Joel is 1 YEAR Old!

Somehow my baby has been blessing our family for a whole year! I'm not really sure how he is already one year old when he was just born yesterday, but it's true! He continues to be such a sweet natured happy little guy and we all love him to pieces. Levi & Joel are growing closer by the day and each think the other is very entertaining. As I am typing this they are playing in their room and I can hear Joel laughing at Levi making silly noises. Brings such warmth to my soul. Watching their relationship develop has been one of my most favorite things about having two boys. Joel adores Levi and I am hopefully they will encourage each other to be Godly men in the future.

 

Joel has become obsessed with exploring everything he can reach now that he has mastered walking and always has something in his hands. This drive to explore has given him a new found independence and he will toddle all over the house and yard by himself for quite some time. He is also on the verge of a verbal explosion. He is saying new sounds every day and is attempting to repeat words often. His newest word is come (which I say to Penny often) and it comes out sounding more like gum. He often uses no, mama, dada, bye bye, night night, dog and ball on a regular basis. Sometimes he will say hi, duck, go, and more. All in his own language of course :). He will often follow Levi around saying No, no! Or if he is doing something he knows is not allowed he will often shake his head and say no, no, no while he proceeds to disobey himself. :) I love hearing his little voice!

Here's a little update on Joel at 1 year:

LOVES:
eating (almost anything you put on his plate, but especially fruit and bread)
his brother
penny
Daddy (pretty fond on Momma too)
playing outside
swinging
balls (picking them up and dropping them over and over)
bath time
nursing (still does this 3-4 times a day)
blocks
singing/dancing

DISLIKES:
Levi taking something from him
Levi moving him/making him sit or lay down (both these cause screaming)
having to be still for a diaper change or clothes
the nursery at church on Wednesday nights (doesn't mind on Sunday mornings)
having to sit down in a highchair

NEW SKILLS:
walking very well
adding new words/sounds often
can drink from any cup he gets his hands on
climbs onto anything and everything in reach
can walk up and down very small steps
tries to jump
waves hi and bye regularly
has 8 teeth and can eat ANYTHING with them

NEW STATS:
weight: 20# 11oz (18%) only 11 ounce gain from 3 months ago...busy using up his calories walking
length: 30.5 in (72%)
head: 48cm (89%)

SCHEDULE:
sleeps from 8pm-7 or 7:30am,
nurses when he wakes up
naps from 9:30ish-11ish
nurses again
lunch around noon
naps from 1:30ish-3ish
nurses again and then a little snack
dinner around 6pm
bath time routine starts at 7:15
bed time after bath, brushed teeth, nursing, books, prayers and singing
repeat :)

investigating something interesting

baby teeth are so cute!

Wow, do we love this baby boy! Joel, you have been such a blessing to our family and have made dealing with your big brother's ever increasing terrible 2s a little more tolerable. You are the best surprise I could have asked for, and I'm glad God's plans are better than my own. You challenge me often, but the rewards are worth the stress ten-fold! I hope you never loose your sweetness, calm demeanor, gentle ways and love of laughter. We LOVE you so so so very much! Happy First Birthday!

just born!

3 days old

6 months old

on his first birthday!