The new Josh

About a month or two or three before their birthdays, it always happens: 

the kids change.

Suddenly they morph - usually before we're ready - into a different kid. We are often found with our mouths hanging open, a little unsure whether to laugh or cry at their new personalities. The change is exciting and most definitely entertaining, but it's always with a little sadness that we say goodbye to the kid we just knew for a year or so, and say hello to the new one. 

This is what's happened with Josh this November.*

I can't find my two year old anywhere. He's most definitely now three. His brain works differently than it used to. He's into numbers, letters, and trying to tell time. He can spell his name and mine on his own now. He has massive amounts of energy. He's into 'catch phrases' and copying his sister to drive her nuts, making up pretend voices, choosing his own food from the fridge, getting into things he shouldn't (he didn't do that when he was two!), and 'hooking things'...anything will do...even my lamp!

Or the tree, for that matter.

His words were, "That's QUITE the rope!"

(I actually BOUGHT this leash for Josh at the thrift store. The ultimate toy for our boy-dog.)

He's kind of...naughty. But most of the time, it's a really hilarious kind of naughty. Like, a three-year-old -boy-should-probably-be-doing-these-sorts-of-things-if-he's-healthy kind of naughty.

I often tell Rob it's a good thing Josh is so incredibly funny, or we'd be...well, grumpy, I guess!

The other night I forgot to go in to say goodnight to Josh after Rob had tucked him in. At 9:00 he was still awake - with his light on - so Rob went to see what he was doing. He was laying in bed singing, waiting for me to come! I went in there and snuggled him and said, "Sorry Josh! I forgot to come say goodnight! Silly mommy!"

Josh, with a serious face but a twinkle in his eye: "Mommy, you're not silly."

Me: "I'm not? Then what am I?"

Josh: "You're NAUGHTY!"

Josh saunters into the kitchen one evening and says, "Know what mommy? The NEST is APART!"

And I say, "Really?" and think "Huh? What's this kid talking about?"

So I ask Rob if he knows what nest is apart, and Rob says he's just prayed with Josh about HOLINESS! Or shall we say, "hole-y-nest"?

Here's a sample of one-liners from our Joshy-Bosh:

"Mommy, did you poop? TELL ME THE TRUTH!"

Response to everything we ask him to do: "OHHH NOT AGAIN!" (his shoulders droop nearly to the floor - as does his lip - when he says this. He says this even if he's never done that particular task before. He does not get away with this response. :)

(Wants to tell me something) "I have to tell you a keschun" (question)

(Drops something on the floor) "Oh no, pagettio."

(Pulling up his pants) "Up, up and AWAY!"

(Leaving the house) "Let's ROCK AND ROLL, Mommy!"

(Gets distracted by playing and comes back upstairs) "Sorry I'm late!"

(I brought clean snow inside for Josh to eat so he'd stop eating it off our shoes)

(Sitting down to watch Thomas the train), "Thomas is so COOL....and compassonit!" (compassionate)

(About Micah) "Micah is a cute as a little lamb!" and "When Micah grows up, he's going to be called JOSH!"

And my all time favourite:

"When I was a reindeer, my name was NONKO!"

Josh, I think me and 'the new you' are going to have some good times. Let's rock and roll age 3! :)

* Josh's birthday is actually in January.

Balfour update

I am finding it increasingly hard to find time to update the blog lately, so here's a big huge dose of update of what's been happening in our neck of the woods lately:

1. Leaves.

We've had some AMAZING fall weather this year. I LOVE each day of November that isn't wintery, because it means one day less of winter this year! Simple truth, yet profoundly wonderful. One particularly awesome afternoon I went out and raked up eight bags of leaves in our front yard alone. Mostly out of guilt. Because our huge tree is the last one to shed on our street, and our leaves were blowing all over the neighbours' leaf-free yards. Anyhow, these photos were taken the week before when we raked for fun, just to jump in them.

2. Cinderella

 My sister Karla and I took Ellie and Regan to see "Cinderella"(the play) at our local highschool. The kids were encouraged to come 'in costume'. Here's Ellie and Regan quite beside themselves with excitement.

All girls in costume had the opportunity to go on stage and win a prize. Poor Ellie...her only real Princess dress is so tattered from use that she had to wear a 'regural' dress (she can't say 'regular').

Star struck! (the three girls on the left are friends from school)

3. Cuteness and teething.

 Micah continues to be Mr. Cute, but is now Mr. Cranky, too.

Been there done that. This too, shall pass.

If we could sell drool, we'd be rich.

4. Wedding fun

I had the privilege of being a part of my friend Amanda's wedding last weekend. I mentored her when she was little and it was quite amazing to be able to stand up for her. Here's cross-eyed Micah at the wedding with Nana and his favourite toy, also known as his hand. 

Waiting for the bride.

Me and my dear friend and co-bridesmaid Elleah, looking rather see-through. Bad lighting and two girls who couldn't stand still...Rob did try though. :)

5. Dental bliss

Yesterday we took the kids to a children's dentist in the city. A few weeks ago three of Josh's teeth started looking off coloured to me (see above photo) and my mother-conscience kicked in...I had been avoiding bringing them to the dentist. I probably don't need to explain why! Anyhow, going to a specialized dentist was COMPLETELY worth the drive. Plus we felt the grace of God the entire day as there were NO tears and NO cavities! (Josh was about to freak out when it was his turn, and I quickly and quietly prayed with him. I turned around to help Ellie with something, and when I turned back, Josh was in the dentist chair saying, "I'm ready now! I'm ready!" :)

Check out the loot bags they came home with:

6. The "First Day" of Christmas


We decided to start a new tradition and spend our Remembrance Day each year setting up and decorating our Christmas tree (in addition to remembering the sacrifice of our soldiers, of course!) Each year we buy the kids an ornament that represents something about them that year. So we decided to also present them with their ornaments that day - way more fun then adding them to the tree once Christmas is over. Above is Josh's ornament. The kid is truly half dog, half kid. If he doesn't do what you say, call him 'Puppy' and he's quite compliant!

No explanation needed for Micah's. :)

Or Ellie's, for that matter.

After the tree was decorated we made popcorn and watched Christmas movies. We even saw a handful of snowflakes fall from the sky! The kids were rather enthused about the 'first day' of Christmas.

Busy Month for Micah!

Warning: this is one of those gushy posts about how glad I am that Micah exists.

Intended for family members who feel the same way. :)

Micah turned 5 months old yesterday and it was one of those growing-up kind of months, to be sure!

I haven't weighed him, but my back and neck tell me that he's a much bigger chunker than he was one month ago! Some other milestones this month include:

 1. Being introduced to, and loving the jolly jumper! He can easily spend 45 minutes of drooly, uninterrupted playtime in this contraption. Micah has always loved to bear weight on his legs, so this rather heavenly for him!

2. Cutting his first tooth! This laid-back fellow would rather be held these days as he's also working on his second tooth (hence the sore back and neck). 

3. He learned to roll over! Just yesterday! For a Balfour, that's quite an accomplishment. We tend to be quite slow in the large motor movement department. :)

4. He started waking up MORE at night. That's right folks. This mom is usually up 2 or 3 times at night. Prayer and intercession gladly accepted. ;)

5. Just when we didn't think it possible, he got cuter! 

6. And droolier, too. Anyone have any suggestions for how to keep sleepers from turning orange on top from constant drool? (Aside from bibs. I have a certain dislike for bibs.)

7. True to his youngest-born nature, he turned into an attention-seeker/getter. He'll shriek, cough or coo until someone looks at him, and then he'll giggle, quite proud that it worked, yet again...

...and it always works with Ellie. She is an incredible big sister. Loves to 'babysit' for me. What a blessing.

8. Micah also got louder this month. Dinner-time conversations are a bust. Between Ellie's non-stop chatter about her take on the world, Josh's pesky-little-brother-I-must-make-random-extra-loud-robot-noises-so-Ellie-can't-talk-without-yelling-in-frustration contribution, and Micah's insanely loud bird-screech (see number 7), Rob and I often just sit and shake our heads and sigh in surrender. One day we will talk at dinner again! And then we'll miss it all.

9. He is now officially ticklish and we can get a good, belly-gut giggle out of him by doing so.

10. He wrapped his pinky finger even more tightly around my heart.

A milestone that will benefit him for years to come, I'm sure. :)

Thankful

You could say I'm a little late posting about thankfulness seeing as Thanksgiving was uh...oh dear - almost two weeks ago! On the other hand, we could just pretend we all live in the US and I'm actually quite delightfully early! Or perhaps - and I think I'll go with this one - we could all agree that every day is a good day to be thankful. So I choose today.

I am thankful.

I have so much to be thankful for, it would be crazy to even try to write it all down. But here are a few things that make my heart full this year around Thanksgiving:

1. I am alive. At any moment Jesus could choose to take my breathe away. But He hasn't! And every moment I have here is a gift.

2. I have salvation. I deserve Hell because I am human and so not like God in millions of ways. Yet I will never taste Hell because Jesus took my place on the cross and bore my gross, disgusting sin on His own shoulders. Wow. I have an eternity of tearless, painless, hunger-less, problem-less JOY to look forward to...not to mention getting to see Jesus face to face and finally understanding how much He TRULY loves me. This will be grand!

3. Every day that's rough and hard and gross I have #2 to think about, and I become more thankful.

4. For some reason, Jesus gave me a husband who loves me more than I thought any human capable of loving any other human. Rob is faithful, honest, hard-working, prayerful, respected, intelligent, funny, gifted, humble, fun-loving and amazing...and he's mine! I am so thankful.

5. For some reason, Jesus decided it would be easy for me to have kids. And He's given me three miracles. They are not always easy miracles - but they are beautiful, original miracles, and they make me smile and laugh more than anyone. They teach me so much about trusting Jesus. And I am so thankful!

6. I am not in control. I always used to think I'd be happier if I was. But please see #5. Control is a most definitely a thing of the past! And folks, I am (slowly) learning to love the chaos. And I'm learning to have a sense of humour. I am learning that TICKLING solves a multitude of problems! And I am having FUN. And I am so thankful!

7. I have a house. And a van. And couches. And a sandbox. And most recently, a beautiful coffee table. And all were gifts from God after I asked Him! He owns the whole earth, AND He actually cares enough about each of us - about ME - to answer when we ask Him. He is so faithful. And I am so thankful!

8. I finally figured out what colour I'd like to paint my kitchen. :) 'Nuff said.

9. I have amazing friends. They are all so different and so amazing.

10. There is a cinnamon bun waiting to be eaten on my counter. Thankfulness oozing out my pores...

Yup. Thanksgiving has passed and we've probably all done our traditional 'what I'm thankful for' sharing around the table, but please humour me and leave me a comment -
what are YOU thankful for today!? 

p.s. These are the photos we're NOT using for the Christmas card. Notice Micah's puke in that last one? :)


 "Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!" 2 Corinthians 9:15