Merry Christmas

For unto us a child a child is born, to us a son is given. And the government shall be upon his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

-Isaiah 9:6

Ten Months

Dear Sawyer, 

I have been playing memory keeper this month as time ticks closer to you being a year old.  Here are some things I will remember from your tenth month:
I will remember your mischievous grin. 

I will smile when I think about the way you say "Mmmmmm" after every bite at meal time.  And I will laugh about the times when you were just too tired to eat.  Being ten months old is hard work. 

One day, when I pack away these tiny clothes, I will remember your hatred for hats. 

When girls are no longer cool, I hope you'll still think Leighton hung the moon.  I'll remember the way you looked at her in awe. 

And how you were once captivated by Santa.  

At some point I know you'll sleep through the night again, and I'll remember the times when you only wanted to play in your crib. Also, I promise to periodically wake you up at 4:00 am to play when you're a teenager. 

Most of all, I'll remember what it felt like to hold all 19 pounds 2 ounces of you in my arms.  I'll remember what it felt like to have your head on my shoulder and your sweet, milky, baby breath in my ear.  

I'll love you forever. 

Love,
Mommy 

Happy Thanksgiving

In true Clower form, our day started with a big family gathering. The food was delish, but the company was even better! 

Aunt Jackie gathered these babies right away for a quick photo sesh.  

The most precious turkeys I've ever seen!

Aunt Weezie and Bug know how to "cheese!"

Great Grandmother Mimi couldn't wait to get her hands on these two. Who can say no to a good cuddle?

After stuffing our bellies, these two relaxed with Gigi.

Apparently, Sawyer was still hungry! 

That's some good sugar!

Next, we made our way to Mimi and P-paws for round two of delicious food baby spoiling. 

Sometimes you just need to go pant-less and steal your cousin's phone.

Mommy and Daddy couldn't be more grateful for our little turkey! 

It's Fall, Y'all.

Like any good Southern Mama, the minute the first leaf fell, I adorned Sawyer in his appliqued JonJon and whisked our whole family off to the Pumpkin Patch.  It did not disappoint. 

We first arrived to find Ladybug giving the slides a try.  Soon, both babies were scooped up by Gigi.  There are just too many good things going on in the picture below.  Please make it bigger.  You're welcome. 

Gigi with both of her grand-babies. 

 Gigi did not waste any time taking Sawyer for his first cow-ride.  It was a little bumpy, and Mama was a little worried, but they both made it unscathed. 

On the way to our next adventure we happened across some picture props.  Who can resist? 

Farmer Sawyer and Daddy the Cow.

Have you ever wondered what a bath of corn would be feel like? Wonder no more.  Ladybug, Sawyer, Daddy, and Uncle Brent seemed to enjoy themselves.  

You can't tell, but Sawyer is trying to eat a baby bunny in this picture.  Petting Zoo Fail. 

Just one bite.

Sawyer loves P-paw. And train rides. 

Finally, we finished with some picturesque scenery of pumpkins, hay bales, and the bathrooms. 

Seriously. I can't.

We'll be back next year. I think I can squeeze out one more year of JonJons. 

Nine Months

Dear Sawyer,

Nine months started out rough for you.  After weeks of a never-ending ear infection, your seventh to be exact, we were finally able to get tubes for your ears.  I may be biased, but I think you were probably the cutest patient they've ever had. 

Let's be honest for a second.  You've turned in to quite the stinker.  I mean that in the most loving way possible, and I'm trying not to grin as a I type it.  The same way I try not to grin each time I tell you "no, no" and you smile back at me. You love cords, the tree in the living room, the dog cage, the picture frames, and you've recently discovered the top of the coffee table.  Our living room as become more of play room these days, and all my cherished Home Goods find have been relinquished to the closet, or a space out of your reach.  I wouldn't have it any other way.  

It seems fitting that your first Halloween was spent in a Wild Things costume.  You are King of the Wild Things in my book.  Precious. Precocious. Stinker. We didn't make it to many houses this year, but I loved showing you off just the same.  I'm sure next year we'll be running from house to house while you try to get all the candies. 

You've discovered new words: "baba" (bottle),  "no no" (imagine that!),  and "bye" (with the cutest wave).  We're working on "Ho, Ho, Ho" for Santa and "Maci".  We're also learning to sign "More, please".  So far, you only sign "want".  Hmmmm.... 

But, at the end of the day, after your bath and a repeated reading of Goodnight, Moon, we say our prayers and I rock you to sleep.  In that moment, I pray for you to always remain curious, healthy, and obedient to the Lord.  I pray that you will have a servant's heart. Above all, I pray that you will listen to the Lord's calling for your life.  You are meant to do great things.  

In all the day-dreams, in all the night-dreams, in all the dreams possible, I could never have dreamed up you. I love more than words. 

Love,
Mommy

"You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up."

-Deuteronomy 11:19

Eight Months

Dear Sawyer,

Month eight has me especially nostalgic.  I think it mostly has to has to do with the fact that I'm realizing we're on the downslope to your first birthday, and I'm just not quite sure where the time has gone.  I've been slower in our days together, recently.  More deliberate about relishing the moment.  I'm studying you closely each night.  Hoping to etch into my mind the chubbiness of your feet, the smallness of your hands, and perfect fit of your head in the crook of my arm.  Sweet boy, you are so perfect.  Our moments together are so perfectly wonderful.

You're crawling everywhere you can these days.  Laughing at the word "no", and smiling when you trying to stuff cords in your mouth.  You've eaten Maci's rawhide a few times, and we've basically baraccaded the living room so that you can only venture into parts declared to be baby-proof.  I'm fairly certain that Christmas will be entertaining this year since you are determined to be everywhere you're not supposed to be. 

Belly laughs are my favorite right now.  You love raspberries; both the giving and receiving of them. Your daddy can always get you going, and I just sit back and watch y'all together.  It makes my heart sing.  Speaking of singing, you love "The Itsy Bitsy Spider", "Jesus Loves Me", and "The ABCs".  I can almost guarantee that you will stop crying if I break out in song.  If I dance, too, I might even get a grunt.  You grunt when you want to laugh but don't want to laugh at the same time.

You definitely know your people: Aunts, Uncles, Ladybug, Mimi, Gigi, P-Paw, PawPaw, Mommy, and Daddy.  You've started crawling towards us and reaching your hands up when you want to be held.  You recognize voices and you love to Facetime.  In fact, you've taken to smiling each time the phone rings, and you're confused when you hear people talking but can't see their face. 
I want each day to last forever, but, at the same time, I can't wait to see the next discovery you make.  You are the light of our lives.  Forever and always.

Love,
Mommy  

Seven Months

"Where we're going we don't need roads..." -Back to the Future

Dear Sawyer,

One day you'll be familar with this qoute once Daddy introduces you to the great movies of our time.  For now, just know, that I feel like I need a time machine.  The days and months are going by so quickly that I can barely keep up.....exactly the reason that I'm posting your seven month post a week before you're eight months. 
You're the cutest thing I've ever laid eyes on, and your personality is the greatest combination of lover and stinker.  In fact, I'm very fond of referring to you as "my little stinker", especially when you cut your eyes, grin, and glance at me sideways.  Usually right before you do something you're not supposed to be doing. 

Your bottom two teeth finally decided to make their appearance after several weeks of torture on your poor gums.  We were all ready for those teeth, and we've been having tons of fun with new foods now.  You love yogurt melts and cheerios.  We decided to skip those yucky puffs when you started spitting them back at me.

 

You've taken to acrobatics now that you're trying to crawl.  I know that it won't be long until you take off.  For now, you're rocking on all fours, and you've recently started lifting one leg in the air.  You've also started growling.  I'm not sure where that came from, but I'm pretty sure you're just giving your best "Go Dawgs!" cheer.
 

Your dad and I just love you to pieces, stinker.

Love,
Mommy