Happy Birthday, Logan!

Sweet Monster Man-

Happy first birthday, Logan! As I think about the past year with you, I can't help but smile. I so vividly remember the morning you were born. It was such an easy delivery as we talked and laughed with the hospital staff throughout your birth. When Dr. Roelands held you up and announced, "it's a boy!", I couldn't help but shed a tear of joy. You were perfect. The second I held you in my arms, I immediately fell in love with the sweetest, happiest baby boy I have ever met.

And now a year has passed since that amazing day. Throughout the year, I have witnessed your first smile, heard your first giggle, watched you try your first foods and cheered you on as you started crawling and took your first steps. It has been amazing to watch you go from a helpless, dependent little baby to a feisty, energetic toddler.

I feel so grateful to be your mommy, Logan. Because of you, my heart overflows with love each and every day. Waking up and seeing your smiling face and picking you and Avery up at school are the best parts of my day.

Sometimes I stare at you and wonder what you will be like in five, ten, thirty years. Will you play sports, a musical instrument or star in the school play? Will you become a fireman, a doctor, an accountant or serve our country in wars? Whatever you choose to do, I know there is something special planned for you.

So, on your first birthday, sweet boy, my hope for your future is that you become a stable, caring, smart, independent, and strong man. I hope you become a leader. I hope you always treat others with kindness and respect. I hope you fall in love and find adventure. And I hope you know that I will always love and support you.

Happy Birthday, Logan!

Love, mama

Wordless Wednesday

I took this idea from my friend, Katie.

Sporting News

The past couple weeks have been big for Missouri sports. Although I am not a huge sports fan, I do like to follow my hometown teams. First up, the Cardinals won the World Series. Love them or hate them, almost any baseball or sports fan in general can appreciate the Cardinals' road to winning the World Series. In the last month of the regular season, the Cardinals were 10.5 games behind the wild-card leading Atlanta Braves and somehow managed to erase that deficit to steal the NL Wild-Card from the Braves. After making the playoffs, the Cardinals had to power past the Philadelphia Phillies in a best of five showdown and outwin the Milwaukee Brewers in a scary best of seven series. Next up: the Texas Rangers in the World Series. On paper, anyone would have bet on the Rangers to defeat the Cardinals in the World Series. And what a World Series it was. The Rangers and the Cardinals provided some of the best baseball in recent history. In game 3, Cardinals' first baseman Albert Pujols played one of the best games of his career. He had five RBI producing hits and three home runs. And then there was game 6. Wow! If you haven't seen it, I recommend searching your DVR for a replay. Although heartbreaking for the Texas Rangers, Game 6 was amazing! Not once, but twice, the Rangers were one strike away from winning the World Series and the Cardinals fired back. As one SI writer wrote, "If you're deep in the heart of Texas, Busch Stadium just became your own personal Halloween house of horrors." Finally, hometown boy and former high school classmate of Luke's and mine, David Freese, hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th inning to win the game. It was amazing!

The day after the Cardinals' improbably World Series win, Mizzou defeated Texas A&M. In what is now a rebuilding year for Missouri football, it was great to see them beat a ranked team on the road. To end the weekend, the St. Louis Rams won their first game of the season.

Finally, Mizzou just announced their move from the Big 12 to the SEC. I'm so used to Mizzou being in the Big 12 that I am not quite sure how I feel about the move. Although the money in the SEC will be great for the University, I worry that my beloved Tigers might never make it to another football bowl game. Winning games against teams like Alabama and LSU just seems so improbable. Only time will tell if the move to the SEC is a good one for Mizzou. We will miss our friends at Kansas, K State, Iowa State, Texas, Oklahoma, etc. Thanks for the memories!

Singing In The Shower

Since Avery was a baby, she has preferred showers to baths. Now, when she asks to shower, she often says, "I need to sing in the shower". The following is part of Avery's "concert" from last night. Enjoy! Luke and I sure do.