Toes

Josiah's toes are multi-taskers. Not only do they provide plenty of entertainment on the changing table, but they're also (reportedly) pretty tasty. They're a means of locomotion and of bouncing fun, and they can sub in for hands in a pinch--literally, as Josiah likes to use them to grab blankets, papers, clothes, or whatever else is nearer the lower end of his body. 

(These little pokey toes are sometimes reminiscent of Hop on Pop for us parents who put up with the bouncing on our bellies. Ouch!)

How Many Greats?!

On our way back from Los Angeles over Labor Day, we stopped in Santa Ana so Josiah could meet his great-great-great-aunt. (Yes, that's three greats.) Here's the proud Aunt Elsie with the Little Guy.

She thought he was "such a doll." So did all her friends at the assisted living facility she lives in! Josiah was the star of the show down at the dining room when we sat with Aunt Elsie during lunch.

She enjoyed telling everyone we met, "This is my great-great-great-nephew! That's three times great!"

Great-Grandparents

After our day in Pasadena, we drove up to north L.A. to visit Jeremy's grandparents--Josiah's great-grandparents! Josiah loved all the attention Great-Grandma Neuman gave him, and he had fun playing with Maggie, their black lab. He also rolled over for the first time unassisted (back to front) on his great-grandma's living room floor! Since then he's been practicing, and now he's a pretty proficient roller.

Maggie was just as interested in Josiah as Josiah was in Maggie. She loved to lick his toes, and when he slept she guarded the room and barked when he started moving or making noise. Josiah liked to feel her hair under his toes when she rubbed up against him.

We enjoyed a relaxing couple days with Grandma and Grandpa, hearing stories, watching old movies, eating good food, and generally being entertained by Josiah. Thanks again for letting us stay with you, Grandma and Grandpa!

Pasadena

We took Josiah on his longest car trip yet to visit family in California over Labor Day. Our first destination was Auntie Em and Uncle James' new digs in Pasadena. They moved there this summer, and we miss having them just up the mountain from us in Flagstaff!

Emily and James live right in downtown Pasadena--and just across the street from a very cool old library. We made sure Josiah got a tour of the library. We also enjoyed walking through the downtown. CA, though still warm in early September, was much cooler than Phoenix!

Our wonderful and dearly beloved hosts stopped for a picture by a magnificent magnolia tree.

Look at those roots!

Grandpa Scott and Grandma Dortha drove from Flagstaff for the long weekend, too.

I loved the houses on this street. In Arizona I'm starved for older, more eastern-style architecture

We walked to the original Trader Joe's! Yes, this is the very first one--so says the sign above our heads in this picture. While everyone else looked for healthy snacks, Jeremy felt compelled to buy a "pound plus" of chocolate for the trek back to the apartment. We leisurely dawdled to the store and then had to hoof it back to meet up with some Singletons for a hike in the afternoon.

We also got to celebrate Emily's birthday with her! Here's the birthday girl and her flaming cake . . .

 

Thanks for putting us up and putting up with us, Em and James! We so enjoyed our time with you guys, and we miss you tons.

Oh the Faces He Makes

This is Josiah in early September--just over four months old. He certainly has a talent for making faces! I love the progression of these first three especially.

Let's Go Take a Bath!

It's been a while since I posted any bath pictures--so here are a couple from August. Josiah still loves his baths, as you can see!

Nowadays he's always busy in the bath--splashing, grabbing his toes, trying to sit up (and thus nearly plunging his face into the water), looking at the tiles and faucet, sucking on a washcloth, and--of course--smiling to beat the band.

One Darlin' Little Boy

Here are a few everyday scenes from our home in August.

Josiah already loves books! His favorite currently is I Am a Bunny. He loves the colorful seasonal pictures (done by Richard Scarry). Most of all, his ambition is to chew on the pages, though.

Our sweetie likes to play with his stacking cups in his booster seat while we eat meals. He likes to grab the cups and gnaw on them. Recently he's taken to throwing them, too; I think he likes the sound of the cups on the tile floor--and maybe he likes making Mama and Daddy fetch them for him. He's certainly learned to be upset when he's lost one!

Josiah often wakes up happy from his naps now. Sometimes I hear him talking to himself and look in to find him looking at his hands, rolled over against the railing, craning his head to see the window, or scootching around. 

One of my students and her family sent Josiah a box of wonderful books and this "J" bib! As it's new and pretty fancy, I like to pair it with a church outfit. 

Dressed for Church!

I found this little Ralph Lauren outfit at a thrift store, and I just love it. (Yes, Alie, I thought of you!) It's got a sweet little collar and embroidered anchors on it. Too bad Josiah won't fit in it very long!

Somehow I think this picture of Josiah looks like it could be from the 1950s (if it were black and white--and if he were posed somewhere better than on our bed).

My boys!