...NINE!...

::sigh:: Really? Is time going in warp speed to anyone else here??? How is it possible that my baby girl is already NINE months old?! Time sure flies when you're having fun!!!

This month, we've seen Emme grow so much! She is now crawling on all fours (instead of army crawling)...sitting up on her knees and trying to pull herself up on her feet...babbling up a storm...dancing (popnlockit baby!)...and into EVERYTHING that belongs to her brother!!!

She is such a joy in our lives...bringing us laughter and sunshine.


Emme,
Oh girlfriend...how sweet it has been to have you in our lives. You bless us so much with your sweet laughter...your snaggletoothed smile. Mommy, Daddy, and Jude love you so so much and couldn't imagine what life would be without you in it!

Mommy prays that you will grow up knowing that your value doesn't come from how pretty your hair is...or how cool your clothes are...how nice your makeup is...or who your friends are...but your value comes from the Lord. I pray you will know Him early in your life...and that you (and your brother) will serve Him with an unbreakable passion.

I love you, little princess.
-Mommy

...til...

I am just so amazed at my son. He is growing up so fast...and as much as I love each new stage...there is a part of me that is sad to see the "baby" in him leave. Jude is such a kind boy...for the most part- he does live up to the terrible two's sometimes! He loves his daddy and his sister so much. He adores his Mickey...and loves to make music. I find myself looking at him and trying to see him as an infant...but all I see is this little boy who is full of energy and wonder...

I want to cherish these moments with him (and his sister) all my life.

I never want to forget the way he says, "Oh shhhhhuuuuuure..." if you ask him questions.
...the way he says "Ho-nu?" (Hold you) when he wants to be picked up.
...the conversations he makes his toys have with one another.
...the way he puts his Mickey, dog, Donald, and sometimes Bullseye to sleep (doing our bedtime routine).
...and sometimes making Mickey "c-eye" (cry) so that he can go back and comfort him.

I want to remember how he wipes away my kisses...
...and demands more.
...how he puts on full band rehearsals...
...and says "Haaani" (Halmoni)

I don't want to forget his funny smile- which means he's up to no good...
...or the way he repeats, "Mommy, Daddy, I go peepee" when we're reminding him to NOT pee in his chonies.

I want to think back and smile when I remember how he always wanted daddy to read him the "Byebu" (Bible)...
...and mommy to read The Potty Book...
...the way he ALWAYS needs ice in his water cup at bedtime...
...and the lovely excuses he has already learned to make to get out of his bed...

I don't want to forget how obsessed he is with brushing his teeth...
...how he knows how to operate our phones and the dvd player better than we do...
...the sound of his voice when he says "Mommy"...
...his fake burps- followed by "tehdeh!" (excuse me)...
...how much he loves his sister...
...how he says "nieeeeeght" and waves his fingers...
...seeing his giant body on his lil truck I bought him when he was almost a year old- homeboy rides that thing everywhere...


Jude...
I know that you "like" your daddy more...but mommy wants you to know that you bring me so much joy. You make me laugh...you keep me young. I am so thankful that you are my son and my life is more complete with you in it.

I love you, son!

...Tennesee Part1...

Well...We're here at our home away from home. And no, I don't mean Disneyland! ;) Derrick and I were brave...and packed up our two babies...and our 5million bags and luggage...and hopped on a plane to see the Grandparents! We were actually talking last night...and this is our 7th time out here in the past 5 years. Yup. We love this place (especially when I don't have to sleep on an airmattress...)!!! It's so beautiful here right now...and down right cold! I mean...to board a plane at 104 degree temp and exiting the plane at 54 degree is quite a shock to the system!!! Oy! I was so not built for cold weather! I know that's really strange to some people...but I'd rather sweat than shiver!!! At least when I'm hot, I can stay inside or under a fan or AC or a pool or take off clothing. When I'm cold...I'm cold- inside, outside, under the covers...it's in my bones!

I digress. So. Our trip went pretty smoothly. I must say I was SO incredibly proud of Jude. He was such a good listener while we were waiting for Daddy to check in our 3bags...(while Mom, Jude, and Em stood on the curb w/ our double stroller, both HUGE carseats, diaper bag, Daddy's baby Taylor guitar, and the bag containing Jude/Emme's entertainment on the trip!). We stood there for what felt like forEVER...mostly b/c I was holding Emme w/ one arm the whole time...and holding Jude's hand w/ the other....and althoghe Emme, in comparison to Jude at 8months is WAY light...it still starts to make your arm want to fall off after 15 or so mins!!! OMG...I'm doing it again...I'm rambling...and making Jaime skim through all my blah blah! LOL!

Anywho. While we were waiting on the curb...this car pulls up w/ an older (60ish) man and woman. The woman is the one leaving, and as she is in line waiting to check her luggage...her husband, I notice...keeps.staring.at.us. Now. I'm used to this. HAHA. I know, so vain. No...I really am. I'm used to people staring at my kiddos...b/c they.are.gorgeous. I'm not kididng! But the really creeper was when the guy comes up to me and says, "Oh my goodness...your son here looks JUST like my grandson...do you mind if I take a picture of him???" Um. Uh. Er. I said "Ok" but inside I was thinking... 1. "Um, really? Really? ::lowervoice:: really?!?! I'm pretty sure my son looks NOTHING like your grandson b/c my son is gorgeous." and then 2. "Um. That.is.weird." HAHA. Well...he took his picture and went on his merry way. And soon after, his wife was done SkyCapping and came to tell me that Jude looks like her grandson all over again. Hm. Still don't buy it...not gunna lie! ;) And...it's not the first time people have asked to take a picture of my kids...is that weird or what?!

So then... we finally get through security...which went pretty smooth considering all we had...and they had to do the tests on the baby food stuff... So. We get to our gate...and wait and eat. DLo is holding Emme...and this guy sitting across from us...is smiling at playing peekaboo w/ her... Cute right? Yes...until. He comes up...all smiles and giggly and happy...and was like, "You are just so stinking cute! You are just flirtin' so much... If she was a lil older...I'd ask her out!" ::insertsoundofscreechingtires:: Um. Awkward much? LOL. Um. 1. My daughter is not even a year old...if she was a lil older...your a** would STILL end up in jail...or dead 2. She's sitting on her daddy's lap...you don't say stuff like that to daddy's girl while she's sitting on his lap!?! Who ARE you?! LOL. Hm. No...I mean...yes...it was creepy...but he was having so much fun getting her to smile and giggle...I think he just...chose a bad phrase to come up and say. LOL. Hmmm.

Then on the plane...our man flight attendant was uber friendly to Emme too...but he was a father to 3 boys...so I guess I can see where seeing a beautiful, well tempered, little girl would draw a dad in...except he kept saying he was going to "take her home"... Um. Okay sir. O.kay. And then, of course...there was the lil 9 year old boy who kept playing w/ Em from across the aisle. (which was both adorable and annoying at the same time!) ;) I told DLo that he had better buy a rifle soon...b/c before we know it...we're going to have BOY.TROUBLE! ;)

Alright. So. We arrived. We survived. We get someone to take all our stuff to our rental...and we drive to Chattanooga for some OG (which...btw...was AWFUL- I mean- how do you mess up Fettuccine Alfredo?!) ...and then to Cleveland. It was awesome to see Gma/Gpa...and so fun introducing our princess to her Great Grandparents! (PS- Emme's middle name "Ann" is Gma Logan's middle name as well, which is why we chose it)...

Looking forward to the rest of the week! :)

...behind...

Ugh. I'm way behind on updating. I'm sorry!!! Let's see...let me do a 5 second recap of our September...

Um. Lindsay and I finished watching LOST. We went to Disneyland. Emme turned 8months. Um. I am pretty sure that is it. Haha!!!

Disneyland was fun. And thank THE LORD for motherinlaws who are so excited and willing to come and help take care of the babies! Oh my word! Emme was great...loved looking at everything. Jude did pretty good...but this go around, he was afraid of pretty much everything- the characters, the rides...everything!!! Oh well, kid...we've got Annual Passes...you'll just hafta suckitup! ;)