Josiah drew this a couple days before Christmas:
Then, he made this depiction of the 3 wise men on camels riding towards the star in Sunday School today:
When I found the drawing on the index card today when I was cleaning up, he described it to me as the figure on the left being the wise men heading towards 2 stars. I think he made up the story to go with it after the fact since the story was fresh on his mind, but I love it anyway. I love even more that he is paying attention.
Lately we’ve been singing “run, run, as fast as you can. You can’t catch me I’m the ginger haired man!” and that is exactly how we feel about Elijah’s rapid growth and development. He is now 21 months going on 21 years! This little guy is the funniest, loving-est, opinionated crazy toddler around and his vocabulary and physical skills are multiplying daily.
Elijah has so much to say all the time. We have noticed that if we really pay attention to his babbles that he really says so much more than we otherwise notice. The other day I even had a real, complete conversation with him. Our favorite things to hear him say right now (other than Mama or Daddy, of course) are “I try” because it is always after we show Josiah something and he wants to be big too, “tractor” because is just sounds so darn cute, and “some, some, some” because he says it repetitively when he wants something and it reminds us of the sea gulls on “Finding Nemo”. He also likes to sing his favorite song, “Ho Ho Ho Hosanna!…” It is the first song he has “sung”. Very cute.
Speaking of wanting to try things after we show Josiah how, Elijah loves to mimic Josiah. If Josiah does something to gain even a small amount of attention, or even if he just likes what he sees, Elijah will try it, and often master it right away. So far it hasn’t annoyed Josiah, unless it it involves sharing the same toy, but I’m sure that day is not far off. I love watching them when Josiah really gets into it and starts engaging Elijah showing him and teaching him things. Elijah soaks it up. It is so crazy to see our little man sitting patiently on Josiah’s bike just waiting to grow into it.
Elijah also loves to “help”. Again, this is something he has picked up from Josiah. He’s excellent at throwing things away and picking up when he wants to, but his favorite, by far, is pulling up a chair to help in the kitchen. Lucky me. He’s actually pretty good about not touching things too much, but I have to say my sugar bowl has not survived this new passion. He’s also decided it is his personal job to carry their lunchboxes to and from his sitter’s house. He calls out, “bag, bag” until I give them to him. It’s not too big of a deal in the evenings when they are light and empty and his toy is in the diaper bag, but in the mornings when they are heavy and he insists on carrying his toy too, then it is pretty funny to watch his struggle. I feel bad not helping, but to help is to cause a tantrum!
Though it was not on my radar yet, Elijah has begun the potty training process. I haven’t taken it past his natural interest, but he’s peeing in the potty every night before bath time and pretty much any other time we put him on it. Maybe after Christmas and New Year’s we’ll do some real training, though I’m not sure I’m ready yet!
Elijah is a very loving little guy that gives hugs spontaneously and frequently. His hugs are tight, exuberant, and often repetitive. He’s so darn cute and sweet! Elijah has always had a definite love for his daddy, but here lately Jacob has hung the moon in his world. He is always so sad to see Jacob go and clings to him when he’s around. Jacob is smitten, too.
Our sweet little baby is growing into a sweet little boy and I can’t believe that his second birthday is just around the corner. His smile just melts our hearts and brightens our days. He keeps us laughing even while keeping us scratching our heads to try to figure out how to guide his strong personality. We are delighted he is in our lives everyday and we look forward to seeing what his future holds.
Josiah wrote the sweetest word I’ve ever read just the other day. It was the first word he’s written and Jacob taught it to him. I hadn’t even realized that he knew the letters to write “Mom”, but Josiah’s enthusiasm about having written it was just precious.
A few weeks ago I hung a dry erase board up in his room onto which I hung his first “letter of the week” flashcard that I had made. We started with the letter “M” because he had noticed it on some M&M’s he’d been eating, so I figured we’d start with something that interested him. He’s already familiar with letters and particularly loves the “O” and can write it, too, but now we are really working on writing them all. I guess it would make sense to go alphabetically, or to start with his name, but he’s been so resistant to focused sit-down style learning that I’ve decided to try to latch onto his observations instead.
I was delighted to have him come and get me to show me his word with such enthusiasm. After I saw it and told him how good it was, he asked to hug and kiss me and told me “I just love you”. Melt my heart. Then he posed so proudly for his picture.
For those of you jumping to conclusions because of the last line of my last post, just hold your horses! Jacob warned me that that is what it sounded like, but I thought it was a wide open comment :) I was actually referring to many other types of changes that appear to be on the horizon…more on that in another post soon. Much to your apparent dismay, there are no babies to report. You may carry on now. Thank you for you excitement for us though!
Jacob and I celebrate 12 years of marriage today! In a sense, it seems only natural as we have always been a part of each other’s lives, yet since our relationship was formed when we were so young, it seems astounding that 12 years of marriage is possible. Has that much time really passed? It has been a year to deepen our bond through daily challenges and I’m proud of the ways our relationship has grown since our last anniversary.
Jacob has always been my love. From a young age I saw unique talents and great character. I’m happy to say he has proved me right! It has been such a blessing to share my entire adulthood with him and develop as individuals together. We’ve formed a life I cherish and we’ve been so blessed along the way.
I asked Jacob what he’d say if he was to contribute to this post :) He said that despite what frustrations he faces in the daily grind (he has had a particularly difficult several weeks), when he gets home, it is his life with his wife and kids that is what matters and what is good in the end. I’m so comforted by knowing and seeing how devoted he is to his family.
Our thirteenth year seems it may be shaping into a big one!
I relish the Saturdays that I don’t work and have no absolute plans. What’s more is that I relish beautiful weather when I’m not working. That was the case today! Jacob was still working on building the barn and Bill and Mom’s so, the boys and I were on our own. I set out to get some specific pictures of the boys for Christmas gifts, but that didn’t work because the sun was too bright for them to look at me with the sun in their faces, so we headed to the woods. Have I ever mentioned how much I love living here? I think I have :) Usually when we walk “the loop” I make them ride the Jeep while I walk and we stay on the main path because it is just easier keeping everyone contained and I don’t have hours to burn everyday. Well, today we set off with all of us on foot. Here’s a little about where we ended up and what we did.
After blowing runny noses into leaves, fending off the vet neighbor’s dog with a stick (she’s never come too close because I, the other vet, am scared of her and always carry a stick when I see her!), and dragging our tired, thirsty selves back home, we jumped into the car and headed over to see Daddy’s progress. He’s doing a great job, but those pictures are for a post all its own.
After our adventure, Josiah has talked nonstop about the overnight hiking trip Mr. Ed and Daddy have been telling Josiah they are going to take him on. I’m also almost convinced that both of them can handle a little waterfall hiking trip in Georgia like Jacob and I used to like to do before kids.
After our visit to Granny and Papa’s (many posts ago – I’m behind!) we rushed back to Gainesville to attend the Halloween festivities at Trinity United Methodist Church. It was so cold, but the boys didn’t seem bothered and, in fact, Elijah sweated to death in his costume. In the days prior to the event Josiah loved his costume and played in it delightfully while Elijah protested his, but when we got there Josiah was in a sour mood and Elijah was beside himself with glee! You just never know, do you?
And then there was this excited little bee:
Enjoying lots of candy:
Playground fun:
I love Josiah’s growing sense of being a protective big brother. While trick-or-treating, Elijah moved forward to investigate a mummy-type man in a coffin that was on a sensor and jumped up when people came close. Josiah wouldn’t get near it but Elijah liked it and wanted to see more. Josiah risked himself (in his own mind, I’m sure) by rushing in to drag Elijah away a couple times. Too cute!
Aren’t these boys so fun?
