To Jax on your First Birthday

My sweet baby boy
I can't believe today is your birthday. I knew this year would go by fast, but I truly had no idea. I can still remember your birth so vividly, that it really seems like just yesterday. Flashes of moments from the past year have been going through my head all day and I just shake my head in wonder at how fast it's gone by. Everyone warns me to soak it up and enjoy it because it goes by all too fast and it really has. Not every moment is easy or fabulous or even enjoyable, but I am grateful for each one. A sweet friend once told me that the days are long, but the years are short and I'm finding that to be true.

This year has been the best of my life. Not the easiest. Not the most balanced or restful or organized. But by far the best. You made me a Mama. I had no idea what it would feel like or look like to be a mom, but now I can't imagine it any other way.

I know it's so cliche, but you've taught me so much- so many things I thought I already knew. I've learned some really amazing things, and some humbling things. Some lessons are ongoing and not yet completed-and they might never be this side of heaven. But I'm learning none the less.

I've learned what real worry and fear is. I spent the first few weeks of your life fluctuating between awe and fear, worrying about the "what ifs" regarding your health and safety and future. I learned just how little I trusted God to take care of you, and I'm learning just how much I can trust Him. I've learned what mercy and grace really look like, what the unconditional love of a parent feels like. And I've gotten just a taste of what the unconditional love of our God must be like. You've taught me that it's ok for the house to be messy and that dishes can wait, and that things don't always have to be or look or seem perfect. You've shown me just how amazing my parents are and made me realize the sacrifices and grace that they have shown me. I'm learning to let go of the control I never really had any way, and accept my limitations for what they are: chances for God to show me just how much He is able to meet my needs and heal my hurts and fix my shortcomings. I'm learning about what is really and truly important, and how very little actually fits into that category. I'm learning how to ask for help and how to say I'm sorry.

I've learned what it is to be truly thankful. For health and safety. Most nights as I sit and rock you I just thank God for you and how healthy you are and that we are able to provide for you. I'm all too aware of the fact that a lot of moms can't say that. I'm thankful for medicine when your sick and the ability to go to the store and buy you food to eat and clothes for you to wear. I'm thankful for friends and family who love you and care about you. I'm thankful for the freedom to take you to church and to read you the Bible and teach you about God. I've tried hard not to complain about waking up in the middle of the night with you or getting up early. I realize how many women would love to have a little one keeping them up all night and don't and just how blessed I am. I get to be the one you run to when you're hurting, the one you want holding you when your sick. What a precious gift that is.

You make me want to be a better Christian. I've become so aware of the fact that this is all temporary and that there is a lot more that hangs in the balance than whether you sleep through the night or have a clean shirt to wear. This world is fighting so hard to have you and convince you that you have to be rich or popular or great at sports or watch this show or any other number of things to be successful or popular or whatever it wants you to believe. But your daddy and I are fighting that much harder to show you that there is a God who loves you unconditionally and who wants to know you personally. A God Who wants you to have character and honor and integrity and truth. And we are praying with all of our hearts for the wisdom and grace to show you those things. Not just to teach you those things, but to live them out daily for you, to be the example of what God wants us to be. I have a sense of urgency now that I've never really had before, to learn and to grow and to be that woman God created me to be so that I can help you become the man that God wants you to be. I know I'm going to make mistakes. I already have and will continue to. But I'm praying that God will cover me with the grace that will be needed for us both to learn from them.

You've brought so much joy to our lives. You are incredibly smart and are quite mischievous. You love to laugh and smile. I look back at all the pictures I have of you from the past year, and so many of them are with your mouth wide open in a huge smile. That's you in a nutshell. Happy, laid back, full of joy. It does make me a little sad, a little nostalgic to know you're growing up so fast. I know it's all a part of life and being a mom and that it continues to get more interesting and fun. But part of me wants to capture you at all these stages so I can remember just what it was like at this time in your life. I kiss your little feet after bath time, knowing all too soon they will grow into the smelly feet of a grown man :). I was rocking tonight at bedtime, just holding you tight, and you lifted your sweet little head in the dark and opened your mouth so I could give you a kiss and my heart melted all over again. I am so thankful for you and proud of you. You are showing me what an amazing calling and responsibility that motherhood is. And I couldn't be more grateful.
You will always be my baby boy.
I love you,
Mama

Jax's 9 Month Update

Jax
9 months. Wow. This has been such a fun month. I can't believe how much you're growing and the things you are doing. This month has been filled with mischief and adventure as your little personality comes out. It's been exciting (and a little tiring!). Here's what you've been up to this past month:

You weigh 23 3/4 pounds and are 29 3/4 inches long (90th% for both height and weight). You are a big boy!

You are wearing a few 6-12 months, but mostly 12 month clothes.

You still have just your bottom 2 teeth, although I think the top ones are going to pop through soon.

You are on a pretty good schedule: waking up around 6:30-7, taking two good naps a day, and asleep between 7:30 and 8:00 pm.

You take four bottles a day, usually 6-8 ounces

You are such a happy boy!





(Have I mentioned you are very active?)
Here you are at your 9 month check up


You love to eat and are eating just about anything: cheerios, yogurt, cottage cheese, chicken veggies, and anything mommy and daddy have, you want!

You drink lots of water!
You are pulling up on all the furniture and cruise around pretty fast. You also crawl at lightening speed- I have a hard time keeping up with you!

(these pictures are getting difficult to take, since you are not keen on sitting still!)
You say "mama", "dada" and "hi". You wave hi and by.
You love to giggle and laugh.
You play with a lot of different toys (although you'd prefer to have the remote control and laptop!).

You love your blankie and carry it around in your mouth.

You have an intense love/hate relationship with the vacuum.

You still love being outside and playing.

You try to (and succeed!) eat grass-all the time.

You love going for walks-your little legs kick back and forth in the stroller-it's so cute!


You are such a little helper: Here you are helping your daddy and papa fix some things around the house.


You are such an easy kid-we can take you anywhere: restaurants, stores, church

And we also have a good time staying at home and playing :)


You love going to the park and playing on the swings

We went for our last swim of the season

and our first trip to the zoo

You had your first taste of smoothies

And your first taste of custard....

Your Papa came to visit for a week to help mama out while daddy was out of town

You're still very much a daddy's boy

I love seeing you sleep

You are such a sweet boy and I can't imagine my life without you. The days are so busy but I wouldn't change it for the world!
We love you so much!
Mama and Daddy

Lovely Days

Today was one of those fun days I just want to look back on and remember years from now. I cut back on my hours a little bit at work and have been home several days this week, which I have enjoyed so much.
Tara came over this morning and we worked on a sewing project while Tyce played with toys and Jax napped. Of course when Jax finally woke up he was quite excited to see a new friend to play with.

I also caught him stealing a few of Tyce's potato chips! What a stinker. After they left we had nap time and then ran to the store for a few things I needed for dinner. We got home and Jax played in his crib while I cooked. I could hear him laughing hysterically while I was cooking and it just made me smile. I have no idea what was making him laugh so hard but I'm glad he likes playing on his own every so often.
After dinner was made we headed outside because the weather was finally somewhat resembling of fall and I wanted to enjoy it. Plus, Jax LOVES being outdoors. The problem is, he's also obsessed with grass. More accurately, he's obsessed with eating grass. He kept on sneaking it into his mouth and then I would have to dig it out with my finger while he laughed and laughed.



At one point a blade of grass got stuck to the roof of his mouth and I managed to gag him accidentally while I was trying to remove it, causing him to puke all over. Which is why he was wearing nothing but a diaper and a smile when his daddy pulled in the driveway!

Jackson was mortified that I had him undressed and playing in the front yard, but hey, I'm learning to just go with the flow.
Little man adores his daddy and is so excited when he gets home from work. He will not let him out of his sight, which just warms my heart. I'm so thankful for the great father that he is.
They played in the yard for a while and Jax had a blast! Here's my little spider monkey:

So sweet

We came in and put Jax to bed but I think he was a little too wound up from all the fresh air. After about 15 minutes of playing in his crib his daddy went and got him out. We all sat and ate some cake and ice cream, which as you can see from the video below, Jax definitely enjoyed! I'm so thankful for such sweet days spent with my baby boy and I'm praying that God will imprint these memories in my head and allow me to remember them for years to come.

So Big!

Look what Jax learned today! Such a smartie :)

Jax's 8 Month Update

Dear Jax
It's been 8 months since I held your sweet little self in my arms and stared at you in wonder. Where has the time gone? I must say that this has been such a fun month. I should add that it's been exhausting too! You are a busy little boy. So active and curious, and into everything! The past month has been filled with a lot of fun and adventures. Here's what you're up to:

You weigh ~ 21.5 pounds (we quickly put you on the luggage scale at the airport while checking in! Ha!)
You are wearing size 9-12 month tops and onesies and 6-12 months shorts. Your pajamas are 9-12 months as well.
You are wearing size 4 diapers

You are eating A LOT! You eat a fruit/cereal for breakfast
Veggie for lunch
And some combination of the 2 for dinner
Your favorite food by far is Puffs. You love them and get excited when you see the container!

You are taking 4 bottles a day, usually 6-8 ounces.
You are sleeping well at night and taking two naps during the day (yay!) at ~9:30 and then again around 2:30

You wake up around 6:30-7:30 in the morning and are so happy


(are you not the cutest sleeping baby ever?!)
You still have your bottom two teeth, with no hint of any others.
You now say "mama" and "dada"
You wave and say "hi" and put your arms in the air when I ask how big you are-it's so cute!
You love playing with your two teeth. You sit and flick them with your fingernail. That's what you're doing with this picture:

You will sit on the floor and use your feet to spin yourself around in circles. It's very entertaining to watch
You love to eat (please blame your father for the below pictures-he's the one that dressed you in the way too small clothes!)


You love being out and about, seeing people at the grocery store or church, and are quite the flirt! You have started getting people's (ladies!) attention and then when they see you, you smile and put your head on my shoulder pretending to be shy!
You love playing with your toys and spend most of the day crawling around the floors getting into trouble and playing with toys


You're still trying to figure out how to go forward in your walker

You love being outside and we've taken a few trips to the playground





You had a great time with Grammy and Papa when they came to visit


You took your first plane ride!

You're definitely a daddy's boy-when he comes home from work, you hear the alarm beep as he opens the garage door, and you take off to meet him. It's the best thing to watch.

You have developed an incredible love for Puffs. I can't make that statement strong enough. You've figured out how to pop the top off with your teeth and help yourself. It's quite amusing and a little scary. We should buy stock in Gerber, as many cans of Puffs as we buy!




You rode your first carousel

And got your first pair of sneakers
Grandma comes and stays with us once a week to play with you while mommy and daddy go to work.
You are crawling all over the place, and pulling up and cruising on the furniture! This often means you're getting into trouble :)



You've taken a number of spills, but you're a tough baby. Most of the time, you barely cry.

(That's a bruise right above your right eye)
You still love bath time-I think it's your favorite time of the day. I'm sure that won't be the case in a few years!

You have the sweetest disposition and are pretty much happy all the time. You laugh and play and are so sweet to be around.



Oh baby boy, just writing this post and looking back on the past month reminds me of how fast you're growing and just how much I need to treasure this time with you. I am forever grateful to God for entrusting me with your amazing life. We pray for you, for your character, for you to be a leader, to be a man of valor and honor, and to be a man after God's heart. Happy 8 months!
Love,
Mama and Daddy