Bowlin turns ONE!!!

Bowlin turned one year old November 10, 2011.  It was on a Thursday morning.  Momma, Daddy, and Bowlin went to celebrate with a pancake breakfast complete with a birthday candle for the baby boy!

Happy Birthday Bowlin!

Thursday is a school day!  

That night we had Bowlin a birthday party at our house.  It may or may not have been a little over the top.  There were about 60+ people crowded into our house.  Needless to say my house wasn't equip for all these people.  We had Chili in Mason jars with cornbread sticks to eat.  And of course birthday cakes and cupcakes.  We had the food set up inside and the drinks and bar out on the porch.  The coffee table served as the present table.  We had cookies in the shape of monkey faces wrapped individually for party favors.  It was a lot of fun, and Bowlin enjoys company.  He wasn't sure what to think about his smash cake.  He didn't really like it.  I think he was overwhelmed.  Because he didn't have any trouble eating the cupcakes the next day.  He crashed before it was present time, but he was sure excited about all of it.  

Door Banner

Birthday cake 

Cookies 

 Bowlin opening a present

The Table 

Centerpiece  

Cupcakes 

Bar on porch 

Gigi and B 

Smash Cake 

B not digging his smash cake

Bowlin's first beach trip!

So fast forward again!  We had a great summer, and took a late summer trip to the beach.  Both my family and Bo's family went.  It was so much fun for us all to be there together.  Bowlin was 9 months old on his first trip to the beach.  I wasn't sure what he would think about the sand but he did really good with it (he did eat it a few times)!  Big rode his motorcycle down.  The picture below was taken at a stop on the way down.  (We didn't really let Bowlin ride the motorcycle to the beach! HA)

Big and Bowlin

We stayed from a Saturday to a Saturday.  We at some really yummy places, and Bowlin was really a good baby.  We at at Louisiana Lagniappe twice (bc it's our favorite), Cosmo's, Cobalt's, and then ate in twice.  Below are a few shots from the trip.   

Pops and Bowlin 

Momma getting love from B 

The King on his daily ride to the beach

 The family at Louisiana Lagniappe 

Momma and B on the Beach 

Happy Baby! 

Snoozing with G

Bowlin's Baptism

Well fast forward again, and it is spring!  Easter 2011 to be exact, and one of the most special days that I have had as a parent.  Bowlin was baptized on Easter Sunday.  Judy Pylate made him the most beautiful christening gown you have ever laid your eyes on.  Below is a picture of it.  It is not the best picture of Bowlin, but you can see all the detail on the gown better than other pictures.  Thank you Mrs. Judy for making the day so special with the PERFECT outfit!  

Dr. Bud Gordon did the Baptism for us.  I have a funny story.  I grew up Baptist, so I was 'dunked'.  So the infant baptism/christening thing is new to me.  So, I called Bud one day to tell him that Bo and I were ready to have Bowlin Baptized, and to try to work out a date.  When Bud answered I told him I was ready to have Bowlin "christened".  He quickly told me we were Methodist and that we Baptize babies and christen ships.  He said unless I wanted him to hit Bowlin over the head with a bottle of champagne, then we better baptize him and not christen him.  HA!  So, now of course I have no troubling remembering the difference in the words.  We decide Easter Sunday would be a special time to have the ceremony.  

After church we had a luncheon at our house.  We had both of our families along with some special friends.  The lunch was delicious and the weather was perfect so we had lunch on our front porch.  Below are some more pictures from the special day.   

Me, Bowlin, Bo, and Bud during the ceremony

Happy baby 

Butler family 

Mommy, Daddy and Baby B 

G and Pops 

My favorite picture of him in his gown; I think he looks like an angel

Bowlin's First Christmas

Like I said, I am trying to hit the high points of the last 2 years.  So, fast forward 6 weeks and it's my favorite holiday.  But, this one was the best Christmas to date!  Why you ask?  Because it was my first one as a momma of course!  Christmas is always magical, but Christmas with kids takes it to a new level.  We were asked by our church to be the advent readers at the Christmas Eve Service.  So, Bowlin made his first Christmas Eve service in 2010.  Below is a picture.  I realize it isn't a good one.  But, it's all I have.  I am reading while Bo lights the advent candles.  

Christmas Eve Service 2010

Following Church we went back to our house for Christmas Eve dinner.  I will be honest, I can not remember what I served for a meal.  But, I am sure it was yummy! :)  Once everyone left, we settled down as a family of three for our first Christmas Eve together.  We left cookies out for Santa!  (Insert shout out to Mollie Walker for the cookies!  I assure you they were not my handiwork!)  The next morning was very exciting!  Santa CAME!  (As if there was ever a doubt.)  Bowlin must have been very good his first 6 weeks of life because Santa was good to him.  Mom, Kenny, and JJ came to see what Santa had brought and then we opened presents.  After that we headed to Wildwood for Christmas with the Butlers/Wilders and to have lunch.  And then to Mom and Kenny's house for dinner.  We defiantly got our meals in for the day!  A few photo's below from Bowlin's first Christmas! Stay tuned.....

P.

Butler Family after Church on Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve as a family of 3

G and Bowlin Christmas Eve

Pops and Bowlin Christmas Eve

Cookies for Santa (you can see why I can't take credit)

Santa Came!!!!

Butler Family Christmas 2010

PS!  I don't know why the pictures have white around them or how to get it off.  Help is appreciated!  MEGAN???

Making a Comeback.....

Ok, so I realize it has been 2+ years since I have blogged.  I have been getting the itch, and today I decided to do something about it.  It is crazy not to, right?  I am so jealous of my friend Megan Johnson, russandmegan.blogspot.com, because she has everything documented and put them into books.  Such a perfect way to keep up with memories.  I just re read this blog, and remembered great times and things in detail that I totally forgotten.  So, I am turning over a new leaf!  I want to have every moment of Bowlin's life documented!  I have done an 'ok' job of that for the past two years, but that changes today.  So with that being said, let's get started.

Obviously, if I started trying to post in detail about life over the past 2 and 1/2 years 1. we could be here for days and 2. I would miss something.  So, I guess I will hit the high points over the next few posts and then start back in detail.

In my last post I told you we were having a BOY!   Well, by far the biggest high point of the past 2 years is that he is here.  William "Bowlin" Butler, III was born November 10, 2010.  Weighing in at a whopping 9 lbs 12 oz and 22 in long.  He came in this world big and has been big ever since.  He is my whole world.  You always hear how you didn't know  you could love something so much.  Or I always heard that, but only half listened to it.  Well, 'they' are right, it's true.  The love I have for him is indescribable in any amount of words!  A couple of pictures below for the big day.

Mom and Dad anxiously awaiting the arrival of Bowlin

Bowlin's very first picture

Momma meeting Bowlin for the first time

 All cleaned up

If you notice, above is a picture that says momma meeting Bowlin for the first time.  There is a story to that.  I went into labor at 2:30 AM in Corinth with my water breaking.  Needless to say the ride to Memphis was one of excitement.  When I got to the hospital my contractions were less than 2 minutes apart.  We got pulled over twice by police.  I thought I might be delivering in the car.  Once we got there I thought this can't take long.  I have to have him soon.  HA!  WRONG!

 I realize I had it better than a lot, and am not trying to make it out that I had it very bad.  I am just saying that 12 hours of labor is way different than 12 hours on a normal day.  Luckily I had family there to entertain me and keep me company. Meredith even drove from Starkville to be with me and be one of the first to meet Baby B.

So.......the short version is: we finally make it to the hospital, I am in labor all day, finally get to 10 cm, push for 30 min or so, only to be told we need a Csection.  If you know me at all you know my anxiety is a little out of control.  So, this scared me to death and sent me into a tailspin.  Not that I was necessarily scared of the surgery.  Just that it 'wasn't in the plan' and I don't like that.  Once they got me all prepped and moved me back in to the OR I had to go in alone for a little big while they prepped me before Bo could come in.  I have no idea if this was 5 min or much longer.  It seemed MUCH LONGER!  They had given me some drugs for the anxiety and I was groggy, scared, and cold.  Once they got started there was a LOT of pressure on my chest and pain in my chest.  At which time I decided I was having a heart attack.  The nurse with the drugs was at my right, and Bo at my left.  So I proceed to let them know calmly (yeah right) that I am having a heart attack.  They wouldn't listen and apparently I got a little wound up and pinched the nurse (ooops! my bad).  So......she gave me enough drugs to knock me smooth out.  As in I MISSED THE BIRTH OF MY SON!  On the video there is Bo and Bowlin so sweet meeting for the first time, and then they pan to me.  Out like a light.  Didn't know I was in the world.  Bo says he woke me up to show me Bowlin and I said something not so nice so he just let me sleep.  So the above picture is in recovery when I got to see my son for the first time.  He was perfection!

I am very excited about my blog comeback!  Just to give you a little sneak peek of what my life looks 2 years later, see below.  Until next time..........

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My little nugget of perfection at 2 years old (almost)