8 Months Old!

8 Months is SOOOO fun!!!

Weston has mastered crawling and is pulling up on EVERYTHING!

He adapted to our hardwood floors by crawling with one knee down and one up so he can use his foot to help push him along.  If he tries crawling on both knees...he just stays in one place...haha

He's a genius!

I don't have a current weight and height, but his 9 month appt is schedule for 1/5/2016.

Food has still be a slow-go for us...but he's getting better!!  And his sleep schedule is improving too, yay!

~Whitney

Thanksgiving & Ice!

11.27.2015

Quick roadtrip to see family!!

The nasty weather was slowly heading our way, but God kept us safe and gave us a beautiful time with family :)

Tessa sandwiched between two of her favs ;)

Grandma smiles

Uncle Tom is always such fun!!

Grandpa snuggles

oldest and youngest cousins :)

11.28.2015

And then the ice came...

    

~Whitney

SJN - 4 Month Memories!!!!

11.19.2015
The day Tessa showed up in her new chair at school!!
And Mrs. Croom said "They noticed before I had even come to the carpet!!! They are sweet, sweet kiddos and Tessa keeps glowing!"

A precious video of Tessa's friends admiring her new chair!
https://youtu.be/Zkr8chjaj5A

12.4.2015
Some of the 5th grade Buddies reading Tessa story :)
She just melted as they were reading to her.





12.7.2015
What a BIG day!!!
Tessa attended the SJN Pep Rally and I just love what Mrs.Croom shared later in a thank you email to the amazing band kids about the experience:

"I wanted to send a little message to thank all of the AMAZING band kids for sharing their talents with us today!  As I brought our class into the gym, I had no idea what a blessing that short, 20 minute assembly would be.  This is the FIRST time we have ever seen Tessa engaged and excited over the music playing!  She CLAPPED-YES, CLAPPED to the music each time the band would play a song!!!!  In the two years she has been with us we have never seen Tessa actually clap along with music as we did today.  PLEASE share with your band students how much fun we had and how they made a HUGE impact in Tessa's little world today.  I was truly blown away by watching her clap and it brought tears to my eyes watching her smile,giggle and enjoy  the music.  THANK YOU for sharing their talents with our school Ms. Angelo!!!!  Today was a big milestone for one of our little friends.  :)"




A mother of one of Tessa's classmates was so incredible to catch the moment on video for us!  She will never understand what it meant to get to see this!  We all miss a lot of "firsts" in our kid's lives...but we were so grateful for someone that gifted us with this opportunity to see this!
12.7.2015

Clapping on her own at the pep rally!!  

https://youtu.be/QHileHgnFNI

So thrilling to see :)
https://youtu.be/5hfqdKiW7yE

Family Pics!

Once again, Ms. Margaret Murray (http://www.splendiferousphotography.com/) captured some beautiful moments of our family!!  We can't thank her enough for sharing her incredible talent and having such patience with us! We treasure these very special memories!!

(taken on 11.8.2015)


These pictures might make it look like we have it all together...I don't know HOW Margaret does it! ;)  But we are the furthest thing from perfect...so much heartache, so many fears, doubts, failures and shortcomings...while these images don't necessarily catpure the raw and realness of life...their incredible beauty reminds me of God's promises that all things work together for good for those who love Him.  These treasured moments we have been given....they bring a smile to my face and put a fullness in my heart that God is near.  He is the giver of our joy and the beauty in our lives...it can't be achieved on our own...but through Him.

Every year...every season is a gift for us with Tessa.  Reality tells us that our time with her will be shorter than any parent can begin to wrap their head around...and I'm just sitting here in awe of how grateful I am that Margaret continues to reach out to us.  By reaching out, she encourages us to embrace these moments...to capture life here and now...even when it's hard and when it feels like the minute we grab hold, it all falls apart.

I've had other special needs mothers express to me as well...that photo shoots are one of the hardest things to do for us, emotionally...nothing seems to highlight 'disability' in our lives more than an event that causes stress in even the most typical of scenarios.  But these pictures validate our desires to move ahead, a day at a time, embracing each and every moment God puts in front of us.  The good, the bad and the ugly mold us...mold this life we are living right now...and a still-shot of the beauty in its chaos, is a remarkable gift.

11.8.2015

~Whitney

SJN - 3rd Month Memories!!!

10.20.2015

Playground Friendships!

10.27.2015 

Cowboy Rocker Day 

(Tessa is just in her uniform this day)

10.27.2015

Gearing up for pajama day tomorrow with some fun and adorable pigtails!!

10.28.2015

Pajama Day for Tessa and

Mix-Match Day for Parker

a.m. pic :)

10.28.2015 PJ Day at SJN!

10.29.2015

Tacky Tourist Day

a.m. pic ~ personally I think we nailed it!

 Tessa made a spider hat that day at school :)

SJN Tacky Tourist Day!

 11.9.2015

Having Fun Coloring!

11.10.2015

Painting!

11.10.2015

Sweet friends helping get Tessa down the stairs and back to class from recess :)

11.16.2015

"She had a very good day!"

I'd say so with that precious crooked grin on her face! :)

What another incredible month at SJN full of lots of fun, learning and new experiences!!

~Whitney