First Birthday Pictures

Joseph's big family birthday party:




Joseph's smaller birthday party with babygroup friends (and Father and Selma):






Joseph absolutely LOVED his big birthday party. We had about 25 family members over and even though the weather was a bit cold and grey, I think everyone had a good time. Joseph, newly walking, loved all the attention and all the food! He just wandered from one person to another, happy as could be. We had people at the house from about 1 in the afternoon until 8 at night and Joseph only fussed once (at bedtime). He would NEVER go that long without crying if it were just the 3 of us. It was also really nice to see the different sides of the family come together and the cousins making good use of the woods. And all the generous gifts were lots of fun and very appreciated as well. On Tuesday May 6th, Joseph's actual birthday I had a couple of our mom and baby friends over for another little party. Joseph wasn't quite as into this get together--I guess because he wasn't the only cute little baby this time. He totally refused the cake as you can see. But it was a good time anyways and playing in the sandbox (a gift from grandma and grandpa) was a big hit! It was really hard to take pictures during all this, with the weather and being a "hostess" and the crazyness of that time. Still we had a great time and there are lots of fun memories to satisfy my nostalgia (first birthdays are obviously more for moms than anyone else). Thanks everyone!

Journal entry about Joseph turning 1 (long)

5/5/08:

Joseph turns 1 tomorrow. I have been excited about this day and dreading it for months. At first I didn’t think it would ever come. When I was pregnant I just couldn’t seem to really believe I was going to have the honor of having a real live baby. I was sure something would go wrong. Then, when he was born, I still was sure something would happen. When I started the “Babies First Year” books the whole later part seemed unrelated to me. So too did the word toddler. Throughout the year I have seen myself progress through the books; now I have read the afterward and started the toddler books. Honestly, it wasn’t until he reached 6 months (when the likelihood of SIDS lessens) that it really seemed to me that he would be around for awhile. So, in all of this I really never imagined myself as a mother of anything but a tiny helpless baby. Certainly not a wild and crazy and dirty toddler. But he is here. He has been around living his own life for a year now!! When I think about the fact he is a year old—as I do very often—I feel dizzy. I can’t quite get my breath. I feel shocked. Moved. Holy crap. I still feel like that girl who was soo surprised to find out she was pregnant. Things are moving so fast and I know that this is how life is, but damn. To explain a bit—I have always been nostalgic. Change is hard for me. Not because I don’t like the new whatever, but I am sad to see the old arrangement disappear. At the end of every single semester in college I mourned the change. And that is nothing compared to the pace at which Joseph is changing. Have you ever been in a car wash and the huge brushes come down and start whirring away on the car and you slam your foot on the break even though you know your car is in park? You are sure the car is moving and your body feels scared. You can’t catch your breath for a moment. That is how I feel when I think about Joseph being 1. A bit overdramatic I know, but true. I am excited about all the changes to come; about Joseph’s life ahead of him and my life as a mother and just as me. But I am still shocked to be here now with a one year old child. And I am downright sad the infant is gone forever: the blotchy brand new skin; the tightly curled fingers; the scrunched up and bent bowlegs; the flailing limbs; the tiny mouth helplessly forming a perfect O, silently opening and closing in hunger (all the time) and the sweet drugged sleep when fed. It is hard to remember that newborn Joseph. I have to search my mind for those memories, they are so seemingly distant. When I hold someone else’s infant it is a foreign experience. He is up and running now, with his own ideas and plans. He has quite a personality (wild, fun, opinionated). This crazy pace of growth and change will continue and I will spend my life feeling this same happy shock. What an experience!

Happy 1st Birthday Joseph!!

Joseph is one year old today. I cannot believe it. Happy Birthday! And happy "birth day" of another kind to me. It is certainly a bittersweet milestone.

I have lots of pictures and some other thoughts to share, so keep checking. Right now though I am too tired from all the festivities.

From baby to toddler!

Joseph has now made the transition and is WALKING!!! This was a much clearer milestone then many. For almost three months he pulled himself up and cruised around and for about a week he would take a few steps here and there, seemingly by accident. This Tuesday (4/29/07) though he just took off. In the morning Father had visited and he and Brad worked hard to get Joseph to take some steps, which he did. Then after lunch Joseph and I were playing in his room and he took a couple steps. And then he did it again. And again. I called Brad to come watch and told him that Joseph seemed to be taking a lot of steps. And right then Joseph seemed to suddenly realize that this walking thing had potential. He just took off. He was soo excited he basically ran around with his hands in the air. He would go from one side of the room to the other and then crash into something or fall down and then take off again undaunted. It was so much fun that Brad got to be there and amazing to see how excited and happy Joseph was. Now, two days later, he can carry toys in each hand, he can turn corners, and he doesn't usually crash and fall. He still looks a little drunk and bowlegged with his hands in the air and he hasn't mastered walking on the uneven ground outside, but he sure can chase kitty around!

These pictures are all from that first walking session. How fun!

Les Animaux

The chickens really do exist and here is proof. We are having so much fun with them and they seem to enjoy themselves roming all over. It feels like a party here everyday with all the activity!

There the chickies are! Yay!
Floyd, Maybelle, Leona, Dorris, Hattie, Gyneth and Mrs. Perfect. Do you see the pattern?

Our first eggs! We get about three or four a day. I am starting to be able to tell who lays which ones.

Joseph helps with the building.
The door has a little window now too.

The lucky man himself: Floyd. He is loud and stupid, but very pretty.

Maybelle! She seems to be the smartest and sweetest. Or maybe she is really weird.

Leona on her eggs

We can't forget about beautiful kitty.

First steps

A couple times recently it has seemed that Joseph might have taken a step or two. You would think it would be easy to tell but since he is so close and will kind of throw himself all over the place it is not. However, this morning I definitely saw him take about three steps ON HIS OWN. He was standing up holding on to his big blue yoga ball and it started to roll away, so he pretty much ran after it. And he caught it. Of course that's not quite the same as really walking, but getting close. Yay. Only about 2 months after I very public ally and very wrongly guessed he would be walking. I now really see what they mean about development happening in spurts. Very true.

Pictures of chickens still to come. Life is very busy chasing after a little guy who isn't even walkig yet. Good thing I can type without looking; my eyes are on him.

Video and pics

I have quite a backlog of stuff to post, so you will have to wait on the chickens (who are so cute and tons of fun). These are pictures and videos from last week and the week before. We have been having lots of adventures and are loving the BEAUTIFUL spring weather. The snow is almost all melted now.

These are from our visit to the Harriss' goat farm in Lincoln where Mary and James were housesitting:

Joseph with another pug that visited (with Crystal and Pam). You might have guessed that I want to get a pug. Chickens are a lot cheaper.

Baby yoga! Downward Facing Dog with yoga ball nearby:

Crazy man with a truck! He does this alllll day long.

New kitchen!!!

There it is. I love the new kitchen soo much!!! It is even more special because Brad did all the work himself, including making the cabinets and laying the tile. The sink, dishwasher (yay!), stove, and microwave (with range hood) are all new.

Nothing new here, I just thought it looked pretty, especially with my Easter flowers from Amy!

Buddies' blogs, blogging buddies

The idea to start a blog was actually inspired by my long time (since preschool!) best friend. Everyone should check her's out at http://jenniferchristi.blogspot.com/. She is an amazing writer, puts all sort of interesting things on, and she posts more often then I. Also she is expecting a baby in July, so that is extra fun! Check out her beautiful belly!

Also, another longtime great friend Alice started a blog too. Hers can be found at http://alicesgsmith.blogspot.com/. Maybe this will inspire her to post more often!

Happy blogging everyone. All the cool kids are doing it. Let me know if you start your own.

Baby's first phone call and other happenings

Apparently last weekend Joseph decided to give his buddy Mary a call. I had just called her to firm up plans for contra dancing that night and then I must have handed Joseph the phone to play with as I often do (when I am really in need of something to entertain him). She says she received a call from my number and could hear Joseph making baby noises on the other end! She had a little chat and then told him “tell your mom I will see her tonight.” Maybe Joseph was trying to get in on the contra dancing action? And why isn’t there a space in my baby book for “baby’s first cell phone call?”

Today Joseph's beloved daycare provider told me that she has hardly ever seen a child who dump's things, moves things, and generally tears things apart as much as Joseph!! She has a lot of experience on which to base this observation (2 children, used to be the director of daycare center, now runs a home daycare). I guess this explains why I spend all day running after him trying to clean up his messes . . .

Still no walking (I am trying not to think of this as a hurry, but it is so hard to resist). However, he is completely competent and very FAST at cruising along holding onto furniture. Last weekend he even started letting go. It only happens when he is very distracted and only last for a couple seconds. How fast things change!

I am trying hard to come up with a post that doesn't have to do with Joseph, but I haven't thought of anything yet . . .

And finally, for the benefit of Jenn (my vegetarian best friend):

MEAT JOSEPH HAS EATEN

• Chicken
• Ham
• Turkey
• Roast Beef
• Hot Dog (whatever that is)
• Sausage
• Corned Beef (Saint Patty's Day)
• Hamburger
• Beef Stew
• Salmon

But he does really love tofu too!

A few Easter pics

I love this pictures of the cousins!

Egg coloring

Easter Basket (bucket)

Easter egg hunt at our house

I have a bunch more recent pictures to post so check back soon. Hope everyone is well!

Cute curly haired guy

Excuses for not taking lots of photos lately:

• It seems like Joseph has been sick for the last month. He has had everything from croup to RSV to an ear infection and of course lots of not so attractive snottyness. Nothing has seemed to bother him much (except when it comes to sleep) it just hasn’t been very picturesque.
• Last week he also got quite a shiner--his first black eye. Not too pretty.
• We are currently redoing our kitchen so the house is completely torn apart.
• Last week I decided to try and knit Joseph a sweater. I really have no idea what I am doing, but I am hoping my enthusiasm will make it work out. I have been working on it obsessively.
• I have finally started working. Only one day a week and at the local bookstore (pattern?) but it's a start.
• Lots of time has been spent nursing my wounded pride. I have lost the bet. Joseph is not walking yet. He is trying though. He is just one big ball of energy. He cruises everywhere. Fast. And he is quite the climber. Besides the always great fun of climbing up the stairs, he climbed onto the couch for the first time yesterday and today he climbed right up one of those Fisher Price play slides. So actually I would say most of my time is spend chasing him around.

However Jenn has been harassing me so much I finally took a few pictures yesterday and today.

Beautiful boy. Look at those curls!

Waving

Cruising around

Things change fast around here.