Time flies...

We just finished celebrating Tommy's first birthday (a week early).  I can't believe he is almost a year old already. Tommy's birthday is Christmas eve, so we celebrated on the 19th so Tommy could have his own special day.   Last year at this time, I was overdue and feeling ready to pop. Of course, I was still working full time up until the day I went into labor.  I actually started my contractions at work (at the hospital) and went home and came back later with J.R.  Tommy made his grand appearance approximately 24 hours after our arrival at the hospital. Most of you know about my challenging delivery, but now it is all a distant memory (Although I am sure J.R. and I will tease Tommy throughout his life that he practically killed me).


Now onto the fun stuff...the PARTY!! J.R. kept telling me I better UNinvite people because that many people could not fit in our house.  I am not gonna lie, it was tight, but it was great.  So wonderful to see how many people Tommy has touched in his one year of life.  We had to set up tables in the garage and a heater (yes I know it is the middle of December) to handle the overflow.  We had tons of food and lots of fun.  Tommy's favorite part was the cake.  Being a child that loves food, this was a dream come true.  Enjoy the pics!!

   The cake, post Tommy attack!

I can't believe a whole year has passed.  Tommy is no longer just a baby, he is a little boy.  He has so quickly stolen our hearts and made our lives complete.  J.R. and I can't get over how much we love him.  Until you have that child in your arms, there is no way to comprehend the love. 

Change can be good...

As some of you know, I am changing jobs.  I love my career as a speech pathologist, but my job was not what it used to be.  I have been with Pinnacle Health for 6.5 years, and Monday is my last day.  I can't believe it has been that long, time sure does fly when you are having fun.  I have learned so much from all of the staff at Harrisburg Hospital and will miss many of them dearly.  I would never be where I am today without the help of the nurses, doctors, and other therapy staff.  I haven't ruled out returning to Pinnacle at some point, but for now, I am looking for a change.  I am looking for a challenge, for something new.  I love to learn and feel that there are opportunities out there for me to explore.  Those opportunities are starting at Hershey Medical Center.  I sort of fell into a Per Diem position there, which turns out to be working the same schedule I was working at Pinnacle.  I am starting in outpatient therapy.  I am excited for something new and different, a new staff, and new management.  I think this will be good for me.  Change is not easy for anyone, especially me.  I like to know what I am doing, and do it well.  I am confident that I will easily pick up on a new system and excited to start something new!! Here's to positive change!

11 months old and Thanksgiving

Tommy turned 11 months old on the 24th.  I can't believe he will be one year old in a few short weeks.  While we were out in Pittsburgh, Tommy figured out how to army crawl with speed.  He now follows me down the hall and into the kitchen, etc.  Of course, this meant that we had to install a baby gate.  Tommy also inherited cousin Hannah's walker.  He gets some speed in that baby!! Watch out! He will run you over and thinks nothing of smashing your toes!  Growing up too fast!! 

We made the trek out to Pittsburgh for Thanksgiving.  Michael (my brother-in-law) made an AMAZING dinner.  Tom, J.R. and I ate a ton.  Tommy, of course, loved it all, including the pumpkin pie with whipped cream.  Cousin Hannah had a great time playing with Baby P.J. (aka Tommy).  For some reason, we can't convince her to call him Tommy.  When you ask her what "Baby P.J.'s" name is she always responds "Tommy," but still hasn't gotten around to calling him that.  She is at the most adorable age right now, 3 and a half.  She has the best comments and never stops talking.  She reminds me of an auctioneer.  If you listen really closely, you know what she says, but otherwise you hear the first and last words.  She loved showing Tommy all of her toys and didn't quite understand that he wasn't big enough to play the way she wanted to play.  She would say "No Baby P.J., not yet" or something of the sort, every time he knocked over her tower.  By the end of the weekend she would tell him "you aren't big enough yet to do ..."  She was gentle and kind, and more than once asked if he was a brother.  Cousin isn't quite comprehensible to her yet.  We hung out at Joan's Friday and then went to dinner with the Smith's.  After putting Tommy to bed, we went back and hung out with Jess and Chris for awhile.  J.R. and Chris could talk for hours about cars, tractors, etc.  Jessica and I have a good time just chit chatting about daily life.  Saturday was uneventful until Hannah came to Joan's for a sleepover.  She and Tommy played until he went to bed, and she was up waiting for him in the morning.  She was so sad to see Tommy head home with us.  I wish we were closer so they could grow up knowing each other a little better.  We promised to be out again soon to visit for Christmas and so that she could have another play date with "Baby P.J."  The only downside to the weekend was that we all came home with colds, which are still lingering around.  Oh well... Now time to prep for Christmas!