Jack Turns One

Happy first birthday, "Jack Bean"--as I usually call you. I think, perhaps, you have severe name confusion, poor darling. I call you "Jack Bean," "Bean," and "Beanie Baby." Nathan calls you "Jackabo," and Daddy calls you "Jack Attack" and "Huge Jackman." See? Name confusion, probably.

 

Nonetheless, Happy birthday, Jack! I can't believe you're a year old today! My friend Bekah texted me this afternoon, "Happy birthday, Jack! Can't believe it's already been a year!" I, however, have felt nearly every day of this year. So, sweet boy, I do feel like you should maybe be turning two (except that you just say a handful of words and can only take four steps). The past year has been crazy, to say the least!

We found out we were moving to Virginia, put our house on the market, sold it in four days, moved in with my parents, moved into an apartment in Virginia, bought a house and moved into it, started Mother's Day Out and CBS--and, whew! That's how one year ends up feeling like two. Capisce?

When I think of those first several weeks, I think of the smells of Christmas, you in jammies wrapped in a blanket, friends and family dropping in, sleeping on the couch, and Octonauts on--constantly--in the background to keep Big Brother preoccupied and happy. I never dreamed a newborn could be as easy as you were.

You are my snuggle bug! You love, love, love to snuggle. You take two naps a day--a short one in the morning and a longer one in the afternoon. And before each nap, we snuggle in the rocking chair and read a book. Heaven! Absolutely heaven!

You love no one on this earth as much as you love Nathan. You follow him around, you crawl on top of him, you splash him in the bath, you give him kisses, you steal his food, and on and on. I never dreamed you two would already have this bond. You cannot imagine how happy it makes my heart.

You love to eat--anything and everything! Oranges, apples, chicken, green beans, cake, hamburgers, casserole. I can't believe what you'll eat! You stopped your bottle at 10 1/2 months, and you're an old pro with that sippy cup!

Your laugh. Oh my goodness. Can we talk about that for just a second? Loud, gasping, infectious--it's impossible to not laugh along! And those dimples?! Stop it. I can barely handle the cuteness.

You go to bed right at 7:00, and you're up around 6:30. Your naps are around 9:00 and 2:00. You snuggle with two blankets when you sleep. And you sleep with your biscuits up in the air. Precious!

Unlike your big brother, "cautious" is a foreign word to you. You plow ahead no matter what. You climb. You explore. And as a result, poor baby, you nearly always have a bruise and/or a scrape on that big (97%) coconut of yours. You took your first step at ten months, and now you'll take as many as four steps before you sit down (er, or fall). You're my risk taker--no doubt about it!

Your life verse is Zephaniah 3:17: "The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing." 

My prayers for you are full of petitions to God that you would love Him deeply, that you would serve Him, and that He would make your paths straight. He has great plans for you, Jack Bean.

I love you more than words can ever say. I prayed for you before you were even born, and I pray for you every day. I take so much delight in you!

You are a loved little boy! 

Happy 1st birthday, baby! 

Dear Santa

This sweet boy is so excited for Christmas!

Here is his letter to Santa this year:

Dear Santa,

I want a big Lightning McQueen, a big Batman, a flashlight, a bat, a shark, a shark book, a Batman book, a Lightning McQueen puzzle, and a fire truck.

Love,

Nathan

Picnic On The Parkway

Where I live in Virginia is all of about a couple miles off of the Blue Ridge Parkway. So today, at the suggestion of my three year old, we decided to picnic at the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center.

As my mother always does when she visits, she kindly brought up the warm, Arkansas weather with her. We've been in scarves, puffy jackets, and mittens, and BeeGee shows up, and suddenly the toddler is running around shirtless in his Batman cape. (Thanks, BeeGee. Would you stay for all of January and February, please?)

Little Brother crawled around, exploring rocks, leaves, grass, and trees. :)

These pictures hardly do justice to the wonder that is autumn in Virginia. Whatever lofty expectations I had have been far surpassed by the unimaginable colors, and the light, feathery look of the foliage that covers every inch of the mountains. It's breathtaking.

When my mom comes to visit, it is so special. We treasure every moment, and we have such fun!

When the toddler came up with the suggestion for a picnic, he asked, "BeeGee, can we go on a picnic, please?" Of course, my mother responded with, "What is BeeGee's favorite word to say to you?"

"YES!"

I hope I can be as wonderful as she is.

It was a splendid picnic. And mainly, we enjoyed watching the boys--chasing after Big Brother, wrestling, exploring rocks, catching (and trying to eat) leaves and grasshoppers, and searching for bears to kill. With skinned knees, strawberry blonde hair, freckles, big smiles, they're all boy. I know I've never done anything for one instant in my life to deserve these two blessings. My boys. I thank God for them every day.