Joel had his 9 month old check up today. He's a growing boy! He weighed 22 lbs. 11 oz. (80th percentile) and is 29.5" tall (90th percentile). The pediatrician said that he's looking great!
I'll try to post some pics and updates of our recent travels soon.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Reckless Abandon
Joel loves life. He loves playing. He loves eating. He loves exploring. He loves finding new things. He loves recognizing familiar things. He loves people. He just loves life. (Ok, he doesn't like going to sleep...but I do think he loves sleeping.) I love watching him live this way. If you set him on the ground, he doesn't sit still for more than a few seconds. He's off to the races to find the closest toy, the nearest magazine he can destroy or the forbidden cord we've left sticking out somewhere. And he doesn't want to be confined. He's perfectly happy in a room....until you shut the door. It's like he immediately knows that he's trapped....not that he necessarily wants to leave, but he knows that he can't if he decided he wanted to. He lives with a reckless abandon to experience every moment to the fullest. As his mother, it is definitely exhausting and yet, there is just something fascinating about watching him live with such abandon.
When do we lose that? When we do grow out of it? Obviously there is a point that we must learn to limit our risks or no one would survive over the age of 5, but when does that happen?
Do we fall one too many times? Are we hurt just one time too many? I don't know...but I wonder. Obviously, there are some boundaries that must be tested and then the line is drawn. We learn that if something is hot, not to touch it or it will burn our hand. But at the same time, how many lines we do draw around ourselves that keep us from living life to the fullest?
Watching Joel, I think he knows that we are going to protect him. When he crawls off the table at the doctor's office reaching for a toy, I am there to catch him. He knows that David or I will be there to make sure that he doesn't hurt himself. I think that's the reason he can live with so much reckless abandon....he trusts us completely to take care of him. He believes that we will be there to protect him so he just plows on, full steam ahead.
I think that is how God wants me to trust him. He has set a life before me and He is longing for me to stop questioning, stop looking around to make sure everything is safe, and just live. To trust Him with my everything and know that He has me in His arms, that He wants nothing but the best for me.
Now, I know that this life is not always hunky-dory. Even Joel has a small bruise on his forehead to prove that. (He's still learning to gauge just how close he has to be before he can pull himself up on the chair, the cube, the door facing, whatever's close by....) I know that there are times of learning in my life...times when I know God is watching, but He's letting me learn a few things on my own. And that's such an important time of growth. At the same time, in times of learning and times of action, that I know He is longing for me to step out and try something new...push myself to the next limit....live my life with same reckless abandon as my precious 8.5 month old, knowing that His arms will not let me fall too far or too hard.
Ahhh...the lessons of a child...
When do we lose that? When we do grow out of it? Obviously there is a point that we must learn to limit our risks or no one would survive over the age of 5, but when does that happen?
Do we fall one too many times? Are we hurt just one time too many? I don't know...but I wonder. Obviously, there are some boundaries that must be tested and then the line is drawn. We learn that if something is hot, not to touch it or it will burn our hand. But at the same time, how many lines we do draw around ourselves that keep us from living life to the fullest?
Watching Joel, I think he knows that we are going to protect him. When he crawls off the table at the doctor's office reaching for a toy, I am there to catch him. He knows that David or I will be there to make sure that he doesn't hurt himself. I think that's the reason he can live with so much reckless abandon....he trusts us completely to take care of him. He believes that we will be there to protect him so he just plows on, full steam ahead.
I think that is how God wants me to trust him. He has set a life before me and He is longing for me to stop questioning, stop looking around to make sure everything is safe, and just live. To trust Him with my everything and know that He has me in His arms, that He wants nothing but the best for me.
Now, I know that this life is not always hunky-dory. Even Joel has a small bruise on his forehead to prove that. (He's still learning to gauge just how close he has to be before he can pull himself up on the chair, the cube, the door facing, whatever's close by....) I know that there are times of learning in my life...times when I know God is watching, but He's letting me learn a few things on my own. And that's such an important time of growth. At the same time, in times of learning and times of action, that I know He is longing for me to step out and try something new...push myself to the next limit....live my life with same reckless abandon as my precious 8.5 month old, knowing that His arms will not let me fall too far or too hard.
Ahhh...the lessons of a child...
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
I can't believe it's 2008. You know what they say....time flies when you are having fun. It's been a while since I posted, and I have vowed that I will be more diligent in posting this year. I'm not promising much, but my goal is to post at least once a month. We'll see how that goes....
Joel is changing as fast as ever. He started crawling in mid-December and now he's pulling up everywhere. He hasn't gotten brave enough to stand on his own yet, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time. He's still battling an upper respiratory infection that he's had since Christmas, but I think we are on the homestretch now. The worst part is that our poor little man has to endure breathing treatments three times a day. It's not fun for him or for us, but they really do help so much.
We had a great Christmas. Joel and I were in Texas for several weeks and loved seeing so many of our friends and family. David joined us about halfway through our stay and boy were we happy to see him. Joel's first Christmas was really amazing minus being sick. He loved the paper and the shiny bows, and we were all completely blessed by the presents we received.
Now, we are back in California and back to work. Life is slowly becoming normal again with routines and responsibilities but I hope that 2008 is anything but mundane. Life was meant to be lived not survived and that's my resolution for 2008....not to just survive 2008 but to really live it.
Blessings to you and yours in this new year!
I can't believe it's 2008. You know what they say....time flies when you are having fun. It's been a while since I posted, and I have vowed that I will be more diligent in posting this year. I'm not promising much, but my goal is to post at least once a month. We'll see how that goes....
Joel is changing as fast as ever. He started crawling in mid-December and now he's pulling up everywhere. He hasn't gotten brave enough to stand on his own yet, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time. He's still battling an upper respiratory infection that he's had since Christmas, but I think we are on the homestretch now. The worst part is that our poor little man has to endure breathing treatments three times a day. It's not fun for him or for us, but they really do help so much.
We had a great Christmas. Joel and I were in Texas for several weeks and loved seeing so many of our friends and family. David joined us about halfway through our stay and boy were we happy to see him. Joel's first Christmas was really amazing minus being sick. He loved the paper and the shiny bows, and we were all completely blessed by the presents we received.
Now, we are back in California and back to work. Life is slowly becoming normal again with routines and responsibilities but I hope that 2008 is anything but mundane. Life was meant to be lived not survived and that's my resolution for 2008....not to just survive 2008 but to really live it.
Blessings to you and yours in this new year!
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Wonder and Discovery
I jotted this down a few weeks ago and wanted to share...
This morning Joel was bouncing around in his jump-a-roo. He got rather quiet, so I glanced over at him. His gaze was intently focused on these little stuffed animals that hang down from the jump-a-roo supports. He was so focused. He wasn't blinking or moving, just staring. He slowly reached his hand up to grab the frog, but it was just out of reach. Then he turned his seat slighty and reached up for the parrot. He touched it but just couldn't grab a hold. It was so sweet. This wasn't the first time he's stopped to look at these animals, but this morning, it was like he was really studying them....what are those things? why are they so high? what pretty colors! why can't I reach them? His face revealed such a sense of wonder. I felt in that moment that I had caught a glimpse into his thoughts. It was very special to see that moment of wonder, the fleeting seconds of discovery for Joel. He's continually changing, learning new things every day, and today, I am reminded how precious these moments are and how blessed I am to be his mom.
This morning Joel was bouncing around in his jump-a-roo. He got rather quiet, so I glanced over at him. His gaze was intently focused on these little stuffed animals that hang down from the jump-a-roo supports. He was so focused. He wasn't blinking or moving, just staring. He slowly reached his hand up to grab the frog, but it was just out of reach. Then he turned his seat slighty and reached up for the parrot. He touched it but just couldn't grab a hold. It was so sweet. This wasn't the first time he's stopped to look at these animals, but this morning, it was like he was really studying them....what are those things? why are they so high? what pretty colors! why can't I reach them? His face revealed such a sense of wonder. I felt in that moment that I had caught a glimpse into his thoughts. It was very special to see that moment of wonder, the fleeting seconds of discovery for Joel. He's continually changing, learning new things every day, and today, I am reminded how precious these moments are and how blessed I am to be his mom.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Weight Check
Joel had his 5 month checkup today with Dr. Schlundt. I am happy to report that he is definitely eating well. He now weighs 17 lbs. 8 oz. and is 26.5" tall. He's gained 1.25 pounds and grown an inch since his 4 month appointment. It was also time for two more vaccinations. Joel is so brave. He didn't cry at all on the first one and whimpered for just a minute on the second one. This afternoon he's been his normal self...happily playing, sleeping, and eating. I'm so spoiled!
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Jumping Joel
Joel loves to stand up in your lap. He doesn't want to just sit; he wants to stand and look around.
So, last week, we went and got him a jumper and he loves it. At first his feet wouldn't reach the ground, so we had to put a pillow underneath him. It took him a few days to get the hang of it but now he's jumping around and swiveling his seat around to see all the differen toys. Here are a few pictures that really captured his joy.
So, last week, we went and got him a jumper and he loves it. At first his feet wouldn't reach the ground, so we had to put a pillow underneath him. It took him a few days to get the hang of it but now he's jumping around and swiveling his seat around to see all the differen toys. Here are a few pictures that really captured his joy.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to my Momma and to Joel's LeLe!
We love you and hope your day has been fantastic!
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