Oliver is 12 months!!!

Dear Oliver,

I got all mushy the day before you turned ONE, so this letter is all about what you've been up to!

You have developed quite the personality!  When we get you in the car, you reach for your paci that we keep in your carseat's cup holder.  Pretty much immediately.  Then, you take off one sock and put it in the cup holder.  Such a funny dude.

You try to share your food with us and have even tried to put your paci in Daddy's mouth.  He didn't take it.  You're still not a fan of shoes (or socks) but we still try to put them on you.

You are standing for long periods of time and squatting down to pick things up.  And...I'll go ahead and tell you...you took your first steps, unassisted, the day after you turned one.  Way to go!

You have started to pick up green stuff from your highchair tray and drop it on the floor.  Stinker.  But don't you worry, I've found ways to sneak that green stuff into your food anyway, so nanny-nanny-boo-boo. =)

At night when we watch you drift off to sleep, it's hilarious to see you calm yourself.  You've started to stick your feet out of your crib and prop them on the wall.  And you still try out different pacifiers until you find the right one.

You absolutely love any kind of ball and will sit and watch sports.  Crazy!  Sports and music…we're cool with that.

You think it's funny when you and I touch index fingers!  I used to touch Grammie's index finger through the window when she'd put gas in the car.  I wonder if you'll get a kick out of that, too??

You lean towards kids in books to try and hug them and you hug and love on stuffed animals.  Your eyes light up and your conversation skills seem to be kicked up a notch with kids…you really want to tell them something.  Especially your cousins.

You screamed for Santa.  

And in family pictures.

And during your first hair cut.

But my word!  You're so cute.

One day, I gave you an apple to keep you busy (because you thought it was a ball) and you figured out how to eat it!  By the way, you can say "ball."  It sounds like "baaaw."  Like you have a little southern drawl.

You're pretty much sleeping all night (YAY!) but are an early riser.  One day, I'll teach you how to make coffee and how we take it =) 

You have 8 teeth and can use them very well.  We still nurse 4-5 times a day and you sometimes lift up my shirt when you're not finished.  Ha!  And then at night, you've started to almost wrestle while nursing.  Silly boy!

The past year has been an incredible journey.  You are something special, Mister Man, Mister Hims, Buddy.  We love you more than you will ever know.

1 month
2 months
3 months
4 months
5 months
6 months
7 months
8 months
9 months
10 months
11 months

On the eve of your FIRST birthday...

Dear Oliver,

We made it!! This year has flown by and I'm afraid time will just speed up.

As I write this, on the eve of your first birthday, I am flooded with memories and emotions.  The love I feel for you is an intense and fierce love. One that only grows stronger every day. I am so very proud of the little boy you are becoming and excited to see the man you'll be. (But not too soon, ok?) 

This mama thing is hard, I'm not going to lie. I've had moments I'm not proud of. Moments where I've let satan whisper to me how I'm getting it all wrong. That I'll never figure it out and you'll end up in therapy because I screwed up so badly.

I've shed tears over silly things, sometimes while you're crying, too (your poor daddy). But Jesus is ALWAYS there to remind me I don't have to be perfect. (It's ok if you eat nuggets, crackers, and even sugar. It's ok if you're having cupcakes on your birthday from a grocery store.) He tells me to love and that, sweet one, I can do. 

I want to thank you for making me a mommy. For pushing me, strengthening me, loving me. You have brought us more joy than we could've ever imagined. You have touched many lives in your first year and we are in awe. 

The three of us are leaving the baby season and entering the toddler years. I know there will be challenges, more tears, and tantrums. But OH, the joy. The overwhelming, heart bursting, make you sing and shout, kind of joy. 

I want you to know that you are one of a kind. You are special. You are meant for greatness and you will do BIG things if you follow the Lord with all your heart all your days. Believe it.

We love you so very much, Oliver! For always. 

"You are my angel, my darling, my star...and my love will find you wherever you are." - Nancy Tillman

Sugar Land // Waco // Gatesville

The Sunday following Thanksgiving, we went to Sugar Land, TX to play music at Christ UMC.  This was our 2nd time to visit there and we look forward to making it a regular stop!

The Road Grammie came with us we stayed in the Town Square. It is the cutest little area!  Even cuter now, with all the Christmas decorations up.  

We got into town Saturday and ate dinner at Ruggles Green.  Very cool place with healthy options.  Oliver ate quinoa mac & cheese!

We were on the 7th floor, overlooking the square, and my boy is a dare devil and my heart dropped every time he did this…which was all the time. 

No high chair, so hotel picnic it is!  (With quinoa mac & cheese for breakfast.)

Their service didn't start until 11:00, so that made for a much more relaxed Sunday morning.  He even napped before church (and after)!  

The set was amazing and Trent will build these for me one day.  

We enjoyed leading and sharing songs for these guys!  

The hotel had beautiful trees up.  (Excuse the leg photo bomb.)

After resting, we went back to the church for the concert.  Trent likes to be serious in all his pictures.  Clearly.  Also?  More quinoa mac & cheese for dinner.  Ruggles has huge portions.

Christ UMC had us as part of their Advent Kickoff.  It was a very special night and a great start to our Merry Little Christmas Tour.

More pretty trees!  Since Grammie was with us, we got to go have adult time both nights!  Thanks, Grammie!

And a…nutcracker soldier?  Is that right?  

We got back to Salado and had the week off.  Then we went to Waco, TX (my hometown) to play a short set at the Waco Wonderland.

It is such a neat thing, this Wonderland.  Ice skating, food, a ferris wheel, music, Santa, carriage rides.  Fabulous.  Seriously…Waco got cool after we left.  With this and food trucks and Baylor and Fixer Upper, we may just move back.  Juuuuuust kidding, Nashville is home.  But it does make me proud.

Some friends and family came to see us, which is always fun and appreciated.

Oliver's first time with Mr. Claus…es no bueño.  We knew it would happen, so we were prepared.  Bless.

After the Wonderland, we went to Poppa Rollos for the first time in forever.  It's our favorite pizza and we have missed it.  Also, it wasn't crowded because everyone was at the Baylor/Kansas State game.  Score!

We got back to my parents' house and got Oliver down before the game even started.  We watched the game on the TV and got to bed early.

Sunday, we rested up, went to Elliot's piano recital (that'll be in another post) and then headed to Gatesville, TX for our next Christmas show.

This was our first ever biker church and we are a fan.  Highway to Heaven Biker Church and everyone there were so sweet.  They fed us, loved us, blessed us, and passed around our boy while we played.  Truly an unforgettable night.

At one point, Trent said, "Sorry.  I don't have these Christmas songs memorized, so I have to arrange my papers."  Then an older biker, in head to toe leather, yelled out, "as long as they're not rolling papers, we're ok."

We cracked up and it's one of our favorite road stories.  Ever.

Pastor Van Horn got his Oliver fix =)

The sweet crowd!!!  Spirited and spirit filled would be an understatement.

We're in Arkansas now, so stay tuned!  Hope the season is treating you well!