11 months for Gemma Jams!

I can't believe we are so close to a year.  It makes me so sad, yet I'm loving this stage and loving getting to know Gemma's personality even more, so I'm ok with where we're at.  But maybe we can stop at a year...is that too much to ask?? :) It's been an exciting month, with the birth of my sister's babies, Reid's birthday, Micah learning how to ride a bike, Mother's Day...and Gemma just being a part of it all!  She's got such a great personality, determined but also go-with-the-flow and I love it.  She's really started to get a kick out of her brothers and I'm just loving watching them interact with her.  I seriously can't believe we're almost at a year though!!!  Time has been going so fast and I wish, somehow, someway, I could find a pause button to soak in all the joy these little ones bring me.

Things to remember:

• how much you love to climb the stairs with me chasing you and you giggling all the way up
• how much you love to give kisses and hugs!  You have become such a little snuggle bug and I love it!! You are particularly affectionate for your Daddy after he's been gone all day...Daddy's girl already?? :)
• how much you love your blankie...whenever you get it you bury your head to it and it's becoming a great attachment for you
• how you clap every time we say "yay"
• how much you love your brothers!!!  you laugh with them, giggle with them, climb all over them when allowed and hold "conversations" with them.  SO sweet to watch!
• how you have started to say "mama" and "dada" with more frequency
• how you love to make noises with your mouth by sticking your hand in your mouth and moving it back and forth
• how you are still letting me put you to sleep in the Ergo
• how you love to turn on the water in mommy and daddy's bathroom and squeal with delight when we catch you
• how you have bad eczema baby girl...we're thinking maybe it's a berry allergy???  time will tell...but it's pretty awful and we can't begin to leave you without a shirt on or you scratch so hard you start bleeding :(
• how you are eating all table foods
• how you officially weaned yourself from nursing (sad for me!!) and I'm working on finishing up the next month via the pump
• how you are able to wave bye at both night-night and bye-bye time
• how you love to dance and move!  so fun to watch :)

We love you so much Gemma!!!  What a wonderful addition you have been to our family.  And it's just the beginning.  We're so looking forward to the fun times ahead of us as a family!!  I just wish it didn't mean you were less and less of a baby to do so :)  One more month baby girl!!!  And we're going to be having a fun birthday celebration!