Jax. On Your First Birthday!

Oh, my goodness, my little red-headed angel. How has a WHOLE year already come and gone?? How did that even happen?? I know that is something that all parents say when their kids come along, and they inevitably speed up how quickly time passes. But, I honestly can't believe we are already on your first birthday. I hope that your first year was very special and that you felt all of the love that your mommy and daddy have for you! You are a sweet, funny, loud, squishy little baby...and I think you are perfect.

I love that you sing and jabber every morning when you wake up. Occasionally, you scream. But mostly you sing!

I love to tickle you with my eyelashes, or blow on you and make you laugh. You and Brother have the most precious laughs in the world.

I love that you will eat anything and everything I make for you. Even though it does sometimes get difficult that you sit in the floor and scream at me while I make dinner. I appreciate that you like my cooking! 

I love your sweet, chubby cheeks. I know you've worked hard to keep those cute things plump so mommy can steal all of your kisses! Thank you. 

I love your precious, tiny hands and how they are always grabbing for anything you find interesting. Stay curious, little one. 

I love that you call everything Dada. I mean, it would be lovely if you could say Mama every once in a while. But the way you say Dada is so adorable I can't even be mad. 

I love your scent. Your baby skin is the most amazing smell. Thank you for always letting mommy kiss under your chin, my favorite spot! 

I love the way you love your brother. You'd follow him anywhere, and you prefer that he is the one who helps you learn to walk around. He is also, apparently much better at peek-a-boo than anyone else! He will protect you, and he loves you very much. I hope you always stay close. 

I LOVE you and your brother more than life. I know that sometimes mommy loses my mind and I know that I am not always perfect. But I hope that I've given you everything that you need and especially deserve! You're making time move so fast, but I promise to try to slow everything down more this year and really, really take it all in. I hope you have a wonderful birthday, sweet baby! Can't wait to let you dig into that cake, because we all know that'll be your favorite part anyway. You're such a blessing from God and I thank Him every day for you. 

Sweet as can be, baby of mine...

You Make Me Proud; For My Little Sister.

Having a little sister is a funny thing. Growing up, you always make her be the student so you can be the teacher and boss her around when you're playing classroom. You also always give her an F on her pretend essay so you can give her a lecture. She loves it, because you're playing with her. She generally doesn't put up a fight when you take the lead playing detective agents, and you make her be the side kick. Or when you get to be the "prettiest" Barbie. She's just happy you're playing.

You grow a bit, and you just want her to leave you alone and let you talk to your friends on the phone in private, so you can discuss boys for hours on end and other things that don't really mean much in life. Looking back, though you realize that she made you stronger because you were allowed to pick on her, but NO ONE else was. She helped you grow a backbone.

You used your sister to practice different make up applications, not even thinking that one day, she will be teaching you. You trusted her with all your secrets that you couldn't tell your parents. And she kept them, and you knew you'd owe her big time. You got mad when she wanted to wear your clothes, but you were allowed to borrow anything of hers at any point in time. Sometimes it's so unfair to be the little sister.

Then you get older, and you want to be around your little sister all the time. She takes you back to when you were her age, no matter how small the age gap may be. She makes you think back to who you were before you grew an extra 3 years older, before you made the mistakes you'd made in that time span, and before you came to realize what is meaningful in your life. She's SO much cooler than you were at her age, and she's SO much more confident that you were, too. She. Is. Hilarious! You will never laugh harder or longer than you do with your grown up little sister. You see her with your kids and it completely undoes your heart. You see her through your sons eyes, and you've never been so appreciative.

             

You begin to look up to your younger sister. At least, that's what I did. You see her take on the same challenges and hardships that you faced as well, but she does it with so much more grace and she creates a different, better outcome than you did. She chooses a career and sticks with it, and becomes very successful with it, too. She takes her time, she isn't rushing into anything. She is level headed. She is smart. In my eyes, she is perfect. She has stuck by me even when I didn't deserve for anyone to be there. She's given me great advice. Where does that come from?

She is gorgeous. And I don't just mean that she is pretty, but that she is beautiful deep down to her soul. She makes me better. And when I'm with her, even though it's rare now, I feel home. Because "distance means so little, when someone means so much." I'm so PROUD of you, Hannah. And I cannot wait to see what you continue to do with your life. Happy birthday sweet Sissy!! I'll see you when I see you, and I hope it's real soon!