Josiah Says

In case you've never been around when he's comfortable, Josiah talks constantly. Here are some of his common phrases lately:

"Today on the Island of Sodor." "Then there was trouble." "Thomas ran right into a ditch."
Most of the time he's narrating some sort of Thomas the Train story of his own making.

"Actually, it goes this way." "Actually, my name is Duncan."
Apparently, Mama says "actually" a lot.

"Did you charge the iPod?"
He's very picky about the music he listens to. I have a playlist on the iPod we listen to in the car, but we don't have a car charger for the iPod (birthday present, anyone?). So I always have to remember to take it inside, charge it, and bring it out. It's very upsetting when I don't.

"Aww...Baby Micah." "He's so precious." "He's so wittle."
Picture this in a child's version of an adult baby voice.

"I want to give him a funny kiss and a funny hug" " Can Micah sleep on my bed?"

"Mama, don't twist your hair."
He's obsessive about my hair not being in a ponytail. He notices right away. Sometimes I tell him that it's too hot, and I have to do it, but I'll take it down later. He always reminds me of my promise.

"Oooh pretty."
But not about anything one would immediately label pretty. For example, we had to get a piece of glass cut in a warehouse-type place. We walk into the 70s-style, musty office and he gives a dramatic "pretty."

"Last night" and "After my nap"
Anything in the past is "last night." Anything in the future is "after my nap." A toddler's concept of time. One funny example: "I petted a meercat last night. It was so sweet."

"I don't need to use the potty."
Normally before and after a telling silence. Sigh.

And some humorous ones:
One of his favorite songs is "After the Last Tear Falls" by Andrew Peterson. Which is a kind of heavy song about sin and longing for heaven. He calls it the "Love, Love, Love" song. There's a line in it that says, "After the last young husband goes off to join the war." We listened to it in the car the other day, and he randomly said, "It says husband." I figured he wanted a definition. I said, "Yes, husband, like Daddy is Mama's husband. I'm his wife." Josiah said, "No, the song says husband. You sing soldier." He actually recognized one word that I had been singing incorrectly when I sing it for him at bed time.

Josiah: "I want Micah to eat from Daddy's tummy"
Or "How about I feed Baby Micah?" He proceeds to lift up his shirt...

More Micah Smiles

Changing table = The best place to get smiles.

Those cheeks are getting chubbier...

No smile, but still adorable.

Comparison Pictures

So do they look alike to you? (Remember, the caption is below the picture.)

Micah in the NICU

Josiah in the NICU

Micah at 2 weeks

Josiah at 10 days

Micah smiling

Josiah smiling

Micah around 1 month

Josiah at 1 month

My thoughts? Looking at these pictures - wow, yes, they look a lot alike. But I see so many differences in person. But then at moments, I think, "Oh, that's how Josiah used to look doing that." I keep thinking the older Micah gets, the less he looks like Josiah, but it may be that I'm just noticing more differences as he gets older.

Big Brother, Little Brother

My favorite.

Second favorite.

Thanks for the cute shirts, Mimi! I put Micah's on just in time; it's already a little snug.

Wish I'd fixed the blanket behind them better. I foresee Photoshop in my future.

He digs the play mat...for a few minutes at least.

All Clean!

Big, Big Boy Bed

We finally got Josiah his big, big boy bed. He's been sleeping in the transitioned toddler bed, and we wanted to find a twin bed for his room here. Now we made the bed back into a crib for Micah. Josiah's actually climbed back in the crib to play today!

He was a little hesitant at first, but the train sheets were pretty tempting.

"I think I like it here!"

All My Boys

Micah at One Month

Micah turned one month old yesterday. We decided on Mr. Giraffe for his month-a-versary pictures. I'll probably say this each month, but it's flown by!

A few observations:
-Definitely not going to be a permanent paci child. It helps him get to sleep sometimes, but you have to convince of its merits. He makes a really nasty face at you and you have to hold it there.

- Prefers a cradle hold or Jonathan's sleeper hold or flipped on his stomach.

-Speaking of getting to sleep, it's been a little bit harder to do with him these days. He normally fusses for a bit before succumbing to a nap. The good news is he stays sleeping longer than Josiah, who was notorious for the 45-minute snooze. However, Josiah used to conk out in his car seat almost instantly, but Micah still needs some convincing once there (i.e. pacifier).

-Has a great grip and strong kick.

-Sleeping OK at night. Not great, not terrible.

-Gets burps lodged really deep. He doesn't spit up as much as Josiah, but you have to work really hard at his burps.

Aunts and Uncles and Cousins, Oh My!

Micah has had a slew of visitors over the past few weeks.

Before we left Birmingham, Aunt Lois and Uncle Jim came to meet Micah.

This weekend, Parker and Rachel came to visit (pictures are not in chronological order, too tired, sorry).

Sweet snuggles.

Parker with his nephew, though he spent most of Saturday with Josiah in the sandbox!

Micah asked to wear his Carolina outfits now we're back in Tar Heel country.

Uncle Ronnie, Aunt Gail, Jaclyn and Christian came by for a visit. Josiah gave cousin Christian some sweet kisses.

Ronnie and Gail doting on Micah.

This was my first chance to meet Christian! He's so sweet! I'm glad we're living much closer to them now, so these cousins can hang out more.

Micah with Jaclyn.

Nana and Pop came by after a trip to the mountains to see the new house, and of course their grandbabies again.

Uncle David and Aunt Amy and Caleb came by on their way to the mountains.

Random cute pictures with Daddy.

Jonathan's sleeper hold. For some reason this always calms Micah down. Crazy, but effective.

Aunt Amy, who is expecting boy #2 the day before Josiah's birthday.

Caleb has a door-obsession right now - open, close, open, close.

Snuggling with Pop.

Jonathan getting a kiss from his nephew.