Welcome Home Daddy! - "Josie"

What a day...and a month...we have a lot to catch up on...

This morning started with its usual joy...Then as I was getting you ready for school...You were calling "Daddy" and pointing at me...then all of a sudden you put you hand on your chest and said - "Jo-zz-yy" :) It was the first time I had heard you say your name...It warmed my heart and got my day started right!

Then this evening after a long commute...I cam in and Mommy was on the phone with the Air Conditioner repair guy...You spotted me and ran to the hall to give me a big hug! But you were ready to play...We started playing airplane and the giggle began...then there was a game of chase...then some zerberts....each game eliciting more giggles...It was a blast! The best 20 minutes of my day...

Josie Grace I must say you are quite the dare devil - sometimes :) You let us toss you around...up, down and side to side...We can't jump enough or throw you high enough...but as we learned at the petting zoo/pumpkin patch two weeks ago...this daring side of you does not stretch to the animal world.

You loved the slides at this place (again with your daring side)...Couldn't slide fast enough...then came the pony ride...We waiting in line for about 10 minutes...You watched the horses walk and would call "Horsey" in a sweet voice each time they passed...then came time for you to get on...

Mommy carried you to help you get on...as you first leg went over the pony the shaking started...by the time you were on the saddle the full blown screaming started...people from across the park could hear you (we have the video to show you!!!)

Then we took you to the petting zoo...I had to force you to touch the goats and the bunny...but then it came to the roosters and chickens...You ran around the fenced yard chasing those darn bird...then went to the fence and started calling for the Horseys...It was quite funny!

One other awesome moment from this past month...was something I call the face squeeze...I was carrying you down stair in the morning before school...You said Daddy...then grabbed my cheeks and game me a kiss! It was the best thing ever!!!!

Also this month we have new routine at school...I put you down and after you say hi to the babies...I crouch down and you run over to me or away...either way we end up with a sweet hug! I love it!

We also took you to the Doctor last week for your 18 month check up...You are healthy as could be...You are in the 90% for weight and the 97% of height...The use this appointment to estimate how high you will be as an adult...the estimate is 5' 9" right between mom and dad!

I think that is a pretty good update for now...this weekend is Halloween...we are going to Matthew's b-day party and to the mall so we can show off you cute costume - a bumble bee...Which by the way you can now say...and say loud!

I love you little one and I hope to update this more often and even start including your pictures!

"I luv yu!"

SO I can't believe it has been a month since I last blogged about my beautiful daughter!

I have a lot to write about - in the past 4 weeks...We have survived floods, earthquakes and a hurricane!

We will get to everything , but let's work in reverse...

Tonight was a Daddy/Daughter night...and good news...You survived :)

When I arrived at daycare tonight...I was a little later than Mommy usually is and you were not happy about it...You're face was red and there were tears streaming down you face...But some juice and some songs in the car and you were in a better mood...

We then came home and went through the routine...Dinner, bath, milk...now you are sleeping peacefully...at least as peaceful as you sleep...

Yesterday was an even better. day...You were a chatty Cathy on the way to school...we were singing and you were clapping...and parroting everything I was saying...SO I started saying "I love you!" and you started repeating back..."I luv yu...I luv yu" It was so awesome...I had a hard time focusing on the road...you are just so awesome!

Also earlier this week...We pulled up to daycare and Ellie's mom was outside her car...You started saying "Ellie...Ellie..." It was adorable and awesome all at the same time...and besides impressing your dad...you impressed Ellie's mom :)

Then there was last week when you showed off your brain power...We were playing on the floor with your "little people" farm set...You had the cow in your hand and I said...Josie what does a cow say...You replied - "Moo...Mooo..." It cracked me up and made me so proud at the same time...

It is just amazing to watch you develop a little more every day from your thinking to your personality...It is a daily treat that I can't get enough of!

Now let's reflect on some of the other major events...

The Earthquake...I was home while they fixed they drywall from our flood...The house started shaking and the workers ran up the stairs yelling and we hit the porch...it was so weird...Mommy was stuck downtown at work for a couple of hours while traffic untangled...

You were at daycare...and everything was fine...I showed up early to get you and you ran and greeted me with open arms and a smile...I am pretty sure you had no idea of the historic even you had just lived through...

A recurring theme in your first 17 months...

Because a week after the earthquake...we got hit by a hurricane...Mom and I were worried about flooding and losing power...good news...much to our surprise neither happened...I had a fairly sleepless night as I monitored our blocked gutter to make sure it was flooding our recently repaired basement, but just like the rush hour blizzard you slept right through it :)

It has been an interesting month...Now that I am trying to get better with the blogging...the next step is to add more pictures!

I love you Josie!

We will talk again soon!!!!!

What a week!

So I promised i would start doing this more often and I am doing my best to stick to that promise :)

We will start this post on Monday, August 8th. You and mom were gone all weekend and man did I miss you, but I didn't' realize how much I missed you until you came home. The house was so quiet without your laughter and even your cries. It was so good to see you guys...

Tuesday we were back into our old routine...so I thought...on the way to daycare...I heard a little chokish/gag from the back seat...next think I heard was a little puke...then a bigger one...I immediately pulled over...and by the time the car stopped...Not to be too graphic, but you were covered in vomit...and to say I wasn't prepared would be an understatement. I had to pull you out of the car seat...put you on the trunk and strip you on the side of US 29 during the middle of rush hour. Thankfully it was your first day of daycare for the week...so I had a change of clothes for you...a blanket and sheet for your crib. I used the blanket to clean you off...the extra clothes to change you and the blanket then doubled as a rag to clean out the car seat...once we were set...I wrapped you in the sheet to keep you clean...strapped you in and off we went to school...when we arrived...you acted like nothing ever happened...walked in and started playing with your friends...However, I went to work a little scarred :) and in a smelly car...

The rest of the week was uneventfully compared to that...

We had a great weekend at home...It was rainy...so we stayed in most of the weekend, but made the best of it...Saturday you started the Brown Indoor Beach party...You grabbed your hat and shades...mom and I blew up a beach ball and we played for an hour inside...and had a blast...

Sunday we tried to take you to the mall to play on the indoor playground and when we arrived...it was closed for construction...It was an omen of bad things to come...

That night after you went to sleep...the rain started coming down fast and furious...we didn't think anything of it...until I saw a bubble on the paint of the basement wall...Water was leaking through the window...and our basement was flooded...construction continues...the beauty of you dearest...You slept through the whole mess :)

The construction cost mom and I some time at work so she had to go to work early on Tuesday morning...that meant it was up to me to get you ready :) Attached is a picture...I think I did a pretty good job...especially with your hair...You are pretty cute!

I love you little one! I will update again soon!

First Blog in 9 months - Bad Daddy!

I have been thinking about writing another installment to the blog for months, but something always gets in the way...then today...I finally logged back on and reading the past posts reminds me why it is so important...It is a way to remember the little things...

Since I last posted - Josie has taken taken her first steps and celebrated her first b-day (several times - I think the final tally was 3 parties :) ...Those things I will always remember but it is the little things I don't want to forget...Like taking case of her alone when Tammy had something to do after work...I got to witness the meatball massacre and watch the apple sauce incident...and giggle with her every step of the way...these are things I often miss because of work...

Just last week she was sick and I got bonus Josie time...we laughed...ran around the house, played peek a boo and of course she carried around dozens of shoes...Josie' favorite thing these days is to pick up you shoes...carry them to you...and then stand staring at you until you put them on...it is hilarious...

Also in the past few weeks... She has started to say Da Da and mean it...it warms my heart every time...Elmo is also a new favorite word...and anything animal is called a dawg...there is the cute way she says "no" and turns her head when you try to feed her something she doesn't want...

Basically I am in awe of everything this little girl does...I love her so much...it is truly unbelievable...and I am going to post the reasons why here more frequently...because there are so many - I don't want to forget them !!!!!