Happy half birthday to you!

Six months old today. Wow. Sometimes it feels like only a second has gone by, and other times it feels like Jak has always been here...I can't really remember what life was like before her. I know that since she's been here I've never been happier.

Every night before I go to bed, I say my prayers. They're pretty standard prayers - I usually say the same thing every night. I thank God for Meredith and my mom, but I always start out by thanking him for Jak. Here's the gist....

Dear God,

Thank you so much for bringing Jak to me. Please watch over her and keep her safe and healthy. Hold her hand and walk through life with her, even when she thinks she doesn't need you. Help her to be a good person and a good daughter. Please take any pain she may ever feel and put it onto me instead. Please help the world be more accepting. Again, thank you for Jak. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Amen

I've said that prayer (or something close to it) nearly every night since Jak was born. She is the best thing to ever happen to me. I just never thought I could love someone so much. And I know that Meredith feels the same way. We're very blessed mommies.

6 months ago...

Tutu Cute!

Jak wore her new ballerina outfit to school today. Actually, it's just pants with a tutu attached, but luckily I had the perfect matching onesie to go with it. Needless to say, she was a HIT at daycare. What's funny is that they can tell when I've dressed her and when Meredith has dressed her. Of course today was an Amy outfit. Tomorrow will be a Meredith outfit...tank top and shorts. Amy outfit days are much cooler, but a girl has to have balance.

Jak Can Crawl

That's right! My less than 6 month old little girl is crawling...sort of. She looks like a wounded soldier, but she can get from where she is to where she wants to be and for her age, that's pretty darn good.

Before I Was a Mom

Here are some bits and pieces from a cute poem I found...

Before I was a Mom

Before I was a Mom -
I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into bed. I slept all night.
Before I was a Mom -
I cleaned my house each day. I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
Before I was a Mom -
I had never been puked on, pooped on, spit on, chewed on, or peed on. I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
Before I was a Mom -
I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests...or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a Mom -
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put her down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
Before I was a Mom -
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important.
Before I was a Mom -
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I never knew that I could love someone so much.

Approaching 6 months

Jak is a week away from being 6 months old. It seems like in the last 2 weeks, she's picked up several amazing new talents.

• She can sit up by herself.
• She is a pro at eating cereal.
• She can push her feet and scoot around the room on her back.
• She's started babbling. Her favorite phrase? "Da Da" .... go figure!

She amazes me everyday. When I look at her, I wonder if I was as cool of a baby as she is. I'm sure I was. Well, maybe not AS cool, but I bet I was pretty cool.

Watching cartoons 

Baking something yummy in her new kitchen 

My beautiful girl

My Grandma

Theres simply no one else on earth
Who's as fortunate as me
For, I have the most special grandma
That this world shall ever see!