A summer in pictures . . . of Joshua.

Joshua looking serious on Memorial Day

Whoa!

My meme is sorting through old photo albums, and she sent me an envelope full of photos of me when I was a wee-one. I never really thought Joshua looked much like me, 'till now.

Yes? Except I had more hair. :-)

Easter 2011

This past Sunday was Easter, as everyone probably knows. We ended up have a beautiful day! It was about 70 degrees outside when we left our house to head to Jay's grandma's. Joshua was dressed up in his Sunday best with his favorite hat (maybe ours... I dunno) and he was looking sharp.

He had a blast walking around outside. This was the first time he walked outside. He has been walking for awhile now, but whenever we'd bring him outside before, he would just sit down and not do anything. Not Easter, he kept trying to go back outside every time we brought him in, and he was doing laps up and down the driveway all day.

It was a great day full of ham, turkey, and all the other Easter foods you can imagine. Joshua is a bottomless pit so he was eating from just about the time we got there until the time we left. I'll keep this post short and sweet. Here are some more pics of him In his awesome Easter outfit.

the towel Grammy Nikki gave him. Adorable.

Five things I'm doing for Earth day.

It's Friday. And it's earth day! So I thought I'd share with you, some of the things I am going to do today in Mother Earth's honor.

1. In case you were unaware. Starbucks is giving away a free coffee or tea if you bring in a reuseable cup. So I will be heading to my local Starbucks, with a travel mug and filling up for free.

2. Another awesome Earth Day freebie I found. Origins, which is an awesome cosmetics and skincare company, will give you a free fullsize facial cleanser if you bring in an old one to recycle (can be full or empty.) Check out the link HERE and print the form and go grab your own!

3. I will be using my reusable coffee cozie instead of the cardboard ones. I even use it on my reuseable cups sometimes. I love it! I found it on Etsy at Christmastime and bought a couple for my sisters, and of course, I had to have one too!

4. I am going to go for a walk. (I know, I can do this any day really), It's nice out . . . so far . . . and I thought it would be nice to get out and enjoy nature, and take a minute to appreciate all we have around us everyday that so many take for granted by littering up with their garbage, and cigarette butts (gross), and other non-biodegradables. 

And lastly . . . 

5. Joshua wanted to contribute, by having extra nakie time. Happy Earth Day from Joshua.

He will kill me one day.

but look at the cute lil' bum!

Yay earth day!

13 month photos

Here are some new pictures of the little boss. Can't believe he is thirteen months old now! (These photos are unedited, I planned to edit them, but haven't had time, eh well)

peek-a-boo!

deciding what trouble to get in next?

hmmm

his milk sippy 

walking :-)

sharing

balancing :-P

steaaaady

he wants my camera. always.

he was not such a fan of the flash on my camera

mmm chicken patty

happy little man!

I have a 13 month old!

I just now realized today is the 18th, which means Joshua is 13 months old today. Where does time go! He is changing so much every day now. And boy, how he has changed since he was a newborn (obviously). But, really, everyone says how fast the time goes, and it wasn't that I didn't believe them, it's just that I never really notice it until I step out of my own way and see what is happening haha. Here is a summary of my 13 month old.

He is officially walking now. He walks more and more, and better and faster every single day.

He is still a speed demon crawler. Who I trip over often because he sneaks up on me when I am cooking (I have learned to look behind my feet before I step back no matter how far away he was last time I looked)

He is outgrowing (we hope) a milk allergy/intolerance. Which makes it very hard for me to find snacks that he can eat, and things with high enough fat and calcium that are baby friendly.

He loves to eat, and luckily is not very picky. He even likes his soy milk now, he still can't seem to drink as much as he is "supposed" to in a day, but I'm working on it. He likes to feed himself, but needs everything cut tiny, because he does not like chewing food... he prefers to inhale it.

He mimics everything now, which will be trouble, I imagine, when he starts to talk.

He says mama and dada, and he understands a decent amount of words now. He knows, blankie, kitty, doggy, eat, more, milk, book, and of course Fan! (that's all I can think of now)

He can sign "eat" and "more" He knows what eat means, but more I don't think he quite knows yet, he will copy me doing it. And sometimes do it on his own, but I don't think the association is there yet.

He loves waving, and babbling.

Loves the kitty and the doggy, and hugging and squeezing them until they can't take it anymore.

He is now officially weaned off the bottle, and I count my blessings that he accepts change so easily. He gave up bottles and pacifiers (in December) without a fight.

His favorite show is Dinosaur Train (It's the only one that will keep his attention for more than a nano-second at a time, which is why I say that) and his favorite song is anything with a good beat that he can dance to currently. Journey still tops his list though.

I that's all. No monkey picture. I think those are done now that he is over 1 year old. But I'll be sure to take some new pictures to post soon.

Joshua's new trick

This is the new trick that Great Grammy, who watches him on Thursdays taught Joshua. It's hysterical! On a side note, Joshua has a new tooth (finally) Now we are just waiting for the 5 others that have been bugging him to cut through and maybe he'll be able to chew his food a little easier :-P

Also, how can you not laugh at him giggling like that :-) (Mama was tickling him feet)

My Milk Allergy Education

Since Joshua is dairy-free for the next couple of months—at least. I've been reading up on dairy allergies, and nutritional requirements for toddlers of his age. It's a tricky thing because he's at an age where we are not supposed to limit the amount of fat he gets. Most toddlers get the majority of the fat in their diet from dairy products. Since Joshua is missing that, and he can't chew real hard things well yet (for lack of molars) I am having trouble deciding what to feed him without giving him "bad" fats and high sugar type things.

Even things like white bread, bagels, english muffins, baked goods . . . everything had dairy, or hidden dairy in it. Gah. So far, these are a couple of links I found helpful for any of you who may be curious, or who may encounter this or have encountered this already with your little ones.

Milk Allergies in Babies and Toddlers.

Dairy and Hidden Dairy Ingredient Cheat Sheet. (holy cow.)

Wholesome baby food: Good website for baby feeding info.

When the heck did Joshua become a toddler!?

And what the heck are toddlers supposed to eat?!

Apparently we have entered toddler land. A few weeks ago. No one ever told me, or asked me if this was OK! Somehow, I just came to this realization as I was reading articles about what to feed a one year-old. I've been having a mini-panic attack ever since Joshua's one-year check-up because his doctor told me that he doesn't need formula anymore, to work him off the bottles and just give him cow's milk in a sippy cup, and that he doesn't need to eat the purees anymore, he can eat whatever we are eating now (with the exception of the high-allergen foods he has to wait until he is two to try.) Yikes! 

Now, it's easy when they are just drinking formula, and eating jars of baby food. You know they are getting the right amount, they aren't hungry, and it's generally good for them. NOW all of the sudden, I need to re-examine MY eating habits, and lifestyle so I can be sure we are teaching Joshua good food habits from an early age. I don't consider myself Terribly unhealthy, but I certainly could do a lot better. Especially lately. I've been so busy, I usually make supper, but I don't eat it, I end up eating a PB&J at 10 pm when I realize I haven't eaten all day long. Now I am going to need to make sure I am feeding a small person AND my husband AND myself, wholesome, nutritions foods in good variety... all the time! And how much do I feed him?! I know they say babies (toddlers) won't overeat unless you force them, they stop when they are not hungry and all, but for as long as I've known Joshua... I am pretty sure he has never, not been hungry. I mean, this kid will eat me out of house and home before he is two if I let him I think! Yikes!

Yesterday Joshua had cow's milk for the first time. I gave him 4 oz. with his snack, eliminating one of the 2 bottles he was still taking. He drank it like he's been drinking it his whole life. Not even a funny face, a flinch... nothing. Which is a good thing, don't get me wrong. After I gave it to him I watched him, and his skin, like a hawk until it was time for him to eat again. He did great with that one, no hives, no funky reactions. But, later in the day, I gave him milk again, with his supper, and he broke out in hives (sigh). I am hoping it was just a matter of too much, too soon with the milk. So I think I will stick to one time a day for now, and give him baby yogurt and cheeses to fill in the missing dairy, he has not have a problem with either of those things. but no matter the issue, there is no feeling worse, than watching your baby break out in hives, especially when you don't know exactly why it is happening. He never seems bothered by the hives, just turns all red and looks itchy. Poor little man.

So that is that. Guess I'd better go make a shopping list and head to the grocery store so the kid and I will have more than ramen noodles to eat this week! 

On a side note. Joshua is beginning to walk! He has taken steps without holding on to anything the past couple days, but no more than a few steps at a time. I'll keep you posted. 

On another side note. Joshua is getting too tall. He can reach the top of the kitchen table at the edges. Note to self: Do not leave bowls of snacks on the edge of the kitchen table any more, or this will be the end result.

uht-oh! Cheerios!

My Miracle.

I must preface this post by saying, I am not much of a Celine fan. BUT I love the lyrics to this song. It's so sweet. And now that Joshua's ditching his bottles for sippy cups, and his formula for whole milk, I am feeling sappy and sentimental. It's a little of that, and a little bit the fact that I only have gotten maybe 5 hours of sleep in the past two nights combined. I now recall what having a newborn was like. haha. So, I thought you should all share in my sappy "mom" moment. 

Enjoy. :-)

My miracle. All together now, *Awweeee*

One year checkup

Today Joshua went in for his one year checkup after we met up with a friend for breakfast at the airport diner. He is one healthy little boy!

He now weighs 22.6 lbs and is 30 inches long. He is just above average for height now and exactly at the 50th percentile for weight and head circumference.

We were told it's time to get rid of the bottles! Which scares, and excites me all at the same time! I will miss that cuddle time with his bottle right before he goes to bed I think. But at the same time, it will be nice to be able to get him on the same eating schedule as us more or less. I am told that he can eat whatever we are eating, though this scares me a lot because Joshua is such a pig! she said to keep an eye on him and only put a couple bites in front of him at a time and he should do fine. I am ALSO nervous about the switch to whole milk! Those of you who know about the hives and milk allergy fiasco that happened when he was about four months old, know why. But his doc. assured me that since he has been doing just fine on regular formula for awhile now, which is milk based, he should be fine, and most likely it was not a true allergy... just a weird baby intolerance. She said he seems right on track with his standing and babbling, and not to worry about him not walking on his own yet. (I am not worried yet, just impatient)

I think that's everything new. Hopefully all of the new changes will go over well and we'll be off of bottles, and onto whole milk and all real food in no time! 

My little boy is growing up! I feel like this is the official end of him being a baby... now he is a little boy *sniffle*

my little boy!! *tear* :-P

Joshua's first birthday party!

Yesterday, February 27, 2011, we celebrated Joshua's first year of life with a party! And of course. It snowed.

I woke up bright and early because Joshua was too excited to sleep (haha... just like every other day?). I opened the blinds, and what do I see? About four inches of snow, and it was still coming down. So I had myself a mini panic attack, then turned on the news.

Vote for Joshua!

I have entered my little model into yet another contest! :) But this time, he NEEDS your help! Rebecca Deaton Photography is running a contest on her facebook page to win a free photography package of your choice. All you have to do is enter your fave photo or your little one on her wall and get the most votes!

Everyone can vote once. Just click HERE and 'like' her page on facebook, and find Joshua's photo on the wall there (below) and click "like" on his photo to cast your vote!

Joshua really wants a family photo shoot, we don't have any good shots of all of us! :) Thanks for voting!

Meeting baby Ethan, Joshua's newest friend.

Joshua and I took and lunch trip today to see my friend Katie and her new little man, Ethan. Ethan was born on February 11th and is absolutely adorable! I was holding him, and it was hard to remember when Joshua was that little now! Both boys were over 8lbs when they were born, and just about the same length too. So Joshua WAS that little. It just feels so long ago now!

Joshua had fun playing with some of Ethan's toys. Ethan was very nice and let him share :) Ethan also bought Joshua a birthday present! Now he has a couple new books and a new toy, and we was very excited about it (and the box it came in, of course!) 

So here are some pictures of little Ethan. We can't wait until he is a little bigger and they can play together!

love his little squinty face!

Joshua among some of Ethan's toys

Resting on his Mama

GERMS! with a capital G!

It's winter. In case you were unaware. It has also been an exceptionally cold and snowy winter. I didn't really realize until today how lucky we have been to have escaped the majority of the colds and viruses that have been floating around. But lately, they seem to be getting closer and closer. And I am getting more and more nervous. Joshua's birthday bash is fast approaching! Just today alone, I counted at least six or so people who I directly know and am in contact with on a fairly regular basis who have all been either recently sick, or are sick as we speak.

I just hope we can make it through the weekend without catching anything! I can't imagine Joshua would have much fun at his party if he got sick, nor would I. I'm sure it will happen sooner or later, since it is winter, as I noted before. I think I may put a container of lysol wipes in Joshua's diaper bag for the rest of the week. Heck, maybe even a full can of lysol spray! Must. Not. Get. Sick. I sure hope that darn ground hog was right this year and winter get's outa here sooner rather than later! I've had enough of the cold, snow, and all my friends and family getting sick! blech! 

So, everyone who is ill, I hope you feel better soon! And I just may put Joshua in a bubble until Sunday. If you are looking for me, I'll be the crazy lady with the baby in the bubble suit.

OH and whoever invented germs, the common cold, and the flu . . . he was a jerk! and clearly it was a HE because, ummm, have you SEEN men when they get sick? Worse than the real babies. (Most of them, and I say that in the most loving way possible . . . and yes, I know germs and things were not 'invented' :-) )

That is all. 

What's a Mama to do!

What is a Mama to do when her now one year old decides he does not want to nap anymore? Well, at least not as often, or as long!

I had gotten into a nice little routine with Joshua taking two good two hour naps a day. He used to go down easy for both, and was very predictable. Now, not so much. Now he has decided, he likes getting up at 5am instead of 6am and then he's tired right after breakfast, so he naps for about an hour around 6:30am most days, then usually he will nap again around 10 or 11 for maybe two hours (tops).

I know a lot of people have told me that this is around the age when kids sometimes don't need more than one nap a day anymore. So it may just be a matter of adjusting nap time to fit the day better. But he seems soooo tired in the afternoon and just won't have it. And I am soooo tired in the afternoon, and have so much to do, I think I miss his afternoon nap more than he does! Our house is such, that when he is awake, I can't take my eyes off of him for long. Where we are during the day is open concept so the living room, kitchen, office, and dining room, are the same space. And he is very sneaky. I think he waits for that one second that I look away so he can try to climb down the stairs (bad mama, leaving the gate open... woops), eat a small rock, bite the cats tail, or do whatever else tickles his fancy in that moment.

But I must say. I do not enjoy having to stay up way late at night to get my work done, only to wake up way early in the morning with Joshua. I am not a fan. 

Thank goodness for German Chocolate Cake flavored coffee this morning. Rant complete. :-)

Happy First Birthday, Joshua!

Dear Joshua;

It's been one fast, fun year since you made your grand entrance into the world. And I just want you to know. It was the best year of my life and I love you more than I think you will ever understand. And even though I know as you grow, there will be times where we test each other's patience, and argue, and you won't like what I have to say, no matter what, you will always be my best boy.

I hope, even though you won't remember this birthday, one day, you will be able to look back at these posts, and pictures, and see just how special you have always been to everyone around you.

Thank you for making my world more than I ever thought it could be.

Mama loves you.

Last year at this time . . . part 1

I've decided, since I didn't start this blog until Joshua was four months old, I am going to share the story of Joshua's arrival into this world.

The story shall begin on February 15th of 2010. Last year, February 15th was a Monday. The previous Friday was my last day in the office until Joshua came since my due date was the 20th, and I work a half an hour away from home on a good day. I felt better not driving too far close to the due date. I decided that I needed a manicure and pedicure, because, clearly, my toes and fingers should be pretty while the rest of me couldn't be haha. And also, I had been told the old wives tale that getting a pedicure close to your due date could induce labor. My mom was planning to come up later in the week for a couple of days to help me finalize things at home, and keep me company since Jay was still working.

Tuesday (16th) Mom came up... and nothing eventful happened.

Wednesday (17th) was Ash wednesday. So we went to church. Rewind back to the day time, I felt kinda funny, and thought maybe I was "leaking." I was scheduled to have a checkup on the 18th so I called to see if I could switch it, and they did. My mom and I anxiously went to the Dr. hoping she'd say...hooray! go to the hospital and have a baby! But, alas, she did not. Nothing unusual, and I was only dilated a "fingertip." So we went home. Fast forward back to post-church and dinner time. I decided I needed to try fish again (note... I strongly dislike fish of all kinds. Except for tuna.) So we went to the grocery store and got the fixin's to make salmon with... something else. I realized I still did not like salmon.

yuck!

Thursday (18th)  to be continued in part 2 . . . 

The things Joshua did today to make me laugh.

Joshua's been a bit of a terror (on and off) for a few days know... I am pretty sure he has his one-year molars working their way out. But in between temper tantrums I must say, I have a pretty hilarious child. I think he just knows how to work it so we don't go totally nuts when he's having mental breakdowns. As he is getting bigger, as all kids do, he is learning new things. For example. This morning, I went to put on my boots to run and start my car so we could go to the gym, and what should stab me in the bottom of my foot? A triangle and a square. From Joshua's shape sorter. I didn't see him do that one, but all the rest of the day he's been thoroughly enjoying putting things on or in other things. This is a change because he has kinda been trying (I think) to work his shape sorter, and put the rings back on the ring stacky thing, but he never can do it and eventually just throws whatever he is holding and moves onto the next thing. Not sure if this can be considered a milestone? I don't think so. But I think it's progress none the less. Here is what we found around the house today:

Dog dish on Daddy's desk chair.

Stacking rings in the basket with the remote controls

Plastic ball in Daddy's boot

Sharp shapes in Mommy's boot

a spoon wedged under the cushion of the chair

and blocks in the laundry

I think that was all for today. We'll see what tomorrow brings on that front.

The other thing he is doing though, which is HYSTERICAL, I need to get a video of it, but I need an assistant, you'll know why in a minute. Just to preface this story, Joshua loves our animals, he loves to pull their tails, give them sloppy kisses and hugs, and "pat" (hit) them. I sit on the couch when I give him his bottles, and the cat is usually down the opposite end of the couch on "his" spot. Every time Joshua finishes his bottle, and spots the cat, all bets are off. He squeals like he has never seen him before and it's his long lost best friend. So I usually let him crawl across the couch (keeping an eye and hand on him of course) and say hello to his furry friend. But recently, he is less interested in the cat, and more interested in the couch. He will pet the cat for a second, then he stands up against the back cushion and hops and squeals and laughs. And today, he decided that wasn't quite enough entertainment and decided to stiffen himself up and completely free-fall backwards. Thankfully I stay right with him when he's pulling these shenanigans and  put my arm behind him so he wouldn't fall on his head on the floor. Then he realized if he stood at the end of the couch, by the armrest, he could hop back when he fell and bounce more. I am telling you, it is the funniest thing I have ever seen! I am just praying now that he doesn't decide to try that when he is on the floor. Hopefully he remembers how much it hurts to smack his head on the hardwood from when he was learning to sit up!

Once I manage to video tape this hilarity, I'll share :-)

You know you're a Mom when . . .

YOU KNOW YOU'RE A MOM, WHEN . . .

• You feel like you've forgotten something when you leave the house without a baby on your hip.

• At least once, while driving, you've looked in back where baby usually sits and panicked when he/she wasn't there.

• Picking someone else's nose is normal for you.

• Sleeping until 6:30am IS sleeping in . . .

and lastly,

• When you look at the small human being you've created and wonder what you ever did (or talked about) before they graced you with their presence.

----
Just a fun little game for all you mommy bloggy people out there. If you're a mom (or I supposed a Dad can play too if he wants . . .) Repost your own and share the link here, and on the Living Like the King's post (which is where I got the idea from). Just for fun! Happy Sharing!

I don't have cute pics to go with mine like Kat over at Living Like the Kings did. But I will have some on the 18th when I take Joshua's one-year monkey pictures :-P You know you can't wait!

In the mean time . . .

it seemed appropriate. :-)