The Many Birthdays of Baby J

Josh ended up with three separate birthday celebrations this year. Lucky kid.

The first was early in the month, when we participated in the "shared birthdays" celebration for our playgroup. Seven of the big kids turned 3, so Josh got to tag along. Just like last year, this group celebrated at the pool. Last year, my big pregnancy goal was to be able to attend the party, and Josh complied... he was born about 6 hours AFTER we left the party.

Owen at the table with the big kids.
Josh hanging out with his friend Zoe (and the back of Calvin's head). These kiddos (along with Jett, Miles, and Olivia) are the "second generation" for our playgroup - it won't be long before they are giving the big kids a run for their money! Seven 3-year olds and one 1-year old!

Celebration #2 was on Josh's actual day of birth. A little family celebration after dinner. Owen liked helping make the cupcakes, wrap presents, and create a crown for Josh. Josh, on the other hand, was not so thrilled about the crown... until we set the cupcake down in front of him. This child may not eat much, but he sure knows what to do with cake and frosting!

Josh got a set of cars/trucks from Owen and we got him some magnets and a magnet board to hang on the wall, plus a couple fuzzy toys that Scott snagged from Ikea during his recent trip through Portland.

Celebration #3 followed the next weekend with family in town. We were able to have a joint birthday party for Josh and Kate - who celebrated her Golden Birthday this year - 25 on the 25th! Grandma & Grandpa and Conrad & Glenna were all in town for the weekend (we were all planning on participating in a half marathon that weekend, but the local event got canceled, so we were forced to spend a bit more time celebrating with Guinness-Pumpkin Gingerbread Cake, appetizers galore, and a late braised pork dinner. We all could have used a 13 mile walk after that one!)



Happy 1st Birthday (times 3) baby J!

My Own Two Feet

As Scott posted on Facebook yesterday: In one week, Josh has gone from not standing on his own to walking across the room. Wowzers! Those first few days of walking are such an exciting time. I love how thrilled Josh is to be doing teeny tiny pitter patters across the floor. He still prefers to crawl, but if we prop him up on his feet and give him the right target, he will inch, inch, inch his little feet to get where he wants to go. My friend Shawndi pointed out that, just like with Owen, it causes a double-take to see Josh up on his feet because he just looks too darn tiny to be walking.

I love seeing the brother connection between these two boys. Owen is just as excited as Scott and I when Josh learns a new skill. When Josh was learning to crawl, Owen would get down on his hands and knees next to Josh and say, "Come on Josh. Chase me. Ready, set, go!" When Josh took his first steps, Owen snuggled up next to him, and in the cutest baby voice said, "Good job Josh. You did WALKING. You want try it again?" I hope that my boys will encourage each other and share in the joy when the other succeeds.

(And yes, my kids are filthy from a day at school.)

Tiny Torpedo

We have a tiny torpedo in our house and his name is Joshua! This kid is joyfully tearing apart everything - as well he should at 1 year old. Lucky for him, he's cute in his antics, so it's pretty hard to get upset when we're putting the house back together for the nine zillionth time.
That's my cell phone - headed for the toilet.

What's most amazing is the pure silence he can muster when dismantling a shelf or pantry. I barely realize he's out of site before I come around a corner to find this.
Antics not pictured: cat litter box, shoe baskets, art table, laundry hamper, pots and pans cabinet, and spice drawer. Fun times!

Halloween in Pictures

Here are the Halloween pics! This was the first year Owen understood the concept well enough to get excited. He's been trying on his costume since we got back from Mexico. For Josh, we were lucky enough to borrow our favorite fish costume again.

With Halloween on a Sunday, we had a whole weekend to celebrate. Scott's family was in town for a birthday/Halloween combo weekend. Saturday, we celebrated Josh and Kate's birthdays and then hit up the "Trunk or Treat" carnival at Church. On Sunday, we joined our playgroup friends for a potluck followed by got to join our playgroup friends for the massive preschooler party followed by trick-or-treating IN MASS (as in 12 preschoolers + siblings!) through the NWX neighborhood. We came home, and Owen toured the cul-de-sac and then helped hand out candy to the big kids. I think his favorite part was trying to scare the kids that came to our door.

The Mexican Wrestler - "Nacho Libre" - or maybe "El Gringo Flaco" (The skinny gringo) would be a better title.




Fish JoshSwimming upstream?

Owen's favorite part of being a Mexican Wrestler was getting to shed his shirt. Thankfully, we convinced him that wrestlers wear sweats when they go outside!
Josh only hit the door of a few houses - can't wait until next year when the boys can go to the doors together!
Happy Halloween!