Sweet 16

July 18th marks Judah's 16-month birthday...can you believe it?! I know, I know~what they say is true...time really does fly as a parent. I know I will blink and it will suddenly be his true "Sweet 16" (years, that is). It's been a while since I've given an update on all things Judah. So for 16 sweet months, here are16 things we love about you, sweet Judah.

1. You love, love, love your "Dada." You constantly talk about him during the day when he is at work and get SO excited when he comes home. I've never seen a smile so big :-) You especially love when Dada "wrestles" with you, and Dada told me that he loves that you like to "rough-house."

2. We have lots of nicknames for you, the most prominent being "J-man" and "Judah-Bean." You are very aware of these names and respond to them quickly :-) 

3. You have recently begun to engage in "pretend play" and it is the CUTEST! For example, you always hold the phone (and other electronic devices) up to your ear (and by the way, it's always "Dada" who's calling). You use your toothbrush to brush your stuffed animals' teeth. You also "brush their hair" and give them their milk.  The best is when you pretend something is your spray-on sunscreen or spray-in hair product. Your sound effects when pretending to spray these items are priceless.

4. Speaking of play, you stinkin' love the playground/park that is near our new home. (I, too, admit that it's great!) You are FEARLESS and want to be just like the big kids. You even climbed up the largest slide only to then go down by yourself. Sliding is your favorite and I love that you say "wee" in anticipation!

5. You have a love-hate relationship with bath time. A few weeks ago, you were not a fan and wanted to get out as quickly as possible. Now, it is near impossible to get you out. You just stay in the tub and play, even when there is no water.

6. You have the same history with reading books. When you first began to walk, you really wanted nothing to do with reading because it confined you. I'm happy to report that you now currently love to read and will even independently pick out books from your bookshelves, and sit in your chair to "read."  I hope it stays this way :-)

7. In an effort to keep our sanity, your parents have allowed you to watch your first few television episodes as you transition from two naps to one~which sometimes causes you to become extremely tired and irritable during certain parts of the day. You've watched a few episodes of "Sesame Street" as well as "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse." You LOVE "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" and will actually sit still to watch it. You dance during the intro song, when Tootles makes his appearance, and especially when they do the "Hot Dog, Diggity-Dog" dance at the end. *(Confession: Your Mama really loves the "Hot Diggity Dog" dance, too, and loves to dance with you!)

8. On that note, you still LOVE to dance and your skills are really improving. Your new favorite music obsessions are Bob Marley and anything Bluegrass. However, sometimes you just dance to music in your head that is silent to those around you. I know you are just "feelin' it" when you start dancing to silence. I love that you dance on demand when I simply say "Break it Down, Judah." You are really staying true to your Northern Ethiopian roots, as the people of Mekele are known for their dance moves!

9. There is no way to describe the love you have for Shasta. Not that you need reminding, but everyone else may: "Shasta the Sheep" is your soft, cuddly "lovey" that you nap with and always love on. We have a rule that Shasta lives in your crib and doesn't leave your room. You are okay with this rule, but Shasta is no doubt your best friend. See for yourself.

10. You really enjoy the swimming pool and think you can swim with no floating devices. You sometimes get upset when Mama or Dada won't let you go freely in the pool. To help remedy this problem, your Mama has enrolled you in swim classes and we start in a few weeks. I think you will be a pro :-) And since you love the water so much, we also just bought you a water table. You have no idea how much fun we're going to have with this thing!

11. You have a budding friendship with Allie-dog and it is really sweet to see. You like to help take her for walks and you are learning to help fill her bowls with her food and water. You are also learning to feed her in different ways, such as sneaking her food from the table. She really likes you because of this.

12. Your communication is blossoming and we are so proud of you for that! Your vocabulary includes many words. Some of your favorites are ball, juice, keys, shoes, uh-oh, Shasta, and outside. I just love that you are communicating your wants and needs. Just last week when you cleaned your plate at dinner, you looked up and said "all gone, more." I got so excited when you did this that I scared you with my crazy loud cheers. And just today on our stroll, you threw your paci down and said "wa-wa!" (water). You also produce many animal sounds ("quack" is my favorite :-) and use several of your signs such as more, thank  you, and all done. Your Dada and I think it is hilarious (and sometimes frustrating) that  you've learned to generalize "all done" to something you don't want. For example, you will sign "all done" when we are changing your diaper. Ha! 

13. You are also not a huge fan of the stroller these days...at least initially anyways. You just don't like being confined/strapped in. So if you are abruptly placed in your stroller with no warning(s), you get really mad. We are working on this :-)

14. You still LOVE to climb. You try to climb up pretty much every piece of furniture, including your crib and high chair. And just this week as I briefly turned my back to load the dishwasher, you climbed all the way up on the kitchen table!

15. You are ALL. BOY. You think that all gross things are hilarious~ including burps, hiccups, flatulence, and nose-picking. Here is proof .

16. On the contrary, you are extremely affectionate and it is perhaps your father and I's most favorite thing about you. Your emotional perceptions and capacity for empathy are truly incredible for your age. You give us kisses out of the blue all the time, and you get concerned when other babies cry or when other children are upset. And you are extremely sensitive to your parents' emotions. This week when the shower curtain rod fell on my arm and I cried out in pain, you got very upset and immediately wanted to hug me. Once I picked you up, you hugged me so tightly and then gave me what we call "love pats" (gentle pats on the back) to let me know that everything was going to be okay. It was so sweet that your father and I both cried.

Dear Judah,
Your father and I could clearly go on and on about how much we love you, while listing all of the fabulous things about you. However, words could never capture the enormous amount of joy we have in our hearts just knowing that you are our son. You are such a treasured gift from Above, and we are honored to be your parents and watch you grow.
With all our heart, Mama and Dada

Missing Month (Part One)

While the month of June 2011 will always paint very vivid pictures in my mind, you'll notice it's missing from this blog. What's not missing from the month, however, is a roller coaster of emotions. A coaster so full of ups and downs that I'm hesitant to jump on the ride again and travel down memory lane to write this post. Every topic in this month deserves its own post, so it really doesn't feel right to create a "flashback summary." But in an attempt to catch up, that's what it will have to be...

The month kicked off with a trip to my sweet home Alabama to visit family and friends. This was a much anticipated visit, as we had not been since Christmas. In addition, my grandfather's 90th birthday occurred while we were home and my parent's pool was open for business! While in Alabama, Judah really enjoyed...

Eating summer foods

Relaxing in the pool with old pals

Hangin' with his buddy, Braylen

Meeting new pals

Looking up to his cousin, Jordan

Playing with new friend, Knox

And another new friend, Kenleigh

He loved the "doggie" statue keeping watch over my parents' pool

And experiencing a "splash pad" for the first time...and all things water, really.

I should also mention that this was Judah's first time in a swimming pool and he was a pro! He loved going underwater!

It was incredibly special that Judah and I were able to celebrate my Granddaddy Joe's 90th birthday with him. He had two birthday parties on the actual day of his birthday, and we attended both! I gave in and let Judah have cake and ice cream (your great-grandfather only turns 90 once :-) and let's just say he had difficulty going to sleep that night!

Balloons tied to his stroller!

Happy Birthday, Granddaddy Joe!

Two days after my grandfather's actual birthday, we were to have a family party and continue celebrating...a Hawaiian luau as a matter of fact. By Friday night, everything was in place for the party the next day. Even Jeff flew down from North Carolina to celebrate with us for the weekend.

No one was prepared for what took place the following morning. My grandfather called us at 8:30am explaining that he was worried about my Mammaw (his wife of 63 years) who was having a terrible headache and could not get out of bed. He knew Jeff flew in the previous night and was seeking medical advice and asking him to come over to see her. We were all actually taking a nap at the time of the call because we had gotten back to my parents' house from the airport around 2am the night before thanks to a delayed flight and lost luggage. And wouldn't you know that Judah awoke at 5am the following morning?! Anyways, as much as I wanted to stay in bed and nap when Jeff received the phone call from my grandfather, something told me to go with him. When I arrived at my grandmother's house, I could tell she was not well at all and that she was declining quickly. While 911 was called, I just kept holding her hand and telling her that I loved her. I am confident that in the first moments after we arrived at her house that she knew it was me holding her hand. I will not share all the details because they are personal and painful, but my Mammaw was having a massive stroke before my eyes. I knew she was slipping away and there was nothing we could do about it. She was taken away from her home via ambulance, then airlifted to a hospital in Birmingham. She took her last breath at 4pm that day in a hospital bed, and I am blessed to say that I was right by her side when she went to be with Jesus. As I grieve the loss of an amazing grandmother, caregiver, and friend to me, I am rejoicing and thanking our Lord that Judah and I were able to spend two precious weeks with her before her death, and that I (and Jeff and Judah) happened to be in Alabama when she went to heaven. I do not think this was coincidence. I will miss her so, but know that she is in a better place and thankful that she no longer suffers.

I love you, Mammaw, and can't wait to see you again one precious day!

Taken Christmas 2010

Still Here

Hi there! If anyone is still stopping by, I just wanted to let you know that things are well and that I haven't forgotten about this little blog...and I've been keeping up with you, too! The past month has been incredibly busy with major highs and some definite lows. Stay tuned for the next post about the crazy month that was June 2011.
For now, I just wanted to let you know that a little over a week ago we moved! That's right, we're finally a family of three in one~albeit small~ location (and we have Allie-dog back!). We're loving our DC condo as well as our neighborhood and can't wait to explore this amazing city for the next three years!
I am incredibly bummed that our computer is not recognizing our camera, thus I can't download any recent pictures I've taken...ugh! We're working on it, though, and I can't wait to share pictures of one adorable little boy :-) I don't feel like a post is complete without a picture, and I'm also in a totally nostalgic mood tonight. (Warning: I probably will be this way all month because it was JULY of last year that we flew across the world to meet our precious son!) So....I'll leave you with this sweet face from a picture we saw exactly one year ago, just weeks before boarding a plane to bring him home.

Until next time...

Nomads

* Disclaimer: This post is a pity-party. Be assured that I know we are blessed; just need to vent.

Lately, life has been action-packed and fun, but difficult too...which is why I haven't been doing much blogging.  Let me give you the skinny in a very simplistic way because my brain hurts...Judah's too, apparently.

We sold our home in March. This was a good thing. We do not move to DC for Jeff's new job until the end of June and we had no place to go. This was a bad thing. A blessing came along and we were able to stay together as a family for 5 weeks in Chapel Hill in a beautiful home while the owners were on a mission trip to Africa~great thing! The owners came back from their trip; Judah and I have been traveling (without Jeff!) to visit friends and family ever since~good & bad. In the past month, I've been in Murray, KY; Louisville, KY; Cincinnati, OH; Nashville, TN; and Washington DC. We're briefly back in Chapel Hill, NC, to see Jeff, but only to leave him again in a few days for two more weeks of travel. Lots of driving. Lots of flying. Lots of sleeping in different beds. All to save money while waiting for Jeff to complete residency and for us to find a place to live in DC (which definitely deserves its own blog post and will get it as soon as the mission is complete). And yes, Judah has been along for the ride. He is all over the place and into everything; getting his molars (delightful); and I've had the stomach flu (thankfully, Judah was spared.) Overall, Judah has done great and we've cherished sweet moments with friends and family. However~ We are tired. We are weary. We miss Jeff. And we long to be a happy family of THREE (plus Allie-dog) in ONE place.
Bottom-line, extended visits with friends and family are great but I do not recommend continuous nomadic living with a toddler sans the toddler's father. This mama is worn. out. But this face keeps me going....

This Mama's Day

Hard to imagine that all I knew of my sweet boy last Mother's Day were a few pictures. Oh, what a difference a year makes! This year, I know that those wise eyes tell a story, shed crocodile tears, and sparkle of happiness. This year, I know that those beautiful lips can turn into the most contagious smile, make animal sounds, blow bubbles, and give slobbery kisses. This year, I know that those hands can drum to the beat, splash in the water, and wave bye-bye. This year, I know that those long legs can climb up pretty much anything, run like there's no tomorrow, and dance, dance, dance! 
My heart is full of joy as I relish in the honor of mothering my Judah. This gift would not be possible without the amazing grace and faithfulness of our Lord  Jesus and the unbelievable love and courage of Judah's birth mother. To both, I am forever grateful. Thank you for making me a Mama this year and always.

Mother's Day Weekend 2011-
Thanks to my mother-in-law for capturing these sweet, candid moments!

Referralversary

The Lord told us in January of 2008 that our baby was in Africa. A little over 2 years later on April 27th, 2010~exactly one year ago today~we saw his face for the first time.

That evening was one we will never forget. I couldn't sleep for looking at these sweet pictures all night long...

So tiny

Immediately in love with that hair!

This one cracks me up, with his puckered lips giving a "fist pump"

Notice his shirt says "Future Hero to the Rescue" Love that...he had already rescued my heart that night.

He's still fascinated with his hands

Fast forward one year and I am truly in awe as I look at my beautiful, sweet, independent, full-of-life toddler.

Judah, I am blessed and honored to be your mother and I cannot imagine my life without you in it.

Happy Easter!

Judah's first Easter was busy but very memorable. It began on Friday with a 10+ hour drive from North Carolina to Kentucky. That's right, over 10 hours with a 13 month-old. Big. Fun. For any other trip, we would have flown, but we had to drive this time...I will spare you the reasons :-)
Besides Judah's difficulty getting to sleep in the hotel Friday from midnight until 2am, as well as the enormous blow-out of poop in the car (and on me while changing him) on the last leg of the trip, I would say that overall we were blessed with a good drive!
After a quick nap upon arriving on Saturday, it was off to Granddaddy Cunningham's for delicious food and an Easter egg hunt with the cousins. Okay, so the Easter egg hunt was more like "let's look at all the pretty eggs in the basket while indoors" because it was stormy and rainy the entire day....in fact, it is still stormy and rainy as I write. Nevertheless, Judah had a great time playing with his many cousins!

All the kiddos (and Great-Granddaddy) around the "Peeps" cake

Getting the hang of "eggs in a basket ":-)

Counting his eggs

This morning we were blessed to attend church with Jeff's parents and brother at Jeff's home church. Judah sat with us the entire time and made it through the service without a "peep"...with the exception of dancing to the hymns...so cute!  

with his Pop

with Mommy and Granma

 Thank you, Father, for the Third Day. He is Risen, and we are forever grateful!