Grad from WFU Law, LJ's 1st beach trip, move to NB, and LJ's 9 months old!

On a romantic stroll after Landon was in bed...thanks Nana and Popsie! :)

In our famous Jets jackets...we are so silly! :)

Popsie and Landon at the aquarium after some yummy ice cream

Our little family...as you can see LJ is a HUGE beach fan :)

Landon chillin with Uncle Drew

Mama's boy...our favorite place is the beach!

First time on a bike...LOVED it but of course I was a nervous wreck!

Finally at the light house after a very long bike ride!

Landon loves his uncle!

On the ferry ride...Landon's first time and he really enjoyed it.

Landon loves his sweet Nana!

Happy with Nana and the fishies.

Daddy's little explorer!

Our family

Amazed by all the cool things to see :)

Aunt C came to visit us and help unpack right when we arrived in Texas...Landon thinks she is the best aunt in the whole world! We love you Cara!

Right after Landon ate with Mommy at Landa Park...it is so peaceful and beautiful! Great shot, Aunt C!

At the Landa Park train...this is where he will have his first birthday party! He loves the train ride and the wonderful playground. We are so excited to have a train themed party for him!

Graduation/going away party at our home in NC right before we left...

Graduation day! Landon was such a great boy. Was pretty quiet through 2 long ceremonies! One small problem...played a loud country song on Nana's ipod during the hooding...it was hilarious! Nana was an angel with keeping him entertained and quiet while he sat on my lap. I was wearing Julie's beaded necklace and at one point he pulled so hard on it the whole thing fell apart...in my dress and all over the floor...so Nana saved the day once again and helped clean it up. Thankfully I found the same necklace to get Julie and she was not mad. You are the best, Julie!!! :)

I was in tears watching James get hooded. Landon and I are so proud of what an amazing job he did in law school. Top 5% of the class in his last semester while working a job on the side to provide for us so I could stay with Landon. The most amazing man in the world! Yay Dada (Landon's all time favorite word)! :)

Landon and Jetta...he was SO excited to see grandpa and can't wait for him to teach him how to fish in August at Heidelberg! :)

The fam at Salem Tavern celebrating James! Thanks to Aunt Judy and Uncle John and Aunt Barb and Uncle John, Brian, Drew, Cara, Gaga, Jetta, Nana and Popsie for coming all the way to NC for such a joyous celebration of what an incredible job James did in law school. Such a blessing to be able to spend time with each of you. We love you so much!

Dearest Landon James,

Today you turned 9 months old! Where has the time gone? It seems like yesterday that I saw you for the very first time. When you FINALLY started breathing after a rough delivery I got to hold you for the first time (five minutes seemed like an eternity) and I will never forget looking into your little blue eyes and feeling your tiny hand wrap around my finger while you snuggled peacefully into my arms. You are the most incredible blessing I have ever been given. I am writing this blog mainly so I can print it in a book to give to your future wife someday. That way she can look back and see what you were doing at different milestones and have an idea of what your childhood was like. By the way I am already praying for her and that the Lord will guide you to her and give you an incredible marriage like mine and your Daddy's...dorky I know. :) I know you will think the book is weird when you are a teenager but I hope that someday you can look at it and love seeing your cute baby pictures and thoughts from me and your Daddy. You continually amaze us every day. Your laugh lights us our lives. Your smile warms our hearts and the way you love to entertain others is so cute. You already love the water, snuggling, learning sign language with Mama, eating a LOT hahaha, playing with friends, meeting new people (though it takes you a bit to warm up to them then you are all smiles), playing with your dear 'doggies' as you call them, saying Mama and Dada and laughing at how smart you are, going to Mom and Baby yoga with me (I know you will think this is so nerdy someday but that's OK:), reading lots of fun books, doing your army crawl to get to the doggies, toys, and anything else you can get your hands on, playing with your grandmas, grandpas, uncles, great grandpa, great aunts, uncles, and aunt, and of course you love being by the water (beach, creek, river) more than anything else just like your Mama! Landon you are just such a joy. We have been through struggles with your Acid Reflux which caused you severe pain for a good while and it broke my heart to see you cry. I cried with you for endless nights and days when you were so tired but could not lay down to sleep. I held you, sang to you, rocked you, stayed up all night with you countless times, and prayed for you to be a big healthy boy...and our awesome God showed up and has really helped you get better with the help of some medication that you love to take! :) We have been to swim lessons, yoga, playdates, church, hiking and jogging, lots of walks, on the train, to the movies, out to eat (one of your favorite things), shopping (you love the cart and smiling at everyone going by to make thair day), on numerous flights, to the zoo and aquarium (your favorite animal so far is the sea horse:), and many other fun adventures. You are my little buddy. I could not imagine life without you. I am constantly worried that something will happen to you and I will not get to wake up to the cutest alarm in the world in a sleep sack with a smile saying 'Mamamamamamama' and so happy to snuggle into my chest. You make Daddy and I realize every day how much God must love us. He loves you so much, Landon, and my main hope for you is not for you to change the world, be a star athlete, an honor student, or anything else though I hope you have the most happy and fullfilling life imaginable. Your Daddy and I have one huge hope for you. We hope you seek the Lord with all your heart and know that He loves you more than anyone ever could. We are so thankful for you and that we get to raise you but He is your true father, the one who created you and knows everything about you. He is awesome and we hope that through our love for each other and the way we raise you in His image that you can experience all of the love and grace He has for you. Happy 9 month birthday, buddy. We love you so much!

Mama and Daddy

Hey big LJ. As your daddy I am the most proud man in the world. I can tell you're going to be a fighter - from the moment I saw you struggle take those first breaths to today when you crawled around every obstacle to play with my shiny phone, I realized how much you will be able to accomplish if you put your mind to it. But that is nothing compared to the man you will eventually be. You have the sweetest smile and the silliest laugh. Those two things lift my heart more than I could have ever imagined. You always have a sense of joy about you (except when you're hungry, or sleepy, or overstimulated, or bored, or... ok so you're still a baby). I look forward to when you're grown and making a difference, but I'll always cherish these moments when you're soaking in every new thing around you. When everybody sees you they see the cutest little boy. I see a future leader, a servant to the needy, a humble follower of Jesus... who's also super freaggin cute. I'll always be there for you, always work hard to provide for you, and always love your mom the way she deserves. In these ways, I hope to be a living example for you to follow (except when I make mistakes... don't follow that). I love you more than you'll ever understand. Happy 9 months birthday!

Love, Dada