10 Months!

Joshua is 10 months old today! And how is he celebrating? With a breakfast of papaya & oatmeal, an early morning trip to Wegmans in the snow, some rattle banging and lots of yelling.

Our little boy is growing up. And part of that growing up is the transition of all his love and affection from mommy to daddy. If Ben is around, Joshua wants to be doing what he's doing, eating what he's eating, just wants to be held by daddy.

It's sweet really, but it makes me feel a little sad. Of course, when he's tired or upset, mommy can still make it all better. :)

At 10 months, Joshua's sitting has improved dramatically. He can now reach for toys while sitting and sometimes even look up to see what's going on around him. He still topples over after about a minute, but it's really amazing to see how far he's come. He's completely obsessed with his toes and loves to pull his socks off at night when he's getting his jammies on.

He also loves sitting in his high chair and playing with the blocks

and yelling. Oh, how he loves yelling. He also absolutely loves being startled. When he's not paying attention, if I yell 'BOO!' at him, he jumps and then laughs hysterically. That he definitely does not get from me. I HATE being scared. I hate that stupid email that goes around every once in a while that has a nice wooded scene with a bear or a girl riding a bike or a red dot that you have to follow. You know the one....all of a sudden there's a terrible face screaming at you? It makes me cry. Not just a few tears either. I full out sob. I hate it. So I'm not sure where Josh gets this love of being startled. Must be from his daddy.

Joshua is a champion eater. He loves sweet potatoes, squash, peas, spinach, green beans, papaya, mango, apples, pears, blueberries, apricots, canteloupe...but he's not a big fan of meat right now.

He's now weighing in at 18 lbs, 2 oz and is 27 1/2 inches long. That puts him between the 5th and 10th percentiles for both height and weight. He's such a peanut! I don't really realize how small he is until I see him around other children his age. They all seem so big. Of course, I'm extremely thankful that my little one is so little. I can't even imagine carrying around a larger child all the time.

As you saw in the video, Joshua is trying so hard to talk. We had him evaluated by a speech therapist who said that he was behind in his expressive speech (he's at about 6 months), but was functioning between 9-12 months for his receptive language. So he's understanding everything we say, but just can't respond. I'm still waiting for 'mama' or 'dada'. What a sweet sound that will be. :) And we will be overcome with joy when he finally is able to say those words. For now, we just enjoy each new sound he explores (lately there have been lot's of 'F' sounds!) and relish each moment with him.

Joshua in Toyland

I wanted to share some videos of Joshua's favorite toys and his skill with them. He loves playing and all of these toys are they are all being used as therapy as well. This is his newest toy. It's supposed to encourage crawling because it's weighted in the middle and will roll away and then roll back. In therapy this week, we used it to isolate Joshua's hips and give them a good workout. Josh's therapist says that the rocking is a precursor to crawling and that this will definitely help him learn to crawl. We're one step closer! :)

This is another one of Joshua's favorite toys. He loves to 'box' the ball and the fishes. He's so good he doesn't even have to look!

This truck was given to Joshua by Uncle Brian and Aunt Carly. Joshua loves it when I stack the blocks up for him to knock down. He has also gotten really good at dumping them.

This video isn't toy related, unless you count nana as a toy. :) But it's awful cute.

I have one last video for you. It's an example of terrible parenting. :)

Go ahead. Laugh. I did! And don't worry, Joshua was not hurt in the filming of this video. He actually just reached over and played with the fishes and laughed. Rough and tumble...that's my boy.

Votre Attention, S'il Vous Plait...

You'll notice a new ticker along the top of the blog. A ticker counting down the days to Joshua's trip to PARIS!!!!!!! We are going April 19-27 to visit friends who will be living in Paris for a year. We're SO EXCITED!

Joshua's paperwork for his first passport is all filled out and waiting to be sent. I think it's hysterical that the form asks for his height. I mean, he's going to have this passport for 7 years or more. It's going to change dramatically! So when we travel somewhere in 5 years, his height will still officially be 2 ft, 4 inches. :)

It's Happening!!!!

Joshua has a fun new trick and I have some very big news for you...but you'll have to wait a minute or two for the big news. :) Oh, that was mean, huh?

So here's Joshua's new trick:

He knows "so big"! He also knows, by the way, where to find a nose and eyes on a face. He's so smart! :)

Ok, I can't wait anymore to tell you about the big news! JOSHUA CAN SIT!!!!!!!! Of course, it's not for very long and he's not terribly stable just yet, but he can do it! I was playing with him today and plopped him down in front of me and let go. Because he didn't tip over right away, I started watching the clock. 10 seconds, 15 seconds (this was his personal best so far), 20 seconds (I started getting excited), 30 seconds, 40 seconds (I was holding my breath), 43 seconds....and then he tipped over. Holy cow! 43 seconds! That's amazing!!! In addition to the awesome sitting that was going on, when he started to tip over he put his hand out to catch himself. Oh my goodness, my heart just about stopped. Do you know what this means?! It means that all the therapy, all the work, all the time, all the effort is paying off!!!! It also means that his core is getting stronger. And sitting will help make his core even stronger. Which will let him be able to crawl eventually. And then walk. I don't even think I can tell you how exciting this is for Ben and me. Since I wasn't prepared for Josh to sit, I didn't have a camera or anything to document it. So I grabbed my camera and tried to get him to do it again. He didn't sit for that length of time again, but you'll get the general idea. :)

Sitting! from Jamie Nodine on Vimeo.

It cracks me up that once he sees the camera, he refuses to look away. He loves the camera. Maybe he'll be a news anchor. Or reporter. Or movie star!

I'll post one final video for you since I'm on a video kick. Joshua loves the theme from Bonanza. He HATES the theme from Green Acres. How do I know? Well, because every time he hears the Green Acres theme, he frowns. Not just looks displeased, he flat out frowns! But when you hum the Bonanza theme he smiles and laughs. What a crazy kid. :)

Green Acres from Jamie Nodine on Vimeo.

I promise there will be more sitting videos soon. :) Yay for achieving goals!!!!!

Happy New Year!

Ok, ok, ok! Call off the dogs! I'll post, I'll post! I've been getting all sorts of comments about how my posting has fallen by the wayside. I know, I know. I'm a slacker. But I've had good reasons! We moved into our house and have been trying to get settled. And our laptop screen is dying so it flickers and is really hard to look at for long periods. And Joshua is on another sleep strike. And I'm just too tired. I realize that's not an excuse for you hard core blog followers (I'm looking at you, Jodi Rivera), but it'll have to do. :)

Ok, here we go....

Christmas was, in short, wonderful. We celebrated Christmas with the Nodine family first. Dinner was spectacular - prime rib, twice baked potatoes, sweet potato casserole, cherry pie...mmmmm! Joshua was showered with attention and wonderful gifts as well, but I think he liked the attention the most. :) Grandma got some fun pirate hats from the boys for future make believe play. Won't both the boys be the most adorable pirates on the high seas?!

It was a wonderfully relaxing evening and we enjoyed it more than any other Christmas in the past. See, in the past, we were always shuttling back and forth between Webster and Red Creek. Talk about tiring! But this year, we got to enjoy spending the day with our family and then we got to come home and sleep in our own bed. It was perfect.

We had fully intended to spend Joshua's first Christmas morning in his new house. But the best laid plans...you know how they go! We were just feeling too much pressure to be unpacked and settled and in the end we decided that we'd spend Christmas at nana's. Auntie Jodi was in town and the weather wasn't terrible...it was so nice! Christmas at nana's house was all about Joshua. Both Ben and I enjoyed watching Joshua take it all in so much more than we enjoyed opening our own gifts. Josh loved the lights on the tree (of course!) and loved tearing the paper on his gifts. He got really good at it too!

Merry Christmas, Joshua! from Jamie Nodine on Vimeo.


Of course, there were times that he thought that the paper looked so pretty he should just take a little taste of it....
Now, he's really into tearing paper. He loves tearing napkins, paper tablecloths, bills...whatever he can get his hands on!

Joshua was given really great clothes...and some fun toys...and some really beautiful books!The day after Christmas, Honorary Auntie Diana came for a visit and finally got to meet Joshua. He took to her pretty quickly and decided that he liked having Aunties...regular or honorary.

While Auntie Diana was here seeing our new little home, Tricia and Bill stopped by, and then my cousin Jon dropped in too. It was an impromptu housewarming party! Tricia brought food (she owns the yummiest bakery in Webster) and Joshua really enjoyed the cookie tray. Just kidding. He didn't eat any. But the rest of us did! Mmmmmm.

Joshua is changing every day it seems. He's getting so, so, so much better with his hands and can now grab anything he wants. It's funny to me that Ben and I get so excited about every little accomplishment. The other day, Joshua pulled my camera off the table. I caught it just in time, but what struck me was that instead of being worried that it would break, I was thrilled that he had been able to grab it so quickly. Josh loves to sit in his high chair and play with toys while I'm washing dishes or getting things done around the house. Of course, I don't usally get much done because I'm watching him play. He has also gotten really good at 'SO Big!'. You know, the game where you say, "How big is Joshua? SO big!" and he responds with throwing his arms up in the air. I tried to get a picture for you, but this is the best I got... When I asked him to do it again, this is the look I got...He was obviously not going to do it again. I'll get a better picture soon.

So that's it. You're all caught up. Happy 2009 everyone! It's going to be a great year. :)

ps...I shamelessly stole this from Amanda's blog because I loved it. It recaps the year pretty well I think.

1. Where did you begin 2008? Reading in bed in Virginia.

2 What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? Had a baby, bought a house, and a bunch of other things that pale in comparison.

3. What was your status by Valentine’s Day? Married and hugely pregnant.

4. Were you in school (anytime this year)? Does the school of hard knocks count?

5. How did you earn your money? I lived as a kept woman. :)

6. Did you have to go to the hospital? Yep. Once for a very happy reason, twice for not so happy reasons.

7. Did you have any encounters with the police? Nope!

8. Where did you go on holidays? Holidays in the european sense of the word? Nowhere. Holidays as in Christmas? Home with our families.

9. What did you purchase that was over $1000? A house!

10. Did you know anybody who got married? Not this year.

11. Did you know anyone that passed away? Thankfully, no.

12. Did you know anyone who had a baby? Yes! Yay for Tori & Jay, Niki & Troy, Bekah & Dave, Rob & Lynn, Jodi & Jon, and Gina & David! I'm sure there are others I'm blanking on!

13. Did you move? UGH. Yes.

14. What concerts/shows did you go to? None. :(

15. Are you registered to vote? Yep.

16. Who did you want to win Big Brother? Seriously? Do people still watch that show?

17. Where do you live now? In a cozy little house with Ben and Joshua.

18. Describe your birthday. It was AWESOME! Photoshoot with Amanda, dinner out, snuggles with Ben and Joshua.

19. What’s one thing you thought you’d never do, but did in 2008? Hmmm...I'm sure there are things that I just can't think of now.

20. What has been your favorite moment? March 28, 10:33am.

21. What’s something you learned about yourself? I'm good under pressure and am a good mommy.

22. Any new additions to your family? YES!!! Why else would you be reading this blog?

23. What was your best month? March

24. What was your worst month? March

25. What music will you remember 2008 by? World Baby Celtic Lullaby cd.

26. Who has been your best drinking buddy? I don't have drinking buddies. But if I did, I'm sure Ben would be it.

27. Made new friends? Yes!

28. Lost friends? Only by moving away.

29. Favorite night out? Date nights with Ben.

30. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier
ii. thinner or fatter? compared to last December, I'm thinner.
iii. richer or poorer? my life is richer. My wallet, not so much.

31. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? March 28. It's the moment I became a mommy! I'll never forget that day. :)

Songs for Joshua - Week 8

If I had to put my feelings about Christmas time into song lyrics, I'd choose "it's the most wonderful time of the year" without hesitation. I LOVE Christmas. I love sending cards and packages, baking cookies, eating cookies & candy & all the other yummy food. I love seeing decorations and lights on houses and Christmas trees peeking out from front windows. I love all the traditions and celebration. What really warms my heart, however, is the music. At no other time of year will you hear Christ's name on the radio and tv as much as you will this month.

This year, the music is really touching my heart. I think it's because this year, I'm a mother. And even more than that, I'm the mother of a little boy. As I hear all the lyrics celebrating Christ's birth, I think about Mary. I wonder if she really knew what it meant to be the mother of the Savior. I'm sure she watched him sleep and brushed the curls around his ears like I do while Josh is falling asleep. I'm sure when she held him she felt like her body was just too small to contain all the love she was feeling. I'm sure that she looked at him and hoped for his future. But did she know how hated He would be in the future? Did she know how He would suffer and die? I don't think I could bear it if I knew that someday Joshua would be reviled and die in such a way. Did Mary and Joseph understand why Jesus was born just to die? There are many people in my life who I would sacrifice myself for. But there is no one on earth who I would sacrifice my son for. And yet isn't that what we are really celebrating at Christmas? We're celebrating the birth of Christ, who was born specifically so that He could be the sacrifice for us! And that, my friends, is the ironic beauty of this season. Both Ben and I hope that as Josh grows up, he will understand that we aren't celebrating presents or "getting" at Christmas. We are celebrating the love and hope and mercy and justice that was embodied in Jesus Christ.

I *love* the song I chose for this week. I love it because it starts out quiet and then builds and builds until it fills your ears with truth. I love truth and honesty in songs. The kind that when you're done listening, you can understand what the characters or the author is feeling. When I heard this song, I came away thinking that yes, a baby does change everything! Our baby changed everything for Ben and I. Our priorities, our hopes, our fears...everything. And Joshua will change the world simply by being in it. But no baby in history changed everything the way Jesus did.

Merry Christmas, everyone. We love you.

ps...if you don't normally actually listen to the song each week, I'd really encourage you to take the time to listen to these two. Two? Yep. Two. Call the second one a Christmas bonus. :) As always, if the player doesn't show up, press the 'pop-out' button and actually listen to these songs. They are so beautiful.

"A Baby Changes Everything" - Faith Hill

Teenage girl, much too young
Unprepared for what’s to come
A baby changes everything

Not a ring on her hand
All her dreams and all her plans
A baby changes everything
A baby changes everything

The man she loves she’s never touched
How will she keep his trust
A baby changes everything
A baby changes everything
And she cries, oh she cries

She has to leave, go far away
Heaven knows she can’t stay
A baby changes everything

She can feel it’s coming soon
There’s no place, there’s no room
A baby changes everything
A baby changes everything
And she cries and she cries, oh she cries

Shepherds all gather round
Up above a star shines down
A baby changes everything

Choir of Angels say
Glory to the newborn king
A baby changes everything
A baby changes everything, everything, everything, everything
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah

My whole life is turned around
I was lost and now I’m found
A baby changes everything


"Welcome To Our World" - Chris Rice

Tears are falling, hearts are breaking
How we need to hear from God
You've been promised, we've been waiting
Welcome Holy Child
Welcome Holy Child

Hope that you don't mind our manger
How I wish we would have known
But long-awaited Holy Stranger
Make Yourself at home
Please make Yourself at home

Bring Your peace into our violence
Bid our hungry souls be filled
Word now breaking Heaven's silence
Welcome to our world
Welcome to our world

Fragile finger sent to heal us
Tender brow prepared for thorn
Tiny heart whose blood will save us
Unto us is born
Unto us is born

So wrap our injured flesh around You
Breathe our air and walk our sod
Rob our sin and make us holy
Perfect Son of God
Perfect Son of God
Welcome to our world

A Reminder To Myself...

There are days when I see other children and want to cry. I see children Joshua's age crawling all over, getting into everything. They are pulling up to stand, some are even taking steps and walking. And then I look at my son. My perfect, beautiful son. And he's so behind other children his age. It hurts to know that people will wonder what is wrong with him. It bothers me that he won't be able to keep up with other children. And if I think about those things too long, I start to get sad. But then he gives me that smile! That charming smile that he got from his daddy and I can't help but be thankful for him regardless of what he can or can't do.

Someone sent me this today and I couldn't not share it. Now, I'm not saying that I'm a saint, or even that I'm cut out for this job. I just like the idea that God thought that I am strong enough to handle a special needs child.

The Special Mother by Erma Bombeck

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures and a couple by habit.

This year nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen?

Somehow I visualize God hovering over earth selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger.

"Armstrong, Beth; son. Patron saint...give her Gerard. He's used to profanity."

"Forrest, Marjorie; daughter. Patron saint, Cecelia."

"Rutledge, Carrie; twins. Patron saint, Matthew."

Finally He passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her a handicapped child."

The angel is curious. "Why this one God? She's so happy."

"Exactly," smiles God, "Could I give a handicapped child to a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."

"But has she patience?" asks the angel.

"I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off, she'll handle it."

"I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has his own world. He has to make her live in his world and that's not going to be easy."

"But, Lord, I don't think she even believes in you." God smiles, "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect - she has just enough selfishness." The angel gasps - "selfishness? is that a virtue?"
God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a 'spoken word'". She will never consider a "step" ordinary. When her child says 'Momma' for the first time, she will be present at a miracle, and will know it!"

"I will permit her to see clearly the things I see...ignorance, cruelty, prejudice....and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing My work as surely as if she is here by My side".

"And what about her Patron saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in mid-air.

God smiles, "A mirror will suffice."

Songs for Joshua - Week 7

I didn't like this song the first time I heard it. Maybe it was because Joshua wasn't here yet or maybe it was because I just didn't understand how sweet putting my baby to bed could be. Now that Josh is here and I've heard the song again, I love it. I've tried to make this song part of his bedtime routine. I'll sit in the living room and sing this to him as we rock in the chair. Then we go upstairs and I lay him down. I love the moment right before I lay him down in his crib when he snuggles into my neck and sighs that contented sigh. My favorite line of this song is "God bless mommy and matchbox cars". I just love how mommy ranks right up there with the cars. :)

"Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)" - Dixie Chicks

Dragon tales and the "water is wide"
Pirate's sail and lost boys fly
Fish bite moonbeams every night
And I love you
Godspeed, little man
Sweet dreams, little man
Oh my love will fly to you each night on angels wings
Godspeed, sweet dreams

The rocket racer's all tuckered out
Superman's in pajamas on the couch
Goodnight moon will find the mouse
And I love you
Godspeed, little man
Sweet dreams, little man
Oh my love will fly to you each night on angels wings
Godspeed, sweet dreams

God bless mommy and matchbox cars
God bless dad and thanks for the stars
God hears "Amen," wherever we are
And I love you
Godspeed, little man
Sweet dreams, little man
Oh my love will fly to you each night on angels wings
Godspeed, godspeed, godspeed, sweet dreams

Songs for Joshua - Week 6

This week's song is an Oscar nominated lullaby from Dumbo. Let's set the scene...poor Mrs. Jumbo was all locked up in the railroad car because they thought she went mad. When in reality, all she was doing was defending her little one from that stupid red-headed boy. (Truthfully, every time I watch it, I silently cheer her on when she hangs him over the wire and spanks him.) Dumbo is all upset and missing his mommy, so Timothy the mouse brings him to her cage and she rocks him in her trunk while this song plays. Oh, it makes me cry just thinking about it! Tissue anyone? :)

"Baby Mine" - Alison Krauss

Baby mine, don't you cry.
Baby mine, dry your eyes.
Rest your head close to my heart,
never to part,
baby of mine.

Little one when you play,
don't you mind what they say.
Let those eyes sparkle and shine,
never a tear,
baby of mine.

If they knew sweet little you
they'd end up loving you too.
All of those people who scold you,
what they'd give just for the right to hold you.

From your head down to your toes,
you're not much, goodness knows.
But you're so precious to me,
sweet as can be,
baby of mine.

If they knew sweet little you,
they'd end up loving you too.
All those same people who scold you,
what they'd give just for the right to hold you.

From your head down to your toes
you're not much, goodness knows.
But you're so precious to me,
sweet as can be,
baby of mine.
Baby of mine

Joshua's Newest Cousin

Gina and David named their little girl Elise. Isn't that a beautiful name?! It seems to suit her. :) My mom says that she has beautiful reddish blonde hair with curls and she is very sweet. I'm heartbroken that I can't hold her yet! Hopefully I'll get to meet her soon and smother her in kisses!

Elise's first bath. My favorite part is the hovering parents. :) Elise today. Isn't she BEAUTIFUL?!?! Just as a comparison, this is Gina at one week old...