one year

Dear Jo,

A year ago today I met you for the first time. You were so fresh and new, but over those first few days spending hours looking at your face and into your eyes it was like remembering an old friend. I know, without a doubt, that we knew each other long before that first meeting. This past year has had its difficulties, learning how to navigate life with a new little person to love and care for. But honestly, as I think back over those twelve months all I can feel is complete and pure joy. You have filled parts of my soul that I didn't know existed. You have brought sunshine into my life where I didn't know there was darkness. You have healed parts of my heart that I didn't know were broken. You have brought love and laughter and happiness into our lives that I didn't know we were missing. I am beyond words as to how grateful I am that Heavenly Father entrusted us with you. You are such a sweet, special girl, and I know that there is much in store for you.

You are such a happy girl, always babbling and smiling with your little scrunched up nose. You point at everything these days and say "what's that?" (sounds like 'dat'). You love.love.love to read! Seriously, if all we did was read all day I'm sure you would be a happy girl. When we finish a book and you aren't done reading you start to whine until we pick up a new one. And I often catch you reading alone, flipping the pages and pointing at pictures and babbling. You still love.love.love stuffed animals. Nana bought you a little brown bear with a green ribbon around its neck, and you tug him around everywhere with you. We call him Tug, and you love that little bear so much. You sleep with him, give him lots of cuddles, and have full on conversations with him. You pull up on everything and walk along furniture. You think you're so big! You want to be walking so badly, but you generally only like to do it on your own along the furniture. You usually don't like it when someone holds your hands and walks with you. You can say mama, dada (often sounds more like ra-ra), bye-bye, what's that, and a few other little things. Your favorite foods are pancakes, eggs, peaches, chicken, and bananas. Not a fan of the veggies lately, and you are getting more picky. You still have stranger danger with those you don't know well, but you love being with those you do know well (grandparents, aunties, cousins). You love to play with your cousins. You get so excited when you see them! You still love to shake your groove thing like nobody's watching, and you have this new move that's pretty awesome. You get on all fours and go up on just your knees with your hands in the air and then fall back down - over and over and over again. Haha. You love to play peek-a-boo, and you have been such a cuddle bug lately. You still don't have any teeth, and you are still a big daddy's girl. But you have been a big time mommy's girl lately as well.

We are so happy that we have the privilege of being your parents and that we get to experience life with you as you learn and grow. We love you so much, baby girl! Happy first birthday!!

Love, 

Mama

All pictures taken by Erni Family Photography

hello fall!

This was the first weekend that it felt like fall! FINALLY! So, naturally we busted out the sweaters and headed down to Burt's and Amicalola Falls. Jo picked out her first pumpkin. She was too tiny to go last year. And then we hiked, grilled, and picnicked at Amicalola. Such a fun Saturday!

apple picking

We went apple picking this weekend with Nana, Steph, and L and L. Jo loved having her own apple to hold and suck on. It was so fun!

eleven months

Jo,

Eleven months! If you are not sleeping or eating you are on the go nonstop! You are so active and wiggly, and you love to explore! You generally do not like to be held unless you are tired or around strangers. And if you are being held you reach for the floor so you can be put down to play. You love love love stuffed animals! It is so adorable how much you love to snuggle them and hug them. You often fall asleep with your arm around one, and you also like to wrestle with them on the floor. You still growl all the time, and it cracks us up. You LOVE to read! Your favorite book is this one with flaps that you pull up to reveal some touch and feel things underneath. You love to turn the pages, pull up the flaps and feel all the little bumpy and fuzzy objects. You are such a daddy's girl! You sometimes cry when he leaves for work in the morning, and it breaks his heart. Your favorite foods are eggs, italian chicken, and banana pancakes. You love fruits and usually tolerate certain veggies. And you still continue to amaze us with your awesome dance moves! Haha. You have this one little move where you bounce up and down so much that you move in circles. We love you, baby girl!

Love,
Mama

baby blues

i still can't get over the fact that you have blonde hair and blue eyes. i know daddy has blue eyes and had blonde hair when he was younger, but i never pictured MY baby being a blondie with blue eyes! and now for a picture overload. brace yourselves...

new best friend

Nana got Jo a little bunny with her name embroidered on it, and she gave it to Jo for the first time a few days ago. I have never seen Jo get so excited about something someone was giving her. She was twisting her little wrists and ankles like she always does when she gets excited. Then once she was holding it no one else could touch it. She kept snuggling it and hugging it, and if anyone tried to touch or take it she would growl/scream at them. Even if she wasn't holding it at the time and someone else looked like they were trying to touch it or pick it up she would let them know very clearly that it was not acceptable. Haha. It was a little ridiculous and super cute all at the same time.

ten months

Little Jo,

Double digits!?!? You are such a big girl! You started crawling this month! You are all over the place these days, crawling around like a crazy woman. You are into everything, and it's sort of adorable. We walk in another room for one minute, and the next thing we know you are in a completely different room OR you have pulled every single toy out of both of your toy baskets. Haha. We just can't get enough of you. You are such a happy baby, always smiling at everyone and bringing happiness everywhere you go. You have such a beautiful smile. Everyone always comments on your smile, saying that you smile with your entire face and even if only your eyes were visible you could tell you were smiling. Your favorite food these days is probably vanilla yogurt. You still love pretty much all foods though. You love dancing, playing and watching your cousins, pulling out/down/off every object in sight. You are quite the mess maker. You have started to have some serious stranger anxiety recently. If someone tries to hold you or talk to you that you don't know well, you will most likely start pouting and crying. You are becoming even more of a daddy's girl. You cry if you see him leaving in the mornings or if he walks away from you in general (he spoils you). Daddy and I always talk about how blessed we are to be your parents and how amazing you are. We can't imagine life without you! We love you!


-Mama