Happy Birthday, Jude!!!

One year ago, our family was blessed with Jude Aaron Jeffrey.  Born on leap day amid tornado sirens, your arrival was one for the memory books.  But the best part has been the every single day this past year.  From the beginning days of life with your newborn smiles and little sighs to your army crawling and belly laughs of today, you bring an abundance of joy to our family.  As I reflect on the last year, it is hard to believe that it has been a full year but equally hard to remember life before you.

So Jude, this is you at age one....

• You are SO happy!!  You have an easy smile that brightens your whole face.
• It is amazing that at such a young age, your adoration of Abby and Micah is so appearant.  You immediately perk up when they enter the room.
• You are a mama's boy.  You love to hang out with daddy, but when time comes for bed and comforting, you are all about mama--which is a new thing for me.  Clearly a reflection of being a stay-at-home-mom:)
• You started army crawling at age nine months and can MOVE on our hardwood floors.  It is so cute to watch!!  Although, you are testing the waters of "normal" crawling.
• I love to smell of the top of your head!--every mother understands:)  
• You bring such a sense of peace to my heart when I hold you.
• You love to laugh!
•  Your absolute FAVORITE activity is bouncing!!  Sometimes, we just sit and watch you bounce in your bouncy seat.  You grab onto the side of it with both hands and just jump.  Even when you are not in your seat, your legs still move like your bouncing:)
• You LOVE your pacifier!  When you are sleepy, you hold onto it and pump away:)
• You are fiesty!!  You are definitely the most active of the three children at this age.  If you aren't sleepy or asleep, you are moving, grabbing, climbing, grasping, jumping, or doing anything where you can move.
• You love to swing at the park---come on warm weather:)
• I have enjoyed being your mommy for the past year and look forward to watching you grow, learn, love, and every day in the future!!  I thank God for a happy, healthy boy that has blessed our family.  We love you so very much.

Rachel