Really?

So Joshua is barely a year old, and somebody at church asked me if I was expecting. "Nope." I guess that means it's about time for me to further my role in multiplying and replenishing. I've had enough time for myself, now it's time to be selfless again.

This individual continued to say that she thought I was showing a little bit. "Oh really? That's a good thing to hear 12 months later..." So, I guess it's not a surprise to tell you that I haven't lost all my baby weight after 12 months. But, really, does that give you a right to say something like that? Showing? Isn't that a 2-3 month stage development?

I keep forgetting that I can say rudish things when people say blatantly rude things to me. But what should I have said? I was completely taken off guard. But if I'm entering this next phase where everyone expects I have news to share...I'd better get my whits together. Suggestions?

"You sure grew out of your baby ways, Happy Birthday to you!"

We had an exciting weekend, celebrating Joshua's first birthday with family and friends. Among the guests were: Tyler and Isaac Pruitt, Dani Smith, Lydia Welch and Taki Townsend. We let all the little ones swim, have sweets and cupcakes and then play with all the amazing presents. Some of the best gifts included bath toys, books, and stackable and nesting toys, and a first toothbrush.

All day, Joshua carried his plastic spoon, and kept his grip tight on it. He enjoyed crumbling his cupcake, but didn't care for the taste much. But he was willing to go for an Oreo cookie. So despite it being overcast and threatening rain, and preventing the host and at least 3 guests from napping, it was a fabulous party.

We can't believe Joshua has already been a member of our family for a whole year. Time has flown. And we're having more fun with this little personality every day.

Step One

The past few days, we've noticed Joshua letting go of the furniture he's been stabilizing on and standing for up to a minute before he opts to sit down or grab back on to what he's holding. He's getting closer!!

Tonight, Joshua is taking a step away from the table or couch that he's balancing on. He doesn't make it far, and crashes every time, but he's going for it like he's been doing it for weeks.

Happy August, so far. I wonder what other things we'll discover this month.

Summer is HOT

We've been trying to stay cool this summer...with BUBBLES.

And with FRIENDS.

Emily Ruth and her two busy boys!

Look what Joshua can do:

We're always moving.

And Joshua is the only one that is getting any faster...

What more can we say?

Master Me

So, look what came in the mail not long ago...

Benjamin sometimes calls me "Master Emily." It usually makes me smile. He sometimes will purchase things online, rather than in a store, and he's even had something shipped to "Master Emily" rather than Mrs. It's enjoyable.

Now we can be a True Blue Cougar Family. With 3 degrees of higher education awarded from Brigham Young University, now Joshua can wear this proudly:

Remeber when...?

So, sometimes we'll say "remember when..." and recall something that was amusing or unexpected. Typically, the silly comment is still the current state of things, but it's theraputic to imagine it is just a memory. We've been saying this phrase more often lately. For instance

Remember when:

*Joshua was content to just roll around or army crawl in this one room?

*the monkey started to climb stairs and pull up on everything?

*we tried to make bread in the breadmaker and the machine

squeaked so much it wouldn't proceed?

*all three toilets in our house started to run nonstop in the same evening?

*laundry wasn't so backed up that the pile of clean clothes was

three times as large as the pile of dirty clothes?

*we had a garage door opener remote? That was the life! Someday we'll find that thing.

And my personal favorite of the month:

Remember when we had air conditioning in one of our cars?

(it's been a pretty hot hot hot spring for us, and one car only blows cold on one half of the car, while the other car has no AC at all, and neither front windows can roll down...needless to say, I try to run my errands during the morning or after sundown...)