He said:  "Want daddy" when I was preparing him for bed.  So Daddy got to tuck him in tonight (Dale is in Kansas City working this week and has come home a couple times).  I was so astounded by his sentence that I asked him "What did you say?" and he said it again, "Want Daddy".  Just had to share!

Blessings, Michelle

Hello all.  I just can't believe how time flies!  Joshie will be celebrating his second birthday before we know it.  He is a stinker and says "kinker" for stinker, heehee.  He is pretty much able to repeat anything we say...sometimes we really have to watch it.  One day while driving I said both the "s" and "f" word and he repeated them both right back!  He is still very much into Elmo...I think all grandparents have at least one Elmo item for him for Christmas.

Brad is now taking guitar lessons and is into heavy metal (yay, following in his mom's footsteps); he still has piano too but is really into the guitar.  I can't believe he will be 12 soon!  He would like a tatoo but will have to wait on that one.  It doesn't matter to us whether or not he gets one, by the time he is old enough to decide, he may have changed his mind anyway!

Well, sorry this is so short; will try to write more later; have to get up early tomorrow morning.

Blessings, Michelle

Last Wed., me, and Grandma Kirkland and Joshie made a trip to Kansas City to the pediatrician for his 15 mo. check up.  I'm concerned that he is in the 25th percentiles for both weight and height...but when we talked to Mommy Claire, she assured me that Joshie's birthfather was maybe only an inch taller than her.  So Joshie may end up smallish for his age.

He got 3 shots total...one was a flu shot.  He didn't like any of them much but after some cuddling, he was fine.  Joshie is doing well...he is advanced with vocabulary...I can think of about 25 words he is saying right now; the doc was impressed.  He will go back in Jan. '09 for his 18 mo. old check up.  Doesn't time fly?

Will write more after Halloween..I will try to post the pics as soon as I can, but I may also have to work this weekend...anyway, will try my best.  Joshie is going as Elmo and Brad is going as a werewolf.  Should be very interesting.  Daddy will be home long enough to take the boys around the Chillicothe square for Boo Fest.

Blessings, Michelle

"Ms. Cheryl" our new PAT educator was here today at 2 pm with her little basket of toys.  Joshie went right to her and sat in her lap.  She decided for today she just wanted to get to know us, then will be back on the 30th to actually do the screenings etc.  This was very agreeable to us, since Joshie's next Dr. appt. is the 22nd...so we can compare what the pediatrician says to what she will reveal in her screening.

She was very impressed with Joshie's vocabulary and comprehension.  He dutifully pointed to his ear, tummy, and toes upon request.  He even grabbed her toes too.  He did the "mayonnaise" trick pronouncing it correctly.  She asked him if he could stack 2 blocks...he stacked three then had fun knocking them over.  She had also brought a shape sorter...he was able to fit the circle shapes in and the square ones but couldn't do the triangle or the star...finally, he lifted the lid off and put them in that way.  It was too cute.  He did the kitty sound (meow), the rooster sound, the car-car sound when asked. 

He loves his picture books too.  Books will definitely be going on a Christmas list.

PAT's monthly meeting this month will be on the 17th with a visit to Uncle Charlie's pumpkin patch.  We are going to try to go with them.  I'm looking forward to meeting more people and especially parents in the community.  We've lived here 2 years and I only know a handful.  Some I went to school with in Chillicothe, so we really just need to get re-aquainted.

Upcoming Halloween:  Joshie will be Elmo and Brad will be a werewolf...what a combo eh?

Blessings, Michelle

For those of you who may not know, I (Michelle) was born in Illinois.  We decided to go visiting a few weekends ago.  There are pictures I've uploaded of my cousins and newer cousins born just a few months apart.  Both girls too...Jenna and Molly.  In one of the pictures I am holding Jenna and Joshie is watching from the sidelines...but I didn't notice any obvious jealousy or anything...he was just curious.

Anyway, enjoy the pictures and I will update you on Joshie's growth and development after we meet with our new P.A.T. educator.  His next Dr. appt. is on Oct. 22.  I'm anxious to see his weight and height! 

Blessings, Michelle

The PAT lady we used last year is no longer there, so we are switching to the Chula's school district PAT.  We should be coming up on our next home visit within the next couple of weeks if I can get Joshie's records here by that time.  For those who know little about the group...they are educators and they come to your home for an hour long visit and they are able to assess Joshie's growth and development and make sure there is no problem that way.  They also show me how to make home made toys and things like that to enhance Joshie's skills.  We used them for Brad up until kindergarten and had the best time. 

So will post on that too...sorry I've been slow with pictures....more to come when I have the time.  And thank-you notes too; a whole book of stamps are missing from my purse, so I guess I will have to buy more to send thank you cards.

For all those reading that got Joshie a gift...thank you very much.

Blessings, Michelle

Hello everyone; hope everyone is doing well.  I just wanted to update our site but will have to wait on the pics...it takes them a long time to upload and I'll be heading to bed soon.  Will try to get some on here tomorrow possibly.

Bradley started school on the 19th; he's not very enthused except for he did join the reading circle like last year and has already started on some big books.  He is also playing tackle football this year with practices twice weekly.  He wants to take guitar lessons and piano lessons both.  Will have to research the guitar lessons to see if the teacher has any openings and what she charges.  Brad did take piano last year so he will have the same teacher.  He just dotes on his little brother Joshie.  He will change any diapers, poopy or just wet.  They have games they play on the floor with blankets...kind of like Peek A Boo. 

Joshie is doing great.  He started walking around 13.5 months.  My mom says he walks like a monkey, with his arms up and out.  He is getting better at it every day; he can even walk on his knees and stand up from his knees.  He will prop himself on the floor with his head down and standing on his 2 feet; that is letting us know he wants to somersault...so we get over there and flip him; he  just cackles.  He can now play pattycake by clapping both hands together.  He still likes Peek a Boo too...and he loves to watch the toilet flush...which is good that he is not scared of it (that will help with potty training later).  What else to report?  Well, he is transitioning from bottle to sippy cup and can also drink through a straw.  He drinks approx. 24 oz. whole milk per day plus a bottle of apple juice or water or whatever; he isn't too picky.  He is eating table food...we only give him store bought baby food if we are out somewhere and if the restaurant we are at can't give him mashed potatoes and gravy.  Uncle Jamie for last Christmas got us this mini blender thing that grinds things up really well.  Whatever we are eating, I just grind up for Joshie and he still eats his little carton of YoBaby yogurt with lunch.  Grandpa Baskett stays with us most of the time and still gets up with Joshie in the mornings.  Grandpa and Grandma Kirkland will babysit pretty much anytime; they just love him to pieces. 

Now, I want to address all the words that Joshie says, and pretty distinctly too:  ma-ma or sometimes just "mom"; da-da; ba-ba (bottle); more; Brad; Bradley; brother; na-na (Grandma); bath; thank you (yes he said this once very clearly); pa-pa (grandpa); kitty; uh-oh; wa-wa (waddle as in like a duck); no; he says lots more but my brain is tired tonight I guess.  OH, he can say "Elmo" too. 

He will point to his ear when asked where it is...he will grab his toes if asked where they are...and is starting to learn about his nose and tummy.  If you ask him how he knows he's a boy in the bathtub, he will grab his penis.  I swear he is so smart for his age.  He has a toy telephone and will hold it up to his ear and babble into it then hold it out for me to for me to talk into, then always wants it back of course.  He still will put things in his mouth so we still try to vacuum every week and he has now discovered cabinet doors so we will have to baby proof the kitchen cabinets and drawers.

Well that is all I can think of right now...it is after 3 am so I really need to head to bed.  The Chataqua is tomorrow so if the weather is good we are going to put Joshie in his stroller and walk around.  No money to buy anything, but I always see people I know and of course they usually want to see the baby too.  You know how that goes!

Blessings, Michelle