Dear 17 month old Judah

Hi baby.  I can't believe just how much you have grown.  In a couple of days you will be officially 1 and a half.  Time has just flown by.  You are so adventurous and inquisitive.  And you are a little comedian too.  You love to laugh and you LOVE attention.

You light up my day and your smile tells me that everything is going to be okay.  You are growing up way too fast.  Like when it's time to eat you prefer to feed yourself and not have any help from me.  Or when you actually drank from a big boy cup without my help.  I almost cried.

I just want you to know that I love you very, very much my love.

- mommy

Fort Worth Zoo

She stole the words from my heart.....

This song is dedicated to you my love!

{Your little hands wrapped around my finger
And it's so quiet in the world tonight
Your little eyelids flutter 'cause you're dreaming
So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light

To you, everything's funny
You got nothing to regret
I'd give all I have, honey
If you could stay like that

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple

I won't let nobody hurt you
Won't let no one break your heart
No, no one will desert you
Just try to never grow up, never grow up

You're in the car on the way to the movies
And you're mortified your mom's dropping you off
At 14, there's just so much you can't do
And you can't wait to move out someday and call your own shots

But don't make her drop you off around the block
Remember that she's getting older, too
And don't lose the way that you dance around
In your PJs getting ready for school

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple

No one's ever burned you
Nothing's ever left you scarred
And even though you want to
Just try to never grow up

Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room
Memorize what it sounded like when your dad gets home
Remember the footsteps... }

(never grow up: Taylor Swift)

September 2012 16 months old