Happy Birthday Dan!

32 years old! Man it creeps up fast. It is crazy that when Dan and I met, he was only 22. Ten years ago. It feels like forever and yesterday all at the same time.
I am so proud of Dan and all his accomplishments. Once he sets out to really do something, he gives it all he's got. He has worked really hard to be and stay self employed, and it is such a blessing and allows us more time together than most people get to spend. It is also nice for Dan to be around Cameron and see how he is growing so much more than most dads get to do.
We celebrated by going for dinner with Dad and Mom and then playing outside with toys and bubbles in our yard. I sure hope Dan had a great day!!

A fabulous mix

So I made a quick picture collage of Cameron and Dan and I when we were babies. It seems to me he is a very good mix of us both!!!

Daniel's First Father's Day

This year marks the very first Father's Day for Dan as a father. I asked him what being a father means to him, and what has changed the most in his life about being a father. His reply was:
"Being a Father makes me happy. It is selfless and the most unselfish thing I can do. All my focus and effort is now for Cameron and his well being. I want him to grow and be happy."

I would have to say that at first, the road to fatherhood was a rocky one. Dan and I tried for 5 years to have a baby with no success. When we finally found out I was really pregnant, Dan was shocked, then mad. He turned a leaf when we found out we were having a boy. Then came the real test- bringing baby home. The first 8 weeks were a major adjustment, and very difficult. However, I watched as fatherhood slowly transformed Dan. He is amazing. I read a quote the other day- "The only thing better than having you for my husband, is our children having you for their father." That is the exact way I feel. My appreciation and love for Dan has grown in a way I could not imagine as I have watched him be an amazing father to Cameron. He is utterly and completely in love with our boy, and does everything in his power to help him and spend time with him.

We are extremely blessed that Dan has worked so hard and been successful at self employment. He is able to manage his time so that we have more family time than most families where Dads have to work outside the home. Dan does a lot of his work from home, but has just enough time away with clients so that he has an out and so do I- {chuckle, chuckle}

We get to do fun things during the day and week that many other families have to save for weekends. We do lots of time at the park and picnicking. He is able to help me and spend a lot of time with Cameron and it is fabulous.

Of course, he wouldn't be the Father he is without having such a fantastic example. David H. Pierce is one of the most amazing men I know. He is an amazing man and father. His dedication and leadership in his home is an amazing example of love, faith, and honor to his Priesthood. We are so grateful for his love and example- and I love the Grandpa he is to Cameron!

My own Grandpa is a sweetheart, and he is one of my closest friends! I love his example and faith as well. He is so strong, and so wise. He is also absolutely adorable with Cameron.

In case you were wondering- everything we say and do revolves around Cameron!

Daddy's Big Man!!

Happy Birthday Dan!

Happy 31st birthday my dear best friend! We kicked off Dan's birthday Thursday night with our good friends Ben and Ashley Chappell. They smoked a whole turkey- YUM! and surprised Dan with cheesecake. Ashley told their 2 year old son Reagan to tell Dan- You're old Dan! and also noted that two packages of candles were required to get to 31.
Friday, Dan's official day of birth, we did some shopping- for Cameron as it is way fun to buy baby toys, we also renewed our fishing/hunting licenses for the upcoming fishing season, and we took Jaxson to planet play. It would have been lame for just Dan and I, but Jaxson ran all over the place and we played arcades and drove go-karts. We have the "pass of all passes" so we got in for only a dollar a piece.

Mom and Dad treated us to a birthday dinner at Olive Garden.
We were going to continue celebrating by doing lunch and the planetarium with Ty and Kristen Saturday, but poor Cameron was sick with a stomach bug throwing up and diarrhea all day. We stayed home and napped and cuddled.

Today, we were also going to keep celebrating by having Dan's favorite dinner and dessert courtesy of Mom's good cooking, but Dan woke up with chills and the same tummy bug Cam had. Cam is mostly better today, so hopefully Dan wakes up feeling better tomorrow!

I am so grateful for this man. He is an amazing husband. My love for him changes and grows immensely with each passing year. We have had so many trials and blessings together- and through each one, a new appreciation for each other emerges. 

The latest new appreciation is watching him become and grow as a father. He is amazing with Cameron. 

I love our little family! Happy Birthday Babe!