I love you, sweet Jorja Mae!

Well, I feel in honor of Jorja's first birthday I should recap some of my most favorite things about my little girl and our first year together. I've been trying to figure out how many things I should recap because there are just so many - I could do 365 for every day we've been together or I could do 7,232,007 since that is her birth date - but I figure that might be a little overboard. :) At any rate, you can feel free to read or skip this particular entry as it is mainly something special for Jorja from me as a way to capture all my thoughts and feelings for her on "paper". Plus, I'm sure no matter how many or few things I try to come up with, it will be lengthy! :)

Me & Jorja the day she was born and on her 1st birthday!

Jorja Mae, my sweet baby girl - you have made my life better and brighter and shown me things about myself that I never knew existed. The love I have for you is one I have never known before and one that will never compare to another. I now have a small glimpse of how God loves us and how He must feel about us as his children. Truly Amazing! You are such a blessing from God and I can't imagine my life without you in it. I pray I will be a great mentor, teacher, confidant, friend and mom to you all the days of your life.

Here are just a FEW of the things I love about you - my sugar bear, my princess, my sweet pea, my silly girl, my little munchkin, my baby girl, my love, my Jorja Mae:

1. Your Laugh - it has evolved throughout the year which means you actually have about 5 different laughs depending on what is going on and what you think is funny. Your laugh can bring a smile to my face on the worst of days. It is my favorite sound!
2. How You Cuddle - I love when you are so sleepy you can't help but rest your head on my shoulder. Recently you just started wanting a "lovey" when you go to sleep and I love when I put your lovey on my shoulder how you immediately stick your thumb in your mouth and with your other fingers grab onto the lovey and rest your head. I could cuddle with you all day!
   
3. Your Wet Slobbery Kisses - you are very stingy with your kisses but when you do decide to give them you go all out! They are wide open mouth kisses with lots of licking and slobber. They are wet but so wonderful. I often find myself trying to figure out what makes you want to give them so I can get them all the time.
   
4. Your Love for Food - It brings me such joy to know that you love food as much as your Dad and I do. There are very few things I've put in front of you that you won't eat and it makes meal time so enjoyable for me and for you! I love how you open your mouth big and wide as soon as you see the spoon coming. There is no need to play silly games like "airplane" with you - you are ready, willing and able to eat it all! I love watching you experience a new food for the first time. I love watching you when you really like something. You get all excited and smile real big, wave your arms in the air and then you say "mmmm". Now that you are starting to eat "table foods" I think it is so cute how you always want to copy me and eat what I'm eating and you get so frustrated when I don't let you pick it up and put it in your mouth on your own. Mealtime with you is always an experience and tends to be some of my favorite times of the day.
   
5. All Your "Firsts" - I absolutely LOVE that I have had the blessing to be there for all of your "firsts". I was there the first time you smiled, the first time you laughed, the first time you rolled over, your first tooth (which definitely wasn't the funnest of your firsts), the first time you woke up in your bed on your belly, your first word (which was "Dada" but I'll get over it), the first time you sat up on your own, the first time you pulled yourself up, the first time you started to use and understand sign language, the first time you had solid foods, the first time you drank from a sippy cup on your own, the first time you drank through a straw, the first time you picked up food and fed yourself, and now your first STEPS! Being home with you was the best decision I've ever made. I can't imagine missing out on any one of those firsts and I don't want to miss out on any of the firsts that are still to come.
   
6. Our Nursing Bond - I have cried many days and nights over the fact that this time has come to an end for you and I. You weren't even an hour old the first time I nursed you and you allowed me to nurse you for at least a week after you turned one. You and I had an instant connection and we just fit together perfectly. You did everything right from the very beginning which made it so much easier on me. I can't tell you how much this time I had with you meant to me. I know you will never remember it but I always will. I was able to hold you closer than anyone else ever could. I was able to experience a bond with you that only you and I have. I loved how you would cling so tightly to me as if you knew I was your only source of life and nourishment and that I would always keep you safe and warm. Knowing, that for the first 6 months of your life at least, I was all that was keeping you alive was such a huge responsibility and yet one I accepted with great joy and delight! I will forever and always cherish the (roughly) 1,865 times I was able to nurse you to become the healthy, happy "little" girl you are now!
7. Your Facial Expressions and Personality - I think I love this so much because not only does it keep me laughing and entertained all day but it is the one area of your life where I really see some similarity between you and I. You look just like your daddy and often times I have a hard time seeing myself in you... until those facial expressions come out or until your bubbly and happy personality comes out and then I realize there IS a little bit of me in you and I LOVE it! You are always so sweet to smile and wave at people as they talk to you, you laugh all the time, you love hearing yourself talk so much I often hear you doing it when you are alone in your crib waking up or trying to fall asleep, I hardly ever have to wonder what you want or what you are thinking because your facial expression gives it all away - I know when you are frustrated, happy, sad, angry, hurt, sleepy or poopy! And I think it is so wonderful that God gave you the same empathy and sensitivity He gave to me. It will be both a blessing and a curse for you (and others who know you) your whole life. :) You can seriously cry at the drop of a hat if I even look at you the wrong way and you absolutely can't let anyone cry alone in your presence. I love knowing that you and I will share in our love for life and laughter and our love for people and their well-being.
   
8. Your Beauty - you are absolutely beautiful, Jorja Mae. You have the most amazing flawless porcelain skin. Your eyes are captivating and the most beautiful shade of blue. Your naturally highlighted curly cues on top of your head are simply adorable (and something I prayed for when you were in the womb). Your cheeks are so kissable and pinch-able I find my lips attached to them most of the day. Your big ol' belly and rolls on your arms and legs are just the cutest thing ever. I will take a chunky, healthy baby any day of the week. :) You have such a cute little button nose that crinkles when you laugh. And you have these cute dimples that come out when you smile. And don't even get me started on your feet. They are probably my favorite part. They are perfect! I love that when you look at the bottom of your foot your toes look like little peas and your feet are just so chunky and squishy - and they are ticklish so I can always get a giggle out of you by playing with them. You are breathtakingly beautiful and sometimes look like a little porcelain doll. I can only imagine how much your beauty will grow as you get older.
   
9. Your Sweet Voice - you have such a sweet and cute little voice. I absolutely love to hear you say "momma". It always cracks me and your dad up because when you say "momma" you say it loud and with much authority and when you say "dada" you say it so soft and sweet. I'm sure that is no reflection as to how you view the way your dad and I talk! :) One of your favorite things to say is "whoa" and you say it with such conviction and surprise - the ball goes down the slide for the 10th time and you say "whoa" - you fall down and you say "whoa" - you wake up and start talking to yourself and there is almost always going to be a "whoa" in there. I love it! You babble on and on and on all day and I love hearing your sweet voice and trying to figure out what story you are trying to tell me. And you make the most adorable animal noises ever! The Lion is definitely a crowd favorite! :) I'm just longing for the day when you can actually look at me and say in your sweet little voice "momma, I love you" - that will be the greatest day ever.
10. How you Praise the Lord in Everything - I try not to turn the tv on much while you are awake because I don't want you to end up like a couch potato like your dad and me. So often times I will put on Praise & Worship music while we play throughout the day. I began to notice as we would have the music playing in the background that at times a song would catch your attention and you would just start bouncing up and down and would clap and smile. So I took that opportunity to teach you how to "Praise the Lord" and taught you to raise your hands in worship as you listened to the music. Well, now - whenever you hear music of any kind whether its the ABCs or Jesus Loves Me - you bounce up and down, clap your hands and raise your hands in worship. It is priceless. Not to mention that you know as soon as I say "Let's pray" to grab onto my hands and sit still. And as soon as you hear me say "In Jesus Name" you start saying "men" for Amen. Simply awesome! God has big and wonderful plans for you, Jorja Mae. He is going to use you for His Kingdom in ways none of us imagined possible. I can't wait! You have shown me the true meaning of giving praise to the Lord in everything!

Happy First Birthday sweet girl. I love you more than words could ever express and more than my actions will ever show. I can't wait to see what this next year and the years to come will bring about for us.

Love,
Your Momma