How do ya like them apples?

Although as of today we have yet to visit the pumpkin patch

(I know?! What kind of mother am I?!) we have not let fall go completely uncelebrated - we did take a lovely trip to an apple farm by the beautiful North Georgia Mountains.

The weather was gorgeous, the company was perfect, and the Boo was in his happy place (the "Center of Attention" Ever heard of it? He loves it there.)

Don't you love this hat?

Needless to say Jet didn't share the love.

Caught ya!

Jet was fascinated by the apples - which he quickly decided were balls and made for throwing. Too bad they didn't bounce very well. There were quite a few apples on the ground...

Jet was pleased by this.

There was so much to see.

Even a little petting zoo perfect for "just looking". ;)

It wasn't very good security there -this chicken escaped and was on the loose for hours....No one seemed to care.

When you ask Jet what a cow says - he puts his lips together and makes a "bbbb" vibrating sound like if you were playing the trumpet or something. It looks like this...

Not sure why - but I can't persuade him that "moo" is a more accurate representation. He's utterly convinced he's right. (haha. Did you enjoy that pun? Come on...you know you did.)

Jet did some good apple-picking with the help of his Uncle Nate and Aunt Kelly.

Aunt Kelly loves her nephew.

And Uncle Nate loves Aunt Kelly.

Mommy wants in on this love-fest. :)

So we picked apples too.

Oh No! Uncle Nate I will rescue you from THE HAT!

Aunt Michelle gave Jet a taste of her apple...it struck out with Jet...but I assure you they were delicious.

And after a long, sunny afternoon at the farm, Jet was...well...see for yourself.

So we decided to call it a day and made our way home for a cozy fall nap...and maybe later we'd enjoy the fruits of our labor.

Boy in the Big Red Chair

When milestones make your stomach lurch and your heart stop.

Yep - I came around the corner the other day to see Jet here.

Sitting happy-as-you-please in his recliner...as if he'd been sitting in it every day since he was born.

Of course after the high pitched "Jet!" I managed to squeak out - I walked (not to quickly so as not to scare him. lol. Like he's some bit of wildlife I'm trying to get a closer look at) over to him and made sure he knew how to get down in a way that wouldn't require stitches.

He already knew how.

Okay. So yes we've been practicing getting off the couch or getting down the stairs...but I didn't know for sure he'd been paying attention. Until now.

And I must say he impressed me.

(Until he fell off it into a hands and knees *splat* the next morning at PT...way to show off to your therapist Jet...I guess he wanted to make her feel needed.)

And though he has since proceed to promptly stand up in it as soon as I turn my back... I keep the chair turned around facing the wall unless I'm right there to correct such dangerous behavior.

We have enough hospital visits, thank you...

your majesty.

(because this is what happens when you edit pictures too late at night....and because we could use a little silliness right about now. :) He'll forgive me someday.)

Full of Life

Today was Spina Bifida Kids Worldwide Day of Prayer. A small voice that turned into close to 3,000 prayers lifted up - and those are just the one's we know about. And as I thought about the purpose and power of these prayers - I thought of all the sweet little babies who are born with SB - like sweet little Kai - not even day old yet - and already so strong and full of life.

I got to visit this little angel today. And in his honor I wore the "Believe in Miracles" necklace that I wore every day of pregnancy with Jet (starting from when I found it just a few days after his diagnosis).

My mom, sister, sister-in-law and mother in law wore it too.

So very special.

I love what this necklace symbolizes to me. And as I wore it, and as I prayed, I thought of my own little miracle and the day he was born...and how perfect he was...

And is...

And as I prayed I thought of how much we have to be thankful for - and how God has protected him and us from what could have been - from ending this miracle life before he had a chance to shine.

Were we afraid? Yes. Were we heartbroken? Yes. Did we wish it were all a bad dream? Of course.

But God never allowed us to lose faith. And He brought us through the darkness and gave us HOPE. Beautiful, uplifting hope that allowed us to see past the doubt and fear and death - to pure, amazing light.

And I prayed that light and hope to shine on all the mother's of unborn babies today - babies that have yet to be born and their lives are already being threatened. Threatened by fear. Threatened by ignorance. Threatened by selfishness. Threatened by the perception that if they are not "perfect" they will be happy...they will not be easy...they will not have a fulfilled life...

...they should not be given a chance at life at all.

Oh how God must cry.

How we all have cried.

And as I prayed I asked for patience and compassion. For love and strength. To continue to live my life in a way that shows what a fulfilled life truly is.

And just what happy looks like.

And that nothing worth living for is easy...

And no one is easier to love...

This lullaby is a favorite of mine.

And today it is dedicated to all of our children,

to sweet baby Kai,

...and all the miracle babies to come.

All you Are

Where did you get those eyes so blue-

They're from the sky that you passed through.

And what about that little tear -

Did you find that it was waiting for you here?

And what about your little nose -

He knew you'd need it for the rose.

And as for your soft, curly ear -

He knew that there'd be songs for you to hear.

For all you are and all you'll be,

For everything you mean to me,

Though I don't understand, I know you're from the Father's Hand.

How can it be that you are you?

He thought you up and so you grew.

Because you're mine it must be true -

That He was also thinking of me too.

For all you are and all you'll be

For everything you mean to me.

Though I don't understand, I know you're from the Father's Hand.