We love us some JuJu!!!!!

I know I say how much I love my kid basically all the time...I mean she truly is the love of our lives.  But the thing is, I love our JuJu like he is ours too!  See..."our" JuJu.  It just comes out!  Yes, I know he isn't TECHNICALLY mine...but close enough!  I have loved this little boy since I knew "my Debbie" was pregnant. (I'm not even sure when I started calling her this, but she is...she is "my Debbie ~ and I wouldn't be the same without her!).  I will never forget how she told us she was pregnant and the squeals of joy and delight that erupted from a table of great friends!  And a few months later, we welcomed one of the cutest babies in the entire world into our family and a lifelong friendship was born :)

These two adore each other to absolute pieces!  They talk, laugh, chase, share (well, most of the time) :)  They bring us so much joy and will without a doubt always be a part of each others lives.  Every playdate is filled with memories I wouldn't trade for the entire world...love them I tell you...LOVE THEM!!!

If only we knew what they were talking about...

The power of the swing to make one sleepy!

JuJu loving his big boy swing :)  Yes, we bought a blue one with JuJu in mind!

The power of the swing continues...almost out!

One totally relaxed...the other always up and ready to move :)

 

Peek a boo!

Inside the Fort!  For now, boys are allowed...but just for now :)

(However, we will always make an exception for our June Bug!)

 

Ok...funny story about the following pics...well, at least in my eyes!  Debbie and I laughed so hard at these two.  Sophie was SOOOOOOO insistent on patting Julian.  I thought she was petting him like she "pets" the dogs (i.e. her pet is more of a swinging pat).  However, the following week was when her daily report card said she helped put Coop to sleep by patting him on the back.  So now we know she wanted Julian to go night-night...and in all actuality he was tired!  Such a sweet girl :)  Not to mention Julian being such a trooper letting some tall, skinny girl follow him around, pull on him and push him around ~ only to be patted over and over and over...well, you get the picture :)  You had to be there, but I promise ~ it was stinking adorable!

Told you pushed him around!  She is such a little bully!

Patting in progress...

Julian trying to escape!

Sophia about to follow and pounce...and yes, she literally tackled him like five seconds later.

Tia Debbie took this picture because she thinks Sophie holds her drink funny!  She has gotten better but it's still a little awkward looking at times.  But hey, whatever works :)

 Playtime inside and out of the heat!  

Hot in Texas in early April...who would have thought it???  Gotta love it!

Tia Debbie, Uncle Daniel and Julian,

Thanks for being a part of our lives :)  We love you all so very much (and Tuna and Kiwi too) and cherish your friendships more than you will ever know!  

Love always,

The Taliaferro Family

And they came two by two...

Sometimes in life the Lord will bless you in ways that you cannot possibly imagine.  The hard times turn into the most sacred, joyous moments of one's life ~ the moments in which you know, without a doubt, that the Lord is alive and well.

And I have to say, that the timing of said moments is certainly one that could only have been orchestrated by the Lord. 

Thinking back, it is hard to fathom that Kevin and I have known each other almost TEN years!  An entire decade!!!  And in meeting my husband, I met the best friends a person could ever be blessed with.  Heck, at this point, they aren't even just best friends...they are our family.  The four of us have walked a journey of ups, downs and round and rounds.  We have watched each other get engaged, married, graduate and yes, even have children.  We have raised four dogs together.  We have cried together, laughed together, believed and dreamed together.  I truly can't imagine our lives without them.

And now, just as they have traveled this parenting journey with us, we are about to embark on one amazing ride with them...one which has double the rewards! 

On Swingset Day 1, James and Jaime came over to help build...well, James came over to help build.  Jaime and I just hung out :)  That's a mere technicality though!  We picked up Pizza Hut, specifically pizza rolls for us girls.  Following a perfectly normal lunch, Jaime said she had an early birthday present for Sophie.  Not thinking anything about it (because a certain two people were acting PERFECTLY NORMAL), we proceeded to open the gift only to find the most adorable "Friends" frame.  One side had a picture of our sweet Sophia.  The other said "Reserved for Baby Paradis ~ 2011"!  Yes, I'm a bit slow and it took a minute to register...to which my response was "Shut the front door!"  I don't know...it's just what came out :)  If you only knew...and some of you do...how much this baby was prayed for, what a long journey they have endured, the waiting, the hoping...  Yes, it probably warranted something a little more "eloquent", but hey, those type of moments are the ones you remember the most!

You may be wondering why I mentioned pizza rolls specifically.  I mean really, why do you care what we ate?  It's Pizza Hut...that ought to be enough details :)  But, I promise, there is a point!  The day we told James and Jaime we were expecting (and mind you, they did not get the Big Brother/Big Sister bandanas the dogs were wearing - so I am ahead of the game on the whole clicking part), we went to Galveston for the weekend and had what for dinner?  Yes, Pizza Hut and yes, pizza rolls!  I agree...it's a random coincidence but a neat one if I do say so myself.  We share everything - why not share what we have for dinner on the days we share some of the best news ever!!!!!!!!

Ok, so everyone knows my child is spoiled.  And she already had like the best early birthday present ever...a new friend.  I mean really...what else could you want???  Oh, ok, you want a second friend.  NO PROBLEM!  Aunt Jaime and Uncle James to the rescue!  First ultrasound = April 13, 2011 = Sophia's birthday = TWINS!!!!!!!!!!!!

And they came two by two :)

James, Jaime, P-Dis 1 and P-Dis 2,

My heart is so filled with joy for the four of you (well six of you...Max and Lily).  I am so in love with these two precious babies already and cannot wait to shower them with all the hugs and kisses they can handle.  We have waited, prayed and hoped for so long and are truly blessed to be sharing in this moment with you.  We wish you all the happiness, joy, laughter and love only a baby can bring...of course multiplied by two!!!

All our love and prayers,
The Taliaferro Family

And because I am so behind...

...the next few posts will be slightly out of chronological order! But hey, unless you are completely anal compulsive addicted to organization like me, then it won't bother you :)  Plus, if I hadn't of said anything you probably wouldn't have put two and two together anyway...heck, you would probably just be proud of me for posting anything at this point!

So I posted about Swing Set Day 1 (http://taliaferrofam.blogspot.com/2011/04/swingset-day-1.html), but what you don't know is there was actually a Swing Set Day 2 and yes, even a Swing Set Day 3!!!  Said Swing Set is now begrudgingly lovingly referred to as "the fort".  Apparently, at some point, once a swing set reaches beyond, oh you know, HUGE, it no longer falls within the parameters of a simple swing set.  To my defense, and I know I've said this before, but it DID NOT look that big on the box.  And even in CostCo, it just looks like a fun swing set!  I mean they have it set up in the aisle...how big could it possibly be???  Well, now we know don't we...

It went from this...

to this...

and went a little something like this in between...

Love this...

 and this...

 and this...

525,600 Minutes...

"525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear.  525,600 minutes ~ how do you  measure, measure a year?  In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee.  In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.  In 525,600 minutes ~ how do you measure a year in the life?" - Seasons of Love ~ Rent Soundtrack

I can certainly tell you that there is some truth to that song.  Have you ever really sat and reflected about where a year went?  What did you do?  Where did you go?  What changed you?  What memories did you make?  How would you measure your year?  Did you even realize a year had gone by? 

My guess ~ at least to that last question ~ is no, probably not.  Because truly, how many times have you said and/or heard, "Wow, it's been a year already?"  In complete honesty, I have to say I am guilty of this.  For no matter how desperately I tried to soak up every single second of the past year, has it seriously been A YEAR ~ 31,536,000 seconds, 525,600 minutes, 365 days?  I simply cannot believe Sophia is a year-old.  

My Baby Center updates now officially say "your toddler"!  My toddler?  You have got to be kidding me! She was just a baby yesterday :(  But now, 365 days later (actually a little more than that seeing as how this post is a wee late) she is an adorable toddling (I suppose this is the reason for the "toddler" title), blue-eyed, strawberry-blonde, ticklish, giggle-filled, chatter-box full of smiles, laughter and a bit of a temper here and there!  She has brought us 365 days of joy ~ even with the lack of sleep, high fevers, and occasional crankiness.  So many memories this past year holds.  They are memories I will cherish forever and always. And I pray for many, many more years of memories to be made...all 31,536,000 seconds, 525,600 minutes, 365 days per year of them.

So my sweet Sophia, at the official ONE-YEAR milestone, you are...

• Officially a toddler
• Walking (a bit drunkenly at first); Your first real major walking (meaning more than an occasional step or two) happened ON your birthday!  I think you were just saving it for your aunts and uncles...the ham that you are wanting to be the center of attention :)
• Really knocked out this whole walking idea this Friday (April 22nd).  There is no stopping you now.
• Weigh 18.15 lbs (15th %ile) and are 30" tall (75th %ile)
• Have some new words...I can't tell you what they mean but you certainly talk a lot!
• Know how to sign "happy" and "bath" (in addition to more, eat, and milk)
• Will dance to any music ~ commercials, radio, tv, toys...pretty much anything
• Are still best friends with Harper Anne. We pay each other visits now since you are in different classes.  Her name for you is So-So!  I love watching the two of you together ~ it's absolutely the most adorable thing you have ever seen.
• Have tons of friends that make you happy ~ Julian (your best "boyfriend" whom you love to pieces), Avarie, Jackson, Grace, Chloe, Peyton... 
• Haven't yet received a bad "report card"
• Actually, got a "helpful" report card one day because at nap time you helped put Cooper night-night by patting his back.  Why you weren't on your own cot taking a nap, I haven't yet determined?
• Are a big momma's baby.  Sometimes I find this absolutely endearing and I try to cherish every second of it because I know one day you won't be so cuddly.  Other times, like in the morning when I have an 18.15 lb leg attachment while trying to get dressed for work, it's a little bit of a hinderance.  A cute hinderance, but cumbersome nonetheless.
• Have gotten clingy about going to daycare.  Thankfully it hasn't gotten to the screaming stage yet, just the clinging to the leg part.
• Is addicted to her Teddy
• Loves swimming (which we discovered today!)
• Is a piglet...I mean honestly, you cannot understand this statement until you have seen her eat.
• Hates diaper changes - I think this is more of the hate lying still segment
• Thoroughly enjoys her swing set (aka fort)...thank you Daddy, Uncle James and Uncle Daniel
• Can maneuver her electric ride-on toy like a champ.
• Is on whole milk!  GOOD-BYE FORMULA!
• Prefers sippy cups, more specifically the ones with straws.
• Likes puzzles, books, little pink buggy and red wagon.  
• Could give up a paci in my opinion, but would prefer not to...and frankly, Mommy and Daddy are a little dependent on it as well.
• Are a curious little buggaboo
• And finally, loved more than you could possibly understand or imagine.  You are our sweet Sophia and we cherish every single day with you.

All our love, forever and always,

Mommy and Daddy

Have you been waiting...

Ok, be honest!  How many of you out there have been anxiously awaiting the million and one birthday posts?!  Come on, you know you have...

Unfortunately, this is not those posts.  If I'm really ambitious, maybe later this evening, or maybe tomorrow, or if I'm really being honest, MAYBE this weekend (but I wouldn't recommend holding your breath)!

Love you all!

Reflecting...

wow, wow, wow, wow, WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today marks exactly one year from when we welcomed our sweet Sophia into the outside world.  I anticipated that day like no other before. 

Going into surgery was a surreal experience.  Fear, excitement, anxiousness, cold (it is reallllllllllyyyyyyyy cold in there), joy, happiness, worry, hopeful everything would go ok, praying, wanting Kevin in there asap, longing to meet Sophia, knowing my world was about to change, praying she didn't have to go to the NICU (which she did but only for two days ~ a long two days but it could have been worse!)...

Yes, that was a random, run-on.  But that's about how my mind was going.  Words simply cannot express what this child meant to me then or what she means to me now.  The second she was out, my first comment was "is she ok?"  I needed to know.  I could hear her crying, but I needed to KNOW!  Thank the Lord she was well enough for me to meet her.  Oh the joy!  The moment I held that child, I loved her in ways that I simply cannot explain to anyone.  A mother's love is without explanation.  It defies all realm of the English language.  It is a blessing from God that kind of love!  She truly is my heart walking around outside of my body.  I'd do anything for her.  Absolutely anything.

Now, twelve months later, here we are!  She is a happy, healthy, smiley, bright blue-eyed, bundle of joy and laughter.  She makes our worst days better.  She makes us smile and laugh even when I don't feel like it.  She reminds us to enjoy the little things in life.  She has bonded Kevin and I in ways that I cannot explain.  She has completed our little family.  Maybe one day we will add to the brood, but for now we are soaking up every blessed second with our sweet girl.

Today I will write a letter to our sweet Sophia.  A private letter, just to her.  One she can read later in her life.  The plan is to do this every year on her birthday.  I hope that later in life, she will read these letters and know that no matter where she is or what she is going through, she is LOVED!  She is my sweet, precious baby girl.  Now and forever!

We love you Sophia Grace.  Happy Birthday Angel!

(P.S. Mommy being silly trying to get a smile out of her!  Told you I'd do anything for you Baby Girl!)

Happy Birthday Sophia!

What a difference a year makes!  We love you sweet, precious, angel!  More than you could ever, ever know!!!

Videos!!!

For your viewing pleasure :)

1-Year Photo Session (+ Mommy's thoughts)

A week from today our sweet Sophia will OFFICIALLY BE ONE-YEAR OLD!!!!  I simply can not believe it.  It's like on of those things you know is coming.  You plan for it.  Get excited about it.  Know it's a cherished memory.  A huge milestone.  And yet, I just can't seem to wrap my brain around it.  Time has gone by so, so fast! 

There is a part of me that is excited that we made it through the first year and all that year entails.  Then there is the other part of me who just wants to push the rewind button...or even just the pause button.  Just something, ANYTHING, to slow the time down.

Yes, I am sad.  I try not to be, but I am.  My baby is growing up :( 

She is without a single doubt the biggest blessing we could have ever received from the Lord.  And should He choose to bless us with another child in the future, I'm sure I will be saying the same thing about them.  The love you have for a child is something you simply can't explain.  There are no words. 

There are a few things I know to be true in this world and one of those is that no matter how much I love my child, the Lord loves her more.  And I pray this sweet, melt-your-heart smile, big-blue-eyed girl will grow up to be an amazing woman of God ~ for it will be a blessing and honor to just be invited along for the ride!

I love you my Sophia Grace ~ more than you will ever, ever know!