Happy Birthday, Aunt Rachel!

"Mom, it's Aunt Rachel's Birthday today. We need to give her a call."

"Is this the right number?"

"Operator, please get me Aunt Rachel."

"Hello? She sounds very far away."

"I love you very much!"

I'll teach him how to dial later today, so he can talk to you for real!

Ribbit, Ribbit

Kate and Lexi gave Josiah this pull toy frog for his birthday, and he's definitely figured out how to use it. He's still always surprised/impressed when it follows him. And don't you just love feet-y pajamas? It's finally getting cool enough - hurray for autumn.

Baby and Parent Dedication

We had Josiah dedicated at church on Sunday. It took us a long time because we wanted to join the church first, and then we had to attend a class, so doing all that with Jonathan's schedule took an entire year.

A few family pictures before the service.

We didn't get a picture of the actual service, so here's the run-down. The Church at Brook Hills has a separate service for baby dedications. It's mostly just family members there. They had a brief sermon, a song and then they called each family down to pray for them individually.

Josiah stood out a little because he was definitely the oldest child there and the only one not wearing a dress (or at least all white).

Getting some Mimi-love.
Granddady and Mama Jo also came, but I forgot to get a picture with them. Bummer!

Checking out the plants

At the cake-and-punch reception afterward

I do love our church down here, but I must say I prefer Providence's Baby Dedications. I like that they're in front of the entire church family and that the parents publicly vow their commitment to raise their child to the Lord. I did enjoy the personal prayer at Brook Hills, but it was a challenge to concentrate. Not only do you have your child with you, but everyone has their child, plus siblings, cousins, etc., who are all getting a little antsy during a 45-minute service.
All in all it's an outward sign of our commitment and that's what counts!

Vroom...

Josiah seemed disinterested in the motorcycle parked outside our church. Hopefully an indicator of things to come. 

By the way, I love that our church has motorcycles parked in front of it.

Ball Cap

I don't run into many things that I can't resist buying for Josiah, but I broke down when I tried this ball cap on him in a store.

I just can't stand how cute he is in it!

And he actually keeps it on. He realizes it's on his head, adjusts it, and leaves it.

Where is my bellybutton?

Here it is!

He's really good at getting up stairs, despite the fact we don't have stairs inside our home.

Little Red Wagon

It took me about a week, but I finally put together Josiah's Radio Flyer wagon. It's actually pretty easy to assemble, but I wasn't paying attention (aka distracted by a toddler trying to eat the parts) and put a hubcap on wrong, yada yada.

We went up and down the driveway a couple times, and Josiah seemed to think it was pretty fun.

He also tried out the cup holders. We went to Zaxby's that night because Jonathan was on-call. If you apply for their email list they send you a free meal (one per household), so we took advantage tonight. Josiah was a little obsessed with their ice.

Bye Bye Bricks!

**Josiah pictures at bottom of post. Do not be alarmed**
My husband is a genius. Well, this was part his genius and part Cragislist's genius and completely God's provision. We had this brick patio in our backyard that was just ugly and badly-paved and uneven and pointless. But pulling up all the bricks and hauling them to a dump was going to take a ton of work. Our neighbor suggested we put an ad in the paper for them. Jonathan modernized the idea and put it on Craiglist, thinking maybe we could get a few hundred bucks for them if we pulled them out of the ground. That would at least save us the hauling. One guy offered to pull them out and haul them away for us, so we said he could have them for free if he was willing to that! One man's trash...

Now we just have to sod it. Do you think we can find someone giving away free sod?

"Bye bye bricks!"

"How cute am I?"

"I know. Pretty darn cute!"
By the way, Josiah could play on our front or back deck all day with no toys. He just loves being outside.

McWane Science Center

Last Friday, the Stewarts treated us to a wondrous afternoon at the McWane Science Center through the guest addition of their family membership. I'd been hesitant to go on our own buck because I figured it would be mostly for older kids. But they really had things for all ages. Josiah enjoyed some of the big kid stuff and the little kid stuff. I cluelessly forgot my camera, but Kristen nabbed some cute pics with her handy iPhone (and then emailed them to me from it - how spiffy). These pale in comparison to most of the incredible pictures she takes. She also loaned me one of her beloved slings, which was comfortable and easy to maneuver. A double plug for you my friend ;)

This is at the water table, which was just a drop in the bucket of the four floors of fun exhibits and toys.

He looked like such a big boy in his apron.

Two other fond memories: On the top floor they have a section more driven for little kids. Josiah loved to push the toy shopping carts and tried repeatedly to sniff and eat the plastic fruit. While Kristen was supervising other children, I took Lexi and Josiah into the hurricane wind tube, thinking "This will be fun." Josiah was in the sling, and Lexi huddled close to my legs warning me, "This is scary." Halfway through I realized the wind speed was going up to at least 80 mph and wasn't going to let us out. Josiah looked up at me a little terrified and started crying, and Lexi was very brave. Luckily it didn't last too long. Lexi is a pretty courageous two-year-old; I guess I should have listened to her.

Community

We both ended up getting the crud that Josiah had this weekend, although ours lasted longer. I had the worst of it Friday night/Saturday morning, and Jonathan, who hadn't gotten sick yet, had to work that morning. Josiah was very unsettled by his mom being so abnormal. So we called the only friends I knew who would be up at that hour (6:30 a.m.), a couple in our small group who has a pair of dogs who get them up early.

She and her husband came 15 minutes later and helped a scrubby Mama load everything in the car. As I was thanking her, she simply said, "This is community." Yes, the body of Christ, the church, in action. And I know I could have called anyone in our small group and a few other friends who would have helped as well. They took Josiah for the whole morning, and it was much needed. We're blessed after having only lived here a year or so, to have friends who love us so well.

Fire Truck!

Mom and Dad were in town last weekend so we went to Pepper Place and later Homewood Park. At Pepper Place (a great farmer's market and local artist display), they had an exhibit of cars and trucks, including fire trucks. Josiah wasn't nearly as excited about it as he will be next year at this time probably.

All the excitement wore him out!

More random Josiah details:
He threw up last night. He's only done that once before when he ate yogurt. We don't think it's a virus, just something didn't settle with him. He was in his crib, and I heard him cough and start whimpering, and he couldn't settle back down. So I went to check on him, and sure enough...
It was a little gross, but it was one of those parenting moments. We're responsible for caring for this child who at that moment was struggling and couldn't take care of himself. We can comfort him and help him - it's our job. I felt sick because he was sick. It's hard to explain, but it was one of those sweet moments of parenting to me.

For those concerned with such things, he hasn't dropped his morning nap yet. In fact, it's been longer than normal the last few mornings, and he's still doing his afternoon nap. I think last week was weird because his Dad was home, and why sleep when you can play with your Dad?

I think he's also saying the word "No No."

He loves peanut butter. And I found some creative ways to get him some more iron. Spinach in spaghetti sauce. He doesn't like beans or beef generally, but I made him a burrito with a veggie wrap and refried beans and cheese. He really liked it! I might also add some avocado in the future. And I may need to figure out how to make my own refried beans since the canned variety has loads of sodium.

Food Face

Josiah, you've got a little something on your face.

Yes, something right on your chin...

In other news, Josiah has finally mastered his sippie cup. I know he's a little behind the times in this area, but I think it's due to the fact that he didn't have a bottle to practice on.

He's drinking lots more milk too, though it's been a gradual process the last few weeks.

It's Been a While...

So here is a picture for those who need their fix. I took this to illustrate the random items Josiah collects in a day. In this picture, a hairbrush and a cheese grater.

And I happened to have my camera with me at the grocery store today. At my favorite grocery store, my beloved Publix. Where everybody knows your name. Where shopping is a pleasure. Indeed. 

My deal with myself is that if I only need food items and not paper towels or diapers or such, I can go to Publix. They had a new shopping cart that was much easier to steer than the race car. This was a space ship, and as soon as Josiah got in, he started making vroom sounds and turning the wheel. It's just a more pleasant place to be for both of us. And I got knock-off Oreos for a penny.

The hairbrush reminds me of something cute: He's started to imitate us. For example, he saw me washing my hair the other day and starting rubbing his hair too. I bend over on the floor to look under the sofa (for perhaps a brush or cheese grater), and he follows suit. Also, Jonathan was lying down on the floor with him the other day, and ever since Josiah will go down to the rug and lie down, waiting for Daddy to play with him. 

One Year Update

Josiah went to the doctor Tuesday. He weighs 21 lbs. 6 oz. and is 30.5 inches tall, both in the 50 percentile. Blood tests revealed that his iron levels are low, so we'll resume our vitamins, but may have to upgrade to prescription vitamins.

As far as other updates on the little guy, these past few weeks have held lots of transitions. Finessing walking skills, starting cow's milk, mastering a cup, moving the car seat to front facing, eating peanut butter, trying on shoes, starting the weaning process... He also seems to be having some sleep changes. He's been up really early and may be cutting out his morning nap (rats!). I've been having trouble adjusting his schedule, but I'm sure we'll find a rhythm soon. Until recently, he's gone to bed around 7-7:30, waking at 6:30, and naps at 8:30 and 12:30ish.

I've been thinking about his personality lately, as he reaches this milestone. He's a pretty happy, easy-going child. He's fairly social with both adults and other children.

His favorite toys are balls, cars, stuffed dogs and blocks. He really likes this wooden toy tool kit I picked up for him on consignment, as well as any random object he finds around the house (spoon, hair brush, puffs container). He also loves being outside.

Josiah is eating pretty well. He still likes most veggies and all fruits and hasn't really taken to meat yet. Random new food he liked: hummus (thanks Janie for the suggestion)! I know, he's such a hippie. Another big favorite are Alexia's sweet potato fries - easy, healthy and yummy.

He's saying Da-da, Mama, and versions of spoon, done, drink and ball. But most everything is still "da" though it's easy to tell when he's asking a question or wants to have something. He's crazy about his Dad and often goes around looking for him during the day in places he thinks he'll be (office, bedroom, etc.).

He has moments of fussiness, mostly attributable to hunger, sleep or wanting attention. He's responding to discipline pretty well. I only spank his hand when I've clearly and recently labeled something a "no," and he clearly chooses to disobey. Most of the time he responds to the initial no-no. We're trying not to be super-strict: we try to direct good manners and habits, but apply stricter discipline in matters of rebellion (which is more of heart issue). I recently watched 5-year-olds and 2-year-olds in the church nursery and realized the importance of discipline at home.

Happy Birthday, Mimi!

Josiah sends you lots of snuggles for your birthday!

From your daughter:

Thank you for helping me through my first year of motherhood, for listening so attentively to all my little concerns and the minutia of Josiah's every move. I don't know if I would have made it with my sanity in check without your constant support. It's true that becoming a mother makes your appreciate your own mother more. So thank you for all of the millions of little things you've done over the past 28+ years, things that we were clueless about, and I'm sure never thanked you for. We're blessed to have you as our mother.

Catching Up

When I downloaded the last batch of pictures, I found some that I forgot about.
(Is anyone else having issues with the picture layout in blogger?)

Josiah helping Daddy with some yard work.































Snuggling with Grammy and helping her eat her cereal.

The video showcases a few things: more walking, saying the word "spoon," and saying Momma in his deep manly voice.