More Park......

Rob and I took Joel back to the park last night so that Rob could watch him play. He loves being outside, and was just as happy running around in the grass as he was on the toys. The slide didn't slide very well, and he was okay with the merry-go-round, but the swings are his favorite. I think we're in trouble...he already tries to run away when it is time to leave! He DEFINITELY has a mind of his own! This morning we were flipping through the channels and discovered "Hip Hop Harry" on Discovery-Kids. It is a big dinosaur character who dances around with kids and tries to teach about exercise and fitness. The kids were having a dance contest, and Joel was completely fascinated! The best part was when he stared dancing along with the kids on TV!! It was HILARIOUS!! He would wave his arms above his head and wiggle his behind. The harder I laughed the more he danced! He then started going around in a little circle and clapping his hands. I wish I had the video camera nearby. Bailey thought we were both nuts! He is so much fun and I really do think this is my favorite age so far. He continues to "give kisses" and is starting to hug a little bit. I love going into his room in the morning and seeing that big "welcome to the day" smile! More later.....

The swings are definitely Joel's favorite park activity!

So sweet!

Daddy was so impressed that Joel slid down this slide all by himself, especially since there was a bigger kid there refusing to go alone! What a big boy!

Fun at the Park....

I took Joel to the park for the first time yesterday. He was so excited to be outside! He walked around in the grass for a while and poked at bugs and sticks. He really seemed to enjoy the swings, but was pretty lukewarm about the slide and the merry-go-round. It didn't help that there is a railroad track very near the park and every time a train went by, Joel would cry and want to be held. He HATES trains! He wore himself out after a while, but I still had a hard time getting him to leave the park peacefully! The plan is for us to all go to the park tonight so Daddy and watch him play. It's awfully hot, though, so we'll have to see if we are all up to that! More later...

Trying to help Bailey mastermind the "great escape" from the cage! He actually can unlock it and let her out now.

Joel is a bit of a daredevil, I'm afraid! The more I pushed him, the harder he laughed!

All smiles!

Doesn't he look so big? He's Mr. Independent, that's for sure!

He clearly liked pushing the merry-go-round rather than riding it!

This is his new "ornery" face!

Summertime, Summertime, Sum-sum-summertime...

We spent a pretty lazy weekend at home....and it was nice! Saturday evening we went to my friend Kate's house for a post-4th-of-July party. We saw some people I used to work with, and Joel got to float around the pond in his new blow-up toy for a while. We didn't end up staying for the fireworks because Joel got tired around
9:00. He was asleep before we got out of their driveway! This morning we got up and went to church and then met Grandma and PawPaw for lunch in Archbold. We spent most of the afternoon just playing and letting Joel entertain us! He was really fun today. He laughed his big belly laughs and giggled like crazy when Rob would chase him. His new favorite thing.....a ball of foil that Rob gave him to play with! Rob calls it his "ball of tin" and Joel carried it around for at least an hour without setting it down. You just never know what will entertain the boy! He took a late nap, and I am hoping that he sleeps through the night. He seems to be waking up frequently again, which nobody likes! More later....

Swimming in our friend Kate's pond. I LOVE this one!

The child has no fear! :0)

Funny Face#1: "The Chin".....learned from PawPaw!

Funny Face#2: "The Sneer"....learned from Bailey? :0)

Swimming at Grandma and PawPaw's house in his patriotic swim pants!

Joel and his new kicks! These red high tops were too cute to pass up. His feet look HUGE in them! Sooooo adorable! Daddy was proud, but had to point out that they should have been canvas, not corduroy!

Mommy's Little Love-Muffin!

Adventures continue in the Foster household! Joel is changing and learning SO many things every day. My baby is gone and a little boy has taken his place! :0) He runs all over the house, and now is at the stage that he runs away from you when he has something he knows he shouldn't have! He is very vocal and tries to mimic when you talk to him. No real words yet, but he is close. He tries to comb his own hair with his brush and HATES having his diaper changed. Here lately he has been waking up in the middle of the night every night for an hour or so. I could do without that! I also caught him trying to put Rob's hairbrush into the toilet today. He obviously knows how to open the toilet seat....OH JOY!!!! I have loved him with all my heart since the first time I saw him, but I think this is my favorite age so far. He is starting to return affection, and will seek us out for comfort if he is crying or scared. This week he has started leaning forward and giving me open-mouth kisses when I am holding him and say "kisses". I LOVE it! He always gives me a big smile in the middle of the night when I come into his room. He is he most beautiful, perfect, precious, and adorable little guy in the whole world, if I do say so myself! More later.....

My little summer cutie-pie! :0)

This picture was on Lisa'a camera. I thought it was cute of the three of us at the Mud Hens game.

Never a Dull Moment....

Mommy needs to step up her game, because Joel is starting to outsmart me! Tonight he locked me out of the house! I went outside to take Bailey out while he was watching a DVD. I heard him in the little hallway inside the back door, but before I could get there he apparently twisted the handle lock on the door and I wouldn't get back in. Of course, the front door was locked and so were the patio doors. I tried to go next door to get the front door key from our neighbors, but they weren't home. Oh, also, I was wearing my jammies and a towel on my wet head! I was initially pretty calm, but I started to panic when I realized all of the things he could be doing in there while I was sitting in the garage! Finally I head him banging on the door and I kept calling to him. I heard him messing with the knob again, and I kept talking to him. He started crying, and I was about ready to break the door in at that point! Finally I heard the lock click and pushed the door open. Thank God he was fine. He needed to be held and comforted....I think he was as scared as I was! Not sure what it will be, but once Rob gets home we need to figure out some way of fixing that knob so this doesn't happen again! Joel is growing up so fast....it is impossible to keep up with everything he is learning!

Silly Little Boy....

Joel has re-discovered his stuffed otter that he got in Tennessee! He is so funny....he has paid no attention to it since the trip, but now he carries it everywhere with him! Daddy calls it his "weasel"! He tries to make the otter ride his toys, and will snatch it up off the floor quickly if Bailey makes a move toward it. What a goofball!

Summertime Fun....

I finally got around to posting ballgame and 4th of July pictures! We had a good time at the ballgame on the 2nd. Joel was pretty good and wandered between people for most of the game. He did really well with the fireworks after the game. He didn't seem scared at all and watched very attentively. On the 3rd, we hosted a small barbecue before Defiance's fireworks. He was very busy, entertaining Lisa and Jason's other nephews and keeping tabs on Grandma and PawPaw! We sat at Kingsbury Park to see the fireworks. The seats were great and Joel was very cooperative and hardly fussed at all while we were waiting. Just like at the ballgame, he watched all of the people and the fireworks closely. He was awake very late both Friday and Saturday nights, and Sunday he slept through church. We have had some issues getting him back on a normal bedtime, but he is doing better. I loved it on Sunday. Joel let me snuggle him while he slept during church. I live for those Mommy moments! He is growing and getting so smart! It is amazing to watch him figure things out and learn how to do things. Of course, he's a genius! More later...

A little "pre-party" walk with Mommy.

Very festive boy!

"Helping" Daddy and PawPaw make homemade ice cream during the 4th of July party.

Joel, Mommy and "Mudonna" at the Mud Hens game.

"Hey Aunt Lisa--where's that cotton candy and nachos?" :0)

Joel and PawPaw at the ballgame.

Go Mud Hens!

Sixteen Months Already....

Happy Fourth of July and Happy 16-month birthday, Joel! This is the first month that we have not taken Joel's "bear" picture". :0( It was becoming too difficult and he was not at all cooperative, so the 15-month shot will be the last one. Little boy had a big weekend! On Friday night we took my dad to the Mud Hens game and stayed for the fireworks, and last night we had a 4th party and saw the fireworks in Defiance. He seemed to like the fireworks this year as opposed to last year. He didn't really smile, but he watched very intently and giggled a little bit. He was really good considering how late he was up both nights. He slept pretty well during both nights, and is napping right now. He needs to get up soon or he'll be up until midnight again tonight! I'll be posting pictures of the ballgame and the party later. More soon.....