Look Who's 2 1/2...

2 1/2 years old!

2 years old

18 months

One year old

11 months

10 months

9 months

 
8 months

7 months

6 months

5 months old

4 months old

3 months old

2 months old

1 month old

2 weeks old

Dear Victor,


You are 2 1/2 years big today! And we are seeing so, so many ways that you have been growing up lately...

- You regularly amaze us by things you pick up (somewhere?). Such as kindly mentioning that I should have two hands on the steering wheel while driving.

- You continue to be a pretty gentle and very considerate big brother to Josiah. You give him (generally) soft snuggles and enjoy lying next to him on his play mat. You put some little cups in his bath for him to play with. You help carry his carseat (you on one side, and Daddy on the other) and push his stroller. And you help me make his toy sing a song and rattle during his neck stretches.

- Occasionally, little fits are popping up. Your little 2-year-old will is definitely not a pushover. But you continue to respond well to clear, calm, and consistent instructions and follow-through. Your twos have been much more delightful than terrible so far.

- You are always watching and imitate lots. Such as nursing ducky (with a blanket tossed his head for modesty!), running like Daddy (complete with heavy breathing, which is hilarious!), reading your Bible story books, doing stretches, driving your cars to the Downtown Church (like Daddy going to class), typing emails on your computer, doing tummy time like Josiah, and taking "smiles" on the phone.

- You are in big boy pants! To be honest, I have been dragging my feet for a long time, knowing you're close to ready for potty training and dreading it. But this week we dove in, and you have picked it up amazingly fast. You even woke me up at 1:15am this morning to ask to go potty. We even went to the park, out to eat, to the zoo, and to church... and no accidents! I definitely know it is not because we are so great at this potty training stuff... God is just giving you a great understanding of how this all works!

- Speaking of church, you have learned so much about sitting quietly and being a part of the worship service before you go to your own special class. I know that you are still watching and learning, but it was sweet this morning to look over during the singing and see your little hand up in the air. May God give you deep and true worship of Jesus all your days.

- It is so, so fun to see you interacting with your cousins. You just loved the time you got to spend with Hudson and Adelle ("Where's Delly?" you would ask, so gently and concerned all the time...) and Silas in Iowa. And when we had a picnic with the Kattersons this weekend, you and Toby started playing catch with a ball, and all the cousins were having a great time together in the sand.

We love you, we are proud of you, and we are so glad God put you in our family.

Big kisses for you, my big boy,
Momma

3 Months Old!

Hard to believe Josiah is already...

3 months old!

2 months old

1 month old

2 weeks old

Dear Josiah,

You have had a busy month, this month. To be honest, it's been a bit of a whirlwind.

Some hard things have come.  We started physical therapy to help strengthen and stretch your neck, so that you can turn your head to the left naturally (treatment for torticollis).  We said good-bye to some of our closest family friends, who moved out of state.  We made it through a big work transition time for Mom (and you weathered quite a few long days of meetings and trainings in the process!), and we are praying for God's leading about some other possible changes on the horizon for our family.

Some wonderful things have come.  You have become so smiley and responsive; it's a delight to talk to you and hear your expressive little conversation back.



We have enjoyed some special family times, with Daddy out of classes for a bit. And you have been a sweet, patient, laid back little fellow through just about everything.

You are falling into a bit of a routine now.  You generally wake up around 6:30am (oddly synchronized to Victor's emerging from his bedroom!), and you'll have cheerful awake time for an hour or so before snoozing a good portion of the morning.  Then we normally see you again in the middle of the day for some more awake time before a good afternoon nap.  You'll head to bed between 6:30pm and 7:30pm, get one more feeding before I go to bed, and then you generally sleep until about 4am for another meal.  How often I have thanked God for giving me a sleepy little boy for this season of life!

I cannot say that these weeks have been a piece of cake.  Many times a day I feel my inadequacy to be all that you and Victor need.  But those times are opportunities to ask for God's ever-present help and rest in His sufficiency.  He knows your needs better than I do, and He has no limitations or deficiencies in His care.  And what a privilege it is to be your and Victor's mother and Daddy's wife.  My cup runs over!

What a joy you are to us, little mister!  We love you and pray that God will continue to guard and keep you and shape within you a heart to love and trust in Jesus all the days of your life.

Love you bunches,
Momma

Outing to the Zoo

This morning, we had a family outing to the zoo. It was raining like crazy, but we still had a fun time scouting out the indoor exhibits!

Josiah, pondering life

Enjoying cheesy duck crackers...

It's a puma!

Had to watch a leaf float down the river before coming inside

Special Katterson Dinner

Since Pop-Pop's sister Judy was in town for a few days, we got to have a very special dinner together Friday night! 

I love Pop-Pop's expressions... 

First Bath

And, after 2 months of sponge baths (because I couldn't find the infant insert for our bath tub...), our first real bath!

Sweet

Dear Victor,

Last night, you quoted Psalm 23 to me, without any promptings, front to end.  (Only missed, "He restores my soul.")

You even added our traditional, "And all the Kattersons said, Amen!" at the end.

It made my heart sing.  I love you.