Day Sixteen Hundred and Thirty-Two

The Twelfth Month of Millie

My little Treasure,

I'm days late writing this. I've made excuse after excuse for putting it off (good excuses, really), but I think what it mostly came down to was the fact that somewhere inside of me, I just knew I'd need an entire box of tissue and a whole lot of time to finish - well, shoot, even start - this letter.

On the day you turned one, I was so busy and preoccupied and frenzied and anxious to even comprehend what was happening. You were crawling everywhere and getting into everything. Between chasing you and attempting to host the first party at our new (unfurnished) home, I couldn't emotionally process what was happening. I've had a few days. And it's finally hitting me. I've been extremely sensitive to the thought of you growing up, ever since the moment I met you. Not that I'm afraid of seeing you grow - I do absolutely LOVE watching every single milestone you achieve - I'm just crushed that it's going by so quickly. That one day I'll wake up, and you won't be my baby baby anymore. Gosh, that just makes Mommy so sad! 

Because MillieGirl, I'm so in love with you. And that's why it's so hard on Mommy. I can't even begin to unravel the feelings I have for you. I love every little tiny nuance and unsuspecting thing about you. And I don't ever want to say bye to my little tiny baby girl. I love the way your neck smells after a sweaty nap. The way you pinch your fingers on the back of my arms. The smile you greet me with when you wake up in the morning. I love the way you move your hips from side to side when you dance dance dance. The daredevil mindset that propels you up and down and over and around every single obstacle. The way you cry when I put you down. The way you immediately stop when I lift you back up. I love the way you drink water too fast from a straw and then spit it back up. The way your hair sticks straight up in a bow. The way you love listening to music. The way you say "belly button." Beeeeey btttttt. And the way you kiss Bedelia the doll and hold her tight. I love the scrunchy nose you never tire of wearing. I love your immune system. I love the *pat pat pat* on my chest and the noise you make while drinking milky. I love the way you look while you sleep. Even when it's horizontal across the entire middle of our bed. 

I've said it so many times before: if I can love you THIS much, I can't even begin to fathom the amount of love that Jesus has for us. It chokes me up every time. "How deep the Father's love for us," you know that song we always sing? It's so true, my Baby. So, so true. And one day, you'll know just what I'm talking about.

You've filled our days with such extreme joy - joy that we didn't even know existed. Your face is the prettiest, most precious thing I've ever seen and your kisses-on-demand are easily the sweetest things in existence. You personality lights up our lives. You're so fun and fearless and sensitive and smart. We can't get enough of you and now, only one year later, Daddy and I can't even begin to imagine how we ever did life without you. You keep us ready. You keep us busy. You keep us smiling, even when it's so easy to frown. When you accomplish something for the first time, it gives us a boost that we didn't even know we desired. Your calm demeanor and extreme flexibility has made this past year a breeze.

This month was filled with so many more firsts - a few that I didn't necessarily want you to experience yet, but thankful you did when all was said and done. The lowlight/highlight of your Twelfth month was when you and Mommy took and ambulance to the ER on a layover in Denver, where I had to have emergency surgery. It was the most traumatic day - for the both of us - but I do believe that we both came away from it stronger and closer. Praise God. You were by my side (and on my side) through the whole experience and though I pray it never happens to me (or anyone else) ever again, I am thankful we went through it together. You'll be apart of that memory forever. And it is a special memory. Even though it's a sad one. I don't know if I ever thanked you for being there, but Amelia, thank you. Though you didn't have a choice in the matter, your presence held me together in a way that I wouldn't have held without you. And for that, I'll always be thankful.

On a high-highlight note, this month YOU WALKED EIGHT WHOLE STEPS and we caught it on film!! It was an incredible accomplishment and one you made the night before you turned one! What an achievement, Little Lady! Wow! Too fun! More firsts: you learned to shred (and eat) toilet paper. So gross, but so funny. You learned how to use a fork (though you're not very efficient with it). You learned how to climb down stairs (on your bum!!) and how to climb off the bed (tummy down, feet first)! You took a nap for the first time EVER in your crib and you rode down the big kid (Mommy's crying) slide all by yourself (although you totally ate it at the bottom - whoops)! You also went to your first FanFest at Marlins Stadium, where you spotted Dada signing autographs and waited patiently for your own picture with him.

Gosh, that smile. Lights up my life. 

This month, you met your cousin Parker for the first time. You sure love babies. Especially him. You gave him hugs and kisses and probably a few bruises if we're being honest. But he didn't seem to mind! As of now, you think bedtime is hilarious - you could be almost completely asleep, but the second we put you onto our bed, you crawl and scream with wild laughter and flip and flop all over the place. It's maybe the most adorable thing you do. Makes Mama and Dada laugh every single time! To fight sleep (which you do often), you like to sing and wiggle and kick and flail. If your arms aren't being held down, you won't sleep. And if your fingers aren't captured, you'll pinch me to death. It's endearing. But it does come with a slight bit of frustration. And blood. For you though, I'll endure it! You hate the covers once you're asleep and every time we wake up, you're sprawled out on top of the blankets, often times looking just like Superman. Dad and I can't help but giggle.

You're SUCH a beauty!! It's scary how pretty you are!

And how big! You're already in size four diaper, size four shoes, and you can wear 12-18 month clothes! I think Mama Milk is doing your body just fine. And it should be - since you're still getting it all throughout the day AND at least three times a night! We don't know when you'll begin weaning, but I don't think it's anywhere in sight...and I don't want it to be! 

Amelia, I've prayed for you and hoped for you and dreamed for you ever since I knew you were a tiny speck in my belly. I hope I've been everything you could want in a mommy because you're everything I could have wanted in a baby. I am so thankful to Jesus for this year and for your sweet little life. You've taught me more about the Gospel and about myself than I ever expected. You helped  to bring Daddy and I closer than we've ever been. And you've sharpened me as a woman.

You're one-derful in every way and I'm so glad to be your mommy.

God knit you together in the most beautiful way. I am in awe of His perfect creation. You are so very lovely, Amelia. So very sweet. And so very bright. 

I pray that over the course of your life, you will teach me even more about Jesus than you already have. That you'll continue molding me and shaping me into the woman God is calling me to be. And that one day, you'll come to me with the news of your confession of faith in your Father and Savior in Heaven. That is my ultimate hope and prayer for you, Baby Girl. It always has been. It always will be. And Daddy and I will promise to always provide for you an environment that enables you to flourish in, by the grace of God. 

I love you with all my heart, Amelia Lynn.

I love being your mommy. More than I ever could've possibly imagined.

I love loving you. And I know I always will.

You are our greatest joy and the most special treasure. 

Thank you for the most incredible year of our lives. You are truly a little miracle and we praise God for you!! 

All my love, 

Mommy

______________________

Below is a video of...your entire life! From the moment we found out you were in my tummy, we took weekly photos of your progression in Mommy's belly. And then, when you made your entrance into this big huge world, we took a photo of you every single day of your life. Some videos too. I hope you find much joy watching this when you're older, but for now, all your friends and family get to enjoy it! Click the link! 

https://animoto.com/play/415gVH2Id01FbJkkJ0vQvw

Day Fifteen Hundred and Ninety-Nine

The Eleventh Month of Millie

Baby Girl,

Let's get one thing straight. Even though you're basically big enough and active enough to be called "toddler" now, you'll always always be my Baby. It fills me with all sorts of competing emotions when I realize that this is your last month as a ___-month-old. Next month, you'll be aged in years and that mostly kills me. But it also excites me. And terrifies me. And fills me with an intense amount of joy. I can't wait to know more about you. To spend more time learning who you are and what makes you the girl I love so much. But absolutely, I'll miss the tiny fingers that pinch my neck and your constant need to be anywhere I am. Sometimes Mommy gets tired of your persistent neediness, but the second I put you down, my whole being caves in and I can't help but to pick you back up and love on you even more. You have this way about you, Amelia. I don't know what it is, but I can't ever get enough of you. Even when you're desperately tired and fighting sleep for two hours straight (this happened multiple times this month), I love that you still need my chest to fall asleep on. Even when you wake me up 5 times a night for a little more milky, I don't even care that I more resemble a zombie than the pretty girl Dad married 4 years ago. And even when you poop on the floor while I'm washing my hair, I welcome the fact that at least I even have the problem of cleaning it up in the first place. Because Amelia, what I've realized more and more this month is just how much of a miracle you truly are. That out of all the endless possibilities of bringing a person into this world, YOU'RE the beautiful blessing God gave to us all those months ago. Amelia, I would give you my chest to sleep on for your entire life if it was the only way you could find rest. I would wake up every hour of every night if you needed me to. And I would pick up pile after pile of dog-looking poo poo - with shampoo in my hair - if that meant I got to spend just a little more time with you.

My Girl, oh how my heart bursts for you!

I'm obsessed with your face.

I can't get enough of your laugh and your teeth and your big blue eyes that are constantly curious. You're so smart. A fast learner. And our own little child prodigy. In less than 5 minutes, you learned how to whistle a whistle. You can say "baby" and "baseball" and you always always know that Daddy's home by the sound of the garage door. It's shocking to me that something so small can know so much.

 

This month, you learned how to open cabinets and drawers and constantly, you're getting into things that I didn't even know I needed to baby proof. It's fascinating watching you realize things. You now know how to turn on the lights in our bedroom, and you crack up every time you push the button and the light comes on! I think it's the funniest thing too! You also learned how to lift the flaps in your Spot book and figured out that every time you pull my shirt down, I'll give you milk. I think I ought to change that...

(Your face! I die!)

So, your obsession with that little Nike golfball is really something else (hopefully Under Armour will understand! Ha!)! I think you prefer it because it fits perfectly in your small hands. I'm not sure where it came from, but we take it most everywhere we go. You beat the ground and the wall with it, but mostly, you just like to hold it. Girl after Daddy's own heart! 

Clearly, your personality is becoming more and more apparent. You've always been the happiest baby, and now more than ever, that shines through. You're maybe the most social little girl I've ever met and though you do love Mommy time, when you're in a room with other kids, you're the center of attention. After Dada's speech at a local school this month, you crawled to the middle of the gym floor and commanded the attention of about 12 ten-year-olds. You were talking and playing and laughing with them and it was maybe the cutest thing I've ever seen.

I will say, though, that you're being a little baby about one thing in particular. Amelia, you've been standing on your own for a solid two months now. You know you can walk. But we've yet to see those first steps. Every time we give you a little "push," you sit down and cry and beg to be picked up. It's sort of pathetic. But I don't know if I really mind that much. I can't say for sure that I'm ready for you to walk yet. With that comes so much more independence. So even though I thought I'd like to be the proud mommy of a 9-month-old walking baby, I think I just realized that maybe I like the fact that you're a big chicken instead. More cuddle time with me and less worrying where you are!

That laugh is just infectious. 

I wish I could somehow capture the sound of your squeal in a photo. It's my favorite thing. I also especially love when you sing songs. Your voice is a melody and you LOVE music. All throughout my pregnancy, I sang and danced and cranked up the volume. Your Mama can't go a day without some good worship music and turns out, neither can you! You dance every day and the three of us are always having dance parties. Life is just so much fun with you. 

You can't see in this picture, but Dad is standing above you. He's got the knack of planting smiles on your face. You think it's hilarious when he holds Whitacre WAY up high in the air and then hurls him down to the floor. He could do this for hours with you and he'd still get a laugh of of you after the 400th time. You two are becoming the best of buds, you and Dada. And it melts me.

You and Whitacre are still quite close as well. Just like Dad, you two are best buds. You even bite Whit's nose just like you do to Dada's. It makes all of us laugh.

What I think would really make us laugh though, is if you were able to drag Dad by his nose just like you do to Whitacre! Maybe we'll try that next month!

Other big things to note: whenever I take a shower without you, I tell you to "come give me a kissy," and every time, your crawl over, press your face against the door, and kiss me through the glass. So fun! You've also become my daily workout partner (we just finished 5 weeks of T25!). And this month, you drew your first painting on your magnetic sketch board! We've got a lover, an athlete, AND and artist on our hands, people! 

Amelia, I so dearly love every 22.3 pounds and 31 inches of your beautiful self. You've enriched our lives well beyond our ability to even ask and we praise God every day for choosing us to be your parents. Thank you for being so easy. So delightful. And so absolutely adorable. Your curls and FatFat thighs are simply the best, DillerDoo. 

All my love, always,

Mama

Day Fifteen Hundred and Seventy

The Tenth Month of Millie

Amelia, my Sweetest Girl,

This month, I've been my most emotional yet. It seems like daily, I find myself tearing up over the simplest things. The way your hands slap on the ground when you crawl. The funny sounds you hum while falling asleep. The way you stick your fingers into my mouth to touch my teeth when you're nursing. I'm so in love with you. It grows daily, and as I get to know you better and better, I fall harder and harder. Amelia, you are incredible. Beautiful. Such a joy. I love showing you off. I love holding you close. I love the best things about you. And even the worst. And though there aren't many "worsts," your first solid poop was pretty gross! That and I didn't like the fact of how bad it hurt you coming out. You're not used to big people food, but you do like it. This month, you tried sweet potato and broccoli for the first time, along with some others you've already tried like banana, acai, avocado, smoothie, and spaghetti. Yum! You're to the point in your little life where you'll literally put anything into your mouth and so finally, Daddy and I decided that rather dust bunnies and dirt clumps, we'd cut up food and place it within arms reach instead. Girl, you shovel that food into your face like a pro! You officially skipped the puree stage and I'm VERY happy with how well you've done in your transition to a few solids a day! You're still fed primarily by MamaMilk - probably 95% to 5%,  but you sure like whatever grub you can get your itty bitty mouth on!! So cute. And though I love seeing your face light up when you try new things, it's so incredibly bittersweet for Mama. My baby's growing up. 

What's not bittersweet however, is the undeniable connection between you and Dada. This month, the bond between the two of you lit up like never before. You crawl to him, you respond to him, you climb up his legs and laugh at his silliness. You sit with him and read with him and color with him and play with him. This month I left you twice with Dada for maybe an hour each time, and though you did miss me, you knew Daddy would take care of you. It's moments like these that just get to me so deeply. My heart almost aches with the amount of love I have for you. Seeing you light up in the presence of my best friend every morning makes my soul sing. Watching you wobble over to him for morning kisses and snuggles is what I live to witness. It's enchanting and lovely and everything I hold dear. You two make me the happiest woman alive. 

I don't know how we ever knew life before you.

You're spunky and silly and perfectly pleasant. A great friend and pal. I love even your whine - you know, the one when I'm trying to put you to sleep but you still want to play? You sit up and "backtalk" me and tell me all about how much you want to stay awake. But I say, "No No Millie, Ni-Night" and just as I finish my sentence, you make that one scrunched up face of yours and then...you laugh at me! And so I laugh! And then we're laughing together when I know full well just how tired you are and how much you actually need to sleep! You can't help it either, Amelia...I know you only want to stay awake so you can see more of us. And Baby Girl, we feel the exact same way. The only difference is...you have to rest, my Dear! Or else you'll get sick. And we already had one sickness this month - your very first one (a little cold that lasted 3 days while your top two front teeth came in) - so we need to always rest, rest, rest when we're tired! And while we're on the subject, can I just tell you how proud I am of your little immune system?! In 10 months, you traveled on 34 airplanes and slept in 36 different beds and not one time did you get sick (other than last week) or require medication! That's TEN months of intense traveling and teething and time changing and bed-switching and baseball-watching and and train riding and Ubering and not once did a single drop of any kind of medicine cross your body. You are a warrior, My Princess. So strong. 

And there they are, in all their glory. Teeth Five and Six. Front and center. You surely got them just in time for Christmas too! Those puppies claimed a lot of attention this month, and though I know just how much they bothered you, you never once cried over them. You did a whole lot of slobbering and snotting and funny face making though! We have you wearing your Amber teething necklace and girl, that thing is amazing. Just like you. Dad and I can totally tell the difference when you're not wearing it and we're so thankful for it. So is Whitacre. Your Partner in Crime hates seeing you miserable just like we do. 

This month you celebrated your first Christmas, which was a very special for us. For the first time ever, we bought a tree together and set it up together and...Mommy decorated it. You tried, but turns out, a 9.5 month old can't really help with that sort of thing. You enjoyed tearing the ornaments off the tree with Whit though! You also semi-enjoyed our Christmas card photo shoot as well as Christmas dinner AT OUR TABLE! Daddy made it especially for us for our first Christmas in our first house!! He's just too good! On Christmas morning, we loved watching you rip the paper off your presents and chew on every toy (and avocado, which we totally gave to you in your stocking!). What we enjoyed even more though, was sharing the story of Jesus' birth with you while Dada held you and read from Luke 2. It was a sweet memory that'll forever be etched into my mind. You sat on his lap quietly, listening to him speak. It was all I could do not to burst out in praise. And tears. He read from your pink Bible - a gift Grandma Heather and Grandpa Dan - and after, he shared with us a sermon message he'd been planning all week. We'll do that every year with you, Amelia. And all the days in between, we'll continue our prayers that one day, you'll trust Christ as your Savior.

More about Y.O.U.

You make Mommy and Daddy tired. Clearly. Ha! You're an incredibly busy lady with lots to do. You never stop unless you need milk or a hug or a nap or...another hug. You like to cook with us and laugh at us and point your fingers at us. You like to give high fives (we taught you that in two days!) and sing songs and dance like a crazy person with Mommy in the kitchen. You love listening to Christian music just like we do, and country music too! It seems you've found your most favorite place in the house besides laying on me: the dishwasher. This month, I turned around from cleaning off the counters, and there you were...sitting IN the dishwasher! I laughed and shrieked and then pulled you right out. It was dirty, after all! And when I looked back down only seconds later, you had your grubby paws on a plate! Before I could grab it from you, you smashed it to smithereens on the ground! Uh oh! You weren't hurt though and you didn't break a new plate. A win-win if you ask me!

You're getting so big. You're such a curious learner and you're always in the middle of the action. This month, you were drawing so much on our tile floors with the pens you figured out how to un-cap(!!), that we decided to get you your own pen and paper - the magic kind that doesn't ruin things!! Hooray! And know what else we hooray about?! The fact that you have so much hair that we can put it in pig tails! It's just so cute! I especially like your new "Daddy flip" that curls out on top of your ears! It kills me!! I also like the spit sound you make and the smell of your sweat when we crawl into bed with you every night.

The days are getting shorter and you're growing up fast. It's incredible to experience, but I feel like it's all happening too quickly. I desire so badly to cherish every moment I have with you. I try my best to be present for you, to give you everything you could need, to show you how much I care. I hope I'm doing ok. And I hope someday, you understand just how much you mean to me. How vastly better our lives are with you in it. And why, after 10 months, you're still sleeping by our sides. We can't get enough of you and we know these moments won't last forever. We have only so much time with you before you're eventually across the hall from us. Then across the street. Then across the town, and maybe one day, even across the country or world. And so, we'll hang on as long as we can. We'll snuggle and snuggle and take in these precious infant moments before they're gone. Ah! My heart! 

We love you forever, Amelia. You've got us hooked like never before and we just can't get enough of your six-tooth grin. Thank you for making our lives infinitely richer than we ever dared dream. You're OneInAmelian, our little "DillerDoo."

Always and forever, 

Mommy

Oh yeah, I forgot...you're now 21.5 pounds and 30.5 inches. You're really tall and really...you're quite fat. And we LOVE it! You're so adorable. Also, you're a great car-shopper too. Dad couldn't have bought his Nova without your help, of course! An adorable, chunky car shopper: what could be better?!

Day Fifteen Hundred and Thirty-Eight

The Ninth Month

My Best Little Friend,

Amelia, oh how you make Mommy smile! I think this month has been one of my favorites so far. You just have the sweetest way of making my heart leap and I can't even begin to explain to you how much I love that vampire-tooth grin you wear so fantastically. 

This month - like so many before it - saw HUGE changes. But maybe the biggest ones yet. It all started with the purchase of our very first home - Amelia, yes you finally have a home! Daddy bought it for you and I (ok and him too!) and the three of us couldn't be more excited about the sense of permanence it'll bring to our small little family. 

The day we signed the papers, Dada carried the two of us over the threshold and ever since, we've been making the most and best and first memories in our beautiful new home. Maybe one of my favorite memories was when Dad built you an entire fort - complete with a slide - using all the boxes and boxes of cardboard leftover from the necessary purchases that come with buying a house! Your dad...he's quite the handyman! Sad to say, however, that you weren't much of a fan of your slide. 

You were a fan of the brand new rugs he bought for you though!! 

(Check out your rat tail! It cracks me up!)

So, since you're such an impressive crawler, the rugs that I mentioned were a MUST. 

Why, you ask?

Because this little noggin...

...Oh this most precious little noggin...

...while simultaneously teething like a madwoman...

...kept getting bashed into our tile floors! I can't count the times that Daddy or I would coming sprinting to your aid after a most awful crash would have you screaming in pain and in fear. It hurt me so badly to watch you cry. I knew you were already aching from the two new VAMPIRE teeth coming in, so the pain from your head smacking on the tile just made me feel even worse.  

And so, Dada went out and bought you two rugs! That way, when you slip or fall or tumble or trip, the carpet will hopefully absolve at least some of the pain! Our goal is to have no more head-thumping faces and instead, have more happy faces like this one!

More new things: this month, you really let out the personality. You are so happy, so fun, and so giggly! You belly laugh with the greatest joy and love it when Daddy and I tickle your neck! You especially like the monkey noise and when we oink like a pig!

You've also learned to arch your back in protest, and though it comes with just a little attitude, we think it's especially cute. 

Maybe the biggest surprise of the month came not too long ago when you decided that squatting was out...

...and standing...

...was in!!

This new trick of yours - standing from the squatting position - just happened only a few days ago. Daddy and I gasped at each other in complete shock when we witnessed this feat for the very first time!! You are unbelievably strong, balanced, and focused already Little Girl!!

Ok, so you're officially teething like never before. My goodness, woman, your poor baby gums! We can tell that you're definitely having some discomfort as new teeth continue popping up (you have four now - two on the bottom and two vampire ones on the top), so you've been wearing a Baltic amber teething necklace and I'm not kidding you, the thing is INCREDIBLE. 20 minutes on you and you're a new, pain-free baby! Now, if only the necklace could reduce the runny nose that comes with teething too! You've got quite the snot stash up in that tiny nose of yours and though you'd like nothing more than to keep it up there away from the nose sucker, Mommy and Daddy use the Nose Frida and constantly have to suck it out.

This month, Daddy taught you how to drink from a straw! You also saw snow for the very first time, saw AND crawled up stairs for the very first time, and ate a feather for the very first time.

Yes, a feather.

Why did you eat a feather?

Because you're the most curious girl I've ever met.

So, of course you ate a feather!

Want to know how I know you ate a feather?

Because on the day of Parker's baby shower (which you helped plan for Auntie Ellie - it was themed "Ahoy it's a boy!" and we had TONS of fun!!) you pooped out a three inch feather and I had to pull the last little part of it out of your behind!!!! 

I took a picture of it and sent it to Daddy.

He laughed. And laughed. And laughed. And laughed.

We've been quite the busy ones this month. We spent 10 days at Auntie Marissa and Uncle Christian's before closing on our home, then 20 days unpacking into our first home and drinking from our new water ionizer (the Kangen), and then another week in Washington visiting our family for Thanksgiving! We had such a beautiful time with our family celebrating your first big holiday and I can't tell you how grateful I am to have such a strong and supportive group of people surrounding us. We are truly, truly blessed, My Girl. I hope as you grow up into a lovely young woman, that you understand and recognized the favor that Christ has poured over our family.

My Millie, you've been alive on this earth as long as you were alive in my belly, and let me just tell you: I can't even begin to imagine my life without you in it. I am absolutely overjoyed to be your mother. I think about you constantly. I snuggle you every chance I get. I talk about you nonstop and can't get enough of your little baby smell. I'm obsessed with breastfeeding - you're still exclusively breastfed and sleep in bed with Mommy and Daddy - and can't imagine stopping any time soon. We share a bond that's so special to me. More special than I ever thought possible. It makes me smile every time I hear you groan in your sleep. I makes me smile every time you hear your daddy come home from the gym. It makes me smile every time you fall asleep in your carrier, every time you sun bathe with me out by the pool, and every time you get your ears wet in the bathtub. I love it when you brush your teeth with Dad's toothbrush and when you suck on ice with that one silly look on your face. I love it that you're so incredibly flexible. Resilient. Kind. Brave. You are our biggest joy and greatest treasure. Your Daddy and I are closer than ever because of you and we just can't tell you quite perfectly, just how big our hearts burst for you. We love you, Amelia Lynn. All 20.6 pounds and 30.25 inches of you!! 

Always and forever,

Love, Mommy

Oh, also, Daddy's been calling you "Diller" or "Diller Doo" and I call you "Sissy" or "Sissy Poo" or "Sister." And no, you still don't have a sibling, I just always am calling you that! MWAH!

_________________________

Yesterday was also our last day in Spokane. Sad. But true. I wish we could've stayed longer, but then Adam's mommy would miss us! And so before leaving, we gave Hunter and Bearett their little presents from Auntie Kim that she sent in the mail for them!

It was a fun and exciting way to say goodbye and though it breaks my heart every time walking out of that front door and driving away, it just makes coming back next time that much more anticipated!! Love you, my family! Adam, Amelia, and I had the perfect time! We can't wait to be back...mostly to play another game of Werewolf ;)

(Warewuff, warewuff!)