Happy 35 + weeks of life Joy

Where has the time gone? As of October 17th Joy as been out as long as she was in. I definitely felt like being pregnant for 35 weeks was a longer time frame than having Joy in our family for 35 weeks.  It is funny how we perceive time. The first 3+ months of pregnancy seemed to last forever and I never thought I would feel normal again. Similarly the first three months of Joy's life were endless days that melted into nights of nursing and wondering if we were doing it all "right"....and I wondered if I would ever the same again. Joy did change our lives and no we would never feel the same. It is impossible to imagine our life without Joy. She has forever changed our lives for the good. 

Here I am at 33 weeks pregnant (the last belly pic I took before Joy was born)

 

Here we are in Thailand with Grandma and Grandpa Christensen, the last vacation before Joy was born

  

Our first family picture (Joy 1 week old). Do I look tired or what?

 

Here are 35 things that we love about Joy, in no particular order. 

We love that.....

1.  you surprised us and came 5 weeks early 
2. your favorite books are "Llama Llama Nighty Night"  and "Daddy Calls me Doodlebug" (daddy reads them to you almost every night)
3. when you really like a book you try and put the main character in your mouth 
4. you prefer to eat solid food in the walker than in your high chair
5. you bounce up and down in the walker when you are excited about what you are eating
6. you are entertained by cheerios so mommy can work on dinner
7. you giggle and laugh every time you are tickled
8. you make friends with everyone we sit next to on the bus 
9. you love to chew on mommy's flip flops (I take them away as quick as I can because they are dirty) 
10. you love to splash in your bathtub 
11. you like to chew on your yellow rubber ducky 
12. you like to "pet" Rudy (with daddy's help) 
13. you love plants
14. you smile when mommy makes sheep sounds..every time!
15. you laugh when daddy makes monkey sounds 
16. you love to play with the Tylenol syringe...
17. ..and the dog toys
18. ..and your hair brush
19. ..and wooden spoons
20. you forever changed our lives
21. you like riding around in the Ergo
22. you still want to nurse because it is mommy's only time to snuggle with you
23. you are healthy and growing(and never spot moving when you are awake)
24. you slept for 12 hours straight two nights in row (with no eating in the middle) 
25. for the past 2.5 months your bedtime is 6pm
26. you have the cutest two bottom teeth
27. you take great naps (now that mommy has cut out caffeine)
28. you love to be near mommy or daddy 
29. you smile and laugh as soon as daddy walks in the door 
30. you listen so attentively while daddy reads to you at night
31. you babble and squawk when you are awake in your bed 
32. you suck your thumb 
33. you  love your bear 
34. you don't mind being all sweaty (good thing since we live in HK)
35. God blessed us with the most amazing little person in the whole wide world

Our most recent family picture (Joy almost 8 months old)