{Almost} 17 Months

-In a week you will be 17 months. Almost a year and a half? Really?! 

-You still weigh around 21-22 lbs. I need to see how many inches you've grown because some things that fit at the beginning of fall are now high waters. 

-The last couple of weeks you've been nursing 1-2 times a day and 1-2 times at night. A month ago you nursed every 2 hours. This stage of toddlerhood is full of phases.

-You still only drink mama's milk and water. You will eat almost anything. You wake up asking for a "nak" (snack). Or "betbest" (breakfast). Earlier in this pregnancy I liked pancakes for breakfast and so did you (no syrup).

- You have almost mastered the art of jumping and will say jump!

- The first thing you want to do when Daddy gets home is shoot basketball. He walks in and you say "ball!". You can make it off the backboard, shoot 2 balls at once (and make both), and say "bick" (brick) when you miss.

-You had your first haircut a couple of weeks ago. 

-You are fitting nicely in your 12-18 month clothes with some 12 months being too small and some 18 month shirt sleeves being too long.

- On a good day you sleep 3 hours on the couch and wake twice during the night.

- You say sooooo much now. "Ganpap", "Pay", "MawMaw", "down", "GiGi", "Nana", "Oda", "JayJay", "Cat", you can call the cows, anndddd that is all I can remember at the moment.

- You don't like being dropped off at the church nursery but talk about Nola Brees- "Bees".

- You will talk to anyone unless they talk to you first.

- You fiddle your hands when we go somewhere new until you get comfortable. It's adorable.

- You like to play soccer in the living room with your daddy and me. 

- You love a good grilled cheese.

You test me more than anyone else. I still love you though. Every day is a joy with you. I am so thankful to be home with you for the most part. I love that we do everything together. Looking forward to warmer weather so we can play outside. Praying that you will know the Lord early on and desire him. I want you to use your strong will to be a leader and a world changer. Love you baby. 

17 weeks with Baby Boy #2

-I can feel you move now! Such sweet reminders during the day that you are alive and active.
-When I think about you and Hank together my heart just swells. I am so happy that you two will have one another.
-Your dad and I cannot find a name we both like. I'm not surprised. I want to call you by your name.
-Your brother is loud and gets redirected a lot. I'm wondering how all of my frustrations will effect you. Or is it affect?
-My mind is all over the place. I can't remember how to spell basic words, I forget the names of people I've known forever. I constantly feel like I'm forgetting something.
-Your dad turned 29 yesterday. How are we that old?
-The Lord is really growing me during this season. I'm in a study on Wednesday nights and we are reading and discussing "The Me I Want To Be" by John Ortwell. Cheryl Henegar is teaching and she is such an encouragement to my heart. I am hungrier than ever to be who Christ wants me to be. I also am struggling more than ever to die to myself daily, or minute by minute. I need to give grace more freely and I need to tap into my inner "The Maggie Nunnelly" more. "The Maggie Nunnelly" as in I don't care what you think or who you are, I'm gonna do what the Lord has called me to do. Love it or leave it.
-This month I will complete my Post Partum Doula training. I have 2 years to complete my certification with CAPPA. I'm looking forward to loving on mamas, babies, and daddies. I look forward to wrapping you up or carrying you on my back, nursing you, and helping these women embrace the confidence within them. So excited to be taking steps in this direction. Praying the Lord will bless me in this calling and passion and that I will always make him the reason for it all.
-I love you, little child. I can't wait to hold you in my arms. I can't wait for you and Hank to meet. You are gonna love your daddy. Him and Hank were shooting hoops last night. I can't even explain my love for you. I can't imagine giving my son. I can't imagine going to the top of the mountain like Abraham and Isaac. I want to know God like that. And honestly, that is scary to my human heart. I want you to know him like that too and I hope that you will see it in me and desire Him more.