It's been a while since our last post. Sorry! Not much has changed in our world - Ben is still looking for a job (keep praying about it!), Joshua is still stealing hearts, & I'm still loving spending all this time with my pudgy little bug!
One of the things we were most excited about when we decided to move back to New York was all the festivals in the summer. Every weekend there is something going on & somewhere to go. A few weekends back, we went to the Park Ave Fest. Joshua loved being outside and seeing all the people. We found a hat that actually fits his head and he wore it all afternoon! It was a beautiful day for a festival too. Not too hot, not too cool. 
Last week, we went to Red Creek to visit with the Nodine's while mom was in California. We went out on gramma's birthday. Perfect timing! We had a fun time celebrating at Uncle Brian & Aunt Carly's house until the mosquitoes decided to feast on Joshua. Then it wasn't so fun anymore. I can't really blame the mosquitoes, I nibble on him all day long too! :) Gracie, Uncle Brian & Aunt Carly's dog, really enjoyed the empty beer bottles left on the lawn. They really were empty...don't worry. :) The picture is just too funny not to post! 
Aunt Carly made a delicious boston cream pie for gramma's birthday. The candles were having a hard time staying lit in the breeze, but Aunt Carly was determined to keep even a few lit so gramma could blow them out. 
We got to visit with most of Ben's relatives while we were out in Red Creek. We especially enjoyed seeing the newly built Duvall mansion (they have 13 kids now & the house is really really big), and visiting with Ben's cousin, Melissa, and her boys. 
Koby, Melissa's youngest, was the perfect host (thanks again for the brownies, Koby!) and loved playing with Joshua. 
Josh also really enjoyed watching the fish in their tank!
We really enjoyed our time with gramma, grandpa and the rest of the Nodine's. It's so nice to be able to visit whenever we want to. I'm glad we're close enough to see these two grow up together!
Aunt Carly made a delicious boston cream pie for gramma's birthday. The candles were having a hard time staying lit in the breeze, but Aunt Carly was determined to keep even a few lit so gramma could blow them out. We got to visit with most of Ben's relatives while we were out in Red Creek. We especially enjoyed seeing the newly built Duvall mansion (they have 13 kids now & the house is really really big), and visiting with Ben's cousin, Melissa, and her boys. Koby, Melissa's youngest, was the perfect host (thanks again for the brownies, Koby!) and loved playing with Joshua. Josh also really enjoyed watching the fish in their tank!We really enjoyed our time with gramma, grandpa and the rest of the Nodine's. It's so nice to be able to visit whenever we want to. I'm glad we're close enough to see these two grow up together!Today, Joshua was evaluated for the Early Intervention (EI) program. A special ed teacher and a physical therapist came to see him to evaluate whether or not he was delayed enough to get services. They determined that he is right on schedule cognitively, but his motor skills are behind. He is delayed enough to qualify for services, so an occupational therapist (OT) will be coming to see Josh twice a week to work on his motor skills. We're excited that we'll be getting some help for him and we are really hopeful that it will make a big difference in his future. He gets frustrated so easily when he tries to grasp toys. 
His right hand is much more stiff than his left and he has a hard time getting all his fingers to open up. 
He also has really low core strength so he has a hard time sitting and lifting his head to proper position. That being said, these are all things that we can work on and hopefully find ways to do things that work for Joshua so we're not that worried. I mean, being really, really, ridiculously good looking and having great motor skills would just be too much to handle I guess! So the motor skills had to go. :) 
His right hand is much more stiff than his left and he has a hard time getting all his fingers to open up. He also has really low core strength so he has a hard time sitting and lifting his head to proper position. That being said, these are all things that we can work on and hopefully find ways to do things that work for Joshua so we're not that worried. I mean, being really, really, ridiculously good looking and having great motor skills would just be too much to handle I guess! So the motor skills had to go. :) 
He's sleeping 7-9 hours at night and eats every 3 hours and naps anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours during the day. 
I know he's too young to know he should smile for the camera, but it sure seems like that's what he's doing. 
His temper, unfortunately, he gets from me I think. His fuse is a short one and if you push your luck, you're in for a world of hurt. Once he's poured out his wrath, though, he's just fine and acts like nothing ever happened. When he isn't the center of attention, he will do a fake laugh that sounds just like a cough. Then he looks around waiting for everyone to look at him and then smiles and laughs when they do. He loves the color red, loves trucks (& engine sounds in general), and loves his little stuffed lion.
He loves to talk and "sing" to anyone who will listen and he is always ready to smile.
He loves his showers too. He loves being in the stream of water and will lean his face into it and come out smiling. He tries to "catch" the water too - extending his hands into the water to feel it hit him. He comes out looking like a little prune we keep him in there for so long! 
He has learned how to put his thumb in his mouth, but quickly replaces it with his whole fist because his skinny little thumb isn't very satisfying for him. He's getting stronger and stronger every day (there must be muscle under all those rolls!) 
and can balance his weight and stand without support for short periods of time when he's on your lap. 
Josh got to see Grandpa's Harley and was really excited to sit on his first motorcycle! 
Yesterday we decided to head out to the Public Market in Rochester and Joshua loved it. It rained pretty hard for a little bit, but Josh slept in his stroller for most of it. When it stopped raining, Joshua woke up and I carried him in the babyBjorn. He smiled at all the strangers and talked to most of them as well! We came home with zucchini (some for eating, some for making zucchini bread!), fresh garlic, bread, whoopie pies & molasses cookies, brown eggs, black cherries & peaches too! We ended our trip by taking a tour of the Rohrbach Brewing Company. Mom & Ben came home with a growler of Red Wing Red Ale to share and Joshua came home with a greater knowledge of the brewing process. 
to update our website! I'm sure you understand. To help distract you from studying, here's a video of Joshua.