11 months.

Jax turned 11 months yesterday. Wow--time really does fly. Bryan and I have really enjoyed the last couple months as Jax grows into his own personality. He is so funny and loves to laugh and play games. Some games are no good like when he thinks its funny to throw his food on the kitchen floor; but other games are great--like when he wants to play catch across the coffee table with any kind of toy. Or when he thinks he's being chased...he starts walking pretty fast and laughs way before we catch him. or peek-a-boo or high five! He is such a joy and really so much fun. We are so glad our first has been such a wonderful experience and we really do look forward to having more soon. We'll see what God has in store!
We do have another addition to the family...and no I'm not pregnant. We recently agreed to have an international missionary stay with us until the end of April. Her name is Jilly and she is from Ireland. So far we really don't see her all that much because the group she is here with have so many activities and ministries planned every day. I hope she's getting enough sleep! The stories she tells are quite amazing and her heart is so full of love for those the rest of us would probably want nothing to do with. This experience has definitely challenged me to seek the Lord deeper to desire that kind of love. I don't think I love people the way I should. And I certainly don't shower God's love on to others that need it most. Its so easy to get settled into our comfortable lives and go about our busy schedules. I need to pay more attention to what God is doing around me and look for more opportunities to be a light of God's love.
Anyways--I have no pictures of her because she is never around..but I'll try to get one of her this weekend...Jax is really having fun with his new friend. Its funny to see him with her in the morning...not quite sure who this new person is but she is here every morning watching him eat breakfast.

So to sum up for this month...
-Jaxon is getting way more comfortable walking and really never crawls anymore. He's getting fast which makes him a little more clumsy so now he is bumping his head and nose way too much. Last week we had 2 bloody noses. The poor thing.
-He eats like a champ and I am trying to venture into new foods...but I just can't stand the mess. Yesterday I let him eat tortellinis with sauce and that was a disaster. I know I need to let him do it--but maybe I'll wait till he stops rubbing his hands in his hair. He loves pears and peaches and cheese sandwiches and yogurt and spinach ravioli and mango and everything else. -Still no teeth
-cries around dogs and cats
-is scared of balloons and inflatable things; balls, bats, etc. I guess he won't be too interested in sports. I tried to get him to play basketball with his cousin but he was scared and kept running away from the basketball
-Loves to dance and sing and he loves to play on the piano.
-crawls all the way up the stairs and the other day he even went down one stair backwards. He actually stopped at the top, sat down and crawled down. I was so impressed he knew to do that!

That's pretty much it. I am so excited for his birthday coming up! It will be on Easter this year so I'll have the party on a different day but I can't wait to see him more excited about his presents than he was at Christmas. Our little baby is growing up and becoming his own little person...only 4 weeks till I have a 1 year old. Ahh!