FIFTY TWO {ONE YEAR OLD!}

Happy 1st Birthday, sweet Jonah Knox!

You are officially ONE YEAR OLD! Thinking about your birthday, one year ago makes me cry. It was the most incredible day of my life. I cannot imagine life without you know. You've brightened our life so much, Jonah. Daddy and I love you to the moon and back.

To celebrate your Birthday, we took you to the zoo! I took off work on your actual birthday, and then we had your big party on Saturday at the Children's Museum in Bryan. It was a wonderful birthday week! We even baked a cake together! I love starting new traditions with you. I want every little thing to be special for you.

Jonah,

Daddy and I love you with our whole hearts. This is the last entry in your first-year journal, but that doesn't mean we're not going to try to make special memories every day. Each day is a gift from God. We are so thankful we get to be your parents!! Our prayer for you is this- that you love God with your entire heart. That you grow up loving other people and have a heart to serve others. A selfless love for those around you. We pray you are blessed with wisdom and good health. Jonah, we pray that you prosper, and do well. We want to teach you how to be a gentleman and be courteous and kind. We hope you keep your happy demeanor and love of making others laugh. You are the most special little boy to us. We can't wait to watch you grow every day, and turn into a handsome young man! A year ago you changed our world completely. We love you so deeply, Jonah.

I've had the most fun documenting your life the last fifty two weeks. You made me a Momma, Jonah. Taught me how to love and nurture. You've taught me things about myself. I loved growing you in my belly for nine months, and now I get to watch you forever. Love you for always.

I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.

I love you to the moon and back, Jonah Knox Strickland!! Happy First Birthday baby boy.

Love,
Momma

FIFTY ONE

Jonah,

You're 51 weeks old today, little man! Next week you're turning the big ONE.

I remember this week a year ago so clearly. I was still working and getting really nervous about your arrival. I can't hardly wrap my mind around how quickly time has flown. You're such a big boy now. I hope you know how much Daddy and I love you. We are blessed Jonah, so BLESSED to be your parents.

We celebrated Daddy on Father's Day last weekend and then I headed to Dallas for Market. I missed you terribly while I was away. I feel like I'm going to miss something BIG if I'm gone for too long.

You're growing like a little weed. You have 10 teeth now. You went to your one year check up and the Doctor told Daddy that you have a lot of teeth for your age! You're healthy and strong and adorable. We love you to pieces!!

Every single day I'm thankful that God picked ME to be your Momma, Jonah. I love you with all my heart. I can't wait to celebrate your big day next week. You are the most special to me in all the world.

I love you!
Love,
Momma

FIFTY

Badger,

Happy 50 weeks old!!! You're two weeks shy of ONE YEAR. Ahhhhh!!! Every week you get a little bigger. Taller. Stronger and more brave. This week you've been letting go of things. Being a brave little guy. I can tell you're getting tired of crawling. You're ready to RUN!

It's HOT now in Texas. I'd forgotten how hot it gets here. It wasn't this hot in Alabama! We're taking advantage of Mims and Papa's pool. You LOVE to be in the water!

In the last few weeks you've also learned how to hold your own bottle. Eleven months old and Momma's no longer holding it. I could just cry!!!

You're pretty proud of yourself!! I'm proud of you too. You are such a happy, cheerful and SILLY little boy! You're a rotten mess and definitely have your Daddy's personality! I love it!!

This week I painted your Birthday plate for you. Daddy bought everything for me, and brought it home. He's the BEST Daddy, Jonah. You're so lucky to have him (and so am I!!!). I painted a fun plate that I hope we can use every year. A new tradition! I love making traditions with you. I hope you grow up and feel how special you are to us. I want to bake your birthday cake and serve it on your birthday plate! Special, Birthday boy treats!!

Daddy and I love you SOOOOOO much. It's crazy!! Every moment we get to spend with you we make it count. We are so blessed to have you in our life!!

We love you sweet baby boy!!
Love,
Momma (and Daddy)

FORTY NINE

Jonah Knox,

You're 49 weeks old today, and it's June 4th, 2013. I just got back from Birmingham this evening. I flew out on Sunday afternoon for a quick visit to Leeds (where we used to live). We've had the best week of relaxing fun!!

You're officially eleven months old now. I can't believe it. In less than a month you will turn ONE. A big boy, no longer my little infant. It's hard for me to accept. I thought you might like to know what a day looks like in your life...

These days you wake up between 7 and 8am. Every single morning. We're still living at Mims and Papa's house for a few more weeks until our town-home is ready. So, I pop out of bed and go get you out of your crib, change your wet diaper and give you kisses. You smile as soon as you see me walk into the room and usually you're sitting up in your crib playing with your stuffed animals (you still love Cookie and Chickie the most!!). The we head to the kitchen for breakfast. Usually your Mims already has your oatmeal made and waiting on you. Sometimes she makes you scrambled eggs. And, every morning you split a grape fruit with her. It's so cute!

Then Mom heads into the office to work. I work from 8am-4:30 or 5pm each day. I take several breaks to check on you throughout the day. Sometimes I take a full hour for lunch and take you outside to eat on a blanket. Or, we play in the living room.

Something that is so cute, and I love, is- you love to crawl to the office door and push it open (if you can). You grin at me and start chattering away. You always have lots to talk about!!

Once I get off of work I feed you dinner and we play! Usually Daddy is home and he plays also. Sometimes we swim, other times we go for a snow-cone together or go eat at Rosa's for Taco Tuesdays! You love refried beans and mexican rice!! You're a great eater, and now, you eat all table food. No more baby for for my little chunky!

This past week we went over to Meme's house for dinner. We also went swimming several times. We're having the best summer together.

I love you more than you could ever possibly imagine, Jonah!!  We are going to make SO many fun memories together this summer!!

Love,

Momma

FORTY EIGHT

Hi Badger!

You're forty eight weeks old today! Getting closer to the BIG ONE by the hour!! We had the very best long weekend ever. I was off work yesterday for Memorial Day. We celebrated by hanging out with family alllll weekend long. The best kind of weekend. Long. Full. Filled with family and laughter. Filled with lots of love.

On Friday afternoon we headed to Louisiana to visit Uncle Cody and Aunt Jade. We stayed at their cute little house until Sunday morning. Your auntie had a little pool, towel and tons of toys and snacks just waiting for your arrival!! They couldn't wait to see you!

On Saturday we went to Lake Charles and headed down to the Gulf to go crabbing. We had the most fun ever. Your Momma caught a Blue Crab!! I'm happy to report that I caught the first crab. Your Daddy is pretty competitive and didn't catch a single crab. That makes me laugh! You were enthralled with watching the crab crawl around the bucket. It's claws were sharp so I didn't let you get too close!

On Sunday morning we got up and headed into Houston to Uncle Joel and Aunt Heather's house. Your cousins couldn't WAIT for you to get there! They invited us to go swimming at their community's pool and you loved it. You loved it so much that you fell asleep at the pool in your stroller. UNHEARD OF, Jonah! You never fall asleep in your stroller!!

We had the best long weekend together. I look at your every single day and can't believe how BIG you are now! I love you, Jonah!

Love,
Momma

FORTY SEVEN

Jonah Knox,

Last week was rough for your Mom. We celebrated Mother's day on Sunday, and then at 4 am bright and early Monday morning Daddy took me to the airport in Houston to fly to Alabama. Lots of work to do! I stayed in Alabama for three nights. My first nights apart from you. Terrible. TERRIBLE. I hated every moment I was away!! I didn't get to see you until late Thursday night and you were already asleep. That didn't stop me from picking you up and cuddling you. No sir! I love my little baby boy!!

So, this past weekend we hung out together. Lots of family time, love and cuddles. I wasn't sure how it was going to be- spending time away from you and I was right all along. It was not fun for this Momma!! I was so happy to squeeze your little cheeks all weekend long!! We had brunch after your photos at Grand Luxe in Houston by the Galleria. You were a little stinker. You ended up sitting with four precious ladies at the table next to us. They asked to hold you so Dad and I could eat. It's always an adventure with you, Jonah boy!!!

I sure love you and that chubby little smiling face that I get to see every day. The very best part of my day is opening your door to see you sitting in your crib just waiting for me to come get you each morning. I love it!!

We visited Meme this week and had a delicious dinner at her house. We went out to look at her garden and help her pick a few vegetables. Do you know how much your Great Grandmother loves you, Jonah? She loves you so much. Every time we go to her house she has new toys and snacks for you that she picks up on her weekly trips "to town". Meme is the kindest, most gentle lady that I've ever met. I am so happy that she is getting to love on you. Precious, precious memories.

You are a little mess these days. Crawling faster than ever, pulling up on everything in sight, opening cabinet doors and emptying (!!!) the contents of every cabinet. You're a toot toot and I love it. Mr. Personality Plus. You know how to make us smile and you're rotten. Just rotten. In the best possible way...

I feel like your little face is changing daily. You've gotten so much taller in the last three months. The little baby face is gone, but sometimes I can still see a glimpse of the baby I brought home from the hospital almost a year ago...

You will ALWAYS be my baby, Jonah. Always. Even when you're twenty one and Mom isn't cool anymore. It's okay. You will still be my baby. 

I love you to the moon and back, Jonah Knox!!!

Love, 

Momma