12 month pictures.

Here's a few of my favorite pictures I took of Jaxon most recently. We went and had his pictures taken as a newborn, at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and then because of obvious budget cuts, I took his 12 month pictures. Hope you enjoy them.












I posted these on facebook and have had a handful of people ask me to take their/their kids' pictures. Hopefully this means my dream of photography is not too far away... everyone has to start somewhere, right? I know I am far from great, but I am trying.

And... a shameless plug... if you want someone who really wants to learn learn learn and grow as a photographer, feel free to contact me about taking some pictures for you. I can't promise they'll be perfect, but I promise to try! I would love to try and pause time, even if it's just for a brief second! I love to capture those precious moments.
email: meg.keith@gmail.com

Jaxon is ONE!

If you know me, I am not huge into themes, but when I do have a theme I try and incorporate a bunch of fun things around that 'theme' to make it work. For instance... his nursery. Decided on airplanes, but didn't run to Babies 'R Us to buy the airplane bed set that also includes a lamp, wallpaper, a diaper hanger thing (?), etc. Instead I searched at really random places and put it all together. So I did the same thing for his birthday party. Decided to do a jungle 'theme'... not sure where that came from, but I guess I thought it was cute! Most of his decorations came from etsy.com - my fav place ever!

We had 23 adults and 10 kids... so yeah, it was a full house! But the party ran smoothly and I had tons of help from my amazing mother in law and mom and other family members. I had a blast planning the party, I just wish Jaxon would be able to remember it, but I guess that's why we have pictures - so we he can see someday what Mommy & Daddy did for him. :)

On to the pictures...


I hung each month picture across the kitchen wall... everyone loved seeing how much he had changed each month. The banner in the middle was from etsy.com

No, I did not make this... again, from etsy.com







Then on his actual birthday, we went out for dinner with our good friends Brady & Karalie and then came home and opened a couple more gifts, and gave Jaxon another 'bite' of his birthday cake.


Oh no he didn't... oh yes, he did.

He then decided to grab mama's face and share the love!

We had a really fun day celebrating his birthday, and his party was a blast.


Last but not least... here's the letter I wrote to him on his birthday.

Jaxon Daniel,
Wow... an entire year has passed. It seems so cliche and repetitive to say "time goes too fast" or "I have loved every second". But, time really does go too fast, and I really have loved every second. I'll never forget the day you were born... how nervous, excited, scared, but sooo ready to meet you and become a Mom... all at the same time. You were born and we were in love. As the days went on I spent so much time just staring at you. Watching you breathe, watching you smile in your sleep, watching you just be you. I loved getting to know you - I loved figuring out your different cries, how you liked to sleep, how you liked to be held and be comforted, and just adored every moment that I could spend with you. As the months passed, every day it seemed I learned something new about you. What made you smile, what silly things you love to do to get a reaction out of me, how you like your food and bottles, how you liked to sleep (on the nights that you actually did!), and what things kept your attention. I loved watching you grow up, watching you figure things out and seeing how much you truly are like your Daddy in your mannerisms and your low-key personality. I'll never forget your first cry, your first bath, the first time you rolled over, the first time you crawled, the first time you said "momma" and waved bye-bye, and just recently the first time you walked. The first time you held your own bottle, and the last time you nursed. All of these things have unfolded right before my eyes, and I'll never forget them. These precious moments are forever engraved in my memory.

For 365 nights I rocked you to sleep. For 365 nights I sang to you worship songs and prayed for you before I laid you in your crib. 365+ times I prayed that you would always know how much I love you. 365 mornings I woke up to your beautiful blue eyes. 365 days were spent thinking about you, and on the days that I was at work, wishing I could be with you. For 365 days I talked about you, loved bragging about you, and was the proudest mommy around. And I truly have loved every second.

To say that you have stolen my heart is an understatement. Your Daddy and I will always be here to love you, support you, and pray for you. We will always be there to cheer you on, to encourage you, and to truly be your biggest fans. We can't wait to see you grow up and become the man that God has designed and created you to be. We can't wait to see your life unfold and see you follow Christ and accept him as your own Savior. We will love you through the good and bad, through the happy times and the hard times. We can't wait... but at the same time, we can, because we love this moment. This exact moment. And I pray that every moment we have we will forever cherish and never take for granted.

I love you Jaxon... always have, always will.
Mommy

Wordless Wednesday: 1-12 months

Playing catch up.

I truly do have good intentions for updating my blog and I never do. It's sorta like my good intentions for going to the gym. Or wearing my rubber bands more than just at night. Or reading my bible more. In my head I say that I will, and it just doesn't happen like it should. Anyways.

Life is crazy and honestly some days I just go to bed and wonder where the day/week/year of my life went. Work is crazy busy, there is always something going on, always someone to babysit (we're talking adults here, not kids) and always problems problems problems. But, for now, it's a little bit of escape from the stress in my personal life. It's 8 hours a day that I can focus on work (even though I'd rather not focus on work!) and just escape from life for a second. From a job-less and discouraged husband and a teething and unhappy baby and financial struggles and friends moving away and emotions running crazy and... you get the idea.

I am learning to trust. I have always thought I knew how to trust. But, see, the problem with me is that I trust someone/something for like .00234 seconds. Then I relinquish the control, and its on my shoulders again. Pastor John talked this morning about how we can never really trust someone until we realize that they may hurt us. That we may be stabbed in the back, we may be hurt, but understanding that and risking it anyway. Right now, at this very stage of my life, I can't do anything but trust. I have to trust that our bills will be paid and we will not be homeless. I have to trust that relationships will not fail. I have to trust that Jaxon knows that I love him, regardless of how bad of a Mom I feel I am sometimes. I have to trust in my maker, my creator, my Savior. Because really? That's all I can do.

My friend is moving away. And even though it's within driving distance, she's still moving. She is the reason Tyler and I went to our church. She is the reason we got involved in the best small group in the world. She has been my rock so many times this past year when I feel helpless and don't have anywhere to turn. She has been my first 'real' adult friend. She has made me feel beautiful again. She taught me how to love again. She encourages me and prays for me. She lets me cry and get slobber all over her shoulder. She loves me for me... and I'm going to miss her. Trust. All I can do is trust that even though she's moving, she'll still be in my life. Trust that God will bring in other friends to help me like she has. Trust.

It's really hard for me to trust. Really hard. And I would be lying to you if I sat here and told you that I have the concept mastered, or that I am fully trusting. Because I'm not. There's still doubt in my mind, there's still heartache, there's still unanswered questions and unanswered prayers. But I am trying... and I like to think that's at least good for something. I have made the commitment to try and trust, to learn how to let go. I am trying.

All of this probably makes no sense to you guys. It's on my heart and it's in my head and right now, this is the outlet I've chosen to try and talk about it and feel better. Will it work... I have no clue.

So much has happened and yet I sit here with a blinking cursor in front of me wondering what I should write about. Lets see... quick recap. Jaxon's birthday was an absolute amazing day, and there is a post coming this week (Friday to be exact!) covering his whole birthday extravaganza. Valentines Day came and went, we of course did nothing... although my husband did make me a really sweet homemade card and we made heart shaped cookies that night. We really have never been big on Valentines, even in the past when we could have done something big and extravagant. I secretly wish my husband would buy me flowers and oooh and ahhh over me all day long, but he tells me he loves me every night before I fall asleep and that is more important to me. Our church family has been bringing us meals every other night and so we've been eating well... lol, lots of fun recipes that I can share with you all soon, hopefully. I took Jaxon's 12 month pictures (because we couldn't afford a photographer, of course!) and I am proud of myself because I think they turned out alright. Well, I guess they did because I have had 4 people ask me to take their/their kids' pictures soon. I have a maternity shoot coming up, and a wedding to shoot in May. So maybe my photography dream isn't too far off, after all. Everyone has to start somewhere, right? I finally got to see my brother and his wife and kids last night. It's been too long, and whats pathetic is that they live 10 minutes away. I really, really miss my sister and have no idea what's going on in her life, other than when she updates her blog. I miss my Mom and Dad. I love how much they love me. I miss my inlaws. I wish we lived closer so that Jaxon and his uncle Cooper could grow up and play together. I wish I knew more about my younger brother and whats going on in his life. Really, I have no idea whats happening with him. What else -- I get my braces off in less than 48 hours. I am scared to death that we're going to have to move in order for Tyler to get a new job. I wonder if and when I'm going to be ready for another baby. I am praying for my friend whose heart is heavy. And, I'm tired. I think I'm going to go to bed now. Because I have rambled long enough, right? Right.

Last but not least... hang with me because I have 2 scheduled posts this week! Lots of pictures coming at ya!

A quickie.

Quick update, that is.

~ blogging at work = no more. they blocked all blogging websites. 90% of the time that i'm blogging i'm typically at work. really awesome, right?

~ jaxon's 1st birthday party is this saturday! can't wait. he turns 1 next tuesday, the 9th... can you even believe it??? i will return with pictures... eventually. :)

~ thanks for the prayers regarding tyler being laid off. we are surviving... trying to hold onto the promises that He will NEVER leave us or forsake us. we completely believe that and have been surrounded by our incredible friends and family during this time that have uplifted us in prayer and encouragement.

that's all! see, nothing overly exciting going on. just lots of stress, so we would appreciate your continued prayers.