9 Months of Malachi Jude

Dear Little Malachi Jude:

Wow. When I look at these pictures I am amazed that I spend every day with you and still feel like I discover new ways to love you. I still love seeing you when you wake up. I still am amazed at your beautiful, sweet personality. Your smiles, your laugh, and your joy. My heart still breaks when I hear you cry and I want to do anything I can to make it stop. I am amazed that you love sleeping. I am amazed that you love eating. I am so proud of how you smile at everyone who talks to you and that you already show God's love. I pray for you every night to love Jesus. I pray for your health and for you to be a light in this world. I want to protect you and keep you safe, and I sing to you that "God is so Good" "Jesus loves you" and "Oh how He loves you". I pray that those words sink into the depths of your heart. You love being around other little friends. You love crawling and being independent. Nothing thrills you more than seeing your Dada. You bring so much love and light to our home. We know that you are God's gift to us and we want to be the best parents for you. Thank you for 9 months of pure love and joy. You are our sunbeam. We love you so much. 

Love Mama and Dada

September Fresh

I can't believe its September! I love the newness of a new season...but I am so not ready to pack away my bathing suit and shorts. I want to squeeze one last swim in...but every year I never truly know when that will be...only to discover later in September that it had already come and gone without me noticing....but my bathing suit is sitting on top of my dresser believing that one last swim is still coming!

For the last 4 Septembers, I've had a panic...putting my phone on its highest ringer, printing off new business cards, feeling the guilt if I'm not driving around selling myself at schools, feeling the guilt if I get another day off to celebrate vacation because it means one less day of pay...Last year I was worried I'd be too large to comfortably sub...which wasn't the case,thank goodness.

This year, I breathe a prayer of thankfulness every single morning that I open the door to Malachi's room and see him happily (or hungrily) rolling around. I open his curtains and say Good Morning! I love getting a snuggle from him, although he's usually straining to look around or wiggle out of my arms...especially when we head to the change table. He has 5 little teeth popping out so he's not always the most cheerful, but he is ALWAYS pleased to see his Daddy in the morning before work. He's slept in a few days, but today was one that his ears perked up to Daddy's alarm so he got to see him.

Being a Mama...I can't even believe this is my role and privilege to take care of such a sweet blessing. He truly is such a gift to us. We have always been blessed by a good sleeper and after working through the nursing problems, we have settled into a easy routine of eating, playing and napping. He is thrilled by everything...whether its the wind blowing through the trees, the cars on the street while we go for walks, looking around at stores, playing on the grass with his friends. I'm so thankful for this little guy.

I truly do love teaching, and I will miss being Mrs. Stretch this year, and not sure when I will return, to be honest, but I pray that someday I will get the chance to be in the classroom. But as long as we can do it, I am beyond happy to stay home and raise Malachi.