A Letter to Jayce: One Year

To my baby boy,

I have avoided writing this as long as I can. You will be 13 months old tomorrow so I better write this to you now. 

My love for you has grown exponentially over the last year. I hope you can tell based on these letters. I've grown into my role of mommy and accept the good days with the bad. It was so new when you were first born (duh!) and I was scared of what I was doing. Now, I still don't know what I'm doing but l don't get scared about it. 

You communicate so well. You sign most of the words we've taught you and you even say a few too. This past month went by so fast (the one leading up to you turning one). 

We celebrated your first Easter at the ranch. 

You got your first Easter basket (without the rabbit since it was left at home). 

Grandma and Grandpa even got you your first bouncy ball and tennis shoes. 

And we let you play with cascarones. You didn't quite get the true point of them. That's okay though. 

Nana and Poppy even sent you some things for Easter. 

You became a full time walker. It kind of broke my heart to see you growing up. BUT, I'm super proud of you and your accomplishments. 

After becoming a walker, you decided to start standing up without any help. Normally, that happens before walking but you didn't care. =)

Like any good Texan family, we stuck you in a bunch wild flower bluebonnets that was a ditch on the side of a highway. =)

And then, it was your birthday. We woke you up singing "Happy Birthday," put balloons in your crib, and let you play in them. You LOVE balloons!


We had your birthday party a few days later when it was the weekend. Your friends, our friends, and our families were able to come over and celebrate.


The last few pictures are from your one year photo shoot. You look so grown up. I may not admit it but, you are a big boy now (until you get bigger). This year has been so hard for me: emotionally and spiritually. I'm not as good spiritually as I should be but I'm better than when you were first born. Emotionally, I'm still a wreck when you accomplish things. However, I'm ok with it. I cry selfishly and then I'm celebrating your accomplishment and helping you achieve more. I hope I can be that way as you continue to grow up. To me, there is no way I could do that without God. That's where I can tell I'm doing better spiritually. God is making a difference in my attitude without me even knowing it.

I love you so much.
(I cannot wait until the day that you become a big brother. It will break my heart, I'm sure, that you won't be my baby. Your heart and attitude is already showing me that you will be such a great big brother. You are going to be awesome at it!)

"I'll love you forever, I'll love you for always,
As long as I'm living, My baby you'll be."
-Love, Mommy

A Letter to Jayce: Eleven Months

To my sweet boy,

You are such a big boy. I can't wait to see what this month holds and how many tears I will shed. 

You have been saying "Dada" and "Mama" on a consistent basis. Of course, "Dada" is your go to word for almost everything. You've gotten really good at signing "more" and waving. Hopefully, the words come and more signing too. 

You gave me a huge gift by finally taking a nap in you crib this month. It hasn't happened since moving into our house (over 3 months!). Now, you take both of your naps in your room. Thank you. So much. 

You started bear crawling. The next step is standing up and walking on your own. 😩

You tried Cheerios and they are now your go to snack. I love how you try to use your little front teeth to actually bite them in half and then eat them. 

You have started to stand on your own without holding on to anything. We either stand you up like that or you let go of the furniture and stay standing. 

You love brushing your teeth. We can give you a toothbrush and it helps you stop crying or you lay still while I change your diaper. It's been fun watching you reach for your toothbrush. 

We have started going to Mother Goose time with our new Sunday school friends. You are loving the rhymes and story time. 

You have started using your walker to walk around the house. You used to cry just looking at it. We are so proud of you. It's helping you learn how to walk forward. Cruising has only been sideways. You are getting big & brave!

I am dreading this next month because you will stop being a baby on your birthday. But you are showing us that big things are on the horizon this next month too. 

I love you. 

And my baby you'll always be. 

(I promise I started this within a week of you being 11 months!!)

A Letter to Jayce: Ten Months

Hi there stinker!

It's officially time to start planning and making things for your birthday. I'm not okay with that. I couldn't wait for the first few months to be over since I was struggling so much. Now, time hasn't slowed down and I'm struggling with that. I can't help but think of you growing up, going to college, meeting that girl, and hoping I can cut the cord before then so I can be a good mother in law. But to stop all that, I've decided Jesus is coming back before you become a teenager. 😂😂 

Ok, onto you and less of me. This month was crazy. Mommy finally decided going on walks is really good for both of us so you found your new favorite things: the swing and Clifford at our neighborhood park.

We also are going to Tiny Tots and Tunes at church. You LOVE it. You like music, shakers, bells, and most of all, the bubbles!

You have started making so many noises too. Your fishy face helps make clucking noises, blowing bubbles makes a good spitting sound, and patting your open mouth & strumming your lips makes a great echo sound. 

You and Shorty are getting along better too. I think he finally realizes that you aren't going away, aren't staying still anymore, and you only want to love him & share things with him. 

You have officially learned how to use Shorty's stairs also. So, you are trying to translate that knowledge to other objects that can help you climb up on things. You're getting creative. 

You went to visit your Great Aunt Peggy,

You hosted your first Super Bowl party,

You celebrated your first Valentine's Day,

And you got your first viral infection and ear infection. 

Daddy and I were so worried about you when you were coughing all through the night. I took you to the doctor Monday morning before you were 10 months. It's the first time I've had to take you to the doctor for something other than your month checkups. Thankfully your antibiotics helped you start feeling better 2 days later. 

One of my favorite moments this month was you helping with the dishes. You LOVE to help me unload the silverware, whether it's clean or dirty. 😂 You are great at taking out one piece of silverware, showing to me, and then giving it to me when I say thank you. I just have to wait to load the dishwasher when you aren't looking. Otherwise, all the silverware keeps getting handed to me. Hopefully, this "happy to help with the dishes" phase lasts longer than I'm guessing it will. 

This next month, I'll be holding onto every moment. After next month, you won't be my baby anymore because then you'll be a year old. I can't believe it. 

I love you forever. 

Mommy

A Letter to Jayce: Nine Months

Hi handsome!

You are now 3/4 of the way through your first year on this earth with us. This month was so busy. You had more firsts, of course. 

You have started trying to crawl up things. A few examples are my legs, the couch, and Shorty's stairs. 

You had your very first Christmas. 

We spent Christmas Eve with Mommy's family. Uncle B and Auntie M got you the cutest sports socks. Grandma let Grandpa pick out toys for you. 

Mommy and Daddy got you some new Christmas jammies and a couple of toys with lots of parts. 

Then, we started to open presents from people in Oklahoma. 

 

You loved pulling the tissue paper and wrapping paper. 

There were so many presents that by the end of the morning, Daddy was opening everything for you and you were ready for a nap. 

You at least played with this toy from Santa before falling asleep. 

A week later, we celebrated your first New Year! You of course were awesome and went to bed at your normal time. You got to have your first mule rides on January 1, 2016. Even though it was cold, you loved it!!

The next weekend, we did a huge thing: we flew to California on an airplane! It's a really big deal to Mommy since she's heard that some babies hate it. You did so good! You slept/ate during takeoff and landing and you played so quietly during the 3 hour flight. I was so proud of you!

You finally got to meet Mommy's family in California when we went to her cousin's  wedding. You met baby E and y'all loved each other right away. You guys tried to hold hands and hug. 

You also had your first mohawk too. 

When we flew home you didn't sleep as much but you still did great. You didn't cry during takeoff or landing. 

You did something a few days later, you did something that made Mommy cry. I was vacuuming the rug and showing you it wasn't scary. You crawled up to me and did this. 

You had never done it before! You just rested your head on my legs and showed me love. I'll never forget that. 

The next week was Mommy's birthday. You hung out with Grandma and Grandpa while Daddy took me to finally see Star Wars (a month after it came out). We can't wait for you to watch the movies with us. The next morning was my actual birthday. You gave me lots of snuggles as if you knew it was a special day. 

On your 9 month birthday, we couldn't go to the doctor and it was MLK day. We'll tell you all about that later. Instead, you mastered using Shorty's stairs. I went to the kitchen to put something in the sink and I came back to this. 

You little stinker! Poor Shorty can't get on the couch any more. We can't leave his stairs by the couch because you climb them. Next, he won't be able to get to his food since we will have to block you from it huh?! 

We love you very much baby boy. Now I have to start thinking about your birthday party. Stop growing up so fast!!!