Joah's Peter Rabbit First Birthday!

Even though our family in other states were unable to come to town for Joah's first birthday and we were expecting a much smaller crowd, Stephen still encouraged me to do the party theme that I had planned because I had done it with the other two and I really am glad I did. After deciding on Peter Rabbit several months ago, I went ahead and started collecting Easter decor on clearance after Easter to use for his party. It all came together perfectly, and Revelation Cafe at our church was the perfect rustic location for our garden-y party. We had our family members from in town, our preschool minister dropped in, and a very close family that have become dear friends to us and their children.  Joah had a great time playing in his ball pit and loved his "cauliflower" smash cake. Wednesday was a work day and church night, so Stephen had to go back into work after lunch but Joah has enjoyed playing with his balls and riding in his push car for the last several days. I can't believe our sweet baby is one!

Spring Photos

One of my best friend's here in Pell City, Maggie, recommended her cousin to do a little spring mini-session for our family to update some photos in our house and also to share as Mother's Day/Father's Day gifts. Here are a few of my favorites.

Joah's 1 year photos and birthday letter (two days early)

I took some one year photos of Joah this morning on top of Revelation Mountain at our church. I'm so happy with how they turned out! We will have his Peter Rabbit Birthday Party on Wednesday. We will have a very small celebration on his actual birthday (in the middle of the week) with just a few family members and friends that won't be working! I'm so excited to celebrate him. I hope to upload more pictures of the actual party at some point later this week. I love how his Peter Rabbit outfit turned out. I wanted something vintage-y and it's just perfect. I just wanted a sweet, classic party for our baby boy but most of all I just want to celebrate him fully!

Joah,

I'm feeling every kind of emotion as I write this first birthday letter to you, my third darling son. It doesn't seem possible that I'm doing this already (and for the third time!), and yet there have been so many sweet memories packed into this first year that it just feels like you've been here forever too. What a gift that you are forever our little boy! I knew immediately (seriously!) after the birth of your brother, Jude, that as long as the Lord willed it there would be a "you." And although I never could have known who you would be in all my dreaming about you, I knew unmistakably that God had put a desire deep down in my heart to mother you and to love you with the most magnificent love that a Mama has for her child; the kind of love that has healed me in so many ways and helped me understand God's tender love for His children. That's a pretty special thing about being a third baby, my sweet Jo. While I may not be confident in everything or many things, I did know, having given birth twice before you, the depths of love that I would feel for you long before you were even in my arms and more than with any of the other boys I just allowed myself to truly enjoy this first year of your life. And, oh, how you've enjoyed your first year too! So often you've just been along for the ride through soccer games, field trips, youth group outings, and grocery store trips (to name a few!), and, yet, just to be a part of us has brought you great joy! You've delighted in the simplicity of the everyday blessings of family: watching your big brothers playing, noisy meals in our kitchen after Jude sings "God our Father" or James sings "The Books of the Bible," bouncing around in the baby carrier as I chase down your brothers (it felt like a ride for you too! And it was!), cheers for your brothers turned cheers for you as you've reached so many milestones this year with such joy in your eyes and in your smile. Whether we were getting out of the van to walk into Magic Kingdom or Publix, your smile was just the same for the simple joy of being with us, being cared for, and being loved. Your life has been a reminder of the value of simply being together, of home, of belonging, and of being fully accepted in a family where you always fit. And you always will belong with us. You're the piece that fits perfectly in the puzzle of our family that we didn't even know was missing until you were here. 

Happy First Birthday, Joah Lakes! On May 4, 2015 at 12:43 p.m. a beautiful, tiny, dark-headed bundle was placed into my arms with a cry that was somehow familiar and just sounded "like one of my babies" and I let the overwhelming feeling of grace upon grace (because you were here; such a perfect and undeserved gift!) sink deep, deep down into my heart.  In that moment I simultaneously recognized your "voice" as "mine" and God's voice as His, and I knew that that the best gift that I could ever give you was to teach you how to listen to His voice all of your days. That is my prayer for you, little "brother of God."

27 nMy sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 oI give them eternal life, and pthey will never perish, and qno one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:27-28

We love you forever, Joah. I pray that God would grant me many, many birthday celebrations with you (and your Daddy and big brothers)! There could never be enough days with you, but I vow to make each day count in the simple and the big. 

Love, Mama

Strawberry Picking

We took our little bunnies to the strawberry patch to pick strawberries to go along with our school unit for the week but also in preparation for Joah's Peter Rabbit First Birthday Party. Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton Tail picked blackberries in the real book, but our boys are all about strawberries! Jude was picking them right off the plant and eating them. (They told us it was okay to sample a few!) What a fun, tasty little family activity/field trip!

A Few Spring Things!

We got to go out for a fun, date night for our 9th anniversary the day before Good Friday! And then in the same weekend we celebrated Joah's first Easter (and also a year since James accepted Jesus as Savior and was Baptized!) I love Easter! It is one of my very favorite holidays! And I love our Easter traditions that we celebrate as a family. 

Joah at 11 Months

My blog is basically becoming a record keeping system for updating Joah's baby book (and the big boys scrapbooks) when I get a second later on. Our life is busy, busy and I'm trying to find a balance or make a balance...whatever that looks like! In ministry we easily could have every, single night full, and so we are having to be intentional to carve away time for our family as well. And when we do, blogging definitely doesn't take precedent. Being intentional in ministering to students and to your own children takes a plan and lots of time. Reaching their hearts, training them, teaching them (just about the important things of life which doesn't even include homeschooling) takes time. Takes work. Takes being fully present. And still I struggle many days with questions like "Is it enough?" and "Am I enough?" in all of these simultaneous roles that God has called me to in this moment. This season. I want to do it all well, but I definitely feel like I am juggling a lot of balls at one time most days. I miss blogging and have lots of thought swirling around in my head about things I could blog, but for now I am content to do write a few little blog-ish posts on my Instagram account primarily about my children.

So, on to Joah's 11 month post so that I can print this and transfer over to his baby book later. :) I can't believe this angel boy is one month away from celebrating his first birthday. It is amazing how fast a year flies by and even more so with our third child. There are so many daily activities and routines already in place when a subsequent baby arrives that time just keeps chugging right along (there is not this surreal pause where time seems to stand still and full attention and focus given to this baby like the first one because there simply can't be!), and it's amazing how this new little person just falls into the patterns and routines of a family as if he were always here. Of course, this new little person can also shake things up a bit, but for the most part Joah has just been a dream baby. I think a baby is a "dream baby" no matter what, just for the record. It's always bugged me a little when people ask if my baby is "good" because they are in a way asking if that baby is convenient for me? And I think God has taught me a lot and grown me in the inconvenient moments of serving and caring for my kids. But, he really has been a happy and easy baby to add into the mix. I would love him no more or no less if he wasn't, but I am thankful for the personality that God has given to him and for the way that he has complimented us. This little missing puzzle piece that we didn't even know was missing!

Happy 11 months, Sweet Jo! I thank God for your sweet smile! I thank God for your happy disposition. As you reach all of these new milestones and you beam from ear to ear when you realize you can stand, clap, wave, and talk now, it is my joy and delight to celebrate with you! I love you forever my Joah boy. And I ask God for a lifetime of celebrating you and your big brothers! I'm soaking in this last month of your baby, baby days and snuggling you and holding you close for as long as I can. I am so glad that God saw fit to bless me with a third, darling little boy. I am so glad that He planned you for us from the beginning of time. I hope that you know with Jesus and with us you always belong.

Here's what's happening with Joah at 11 months (quite a few days late!):

Joah at 11 months:

wearing: mostly 12 month clothing, size 4 diapers

Weight and Height:
Probably around 21 pounds now (just a guess - nothing official this month!)

Appearance: blondish hair sticking straight up and brown/blue eyes still (sometimes they look hazel)

Eating: Nursing on demand still; he is still eating a combination of baby food and table foods. He is enjoying more and more things: pasta, lunch meat turkey, shredded cheese, chunks of soft baked sweet potato, peas, bites of bananas and strawberries, bites of cereal bars, Cheerios, all baby snacks (melts, puffs, etc.), baby yogurt. The other night they were passing out samples at Publix and James shocked me by eating the whole thing (pork, ravioli, and even leeks and artichokes) and saying Publix was his favorite place to eat ever -ha! But Joah was also begging to eat all the noodles as well.

Sleeping: he takes a very brief morning nap (30 mins or less and a few times not at all) and a longer afternoon nap after lunch, he occasionally naps briefly in the evening as well

Interactions/Development: he's getting more confident at moving about and letting go and standing for longer periods. I feel like he will really take off walking very soon. (but whether or not he will take actual steps before his first birthday, I don't know about that...James walked so early but a huge part of that was our ability to just play in the floor all day and with Joah being our third we are busy and on the go more), he can climb up into things low to the ground (and scare me!), he waved "bye bye" this month and moves his arms around excitedly when I have been gone and come back, he is also clapping this month, he still says "mama" and he did say "bubu" one time I think in reference to his brothers. He also said "more" and signed more a few days after turning 11 months old. He has also said "go go" and possibly "book."  He's not talking as much as the other two as this age (from what I can remember anyway) but he has two brothers to talk for him, so I know that's a big part of it. (He is talking more and more since I wrote this originally on the day that he turned 11 months old!) 

Outings: stayed at Nana and Grandpa's while we went out for our anniversary, Let's Play (giant playground and inflatables) and loved the ball pit, first Easter and little egg hunt in our yard 

Things he seems to like: being held, snuggling, being worn in the ergo carrier, bath time, being outside, pacifier, watching and laughing at his big brothers, playing on the floor with toys (his favorite is probably balls and our Melissa and Doug soft toolbox), toothbrushes, The Itsy Bitsy Spider, being tickled or any of us making silly faces and sounds

Things he dislikes: Mama leaving him or being out of sight now (but doing better), not feeding him fast enough (but he is so very patient and waits so well with all that goes on around here)

Health: doing well this month - he did have a major allergy flare up with all the pollen that's out now (He has shown more sign of outdoor/environmental allergies than any of our kids) and his eyes were red and watery; still
just two bottom teeth

Temperament: He's such an easy, laid-back little guy. He is so patient and waits for me in the high chair without crying when I am cleaning up from a meal or working on a task with another child. He is very friendly and loving. Sometimes I feel guilty about my time and attention divided in so my ways, but he is always so happy to go with the flow and loves his Mama (and all of his family) so much. He has the sweetest little laugh and the most squeezable little face and feet.

Joah at 10 months

Joah at 10 months(better late than never!):

wearing: wearing 12 month clothing, size 4 diapers

Weight and Height:
Probably around 21 pounds now (just a guess - nothing official this month!)

Appearance: blondish hair sticking straight up and brown/blue eyes still 

Eating: Nursing on demand still; I didn't think he was big on eating but after he got completely over ear infections and strep throat he started eating very well: baby food fruits and veggies, finger foods, macaroni, scrambled eggs, cheese, yogurt, small pieces of sausage ball, etc!

Sleeping: he still takes several cat naps (in the morning and evening) and his longest nap in the afternoon 

Interactions/Development: he's building on all his skills from last month and...he will now let go after pulling up and stand unassisted for a few seconds. 

Outings: went with the young adults life discovery classes at church to Snow Mountain/Stone Mountain in Georgia and saw snow for the first time (minus a few flurries one other time)

Things he seems to like: being held, being worn in the ergo carrier, bath time, being outside, pacifier, watching and laughing at his big brothers, playing on the floor, and playing with toys!

Things he dislikes: Mama leaving him or being out of sight now (but doing better)

Health: doing well this month; still
just two bottom teeth 

Temperament: He's such an easy, laid-back little guy. We took him to an all-day conference for church on Saturday and he was very quiet, snacked, and slept a couple of times in my arms. Everyone commented on how easy going he was. He's very friendly. He loves going to church or other outings because he loves to smile at everyone one and then hide his face! He is very patient and makes our crazy life a little easier by just going with the flow. He loves his brothers so much and waits every morning for them to tell him hello and smile at him. 

Happy 10 months my little Jo! I can't even believe how fast this first year with you is going, and I'm so thankful for how God brought you in his perfect timing to our family. It's amazing to marvel at the similarities between you and your brothers and, yet, delight in all the things that are distinctly you. I've always believed that life is precious and each person is "fearfully and wonderfully made" but the evidence of that in my life as I care for you each day (and your brothers) is just overwhelming, amazing, and awe inspiring and I can't help but praise God for the good, good Father that he is. And for the gift that you are. I love you, Joah. I love you so much. And I pray daily that God would grant me a long, long of lifetime of loving you (and your Daddy and brothers) in all of the big and little moments of life. 
Love, Mama