THIRTY NINE

Jonah Knox,

You're 39 weeks old this week, and today you are NINE MONTHS OLD!!!

You are a little MESS!! Well over half-way to your first birthday. I can hardly believe it. In three months you will be ONE! Ahhh.

This week you learned to say "more" in sign language. We've been working on that for awhile and it really clicked. You have been signing more to just about everything! You also started dancing to music this week. It is seriously the CUTEST thing I have ever seen. You look like Stevie Wonder, swinging your little head back and forth to the music. It is my favorite!!!

 You've started pulling up on everything. You went straight from crawling to pulling up in the span of two weeks. SLOW DOWN, little man!! You are so proud of yourself. It's cute.

Mims is still keeping you during the day while I work. I can hear you all day, and pop in to hang out with you throughout my day. I love being able to see you anytime I want. You are keeping Mims on her toes now. You LOVE her magazines. You are T-R-O-U-B-L-E!!!

 You are eating a lot of table food now. You had your first Double Dave's pizza roll (no pepperoni's) this week. You thought they were delicious and wanted "MORE", Momma!

We met your Papa last week for lunch. We went to his favorite hole-in-the-wall mexican place, Pepe Taco. He loooooves Pepe's. I don't love it so much, but you really liked your rice and beans! Papa's day was made...

Daddy is off work during the week so on the days that he's at home you guys hang out and have lots of boy time. I just stay away because Daddy plays rough with you and it worries me, but you LOVE it!!

You are getting in another tooth on bottom and you're drooling like crazy! You aren't a cranky teether, but you do drool a whole lot!

I noticed this week that you are really getting tall, or long. You are almost too long for your 9 month clothes now! And, you just turned nine months this week!! It's crazy how fast time is flying, and how big you are getting!...

This week you took a bath in your little green tub for the LAST time!! I turned my back to grab your bath towel and when I turned around, this is what I found....

It made me laugh so hard!!!! I texted the pics to your Daddy. It's officially time for the big boy bathtub!

I love you so much, Jonah Knox! Happy 9 months!!
Love,
Momma

THIRTY EIGHT

Baby Boy,

You're crawling ALLLLLL over the place! Not only are you crawling everywhere, into everything, on top of it all, and under it all, but you're also PULLING UP on thing this week.

What in the world?! This is happening way too fast Jonah boy!!! Your Momma is so incredibly proud of you! You're a little mess.

You are eating tons of table food these days. Your Mims and Papa spoil you terribly!! You've had your Meme's fried okra, yeast rolls, sweet potatoes, potato salad, and mashed potatoes. You are a BIG fan of her cooking!! I'm so happy that we get to live across the street from her, even if it will only be for two months. Meme is precious to me and loves you to pieces!!

You're getting bigger every day, and your features are changing. More like a little boy, and less like an infant. You are the most handsome little boy ever!

Daddy and I love you very much. Your Daddy is anxiously waiting for you to say DADDY!! We've been working on it almost every day and I know that you understand who he is. It's funny that you won't just say it. You must be saving it up for a surprise...

You look just like your Daddy to me now. He loves you BEYOND, Jonah. So very much. You are the first thing he asks me about on the phone and he heads straight to you when he walks into the door each day.

 Mims and Papa sure enjoy us being here. This has been a really good two months so far. I'm so glad they're getting to see you do big boy things while we live with them. You've started crawling at their house and now you're pulling up on all of their furniture. They love you so much, Jonah!!

You are so loved, Jonah Knox!!
Love,
Momma

THIRTY SEVEN

Dear Jonah,

You made your Momma get teary eyed tonight! Today is Tuesday, March 12th and you crawled towards your Momma and Daddy tonight. It was the coolest experience ever!!! You've been pulling up onto your knees for the past week and then flopping back onto your tummy. I knew it was coming because you started doing that more and more over the last few days, but tonight I think you realized that you could GO. And go you did...and are...

You are officially ON THE MOOOOVE...

I love it. You're grinning from ear to ear and so incredibly proud of yourself. We are so proud of you Jonah. You're growing big and strong just as you should be.

You Mims is keeping you during the day and I have a feeling that she is in trouble now. Look out, because you're going to be getting into everything!!

 And, not to mention the little ham that you are. You are just like your Daddy. You loooove to make us laugh!! It is so cute. Your Papa has been teaching you new "tricks", like holding the spoon in your mouth after you take a bite...

 You also just learned how to clap your hands!! If you hear music you start clapping, or if we say, "yaaaaay Jonah!!" you will clap your little hands. It is so cute!!!

 I love you so much. It's so much fun to see your personality starting to develop. You are definitely going to be a mischievous!!

It's getting warmer here in Texas, and it stays light in the evening a bit longer each day. I love to take you on walks and pull you around the yard in the wagon. You're my little buddy. We talk about the kitties, and Alex the horse. You love animals and anything you pick up (rocks, leaves, grass) goes straight into your mouth!

You are my sunshine, Jonah!
I love you more than you will ever know.
Love,
Momma

THIRTY SIX

Dear Jonah,

Today is Tuesday, March 5th and you just rocked my world. Today, you woke up from your afternoon nap crying, so I opened your door, you looked up at me and said...

Momma.

The sweetest words I've ever heard in my life. Your very first word was Momma. My, how that makes my heart sing!!!! I am on cloud nine little man!!!

You have started reaching your arms out to me when you want me to hold you and I love it. You are my pride and joy little man. I love holding you. You don't let me cuddle you much anymore, you want to look around and watch every little thing that is going on at the time. You are SO nosy!!! So alert and aware of your surroundings!

I love playtime with you. You chuckle and laugh out loud. Full of joy and life. You're also full of personality. You're impatient and sassy. You want what you want, and you want it NOW, Momma. NOW. I wouldn't be surprised if NOW was your next word, little toot.

Every evening we go walking with your Papa and Mims. I love our routine. We've settled in nicely here while house hunting. It's a nice change to see our family all of the time. You love your family, and so do I!

You also love animals. Papa takes you to visit the horses down the road and you love to watch them, and even pet them. You have no fear!! You also love to go see Max and Charlie outside!

Last weekend we went to your cousin Jacob's wedding. You looked so adorable in your little cardigan and cords...

I love my boys so much!!

You're learning and growing every day. This week you've been getting on your knees. STOP!!! I am not ready for you to learn to crawl yet. You will break your Momma's heart! I just want to bottle the way you smell and keep you little forever.

I love you Jonah Knox Strickland, more than you will ever, ever know.
Love,
Momma