It's Over

That is, the days that we could put Braydon down, and find him in relatively the same location five minutes later. Those days are gone.

He is officially crawling.

Although it seemed like he was on the verge for weeks, it seemingly happened out of nowhere tonight. He seems to like the idea of crawling, but gets bored with it quickly. What he really wants to do is to walk.

He will use anything that he can possibly find to help stand himself up. Once up on two feet, he will walk for as far as he can while still holding on. It is only a matter of time until he lets go and walks on his own. At that point, it REALLY will be over.

Zoo Day

We took Braydon to the zoo for the first time today and learned a few things.

1.) He loves animals. He smiled, clapped and jumped up and down at every exhibit.

2.) He loves water. The exhibits with water were his favorite. He even got to pet and feed some sting rays. He also loved the water in the splash park.

3.) He has no fear. In addition to feeding the sting rays, he also feed birds in two different exhibits without flinching, even when they landed on his arm.

4.) He REALLY has no fear. While feeding the giraffes, which have heads bigger then his whole body, he never batted an eye. I can't say the same for Melissa.

Safety Harbor Relay for Life

I have been to dozens of the American Caner Society's Relay for Life events over the years, and we went to another one tonight to add to that total. Yet somehow, it never gets old.

If you have never been, the Relay for Life is one of the premier, community-based fundraising events throughout the county, and even the world. The event lasts 18 hours, from 6 PM Friday night, until noon on Saturday. There are many aspects of the event I could talk about, but there is one obvious one.

We were at the event with our Small Group volunteering. As a group we made and served dinner to all the cancer survivors at the event, as well as helped out with the Luminaria ceremony. This is when it the event gets real.

At 9:00 PM, the lights on the track are turned off so that the hundreds of people stand in near darkness. The only light comes from hundreds of small white lunch bags that are lined up around the track. Each bag has a candle in it, and a name on it. Each name is preceded by one of two things. Either " In Honor of..." for those who are cancer survivors, or "In Memory of..." for those that have lost the battle. At this point, silence sweeps across the previously jubilant event as every one walks the track.

As people walk, they sometimes stop by the bags that they had made for a loved one. Many times they sit next to the bag that has "In Memory of..." written on it. They sit and they cry.

Others are able to look at the bags that say "In Honor of..." and are able to smile, and then cry. I should know. We picked up four of these with Melissa's name on it.

When it is all said and done, it just makes you think. I think how incredibly lucky I am that I could right "In Honor of Melissa". At the same time, I feel great sadness for those that had to write "In Memory of..." But there is also feeling of hope. Hope that because of the American Cancer Society and events like this (this one raised $55,000), one day there will be no more tears shed next to white paper bags.

Happy Mothers Day

This day has been a long time coming. I posted on Mothers Day last year, but that post was a very different tone.

This year Melissa finally got her day.

I think this introduction from the book she got from Braydon ( I may have helped a little bit) sums it all up.

Dear Mommy,

I know that you have been waiting for this day for a very long time. I also know that you are very thankful that God finally answered all of your prayers. But I also want you to know that I am thankful for you.

Thank you for all that you do for me like feeding me, changing my diaper and holding me when I am crying. But more importantly, thank you for loving me so much. Thank you for giving me such amazing experiences and a life full of adventure and wonder.

As happy as you are on this day that you have me, know that I am happier to have you. Happy Mother's Day Mom!

Love,

Braydon

I would like to add to Braydon's words by saying that I am so happy for you Melissa, that you finally have this day. You are a wonderful mother and Braydon is so lucky to have you. I hope that this day was everything you had hoped for.

Raymond James Stadium Concert

Some friends of ours invited us to a concert at Raymond James Stadium tonight. The concert was put on by the Florida Orchestra, so to be honest, we went more for the location and the friends than for the music. And oh yeah, there were cheerleaders there as well.

Melissa made me take this picture. I swear.

TV Face Time

A few weeks ago at the Jimmy Buffett tailgate, there was a news crew filming the Parrotheads in the parking lot. The film crew came by our site to film their sign off. Here is what it looked like.

(Melissa and Braydon are front and center. I am in the back left corner.)

Who Needs a Babysitter?

Who needs a babysitter when you have an empty laundry basket.

I am not exactly sure how this happened, but it did, and I couldn't resist taking a picture.

Braydon really did enjoy it though, honest.

A Tribute to a Great Friend

Today is a sad day. Melissa's family had to make the very difficult decision to put down their 14 year old yorkie.

Melissa loved Snickers and always had a strong connection with him. On more than one occasion, I can remember Snickers climbing up Melissa and licking tears off her face.

Losing a pet is something you cannot truly understand unless it happens to you. So I will leave this with one thought and a few pictures. Despite the sadness that Melissa and her family may be feeling now, I can remember so many more times that he brought them so much happiness. Those happy memories are what will last in the long run.