A is for...

Awareness.

October is Spina Bifida Awareness Month. I can remember when I had never heard of Spina Bifida - right up until my doctor called me to tell me that my blood work showed a possibility of our baby having "neuro-tube defect" or Spina Bifida. I admit for a good 3 weeks I though the term was "spinal bifida" that's how unfamiliar I was with it.

This is until the day we learned our sweet baby did indeed have SB, and Jet's Story began.

Since that day we Spina Bifida has transformed from an alien term, to a devastating diagnosis, to an unwanted hardship, to an undeniable blessing. Though we'd never heard of it - it is now a permanent part of our vocabulary. Though we didn't ask for it, it is here to stay. Though we didn't think we would ever be okay again - we are happier now than we ever imagined we could be...even before SB entered our lives.

Having a child with SB is so multi-faceted. There is no "oh it's easy" or "oh it's horrible."

It just is.

It is not without hardship. It is not without fear.

But it is full of love and inexplicable happiness.

I never knew strength until I met the parents of children with SB.

I never knew faith until I had to give my unborn son's healing over to God.

I never knew unconditional love until I kissed his tiny cheek the day he was born.

And I never knew all the tiny miracles of human life...until I saw him wiggle his toes.

I am blessed with a network of friends who take nothing for granted.

I am blessed with family who came together even stronger - all for the love of this little boy.

I am blessed with a perspective that brings me daily joy and counsels me in times of sadness.

I am blessed with the whole-hearted conviction that God is all-loving, all-powerful, all-knowing and has a plan greater than mine ever was.

A is for Awareness.

A is for the Amazing grace of God.

A is for the Absolute love I have for my little boy.

And A is for how completely Awesome he really is. ;)

To see more of the beautiful faces of SB, check out Other Little Miracles: Our SB Buddies which is also found on the main page of our blog.

For more information on what Spina Bifida is or what you can do to support your local SBA chapter please visit http://www.spinabifidaassociation.org.

Thank you.

Jet vs The Swim Class

Jet and I signed up for a 3 week Mommy/Baby swim class....

...and let me tell you it is fantastic!

He loves it! He loves the water and the other babies and splashing around and the echo his voice makes when he yells "DADADA!" at the top of his lungs. I love seeing him kick his legs (when he wants to...not when I ask him to) and pull himself out of the pool and "jump in" with a big smile on his face. It's perfect. I didn't know how he would like it but he LOVES it!

He has a good friend in the class too...

Miss Ansley

Aren't they so cute!?

Ansley's daddy came and took some pictures at our class on Thursday and then her mommy wrote an adorable blog post on their family blog that just explains all the fun perfectly. :) You can see it (and more pictures of these cute babies) here. Please check it out to see Jet in action! :) It is truly one of the best things we have ever done! I can't wait till next week!

"Fall" Festival

A couple of weeks ago, Jet put on his shades...

...grabbed 2 of his favorite aunties...

... and headed to the little "Fall Festival" in the front of our community.

I use the term "fall" reluctantly because it was probably 90 degrees outside in the blazing sun. Not exactly the "fall" weather we wanted...but we decided to check it out anyway. We're all about small town festivals. :)

We stopped at the booth set up by a local Pre-K and mommy tried not to think about the germs as Jet handled the toys.

It's a good Pre-K so I'm sure they're sanitary...and in all honesty Jet was the only one playing with them...he was actually the only little guy close to that age group there...it was a sparsely attended festival. lol.

Look Aunt Kelly...I know you want me to smile and all...

but this heat is making me very sleepy...

There wasn't much to distract Jet from the hot sun...so we moved on...

To the good stuff...

The sweet, creamy, cool-you-off, good stuff...

Here Jet - give the nice man his money...

Oops...Aunt Kelly forgot how much Jet likes to drop things from high places...

Jet's face clearly says "this is the life..."

...having ice cream fed to you by two pretty ladies while relaxing on a shady front porch...

What a messy face....

What a silly boy...

This ice cream is good enough to earn the "mmmm" fist!

Aunt Kayleigh...that was aweseome.

Now how about a little something to wash it down with?

Okay ladies...

...what exactly is this giant blue thing and why are we on it?

I'm not too sure what just happened...but okay.

Man...I gotta get my "land legs" back after that.

You girls are alot of fun...but I'm exhausted...can we go home now?

And we did.

And he napped.

And it was good.

Thanks Aunt Kelly and Aunt Kayleigh...your boo loves you so much.

My Super Sweet 16 Month Old!

Sixteen months and growing stronger

Naps are shorter (days are longer) ;)

Taking over an hour to eat,

Still a fan of all things sweet!

Loves to push his cars and trucks.

Can point to show us "cows" and "ducks."

Throws everything to hear the sound -

It makes when it comes crashing down.

Crawling, clapping, cruising, climbing

(How long can Mommy keep up this rhyming?)

Some of my favorite things to date:

How about when you sleep in late? :)

Holding my hands and wobbly walking,

How hard you try when you practice "talking."

Or how about in church this morning

When you let a squeal out without warning.

And why is it when we're singing - you're still?

A "perfect angel" (if you will)

But when we pray and things are quiet -

That's when you choose to start a riot!

Oh little boy you are such a mix

Of sweetness and love - and temper and tricks.

We love all you are and have yet to become -

Our super-sweet, silly 16 month old son. :)

(thank you to my sweet and talented friend Sarah Tunstall for the amazing pictures. ;) I can't wait to see more!)

Life Portraits

I love taking pictures. (You're thinking "Oh - you don't say? I hadn't gathered that by the hundreds you've posted of on this blog" lol.) But I discovered that I love 2 different kinds of pictures. I love pictures like these...

Crisp, clear, vibrant - capturing bright and beautiful moments. Positive, pure and pleasant.

These pictures make everything seem more alive. I think "wow...look at those eyes...those little teeth." I love the detail . Everything is in focus. The subject is obvious. The feeling is happy. The purpose is clear.

I also love pictures like these...

A different kind of beauty - a little mysterious - a mix of light and shadow. The image isn't as clear or focused - it's slightly hidden and and blurred in places. Not as easy to read - but it has a certain kind of magic and charm that makes me want to stare at it longer - causing me to wonder...and daydream.

It doesn't just capture a smile...it captures a moment.

And as I thought about how I like them both - it reminded me of how life falls into similar categories. Sometimes it's bright, clear and easily navigated. The details are visible and arranged in a lovely sort of way and your purpose seems clear. Other times, things aren't as well-defined.

The future seems blurry and you're not sure what to focus on.

There is light...and there is shadow.

What is amazing is that there are the blessings in those moments - learning to trust, letting go of perfection, finding beauty in simplicity or renewing your faith from fear of the unknown. Sometimes it takes being unable to see our future...for us to stop and really look at our lives. At how much we are blessed. How much we are loved. How much we can give. How much we've been given.

So as much as the photos are different - and certain times in our lives are different

- at the core of each there is beauty.

The beauty that sometimes we DO get answers and meet with success and validation.

And the beautiful knowledge that during times of "not-knowing" our faith is growing.

Life can be difficult. I'm not sure why that still surprises me. This is not a perfect world.

But life can be so beautiful. I love when beauty surprises me. And His strength is made perfect in weakness.

And living my life with that focus...I don't have to be able to see every detail. I can find beauty in light...and in shadow. I can feel confident in the blessings I see...and the hidden blessings that may take time to reveal.

And I can love these snapshots of life for the ways they different - and the ways they are similar.

Because they are beautiful.

And they are life.

Oh do you know...

...The Muffin Man?

He's always up for something sweet,

These muffins were a special treat.

Made with love from Grandmother Penny....

Jet says he's not sharing any. :)

Mmmmm.... Thank you Grandmother.