18 Months Old!

18 months old!

1 year old

11 months old

10 months old

9 months old

 8 months old

7 months old

6 months old

5 months old

4 months old

3 months old

2 months old

1 month old

2 weeks old

Dear Josiah,

You are a baby no more. You are an exuberant small boy! You have two speeds: running and sleeping. And you are growing and learning so much!

These days, you:

- Give wonderful commentary from the backseat while we drive along. We'll take a corner, and you'll exclaim, "Turn!" We pass the airport, and you say, "Bye, plane!"

- Your "loveys" are much beloved. Two handmade blankets and two teddy bears are your favorites, and many times a day you will bring your teddy bear to me and say, "Hi, bear!" so that I can greet him also (albeit he is generally kinda slimy and wet).

- You are definitely learning from your big brother. One day we were driving to church, and Victor had his duck on his lap. Since Duck couldn't be buckled in, Victor held onto him extra tight. He said, "Look, Duck, here are my big muscles!" (so that he would not be afraid, of course). I looked back, and there you are, Josiah, with your two little fists up too, showing your big muscles!

- You love turtles. Whether they be illustrated in a Richard Scarry book or swimming around in the fish tank at the doctor's office. Sometimes, you just think about them, and exclaim, "Turtle!"

- You are currently very into Pop-Pop. We have a recent photo book in the living room, and approximately a hundred times a day, you request to see Pop-Pop's photo. And it is only acceptable if Mom holds the book open to the appropriate page indefinitely (or until you decide to go explore something else).

- You love apples! We are so blessed to have an apple tree in the backyard, a crabapple tree in the front yard, and an apple tree in the school across the street ... all of which have been much enjoyed this fall. You can man your own apple quite skillfully, and you eat it down to the core!

- It is always a bit of a surprise if you will march over to your brother and wallop him on the head or give him a gentle, tender snuggle and a kiss. We are praying for more of the gentle kindness and less of the wallops.

- Victor has introduced the new "Katterson Amen," in which we give an exclamatory fist pump when we say A (pump) -men (pump)! Even when I tuck you in at night and give you your blessing in the dark, you'll grin and give your fist pumps at the right time.

- You're still taking 2 naps, about an hour in the morning and about 2 1/2 hours in the afternoon. Bedtime is 7:15pm, and you're generally up by 6am.

- Favorite foods include crunchies (any of a variety of cereals), pretzels, cherry tomatoes (from the bush by the school across the street), apples, and any form of "treat."

- You enjoy songs, pianos, and dancing, and find it difficult to wait quietly when there is a break for announcements during the worship time at church.

- You enjoy your Sunday school class and Bible study class and have never made any complaints about them. But you still give great whole-body-kicking snuggles when we pick you up.

- You love to give high 5s and fist bumps. If someone starts a fist bump, you will travel to all the people in the vicinity to give your own fist bump.

You're a bundle of energy and a bundle of joy.

Once again, I pray this verse for you, my son:

The eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth, that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. 2 Chronicles 16:9

May your zeal be given to Jesus and your heart follow hard after Him all the days of your life!

We love you!

Mom