Double 1's...

11 years ago today I met my sweet Addie Mae.  She was tiny and had the most delicate features.  Her skin was such a perfect olive shade and she had the darkest hair and brown eyes that were as deep as the ocean. She was perfect.  I held her for the first time and knew I'd forever be changed. 

As Addie got older her personality really began to come out. She was super mischievous, loved to laugh, loved making messes, and was a true friend. 

She was a tad on the shy side, but once you got to know her she was your forever friend.  She needed to always feel safe and secure and to this day she is the same way.

Addie is becoming such a special young lady. She has a deep desire to be shaped and molded by God. She is attentive and soaks in every word she hears. I love sitting next to her in church and watching her as she takes notes.  She is thorough and very intentional. I love that about this sweet girl. 

Yesterday I went to get her a new shirt for her birthday.  I walked around the children's section and nothing stood out. I decided to go to my favorite boutique and see if anything there might fit her tiny frame.  As I shopped one of the gals working asked me about her.  I began to talk about Addie and what a neat kid  she is.  How she is a magnet for little kids...how loyal she is as a friend...how gentle she is with people. I purchased her shirt and got in the van and it sunk in...that little brown haired baby with eyes as deep as the ocean was growing up. She is maturing, and while it scares the crud out of me...I am excited to see the next steps for her.  I am proud of Addie...and man am I grateful to be her Mom!!

Today Ric and  I took cake and lunch up to her class and before I cut the cake I asked her if I could take her picture with the cake.  She looked at her daddy and rolled her eyes and said "really mom, we are gonna be one of those weird families?? I laughed so hard...but yeah, I'm gonna be one of those weird moms because I want to remember ever moment of the time I have the privilege of being your momma.  Your a gift sweet girl.  Happy double 1's Addie Boo!! 

Jesse is finally on two hands...

JESSE IS SIX!!!!

I blinked...and my sweet baby boy is now on two hands. Last night he was still on one...but today...oh today, he woke up on two. He thinks he is hot stuff (which he is) and is super excited to finally be SIX!!! I'm not sure why this is a hard year for momma's, but it is. It's like a right of passage into big boy land...going from one hand to two. This morning he asked if I was sad he was now six. I said no, but then quickly followed it by saying "yes, I am...you are growing up way to fast."

It seems just like yesterday that I was holding him in the hospital. That I was looking at his head full of hair...guessing who he was going to look like...and kissing those fat cheeks!! He took my breath away when I first held him close to my heart. I remember his sweet baby smells...the way he smiled in his sleep....not that he did much of that...the sleeping that is. I (in my own mind, because who admits those things out loud) had dubbed myself Traci Hogg's right hand woman..."the baby whisperer". We (and I mean we...my hubby rocks) sleep trained all of our kids by 9 weeks old and we could have written a book...if it hadn't already been written by Traci!!! But Jesse....oh but Jesse. He broke that book in two and ripped every page out. He never slept....NEVER!! It was an exhausting...but joyful first year of his little life.

 He has been full force ever since and we laugh at him everyday. He has the sweetest hugs...and never wants to let you go.  The other day he asked me if we would still be able to hug in heaven because he can't go without hugging me.  I could seriously feel my heart melting.  Jesse has become more spiritually minded in the last year and asks lots of deep questions.  He has such a sweet spirit and just loves people so genuinely.  Today we took him lunch and ate with him in the library and afterwards he was heading down the hall and just as I was turning the corner I heard his little voice say "Bye Momma" and I looked and he stood there waving frantically!!  Last year his teacher had to pull him off of me so I could leave...I can't help it...he just loves his family!!!

He has been a blessing everyday!! He can make me laugh, make me cry, and every emotion in between!! He is such a neat kid...loves life, snuggles, superheroes, coloring, his friends, our pets...hates school, any veggie, and brushing his hair!  He wrote a paper in school several months ago that simply said "I hate school.  My teacher is bossy."  Take that for honesty!!

What a sweet boy my Jesse is and I just know that God is going to use him in ways that I can't even fathom. I pray that he sells out for Jesus and lives dangerously for Him...that he will love the Word...love people...and always love his Momma!!! Jesse, you were the perfect ending for our little family of 6 and we all think you are pretty special!!

Happy 6th Birthday little man...may this be your best year EVER!!!!