The Quickest Year Ever

Today we celebrate the birthday of the little man so many of us prayed into existence.

Foster Isaac Beard is one.

ONE.

He has been in our lives for an entire year. It was seriously the quickest year ever.

This is the first moment I laid eyes on my boy.

This is the first time he was in my arms. 

less than an hour old 

I think about this little dude and how he has so totally changed our lives and I am a wreck. Yesterday morning, I woke up and felt so emotional (sure, it could be the fact that I haven't been sleeping too much and I am 6 months pregnant, but it was a sweet emotional). I opened up my computer to begin this blog and decided that I would look through photos from this week and then from the birth of my dear boy. As I was looking through the photos from the birth, I sat on the couch and wept. WEPT. The most GRATEFUL TEARS of JOY and THANKSGIVING I had to offer to my amazing Lord who would bless us with the gift of not just one child, but two. Dear God, You are GOOD.
I was thinking about all the people who prayed for us and with us as we journeyed through the process of thinking we would never have a biological child and was humbled. There were so many words of love and affirmation as we announced our pregnancy. We were showered and celebrated beyond belief. I have not enough words to thank those people.

And then I began thinking about all the people who have walked with us and Fos this last year. Reminiscing about meals brought to our house, all the people who have baby sat (which we have never had to pay for - Thank you to all of you who have wanted to spend time with our kid. Your time with him and love of him is incredibly humbling and appreciated beyond comprehension), all the helping hands, all of the grandparent trips to help, all the love poured out onto our son...and again, I wept. It does take a village and Andrew and I have an AMAZING village.

Thank you friends for joining us today to say Happy Birthday to our totally rad kid.

So, today we celebrate this little man.

Foster,
You, my dear, will never ever know the joy and love that you have brought into our family. I never knew that parents cheered so much for their kids until I actually jumped up and down the first time you held your head up for more than one second. I will never stop cheering for you. I watched you take your first steps this week. I screamed and clapped and squeezed the heck out of you (which you totally love and can't get enough of, incase you were wondering). We have watched you experience each new thing and try to be in the moment with you...experiencing with you, it is so fun to watch. You are just cool. You sit with your arm back or your foot up, chillin - no matter where you are (at the kitchen table, in your high chair, in your stroller, in a grocery cart). You only do things we need you to do when you realize their purpose. For example, you would never wear a hat or sunglasses until you sat in the sun without them for a minute, then put them on...now we have no problem getting you to wear them. You jump like a maniac. You drum on everything. Once you started putting everything in your mouth, the first thing you picked up that didn't go straight into your mouth was a set of drum sticks. You dance and dance, in our arms on the ground, it doesn't matter, if there is a beat, you are bouncing! You sing with us. You giggle like crazy and love to be tickled. You want to walk everywhere and climb on everything (even though you have only taken a few steps). You love dogs (now...you didn't at first) but they are all scared of you - you chase them. You are sad when other babies cry. You are funny. You mimic everything we do and that keeps us on our toes.
You hate sleeping at night, unless it is with me and your dad. You love every food we have given you - except lima beans (true story). You have a large head...like greater than the 98th percentile, but its all good, cause you have the cutest face. You have 6 teeth and curly blonde locks. You have the clearest blue eyes that everyone comments on EVERYWHERE we go.
You are precious. You are precious. We love you so much.

When I hold you while you sleep, I whisper into your ear about how much I love you and how much your daddy loves you and how much our Great God Loves You. We pray that you will know that God is Good. We pray that you know that following Him is worth anything you think you may be giving up.  We pray that you know that His plans for you are so much greater than the ones we make for ourselves. I pray that you are selfless, compassionate, kind, and a humble leader. I pray that you are an encouragement to those around you (like your daddy). I pray that you Love greatly. I pray that whatever you do, you find a way to glorify the Lord through it.

People say to us (probably at least once a week) something along the lines of "Don't blink, before you know it he will be 17 and won't be talking to you." Foster, we pray against that. We pray to cherish every moment with you and that you continue to love us and that you know that we love you and are always here for you, we understand, and we have walked through this life ahead of you. No matter what, we love you. we just really freaking love you.
Happy First Birthday Little Dude.

Love, Momma and Dadda

"Traveling Mercies"

Yes, I have made fun of this statement: "Traveling Mercies" as in the video "Shoot Christians Say" (if you have not watched this - you will think it is HILARIOUS, and should take a few minutes to do so) they make fun of people praying for traveling mercies.  I think it sounds silly...and I asked the Lord for forgiveness this week for making fun of it as I also asked Him for TRAVELING MERCIES! haha.

Yesterday (and all week) I packed up Foster and Andrew's brothers dropped us off at the airport at 7:20am. We had a 2 legged flight from Dallas-Houston then Houston-Panama City, where my dear friend Jacqueline (with her sweet 6 month old twins) were picking us up and then driving us the 45-50 minute route to Destin, where I currently am.
Our flight was at 8:30 and we were to land at 11:40.
My plan. Keep him awake first leg (one hour) by feeding him breakfast, let him sleep through the second leg.

A few details. My lap is shrinking. Foster wants to run around ALL the time. The last time we flew with him, one month ago, he didn't sleep at all and it was exhausting for me WITH ANDREW THERE!!

As you may have guessed flying with him alone was causing me so much anxiety, I was seriously asking every person to pray for this. I began to wonder what the heck I was thinking taking this trip. I told Jacqueline when I got here, "I cannot believe this is real, I seriously had convinced myself that I would believe that this trip was happening when I saw her face."

SO...I decided this traveling story was one for the blog, cause it is awesome.

They dropped us off at the airport and Thomas came in with me to help me check the two suitcases and car seat (we are traveling for 3 weeks). Thanks Thomas! The guy at the ticket counter said, "everything is on time now, but there is some weather coming in, so you may be delayed."
THANKS!!!!!!!!!! *note extreme sarcasm.
So I get through security, no problem. They are awesome with people traveling with Kids. We go to the gate and I watch as the storm rolls in and the sky opens up.
Fos wants to walk all over, so I think, "Yes, walk it out now!!" So I was the mom letting my kid crawl on the floor of the airport and then holding his hands as he tries to walk laps. BUT HE MADE FRIENDS by sitting in the "check the size of your carry on" and smiling at people...so that was fun.

He is just the right size for me to carry on.

We board the plane at 8:30 only like 15 minute delay! SWEET!
We get on the plane and get that front row with the leg room so Fos can stand on ground if need be. We snagged a window seat, the seat next to us empty, and a grandpa on the isle. YES!! As the plane boarded I gave him some of his food cause he was getting a bit fussy. As the plane began takeoff, he put his head on my shoulder, snuggled up and fell asleep. The sweet man next to us offered for me to lay him on the seat between us, which I did. This flight, in the air, had to be re-routed around the storms and our one hour first leg turned into two. AND FOSTER SLEPT THE ENTIRE TIME!
Which was great, except now we have a second leg that is 1hr. 40 min.

As the second leg was boarding a sweet girl gets on the plane with her mom (apparently they were making faces with Fos through the window as they were on the walkway). She says, "mom, I'm good to sit here. So this sweet 13 year old girl and her mom sit next to us. THANK YOU LORD! Then we get to talking. (This is like the first 10 minutes of the flight) They were on their way to Nationals for dance and mentioned that this is the first time they really have had to travel for dance. They said usually they are more local, like St. Louis or Branson. WHAT???
"Where are your from?"
"Kansas City"
"Me too! I just moved to Dallas two years ago from KC!"
"Really? Where in Kansas City?"
"We lived in Liberty for 5 1/2 years."
"We live in Liberty!"

This was during the flight. Lots of playing! 

SERIOUSLY! TRAVELING MERCIES!!
We knew some of the same people, had lots to talk about, and they let Fos crawl all over them! IT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN BETTER, and we even landed an hour after we were supposed to!

So, those of you who were praying...That is how the Lord showed me some serious traveling mercies yesterday.

PS. When I got to the airport, Jacqueline was there, inside, with the twins and we looked like crazy people with all my luggage and all our kids and it was amazing!

at the PCB airport. 

We had to stop on the way back to Destin to soothe a crying baby boy. ADVENTURES!

Thanks to everyone who was so thoughtful yesterday! 

Love you guys! 

A Little Love on Father's Day!

I dote on Andrew a lot, but it is for a good reason. I love him. He is a stud!

A year ago we were waiting for a little baby to be born. I had no idea how much fun I would have watching Andrew be a dad. He is such a caring and patient man and all that has been amplified on Foster.
He goes to work each day - gives his all, comes home - gives his all, and then does it again. That working balance has been tough I am sure, esp since I got pregnant, sick, and tired again. But I am so blessed to have a husband who takes such good care of us!

Andrew, when I am praying for Foster, I always pray that he learns to be a man like his daddy. I pray that he is a gentleman, that he is kind, that he loves the way you do, that he watches you love Jesus - (and pray that he knows how cool that is), I pray that he is encouraging like you and that he learns what a noble and humble man look like by watching you.
I think you are the coolest and best person I know.
Happy Father's Day, Love.
Thanks for choo choo choosing me.

Now, here are some of my favorite pics of you being a dad from this last year.

This is the moment Andrew Saw Fos. 

 

 

And to our dads, We love you so much! Yall are amazing too!!!