5 Days and counting...

Josiah's changing so much all the time. Daddy, you're going to have a whole new boy to get to know next week! The quasi-raspberries he started doing last week have "matured" into full-blown (yes, pun intended!) raspberries; his mouth gets positively frothy! He loves hugging Mamma and playing games with her. He's getting especially good at actively, knowingly seeking to continue interactions. Shortly after we've been laughing and silly, he'll catch my eyes and start laughing and reaching for me in order to get it going again! Of course all of this fun gets us both pretty tuckered out...

6 Days and counting...

Today's photo was meant to be shot in Mommy's office this morning, while Josiah worked next to me on his booster seat. Alas, when we got back home I realized I'd never done it! No problem; I'd also planned a walk at the very end of his day to the rose garden, which is now in overwhelming bloom. Alas, once we got there and I had everything set up, I realized I'd left the camera at home. (Clearly Mommy is a little exhausted at the moment!) So, enjoy option #3, the stuffed animal shot.

7 Days and counting...

A week from now we'll be counting down the hours and minutes, not the days. Hooray!
Tuesday means market again. I'm not sure what I'm happier about: the exquisite peonies on my dining room table or the delicious corn on the cob and fresh sliced tomatoes on toast I just had for lunch. Or maybe it's the adorable boy with whom I had a backyard picnic! (He had pears and outmeal, the relics of which are festooning his delightful smiley lips in the photo.)

8 Days and counting...

Josiah is sporting the stars and the stripes today in honor of Memorial Day. We had a quiet day in the wake of a very noisy evening: Last night we were hit by a nasty storm. It only lasted half an hour, but in that time we got an inch of hail on the ground and our street temporarily became a raging river! Fortunately, nothing was damaged, although the yard is now a complete mess. In any case, enjoy the shots of Josiah having fun with Teddy. He's suddenly VERY into stuffed animals; he loves hugging them, jibber-jabbering to them, and eating (kissing?) their faces!

9 Days and counting...

Isn't it great to be well past the halfway point?!

Josiah had yet another good day today (aside from a bout of GREAT sadness at being left in the church nursery this morning). This afternoon we went on an excursion to the new house and had lots of fun as we realized it's basically finished at this point. Wow. Mommy's still in deep denial about the move, though. Literally not a single thing has been packed or organized, although I'm proud to say I did actually manage to ask a clerk for some boxes when at the grocery store last week. Of course the boxes remain in the car...but we're focusing on baby steps here! :) Speaking of babies, enjoy Josiah's "9 days" shot. He remains entranced with sticks, pens, and poles of any sort; here he's taking a brief spell from playing with the little wand that operates the miniblinds.

10 Days and counting...

It was a hot one today! Late afternoon we went to Uncle Tim and Auntie Holly's house for supper. Tim made BBQ chicken sandwiches for us with his baby (their snazzy grill). Alas, MY baby was Mr. Whingy-pants because he hadn't napped super well today plus was pretty warm...but we managed to find some smiles for the photo!

11 Days and counting...

We started the day -- early, while it was still cool out -- with a walk to the office. Midday we visited the F&M childcare center, which is where Josiah may go when the fall semester begins. A few more hours at the office and some errands rounded out the afternoon. Far more interesting than the daily to do list, though? Two separate times Josiah did some reduplicated babbling on the "d" sound: da-da-di-da-da-YA. Is someone asking for Daddy? :) Okay, so there wasn't any meaning in it, but Daddy, we both miss you!

Enjoy our foamy "11" from tubby time tonight.

12 Days and counting...

After a morning in the office, and an afternoon at home, this evening we had several students over for a potluck style supper. It was beautiful in the backyard tonight. The only part Josiah didn't enjoy was the group photo, when Mommy was several feet away! (Separation anxiety is in full bloom.) In any case, the girls menu consisted of chicken, rice, salads, cookies, and pineapple upside down cake. The boys menu consisted of pureed sweet potatoes. Good thing Josiah was the only boy.

13 Days and counting...

Another first for Josiah: Today he sat up in a cart while we shopped for groceries -- what a big boy! He listed a bit from time to time, and I thought about stuffing out the seat with big bags of jet-puffed marshmallows, but in the end it wasn't necessary. (Check out the gorgeous cart cover made by Nannan, by the way, complete with pockets for cups and velcro straps for toys. Makes the ride more comfy, a bit safer, more fun, and definitely drier and cleaner.) Other events of the day have included a big snuggle-and-tickle-fest and a walk to Mommy's office. We found out that if we dance for Dolly, she'll dance with us!

14 Days and counting...

We've been enjoying another beautiful day in Lancaster. Tuesday is market day, so Josiah and I went off to get fresh fruits and veggies. I weighed everything when we got home: 36 pounds of baby and produce. Mommy needs to find a good chiropracter! Another fun event of the day? Josiah has started to blow raspberries...or a version of raspberries anyway. He does it against the top of his mouth, sort of like rolling hard, spitty Rs. We both find it unbelievably funny. :)

15 Days and counting...

We spent the morning in the office with Adrienne (my summer research scholar), and Dolly helped us out with our photo before we headed home for lunch. Dolly's an African Grey Parrot who summers in Whitely with all of us psychos; during the year she lives in one of the college houses. She loves chewing up paper almost as much as Josiah does, so we barely managed to get our photo in before the sign was happily ripped to shreds!

16 Days and counting...

Kara graduated from Boston University today with her MSW. Unfortunately, Josiah and I weren't able to make the trip back to New England. But...that didn't keep us from celebrating! Josiah's decked out in full BU regalia to show his love, support, and congratulations. Well done, Auntie Kara!! We love you!

17 Days and counting...

Josiah was up before 6 a.m. -- yikes! -- so I indulged by joining in his midmorning nap. We worked and played around the house and yard the rest of the day; no special excursions for our photo.

18 Days and counting

Today Josiah and I took one of my graduated seniors out to lunch. We went to the Peking Palace. Kerry had lo mein, I had chicken with vegetables, and Josiah had the placemat. :)

19 Days and counting...

Jesse left today, the 17th, for nearly three weeks in India and China. Josiah and I are going to do a photographic countdown in order to keep Daddy in the loop on our activities!

Today Josiah and I worked in my office all morning. We've set up the pack-n-play in the lab, so he can nap, and a booster seat in my office, so he can "work" next to me. Jesse found us shortly after 1 p.m., we went out for lunch, and we said our goodbyes. Later on, Josiah and I took a walk to the rose garden in Buchanan Park for our first picture!