HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

We have so much to be thankful for. We love and miss everyone in Richmond, Annapolis, Atlanta, Des Moines, Ohio, Florida. Hope you all have a wonderful Turkey Day!

Love,

Scott, Carrie, and Tyler

OOPS that's not Tyler in the Picture...but he is our little turkey that came 1 year later!

1 Year Review

This past year has been the most wonderful year of my life. Even though I have been truly exhausted at times, being with Tyler each and every day watching him grow and his personality come through more each day has been a true gift from above. I will be forever grateful for the time alone with Tyler. I spent a mere 3 years in the work force and accomplished many sales goals, but this job has an unattainable goal. I think that is the most challenging of any job out there on the market. You can always be a better parent and there is no pats on the back. I've truly tried to learn from my mistakes and work with Scott to agree on our differences in parenting. I do know that I wouldn't give this job up for the world, God has provided for our family and all I can do is bow down to him for this great honor to raise my child.

I can already tell the next year is going to be the challenge of a lifetime, this seems to be the time that the true sinful nature comes out in full force. I'm feeling a little nervous about how to discipline and how to be strong and stern. I want a fun loving but well mannered and respectful child. Please pray for us!

Love,
Carrie

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TYLER!

We love you so much Tyler! You are such a joy to our family, friends and even people at Kroger!

May God bless you and keep you safe always!

Love,

Mom and Dad

First Birthday Party Successful!

The Table: baby book, photo albums, 1 year old picture, and 11-25-07 Newspaper.
Where to begin? I have truly enjoyed this process of getting ready for the party! I planned the party (games, menu, invitees...etc) a month in advance, sent invitations, was on the hunt for party favors, cake ideas, decorations purchased, honey do list written (which we didn't start until last week and things kept getting added to it), games were set up, groceries, mom showed up to help decorate! In the end the house looked amazing, the perfect amount of people came, the food was perfect, Tyler was SO HAPPY, his friends had fun, adults played Pin the tail on the Lion and guessed Tyler's current weight and height, prize basket passed around, and of course the gifts were so generous and wonderful. I truly believe everyone that was there...was glad they came. I love that my friends without kids came just because they love Tyler so much, and my new friends with kids came and had a blast and were complementary on the party (I had a few parties to get ideas this summer/fall!).

The itinerary (from Scott of course) explains it all and video and pictures will follow! I hope you enjoy a snipit of the day we all enjoyed so much!

Welcome to the 1stBirthday for future President: Tyler Scott Shippy

Happy Birthday Day Agenda menu
Early bird starters:
• Roasted Baby Tyler in his Lion Halloween Madness outfit served over farm fresh home grown Pine Straw and Yard Leaves...
(Pin the Tail and WIN a prize)
Tyler Turkey Surprise:
• Today’s 1st feature-
o Born 11-25-07 at just 9lbs. 9.2oz..
Topped with 12 months of Gerber, Oatmeal, and cereal. Can you guess todays weight and height???
• Today’s 2nd feature-
o introducing:
The first ever dungeon of Balls. Since BALL has been declared Tyler’s first and currently only word.

Dinner de Tyler:
One Lyon Cake and Tyler encrusted Chocolate Chip Cookies
This specialty with 8 Tyler created spices Topped with Tyler mule hand milked
sour cream Frosting and spiced with Tyler field Chocolate Chips.

Dangerous Tasks to Complete in the Jungle of Tyler before you leave:
• 2pm to 2:15 View Baby Video
• 2pm to 2:50 Kids in Ball Pit
• 2:20 to 2:50 Pin the Tail/ GuessWeight
• 3:00 to 3:30 Cake/ Ice-cream
• 3:30 to 3:45 Award Ceremony
*Please leave your customer satisfaction card with management




At first he didn't like the cake...but all he wanted was a spoon!

GAMES PLAYED...

THE CAKE

(a very tired mom after slaving all night in the kitchen!)

Tyler in the tunnel.

Knee Walker...BALL

Tyler's first word (which he knows what it is and where to find it!) BALL! Also I'm pretty sure he's going to be a pitcher someday. And no walking yet...just a few steps to mom or dad but no full on walk mode. I'm thinking he'll be walking by Nov 25th...his actual birthday.

Grandma and Granddad almost made it to Savannah from IA tonight...but about 140 miles out hit some good ol' country fi'woood in the middle of the road and blew out both driver side tires. They won't make it 'til the morning now. Just glad they are safe!

Here is our little knee walker....

Rings and Brushing Teeth

Tyler is very proud of his RING skills. One day Scott said, "shouldn't he be putting these back on by now?" So we rounded up all the rings last week and with a little help in sequence he can do it! It's really amazing how fast they learn. I shut Tyler in the bathroom with me while I took a shower and when I got out he had the rings all out of order but completed as much as he could. And then he started being silly. And now that Tyler is on his 6th tooth coming in...it's time to buckle down and start brushing. This is going to be a challenge for me because sometimes I can hardly get myself to brush my teeth! Any advice out there? So far it's not going well, either I forget or when we do nothing really gets accomplished.

We have been just gearing up for Tyler's birthday party next weekend. Scott came down with the same bug that I had last week...so he's out for the count. It looks like it's going to get chilly here in Savannah next week (in the 60's) so the outdoor events may have to be cancelled. I'm really excited...this has been one of the funnest years of my life. I can't believe that I've been a full time mom for a year now! I just love my job...I hope my annual review goes well and I get to keep it!

Productive Weekend

We just finished a very productive weekend. It all started when I had a fever Friday and told Scott I just didn't have the energy, and I handed off Tyler to him and I fell asleep in our room for 2-3 hours. Finally, I took some Tylenol to help with the fever and just hung out in our room. Around 8pm or so I decided to have Scott look in my throat. It was not pretty...nasty red and white blister type bumps...I was thinking the worst: hand foot mouth. But then Saturday I felt better and today like I was never sick. So who knows if it was just the tail end of my cold/flu I had all week or what. It doesn't matter, I needed the rest, and all is well now. Thank God it wasn't any worse.

Then comes Saturday, my neighbors had a garage sale...that was fun...I scored 3 new dresses, a spaghetti noodle jar, a mini wooden bowling set (for Tyler), and 2 marinade brushes. I didn't even get to pay for these items, my neighbors said my money was no good at their store. It was really fun and such a blessing. Scott caught us some lunch off the dock again...not trout this time but sea bass. Bass is not as tasty as trout, but anything tastes good fried, right? It was good! Then Scott decided to tackle the brick hole we have in outside our bedroom wall, and organizing tools, cleaning up and organizing all his toys in the yard...etc. Then today he put together a 5 shelf book case for me, installed light fixtures, one in the kitchen and one on our front porch. We made a short trip to Lowe's and he poured an extension to our front entrance to be able to install our new white column (we've had for a year now), and we got a piece of carpet for our living room as a huge/cheap area rug (12x17)...oh the list goes on and on. In the meantime I'm working on Tyler's baby book, and cleaning and organizing the house. And Tyler spent a lot of time outside today playing in the yard and helping daddy in the shed.

The "honey do list" is getting done! YIPPEE! Thanks HONEY!

Two more weeks until Tyler's birthday Party...I wonder what else I can come up with?

It's so exciting getting the HOME that you plan on living in for the rest of your life exactly the way you want it. If you can't tell, I really LOVE my life!

I'll leave you with bath time with Tyler tonight...enjoy! He is so much fun!

Dinner...FINALLY!

We did it! Scott and I both caught 1...we had several others...but either they stole our shrimp and got away or they were too little. Nevertheless, We can have dinner tonight...YIPEE! Nothing like fresh trout right off our dock...finally...it's only taken 2 years (minus one small instance where Scott caught 1 and we shared it for dinner)! Fishing is a science though...I caught myself yanking the hook right out of their mouths trying to hook them...poor fish now have injuries because my poor fishing skills...sure wish we could have eaten it for dinner though! We're getting better. It's a beautiful day here in Savannah! Sunny and 76!

Gimmie that chin...