7 Months!

My baby boy is 7 months and is sitting up strong. He isn't "moving" yet but will back himself up. I guess that is the start of crawling. He just seems a wee bit slower in the moving department than my other two. Possibly because I can't keep the little guy on the floor. I literally leave him for 30 seconds and the other two are swarming him,  pulling him not so gently across the floor, or trying to kill him in other ways like feeding him food. So instead of letting him sit and play while I clean, cook, work, whatever, I end up carrying him around instead. He is so adorable though and I love how the kids (mostly Gabriel right now) tell me they love him. Check these guys out:

  They rock my world! We are thankful to God for health and happiness. I still can't believe He's blessed me with three little critters, but I'm very grateful.

Baby's First Year-The Middle

The first year of baby's life include so many fun and joyous times. Seeing a person experience things for the first time is like reliving those experiences through a new set of eyes. The first smile when a banana is mushed between a toothy grin, the first grimace as cold ice cream sits on the lips, and then the desire for more as they reach with outstretched arms for the spoon. You wonder what they are thinking, and then, if you are like me, you think it is amazing that the human brain develops SO much in a life time. The same brain that you are born with, the one that is just wiring itself, is soon sending signals not only to eat or drink but to talk, move, explore, and wonder. It just fascinates me what God created, and you can really watch with amazement as a baby grows so much in that first year. They go from helpless, to lifting up, to rolling over, sitting up, crawling, walking, and talking at a year old. Just a year, it goes so fast. I cuddle Josiah more, look at him more, and marvel at his life events more because I have now experienced how quickly they grow. Not just Josiah though, I've stopped to marvel at my other two as well. I just took it for granted with Gabriel in the beginning. I loved it, but I rarely stopped and just watched him. You know why life goes by so fast? I believe I'm figuring it out. We rarely just stop. We are always doing something. Between TV, electronics, radio, news, work, house chores, daily routine, and so many other distractors we just don't SIT and exist. As a matter of fact it often makes me anxious. I can't do it for long. I want to pick up my phone, read a book, SOMETHING to fill time. Sometimes though, as I breastfeed, I just sit and stare at the beauty sitting on my chest. Those are the moments that I can soak it all in. Those are the best....

So here were are at the middle of the first year, 6 months have passed. I started this blog to say that Josiah is now eating solids. His daddy and I love to watch him devour a banana through the mesh feeder. Love to see him smiling as we put a dab of Sweet Frog yogurt on his lips. He's enjoying all of these new experiences and tastes. Obviously he's still mostly breast feeding, but we do give him baby food now and again. He's indifferent to rice cereal, doesn't really like carrots, loves sweet potatoes, and really really LOVES bananas. He's still got those two bottom teeth and the top gums are pretty swollen. I believe they will be coming in very soon. So here is our little eater, my handsome man:

Changing of the Seasons

As the crisp air ushers in a new season I find myself thinking about the weeks of summer. I've never been a summer person per se, but this past summer has been incredibly enjoyable. The kids have enjoyed days at the park, a small kid pool, sprinklers with cousins, and a sand box. We've had a seriously good time with lots of memories to cherish. I've also been able to get a schedule pretty much down with all three kids. Of course there are days that Josiah is awake while the others sleep, but for the most part I am able to work while the kids nap. I don't talk much about why I work, but I will say it keeps me sane. I'm a busy body. If I am not taking care of kids I'm not sure what to do with myself. So working with clients, designing books, and keeping up with the ever changing technology and social media keeps me busy during 2 hours of nap time + 3 hours between the kids bed time and my bed time, and little bits in between. I've never been a t.v. watcher, so I fill my "extra" time with work and I enjoy it. Sure there are times when I feel overwhelmed with projects, but for the most part I sincerely enjoy the business. It also helped fill time while Josh was away for three weeks in Texas. The kids and I missed him very much, but we had a groove going and it went pretty well. We would skype Josh at night, pray with the kids at bed time, and then Josh and I would talk for a bit before bed. We are glad to have him home though. I'm not sure what we would do without him ;). I can't wait to enjoy another Fall season with him, although I'm sad -this year at least- to see summer on its way out.

Speaking of Fall, I am enjoying my pumpkin spice lattes again, my baby boy is rolling all over the place, and my older munchkins are in Awana. It's really hard for me to grasp the reality that I have a rolling baby and not a "newborn," but, again, I have to simply embrace each fleeting moment and treasure these moments in my heart. All of my kids are such a joy. Josiah is teething, so he's fussy pretty much every time we put him down, but he's got such a laid back/happy personality otherwise. He smiles at everyone and is belly laughing when I make noises he likes. Gabriel whines a whole lot, but he is really smart! He can't/won't count, but he learns Bible verses for Awana crazy fast, knows how to get to the places we drive to, and remembers things from a year or two ago that I sometimes don't recall. He's got an awesome memory! He's also building things like robots and pirate ships with his blocks. I'm just accepting the fact that he's not ready to be "book smart" yet. I'm totally o.k. with that. He has plenty of time to learn counting and ABC's. Liz is also very smart and her communication skills are coming on strong lately. She also loves to dance with music, laugh with her brother, fight with her brother, and carry around her little purses to go shopping. She's also potty training and doing fairly well with it. The mistakes happen when she's playing and doesn't think to go. She's also not going to be night time trained for a long while. She's got a pretty small bladder and drinks like a camel. I'm really happy with only having one in diapers -for the most part- though. It is really really nice!

Here are pics of the little munchkins lately. I'm planning a "Fallish" shoot with them before Josiah starts getting mobile. He is in desperate need of a photo session. So, professional pics soon on the blog!

The beach shot was taken while Josh was gone. The kids and I went to Wilmington and stayed two nights with Valerie and Jeremiah. It was a great time! The kids got sick the day we left and we've been sick for 2 weeks now, but we are finally on the upswing. I'm so glad this sickness has almost left the house!

Almost 4 months and Life Lately!

I am feeling more and more content with my three little ones. After Gabriel I knew I would have another, and after Elizabeth I knew I wanted at least one more (albeit not so soon), but now I feel happy with the number 3. Possibly it is just for now and I'll get an urge in a few years, but I am loving my family of 5 so much! I am at my max for still being able to go do daily -to every other day- outings, and I'm sure that I am at my max for Grandma's watching babies as we go to weddings and wedding shows (hehe). Maybe we will have a mid 30's baby, but we will see. God will have to lay that on my heart, but of course we are always open to His surprises. After experiencing my first surprise baby with Josiah I know that God knows best. He truly blessed us with our happy baby boy! Josiah will be 4 months on the 25th of this month. Where oh where can I turn back the hands of time?! I turned 30 this month, I almost have a 2 year old baby girl, and a 4 year old baby boy. All of which are doing exceptional. Healthy and strong! They drive me nuts on occasion, but they are wonderful. Yesterday Josh and I enjoyed dancing with our babies. It brought me (in my mind) to the father/daughter and mother/son dances. Oh will I be a ball of emotions. I know I have many many years, but I also know they will go fast. For now though we enjoyed picking up our little ones and swaying to the songs. Cuddling our sweet babies close and looking them in the eyes. It was an unplanned moment but it was special. I didn't take a picture, but it is engrained in my mind. Some moments are too special to break away to get a camera. All we have are the sweet memories! Memories for us and for them. I hope that our children grow up and know that they are loved. That is what matters in life, LOVE. God shows us His perfect love and Josh and I really try hard to show that to our children. Goodness knows it is not easy to love like God loves us. He is truly perfect! I learn a lot about Him in the journey we call parenthood. I am thankful that He allowed me to experience it.

I've captured a few life moments here lately:

 Cuddle time before bed!

 Annnd the smallest one smiles....

 Happy boy!

 Caught in mommas shoes.

 My boys!

 Bath time.

Look at this cutie!!!!

 Big man got a Recaro like his siblings.

Drool Monster!

Josiah is on his way to getting teeth and had his first laugh today! He was checking himself out in the mirror as I sang, "whose that baby in the window," and I got a few chuckles. He has the cutest full mouth open smile. His eyes just light up with that smile and make me giggle along with him. It looks like in the next 2 months or so he'll have a few teeth to flash with that smile. The drool, gumming everything, and general irritability tell me he will have teeth soon. Gabriel got his first two at 5 months, so it looks like Josiah will follow suit. Just for memories sake I checked out when Elizabeth got her first teeth. She was 9 months.  Oh the joys of teeth....

We have had a busy June and July. Here are a few pics of our adventures:

Sibling Love

 We made bobble heads

 A trip to the Asheboro Zoo

 Cousins sleeping while the bigger cousins play at the "House of Bounce"

 Boats at Pullen Park

 Slide at Sonic on a Sunday afternoon

 Tummy Time

 What's up dude?!

 Brother Love

 Momma and Baby

All smiles!

Life is happy! We couldn't thank God more for the blessings He has given our family =). Until next time....

Newborn Pics!

Wow, I just realized I never posted Josiah's newborn pics. Here they are: