Things are progressing about as text book as we could ask for – cravings are in full swing and the wardrobe is having to be adjusted to make room for a growing baby, but baby and mommy are as healthy as we could ask for. Big sister can’t wait to meet the baby, either. Thankfully we’ve dodged explaining just how the baby will get here – we’ve escaped with just saying that mommy will go the doctor and the doctor will take the baby out of mommy’s tummy. What will be interesting is if the baby is a boy because Maggie is absolutely certain it has to be a little girl. We’ll cross that bridge in January when we’ll be able to find out.

There was a time when we didn’t know if our little family would be able to grow naturally anymore than it already had, but God is good and He is faithful to answer prayers in His time. We know that despite the troubles and hardships that we are in the palm of His hand. All of our children are gifts from God and we’re so thankful and honored to be parents again!

Happy Birthday Maggie!

We Love You,
Daddy

• Christmas Play
• Maggie hit the toy jackpot w/ her birthday and Christmas
• New Year’s Fireworks

Yesterday was a really good day. The Brothers and I hung out Friday night and they crashed at the house since it was “Bachelor Week” with Lisa gone to Boston. (Bachelor only in the sense that we had no Lisa to keep us in line.) Up early to get the Brothers back for their engagement later in the day only to find out it was cancelled – a New Years Fireworks Extravaganza was happening at the house afterall! I got home just in time to see Lisa’s sister and neice getting ready to leave, and Lisa and I were able to mill about, run around, and just spend some good time together after her days away. Later on about six-ish the gang gathered – Phillip, Mike, Kevin, Justin, Jennifer, Robert, Lisa, Maggie, and I spent the earlier part of the evening making a rather decent ruckus, playing some videogames (that was mainly the guys), and eating some great food.

The night ended just like the first paragraph said, and we’re just inside the door of a brand new year. Never in my life have I begun a year with the motivation, determination, and all out resolve I have. I’ve come so far towards being the person I want to be making huge leaps first by becoming a husband and second, and most substantial, becoming a father. It truly is the latter that has brought into perspective what in life is worth it and what is just crap. There are so many things to chase after simply just chasing in this life, but only very few that matter. And that is what Maggie has taught me, that if we live life only for ourselves then we have nothing. But if everyday we give of ourselves to other to help them, encourage them, and build them up then in turn we have done something worth doing.

There is nothing in this life worth more to me than my family and those I love. There are things right that I know to do that I have either done only in part or have drug my feet on for so long and by doing so I simply chased the wind. So if this is even a resolution this is mine, to give of myself to help build up and grow those I love and that God puts in my life to help build up and grow. But I also want to dedicate to my family in the same way to begin to grow myself as well. There are real life health concerns that I have to take control of as well as other things that are required of me as a husband and father, and no longer will I just get by doing the minimum required. But this year, and from here on out I will do what I have promised and be the husband and father that God has commissioned me to be and I committed to be.

Lisa and Maggie, you have no idea how much I love you and what I would do for you. You deserve so must more than I feel I could ever give and I promise if for the first time ever I won’t give just what I have to give, but I’ll give you everything I have to give. I love you so much, I couldn’t do it without you, thank you for all you are, have been, and will be to me. With all my love for all my life.

This started out much more lighthearted than it ended so thank you for your patience. I have never really made any kind of New Year’s resolution to speak of and this wasn’t so much of a resolution as a renewal of determination. God bless and Happy New Year!

Well, it’s finally here, our precious baby girl is a year old today! This past year has been the craziest, happiest, scariest, best year of my life. Being a dad is the greatest thing in the world and I couldn’t be happier, but I’m not going to lie to you – when Maggie was born I was scared to death! At that point I had never even changed a diaper. Of course, that was something Lisa quickly remedied! But I tried my hardest, Lisa helped me a long, and I learned that I wasn’t the only parent who didn’t get a manual but that you learn as you go. I know that every year won’t be like this one, some will be harder and others easier, but there is nothing else in the world worth all you have than your family – and I have the best wife and daughter I could have ever asked or hoped for! I also have the best parents, in-laws, and friends in the world, too!

Maggie girl, don’t tell you mommy this, but you are absolutely the best thing that has ever happened to me in my whole life. Nothing will ever change your life like having children, and you changed my life in the best possible ways. I know I haven’t done everything right this year but you’ve been patient with me as a daddy and I’m gonna keep on keepin’ on doing everything I can to learn and grow as a parent. Like I said, you’ve made me so happy – you are amazing, and I want to be a daddy you deserve. I love you baby girl!

Month Summary:

• She walked early in Month 12
• First Birthday Party on the 11th

• Started pulling up on her own, walking along furniture, and even stood up on her own…
• Mommy and Maggie went to Cincinnati, Grandmomma got married, and the girls, me, and Mommy and Daddy went to Chattanooga…

• Started holding on and standing
• Maggie played her first game of kickball…

This year was really special in a way the previous two haven’t been and just couldn’t been because of what happened to us in the past year – obviously, we became parents! It’s the most amazing thing to wake up every morning and right across the hall the ultimate product of our marriage and covenant with each other is sleeping to beautifully. Being a parent has brought such a dymanic to my personal life, not to mention our marriage that just amazes me day to day. If I could say nothing else about the positive impact of Maggie on our relationship I would have to say that she has brought Lisa and I closer than I could have ever imagined. But of course that’s not all to see about that lil’ ball of energy… when I think of her I think of one thing, love. And that’s the thing Maggie has brought the most of into my life, and it’s the best thing in the world.

Sorry, proud papa, I digress.

It has been a very growing year for us. There is obviously always going to be growth and change in a relationship, no doubt. Without it the relationship stagnates and stales. But with the added responsibility of being a father, it brought to light the responsibility I had as leader of our little family and thereby awakening me to a whole different way of looking at everything. I know I kinda focused on me there, but the same can really be said for Lisa in that we both realized that it’s not about us, the stakes are higher, all that. And it’s made us really evaluate what is important in life, what is worth our time, and what’s worth focusing our energy on, and it’s amazing how some things begin to fade away in the light of parenthood and all that accompanies that stage of adulthood. It reminds me of the words of Paul speaking about growing away from childhood and putting away those childish things… it’s the same way in that before parenthood, we could do alot of things that we don’t have the time, money, energy, but now that we are living and dwelling in this place, some of those things begin to pass away in the light of your current place. It’s just a really cool thing to witness and experience in such a live and colorful way. Even better is having a partner to share it with you, and go through this amazing thing with you.

Without a doubt this has been one of the best years of my life, and when I look back on this year in my marriage it will always hold a very special place. It was the year my daughter was born, the year in a lot of ways I feel I really grew up, and the year a fusion happened with Lisa and I that just solidified our relationship in such a beautiful way. I’m fortunate to have been blessed in life the ways I have and thank God everyday for these things He’s given me.

I love you Lisa! Thank you for three AMAZING years, being the best wife a man could ask for, and the most beautiful baby girl I have ever seen! With all my love, for all my life.