giving thanks

when i say that i love Joycee, that's a huge understatement.  she is my hero. she's my inspiration. she's my Joycee.  even though she is now 87, she insists on having all of our gatherings at her house.  i can't tell you how happy i am when we pull into her driveway, climb up her steps, and hug her neck.  wow. that woman.

 

we spent thanksgiving morning with joycee and nana's family and then had dinner with nanny and pop in heath.  holidays are so special with you, cutie pie.

 

 

 

baby jay, joycee and pawpaw jay.

 

 

 

i am so thankful God chose joycee to be nana's mom and me to be your mom. life is good.

-mom

ten months

you weigh 25 pounds. WHAT!? you wear 24 month clothes.  DOUBLE WHAT!? Apparently, you're going to be a big boy.  i certainly don't mind.  this month you've decided to stop eating baby food.  i think your new found independence has led you to believe that you don't need mommy's help.  i knew the day would come eventually.  but really jay?  10 months old and feeding yourself?  meal time is quite the adventure and usually pretty messy, but your new diet hasn't stunted your growth. ;)

 

on the day you turned ten months, we went to get a Christmas tree. it's our fourth year in a row to go the day after Thanksgiving to get our Christmas tree.  i like traditions. a lot. it's so fun making new ones with you.  it was fun to see your happiness, but even more fun to see Daddy's excitement about your first Christmas. he pretends that he hates the holidays, but we know better. don't we?

 

 

 

i can't wait to make new memories with you this Christmas.
-mom

nine months

 

nine months went so quickly. is it possible you are actually 3/4 of a year old? this month you learned how to crawl and pull up!  yikes. we weren't prepared for how much this new independence and movement would change our lives.... let's just say the playpen has become our best friend.  

just hanging out with your girlfriend. no big deal.

i hope i always remember your wonder at this age. everything you do, you do because you are interested and love to learn. right now your favorite things are the dishwasher and the air vent in the hallway.

we call you our shadow, because your speed crawl keeps you under our feet all the time. i appreciate your help. you always know how to keep me on my toes.

 

 

love you booger!
-mama

eight

ugh. i'm almost two months behind. to say we've been busy is more than an understatement.
eight months can be summed up in a few words.

crawling.

teeth.

 

making messes. playing.

 

byebye.

and drool. lots of it.

 

you amaze us more each day.
love,
mama

getting closer.

well shoot. you have another cold sore.  it seems like it's really hurting you today.  i'm sorry buddy. i wish i could make things better.  long story short- the few pictures i did get of you today just don't show your precious personality.  ugh.

you are seven months old. that's closer to a year than a newborn. i don't like that one bit! you are really becoming quite the little man.  you have obvious likes and even more obvious dislikes.  i don't know where you could have gotten that from. ;)

you LOVE big boy food.  you are doing such a good job eating!  you seem to like sweet potatoes the best. me too. yum.

you think The Backyardigans is the best show ever.  if you hear the theme song you just laugh and smile and kick and play. 

did i mention you know how to clap your hands!? eek! it's the cutest thing ever! you have a song we sing.  when you clap, we sing. clap, sing, clap sing.  over and over. i love your games.

you say DADADADA all the time.  i'll admit i'm a little sad you don't say mama yet, but hearing you talk to daddy is my favorite thing ever.  sometimes you look at me and say "dada" and then giggle. it's not nice to tease.

you have favorite toys.  i think it's so neat that you have preferences.  you always choose your football over stuffed animals and rattles over quiet toys. 

you are constantly rolling to get where you want to go.  i think you'll be crawling any day now.  yikes. we have lots of baby proofing to do around here. 

as soon as we get you out of the tub you start screaming. after bath time is getting dressed time. you do not like getting dressed. or undressed. ha. you get pretty upset when it's time to put on 'jamas. as soon as they are on, though, daddy gives you your night time bottle and you fall right asleep.  you LOVE sleeping! yay! you started sleeping through the night about two weeks ago. we are all much more cheerful around this house when we've slept all night. ;)

we are blessed. thanks for being such a big, sweet boy!

perfect

so, you weigh almost 22 pounds. you are about 29 inches long.  apparently you are supposed to double your weight by six months. instead you've tripled. i can't help but think you were supposed to have a hole in your heart and a malformed aorta. instead you are a miracle. a miracle who is thriving and growing and smiling and laughing and sitting up and eating big boy food...

just the other day while at a coffee shop a sweet old lady mentioned miracles.  she was sad that we don't have as many today as they did when Jesus walked the roads with His people. once again i got to tell the story i still hardly believe myself.  i never want to forget the moment the doctors came in to talk to us.  because we were expecting the worst we had the room cleared of everyone but daddy and me.  when the doctors walked in with smiles on their faces, we were hopeful that the hole was smaller and that surgery could wait.  instead they told us you were perfect.  we were hopeful you'd only have to stay at the hospital for a few weeks instead of a few months.  instead they told us you were perfect.  we were hopeful that someday, through daily doses of medication, you'd get to run and play with your friends.  instead they told us you were PERFECT. 

well sir, i have to say i totally agree.  you are practically perfect. no you are not an "easy" baby.   no you aren't easy going.  no you still don't sleep through the night. yes you still fight naps. yes you spit out your food in my face when whatever canned goodness you are eating doesn't satisfy your tastebuds.  yes you get bored easily and cry loudly.  but regardless, you are mine and you are PERFECT. by the way, you sit up like a pro. you also eat like a little man.  you LOVE the remote control. you love your daddy. and your dogs. and being outside. oh and baths! and yes- still your blanky...

i love YOU and every one of your little quirks, my perfect miracle.
xoxo- mommy