearly impossible..He tipped over the bouncer I had him sitting in while attempting to grab,(and probably eat/destroy) my textbooks...what a goof! It might be frustrating at times but I can't ever help but laugh. He adds so much fun to my life.
Yesterday we were playing, or I was watching him play in his pack and play when he decided he is done being a baby that just crawls around, at 6 months and 3 days old he grabbed the side of his bed and stood up, all on his own! I was amazed and could not believe that my tiny little guy did that so quickly..I am just glad I was right there or I could just imagine him trying to jump out of there. Which reminds me of his "Thing of the past" which really isn't a thing of the past since he still does it..but it's old news! I used to come home and if Tate was asleep I would set his carseat down in the darkest room so I wouldn't wake him, I would just unbuckle him so he could be comfy, until the day I walked in the front room to find my baby on the floor!! Being that he wasn't even 5 months I wasn't expecting that I needed to worry about...No more of that, he has the strategy down! Oh the things you learn as a mommy; You can never be too certain:) He keeps me on my toes, & I think thats a good thing...For now anyway!