The Garrison Family: Amy's 1st Official Mother's Day

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Amy's 1st Official Mother's Day

Mother's Day 2007

Last year on Mother's Day, I was only a few months pregnant (13 weeks and 3 days, to be exact) and in Sardinia, Italy. I had just finished my 1st trimester and had what seemed like forever left until I had our baby. This year, I am the Mommy to a beautiful, active, witty, smart, and remarkably loving little 6 month, 1 week, and 3 day old little girl who has more than captured my heart. It's unreal.

Mother's Day 2008

When I look back on the last year, I just laugh as my priorities, my life, and my sense of self have completely changed. I've never thought of myself as a selfish person, but now that we have Ava, I could completely care less about things for me. My mom always told me that one day I would understand, and on November 1, 2007, I, for once, completely understood. Last year, Matt bought me a Maya Wrap (a baby wrap) for Mother's Day and I was over the moon. This year, Matt bought me things for Ava...and I am even more over the moon (it's what I wanted!).

Mother's Day 2007

As I mentioned earlier, last year Matt and I were in Sardinia, Italy basking in the beautiful Mediterranean weather with a little peanut inside me. This year on Mother's Day, I was inside P.F. Chang's in Summerlin, wrestling with a precious little girl who looks a lot like me but who is stubborn like her daddy, trying to get her to let go of the blinds that hung on the windows while making sure that she didn't choke on a straw (and also trying to get the mangled fortune cookie out of her hand before she punctured the plastic and choked on it). A lot changes in a year and within 366 days (it was a leap year!), I am now a bona fide Mother and I am so very proud to be Ava's.

Mother's Day 2008

Aside from the wonderful baby things that Matt allowed me to buy for Ava and our day out in Summerlin (PF Changs for lunch and then to the Red Rock for some Wheel of Fortune), my greatest present came from Ava herself. On Mother's Day, Ava crawled for the first time. Matt, Casey, and I all watched her as she took her first crawling movements across the floor and I was even able to get it on camera. Since that day, Ava has done nothing but crawl all over the house. It's amazing how fast she has picked the movement up and how quickly she gets into things throughout the house.

My first real Mother's Day was a memorable one and I will remember it forever. I am one very blessed and lucky girl to be the Mother to and the Mommy of such an extraordinary little girl.

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About Us...

Matt and I met on April 14, 2001 in Glendale, Arizona. I was in college at Pepperdine University and he was in F-16 pilot training at Luke AFB. We met through my brother, Matt (Goat), who was also going through pilot training at Luke. The two Matts met their freshman year at the Air Force Academy where they were assigned to the same squadron and lived next door to one another. Despite Matt being friends with my brother since 1995, we had never met one another before 2001. I fell in love with Matt at first sight and he fell in love with me shortly thereafter. We were married on October 4, 2003 in the Cadet Chapel at the U.S. Air Force Academy-it seemed only fitting. God has blessed us with almost 5 busy, exciting, and wonderful years of marriage. In that time, we have lived in 3 states, 2 countries, run in over 20 races (combined) in 6 different countries and 5 different states, traveled to almost 30 different countries, and have have been blessed with the most precious and beautiful little girls.

Ava Holt was born at 3:05 AM on November 1, 2007. At 2 weeks early, she weighed in at 7 pounds, 11.4 ounces and was 20 inches long. Ava Holt is a dramatic yet easy going little soul. She loves attention and is always happy. She is incredibly observant, freakishly strong, very independent, and a very fast learner. Her curiosity fuels her day, as she fills her hours getting into anything and everything under 5 feet in height. As much as she loves me, she loves her Daddy even more. She is the epitome of a 'Daddy's Girl' and the highlight of her day is when Matt gets home and she gets to perform, laugh, and squeal for him. Then, when her Daddy gets in her way, her favorite person in the world is her baby sister, Myla Grace. From the moment she met Myla Grace at the hospital on the day we came home from the hospital, she was smitten. There wasn't a jealous bone in her body, only pure love. We are beyond blessed to have the miracle of Ava Holt in our lives. Oh, and did I mention that 'You Are My Sunshine' is her FAVORITE song? The apple didn't fall far from the tree, as it's mine too.

Sweet Myla Grace was born at 5:04 PM on December 2, 2009. At 3 weeks early, she weighed in at 7 lbs, 0.4 ounces and was 19 inches long. Myla Grace is so disgustingly sweet. She is our cuddly little one who prefers to be carried and or held when at all possible. While sweet and cuddly, she also loves to destroy, dismantle, and disassemble most things within her reach...all while flashing the most precious of smiles. And through all of her sweetness, she has the uncanny ability to make you laugh all day long. Maybe it's the mullet she's had since birth, the gummy grin (which is starting to blossom with teeth), or her serious smirks, but whatever it is, we can't get enough. Although Myla Grace was a complete surprise, we can't imagine life without her. She is absolutely Ava's little buddy (whom Ava affectionately calls, 'the little one,' 'Mywa Grace,' and 'Mah-la.'), Amy's cuddle bug, Matt's giggling partner, and the most beautiful little blessing.

Harper Lee was born at 3:28 PM on May 31, 2013. Also arriving 3 weeks early, Harper weighed in at a hefty 6 lbs, 15 ounces and was 19.5 inches long. From the moment she entered this world, Harper has been the happiest, calmest, smiley-est {if that's even a word}, sweetest, and easiest baby we've ever had. She NEVER cries and is so incredibly easy going...to the point that I thought something was wrong with her. And unlike her big sisters, Harper has always been on the tiny side of small. After several rounds of tests when she was 6-months old to make sure she didn't have any development or growth problems, the Doctors came to the conclusion that she is just going to be "petite." So despite being in the 5th percentile for her age, our precious Harper girl is absolutely perfect as the tiny little package that she is. Oh, and did I mention that she is the BEST eater in our family? This sweet girl can mow through food like a 10yr old! I am a believer in miracles and Harper further confirms my faith. Her existence is a pure miracle (not to mention an ultimate surprise) and we thank God all the time for giving her to us. We thought our hearts were complete but we had no idea how big of holes we had until she joined our lives. Her laughter, giggles, rambling babbles, smiles, and 2-finger sucking are constant reminders that we are recipients of so much undeserved grace. At 21-months old, Harper's favorite things are cats (she calls them "nows"--her way of saying meow), dogs ("uf-ufs"), Ava ("aw-buh"), and balloons ("boons").