Car Pictures

We shifted Josiah's car seat several times this weekend. I'd always had it installed by "professionals" before, so it was really the first time I'd done it. I'm also not normally available to take pictures while he's in it, but these turned out really sweet. Anna was entertaining him for these, thus the good smile.

I love his long, beautiful eyelashes.

Grandmother Moseley's 80th Birthday

Great-Grandmother's 80th birthday was July 18, and we finally made it down to wish her Happy Birthday.

Chewing on one of Great-Granddaddy Moseley's famous wooden crosses

Trying to walk

We tried to get another four generation picture because Josiah was really little and crying in the last one. Jonathan's eyes were closed in all of them, and Granddaddy refuses to look at the camera, but 50% isn't bad.

While he was down there, Josiah learned to do peek-a-boo (or peek-a-pie as the Moseleys call it. What do you call it?) It was so cute; he'd hide his face with his hands and then take it away and smile big, waiting for applause.

Prayer Requests

I thought I'd post a few prayer requests for this week.
First, Jonathan is taking his Step 3 tests, so he can be officially licensed. It's a two-day long test, so pray for strength and wisdom for him.

Second, I'm helping lead in Rock the Block this week, our church's version of VBS. I've never taught children before, and I'm a little nervous, but know that God will has called me and thus will equip me. I'll be teaching a lesson, sharing the Gospel (twice) and sharing my testimony. And, of course, the normal crafts and games. Pray that my team and I would love the kids (and not be overly concerned about schedules and such), that the children would be receptive to the Gospel, and that we wouldn't bake in the 100-degree temps forecasted this week.

Just a little background: Our church decided to do VBS different this year. Instead of bringing all the children to the church building, we're taking the church (the body of Christ) to them. So we'll be meeting all around Birmingham in backyards and community centers. It's a long story, but our pastor strongly believes that what the church does here in the U.S. should be able to be replicated by the church anywhere in the world. So churches who don't have the financial resources or who meet in areas less open to the Gospel would still be able to use this model. No decorations or choreographed dance numbers, just the Gospel, Bibles, some crayons, goldfish, freeze tag and Simon Says. Another goal of doing it this way is that the host homes will be able to meet the parents/their neighbors, and this would in turn be a platform for starting a small group Bible study or at least developing friendships.

Pray also for Josiah who will have a four long mornings in the nursery.
I know that was a long picture-less post, but we'd really appreciate your prayers this week!

Josiah and Anna

Josiah and Anna got to have some aunt/nephew bonding time this week. She entertained him really well in the car seat, and he thought she was really fun.

In Montgomery, he would climb on top of her and she would lift him up with her legs.

She had these fun bangle bracelets which she sweetly shared as a toy. Josiah also preferred them as an anklet.

Anna had bright, metallic blue nail polish on her toes, and Josiah was mesmerized. He's never that interested in my painted toes, but Anna's were fascinating.

Peach Park

The Moseley parents and Anna were in town this week so Dr. Moseley could teach a class, and we could all celebrate Grandmother Moseley's 80th birthday.

Tuesday, Grammy watched Josiah for me so that I could work on some things that required a prolonged period of concentration. It was luxurious to have an afternoon at the library, and I don't think Grammy or Josiah minded their afternoon at all. Wednesday we drove to Lookout Mountain to pick up Anna from camp.

Thursday is when I remembered my camera. I'm going to stretch this in four separate posts because I have a really busy week at our church's VBS and probably won't have a lot of blog time. But I know the blog-faithful need their fix.

On the way to Montgomery, we stopped at Peach Park, a cute little place in Chilton County (the peach capital of Alabama). They have a produce stand, souvenir shop, a park with swings and playground, some yummy barbecue and of course, lots of peaches. Josiah is checking out the wind chimes in the pic above.

Swinging with Grammy and Anna

And, drum roll please... baby's first BBQ.
Now many of you have experienced my lectures on BBQ, so you know I'm a fan. I have been priding myself on trying to keep Josiah's diet as healthy as possible, but there are special occasions. I won't lie, my heart was warmed when Josiah happily stuffed handfuls of pork in his mouth.
I also let him try some peach ice cream, again in the special occasion category. He LOVED it, and when I said "all gone," the child wailed, totally heartbroken.

For the Record...

Josiah said "Mama" for the first time this week, and we think it was actually with the correct association. Jonathan got him in the morning and sat him on the bed with me. In my half-wake state, I heard "Mama." He's said it to me several time since.

He of course still says "Dada" to Jonathan still, and I think with a different pronunciation than the rest of the things he refers to as "da."

Talking is totally not what I expected. I thought that one day he would just spit out the word, and we'd understand it perfectly. But he's been playing around with the "mmm" consonant for while, and we finally pointed it in the right direction. It's just not as concrete as I thought it would be. Walking will be really similar too.

Stacking

Josiah has learned the skill of stacking lately. Instead of just dumping the rings and sticking them in his mouth, he puts them back on the base.

And he puts his cups into each other. He doesn't always do it in the exact order, but c'mon, that's a pretty advanced skill! He also stacks those blocks you see on the right.

And this is the cutie smile he gives us when we cheer for him after he accomplishes his goal. He's so proud of himself, and it's completely adorable.

I must give credit here: his daddy taught him this skill. I just don't think of things to teach him like that, but Jonathan is so good about challenging him and showing him how to do something new.

"Daddy's Home!"

With Dirty Little Knees and Big, Big Grin...

Come play in the dirt again...

Jonathan and I were doing some yard work this weekend, and Josiah was helping. I didn't intend for him to play in the leftover potting soil, but he's boy - what can you do? He's drawn to dirt. He had a blast and was completely content outside with no toys, except a pile of dirt.

He also discovered that soil doesn't taste good. Experience is the best teacher, I suppose. Needless to say, we went directly to the bath tub.

Cow Appreciation Day

Today was Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-fil-A where they give free food to anyone dressed up as a cow. We are willing to go to great lengths for free food, especially free Chick-fil-A!

I wasn't going to do anything too demanding, but I did cut out a few spots for me and took a permanent marker to one of Josiah's old onesies. I thought I was a bit clever about his horns made of tin foil. My hair is in pigtails, so they would kind of resemble ears.

Josiah was a bit frightened at first by the cow, but then he adjusted.

Jonathan refused to dress up, claiming his "dignity" and "self-respect," but did consent to accompanying us on the outing.

Jonathan walked him into the room after he was dressed and I was just so tickled. Have you ever seen a cow walk on his hind legs like that? Or maybe I was laughing at the fact he was oblivious to how his mother was dressing him so strangely.

His tail is from one of my purse straps that removes easily with some frayed, black tissue paper on the end.

In case anyone was planning to do this next year, you have to do very little to get a free entree, but you have to be pretty full-out to get an entire combo. They gave Josiah a kid's meal though, which I ate, and me a free sandwich, which Jonathan ate.

He's a Fan...of Fans

I don't have any pictures of this so far, but I must pass along Josiah's enthusiasm for ceiling fans and lights. He normally expresses this appreciation through a look upward, pointing a hand or two up in the air, and a big "da!" And he's always the first one to notice. Here's a list of a few places he's noticed the objects of his affection:

• Walking into the seasonal section of Wal-Mart, he stretched really tall and let out his biggest "da" to date. Appropriately, I looked up and saw the biggest industrial fan I have ever seen in my life. Huge! He was mesmerized.
  
• We stopped to watch the train pass by in our neighborhood. The train was vaguely interesting, but he kept pointing in one direction. Finally, I noticed the blinking RR stop sign.
  
• The car running light, every time he is getting into or leaving his car seat. On our recent road trips, turning the light on and off helped keep him happy.
• He rode a carousel for the first time the other day with Aunt Joyce, while she and Grandmother Moseley were in town. He spent most of the ride looking at the lights.
  
• The bare light bulb in our basement, which he sees when we're finishing a walk or run and I'm putting the stroller away.
  
• The chandelier above his high chair - he always points and waits for us to turn it on. Especially if there are green beans on his plate.
  
• Today at Home Depot. Did you know there are fans throughout the plant section? He kept squawking and kicking his feet. I finally looked up and figured out why.
  
• Every morning he points out our various house lights. If a new person enters the room, at some point, Josiah will need to make sure they notice the lights as well.
  

More Mountain Pics

Here are some pictures from Amy's camera from our trip to the mountains.

Swing Shots

I tried to get some pictures of Josiah on the swing at the park today. It's hard taking pictures on a swing!

Here's the money shot first.

"Another picture? Seriously?"

He's got a sweet smile in this shot, but Josiah thought the angle made his thighs look chunky.

Blurry - pooh!

Fourth of July

We had a lovely Fourth of July here in Birmingham, although not too many pictures. We went to two cookouts, one by our neighbors and another with some fellow residents. This is from the first one. They had a "kiddie pool," although the biggest kiddie pool I've ever seen. Josiah still had fun even though he had to stay on the edge.

Daddy showed him how to splash.

He liked watching all the older kids play.

Josiah stayed up late (waaay past his bedtime, but he did great) to watch the fireworks. He's totally obsessed with lights, and he still spotted them from pretty far away.

Last year on the Fourth, we didn't know anyone here, so it was pretty exciting to have friends this year. We also celebrated Kate Stewart's birthday earlier in the week and then had another cookout on Saturday.

Pants-free Fun

Before we left for vacation, I was trying to get some of those last-minute, before-you-leave-on-a-trip things checked off the list.

For example, watering the garden. Josiah loves the water spray, so I figured I'd let him check it out. Needless to say, he was soaked afterward. It was late in the day, so I didn't want to waste a whole other outfit, especially when you're trying to save his cutest outfits for the trip, so I just threw a t-shirt on him.

Who needs pants, really?

But then, we were sitting outside, Josiah sans pants, when our friends Jamie and Micah came by on a walk in the neighborhood.

Forgetting that my child was without pants, I thought it would be a great time for a picture. They both look so darn cute - who cares?
Micah and Josiah have the Old Testament bond going on. The prophet and king are buddies.

Jonathan was mowing the lawn, and Josiah brought him some water. Daddy shared a few sips with his boy.

Josiah kept looking up at me like, "Is this OK, Mom?"

Wave and Clap

Sniffing

Here are a few video posts. When we were at Mom and Dad's, Mom and I took him to see the flowers outside, and he "sniffed" the roses. I managed to get this on tape: he's sniffing basil from our garden.

10 months

Here are Josiah's belated 10-month pictures.

I think I actually caught him posing for this picture. He and Mr. Bear are sitting up so nicely.

But we went back to the old punch-Mr.-Bear-in-the-face game.

Daddy was on hand, so of course there were some good laughs to capture. I like how well you can see his top teeth. It looks like he may be getting four or so on bottom soon.

And here is the new thing lately: waving! He's also clapping, and he signed "more" for the first time last week. The two motions look very similar, but I think he knows the difference for the most part. I can't even explain how adorable it is. I've got some video, so hopefully you'll see for yourself soon.
In other news, he walked using just one of his hands and one of my hands today, so independent walking might not be too far away.