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Levi had his first trip to the pumpkin patch.
Joel’s cousins were here visiting so we all spent the morning at the pumpkin patch together.
There were all kinds of things to do…
swings,
trikes,
a jumping pillow,
race cars,
and a fun slide.
We spent lots of time at the slide.
I think it was the favorite.
Levi spent most of the morning in the stroller with his cousin Heath.
He wanted to get down, but he was too little to do anything.
Until we found the train.
Levi could have spent all day in here.
He loved it.
And we even talked them into taking us for a ride,
even though the train wasn’t running that day.
By the end of the morning someone was ready for a nap.
You only can have so much fun in one day!
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  • Peyton's Pages - What an awesome pumpkin patch! Looks like a blast! Levi is just so stinkin’ adorable!!!ReplyCancel

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  • Natalie - I didnt think I could love Levi anymore until you put a BRONCOS shirt on him!!! ahhhh! Love it!ReplyCancel

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  • lauren haddox - his two little teeth are so cute in that first picture! what a great pumpkin patch…so much fun stuff to play with!!!ReplyCancel

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  • Stef - Looks like a really fun pumpkin patch! I love the picture of him on the train – drool and all!ReplyCancel

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  • Jenae - We love Walter’s…headed there this Saturday. 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - Aren’t cousin’s the BEST??
    What a great looking group.ReplyCancel

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  • Jennifer Gilbert Settle - that first picture of him smiling with those precious little teeth is ADORABLE!!!!!ReplyCancel

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  • capperson - That’s an awesome pumpkin patch! Love the pics! He is sooo adorable!!ReplyCancel

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  • songskatesang - Oh Jess, he is adorable! What is it about pictures with pumpkins! Maybe it is the orange? They always turn out so bright and cheery!

    Have a wonderful nap!ReplyCancel

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  • Holli Taylor - Walters is THE BEST! We had fun there last week too. Adorable pics.ReplyCancel

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  • Beki - TheRustedChain - That’s Walter’s isn’t it?

    The only time I’ve been there was with you. And I was huge and pregnant. And it was FREEEEEZING cold. And you put me in charge of the little girl who wet her pants.
    Ha!

    Good memories of that day. 😉

    Looks like fun!
    The one we love now is Papa’s. Soooo sweet, family owned, FREE, and fun. It’s near our new place.

    Glad you guys had a fun day!ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - Looks like lots of fun..especially with cousins 🙂 Don’t you just love fall and pumpkins patches!ReplyCancel

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  • Mindy M. Harris - that looks fun. i want to kiss on levi. oh my. he can marry story.
    you look beautiful, by the way. pretty hair.ReplyCancel

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  • rentz - I LOVE Levi’s shirt. Brookie has one just like it!ReplyCancel

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  • A - Such great pictures!! I can’t wait until I have a little one to take to a pumpkin patch!!ReplyCancel

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  • Alisha - I love that place! I remember the first time we took our little guy (who is now 4). He loved it as much as Levi. What fun memories!ReplyCancel

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  • meg duerksen - that shirt is soooo cute!ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - That looks like so much fun! Makes me long for fall, no seasons here in Florida just hot and not so hot! I love the last pic even though he is crying, I love capturing those moments!
    Take care!
    Krista aka babykatesmomReplyCancel

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  • Lauren - SO fun! LOVE LOVE LOVE the first picture 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Julie - Any way you would elaborate on what, exactly, a jumping pillow is? 🙂
    I’m totally wondering how high off the ground it is because in your {as always, beautiful} pictures, I can’t tell. And it’s just looks so very cool:)ReplyCancel

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  • Brooke - Heart be still!!! Tell Mr. Levi that he has two adorable Bronco fans who will need a date to the prom in about 16 years!ReplyCancel

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It was a…
snacking with daddy on the kitchen floor,
ribs and sweet corn for dinner,
working on a craft project,
crawling around outside,
and sneaking things into my mouth when my parents aren’t looking…
kind of a weekend.
Joel didn’t have to work Saturday afternoon 
which always makes it a good weekend.
Joel and I both had projects we were working on,
but otherwise we didn’t have much planned.
It was great to just be together.
That is definitely my favorite kind of weekend.
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  • Rach - Sounds fantastic!ReplyCancel

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  • Lauren - Sounds like the perfect weekend!!!! 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Marianne - Are you ever tempted to nibble on those delicious baby thighs? He is a winner!ReplyCancel

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  • Annie-Staten - What kind of camera do you have? 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • meg duerksen - what in the world are you making?!!!!
    i must know.
    how have you not told me about this?! 🙂
    it looks very cool.

    oh…and of course mr. levi is too cute!ReplyCancel

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  • purejoy - i’m intrigued by that craft project. how do you cut all those circles? with a sixxix (or however you spell that thing)?
    yummo on the ribs… almost delicious as that baby of yours!!ReplyCancel

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  • Walking With The Wheats - Love those kinds of weekends!ReplyCancel

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  • Mindy M. Harris - that’s how our Sunday was. we went to “bedside baptist” since the kids have colds. we laid on our big bed and cuddled, read books, and lazed around the house ALL DAY!ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - Love those baby thighs! Thanks for sharing your weekend..sounds like my kind of weekend. Yes do share your craft projects 😉

    KimReplyCancel

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  • Kristin - Those are the best kind!ReplyCancel

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  • Candice - Looks like autumn!!ReplyCancel

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  • Tricia - Sounds like a perfect weekend to me! 🙂

    xo*triciaReplyCancel

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  • I'm Sadie - Sounds like an amazing weekend! I am very curious to know what your craft project is! Can’t wait to find out! Marking your blog to follow!ReplyCancel

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  • Julie - I love that picture of Joel and Levi sitting on the kitchen floor. It’s really sweet.

    Glad Joel got to be home more this weekend!ReplyCancel

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  • Stef - I love those types of weekends!!ReplyCancel

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  • songskatesang - Sounds wonderful! Levi is getting so big!ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - did you make the ribs? How?

    Such a handsome little boy…God bless you all !ReplyCancel

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  • Michelle - Hope you post the finished craft project – I’m curious. Mr. Levi is so.dang.adorable!ReplyCancel

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  • Christina - Sweet, sweet times…and those chunky legs! How can you stand it? I’d be patting and squeezing them all the time!ReplyCancel

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  • Micah - I’ve got to know what project you’re working on :). I just know it’s going to be adorable, and I’m going to want to make one too!! So glad it was a fun, relaxing weekend. It was family time for us too!!ReplyCancel

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  • Micah - I’ve got to know what project you’re working on :). I just know it’s going to be adorable, and I’m going to want to make one too!! So glad it was a fun, relaxing weekend. It was family time for us too!!ReplyCancel

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  • KaraM - Like the others, I want to hear all about the craft project! The meal also looks fabulous!!ReplyCancel

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  • Sarah Whitworth - Your weekend sounds fabulous! That baby is the cutest, the food looks yummy and I am with the others–what is your craft project! You mmust share!–pleaseReplyCancel

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Today is my sister’s birthday.
Levi and I took a little trip to the “big city” 
to eat lunch with her at work.
I meant to take a picture of her to document her special day
and I totally forgot.
Sorry Anne…
it still is a special day even without a picture.
So instead I dug up some old pictures.
This is one of my favorite pictures of Cora and Anne.
They were buddies.
Levi and Anne are becoming pretty tight too.
At lunch today Levi was really making his Aunt Anne laugh.
He thought he was pretty funny.
Anne is such a great aunt.
I love that she loves my kids.
And I love that not only are we sisters,
but now she is one of my best friends.
Happy Birthday Anne!
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  • k and c's mom - So sweet. I have a sister who is my best friend, too. I just read on one of those Yahoo lists that people who have sisters are happier than people who do not. (I already knew that and I bet you did, too!)ReplyCancel

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  • Stef - Happy Birthday to your sis!!

    I miss my sisters now… sigh.ReplyCancel

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  • Todd and Courtney - Happy Birthday to your sister! I think Levi and Cora look so much alike. You can definitely tell they are siblings.ReplyCancel

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  • The Moffats - Happy Birthday, Annie-belle! We love you tons and tons! Hope your day was great! Miss you!ReplyCancel

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  • Beki - TheRustedChain - Happy Birthday beautiful Anne!

    I was thinking last weekend how blessed you two are to have each other. I love seeing the bond between you.ReplyCancel

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  • purejoy - having a sister is one of my special gifts in my life… so i can imagine the bond you have with anne. she’s so beautiful and it’s obvious how much your children love her too. happy birthday, anne!ReplyCancel

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  • Amanda - Happy Birthday Anne! With Jess having you so close and dear to her, it always makes me sad that my sister is so far away!ReplyCancel

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  • Paige - There is nothing more beautiful than a sister who is also a best friend. I am so glad you have that with Anne, I have that with my sisters too. 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Lundstrom Family - I miss her so… Please remind her that when she left Manhattan she promised she would come back to visit! 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Rich and Carolyn Dewey - Nothing better than having a sister nearby! I sure do miss mine!

    Happy birthday to a great “Auntie Anne”. Photos were precious!ReplyCancel

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I am so excited to tell you that I am guest blogging over at Under the Sycamore today. Ashley’s blog is definitely one of my favorites. I love her heart. Her love for her family and for people shines through in every post. She is a fabulous mom of three boys and a baby girl. I am trying to soak up all I can about being a mom to boys from her. So far it seems to me that there is a lot of dirt and legos involved. I’m okay with that. Did I mention she is a fantastic photographer? I love how she captures the everyday moments with her kids, even the mundane moments.

Ashley asked me to write a post as part of her 10 in 10 series that she is doing this month. I wrote a little post about how Levi is my helper. And he is in so many ways. Here is a sneak peek.

 You’ll have to go over to Under the Sycamore to check it out. Thanks for having me Ashley!

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

This morning I am sharing my story with a MOPS group in Wichita. I am really excited for the opportunity to share with these women, but of course am feeling a little nervous again. I am praying that these women would not just hear my story, but they would understand God’s truth in a new way. Would you pray for me this morning? I am so thankful that when I am weak, He is strong.
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  • Crystal - I’ve been stalking…ummm…I mean reading your blog for a while, but never commented (I don’t think)
    Just read your post at Under the Sycamore and I believe it is one of the sweetest things I’ve read in a while, plus it doesn’t hurt that you had some pretty sweet photo material!! Love it! I’ll be praying for you today!ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - I too just read your post Under the Sycamore and agree it is the sweetest..Love your pictures!
    Am praying for you today..really there isn’t a day that I don’t think and pray for your sweet family.

    KimReplyCancel

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  • naomimarcus - Long-time lurker of your amazing blog. Just wanted to de-lurk to say I am praying for you xxxReplyCancel

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  • keely steger - So encouraged by your faith and your story. Thanks for sharing!ReplyCancel

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  • Jen Vogt - Just read your post on Under the Sycamore and loved all your pictures of your sweet Levi. Thanks so much for sharing! 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Lori - I’m sure that you will bless the MOPS moms by sharing your heart – wish I could be there too! 🙂 Bet you did great!ReplyCancel

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  • Kate - What a great post, Jess!!! And you have no need to be concerned your pics might not be as good – they are FANTASTIC!! Photography is my hobby and I am alway impressed with the quality of your photos and the 10 in 10 post was no different! May God give you calmness and strength today!ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - I loved yesterday’s post….but this one tops it.
    You have a gift for writing and photography, and I am so appreciative that you share that so freely.

    Thank you for reminding me that the ordinary moments in the day are truly special…

    PS Love the dishwasher, too!ReplyCancel

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  • Jennifer - I’ve been reading your blog for a while but can’t remember if I’ve commented before or not. Loved your guest post. My littlest guy is 9 months and I just wrote a post with a section about what a little helper he is! Our little guys would get along so well together! 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • kristin fulghum - hi jess, i just saw your post through under the sycamore. my daughter is just about the same age as levi. it’s so fun to read blogs of other moms. thanks for the encouragement.ReplyCancel

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  • Melissa Joy - Praying for you as you share your story! I am praying that next October, God would provide me an opportunity to share my story at a local MOPS group too. You’ve inspired me to pursue it further.
    God bless you as you share your faith, your grief, your daughter, and your God.
    (((hugs)))ReplyCancel

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  • merlin - “He helps bring me to my knees”

    Oh, how that spoke to my heart. That was the line that brought tears to my eyes.

    I don’t enjoy being on my knees and yet daily I find myself brought to that place as a mother.

    Once again you have opened my soul to something I was living but not understanding. Being on my knees, seeking God’s grace is actually a pretty good place to be.

    Today I am extra grateful for the gift of my children who bring me to my knees and for your beautiful spirit so willing to share the truth.ReplyCancel

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  • Tricia - What a fun day for you! You will do a great job! God chose just the vessel to speak through you.

    xo*tricia

    p.s. I love Ashley’s blog! Can’t wait to read your post.ReplyCancel

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  • Sarah C - I high doubt we will walk away “shucked”! (That was cute, by the way, Paul!!) We’re soooooo ready to stomp all over you!!! GO BIG RED!!!!!ReplyCancel

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  • Sarah C - Ok…well I guess that’s what happends when you have a little boy on your lap trying to help you type!! Pushed the wrong button and posted something from another site!! Sorry!!

    What I meant to say was…I couldn’t help but laugh out loud at the laundry picture!! It just made me giggle!! What a sweet boy!! Great pictures and another great post, Jess!!ReplyCancel

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  • kg - Just recently found “Under the Sycamore”… which in turn led me to your blog today. I was very touched by your daughter’s story; thank you for sharing it. And your guest post at “Sycamore” was a great reminder that parenthood isn’t easy… but isn’t it oh-so-beautiful! God bless.ReplyCancel

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  • Jessica Morris - I just came over from Under the Sycamore – so, so, so sweet! I love when mama’s embrace their children and love the mundane.
    Going to read some more about you now! 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Miss G - just now reading this . . . I am so excited to go read your guest post. Both of your blogs are among my favorites! So fun when blog worlds collide. 🙂 I hope that your talk went really, really well today! KellyReplyCancel

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  • Alicia - I was introduced to your blog around the time Cora got sick and I have been following you ever since. I just recently started a blog of my own, before I was just a blog reader, but now I’m trying to be a writer too. Anyway, I started staying home with my two girls in May and I absolutely needed your post today on Under the Sycamore’s blog. You are amazing and I thank you.ReplyCancel

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  • Momma H - Loved your guest post with all the wonderful pictures of Levi. Never get to see enough of your little charmer!!ReplyCancel

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  • Brooke - I loved seeing you over at Ashley Ann’s blog today!! After losing my sweet boy, I began checking your blog even more than I ever did. It is good to know that other moms still think of their babies….it has been almost a month for me…and sometimes I feel like I should be “over it”…
    YOu had such special time with your sweet Cora, much more than I did, but I just think it’s awesome that you honor her in such amazing ways!! Just hope you have an amazing weekend with your adorable LEvi!ReplyCancel

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At nine months you are BUSY.
 You started pulling yourself up in your crib 
and now you can pull yourself up on anything.
Nothing is out of your reach anymore.
You are busy.
Everything goes into your mouth,
which is forcing me to vacuum a little more frequently.
I have become a pro at digging things out of those cheeks of yours.
You are busy.
 You are crawling everywhere.
You scoot ahead using one foot and kind of drag the other leg behind.
It works because you can get yourself across the room pretty fast.
You are busy.
 You talk and pound your hands a lot.
Dada and Mama are your favorite words to say.
You love to play and make people laugh.
You are busy.
You are so curious.
You have to check everything out,
which often leads to a bump or bruise.
You are busy.
 You are a busy boy.
At nine months you suddenly became very mobile
and you keep your mama on her toes.
I love that my days are busy because of you.
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  • Mackenzie - What an absolutely beautiful post. Your son is absolutely adorable! Great photos as well. Wishing you all the best for many, many years!ReplyCancel

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  • Julie - I love these pictures of your busy little boy! What a sweetie. I can’t believe how much he has changed in the past month.ReplyCancel

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  • k and c's mom - Ohhhhhhhhhh! That was just precious. Love seeing those two little teeth popping out in one picture (and you are quite the photographer!) Levi is precious. And busy, apparently…ReplyCancel

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  • lauren haddox - what a cutie!!! they grow up too fast!!!ReplyCancel

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  • Sarah C - He is sooooo gorgeous!!!! What a beautiful baby!!! I just love all his facial expressions…..they make me giggle!!! I just want to pinch those chunky cheeks of his!! Thanks for sharing him and your whole story with all of us…you truly are an inspiration to so many of us. I absolutely love all your posts and look forward to reading them every time you post something new. 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Stef - he is SO cute! That first picture went straight to my heart. What a beautiful little boy! Happy 9 months, Levi!ReplyCancel

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  • Sue - Busy & beautiful!! That’s boys for you! Thank you for sharing these gorgeous pictures of your very special little man with us

    Sue XReplyCancel

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  • Nancy - He’s so handsome!ReplyCancel

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  • Lindsay - I have just loved watching him grow. He is a beautiful happy little boy. Enjoy!ReplyCancel

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  • Kim @ Peace of my Heart - How precious! My oldest daughter did a funny crawl that sounds a lot like your little guy’s. It always made us smile, too. 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • The Buchanan Family - love the busy photos of Levi!ReplyCancel

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  • Marianne - I love this age when they are so curious and can get around to inspect everything! He is just precious!ReplyCancel

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  • Momma H - Pictures of your Levi ALWAYS make me smile. He is adorable!ReplyCancel

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  • Lauren - He is so stinkin cute!!!! 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Mindee@ourfrontdoor - I do love busy boys – as long as they take naps! Levi is precious.ReplyCancel

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  • The Sieberts - i just want to squeeze those cheeks! love those pics Jess!ReplyCancel

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  • Rich and Carolyn Dewey - The last photo – a little Joel! What a cutie. Great post with great photos! A very huggable little guy!ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - Love this post(well all your post really:) Levi is such a cutie pie, a busy cutie pie obviously 😉 Made me smile today.

    KimReplyCancel

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  • Jenae {I Can Teach My Child} - Precious! {and beautiful pictures by you, Jess}ReplyCancel

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  • The Branches - Those are great pictures! He is so precious! My Connor just turned 7 months and oh my goodness how they grow so fast! Not much longer and he’ll be running off!ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - He is one cute baby! I love your blog. I wanted to point something out to you, not to alarm you but to educate. I noticed that a lot of your pictures of him are taken on what looks like a “crop” or field of some sort. I am wondering if that crop has been treated with pesticides? If so, then you need to know the dangers of exposing a young baby to that! It can get on his clothes and skin etc. The damage might not be apparent for a long time, but please be aware that there are dangers…I have included a portion of an article on the subject

    Pesticides drift and settle during application. In the Antarctic ice pack alone there are 2.4 million pounds of DDT and its metabolites from years past.(26) Pesticides engulf the home and are easily tracked inside, readily inhaled and absorbed through the skin. They do harm by attacking the central nervous system and other essential organs. Symptoms of pesticide poisoning are often deceptively simple, commonly mis-diagnosed as flu or allergies. They include, but are not limited to, headaches, nausea, fever, breathing difficulties, seizures, eye pains, vomiting, cramps, diarrhea, sore nose, tongue, or throat; burning skin, rashes, coughing, muscle pain, tissue swelling, blurred vision, numbness and tingling in hands or feet, incontinence, anxiety, irritability, sleep disorders, hyperactivity, fatigue, dizziness, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, spontaneous bleeding, and temporary paralysis. Long-term consequences include lowered fertility, birth defects, miscarriages, blindness, liver and kidney dysfunction, neurological damage, heart trouble, stroke, immune system disorders, menstrual problems, memory loss, suicidal depression, cancer, and death. The National Academy of Sciences reports that at least one out of seven people are significantly harmed by pesticide exposure each year.(3) Increasingly, reports from many people around the country are “beginning to link feeling terrible with the fact the neighbors had the lawn sprayed the day before”, notes Catherine Karr, a toxicologist for the National Coalition Against The Misuse Of Pesticides.(7) Unfortunately, except for industrial accidents, tests for pesticide poisoning are rarely performed, partially because they are expensive. Doctors also attribute them to stress, allergies, influenza, or an overactive imagination.(3)ReplyCancel

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  • Toni :O) - He’s absolutely a beautiful and sweet little boy! I’m so happy he’s thriving…what a joy I can tell he is! He’s always SO happy in those pictures! Just love him!Big hugs to you all!ReplyCancel

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  • Kristi - Levi is so precious!!ReplyCancel

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  • Melissa Joy - Levi, you are such a handsome and sweet boy! We’re so glad your mommy shares you with us.
    I was just thinking of your big sister today, and praying for your family. There are just some days when God puts you Macs big on my heart.ReplyCancel

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  • Jen - Those pictures are beautiful! Such a darling little boy!ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - I love this post.ReplyCancel

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  • Rachel - Your little guy is just too cute! Love the pictures! Great post!ReplyCancel

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  • Patricia - Beautiful boy…..you are blessed !ReplyCancel

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  • BEK - Wow- I can’t believe Levi is 9 months!!! What a beautiful post!ReplyCancel

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  • Miss G - oh wow! We have a lot to look forward to. When you mentioned digging things out of those cutie cheeks it hit me that I’m sure I will be doing the same thing in about three short months too. Wow! He is so, so cute! KellyReplyCancel

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  • teresa - Oh, you need to print this up as a little book. Soooooo cute!ReplyCancel

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  • Lexie Loo & Dylan Too - Happy 9 months, Levi! He is getting so big!ReplyCancel

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