One year gone....

It has FLOWN by. I honestly can't believe my baby boy has turned ONE year old. This past year has been the most exhausting, emotional and rewarding year of my life. A year ago I finally learned what mother's meant when they said that they wouldn't think twice before jumping in front of a moving vehicle for their child or that they would murder anyone who ever attempted to harm their child. I used to be a bit selfish, I guess we all are, but having a little one changes that so fast, you don't even realize it's happening.
Dan and I had River's birthday party yesterday at my parents house. It was a lot bigger of a production than I had originally planned. In my defense, if we had just invited family, there would have been about 15 people anyway, I was so glad that I did invite some of my co workers to come see him. They all experienced my WHOLE pregnancy and were there to see him when he was born, I felt it fitting to include them in this day as well. It was a LOUD day and River did get quite overwhelmed but overall, it was a ton of fun. I think we're set in the toy department now. :) I take River to his 1 year well baby check up in 2 weeks, so I can't really update with any height/weight statistics. I'm guessing he's around 22lbs ( if that, he's a skinny minny). He is right on track with his development. He doesn't really "talk" yet, but Dan has been getting him to say "dada" once in awhile. He just talks when he feels like it. Stubborn like his mommy. :) He is pulling up all of the time and walking as long as he's got something to hold on to, I have a feeling walking is just around the corner. I can't wait to see what THAT level of independence will do to him. Once he learned to crawl, he HATED being in the pack and play or being in a high chair, he realized that he was able to go where he wanted and dangit, he was going there! He's got quite the personality already and I can't wait for him to start talking to us, he's becoming such a little man. Here are some photos from his big birthday bash!

Too important not to share

PLEASE, if you are by chance reading this, text HAITI to 90999 to donate $10 to the Red Cross for the Relief effort. It's just $10 and will be charged on your next cell phone bill. I am reading more about the devastation in Haiti and have seen the most heart wrenching pictures. The hundreds of people dead or lost in rubble are PEOPLE, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and babies. They are not JUST numbers you read about on the daily news updates. If you have any compassion at all, PLEASE help. I'm sacrificing my Starbucks in order to give, we all can.

from MSNBC:
Bodies lay everywhere in Port-au-Prince: tiny children next to schools, women in rubble-strewn streets with stunned expressions frozen on their faces, men hidden beneath plastic tarps and cotton sheets.

The beginning of a new decade

It's hard to believe it's 2010 already, it really feels like 2009 flew by so fast. It was an amazing year. NOTHING will ever top giving birth ( which is one of the most empowering thing I have ever done), successfully breastfeeding my son for 6 months, working full time while doing said breastfeeding, working while also raising a child, or how about just MEETING my son, the most amazing child on the planet. :) I am so thankful for him. Becoming a parent has been a HUGE challenge for both Dan and myself, we are both always learning and I welcome the challenges it brings. They will only make us stronger in the end.
Anywho, Christmas was great for us. We didn't buy him a million toys ( he doesn't need them and I really want to raise my son with his feet on the ground knowing that the world doesn't TRULY revolve around him). We just had a great time getting to spend it with family. River was able to meet all of his great aunts and uncles and second cousins at the Burkemper Christmas. We drove almost 4 hours there and 4 hours back all in the same day and he did AWESOME. We were so glad that he didn't scream or cry once on the road. Great Kiddo. :) Here are some of our most recent photos. Hard to believe my little man is 10 months old already, I ordered the invitations for his 1st Birthday Party last week and almost had a heart attack. :)