Jane Evelyn you are ONE today!! I’ve been looking over past posts about your life and your sister’s life and just weeping over the goodness of God and the beautiful story he has written in our family culminating in you. We started this journey back in 2014 never dreaming what a ride it would be. Now here we are seven years later, 3+ years of infertility and one IVF round, the sweetest big sister I have ever known, 16 months of the adoption process, 30+ failed matches, a shocking positive pregnancy test that just shouldn’t have been possible, one global pandemic, and a first birthday party celebration. Milestones with the Lord I never want to forget to remind me of his faithfulness while he strengthened my own through the dry times. Showed me His ability to do exceedingly, abundantly, more than we can ever ask or imagine.
I cannot believe there was a time in my life I was unsure I wanted to be a mother. The love I feel for you and your sister is all consuming. My heart living outside my body. You are more than I ever dreamed. Your toothy smile lights up my mornings. I go to sleep at night thinking about whether or not I have done my best for you each day. Is my best even enough? Nothing has made me want to be a better version of myself or pushed me to know Christ more. How will I explain Him to you? How will we answer your questions, raise you in this sometimes hard world yet beautiful world of His.
At one you are spunky! You ham it up when people watch you showing them all 7 of your teeth. Your nose does a full crinkle when you really smile. Your hair is WILD. It curls out over your ears right now, and the combination of it with your scrunchy nose does me in. I’m ecstatic over having two green eyed, brown headed, curly haired girls. You’re starting to stand for a second now, but when you realize it you plop right back down. You’re tall. 31 inches to be exact, almost as tall as your sister was at 18 months.
You have a lot of words for your age, and you are vocal about them. You like to make sure your voice is heard, especially if we happen to be watching your sister. π Currently you really like to throw things on purpose and shout. “Uh oh!” The other day when I was trying to put your down for your nap your threw your dog lovie out of your arms, took your pacifier out of your mouth, threw it, said “oh oh” and then laughed. You’ve only done this once before, but I’m not sure you are supposed to be sarcastic yet?
You are the happiest girl, the easiest and most perfect addition to our family. You smile and laugh easily, especially when your sister is purposely goofing off for you which she does often. You wake up before she does in the mornings, and we cannot go get her unless we come with you. Mom and Dad are not enough these days. You are who she wants to see, and I pray your sweet sister relationship only continues to flourish as you grow. You are a Mama’s girl through and through, something my arms show the proof of and my heart delights in. I know one day you will realize that Daddy really is the fun one, so I am soaking this stage in while I can.
βHe is the one you praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.β β
Deuteronomyβ¬ β10:21β¬
Jane Evelyn Arnold, we praise the Lord for the gift of your life and the privilege of being your parents. May your own story always give you eyes to see His awesome wonders.
Photo & Outfit Details
Thank you over and over and over again to Randy Yeats for capturing our family at each life stage and helping me see with fresh eyes at all I have to be grateful for each day.
I wore the most gorgeous Banjanan dress that I was able to purchase through my partnership with Shopbop. It’s seriously so gorgeous, and felt like the perfect photo dress. One I will keep and wear for a long time. I love to pick a floral or patterned dress that I can then pick up other colors for the rest of the family from. It worked perfectly!! I love picking out family photo outfit. I’ll link everything below.
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