Happy Birthday JayDonn!

Birthday Boy! JayDonn's first Birthday

JayDonn and Mommy on his first birthday

JayDonn and Mommy on his first birthday
Playing with Daddy
Birthday party
What a face!

Aunt Hannah and JayDonn

Do you know how hard it is to get a picture when the new one year old is very tired?!

Sunday, June 29th, was JayDonn's first birthday! I cannot believe that a whole year has past since we heard his first cry. I never understood the importance of the phrase "Cherish the Moments" until I started seeing Jay mature before my eyes. He is testing his balance now by standing without holding on for a few seconds at a time. 

Dear JayDonn,

Happy First Birthday my little man! You are my right hand man. You are growing up so fast, I can tell you are going to be such a big help with your big brother. I can't believe how much you have changed in the last year. I remember when Daddy and I found out we were going to have another baby, when Dillon was only a few months old. Daddy started jumping up and down at work, he was so excited! I started to cry, but they weren't tears of joy. I was scared to have another baby so soon. I was scared that I wouldn't have the strength to be Mommy to a new baby while caring for Dillon. I was scared I wouldn't have a strong enough heart to love Dillon and a new healthy baby. I was even a little scared that you wouldn't be healthy. Then when the doctors told me they thought you were going to have spina bifida I didn't know what to do. I thought about having another child with pysical and mental disabilities. I started researching all the possible interventions to help. Then, after knowing what would be avaiable if needed, I listened to a preaching video online and was able to leave it in God's hands. I would have to wait three weeks to know if you had Spina Bifida or not. You would think it would have been a horrible three weeks, but it wasn't. I left you in God's hands. I knew that God would hear my prayers and heal your back and close any openings, or He would give me the strength I needed to care for you and Dillon. It was during this time that I found your name online. "Jehoviah has heard"!!! Amen! Either way, Jehoviah heard our prayers and was there for us step by step. At 20 weeks, they did an ultrasound and confirmed that you were healthy! Praise the Lord! 

God knew exactly what he was doing when He put you in our family. You bring such joy and happiness. Your Daddy and I love you so much! God was so merciful and gave a child that will play by himself while we are busy helping Dillon, you sit in your crib for several minutes (I don't even know how long) without crying for me to come get you. You even have crawled up the stairs to put yourself to bed (I had to follow behind you and lift you into the crib). You are learning to sit still in church. On your first birthday you sat in church for 35 minutes in Sunday School and 1 hour 5 minutes during the night service, plus then you continued to sit out in the foyer with your milk and snack! I don't know if I want any other children, because you are so good I have been spoiled. :-) Of course you still take a lot of work, but it is a joy to see you obeying and learning right from wrong. One day I hope to see you obey God and accept Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for your sins (even though you are sweet, you still have a lot of sins!)

JayDonn, you are the joy of my life. I praise God and am so thankful for you. As much as I want you to stay small and I want to cherish the moments, I am looking forward to you getting older and being more fun. I can't wait to talk with you and have you help me make dinner or watch you fix something with Daddy. Oh, and who can forget your smile! You have the most beautiful smile in the world!

I love you Little Man!

Love,

Momma