Gifts: Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow

Took a break over the summer but feeling the need to come back to this...

...gifts #170 to #190...

* 3 gifts summer: the beginning of a long weekend with my loves, laundry on the line, and digging up garden produce.

* 3 gifts cut out: cutting ribbon to celebrate birthdays with family, freshly cut sweet peas from my Aunt's garden, and a day cut-away from the to-do lists.

* 3 gifts yellow: a sunflower on the kitchen table, bright yellow fabric on bulletin boards, and leaves changing yellow at the tops of the poplar trees.

* a gift cool, warm, and sun-soaked: early cool mornings, evening walks together while it's still warm out, and a room of children who have enjoyed many sun-soaked days.

* 3 gifts autumn: warmth of a sweater on a cooler, rainy day; taking brand new school supplies out of the package; and seeing the red leaves on our maple tree in our front yard.

* 3 gifts growing: my beautiful girl; a growing friendship between a friend I've known for a long time and E; and a story before bed.

* 3 gifts given: the hand of friendship extended at lunch time from a girl who is teaching me daily about love and grace, snuggles with my boy before bed, and serious goodnight kisses from my girl.

 

  

At 11 months, Joel...

Had time to upload some of my favorite pictures from M's phone tonight.  Sorry for the delayed post...Mom :)!

...weighs 19 lbs 14 oz (about the same as last month) but has grown another half inch in height and measures 29 1/2 inches long.

...loves to eat finger food of his tray.  When we sit down to eat, he'll peer at his bowl and check out what is on the table to make sure he is eating what we are eating.  It is like he says, "No more homemade baby food thanks.  I'm ready for "real" food!"

...has two new top teeth.  It made for challenging sleeping times this last month but we are glad we are through.

...isn't crawling yet but is very efficient at bum scooting.  He lets us know he's coming with the pat-pat of his hands on the carpet.

 ...can throw a ball, or block, or any small toy he discovers and is getting the hang of trapping a ball at his feet too.  His favorite game is throw and then scoot after it!

...has a few nicknames but is affectionately called by his big sister as "Jo-jo" and "Scooter".

....loves to sit and play in the same room as his sister.  At almost 1 and almost 4, they already know how to push each other's buttons and be a bit "bugging" but it is delightful to see them as friends and make each other laugh!

...smiles with a wide, two teeth grin and his eyes disappear.  His smile reminds us of Snoopy.

...and is always ready to play a game of peek-a-boo!

July in Pictures

Taking time tonight to upload the camera and sort pictures taken over the last few busy months, brought a smile to my face as I looked back on all we did together.

We spent July...

* going for daily bike rides and walks with a girl excited to go outside, whatever the weather.  When we experienced a blustery day in the first week of July and I explained how windy and chilly it was, E went out to tell me she'd wear her toque, mitts, warm coat, and boots.  How can you say, "Please wait..." to that?!?!

* enjoying fresh berries on our cereal in the morning.

* in awe of God's creation: the canola fields near our home or the Rocky Mountains.

* celebrating our 7th anniversary together! 

* relaxing in the mountains.  Mountain air is so refreshing!

* with many splash park and back yard pool dates.

* visiting local farms.

* making pizza with Daddy.

* dressing up as a penguin with Mommy's gloves from under the sink (it still makes me laugh)!

* having tea parties on rainy days.

* visiting with friends we wished lived closer.

* and blowing bubbles off the deck.

At 10 months, Joel...

...weighs 19 lbs 15 oz and measures 29 inches long.  He is officially in the double-digits of growth and birthdates.  How did we get here so fast!?

...loves raspberries, which warms his Bestemor's heart!

...is communicating by pointing with his pointer finger, waving bye, saying "Mama", and "puh puh" (for puffs).

...has hair that is coming in thicker on top, in the back, and in the right light ;).

...looks a lot like his sister at this age especially with his big brown eyes-nose wrinkle-look!

...is bum scooting, bum turning, pushing himself backwards and around in circles.  Sometimes he gets himself into some pretty tricky spots, like in-between the legs of a chair or backed into a wall.  When sitting, he can fold himself in half to touch his toes.  His flexibility is amazing!  The favorite new places to play are the kitchen cupboards, especially the pot drawer that can be pulled out and pushed back in, and the magnets on the fridge door.

...calms down right away when we spend time outside, go for a walk, or give him time to splash in the water.  Even having his hands under running water is soothing for him.

A short little update this month to describe all that this lil' man of ours is doing, learning, and growing.  You are such a delight!

June in Pictures

It's hard to believe we turned the calendar today, saying goodbye to June and hello to July!  This past month zipped by.  I didn't think I had taken many pictures this month.  So, it was a pleasant surprise as I downloaded pictures tonight and saw that I was able to catch many of the day-to-day happenings, thanks in part to Instagram.  We spent the beginning days of summer ...

* drawing and painting
* wrapping up swimming lessons on Saturday mornings, just El and I
* going on wheel-barrow rides--a first for both
* enjoying trying new foods at lunch
* reading in a tent
* celebrating a wonderful Daddy-o
* spending "extra" time with Bestemor and Bestefar
* and discovering creepy crawly friends in the backyard

I hope you have been able to enjoy the first weeks of summer!

At 9 months, Joel...

...weighs 19 lbs 7 oz and measures 28 1/2 inches long.  A few signs he's growing: he is definitely getting heavier to carry in the infant carseat; he stretches from end to end in his cradle bed; and no longer fits in between the arms of the rocking chair so we sit on a diagonal.

...is more aware and searches 'til he finds his Susa (sister).  When she walks into the room or rides past him on her bike, he squeals with delight and smiles wide.

...shows much excitement for food!  New finger foods this month are: rice crackers, whole wheat bread, pasta, cheese, green beans, strawberries, blueberries...just like his big sister.  

...has a couple favorite toys: simple shakers with a knotted string on the end, the fish bowl, his stuffed monkey, and small board books to name a few.  He also likes to play with a whole bucket of Duplo.  He will dump it out, find two blocks, and play by banging them together.  

...beginning to show signs of wanting to crawl but when he gets down to try...boy, it's a lot of work!

...is showing us more of his temperament and who he is.  He is content to play on the floor for good chunks of time or get cozy and still on your lap.  At first, he seems to be a serious lil' man but when he breaks out in a full face smile, your day instantly becomes sunny.  We think he'll be our boy of rhythm and routine as it seems he already has an internal alarm clock, he wants to eat on a regular schedule, and falling asleep at home is best.

...grins from ear to ear when you start singing "Jesus Loves Me" at bed time and will fall in your arms, for love and cuddles.

Happy in-out birthday our beautiful boy!

At 8 months, Joel...

...weighs 18 lbs 13 oz and measures 27 1/2 inches long.

...has two teeth poking through.

...took a day or two to try each texture of food: from pureed, to ashed, and then small pieces.  At first he wasn't a fan of eating food from a spoon.  He would much rather enjoy chewing on pieces that we put in his mouth.  Now he is okay with being fed with a spoon which we love because it opens so many more possibilities.  However, there is still a part of this little boy that wants to do it by himself.  New and re-tries this month: rice puffs, wheat puffs, kidney beans, peas, avocado, peaches, cottage cheese, and yogurt.

...lets us know he is hungry by opening and closing his fingers as if to say, "More please."  It is usually accompanied by a "...and right NOW..." tone of voice.  

...has started playing like a little boy.  He loves to play alongside his sister with a Duplo car in hand.  He also loves to sit in his highchair banging wooden spoons or whisks on the tray.

...is a content explorer as we putz and putter outside in the garden.  He takes in the grass between his fingers, turns a shovel over and over, and watches the cars and trains drive by.

...likes to strum his fingers on his lips.

...will laugh whole-heartedly when given a tickle fest up his tummy, when bounced on your knee and sung too, or when Ellie smiles and jumps in front of him while he is in the Jumperoo.

...lets us know he is tired and ready for bed by pulling on his ears and rubbing his eyes.