Our Little Tax Write-Off

I look at the days winding down as we near Jacob’s first birthday, and don’t know how we got here. It was just yesterday that I was pregnant and wondering what was a leg or arm. Last week I was marveling at how tiny they made baby clothes and how big they looked on Jacob. And wasn’t it a few minutes ago that he made his first coo, laugh, sit up, start eating solids and learn one skill after another…

I was watching Jacob play today and it is so amazing to see how far he has come. He knows how to put a circle in the right hole on his dog toy. He knows how to open its mouth and feed it a treat. He understands how to give me what I ask for, and who mommy and daddy are. He may not fully crawl yet, but he has the most infectious laugh. He may drool buckets, but I finally see the telling bump of a top tooth. And he may drop and fling food at times, but he doesn’t refuse his veggies or fruits and loves to feed himself.

I don’t know how I got to be so incredibly blessed with a great baby boy. He does not cry for no reason, he gives kisses freely and is so curious about everything around him. He is the brightest part of my day. I can’t wait to see what his life will hold for him.

It always breaks your heart to see your child crying. Jacob was overdue for his blood work and needed to have his blood drawn today at his pediatrician’s office. It was done so late because the last time he went in, he was sick and they could not do it.

He sat on my lap and stared out the second floor window at the leaves on a tree outside rustling in the wind. The nurse straightened his arm and got it ready for the needle. He was somewhat curious, but easily distracted by the nature and sunshine outside, not noticing that I was holding his other arm down. Then the needle went in and he could not be bothered with what was going on outside the window. He stared as his blood exited his body. I was so proud that he was not freaking out.

Well, he didn’t freak out but I did notice his head go down. I leaned over to look at him and he was indeed crying. His eyes were closed and tears were forming. His mouth was open as if he were screaming cries, but no sound was coming out. Then moments later, the sounds of cries exited his mouth. However, by then, the nurse was nearly done.

They pulled the needle out, put on a bandage, and then Jacob quickly cuddled up and grabbed onto me and he cried a little more. I offered him a Mum Mum as a treat and he reluctantly took it and then started eating it. After a few seconds eating his tasty treat, he was fine and back to his curious self.

What a brave little guy.

Serious business

Mommy making him smile

Jacob officially hit 11 months old today. He spent the day at church, having lunch with mommy and daddy at Hof’s Hut, running around town with mommy and daddy, playing, and then Sunday dinner with family. He is slowly becoming more mobile (better late than never). His sense of wonder about his surroundings continues to grow. There are times when he prefers to be near us and in our arms and there are times when he is perfectly content just playing on his own … whether that be with his toys or with something like his foot.

He continues to make us laugh at the little things that he does. We enjoy seeing the world through his eyes, where everything is new and wondrous.

People can’t believe how old he is when we tell them. They say that he is so small. But he will grow at whatever rate he wants and be just as great as anyone else.

His 1st birthday quickly approaches and we still can’t believe how quickly time has passed. It seems like just a short time ago, I was staring at him for the first time while in the hospital. Every day, we see more and more of ourselves in him, yet he has his own distinct personality as well. He is such a big part of our lives. We almost forget what it was like not having him around.

And the best part of the whole experience is that we can tell that he loves us back. He is our little man and there isn’t anything that we would not do for him.