This last year with you, you've continued to make us smile in all the ways that are and always have been distinctly you. You are still the toughest, roughest little thing in the most adorable little package. You've still continued to embrace strong, tough things and you've really grown to love super heroes and "hulk smaaaash!" as you flex your little muscles with your sweet curls bouncing. Adorable and ferocious all in one, that's you! You are still so independent and you don't want us to open anything for you or help you in any way. You've learned a workaround for "hold a hand" when we cross the street by holding your own hand. Really? What can we do to argue with you? It's just one example of your charm! And, yet, as independent as you are there are still moments that you ask "play with me, Mama" or "hold you" and you point to me and tell me that you are my boy. And I try to embrace those moments whenever I can; like when we snuggle under the covers to read a book together or I stroke your curly head as you fall asleep for your nap each day. These gifts of time and togetherness are the things that I will treasure in my heart for a lifetime; the little things that mean everything to this Mama. Thank you for the times you still let me hold you close.
You love fruit, pizza, hotdogs, watching toy videos and children's songs on YouTube (your guilty pleasure! Along with your pacifier when you sleep; Mama really has to work on that!), playdoh, coloring, music and singing, stickers and bandaids, and going barefoot and taking off your shoes and making yourself at home wherever you go. We've often joked at the way that you can demolish things quicker than we know what happened and although you do still very much have a knack for that, this year you've proven to be a builder too. You have an amazing ability to put together puzzles lately and I am truly blown away at your skill. You are a builder of people too. You are very social and you have an ability to make others feel so special. You love to play with big kids and cry to leave your "friends." You love your brothers so much (even when they aren't being nice!) and don't want to be anywhere without them (even if it means sitting in time-out along with them.) They will always have their biggest fan in you (such an answer to prayer as one of my biggest hopes as your Mama is that all three of you would always be extremely close!)
I am so thankful for the glimpses of who you are becoming and what God is building in you. When I hear you pray in your sweet little voice or recite scripture or sing a song of praise to God, my heart is filled with such gratitude. Brick by brick he is building something beautiful in you, and I pray that you would embrace Jesus as the cornerstone of your life through any circumstance. I pray that my mothering would only be an empowering, strengthening, unconditionally loving, building-up source in your life, and that you would always know my heart for you. Happy Birthday, sweet Jude! I praise God for another precious year with you, and I look forward to all the days ahead. I could not imagine our family without you in it, and I'm so glad that God saw fit before the beginning of time to bless us with such a special gift. We celebrate you! We eat cake and smother you with hugs and kisses every June 7th forever because you were born, and your birth and your life have made us all better. And we love you forever and ever and always!!
Love, Mama, Daddy, James, and Joah
2 comments:
LOVE that cute t-shirt!!! Where did you find it?
Happy birthday, Jude!
Thanks Julie, I found it on Amazon but I think etsy sells them too! I thought it was perfect for him!
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