Cannon's 1st Birthday...and a Reflection....

I can't help but reflect back and remember the day I announced I was pregnant. It had been a long journey for Aaron and I; one filled with happiness, sadness but ultimately JOY! My nine months of pregnancy were good months. I can't complain that I had a terrible pregnancy at all with Cannon and quite amazed at how my energy lasted at work up until the Friday when I went into labor.

My reflection of the birth of my son makes me cry but as I sit here and write, I know the tears are happy ones and ones of deep gratitude to God who heard every prayer that was prayed for Cannon. I didn't know at the time but Cannon's birth taught me just how much a heart can love and just how much joy a child brings to one's life. Being first-time parents, I think Aaron and I are doing just fine and the smile on Cannon's face confirms that thought everyday.

July 2008

The announcement photo to family & friends of our good news!

February 21, 2009

Cannon entered the world at 3:36am!

And now, February 21, 2010.......

We all woke up on Cannon's birthday to the sun shining through the windows and I started capturing every moment of the day. Cousin Kayden and Cannon didn't waste anytime and started playing once their feet hit the floor that morning. I know Cannon was loving having his big cousin around. We all ate breakfast and enjoyed our Sunday morning. Cannon and Kayden took a bath together and continued their fun. After lunch and Cannon's nap, the birthday boy got to dive into all his gifts with some help from daddy. He got lots of fun toys as well as more books to read.

Uncle Kevin, Aunt Pamela & his cousins had to leave and head back to Florida. Once we said our goodbyes, we loaded up the stroller and went to the beach. It was a beautiful sunny, but very windy, walk so we didn't stay long. After the beach we took Cannon to get a new pair of shoes. I am still a little shocked that the last ones lasted as long as they did considering how fast and tall Cannon is growing. And to end the day, we sang Happy Birthday and watched as our 1 year-old boy ate his birthday cupcake. This is where I think I got a little emotional. You see kids do it all the time on their first birthday but this was our time with our first child. It just didn't seem possible that a whole year had flown by and I was actually watching my child smear icing all over his face. It was a great moment for all; Cannon, Mommy, Daddy & Grandma W.

Happy Birthday Cannon!! We love you!!!

Uncle Kevin with the birthday boy!

We stopped for a quick bit to eat and Mr. Happy kept us all entertained!

Ready.... Set....

Eat!!!

Yummy!!

Priceless!

Bath #2 for the day!

And Cannon ends the day of his first birthday clean and happy as always......and mommy & daddy end the day exhausted but a little sad that his first birthday is over.

Bring on the toddler years!!!!

Let's Party!

The day had finally arrived to celebrate Cannon's first birthday. Grandma W, Uncle Kevin, Aunt Pamela, and cousins Kayden & Mackenzie all came to join in and be with Cannon on his special day.....and I was extremely thankful because I would have never been able to pull off a 2 hour event without their help.

Cannon awoke from his nap and we quickly got him dressed in his birthday attire....a newly pressed outfit that had been priority shipped and had arrived the day before due to his mommy's procrastination in what he was going to wear. It fit him perfectly and he looked adorable.

Lots of friends dropped by to say hello and to wish Cannon a happy birthday. I had asked for donations of can goods to be given to our local Bluffton Self Help organization in lieu of gifts. It touched my heart seeing all the goodies we got to donate in Cannon's honor. Of course Cannon still got lots of gifts and toys and I am grateful for those as well.

The celebration was a success and I was so proud of Cannon for enduring all the people picking him up and loving on him all day. He was acting like a big boy and I was one proud parent seeing him so happy.

Here's the birthday boy!!

The Wheat cousins: Cannon, Mackenzie & Kayden

Cannon's friends from his daycare class; Wesley & Landrum

A VERY SPECIAL visit from Wendy & Laura....they have been with me from the beginning of my journey trying to have Cannon and they were there the day I gave birth to him as well so it touches my heart that they came to say hello.

Wendy couldn't get enough of her Cannon!!

More birthday love from Melissa & Reilly

Gina snuck in a hug while Cannon was getting a refreshment.

The Snider's came for the fun too!

And it was so good seeing the Floyd's!! Austin & Katie Leigh have always loved baby Cannon.

So as you can see this day was full of sunshine, friendship, family, happiness and love......love for our sweet Cannon who turned one!

Getting Ready to Celebrate!

Cannon's 1st birthday is fast approaching and I'm finding myself adding to the long list of things that need to be done.

Right now we know that Grandma W is coming and that will be so good to have her celebrate with us. Grandparents are so special to any child and I will always want Cannon and our other children to know their grandparents just as I did.

This celebration will be so bittersweet for me and Aaron as we are still numb to the fact that our baby boy is just that.....NOT a baby anymore! We both tuck him in his crib at night and stand there in complete aww that he has grown up from this little bundle of joy and into this sweet and kind boy.....complete with his own personality...and temper!

We can't thank God enough for the blessing He gave us with our first child. I think we are now ready for Cannon's little brother or sister to arrive here in the next couple of months and repeat this process all over again in a year!

Hope to see you all at the party!

Happy Birthday Maddie!!

Cannon got invited to his first birthday party and we helped Maddie celebrate her 2nd birthday. Of course if you were to know Maddie, you would not think she was just two years old....this little girl is so smart!

The party was held at Island Gymnastics and fun was had by all. There were colorful things things to jump on (and in) along with a big slide. We ate pizza and cake then went out for round two of fun. Thank you to Reilly and her friend for helping out with Cannon. You all are always such helpers with the little kiddos.

Happy Birthday Sweet Maddie!!

Here's the Birthday Girl!

Group Photo

Handsome Mitchell

Sweet Buddies....Erin & Julia

Daddy helping Cannon on the balance beam


Hi Emma

Adorable Addison

Hi Mama & Dada

Look Who's Watching....

.....Mickey Mouse!

It's simply amazing that a mouse dressed in a red suit is loved by every child at some point in their life and right now it's Cannon's turn.

I have been turning on the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse for him since he was small. Maybe it's the bright colors that capture his attention or maybe it's Mickey's voice or maybe it's just because it's Mickey Mouse and all his Goofy friends!

God's Newest Angel

The Lord called Papaw home to heaven on January 26th after 87 BLESSED years of life.

My Papaw was the light of my eyes and the smile in my heart. As a child I would spend countless days (sometimes months) visiting him and Mamaw. The trips were never dull and Papaw seemed to never get enough of us grandkids.

I can't thank God enough for letting Papaw live just long enough to get to meet Cannon. It was a meeting of two beautiful blue eyed boys. I know Papaw couldn't talk well enough to tell me how proud he was of his newest great-grandson but the smile on his face told me all I needed to know. This past Thanksgiving Day, Cannon sat in Papaw's lap as he sang him a sweet whistle song along with Mamaw's perfect harmony.....it's a sight and sound I will not soon forget!

We love you Papaw and we will see you again one day in heaven!

Yeah....Sun & Car Seats!!

FINALLY.....we have sunshine!!! It didn't last long on this day but we will take it!

On the day we were going over to Adam & Summer's house to switch Cannon to his big boy car seat, the sun actually came out. After looking through the instruction book for days and trying to follow all the diagrams, we decided to enlist the help of Adam who is a local firefighter here in Hilton Head. Thanks Adam for all your help, looks like all your safety training classes have paid off!!!

Here is Cannon's last time in his "baby" car seat that he is so happy to pass down to his brother or sister in the coming months.

If this isn't a sign that he wanted to get outside and enjoy the sunshine then I don't know what is?

He's testing out his new ride!

And finally.....his first car ride in his big boy seat and all the excitement puts him right to sleep!