He Really Is a Pretty Child

I never thought Boomer and I would make an ugly child but I was slightly unprepared for how pretty he actually is. Of course everyone thinks their children are pretty, but we get independent corroboration literally every time we take him anywhere. People come up to us in stores, restaurants, the museum, you name it, just to tell us how beautiful he is. And, knock wood, he seems to be as beautiful inside as out, which is the most important thing to us. Yes he's an obnoxious toddler :) but he will share when asked and seems to show a genuine concern if someone around him is upset. He is generally delightful and easy even when he's tired. Comparatively speaking. :) He's also very, very funny.

Josiah took his first steps on December 3rd, 2011 but really did not become a proficient walker until the last month or so. He still stumbles some but so do I. :) He now just stands right back up and keeps going.

He will try to repeat what we ask him to say and spontaneously says "Bye bye!" and "Nigh nigh!" without being asked. As of today he knows what sounds lions, cats, owls and cows make. Yesterday he reached for a container of puffs on the kitchen table and, without provocation, clearly said "Puff!" Lately he's been saying "Okay!" a lot, especially when asked, and this word is particularly precious. He sounds a bit southern when he says it. I hope that's not too upsetting for his NY and ex-NY relatives. :)

He's been sleeping through the night since he was about 5 weeks old but lately every now and then has been waking up once around midnight-1am, but a quick song on my shoulder and/or a bottle put him back to sleep until morning. Maybe this should bother or concern me, but honestly, how much longer am I going to be able to cuddle him in my arms so comfortably? I look forward to every sweet, quiet, snuggly moment I have with him. Because during the day when he's awake it's generally GO GO GO!

Speaking of bottles, even at 15.5 months he still takes 4-6 4oz whole milk bottles a day. He won't drink milk from a sippy cup, and in general doesn't drink a lot from a sippy cup, so we feel it's important to make certain he's getting the milk he needs, and the way to do this is with bottles. Honestly I still enjoy holding him and giving them to him.

As for food, he's gotten a bit pickier. It's difficult to get him to eat veggies now, but I usually find a way to sneak them in. He LOVES grapes and Cherry Pie LÄRABARs.

He still wears size 12-18 months, but his 12 month sleepers are almost getting too short. 2 weeks ago a pair of his jeans needed to be cuffed and today they were the perfect length. He's definitely growing like the proverbial weed.

He's a funny, clever child and every day he delights me and makes me laugh. Boomer and I tell people we won the baby lottery... and we really did. I am blessed and truly feel like the luckiest mom in the world.

This picture was taken by Kimberly Combs of Combstribe Photography, whom I highly recommend if you ever need beach pics taken on the Outer Banks. He was absolutely unruly and unhappy that day but somehow she managed to still get wonderful shots.