St. Patrick's Day!

 Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I've been told that he's going to hate these pictures when he gets older, but I say what child doesn't dislike pictures their parents have, right? Besides, Grandma Dana got him the outfit!

Visiting Great Grandma & Great Grandpa Pershing

Tuesday Joshua and I picked up Jim and had lunch at Jake's on campus. It's spring break so it wasn't crowded. Then Joshua and I went to visit Grandpa Bruce in his office. Joshua slept the whole time, but that didn't make any difference to Grandpa Bruce. Next Joshua and I went to Great Grandma & Great Grandpa Pershing's house for a visit.

 

Great Grandpa & Joshua haning out. Grandpa asked Joshua if he wanted to drive his tractor ~ JCS just smiled. :)

Great Grandma giving Joshua his bottle. He's a Pershing when it comes time to eat!!

Sitting up like a big boy!

We had a really nice visit with Grandma & Grandpa. It's fun to see him interact with different people. Joshua really studies Grandpa Wilbur. I think he can see an older version of Grandpa Bruce when he looks at Great Grandpa Wilbur!

3 months old!

Joshua is 3 months old! It's been the fastest, slowest, craziest 3 months of our lives!! We are so blessed to have this amazing little boy! Every morning when I go to get him out of his crib and he looks up at me and smiles, I think how did we get so lucky get to have this special little boy.

Everyday he amazes me with something new he's doing or trying to do. He's started reaching and holding on to things. It's so fun to watch him concentrate then reach for something and get it! This isn't a great picture, but was taken in a moving car. (I wasn't driving!)

Joshua has started to really watch Duke when we are eating dinner. In his little chair, they are just about the same level. One of these days his going to get Duke when he reaches for him. Watch out Duke!!

We went for our first walk this week. It was a great evening to get out and Joshua did great in his first stroller ride.

Joshua hanging out with Simpson ~ the biggest bear in the shop.

Today we took Joshua to have 3 month pictures taken. I told the photographer that I wanted to try to get my necklace (a gift I got after JCS was born) in one of the pictures. Her idea was to have his hand next to the necklace. Later this afternoon Joshua was asleep on me, so I thought I'd try to take a picture with my phone. This is what I got. I'm sure the professional picture will be better, but I love it! (This picture is now the background on my phone!)

Overall, Joshua is doing great. He's happy & healthy. He's been sleeping through the night (6-7 hours normally) since Feb. 14th. He slept 11.5 hours one night!! Joshua is doing great at work. He tends to sleep on the job, but that's okay. :)

On to month 4...

Squealing

Picture blog

We (my family) are all trying to get back to a normal routine. We all went to work everyday this week which was a big accomplishment. (It had been 3 weeks since that happened with valentine's day, Uncle Gary's funeral & Grandpa's funeral) It's amazing how thankful we all were just to go to work! Really puts things in perspective I guess!

So I titled this “picture blog” and all you’ve seen in my ramblings… here’s the pictures!

Just found this.  It's from Christmas. Love this picture!

Puppy Bottom!

Grandma Dana & Joshua

Look at this big boy sitting on mommy's front counter! Happy boy!

Joshua in daddy's Ft. Wayne Wizard's hat

Green Bear ~ Soft & fun to hug!

Grandpa, can I borrow your pen?

This is for you Uncle Tom!

We are still working on "enjoying" bath time. I would say bath time is now "tolerated".

"I've got an idea!"

Tummy time!

Generally, Joshua really listens (looks at you) when you read to him. This night he might have been more interested in seeing if he could get his whole fist in his mouth.

Daddy and his boys

So that's a few of the pictures I found on my phone...trust me there are lots more.

Boiler Up Baby Joshua

Grandpa Don

Grandpa Don on Christmas Day with Joshua

Grandpa Don went home to be with the Lord Tuesday Feb. 23rd. We rejoice knowing he has a whole healthy body! He's no longer bed ridden or in pain!

Grandpa was such an example to me of strength. Even with all the surgeries, procedures, tests, and being bed ridden ~ he didn't complain. He didn't say why me. He very rarely said he was in pain. What an amazing man!

We are so glad Grandpa was able to meet Joshua. We have lots of stories to tell Joshua about his Great Grandpa!

We celebrated Grandpa's life Friday morning in a private family service. I had the privilege to make the flowers for his casket.

I will miss his smile. Not only did Grandpa’s smile light up his face, but the whole room he was in. A lot of times this was a sneaky little grin (because of something he did or said) or a full smile just laughing at us. No matter what his was smiling about, his smile warmed my heart.

I love you Grandpa!

Joshua at 2 months

Joshua had his 2 month appointment on Thursday Feb. 18th. He weighed 11 lbs, 11 oz and was 23 1/2 inches long. His height & weight are both in the 50th percentile, while his head in the 90th. I made a comment about this being Jim's fault at the doctor's office and the doctor was quick to point out that I don't have a small head either. Joshua got 3 shots at his appointment. He cried, but once I comforted him he was fine. He had a fever and was fussy for about a day, but delt with the shots better than I did. (I'm not a fan of shots anyway..but watching those needles get poked into my son was horrible!!) Joshua is doing great. He's happy, healthy and very spoiled by everyone!

Valentine's Day 2010

I had lots and lots of family and friends that helped at the shop for valentine's day. Thank you, thank you, thank you all so much! This is the only picture I took of my helpers. (The camera is always in the diaper bag and Joshua wasn't at the shop)

During Valentine's week my friends Andrea & David as well as Grandma Dana & Grandma Lu watched Joshua. There was just too much going on at the shop for him to get all the love and attention that he deserves! Here are some pictures I stole from Andrea's blog. They have a son (Little David) who is 2 & 1/2 weeks older than Joshua.

Joshua, David & Little David

Little David is on the left & Joshua is on the right.

We can't thank the Rowe's,  Grandma Dana, & Grandma Lu enough for all their help with Joshua during Valentine's week. We are so blessed to have so many loving people to care for him. It really took a lot of stress from Mommy knowing he was getting spoiled! Thanks again everyone!

Uncle Gary

This is my Uncle Gary. Many of you have been praying for him for a long time. On Sunday, Feb. 14th he was called home to heaven after a 3+ year battle with pancreatic cancer. First, I want to thank you all for the continued prayers over the last 3 years. Uncle Gary was the oldest of my dad’s siblings (the club historian). He touched so many lives in his 60 years here on earth. He was an amazing son, brother, father, grandpa, uncle and friend. He taught me so many things about business, life and doing what was important. He was a fighter till the end.

Our family gathered for a visitation and funeral for Uncle Gary this Tuesday and Wednesday. It was a wonderful time for sharing how Uncle Gary made a difference in all of our lives. It was easy to see how loved he was by the massive amounts of flower arrangements and the 4 solid hours of those who came to pay their respects.

These are the flowers I did from my family for Uncle Gary's service.

Uncle Gary told me that Joshua was the hope that our family needed and I think that is true. Joshua was such a trooper over the last few days. He did great during the service, hardly made a peep. At the family dinner he didn’t mind being passed around. He really made so many people happy.

Below are some pictures of the family (and of course Joshua) from the last few days.

We love you & miss you Uncle Gary!