The Big Bash, Bryant Turns 1!!!!

That's right, it is official, Bryant is now 1 year old. I guess he really isn't Baby Bryant anymore. I swore I wouldn't have a big party for his first birthday because I didn't want to overdo something he wasn't going to remember, but the more I thought about it, the more fun it seemed. Plus I could never let the opportunity slide to have chocolate cake and ice cream!!

On Saturday, October 27th, we transformed our little house in Sister into Birthday Central. We tried to restrain ourselves and only invited family, but we still ended up with more than 20 people in our little townhouse. Thank goodness it was nice outside and we could overflow on to the patio. Despite the fact that there were lots of people and what could be an overwhelming event for a one year old, Bryant did awesome. His Grammy (Jeremy's Mom) brought over balloons and I have to say that was probably his favorite part of the whole day. Bryant's favorite word/expression is "oh" and he said it with conviction throughout the day, but never with as much enthusiasm as when the balloons arrived. Bryant's Grandpa (my Dad) and his wife Robin, drove over from Canby (2 1/2 hour drive) for the party and then drove home after the party, but anyone who knows my Dad knows he doesn't miss an opportunity for cake either!!! Jeremy's brother Jeff and his wife Necia also drove over on Saturday morning for Bryant's celebration from Portland.


During the party, Bryant was happy and social and made his rounds like a true host. He wandered in and out the back door, always getting on his tummy to back down the stairs, he even got little scrapes on both of his shins from sliding up and down the paver step and he never once cried. He ate a little lunch before our guests arrived and then enjoyed 2nd lunch of pizza during the party. Daddy helped him open presents and so did 5 of his cousins, it was quite a scene and I am still not completely sure who the presents came from!


After presents we had cake and he smiled while we all sang Happy Birthday to him. He LOVED the cake. We gave him his own piece on a plate and he picked up the whole thing and ate on it for a while then put it down and picked up the top half and when he was finished he threw the whole piece of cake, frosting side down on the floor. It was hysterical and perfect and exactly what I expected. After all, I rarely get through a meal with him without something ending up on the floor. He was such a trooper and after all the family filtered out, he took a short nap and when he came downstairs he said "Oh" at the balloons and new toys, he was renewed and ready to play again. It was an awesome day and really incredible to celebrate the birth of our priceless, amazing, inspiring little gift from God.

Punkin goes to the Patch

Today was a beautiful day in Central Oregon, and after 4 days of wind, rain and cold, we were anxious to get out and enjoy it. We headed out to the nursery where Jeremy buys a lot of his plants for various jobs, to visit their pumpkin patch and play area. They had a really cute hay maze, slides and climbing areas and a jump house, not to mention all the pumpkins!! Bryant's cousins, Hudson (6), Bevyn (4) and Baylor (almost 2) met us there and the kids really had fun. Bryant loved riding around in the wagon and he even managed to pick out a pumpkin or two to take home. It is so fun to be able to take him out and start these fun holiday traditions, not that he will remember this at 1 year old, but it is fun for his daddy and I to show him off!!

We tried playing in the jump house, but he had more fun watching all the kids jump from outside.

On another note, we have Bryant's Halloween costume, he is going to be a little lion cub. The costume is so cute and he will actually let me put the little hat on him and he doesn't try to take it off. I know you are probably thinking what will a barely 1 year old do on Halloween, but our little town does a really cute Halloween Trick-or-Treat parade and all the kiddos in town (elementary school age and younger) meet in the park in the center of town and form a line of trick-or-treaters and they go around to all the businesses in town and get candy. It is the cutest thing I have ever seen and it gives the little ones a chance to participate without having to be out in the cold or up past their bedtimes. We will definitely be participating (mostly because I think Bryant will love seeing the other kids) and I will put up some pictures of that adventure too!!

Here are some pictures of our day in the sun at the pumpkin patch!

Reflecting on the Last Year

As I look at my sweet little boy growing and changing by the minute, it is hard to believe that at this time last year we were anxiously awaiting his arrival and safety. So much has changed in the last year and it truly feels as though our lives were totally incomplete before Bryant. Next Friday Bryant turns 1 year old and he has managed to perfect many skills in the last year. As you read in our last blog posting, he is walking like a pro and even attempting to run (especially when the kitty is in his path). He says "Oh" with such enthusiasm at almost everything that he turns heads in the grocery store. He has also become extremely social and although he can't quite say "Hi" his high pitched squeal at passersby always elicits a smile. I am amazed at how much he picks up on just by watching his daddy and I. He knows to lift up his feet when I am holding a sock or shoe, he opens his mouth when I hold up a toothbrush, he will help me pick up toys and put them in the bucket or toy box and he is amazing at knocking down a stack of blocks. When you say "bye-bye" he begins to wave and he can shake his head "no" quite profusely. Bryant speaks a language all his own and seems to be constantly babbling about something or the other, it is the most precious sound I have ever heard.

As Jeremy mentioned in our last posting, I am now working from home and caring for Bryant. There are days where doing both are difficult, but for the most part, my job is extremely flexible and I can work on assorted tasks when time permits throughout the day. I really could not have hoped for a better home-based job. I love the people I work for, the actual work challenges me to a degree (but not too much!), and the interaction with other adults during the day has been a really nice change.

Jeremy's business is winding down for the winter (we actually had our first snow overnight last night) and he is anxiously awaiting his next hunt on November 10th. Besides hunting, Jeremy is going to be helping his brother-in-law Mike, who is going to be building us a new house. We are so excited at the prospect of a larger home. We will be building right here in Sisters, just about a 1/4 mile from where we currently live. Our new house will be a little over 2300 square feet and have 3 bedrooms and a bonus room which is significantly bigger than the 2 bedroom townhouse we are in now. We don't have a date for completion, but hopefully we will be moving in sometime in late Spring 2008.

Well, that is a brief rundown in the lives of the Davis' of Sisters. I will post some more pictures and videos next week after we visit the pumpkin patch and Bryant's First Birthday next Saturday. We hope you are all well and enjoying the Fall.

We're walkin baby!

Need I say more?

No, but I will anyway. Bryant has been working hard to perfect his "Frankenstien walk." Out go both arms and he bobbles around half controlled to his next destination. It can be quite fun. He has also mastered backing down the stairs. However, we find it less stressful to leave the baby gate up so that we don't have any long tumbles down the stairs to the front door.

Now you might be wondering why our last post was over a month ago, and I know that most of you have put your live's temporarily on hold until you can catch up on the powerfully interesting details of our little family. For this I'm sorry, but let me explain. Amy recently started a full time job working from home. This new job, coupled with taking care of Bryant and myself takes so much of her time, that she has had to set some tasks aside. So please, go on with your lives. We might not update often, but we will get around to it eventually. Plus, if you feel behind, just come stop by the house and see first hand what's goin on. Just know that you might be given a task such as starting dinner or a load of laundry.