MJ on the Move!

This was actually shot a couple weeks ago almost as MJ was beginning to walk back and forth between Mat and I. Now he's walking all over the living room and kitchen. Usually he's back and forth following after Bubba or just clapping for himself and how great he is!

9 Months and Christmas Pics

What an incredibly special Christmas this was for us!

Click here to view these pictures larger

10 month little man!

10 months ago we welcomed our sweet baby boy into our lives. He is continuing to grow,develop, and thrive each day!

Mathew was of course the hit of Christmas. He brightened every one's spirits! Lots of pics to come soon.

I just love looking at his beautiful blue eyes. His hair continues to get more and more curly-mostly in the back. It's adorable! He still has the two bottom teeth but no teeth on top as of yet. He gained 1 pound this month, is cruising around constantly, stands on his own for about 5-10 seconds, and has even taken a few steps in a row before plopping down on his bottom. I definitely have a feeling he'll be walking before his first birthday! Mathew is still a great sleeper and eater. We are so blessed with a pretty easy baby. He sleeps anywhere from 12-14 hours through the night. He's not quite as fond of napping. He puts up a struggle occasionally and is already trying to convert from two naps to one. Most days he's been taking one 2 hour nap and that's it. He is eating trying almost anything we eat, within reason, and still eating baby food. He really likes to feed himself finger foods now. Out all all his incredible toys, the two things he still adores the most are his plastic rings from his stackable ring thing ( clueless on the technical name?!?!), and the foam strips from his foam alphabet puzzle play mat. He likes to have one in each hand and just crawl all over with them or stand up, drop one, bend down to pick it up, repeat, repeat, repeat. He's very interested in books. He loves to be read to and even recently has begun taking books out of his toy basket and turning through the pages on his own. He has a couple texture books that he likes to rub his hands on to feel the different textures. I tried to capture a pic of it today, but this was as close as I got. I loved the way the rays of sunshine were casting shadows on the floor as he explored his Farm Animals book. He loves to play independently and is such a happy boy. He has definitely become a crier when we're around other people though. He cries if we try to hand him off to someone or if someone tries to pick him up. He'll go to people on his own sometimes, but isn't a big fan of strangers right now. I'm sure part of it is a normal phase for this stage and part of it has to do with him being home with us and only us all of the time. The pros and cons with everything of course.

Each stage he experiences I think is the best yet and then I'm amazed that I love the next stage even better. I think it's just so joyous watching him learn, love, and grow that it just keeps getting better and better. Ten months ago our lives became much richer, that's for sure!

Ringing in the New Year

Yes, I admit I am sitting at home on New Years Eve. And guess what? I'm perfectly happy sitting here typing listening to the laughter of my hubby and parents playing Wii. Boy, how times have changed!! I have a little 9 month bundle of joy that keeps me at home now, and although my parents offered to babysit while we go out, we chose to have a date night out last night and enjoy a more quiet night in tonight. It seems pretty darn perfect to me!

As I often do around a holiday, I go back and read my blog post from the previous year. And like many times when I do this I am left wondering, "Who would've thought how much my life was about to change?" I began 2009 with great anticipation about becoming a mom finally. Little did I know what a traumatic experience Mathew's birth would be, or that I would be packing up my home and moving to Iowa, saying goodbye to a job I loved and so many great friends as well as my brother. It was a year full of MANY emotions. There have been some extreme highs and a few pretty intense lows. Luckily having Mathew makes all the lows seem so much more bearable and less important. I am hoping that 2010 brings some stability and consistency. I am struggling with Iowa feeling like my "home" yet, so I am dedicated to forming some connections and making an extra effort to make time for myself and my marriage amidst spending as much possible time savoring motherhood.

I will forever remember 2009 as a wonderful year overall. God allowed me to experience the greatest gift of all. Everyday I spend with him, I know is a blessing. I am so grateful that I've been able to spend so much time with him this year. I wouldn't want it any other way.

Thank you to our many faithful family and friends that continue to read our blog and have prayed for us and offered love and support throughout our journey this year. My prayer is that each of you are blessed in this new year, and throughout the coming decade. Savor the special moments with your friends and family, remember Christ in all things, and take care of yourself and your loved ones!

Reflecting

This picture was taken exactly one year ago today. It was Christmas Eve, spent in Florida, with my family. I was 29 weeks pregnant. We went to the OBGYN that day and listened to the beautiful sound of a heartbeat. I was full of excitement and anticipation. I'd dreamed of being pregnant over the holidays for years, and I was so joyous to finally be experiencing it.

Now, one year later, that sweet baby boy that was growing inside me at the time of this picture, now lies upstairs sleeping soundly. He's spent the day with both sets of grandparents-laughing, playing, attending church, opening presents (okay, more like eating the paper), and I don't think my heart could be any more full than it is right now. I am so happy, it almost hurts. My dream has become a reality.

I am so thankful for the precious gift of his life!

Nine Nifty Months

Mathew turned 9 months on Wednesday. It also happened to be the day that Grandma passed away, and everything has been rather out of the ordinary since then. Grandma passed, Mathew turned 9 months and had to go to the pediatrician, and we had a blizzard all in the same day. It was quite a strange day to say the least.

MJ originally had his normal check up scheduled for Wednesday, but we'd cancelled due to the weather. But shortly after cancelling, we got the call about Grandma and knew that we'd be leaving town soon. One of the shots he needed only has a two day window in which it must be administered so we had to call the doctor's office back and ask if we could come in after all. He was quickly figured out that he HATES the doctor's office. From the minute the nurse even approached him he cried and screamed. He cried throughout being weighed examined, shots, you name it. The doctor even commented, "Wow, he's really a handful at home, huh?" The odd thing is NO, he's not. He hardly ever cries. I don't know if he is becoming fearful of strangers or he knows that shots are coming or what, but he just does not like it one bit.

I take lots of pictures, but I'm always certain to take one at each month's milestone. It used to be so easy to get a great picture of him. He would start hamming it up the minute the camera came out. But now, it seems nearly impossible to keep him still long enough to even take a picture. He's all over the place! And if you can get him still, or just put him in the highchair (like I do), he closes his eyes every single time the flash comes on. Do you have any idea how many photos I've taken trying to get a good Christmas card shot?? Ha!

This is how the majority of my pictures turn out lately. Still pretty darn cute though! Such a happy boy at 9 months old.

Finally, when mommy turns the flash off MJ keeps his eyes open. He's getting so big!

At 9 months, Mathew is now crawling, pulling up, and cruising all over the place. He likes to pull himself up over and over again. He loves to play with his LeapFrog Music Table! He has his two bottom teeth, but none on top quite yet. He's still drinking a few bottles a day, along with an occasional sippy cup of juice, baby food 3 times a day, finger foods for snacks, and trying bits and pieces of our meals. We haven't found anything that he doesn't like. He babbles every once in awhile, but still not a whole lot of "talking." He weighs 19 lbs. 11 oz. and is 28.5 in. tall. He only gained a few ounces since his last checkup, so the doctor was slightly concerned and asked us questions about his eating habits. But, since he's still eating so well she chalked it up to him becoming more active, and we'll check his weight next month again. He dropped down between the 10th-25th percentile in weight, but is in the 50th percentile for height. His newest skill is waving hello. He likes to wave hi to us, people in restaurants, his babysitter, and the camera, as seen below...

This picture was taken last night as we celebrated Christmas, just the three of us. We were planning to do our own Christmas before heading to St. Louis, but since we're now leaving early for the funeral we decided to go ahead and do it. I made a crock pot of chili, we put MJ in his Christmas pajamas and we pretended it was Christmas. He certainly didn't know the difference, and we still got to have some special time together! He had more gifts to open than either of us (of course), but his faves were the crinkly paper, the bows, and they shiny ribbon. I wonder how many years we can get by with that??

In the Hands of Our Savior

Holding hands can symbolize many things: safety, love, reassurance, comfort, and prayer just to name a few. Each of these was true for my grandma. Long before I ever came into the picture, I’m sure she often held the hands of her two children. Years later, as a grandmother, I know she would often hold my hand, as she did her other three grandchildren. She loved to rub; it was her special way of touching and soothing. While holding my hand, she would rub my forearm. Sometimes she’d even make it a game, using her finger to “write a message” on my arm while my eyes were closed, and then I’d guess what she’d wrote. Years later, her and my grandpa would tell us that they went to bed every night holding hands. Isn’t that love and devotion just amazing? It’s a love that I now strive for with my own husband. Grandma held her children’s hands, her husband’s hand, her grandchildren’s hands, and many dear friend’s hands as they faced their own hardships. But, today my grandma holds the greatest hand of all. The Lord has extended his hand and called her home, and she has taken it. I don’t believe that she merely placed her hand in his; I believe she grasped it firmly. Her days of providing us with love here on Earth are through, and while that brings great sadness that she can no longer hold our hands, I know she holds my heart, as well as so many others, forever.

I will miss you forever Grandma; may you rest with your Savior!