Josiah in July: 5 Months Old

First, a series of attempts to photograph the kids in their "4th of July" clothes. We are in our backyard and the weather is sultry, overcast and humid. Weird weather.




It must have been bright, too.





I like this one of Mercy and Josiah. They look like they are ready to take off in a spaceship or ride on a sled. And Mercy's not sticking her finger in Jo's mouth.


Here's Josiah on the 4th of July at the local Independence Day festival with Bob's parents. I think Josiah slept most of the time while the rest of us paraded and picnicked.

I love going to see a fireworks show on Independence Day but we've stayed home most of the years since we've had kids.

Most of the years, that is, except the year that I was pregnant with Mercy and the boys were 3 and almost 1. That year we went to Tacoma to see the show on the waterfront. We felt kind of wild and crazy keeping Michael and Daniel up and on the beach until late at night just to scare them out of their wits with loud noises and flashing lights. But it was fun... and very tiring.

Promptly the next morning, I began hemorrhaging in a big way and spent the next month on bedrest. Mercy was born at term 6 months later, a healthy girl, but I always think about that when I think about the 4th of July.



This is kind of an odd, blurry picture but I wanted to include it because it reminds me how Josiah used to fall asleep by himself when he was little. Now he sleeps on his tummy with his stuffed elefant. Then, he would curl his arm over his head, his little forearm over his face. Goodnight, Josiah!

These next three are from a camping trip we took with my parents and we'll call it Josiah's First Camping Trip. We, or maybe I should say I, have become camping weenies since having several small children and we opted to stay only one night... I think.

I love camping for the outdoor time and the meals around the fire. I really do love camping. I just want to wait until our kids are better at sleeping all together in the tent at night. That is, unless Grammy and Grandad want to give some of them a spot in their tent trailer next time...


Grammy and Josiah enjoy the view on the beach...



Josiah naps in the tent trailer... Notice, please, the feet in the background. Those would be my dad's fly fishing hip waders...hanging up to dry... not real people feet.


I think this shot was taken when we were all back in the car, dirty and happy and tired, going home. I just liked the way Josiah was clutching his blankie.


rebecca

Look what I found...

...behind a closed door this afternoon:




Two brothers playing a game! So I quietly brought them a snack to share. It made me smile to see them choose to play together.

A welcome sight after a long co-op day!

rebecca

"Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!" Psalm 133:1

Josiah In June: 4 Months Old

So I'm going to make an effort to whip out these posts I've been planning of Josiah. Currently, he is NINE months old and still growing and I'm hoping to catch up to present time. I don't like exactly how this catchup blogging is going. Bear with me?



So, pretend we're in June of 2008!

Four kids on the couch. I think it's funny to see the break down as I try to get a good shot of them all.


Daniel is a good big brother- my choice for Baby Holder during group pictures. Oh and upon seeing this picture, a friend was asking if Mercy's hair was cut in this picture. The answer is no. It's just pulled back with hair clips. We have yet to cut her hair, save for the initial reshaping hair cut that took place when she was about one year old. Her hair looked kind of ridiculous and needed a fresh start. Now its really long, requiring a serious hair-doing session each day. It usually goes well if it's clean. If it's not so clean, it's a great training moment!




Michael, who is almost 4 at the time snuggles his newest brother. If you don't know Michael personally, I'll just tell you; Michael is a very snuggly guy.



At four months, Josiah is cheerful and relaxed. Smiley, calm, cooperative. Sleeps all night in his own room. Bounces in his bouncy seat. Coos at us. Takes three naps during the day. He's the kind of baby I wondered about when I had my first.

Not that Daniel was real difficult. He was smiley and calm too. I just didn't know how to help him learn to go to sleep by himself and we spent the whole first two years of his life learning the trade-offs of having a snuggly baby who just wanted to keep on snuggling with us. All night. I wondered about these babies that I had heard about that slept for longer than 35 minutes at a time.

Thankfully, we learned from the Daniel experience. I do think Josiah is extra laidback and therefore an easy sleeper just because God made him that way. He's also my fourth. At this age, when it's almost naptime, he yawns once or twice and I swaddle him and put him in bed. I'm a different parent than I was when I was a parent of one. Not that I'm a better person because my child sleeps all night- the wisdom we've been putting into practice with our kids comes from God, not ourselves. I'm so thankful that we don't raise these kids on our own strength!


During his babyhood I have thought more than once "Oh, how I love this sweet baby stage! I wouldn't mind having another one of these cuddly things." I know that some day we really will be "done" having kids. I can't imagine what it will be like.



rebecca