After the "wrappings" have settled...

It is Josiah's birthday. The big 6! I can't believe he is so big...time really flies by. He has been so excited for his birthday...bAreLY (my attempt at being a cute blogger like Coty and Andrea) hanging on since Gavin's has passed. He struggled with going to sleep last night due to the "excitedness in my tummy" and woke up with a HuGe grin. I made cinnamon rolls for breakfast (really, thank Pillsbury) and he gobbled them up and headed off to school. I brought Zebra cakes (his choice) to his class for snack time where his teacher, Mrs. Ryall, lit a candle and we all sang to him. He was so stinkin' cute-he actually blushed! I luuvved it! After we got home he opened his mega-24 pack play dough (thank you Auntie Steph and fam) and played for awhile until Daddy came home and we were off to Moe's - yUmmO- for chips and salsa. We came home and Josiah finally got to tear into the wrapping paper. Let me tell you, the tissue paper was flying! Thank you family, for all of your thoughtful gifts. Josiah was in present heaven. He got everything he wanted and loved it all (no underwear or other boring things, lol). We then devoured the cheesecake Kit made (Jos's request) and rainbow sherbet ice cream. Life was good and Josiah enjoyed it all! He went to sleep with a gi-normous smile on his face.

Now comes for the sentimentality. I almost didn't, but Kit reminded me I had for my other boys, so here it is...

Josiah was a surprise. Kit and I were married just less than a year when we found out we were expecting. We were excited when we found out we were having a boy (remember Kit's aversion to daughters) and awaited his birth. I gained quite a bit of weight (uggh) and in my last trimester began swelling. I am an anti-hypochondriac, so I didn't really ask about it. I should have realized something was wrong when fingerprints remained in my legs after putting my socks on, but you know...anyway, I went in for my 37 wk. check-up on my way for a girls'-night-out with my mom and sisters. Yep, I was told I wouldn't be going anywhere. They decided they needed to induce me due to toxemia. No girls' night! We called Kit, who packed my bags and came to the hospital. After a full day and not too much happening...well...other than the few hours I simply can't remember (you'll have to ask Kit, my mom or sisters) I finally reached a point far enough a long to receive my epidural. Within a few minutes I was on my pushing way and out came this tiny, skinny, red-fuzzed (on his head, shoulders and tips of his ears) little boy. I still smile thinking about his red fuzz-I had a dream I gave birth to an orangutan just a few days prior...and out came our own version. He only weighed 6 lbs 6 oz and was 21 inches long. I promptly fell asleep following my 36 hour labor.

Josiah has been a blessing in our lives from the beginning. He was such a sweet baby and has grown into a kind, friendly little boy. He is so clever and curious about eVErYthIng. We love him and thank the Lord for our oldest rough-and-tumble little one.

The Stack

A Couple of Favorites

The Carnage

YuMmO!

I just had to throw in a picture of Gunner tackling Gavin