21 and counting...

Joshua has had a runny nose, cough and an on and off fever this past week, which have been accompanied by grouchy pants, much whining and throwing up 3 times for various reasons. It wasn't until Friday night as he was screaming and tossing and turning while asleep in his bed that I was able to figure it out. Joshua is cutting his 21st tooth, it's a big one! It hadn't even crossed my mind because after the 4 molars he cut this summer I thought we were done for a while. I guess I was wrong. This explains his runny nose, fever, grouchy pants and not eating anything all week.

We were able to get him to take some tylenol but I think the only thing we accomplished while trying to put ora-jel on his gums was my finger getting bit, OUCH (I obviously was not thinking, but he hasn't ever even tried to get me before).

Now if we can just get his cough to go away.

LOVES to color

Joshua has always enjoyed coloring, but it wasn't until recently that he LOVES it. He colors with purpose now. He colors items in the picture, no longer just scribbles across the page. I also hear him spelling his name as he draws the individual scribble for each letter - J... O... S...

Joshua did not willingly leave his coloring tonight for dinner. Can't wait for him to open his Christmas presents, he is going to love it.

Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow

Saturday it started snowing at 9:00am and did not stop until after dark. Joshua was so excited. I was surprised because we all know how much he has liked the snow in the past, NOT AT ALL. All day he was begging to go play in the snow. We kept telling him after this, after that. Finally, I said if we don't let him go out now he won't get to play in it at all. So instead of a much needed nap, we fought him to bundle up then had to unbundle him and find something else for him to wear because he got so worked up fighting us that he threw up. (I am sure you all wanted to know that.)

It took him a few minutes to venture off the snow free patio. But after I laid down and made a snow angle he must have figured the snow was safe.

He was having so much fun he didn't even beg to "blow a nose," like he has been doing all week.

Joshua's Drill: Scoop the snow...

...and throw it.

Unfortunately, Nathan was ready to eat so he missed out on getting to enjoy the snow. (Daddy made Joshua come in before we could get back out.)

Next time it snows, we won't procrastinate Joshua getting to play in the snow. I just hope we don't have to wait forever for it to snow again.

Trains at the Botanical Garden

Saturday we made a trip into DC to see the Trains at the Botanical Gardens.

Joshua was SO excited! He loves the trains.

We only got pictures of the back of Joshua's head while in the train room.

And here is just a cute video of Joshua. Poor guy has had this cough since Friday, which has been followed by on and off fevers. He is just sick enough to be yucky and grouchy, but not sick enough to lay him out. I am crossing my fingers that Nathan is getting enough antibodies from me to avoid all the germs he is getting from Joshua's coughs and kisses.

Hugs, Kisses & Smiles

Joshua LOVES Nathan. He loves to give him hugs and kisses. When Nathan needs to be able to sleep without Joshua pestering him every two seconds I lay him on our bed. When Joshua realizes Nathan is no longer where he last smooshed him, he starts going through the house saying, "Nathan, are you?"

Joshua has so much love to give Nathan it hurts, literally. It hurts Nathan, not Joshua.

Joshua can't wait until Nathan is interacting with him and playing with him. Joshua is constantly checking in with Nathan, telling him things and showing him toys. When Nathan doesn't respond he talks louder, as though that will help him understand.

Wednesday we met Addy's new baby sister, Piper. She is such a cute baby. Seeing her made me realize that Nathan no longer has the newborn baby look and has grown so much. He isn't even two months old yet.:(

Trying to figure out how to control his arms.

Nathan may not interact with Joshua the way he wants him to but Nathan does watch us intently.

I have attempted to get a picture of Nathan smiling before but by the time I have the camera out he just stares at it. Tuesday night I was successful, so here are some of Nathan's sweet smiles.

There have been a few times where Nathan laughs in his sleep. It is kind of unusual, but fun. I think he tries to laugh when I tickle his armpits, tummy and neck. We at least get big smiles and squirms out of him when we do.

Nathan likes to be swaddled. When he gets tired and fussy he just wants to be wrapped up. Then he is happy and it doesn't take long before he is out. This is what happened when I unwrapped him to get a picture that didn't look like a floating smiling head.

So I wrapped him back up and then he was out.

Free Butterfly Tuesdays

Tuesday we got out of the house and went to see the butterflies, again. It was quite the ordeal to actually see the butterflies.:) We went with our friend from Utah State, Holly, who moved here in August, and their 7 month old.

Drive downtown and find a place to park, by this time the babies, and us, are ready for lunch, then diaper changes and bathroom break, then to the butterflies - well maybe not yet. The line to see the butterflies was longer then it was before we ate lunch so we did some looking around to let the line die down. After wandering around for a bit we needed another trip to the bathroom for more diaper changes. Then to the butterfly line and in to the exhibit.

Joshua was very excited to go see the butterflies and was very cute coming up to Nathan all day telling him we are going to see butterflies. Joshua did not get as excited while we were in the exhibit as he has the other times we have gone. This time he was more intent on watching them and trying to get them to climb onto his finger. He wasn't a fan of the misters that would periodically go off to keep it humid either.

We walked through the mammal hall after the butterflies. Joshua liked the TVs on the floor. I think this is a common occurrence for little kids to lay down and watch because we saw other kids doing it later too.