Celebrating the Teagster's One Year

home from the hospital, getting loved by big brother :)





Teags started laughing like this at 3 -4 weeks. That is not a lie. He's 6 weeks in this pic.














I know I just brought this amazing little guy home from the hospital, but he's one now. How, I'm not quite sure, and I'm a bit sad. Even though 6 months - 3 years are my favorite stages of a child's life, I always feel sad the closer my boys get to being big kids. I blinked and suddenly Easton was this giant child in front of my face being a real live person and having opinions and ideas. And I don't want to lose this goofy little happy child that Teagan is to that silly growing up business. Who invented it anyway? I believe that all children should stop growing at the age of 1 1/2 so as to remain cute and cuddly forever.

Teagan's pregnancy was a really rough time for me because of all the things that were happening with the ex. When my life started falling apart and everything that was hidden came to the surface, I was 4 months pregnant. There were so many times that I could not figure out why at that time when my family was falling apart Heavenly Father would send me a child. I'm going to be honest and say that my heart broke every time I thought of poor Teagan coming to this broken family, and I prayed a few times that he would be sent to a good functional complete family. Not because I didn't want him, of course, but because I felt inadequate and incapable of providing yet another child with a stable home.

So I don't know why Teagan came to me, to this family at the time that he did, but how incomplete Easton and I would be without his amazing spirit and this good-natured little man in our lives. It's ironic that he came at the hardest time in my life and yet is the happiest child that most people tell me they have ever met. It's true. Teagan is always happy. Always laughing, always smiling. My little sunshine in the darkest times of my life. He brings joy to all around him, but especially to me and Easton. We love our little guy. I know that he has come to this family and reminded us of the things that we have to be grateful for - the relationships between mother and sons and brothers that are still intact. He has been a comfort and a witness of God's love for us. Even though at times I still feel sad for the things that my two boys are missing in their lives, I know that they didn't accidentally end up in this family. For some reason they were both born to me at the times they were, and I know that there is a higher and greater and perfect purpose behind what seems so nonsensical to my mortal understanding.

When I think of Teagan (applies to Easton too), I always think of this scripture in 2 Nephi 2:1-2.

"And now, Jacob, I speak unto you: Thou art my first-born in the days of my tribulation in the wilderness. And behold, in thy childhood thou hast suffered afflictions and much sorrow, because of the rudeness of thy brethren.

Nevertheless, Jacob, my first-born in the wilderness, thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain."

Change "Jacob" to "Teagan" or "Easton" and "rudeness of thy brethren" to "carelessness of your father" and those verses were written to my boys.

So a year has passed and Teagan is the blessing I needed and the little Spirit that was strong enough to come to me when he did. And I am so so so beyond grateful for my little Teags. I adore who he is, that he walks around spreading joy and laughter in our home and to everyone that he gets to meet. What an amazing child, and what a bundle of sunshine he has been this first year of his life. Happy birthday to my sweet Teagan. Easton and I are completely in love with him!