Better Late than NEVER

After 3 1/2 years I have decided to start my blog.  I thought I was going to do a scrapbook, baby book, or some kind of keepsake for my boys, but I have done nothing except keep track of the 1st year milestones on a calendar.  I am also horrible at taking and printing out pictures, so I hope I can keep up the blog, but I am not guaranteeing anything.  I wanted to give a very short summary of Marshall's first three years of life to get up-to-date and then hopefully I can give more details of our blessed lives and the memories we are making.

Marshall Richard Haverlah was born on June 4, 2007.  He was induced four days late from my due date.  Labor was pretty easy for me since I do not like to feel pain and I requested drugs ASAP.  The only thing that was not too fun was the two hours of pushing since he was turned on his side.  He finally decided to enter the world and it was the first time I have ever cried tears of joy. 

Due Date and still cozy inside

Opa, Oma, Nana, and Papa

Leaving hospital

1st day home, Brewtis doesn't seem to mind

Our life had changed and the first two weeks were a fuzzy blur.  As first time parents, we had no clue what to expect and even though we heard all the stories from friends, nothing could have prepared us. 

Marshall was a little bit of a high maintenance baby.  Thank goodness for the Happiest Baby on the Block DVD and Baby Wise.  It is what we used to get by.  Marshall was a big advocate for the 4 S's.  As a newborn, he pretty much had to be swaddled and sucking his pacifier in order to be happy.  He also was somewhat gassy because no matter what Clay and I would do, he would never burp or release gas from the other end until he was four months old.  He was a great sleeper in his bed, but it was something that was definitely trained.  Marshall started sleeping through the night at around two months old.  He had to be swaddled for sleeping for four months at night and until he could roll over on his stomach for naps. 

 

July 14th - 1st night out on the town without baby.  It was my friend, Emily, 30th birthday party and our anniversary.
Marshall stayed with Oma and Opa for the night.

2 months old at Oma Rech's 101st birthday party

So hard to capture his smile

Girls night out after the baby - Clay Walker concert
(Staying out late had major consequences the next morning)



1st wedding in September (4 months old)



Visit from my good friend Jamie and her family from Illinois.
Jillian and James Sparks in picture with Marshall

Daddy and Marshall watching the Astros game

Emma from Oklahoma (5 months difference in age)

First time in Campbellton

Hanging out with Uncle Mark

1st time at the ocean (Kunz family vacation)

 



Happy Birthday Mommy



Happy Halloween 2007



Trick or treating with cousins Kendall and Kylene



1st time holding the bottle by himself

  

Daddy deer hunting



4 month picture

Marshall learning to sit up by himself at 26 weeks

Marshall managed to get the rota virus and a stomach bug after that around 4 months. 
The Dr. was concerned with his weight gain, so we had weekly weigh-ins at home using Clay's meat scale.

Feeding the cows on his 1st Thanksgiving.

1st "Christmas in Comfort parade" that happens the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

 

Date night at Energy Transfer Christmas Party



Family 1st Christmas

Cuddling with cousin Kendall at Nana & Papa's house for Christmas



Great Grandma, Nana, Papa, Kylene, Kendall and Marshall



Opening presents  Christmas Eve. 
He really didn't know what was going on, but loved tearing the paper.



Carter, Emma, and Marshall - December 2007



Playing with buddy Emma

New Year's Eve December 2007


 

  

Visit to Gruene with Jessica, Carter, and Sarah



Brewtis putting up with Marshall checking him out



Marshall Loved his walker





First Rodeo with the cousins





Cousin Kylene

 

Cousin Kendall

 

Feeding the cows with Daddy



Happy Valentines Day

 
 

Clay Walker at the Rodeo - Emilio and Emily



 

Girls night out - Gary Allen at the rodeo




Trying out dried sausage.  Really didn't want to eat it, just liked the taste of licking it.



Hanging out at Carter's 1st Birthday party



I think this is their discussion on how they are going to be life-long friends.


 

9 months





Loved bathing in the yellow ducky

 

Shower for Amanda and her Baby Girl, Lyla.




1st Easter at Oma's and Opa's house.  Marshall just learned how to crawl around 9 1/2 months.

 


 

Checking out Buddy Dylan



Getting the hang of crawling



Marshall conquered pulling up before crawling. 
I think his motivation to crawl was to get to places to pull-up on.



Some of Marshall's other first year milestones not noted above:

• 26 weeks sits by himself with no hands
• 28 weeks rolled around to get everywhere and said "Dada"
• 32 weeks used sippy cup by himself and said "Mama"
• 35 weeks waves bye-bye
• 36 weeks figures out finger foods
• 10 months old loves to clap his hands and took first couple of steps

 

Father Creasy and Godparents Uncle Mark and Aunt Donna for Marshall's baptism (10 months old).
Father Bob also baptised my brother and me when we were babies.



Nana and Papa at Baptism

 

Figuring out toilet paper



Matt and Amanda welcome Lyla to the world



1st time on the boat



Loved the water even though it was still a bit cold for Mommy



Guess who is 1 and had a John Deere Birthday Party



"I am 1"



Daddy Bar-B-Qued some amazing brisket for everybody.  d



Marshall also got to share his birthday party with Great Grandma who turned 89.


 

Marshall got braved and started walking at his birthday party.
Only problem was that he did not stand steady, so he was like a bicycle and had
to keep on going until he found something to hold on to.

 

Emma taking out the pinata



 

 

Excited about the forward facing car seat now that he is 1.



 Well, this was a glance of Marshall's 1st year.  There were so many memories and fun times that just flew by.  Marshall's personality was very shy and timid as a baby and he still has the same personality although he has gotten out of his shell somewhat.  His personality was a double edged sword.  On the positive side, he listened and understood no.  We really did not baby proof anything because he definitely had fear engraved into his brain so he did not venture out unless Mommy or Daddy told him to and even then he was very hesitant of something new and getting into trouble.  On the negative side, he also had major stranger anxiety.  Everybody besides family was "stranger danger" from about 8 months through his first year. He was very timid with new things and it took him awhile to warm up to new surroundings and people.  Although Marshall was hesitant about new environments without Mommy and Daddy by his side, he was such a good eater and loved anything and everything that touched his mouth.  Once he discovered how to eat on his own, going out to eat was so much fun.