At 36 Weeks

The days are ticking by.

Physically:

- Minimal heartburn
- Occasional painful contractions
- Crazy baby boy trying to stretch in all the wrong directions in belly
- Two other crazy boys sitting / climbing / jumping / snuggling on and around belly
- Serious consideration given to whether something on the floor truly needs to be picked up. By me. Until May.

All in all, no room to complain.

Baby preparations:

- Baby room cleaned. Check.
- Two boys sleeping in same room. Check.
- Diapers purchased for next 6 months or so. Check.
- Location of carseat known. Check.
- Registered for hospital; baby sleepers, carseat cover, pack-n-play sheets, and sundry other newborn items washed; hospital bag packed; space cleared to put newborn clothes. Uh, nope.

So, probably need to hop to it on those remaining items of importance...

Otherwise:

- Baby is head down.
- Carrying lower and nominally closer to delivery action than at this stage with other boys, per doctor's appointment on Friday.

It's "birthday week" (Josiah on Tuesday, Ben on Friday), and I am definitely at the just-doing-what-I-can-do stage. Which is why we ate chicken nuggets for the last 2 nights (since Daddy's gone) and Josiah's "birthday cake" was leftover from Saturday.

Glad for grace that comes one day at a time, and not looking too far ahead just yet...

2 years old!

2 years 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,

Happy birthday, big boy! It is crazy to think that you joined our family just two years ago--and also crazy to realize that two whole years have gone by since you came! You are a busy, curious, joyful, precious member of our home.

Things that you love right now:

- Thomas the Train
- Ducks, turtles, dogs, squirrels, and most other animals
- Going to the zoo
- Playing in sand
- Running
- Balls

Favorite foods:

- Chicken
- Jelly beans
- Apple juice
- Crunchies
- Raisins and dried cranberries
- Chocolate

Common activities:

- Playing trucks
- Doing what Victor does
- Going down our slide
- Running
- Playing catch
- Watching ducks in the pool in our backyard

You are a hoot! You dance along with music, repeat Daddy's and Victor's jokes, walk crooked just for fun, like standing upside down with one leg in the air, and scrunch up your nose for goofy smiles.

You are getting more independent and self-sufficient. You can carry your snack bowl to the kitchen counter, find your socks where you pulled them off, climb into your carseat without help, and haul a gallon of milk for short distances.

You can be very focused and engrossed in an activity, like when we pull out the button jar and sort things or you are playing trucks in the colored rice. But you also tend to be pretty happy-go-lucky, just skipping from one activity to another or running from one room to the next.

You are a great lover of Daddy. Even when you wake up from a nap in a crabby mood, if you can snuggle on Daddy's lap and read a book or look out the window, you are content.

You love little babies. Whether we're visiting with cousins, at a park, or at church, you always notice when a tiny baby is nearby, and you are very concerned if one is unhappy. With Baby Brother joining us soon, I know that you will take your new role of big brother very seriously and thoughtfully.

You often pray to thank God for our snacks or lunch, and I love to hear your earnest, "Amen!" at the end. I pray that a deep and true communion with God will grow in your heart even from these early days.

Once again, I pray that these words may be true of you:

For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth, that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.

Be whole-heartedly Jesus', my son. There is no greater prayer I have for you!

We love you and are so thankful to see you begin a new year of life!

Momma and Daddy