Lucky 13

Every month we feel so lucky,

so blessed,

to have such an amazing little sweetie.

Today Jet is 13 months old. He is one month stronger,

one month happier,

one month livelier.

To capture the joy each month holds with this little guy,

here are 13 things we have been lucky enough to see this month. :)

1. Our crawler go from "cruise" to "hyper speed". (Mommy and Daddy are baby proofing for REAL this time.)

2. Jet's new intimidation move - gritting his teeth at you. Grr. Scary.

3.The debut of tooth #6!

4. The "bunny" face he makes when we go out in the sun. Scrunched up nose, squinty eyes, two front teeth sticking out...I'll have to capture a picture sometime.

5. His first attempts at "singing" in the shower (okay it's a bath, but he is belting it out).

6. Holding his own sippy cup!

7. Dropping his sippy cup off his high chair...oh dear...it made the most amazing noise...

8. Holding his own bottle (okay that may seem the same as #6 but it's SO not. lol)

9. A new musical talent -bells. He loves to shake bells in bible class. (Jingle bells is going to be a big hit his winter.)

10. Playing on his back with his legs in the air - cracks me up - he just lays there!

12. Finally saying "Mama" almost (well, almost almost) as much as "Dada"

13. PULLING TO STAND!

Our little guy making his first successes pulling himself of up to stand! Yes it's wobbly, yes one foot is always inevitably out of place, but he has done it 3 time now! In the bathtub, in his crib, and at a bench - all barefoot mind you so once we keep those shoes one like we're supposed to there's no telling how good he'll get at it!

And check out these new shoes to help motivate him to keep up the good work.

Way to go little man!

You are one lucky Penny! :)

Yummy Mummy

If lunchtime with a 1 year old isn't funny enough...

....Let me just say my boy is hilarious.

There's no argument he makes us laugh the most out of everyone in the family

(and my family is pretty funny. :)

He's a total silly man - his shy face, funny noises and facial expressions crack us up.

I wonder if we have a little actor/comedian on our hands.

I'll let you see a little of what I'm talking about.

This is what happens when mommy gets the video camera.

And on a bragging note - look at my little prince FINALLY holding his own sippy cup.

Hooray for little victories. :)

All Kinds of Perfect

I was reading a fellow mother's blog (one of those I stay up late to read) and once again feeling my own worries being echoed in her thoughts. Worries of the future for her little boy - so tiny and new and innocent - and how this world would be to him - a child with SB. How will others treat him, look at him, question them, avoid him? Will it be noticeable that he is different? Will there be prolonged absences from school, daily trips to the school nurse, walkers or wheelchairs or leg braces to set him apart? Will his friends wonder why he can't participate in the football game, or why he has to have surgery again or why he never goes to the bathroom when the class does.

Right now we still have little ones - who depend on us for everything. They just drink in every sound and soak up every image - but aren't expected to do much of anything yet. And as a mother it breaks your heart to think about what your child may or may never be able to do. That perfect picture we have of our children running down the stairs or dancing in the living room...whatever your image is...what if that never happens?

No one should ever have to think about that.

But after moments like this (and we all have them) I take a deep breath - and tell myself what I've been telling myself since that January day. I'm not in control, and thank you GOD for that. My son is a gift that I would never have given myself if I was in control. Because honestly, if we were in charge - and could write our own futures - no one would ever write in "and my first child will be born with a birth defect". There that sounds right. No! Never. We would want everything to be perfect! And in my nearsightedness I would never have thought of giving myself this little boy. And hence my life wouldn't be complete - for with my baby - THIS baby God gave me - things are perfect. Not easy. Not without tears. Not predictable. But perfect.

My sweet SB mommies, it is true our chilren will have hard times...

... and so will every child who loses a parent, battles a behavior disorder, struggles in school, or experiences heartbreak. There are so many things in this world that we, all parents, will try to protect our children from. And sometimes we will - and sometimes we can't. But you know what? They will have wonderful times...maybe a visit to the zoo, a birthday party with friends, popsicles in the summer, snowballs in the winter, game nights with family, picnics in the living room- they will experience childhood!

And what a blessing that is!

So for now, we'll rock them to sleep, see to every need, and kiss them goodnight

...and I don't know about you,

but to me,

that's all kinds of perfect.

Ordinary Miracle

It's late, and I just rocked my baby to sleep. My sweet angel baby whose arms fit so cuddly around my neck. Whose warm cheek rests against my shoulder as tiny baby curls tickle my chin.

My little prince.

As he sleeps I begin my own bedtime routine - pick up the toys that carpet my living room, push the dirty laundry into the laundry room for tomorrow's "to-do" list, put the pillows on the bed and get my jammies on.

And think.

Think about the day, what I got done, what I need to do tomorrow, what I'll actually do tomorrow...

and think about people.

The blogs I need to check (every night or I get (gasp!) behind), the facebook messages I still haven't replied to.

Or in tonight's case, my sweet new friend with a lovely name to match ~ Lorelei.

Tonight (as I have every night for a week since I heard your story) I'm thinking of you.

Sweet Lorelei and her sweet unborn baby boy

- who have just began this journey with us.

The journey of pregnancy, motherhood, and life with a child diagnosed with SB.

It's just beginning, and it's scary, and it's fragile and uncertain in many aspects.

But there are some certainties.

I'm certain there will be healing. I'm certain there will be strength.

I'm certain there will be love.

And I'm certain God brought us together.

I'm so thankful for our friendship. Hopeful for our futures. Trusting in His promises.

Let's keep praying for our babies. Counting every blessing.

Loving every miracle.

And I think we should add this song to the soundtrack of our journey. :) Much love sweet friend. Sleep tight and I hope that little miracle lets you rest without too many kicks. :)

And to all the "little miracles"... you know who you are...sweet dreams.

Ordinary Miracle

It's not that unusual When everything is beautiful

It’s just another ordinary miracle today

The sky knows when its time to snow Don’t need to teach a seed to grow

It’s just another ordinary miracle today

Life is like a gift they say Wrapped up for you everyday

Open up and find a way To give some of your own

Isn't it remarkable Like every time a raindrop falls

It’s just another ordinary miracle today

Birds in winter have their fling And always make it home by spring

It’s just another ordinary miracle today

When you wake up everyday Please don’t throw your dreams away

Hold them close to your heart Cause we are all a part

Of the ordinary miracle

Its seems so exceptional Things just work out after all

It’s just another ordinary miracle today

The sun comes up and shines so bright

It disappears again at night

It’s just another ordinary miracle today

It’s just another ordinary miracle today.

Just like Daddy...

For the one who makes me do my silly giggle, tickles my tummy with his scruffies

and spells silly words for me out of foam letters in the bathtub.

For the one who shares a mug of vanilla ice cream with me,

rolls the soccer ball on the floor with me, and snuggles me to "steal sugar".

For the one who taught me how to growl, how to spit

and how to pull mommy's ponytail when she's on the computer.

For the one who protects me from danger (and dirt :) ), and sings to me when I'm sad.

For the one who leaves his shoes out for me to play with, helps me chase the kitty,

and lets me stay in my jammies all day.

For the one who was there in the special ambulance with me on the day I was born,

watched over me in the NICU, and made sure the nurses were "doing there job." :)

For the one who brought my pictures to mommy every day we were apart

and brought her to me as soon as you could.

For the one who teaches me, loves me, adores me.

Happy Father's Day Dada.

From the one who wants to be just like you. :)

Belt it Out

My Aunt Juli from California came to visit for a few days this week. She claims it was to visit her parents (our Mema and Papa) but we all know it was to visit Jet! Right? lol. We loved seeing her - as she will be gone on the latest family "Wild West Adventure" when we come for our Cali visit this summer - but she's generously letting us stay at her house so I'd say we came out pretty good. :) And of course when Aunts come to visit they have to bring presents (as I will when I get to visit my new little nephew in Florida once he's born! Yay! Congratulations again Uncle Daniel and Aunt Stacie) so Aunt Juli came with some awesome presents. These personalized, handmade Vagabond belts that promote 2 of my favorite causes - Spina Bifida Awareness, and my sweet little Jet.

Okay so maybe Jet is not a "cause" for anything more than smile...but he sure looks cute as an accessory. :)

And I am so thankful to my Aunt and her very talented friend who created these amazing keepsakes for us. We are so blessed.

Blessed to have such supportive family.

(Pictured 4 generations - Me, Jet, Papa, and my mom.) Jet is Papa's (Bobby Jethro) "little namesake" :)

Blessed to have such an amazing little boy.

Blessed to be able to share his story as a happy gift - not a heavy burden....

...because of all those who are there to lift us up.

Thank you.

Cool in the Pool

Remember those Water Baby Dolls with squishy bodies filled with water and floppy limbs....I have my own version of that. He has a squishy body, can be floppy at times, is cute as a doll-baby and loves the water. :)

The other night we took Jet for his first trip to our neighborhood pool.

We knew Jet would agree that after dinner is the best time for a dip in the pool.

The air is still warm from the heat of the day, but sun is low in the sky so no need for squinting or those pesky hats Mommy tries to put on her baby to protect him from the sun.

Right Mommy...no hats this time? Right?

Daddy helped me test the water...

...ooh kind of chilly! But nice in this Georgia heat.

Oh Hi Mommy!

Mommy's so silly - she'll do anything for a smile from her boy.

Just a couple of cool new pool toys (thanks Grey!)...

...and an awesome baby float (thanks Aunt Katie)

are all you need to make the perfect pool experience!

That was refreshing.

Something tells me it's time for bed.

Just keep swimming ya'll!

Familiar Scene

Today I turned the corner to find my son here...

He found The Stairs. (sigh.) Which until today had remained sweetly undiscovered...and yet now will have to be addressed...watched carefully...baby gated...off limits without parental supervision...

you know the drill.

But my Mommy brain wondered

"what made you suddenly so interested in these stairs little man?

So I looked up.

Ah... It was the cat. His love. The one who inspired him to crawl by taunting him to chase after her. And I was taken to a familiar scene...

Yep. My little Romeo.

However unlike Lady Juliet, Lady Cat is not so accommodating. So my little prince did the manly thing and moved on. No one's gonna make my boy wait around.

No siree.

That is until she came down, begging to be chased again. Typical girl.

And what did my typical boy...chased her again. lol.