JAW's Mom

Story Time with Natalie

2011-09-23T12:30:00.000-07:00

Our Little Crawler

2011-07-10T18:11:00.000-07:00

Livin' the Good Life

2011-05-30T17:53:00.000-07:00

Is there anything better than a couple of kids playing in a baby pool in the backyard on a hot summer day?

Why, yes, there is.

Try two baby pools!

That's right. Joel and Natalie both have their own personal pools. Our backyard is de-luxe. Jealous yet? :o)

(I know she's mine, but come on. You can't get much cuter than that)

Our Little Book Worm

2011-05-28T14:28:00.000-07:00

Bouncin'

2011-05-24T06:50:00.000-07:00

Natalie looked so cute in her bouncer that I had to snap a few pictures!

Here's where I found Joel while I was busy with Natalie.

He's always discovering new places!

Where's Joel?

Buddies

Natalie's First Food!

2011-05-13T19:23:00.000-07:00

Natalie's Dedication

2011-05-09T18:18:00.001-07:00

This year I had an extra special Mother's Day because we decided to dedicate Natalie to the Lord on the same day! Our church has a special "Baby D" service, and our life group friends were able to come join in the dedication and celebration of little Natalie. We were so blessed by their presence, support and prayers. Here are some pictures from the day:

natalie's fan club :o)

this was the best shot from about a dozen tries...

don't mind andrew's hands

Oatmeal

2011-05-07T10:38:00.000-07:00

New Tricks

2011-04-27T09:59:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter!!

2011-04-24T08:54:00.001-07:00

Hippotherapy

2011-04-18T00:00:00.000-07:00

No, this is not therapy for hippopotamuses. (Although that would be interesting...) It is actually horse therapy. Joel meets his occupational therapist once a week at a ranch where they ride horses. It has been proven beneficial in aiding speech and motor skill development, and Joel loves it! He has started trotting, and that is his favorite. Here is a video taken at the ranch:

Catching Up

2011-04-16T15:17:00.000-07:00

So, it has been awhile since my last post. Sorry! Natalie was born, Christmas came and went, we had some fabulous visitors and we spent a month in Florida! Here are some pics and commentary to get everyone all caught up. Love you all!

Natalie was born November 4. She weighed 8 pounds 11 ounces.

Joel playing in the massive ball pit at his cousin Hallie's gymnastics gym in Greenwood

Christmas at Mimi and Pop's

Joel with cousins Hallie and Hudson

Christmas at Grandpa and Grandma's

You never know what you're going to find when you check on Joel during his nap :o)

Natalie with her friend Emery who is only 8 days older

Cousin Emeline came for a visit

Flying to Florida for spring break!

And yes, I flew home with two kids by myself and we survived!

At the condo in Florida

Joel helping Pop with some measurements

Joel LOVED the beach. We went almost every morning.

He loved to sit right in the water and dig with his shovel and bucket.

That kid left the beach with sand in every possible crevice!

Natalie modeling her swimwear

Her legs have probably doubled in size since this picture was taken!

One of my favorite faces

Our favorite beach location. We saw dolphins every morning!

Keep checking back! I'm going to do a better job of posting pictures!

Cookin' with Dad

2010-10-07T17:40:00.000-07:00

Joel and Dada donned their aprons this evening to fry up some bacon for BLTs. It was quite an event; I don't think the kitchen has ever been happier.

Don't forget the flipper!

Yep, the bacon is looking good!

Joel! Your feet!

Yum!

This week...

2010-10-03T10:59:00.000-07:00

...Joel got new shoes for the fall- size 8 wide! Big Foot!

Joel got some serious reading done.

We went on a train ride around Lion's Park!

Breakfast with Dada

2010-09-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

The Evolution of Story Time

2010-09-22T16:55:00.000-07:00

Gone are the days of sweet little Joel sitting peacefully during story time.

Dance Party II

2010-09-15T17:25:00.001-07:00

Giggles

2010-09-15T09:13:00.000-07:00

Hard at Work

2010-09-10T19:19:00.000-07:00

Joel at the Zoo

2010-08-29T17:22:00.000-07:00

Now that the weather is out of the 100s, Joel and I have been able to go to the zoo more frequently. The zoo is one of our favorite places, but forget the animals- Joel's favorite part is a big waterfall at the orangutan exhibit. I think he spent twenty minutes just looking at it and smiling and clapping his hands.

A Boy and His Sweeper

2010-08-23T08:19:00.000-07:00

I am definitely going to foster this relationship!

Life is Good

2010-08-18T10:43:00.000-07:00

Joel's Birthday Party

2010-08-13T11:13:00.000-07:00

Joel turned two this week! His birthday party was last weekend, and we were blessed to be able to celebrate with family and friends. We had a cookout in the backyard, a water balloon "toss," and topped off the evening with ice cream cake. Here are some pictures from the celebration:

Joel's cousins, aunt and grandparents came to Texas for the week.

They had a lot of fun swinging in the backyard. (too hot for me!)

Here are the kids in the sandbox getting ready for the party.

Starting the water balloon "toss"

I love the water balloon in flight!

This was Joel's reaction to everyone singing "Happy Birthday."

Later in the week, we went to the Cameron Park Splash Pad. Joel LOVED it! He ran right out into the middle of all the action before I even had time to take off his shirt and shoes.

That kid loves water!

The cousins

Old Videos

2010-07-20T16:08:00.000-07:00

I've finally figured out how to upload videos to You Tube the correct way. So, here is a little compilation of some old videos I never got around to posting. Enjoy!

Dance Party

2010-07-16T14:47:00.000-07:00

Hi Friends! I wanted to post a video of Joel, but for some reason the video size was too big for my blog frames. So, I put it on you tube. Here's the link:

Dance Party Video

Enjoy!

Baby Girl!!

2010-07-01T11:24:00.000-07:00

Yay! Joel is going to have a sister! Baby girl is due on November 9, so she and Joel will be about two years and three months apart. We are so excited!

And by the looks of it, she is, too!

Awwwwww. How adorable!

Here's an ultrasound picture of Joel. They look so much alike! (haha)

And a foot

So Hot!

2010-06-27T10:21:00.000-07:00

We have been doing a lot of indoor activities lately due to the super-hot weather here in Texas. One of Joel's favorites is playing with his train set. He likes watching it from various angles...

When we can get outside, it's usually in the early morning or late afternoon. Joel loves getting all wet while playing with his water table.

So In Love

2010-06-20T08:40:00.000-07:00

It's ridiculous how cute this kid is.

Indiana Trip

2010-06-19T18:15:00.000-07:00

We recently returned to Texas after a month-long trip to Indiana. It was so great spending time with family and friends. Here are a few snapshots from our visit:

Visiting the Purdue track

Joel helping Grandpa and Grandma with the turkey

(and adding some of his own ingredients)

Playing marbles with Grandma

Joel with Great-Grandpa

After playing in the pool

(all the pool shots are X-rated due to Joel's lack of swim trunks)

Just being Joel

Wagon ride with cousin Emeline

At the new playground by Grandma and Grandpas house

Andrew and Eme

Jelly face

Watching Sesame Street on YouTube with Pop

and cousins Hudson and Hallie

Oh, there's his swim suit!

Playing in the water at the Indianapolis Children's Museum

(I just love the smock!)

Joel's first carousel ride

Our little maestro

Smooshy window faces

Growing Up

2010-04-26T14:01:00.000-07:00

My little boy is growing up. Today he ate with a spoon for the first time, and he did really well!

He loves watching Sesame Street clips on YouTube. He'll be surfing the net before we know it! I'm not too sure how he got into this position...

Joel knows how to push the skip button on his CD player in order to get to song number seven- his favorite. When the song is over, he doesn't know how to go back, so he uses the next button to go all the way back around to number seven again.

I was doing something in the kitchen the other day, and I came into the family room to find Joel up on the coffee table. My little climber! Now I really have to be on my toes.

What happened to my little baby? Joel, you are growing up so fast!

Surprise Visit

2010-04-05T19:33:00.000-07:00

It started out as a usual Monday morning- grocery shopping, watching sesame street, playing in the back yard. But at 1:30, my day took an unexpected turn. There was a knock at my front door. Perplexed (due to the fact that all of our friends use the back door), I peered through the peep hole to discover a small child at my doorstep. He was holding a suitcase, and before I could open the door, I heard him say, "Kelwy? Kelwy?" I threw the door open to discover my nephew, Hudson smiling up at me.

Hudson lives in Indiana, so I was more than a bit shocked to see him in Texas...on my porch...alone. His mode of transportation was revealed to me when Dad and Mom ran out from around the corner where they were hidden from view. I was so surprised and excited that all I could do was stammer and cry tears of joy.

They came for a surprise visit and stayed until Saturday morning. We had a great time...

visiting,

going to the zoo,

and BUILDING!

That's right! Dad (with help from Mom, Hudson and myself)

built Joel a swing set for the backyard.

(Joel got a little tired on the the job.)

Thanks so much, Pop and Mimi, for the beautiful swing set

and all your hard work.

Joel, Andrew and I enjoy it every day.

More High Chair Pictures

2010-03-27T10:39:00.001-07:00

Our Lovely Neighborhood

2010-03-27T10:08:00.000-07:00

It was gorgeous yesterday, so Joel and I spent a lot of time outside. The sun was out, it was the perfect temperature, and everything was in bloom. Here are some pictures I took while Joel and I were walking through our neighborhood.

A 'unique' Easter egg tree

My thoughts exactly, Joel

Yes, that is a Santa in a tree

Sweet Rims

Joel was very proud of the stick he picked up while I wasn't looking.

All in all we had a quite an adventure walking through our lovely neighborhood!

Raking Leaves

2010-03-18T17:47:00.001-07:00

Really?

2010-02-23T19:13:00.001-08:00

Sunday: 77 degrees and sunny

Tuesday: 3 inches of snow, freezing cold

Hmmmmmmmm....

Ready for the Big Game!

2010-02-07T13:19:00.001-08:00

Joel's Week

2010-01-31T10:04:00.000-08:00

What a stinker! :o)

Joel in Florida

2010-01-26T06:00:00.000-08:00

Joel and I spent last week in Florida. We had a great time visiting with family and enjoying the warm weather. Here are some pictures from the trip:

Joel liked eating dinner at The Snook. He especially enjoyed the live music.

Playing at the park

Joel LOVED the ocean. As soon as I put him down in the sand to walk, he ran straight for the water. I thought he would be upset because the water was sooooo cold, but he didn't even flinch. He would have kept walking out in the ocean if I hadn't taken his hands. Silly boy!

We put him in a chair so he could watch the waves. What a salty dog!

Thanks for a great trip, Mimi and Pop!

Joel Updates

2010-01-24T18:02:00.001-08:00

Here is what Joel has been up to since December:

Joel in his favorite chair with his cousin Hallie

Having fun with Dada

Opening presents

Ahhhhh...family picture

Opening Santa Bags

Driving his new car from Great-Grandma

Reading stories with Aunt Monica

Joel's first haircut- he loved it!!

Another family picture

I think Joel was surprised when he got his new orange truck!

Joel loves watching Murray from Sesame Street on youtube

Hanging out in the laundry basket

Playing in his new tunnel from Mimi and Pop

We had a wonderful Christmas Break in Indiana!

San Antonio

2009-11-18T08:34:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, Andrew, Joel, Mom, Dad and I drove down to San Antonio. We had a blast! Here are some pictures of our trip:

Our first stop once we arrived was The Alamo. It was only one block from our hotel.

Friday evening we ate at a restaurant called Mi Tierra.

It was delicious and had an incredible bakery.

We spent most of Saturday cruising the River Walk and relaxing. Dad and I had to rest our legs for the upcoming 26.2! That evening we carbo-loaded at Maggiano's. Yum!!! I recommend the bruschetta appetizer.

Sunday was the big day! Andrew drove Dad and I to the start line, and our race started at 7:30. We ran right by our hotel at mile two where we saw our fans. Joel really enjoyed watching the runners with Mom, and Andrew ran all over San Antonio cheering us on!

Looking fresh at mile two.

(I'm thankful there was no one around mile twenty-two to take our picture!)

Yay! We finished!!

(I wasn't doing the cute "lean in" in the last two pictures. I really couldn't stand up! Haha!)

Who Knew a Napkin Could Bring So Much Joy?

2009-10-15T19:23:00.000-07:00

Yum!

2009-10-14T19:23:00.000-07:00

Joel Walking!

2009-10-13T10:22:00.001-07:00

High Chair

2009-09-20T09:16:00.000-07:00

Why does Joel take the funniest pictures in his high chair?? What a silly boy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOEL!!!!

2009-08-11T04:00:00.000-07:00

Yay! Joel is one today!

Here are Joel's current stats:

-Weight and height are currently unknown. We will find out what they are at his doctor's appointment tomorrow.

-Joel crawls all over the place and loves for you to chase after him on all fours.

-He can stand up on his own for about ten seconds at a time.

-Joel took one little step while in the pool a couple days ago. (We were very excited!)

-Joel's third toe is his longest toe.

-He really likes the vacuum and will follow me all around the house while I sweep the floors.

-Joel will eat anything.

-Joel can drink out of a straw. (We discovered this at Sonic a couple days ago.)

-He has eight teeth in front and two top molars.

-Joel loves the water. We enjoy playing in the pool in the backyard (we recently upgraded to a larger pool- thanks, Nanny!) Also, whenever Joel is crawling around the house, his path always leads to the bathroom because he loves the tub.

-Joel enjoys reading. He is an excellent listener and he loves turning the pages. Some of his favorite stories are: Bear Snores On, I Love You Stinky Face, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Five Little Monkeys, Opposites, Touch and Feel Farm, Polar Bear Polar Bear What Do You Hear?, and many more.

-His hair is getting very mullet-y, but I don't think he could handle a hair cut just yet.

-Joel has said mama and dada, but he is currently only saying dada whenever he wants me or his dad or anything else.

-Joel likes being pushed in his swing in the backyard. I can't take him outside (not even to get in the car) without him diving for his swing. Which brings me to the next stat...

-Joel is very strong! He is also a little daredevil. A dangerous combination; I always have to be on my toes with him. He falls down, dives head first, stumbles, and bonks his head multiple times each day.

-Joel snorts and growls and grunts a lot. He is also has a lot of facial expressions. (see above photos)

-He now clings to me when I am holding him and try to set him down. (I absolutely love this and pretend to set him down all the time so I can feel his little hugs!)

-Joel gives high fives and kisses. I love kissing his mushy cheeks, and he will sometimes turn his cheek towards me to get a kiss. :o)

-When Joel gets excited, he sits on his knees, bounces up and down, and flaps his arms up and down. The things that excite Joel are: wheels spinning, getting to eat bites of grown-up food, toys spinning on the floor, the sweeper, arriving at our destination when he gets to get out of his car seat, his swing, splashing, and steering wheels.

Indiana Vacation Part 2

2009-08-05T08:24:00.000-07:00

We visited with Andrew's side of the family during the second half of our Indiana vacation. We had a wonderful time visiting with family and friends. Here are some pictures to recap our time:

Our ever-expanding group of friends

Please, Joel, make yourself comfortable!

Grandma and Joel

Joel with his Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa Moser

Git-along little doggies

Playin' with Dada

Joel's favorite toy: his table (thanks Hallie!) There is a soup bowl in the middle, but Joel thinks it's a steering wheel. Fun times!

At the dunes by Lake Michigan

It was a very hot day

Joel and Uncle Shawn

Joel with his Aunt Monica and Aunt Chandra

Feeding time with Grandpa

The Family

Joel loves wheels and pretty much anything that can spin

We had a mini birthday celebration at the Moser cookout, even though Joel was only 11 months.

The result of all that confetti cake and icing: passing out on the front porch swing with Aunt Monica and Uncle Shawn

15 minutes later...

Three generations of great smiles!

Joel and Great-Grandma Whitehead

Joel found a steering wheel at the park. I can't wait to take him back there once he can walk; it was the perfect park for younger kids. (But I had a blast, too!)

Pool party!

After pool cuddles

I love my precious boy!

Indiana Vacation

2009-07-24T12:16:00.001-07:00

We recently returned to Texas after a four week trip to Indiana. We had a great time visiting family! (And the 70 degree weather was a welcome change from the 100+ degree Texas heat.) Here is a quick recap of the first part of our time up north.

Joel and I getting packed

Pop, Aunt Sarah and Dada pushing Cousin Hallie, Joel and Cousin Hudson on Mimi and Pop's backyard swing set

Mimi and Joel

After-bath shenanigans

Trying out the big kid pool

Looks like the baby pool was the place to be!

At the Indy Zoo

About half-way through the Indy Zoo

Joel playing with his friend Addison

Chunny, Addison, Andrew and Joel

Stay tuned for the Wakarusa portion of our trip...

Welcome to the Gun Show

2009-06-11T17:41:00.000-07:00

Got your tickets??

Keeping Cool

2009-06-10T14:29:00.001-07:00

When not in the backyard enjoying his swimming pool, here is how Joel copes with the Texas summer heat:

Pool Party

2009-06-08T07:33:00.000-07:00

We bought a baby pool for Joel this weekend, and he had so much fun playing in it on Sunday. It was totally worth the five dollars and ninety-nine cents we paid for it. :o) That boy sure knows how to splash; we were all three pretty much drenched by the end!

We decided to lose the swim trunks and diaper after about five minutes. They were just holding Joel back.

Here's what happened once we came inside. Little Joel was worn out after all that splashing!

Pulling Up

2009-06-07T07:23:00.000-07:00

Here is a quick video of Joel pulling himself up to standing. (Thanks for the pot, Sarah! It's one of Joel's favorite toys.)

Changes

2009-06-06T18:23:00.000-07:00

Joel will be ten months old on Thursday, and he is not the same baby that he was a month ago. He is crawling all over the place. It's so much fun watching him as he looks across the room at something, realizes he wants it, takes off crawling toward it, and then becomes distracted by something else halfway there. He is also pulling himself up to standing now. I found this out after a trip to the grocery store. I carried Joel into the house and put him in his crib so I could bring the groceries in from the car. Once I was finished, I went into Joel's room to take him out, and here is what I saw:Needless to say, I flipped out a little bit and Joel's mattress was lowered as soon as Daddy got home from work. He uses whatever he can find to pull up on: his crib bars, his play table, his toy basket, the couch, the dresser, my legs...it's great! He even tries to pull up on toys that are only a few inches off the ground. The result is an adorable bear crawl pose. So cute! Here are some pictures taken while we were playing in Joel's room this week:

Fun with Peas

2009-05-22T09:16:00.001-07:00

Joel insisted on feeding himself this morning. AKA: He wouldn't stop grabbing the spoon. So, I relented and allowed Joel to try to feed himself. See results below:

He's Mobile!

2009-05-20T09:45:00.000-07:00

On Monday, Joel took three crawling steps. He's been working hard ever since, so he wanted to make this video to show off his crawling skills.

New Teeth

2009-05-13T17:51:00.000-07:00

Joel's two front teeth are here! That brings his teeth total up to six. Yay! I just love that big toothy grin!

Happy 9 Month B-Day, Joel!

2009-05-11T12:27:00.000-07:00

Today is Joel's 9 month birthday. He had his well baby check-up this morning, and here are his current stats:

-Weight: 20 pounds 6.4 ounces; 50th percentile

-Length: 28 3/4 inches; 75th percentile

-Head Circumference: 18 1/4 inches; 70th percentile

Basically, the doctor just reaffirmed how perfect Joel is. :o)

Here are some pictures of Joel celebrating his big day:

Happy Birthday, big guy!!

My First Mother's Day

2009-05-10T18:08:00.000-07:00

So, today was my first Mother's Day! Yay! Here is a recap of the day's events:

-Andrew cooked waffles for breakfast which were excellent! (Thanks again for the waffle iron, Abby! It's been put to good use!)

-Joel was dedicated at church this morning. We stood up in front of the congregation with several other couples and babies, Joel's name was read, and we were prayed for.

-Joel made me a special Mother's Day gift while he was in the nursery. He stamped his foot print onto a special piece of paper with a poem. (I will always treasure it as the first gift he made for me!)

-We went to Jason's Deli for lunch...yum!

-Andrew and Joel gave me a beautiful piece of stained glass for Mother's Day. It's currently hanging in our dining room window. I absolutely love stained glass, and Andrew did a super job picking out this piece. It's so special because it shows me how much my husband knows me- it's perfect.

I had a wonderful day, and I am so thankful to be a mom! Joel is such a precious gift, and I love that Andrew and I can share the joy he brings to our lives! :o)

Joel in a Tank Top

2009-05-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

Joel wanted to keep cool during his first summer cookout last weekend. (So he said...I think he just wanted to show off his guns!) So we busted out the tank top romper. Classic chubby cuteness!

On the Bed

2009-05-02T12:42:00.000-07:00

I love letting Joel play on the bed while I get ready in the morning. Usually I just leave the camera on the nightstand because he is so irresistibly cute during these times. Here are some recent "sitting on the bed" pictures.

April Pictures

2009-04-24T11:11:00.000-07:00

Pop took some family pictures of us during his visit. I really love this one!

Joel and Daddy during floor time

At the Cameron Park Zoo

Another zoo pic

Joel's new thing is to hold on to his carrier once he gets buckled in. Haha!

My little cowboy

Joel's Surgery

2009-04-23T18:40:00.000-07:00

Today was a big day for my family. Joel underwent lacrimal duct obstruction surgery. This is a technical name for a procedure used to unclog the tear duct in his left eye. We had to be at the hospital at 6:00 this morning, and Joel was not allowed to eat anything after midnight last night. This had us a little worried because Joel is pretty fond of his morning bottle. We prayed that God would take away any hunger pains and allow Joel to rest comfortably until it was time for the surgery (which was scheduled for 7:30). This prayer was answered!! Joel was 100% content leading up to his surgery.

When the time came, we had to take Joel back to the "holding area" as we will call it. We met the nurses and the anesthesiologist, and Dr. Hacker (Joel's eye doctor) was there. This was the moment of truth when we had to hand Joel over to the doctors. :o( I was encouraged (thanks to my friend Kerry) by remembering that Joel was not going to be laying on a cold, metal table, but instead he was going to be cradled in God's mighty hands. A lot of prayer led up to this moment. Joel was given a general anesthetic, and the surgeon inserted a probe into his tear duct in order to break through any clogs or troublesome membranes. Joel was out for about fifteen minutes, and the procedure took about seven minutes. That, however, was the longest fifteen minutes of my life!!!

Finally, Dr. Hacker came to us and said that the surgery went well. (Chalk that up to another answered prayer!) He then took me to the recovery room to get Joel. (Thanks, Andrew, for letting me be the "one parent" they allow back there!) Joel was crying, but it was mostly because he was hungry. We fed him his bottle and some baby food which settled him down. We were released a half hour later, and Joel was back to his happy, energetic self once we got home.

What a day of answered prayers! I just continue to praise God for how many blessings he poured out on Joel and Andrew and I today. God is so good!!!

On a side note, we had to put Joel in a baby-sized hospital gown for his surgery. He looked so precious (in a sad way), and we were bummed that we didn't bring our camera to the hospital. So we figured we'd bring the gown to the camera. (Come on, they're making enough money on this surgery to buy thousands of gowns, am I right?) Anyway, here are some pictures:

We will know in the next five days if the surgery was successful. Thank you for all your prayers for little Joel leading up to today. Please keep praying that the surgery will be a success! Love you all!

Mimi and Pop Visit

2009-04-20T17:52:00.000-07:00

Mimi and Pop just left from a wonderful visit. They drove down from Indiana to see us, and we had such a great time. We miss them so much already! Here are some pictures from Mimi and Pop's visit:

We tried to keep Joel awake for Mimi and Pop's arrival, but he was exhausted. I think they missed seeing him the first night by 15 minutes! :o( I'm on the phone telling them to hurry up.

Pop and Joel

At the Cameron Park Zoo

Super Baby!!!

Joel loved Mimi's glasses

Everyone fought over feeding Joel. Pop won this round.

Mimi and Joel after story time

Thanks for a great visit, Mom and Dad! We love you!!!!!

Cool Dude

2009-04-03T15:54:00.000-07:00

It was sunny today, so I decided it was a good day to try out Joel's sunglasses. They were immediately torn off when I first tried to put them on. So I tried again- same results. It wasn't until I held Joel up in front of a mirror and said, Look at that cool dude, that he finally decided (with a smile) that he would keep the sunglasses on.

Waving to his peeps

Workin' it

Blowing kisses (sort of)

Overall, a complete success!!

Dinner Time!

2009-04-02T16:17:00.001-07:00

During dinner tonight, Joel was biting the food off his spoon instead of using his usual slurping motion. I think this is a result of our chewing practice lately. Here is what Joel looked like before and during each bite. (Note: Daddy was feeding Joel in these pictures; that's why he's so messy!)

I love the intensity!

Bed Head

2009-03-31T06:30:00.001-07:00

Joel has a strange sleeping habit. Usually he goes to bed around 7:30pm and wakes up around 7am. Not too shabby for a 7 month old! If Joel goes to bed later at night, however, he gets up earlier in the morning. Like I said, strange... I should have been prepared for this because my sister told me that the earlier her daughter Hallie goes to bed at night, the later she sleeps in the morning. With that being said, here are some pictures of Joel taken at 6:30 this morning. (I think he could have used an extra hour of sleep!)

I love the crazy hair!

Shout Out to Grandma and Grandpa

2009-03-29T18:00:00.001-07:00

This is a special post from Joel to Grandma and Grandma Whitehead. First, Joel wanted to show Grandma the pretty roses in our backyard. He knows how much Grandma likes flowers, so Grandma, these pictures are for you:

Next, Joel wanted to show Grandpa how much he loves reading. (Grandpa is a champion reader.) In these pictures, Joel is reading stories to DaDa. He thought he would start with something light...

Joel then moved on to a book more on DaDa's level: Horns to Toes and in Between. (A family favorite!)

Joel misses his Grandma and Grandpa so much! He can't wait to see them soon.

Boiler Up!!

2009-03-28T07:49:00.001-07:00

Awwww, it's okay Joel, don't be sad! Joel is pretty bummed that the Purdue men's basketball team is no longer in the running for the national championship. (And so am I- my bracket had them going all the way!) So, in honor of the Boilers, Joel wore his Purdue baseball cap yesterday. What a handsome pair!

High Chair Fun

2009-03-27T08:41:00.000-07:00

Joel was so cute in his high chair this morning! (Maybe it's because he slept for 12 hours last night.) After he eats, he usually plays with his tool bench, and he had so much fun with it today. He was so funny; I just had to share these photos!

Apple Juice

2009-03-16T08:05:00.001-07:00

Joel turned 7 months last week! I can't believe he's been in my life for that long, but on the other hand I can't imagine what my life was like without him. Weird. Anyway, Joel was fighting off a cold last week, and the doctor told us to give him some diluted apple juice to make sure he was staying hydrated. (He needed it, too, because his nose was like a leaky faucet!) Andrew was holding the bottle for Joel when Joel decided that he wanted to do it by himself! Ha! Here are some pictures of Joel feeding himself for the first time:

Yes, he drank the whole bottle all by himself! I think he's gotten a little over confident, though, because now when he eats his baby food, he tries to take the spoon from me to feed himself. Not yet, little guy!

Swingin'

2009-03-05T17:50:00.000-08:00

Andrew put Joel's swing up this weekend! He hung it from a pecan tree branch in our backyard right by our back porch. We think Joel is still trying to figure it out.

Whoa...got a little crazy on that one! Wheeee!

(Thanks Sarah, Brian, Hudson, and Hallie for the swing! Joel is going to love it- he just doesn't know it yet!)

Out of Sorts

2009-02-26T17:11:00.000-08:00

Please disregard anything schedule-related from my past entries. While at the time I thought Joel was on a great schedule, he showed me what was really up on Sunday morning...at 4:30 am.

Our eat-awake-sleep pattern (that was functioning so well) has now become eat-awake-eat-awake-eat-awake-sleep-eat-awake-etc. And today Joel decided that he only needed one nap instead of his usual three. He also chose to wake up in the middle of the night on Monday.

I guess the result of all this is a messy house and a scatter-brained mom. But, we are adapting.

On a separate note, Joel's two teeth next to his bottom center teeth are starting to come in. He drools all over the place which, I guess, doesn't vary much from the norm.

The weather has been beautiful lately, topping out at 85 degrees today! Joel and I have been taking lots of walks outside. He really enjoys sitting on the front porch and watching the cars go by. Yesterday he saw a school bus go by, and he got really excited. He kicked his legs and opened his mouth really wide. So, for the rest of our porch-time we sang "The Wheels on the Bus." Sadly, mama couldn't remember all the verses, so our bus passengers included pirates, pigs, dogs, and chickens.

The Many Faces of Joel

2009-02-21T07:26:00.000-08:00

Tummy Time

2009-02-20T07:17:00.001-08:00

Here are some pictures of Joel during tummy time yesterday. It's so cool to see him start to figure out his toys. He's playing with his toolbench in these pictures, and he just learned how to pull the tape measure out to make the music play. As a result, I cannot get the song out of my head!

My Happy Boy

2009-02-18T10:46:00.000-08:00

I love my happy baby! Look at that chubby little arm...haha! He is so cute! We have such a blast together during the day. Here is a list of what Joel is currently up to:

-Joel wakes up around 7 every morning and is always in a different position than the one we left him in the previous night. His eyes are so big and his grin is so wide when he first sees Andrew and I leaning over his crib. The best, though, is his hoarse little voice! It's so scratchy and sweet when he first starts talking in the morning.

-Joel knows when it's time to eat, and when he sees his bottle being prepared, his little mouth opens wide and he dives at it. Currently we are working on patience.

-When Joel drinks his bottle, his right hand holds onto the bottle while his left hand lifts his bib up and down. This happens every time, and it never loses its humor or cuteness.

-I've already discussed Joel's love of the tub, so I will skip that one and move on.

-Joel enjoys grabbing faces. He loves a good nose twist or an eye poke, but his favorite is grab ahold of your botton teeth. And it's a real sign of affection when he takes his hand out of his own mouth and wipes it on your cheek!

-Joel likes playing on the floor in the family room. He rolls all over the place (belly to back and back to belly), and he enjoys playing with his stacking cups, his ball, his toolbench, his animal top, and a variety of different rattling toys. I think he will be crawling soon because he is getting pretty good at maneuvering around the rug.

-One of my favorite times with Joel is reading in the glider. Joel has quite an assortment of board books, and I love reading to him. While I don't think he's comprehending much of the plot, Joel loves to try to grab the pictures off the page. He hasn't succeeded yet, but it's not for a lack of trying! Here are some of our favorite books: anything by Sandra Boynton, Bear Snores On, Goodnight Gorilla, and I Love You Stinky Face.

-Joel really likes being outside. If he is ever fussy, I can just take him out into the backyard and he is perfectly content. We try to go on a stroller ride around the neighborhood every day, too.

-Joel is a very good baby food eater. He eats everything we give him, and I'm hoping he keeps this streak going when we start giving him green vegetables next week.

-Joel laughs when I blow on his belly, when I tickle his elbows and feet, when he is on his changing table, when we play peek-a-boo, and when he is tired. It is the most beautiful sound in the world.

Thanks for indulging me! I'm a proud mama, and I love my little boy!

Da-Da

2009-02-16T13:28:00.001-08:00

Let the records show that Joel's official first word was da-da. We're pretty sure he doesn't have a clue as to the meaning of da-da, but that doesn't matter because he said it. And I'm puzzled because I've been working so hard on mama. (sniff) Anyway, here's how it happened.

Joel and I were sitting on the couch together this morning when Andrew came in to say goodbye. Right as Andrew leaned toward us, Joel looked up and said da-da. Andrew and I looked at one another with our mouths wide open as if to say did that really just happen? But the best part (for me) was the look of delight on Andrew's face.

Can you imagine the look of sheer joy on our heavenly Father's face when we call out to him, Abba, Father? John 1:12 says, ...to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. I am God's child, and He wants me to call on Him. He wants me to put my trust and hope in Him alone, and I know that only in Him can I find true joy. Thank you, Lord, for giving me a divine glimpse of Yourself through my precious family.

Cuddle Bugs

2009-02-14T15:50:00.001-08:00

Joel was so excited about today being Valentine's Day that he decided to wake up two hours earlier than usual! I guess he just couldn't wait to tell Mama and Daddy how much he loved them (via shouting from his crib.)

Later in the morning, Joel got his very own Valentine's Day treat in the form of carrots. This was his first real baby food experience (not counting rice cereal, oatmeal and multi grain cereal, of course!)

Joel was pretty pooped after his early morning greetings and all those carrots, so Daddy got to enjoy a quick snooze with him on the couch. I love my cuddle bugs!

Rub-a-Dub

2009-02-12T10:36:00.000-08:00

Joel had so much fun in the tub today! Lately I have been adding a little bit more water so he can really splash around. It's a blast for him, and I'm the lucky one who gets to mop all the water off the floor. (Totally worth it!) I really can't wait until he can sit up and play with all his bath toys. We have a really fun fishing pole and a basketball hoop I'm just itching to try out! Here are some pictures I took of the little guy during his bath today:

Happy Birthday!

2009-02-11T10:05:00.000-08:00

Today is Joel's six month birthday! Yay! To celebrate, we took a trip to the doctor's office for round three immunizations. Yippie! This consisted of three shots and an oral, and Joel was very brave. He's such a trooper. Here are his growth stats:

Weight: 18 pounds 9.3 ounces/70th percentile

Length: 26 1/4 inches/ 50th percentile

Head Circumference: 17 3/4 inches/ 80th percentile

Wow! He sure is growing! To celebrate this momentous occasion, here are some pictures that best capture each of Joel's six months of life.

Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4

Month 5

Month 6

Romans 8:32

2009-02-10T07:15:00.000-08:00

"He who did not spare his own Son, but gave Him up for us all- how will he not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?"

God knows me. He created me. He gave me a love for creativity, design, and pretty things. He did not, however, give me unlimited funds in which to pour my creativity. But, He still provides for me in the most unexpected ways. His hand is so apparent in His provision that I can't help but praise Him and desire to mirror His creativity.

One example of this starts back in 2005 when I picked out my china place settings while Andrew and I registered for wedding gifts. I picked the most beautiful place settings I could find. I envisioned using them for special occasions someday: Christmas dinners, special birthdays, Thanksgiving. I could see my future children and grandchildren sitting around the dining room table enjoying a delicious meal on my beautiful china. It was a radiant scene! And amazingly, God provided me with twelve place settings! (How many kids are you planning on me having, Lord?)

Sadly, there is no room in an apartment or small house for twelve place settings of beautiful China to be displayed. That is when I began to desire a china cabinet. I guess God also created me with expensive taste because all the china cabinets I liked were way out of our price range. So, I began to place this desire further and further away. But God, in His loving way, had other plans for me. My friend Sarah e-mailed me a link to a china cabinet for sale on a Craigs List. The pictures were small and a little blurry, but the cost was cheap, and Andrew was willing to drive the forty minutes to check it out. So, we scrounged around the house for enough cash, borrowed a friend's truck, and loaded Joel up. The result:
Thank you for your provision, Lord! Not only was this china cabinet affordable for my family, but it was also the perfect size, style, and color. I am so undeserving, but my Lord is gracious, and He loves me! (And I think He is looking forward to being with my family at our Christmas dinners some day!)

Pre-Bath Time

2009-02-09T07:19:00.000-08:00

There's nothing my little Joel likes more than being naked. (Well, maybe kisses from mama...) Our morning routine consists of waking up, diaper change, bottle, oatmeal, cuddle time, and then the always-anticipated bath. Bath-time officially starts when I lay Joel on the bed and take off his bib. As soon as he hears the velcro sound, he starts kicking his legs and flailing his arms like a crazy little octopus. (Thanks for the simile, Daddy!) Sometimes I like to make the velcro sound at various times throughout the day just to see baby Joel's excitement...is that mean? Well, anyway, here are some pre-bath pictures for your enjoyment:

I love his sweet little grin! I need to take some pictures of Joel in the tub; he kicks and splashes and gets everything (including me) very wet! He has so much fun, and his excitement is apparent in his big eyes and smiling face.

Kick-Off!

2009-02-06T20:27:00.000-08:00

I love being a mom! My son, Joel, is almost six months old, and I have decided to keep a record of my vast six months of wisdmom. (No, that wasn't a spelling error! wisdom+mom=wisdmom)

The compilation of knowledge from four (okay, five) years of college and four years in the working world does not even come close to the amount of on-the-job insight gained in a mere six months of motherhood. But, I have learned to hold on to my new-found wisdom with a loose grip. Joel is ever-changing. There is no guarantee that what worked on Monday will work on Wednesday. And Tuesday's schedule is by no means a blueprint for Friday.

While I never know what each day will bring, I take comfort in my one true constant: my Hope, my Stronghold, my Confidence, my Refuge, my Strength, and my Deliverer. I can't get through my day without Him, and when I try (as I often do), I fail. I want to be able to love Joel with my whole heart, but if I'm not totally, hopelessly in love with Jesus each morning, my love for Joel falls short. So, this blog is my kick-off to time spent with my Savior each morning...no matter how tired I am or how many bottles have to be washed or how tempting that new box of cereal looks. I think I'll start with Psalm 73.