Favorite Outfit

One of the funny things about our little guy has become his propensity to want to wear one outfit… literally one. A pair of Carter’s “Super Sleepyhead” Giraffe pajamas with short bottoms… even now that its December (which considering that its suppose to hit 70 degrees on Christmas, it means nothing in Georgia). For the past couple of months, he has sought only to wear these clothes. Starting in the beginning of November, his mother informed me that she was pretty sure he had worn his favorite outfit for four days straight.

Day and night. Before and after baths. Four days. Straight.

She had to finally peel them off him so she could wash them, much to his frustration. But once they were washed and dried, he was quickly to show up wearing his favorite outfit. In fact, later that week he had quite the meltdown when I forced him to change out of them and wear pants so he could go to Awana.

We took him Christmas shopping a few weeks ago and made him wear pants. Joshua kept trying to hid his legs at the restaurant so no one would see him wearing pants. Because, after all, he would “look weuhd.” Yep, wearing pants in December is pretty weird (well, perhaps in Georgia this year).

Refill?

This evening, as we were around the dinner table, finishing another “peaceful” (ha, ha… anything but) dinner, Joshua in his mother’s lap, I looked over to see little J sipping water out of his own cup and spitting it back out in his mother’s glass.

Sure that his mother was unaware of his actions, I asked loudly, “Joshua, why are you spitting in your mama’s glass?”

This quickly got her attention (and everyone else’s) and Joshua replied, “I’m fillin it back up.”

We all got a good laugh at his toddler logic.

Fear Not Festival 2016

For Halloween, we took the family to our church for the Fear Not Festival. Stephanie volunteered and spent the evening happily painting children’s faces. Aubrey and Elijah both ended up with other friends and families, while I spent almost the whole time at the inflatables watching Joshua repeatedly go through the obstacle course over and over and over again. He loved it and didn’t care about much anything else. One of the teenagers manning the station kept asking him for a high-five as he climbed up the ladder for the final slide. His response was classic toddler talk (or drunk friend at a party). "No, "he would laugh, "Elijah has braces."

Sweet Moments, Part 1

Password Needed
Stephanie informed me of a short but humorous exchange between her and her daughter last Friday:
Aubrey announced to her mother, "God doesn't know everything that I'm thinking."

Stephanie quickly corrected her. "Oh, Yes He does."
Without hesitation she replied, "But I didn't give him my password."


Funny Wordin
Aubrey has recently started choosing things by the "eeny, miny, moe," method, but hers seems to be a little different. "Eeny, meeny, miny, moe. Ketchup on a toe."

In July, I was reading Joshua a book. "Whats this?" I asked, pointing to a snowflake. "Elsa!" He exclaimed.

Kids are impressionable, and Joshua picks up bad things from both his parents and his siblings. "Shup!" he yells at the dogs to tell them to be quiet.
"Mean Daddy." He'll say randomly. I doubt he really knows what it means, but he hears his brother and sister get in trouble enough to know it, and Aubrey likes to throw it in her rotation of things to get Joshua to say in the car. ("Jay, say 'Banana!'" "Bah-na-na." "Good!")

"Top it, Daddy." He tells me whenever I start to annoy him or sing the Frozen songs in an annoying voice.

"Pah-kuh!" he shouts, as he raises his Popsicle in the air with victory, and the rest of the family joins in.

Often, Jay wakes up, and comes in the Living Room in the morning with droopy eyes, as if he is still waiting for his cup of coffee. The first thing out of his mouth is usually, "Whe-uh my pah-cee go?"

Early this summer, Elijah askied, "Have I had a sleep over with Kingston and Kali?" Then after a pause he answered his own question, "I think so."
Aubrey piped up, "Whose Kingston and Kali? I don't remember."
Finding this rather strange, I said, "Uh... Mrs Jessica's kids. Little brother named Korbin."
Remembering his blonde curly hair, she asked, "The one with the noodle hair?"

We waiting until after Aubrey was four before she made her start using big kid toothpaste. We were with some friends when Aubrey randomly announced that she "could spit." We understood she was referring to the fact she now used big girl toothpaste, but no one had any context.

Not that long ago I went in to tuck Aubrey in and got a hygiene reminder after I brushed her leg with a fingernail. "Hey Daddy, you huwt me. You need to cut yous finguh nails."


Our Public Schools Are Failing Us
At the end of last year, we were riding in the van when Elijah announced: "I think I can name all the constinents: Asia, Africa, Alabama, North America, South America... Is that right, Mama?"


Appeal to Educational Value
After not getting to listen to what she wanted to listen to in the card and Elijah did, she expressed her frustration by belittling the educational quality of his choice. "Adventuhs in Odyssey teaches you bout nothin!" she said with a pouty face.


A Pixar Perspective
Aubrey, after seeing the movie "Inside Out" saw some red buttons and said, "Those buttons are anger."


Reptile Salutations
Last month, Joshua bid me farewell by saying, "Bye, bye, aygatuh tahtodiyo (aligator, crocodile)." He put together "See you later, Alligator. After awhile, Crocodile."


Letters
After our friend Ellie and her three kids left after a Friday hangout in August, Elijah decided he wanted to make a card for his friend Memphis (I'll give you three guesses what Elijah's love language is). Naturally Aubrey began making one for her equivalent: Myah. Then Jay followed with wanting to make a card for the youngest Bradshaw, "Bae-Bae Max!"

Elijah, Aubrey and Joshua and their counterpart buddies in the Bradshaw family: Memphis, Myah, and Max; all enjoying a watermelon treat. We were hoping for a better Kodak moment, but we were all a sweaty mess as soon as we walked out into the muggy August evening.

Update on Jackie
Aubrey has had an imaginary friend that occasionally visits. Creeps her Aunt Riya out. So we make sure to text Miriya anytime Aubrey informs us that Jackie has gone to Florida without us. Sometime in July, Stephanie sent me this text: "Jackie was apparently hurt in an army battle while protecting the queen."


Joke Time:
Every kid loves the knock, knock joke: "Knock, knock. Who's there? Interrupting Cow. Interrup... MOOO!" And each child has tried to master it. One evening Aubrey was rehearsing it over and over again in the bathtub. Joshua would try the abbreviated version by balling up his little fists and drumming either side of his head while saying, "Knock, knock." And then after a short pause he would exclaim, "Mooo!"

Talk Like a Pirate 2015

Today was Talk Like a Pirate Day! And to celebrate such a widely celebrated holiday, Krispy Kreme once again gave away a dozen donuts to whoever came in dressed like a pirate. We got two dozen, gave one to the ladies at the library and shared one with some neighbors. Elijah, who had a little attitude problem missed out and had to watch the rest of us eat donuts. Stephanie and I split a pumpkin spice cake donut (so we did actually buy SOMETHING while we were there). That junk was good. Afterwards, Joshua slipped into a sugar comma with icing all over his face while we made our way to Danielsville in the van. So cute!

Joshua's New Words

It's great to finally hearing the little guy talk. And talk he does, excelling daily in the words he knows and uses. He knows all our names, "Aw-bee, I-Jah, Da-de, Ma-ma." He especially knows his vehicles, "Cah, Bahs, kuck" (Car, Bus, Truck), and of course his favorite train, "Tho-miss."

The other day, he pulled out an old stuffed animal of mine from in the boys room. "Do you like the puppy?" I asked. "Puh-tee!" he exclaimed. "His name is Henry," I told him. "Ho-nee," he repeated over and over.

That very night we were on the couch and I said something about the applications on my phone, to which Jay repeated, "App-i-ta-tah." Stephanie and laughed when we heard him attempting a four syllable word. "Good job," we applauded.

Six months ago he cried and through a fit the few times we put him in the back bike seat for a quick bike ride around the block. Now he loves it, asking to go on a "Bike wie." I took him for a spin, just him and me a few Wednesday nights ago. This past Wednesday Stephanie I both took him for a ride (the other two were at Awana), and I was honored to hear that he wanted to ride behind, "Da-dee."

Apparently most mornings, as Jay watches his older sister eat her vitamins, he desires more than the single multivitamin that apparently taste so good for him. "Vitamee?" he asks excitedly. When Stephanie produced the single chewable, he begs for more. "Twoo?"

Lil' J Update...

...For lack of a better title. There are just so many things I should be blogging about for our third and often forgotten child. So where should I begin?

Joshua is still not pronouncing any words yet, although he is definitely saying a lot lately. The other day we heard him just babbling away in his room. I walk in to find him just sitting on his brother's bed, talking away.He often points and babbles, especially in the bath tub when he points to another toy he wants and makes monster grumbles.

As a side note, the other day Elijah was looking for his toy compass. Stephanie asked him, "Did you ask Aubrey if she had it?" His response was priceless: "Yes, and Joshua didn't even answer me?" Me neither, son.

Joshua also tends to like playing with Aubrey's dolls. Of course, a boy plays quite different than a girl, because instead of cradling the child and laying her carefully in a crib, he drops her water baby on the ground and step on her tummy to make her squeek. The other day, he was carrying her around without clothes (the doll, not Joshua). Aubrey thought the sight was amusing, laughed and said, "Joshua playin with naked, poop-butt baby."

If Elijah is our social sport kid, Joshua is the motor-head of the family. All things trucks and trains, he'll normally ignore what his siblings are watching on the television in the playroom. But one day I came home to see all three kids glued to the Kindle. Needless to say, they were watching Thomas the Train. I'm intrigued by his level of interest, because even though his brother played with cars, I don't remember Elijah even lighting up and babbling with excitement everytime he saw the blue engine. But Joshua, he'll now run to the front doors or windows to our church everytime he hears the horn of a passing train (our church is right across the street of the railroad tracks). Or how excited he was when he got new train sheets from his Grandmommy and Grandda. Jay loves trains.

Sibling Interaction

It's great to see this kids interacting with one another. Well, not always. Much of the time Elijah likes to pester Aubrey, like scarring her from around a corner, or turning out the lights when he's done washing his hands in the bathroom and she's just stepping up to the sink, or chasing her around the house with her releasing those ear piercing screams. And then Aubrey likes to pester both her brothers, especially Joshua who she won't hesitate to push over when he enters her personal space. Of course, she doesn't mind smothering him with a big hug even when he grunts and screams in protest. But Joshua is now returning the favor, taking her toys and walking off with a grin on his face. And he can be pretty mean too, like when he launches toys at people's heads.


But there are those sweet moments when they play well with one another. Apparently Elijah and Aubrey played very well the other day in their "fort" when Elijah stayed home on his "snow day." And I came home a few weeks ago to see all three kids huddled together on the couch watching Thomas the Train. And now that Elijah is starting to read, it's cute to see him reading to his siblings. Joshua LOVES Thomas.

The Third Child

Poor Joshua. He's so rarely featured on this blog. But as he moves beyond infancy and develops personality, he seems to naturally capture more of the attention of the primary writer (that would be me). So I wanted to share a few things.

Standing, but not walking.
Even though both Aubrey and Elijah walked at 11 months (and Elijah started running a week later ;-), Joshua has been a bit lax in moving about. Of course, once he started crawling, he quickly became a pro. But even at 13 and 1/2 months, he still hasn't really taken his first step by himself. Even with help, he seems to quickly drop down, realizing that he could speed crawl much faster. He seems to exhibit many traits of a natural Phlegmatic. The easier way rules.

Loving Blankey
Aunt Riya has made crochet blankets for both Elijah and Aubrey, and even though she has promised Joshua's is on its way, he seems quite attached to Elijah's old one. In fact, we often find him lying upon it in the mornings. And when we take it out from the crib and put it on the floor, he likes to shove his head in the heaping mass or use it like a pillow. Sometimes, he seems to get wrapped up in it in the middle of the night, and awakes crying. We come in the room to find him standing in the crib in tears, wearing the blanket like a ghost costume. Stephanie and I laugh as an old King of Queens episode comes to mind, when Arthur Spooner (played by Jerry Stiller) tells of his experience getting stuck in trying to put on a sweater. "It was terrifying," he described.

Different Growth Patterns
Every child is different. In every way. Joshua started out the smallest of our children, weighing under 7 pounds. He has followed a much slower growth patterns, his weight being below the 10th percentile. So, even though Elijah was born in the same month, he's been behind the growth curve while Elijah was ahead. So it seems like much of the clothing we had for Elijah is now the wrong season for our slower grower (especially the pajamas).

Eating Habits
He still only has six "toofers" (as Stephanie refers to them), but loves to still feed himself. He is quite the angry eater like his sister, although he's tailoring off a little from when he first started being feed real food. I guess he's learning that screaming is the only way to be noticed when you have two other vocal children to compete with. Another funny fact, is that we have to put just a few things on his plate at a time so he won't shove mass amounts of food in his mouth at one time (like his brother who eats too fast, who probably takes after their dad). Boys.

"He's so quiet."
That's what everybody says. Mrs. Patti. The women in the nursery at church. The grandparents. "Does he ever cry?" people will ask. Oh, yeah. You just haven't witnessed meal time, I want to say. But now he is beginning to find his voice and vocally protests when his sister grabs toys from his hands. And he is finding his delighted smiles and mischievous grins. It's a joy to watch him bonk his head on the back door as he looks out at the dogs waiting to re-enter after a bathroom break, or watch him crawl with his head on the carpet like a bulldozer.

Joshua's First Birthday

Joshua the Goat

There may be several factors involved with this phenomena, but nonetheless, our youngest seems kin to a goat. He is ALWAYS putting things in his mouth. We plug him up with the pacifier, less to keep him from crying, and more so that he won't choke on something when we turn around. At this point, he's put lent, various paper products, bugs, tape, stickers, and his favorite--dog food. This last one he's shoved in handfuls before we realize it, and had to hold him upside down and dig them out from his cheeks. Thankfully, no choking episodes. (Praise God that he is attentive and present when we are not).

It sure seems like we've become ever more negligent as parents. Perhaps its the fact we are more distracted with two other children. Or perhaps its the fact that we have two other children in the house to leave shreds of craft paper, small toys, and other choking hazards lying around, even after we've scooped up all we saw. However, as I believe these are true factors, I also think that this child is just more prone to putting things in his mouth. I think I even remember thinking that Elijah didn't put much in his mouth, and thinking this while he was still quite young. And with Aubrey, she always had her thumb in her mouth, so that took care of that problem.

Whatever the reason, it's still disturbing to realize your child is sucking on a handful of kibbles 'n bits like peppermints, after you only turned away for thirty seconds. YUCK!

Josh's Nicknames

For being so little, he sure has a lot of nicknames. Most of these are made up by his mother (especially the first extremely long title).

Hey Mister, Mister, Read All About It, You Sweet, Sweet Boy

Little Jay

Josh-Wee

Chubby Wubby

Booger Butt

Shugah Boy

Dotchewah (Aubrey's choice)

Josh-E-WAH

Baby Beebs, or Baby Bieber (with his Justin Bieber haircut)

Christmas 2013

PART 1, December 21

Top Left: Elijah is looking at his new easel and Battleship game (which his parents enjoyed playing later)
Top Right: Aubrey is sporting her new Rudolph glow nose.
Bottom Left: Joshua is showing off his Christmas Hat while checking out his new plush talking Dusty (the plane)
Bottom Right: Steve and Kimberly watch the kids as Courtney is probably texting (that all too familiar glow).

So we started the Christmas Festivities on December 21 over at the Shulman house in Dacula. But before we headed that way in the afternoon, I started the morning in Colbert at my Men's Bible Study (like every Saturday), but then went back home to pick Elijah up to take him with me to our service project (building a new wheel chair ramp for a family). Can't say he helped as much as I would have liked... hope that just comes in time. Then he and I did a little last minute Christmas shopping for his lovely mother. Then we came back home to get ready to go to our Christmas #1.

Steve an Kimberly had quite a few presents for our little ones. And Elijah could hardly contain himself through dinner preparation and the meal. He kept pulling out the boxes and finding his name on tags. He kept pulling out the boxes and finding his name on tags. Needless to say neither kid was very interested in food. So after we tried to enjoy a delicious meal together, we let the children open their presents.

Elijah has already been enjoying his new planes and keeps bugging me to put up his cool plane display shelf. Both kids have loved their sleeping bag and just had to bring the along to Tennessee. Talking Optimus has been a hit, but the little girl has taken to it more than her brother. Elijah has already put together his legos, and can't wait to see the TMNT movie. Aubrey absolutely loved her Hello Kitty pajamas, and wore them several times over the next week.

And Steve and Kimberly were so sweet and got us a new grill. Can't wait to give that a try--and Stephanie more so (but I have to put it together first). Thank you so much, guys.

PART 2, December 22

Elijah and Aubrey play with Aubrey's new doll house. Aubrey wonders what the world would look like through Obi-Wan's eyes. Elijah looks at his new TMNT toothbrush that he pulled from his puppy stocking. The most creative Christmas pancake that Mama makes.

Well, we got back late, and neglected to even tell the kids that we were going to open presents and stockings here at home the next morning. So once Aubrey got us up (she's always the first one up), we woke Elijah and Joshua up and moved into the Living Room to see what Santa brought. Elijah got a new desk for art and schoolwork from us, and then presented him with all the dress-up stuff that Chuck and Jill and their boys gave us. We gave Aubrey a big doll house (the kind that has no front and just sits agains a wall), and presented her with lots of Kitchen stuff from Chuck and Jill (Thank you so much guys). Once the guys looked through their stockings (candies, puzzles, toothbrushes and a cup, legos, some art supplies, etc.) and opened a few presents, we at a festive pancake breakfast.

We got to relax a little before we started getting ready for our trip. We were planning on getting out of here around 4 so we could make the Christmas Service at The Church at Southside, but even though we worked hard, it just couldn't make it out of here on time. So we ended up leaving after 5 and getting to my parents for a wonderful meal of Chicken Pot Pie. Once again, Elijah kept trying to examine the presents to find which ones were his. So we got the kids in bed, with them anticipating the next round of gifts.

Part 3, December 23

Grand-Mommy enjoying her boys. Aubrey opening her new RaggedyAnn and Andy book. Grand-Da taking pictures. Elijah showing off one of his new Bumblebee figure.

So we got up in the morning, still having to wake Elijah up (he's such a great sleeper). The kids were excited to open yet more presents. I messed with Elijah and handed him everybody else's presents to hand out before giving him his. He acted all dejected at each gift until I handed him his stack. He was most excited about his Bumblebee Rescue Bots (these guys have gotten lots of play time). We had an enjoyable morning, and we surely loved all the wonderful gifts. So we spent more time that morning loading the car back up, then we left shortly after lunch for Tennessee.

Part 4, December 23-25

The Family Afternoon Service at Brentwood Baptist Church. Aubrey, such a doll in her Christmas dress (worn two years in a row). Elijah with his decorated gingerbread man. The 11:00 Christmas Eve service at Brentwood Methodist Church.

Well, the trip to Tennessee was great. The kids slept a lot of the way, and we didn't have stop at all. So once we got to Tennessee, G-Mommy made some delicious home-made chicken-and-dumplings. Afterwards, the kids made Christmas cookies with G-Mommy. The kids weren't too messy, but lots of sprinkles were used in the process. It was hard to keep this kids focused with the enormous new television in the living room constantly calling to them. Of course, it could have been a 13 inch black and white television and it would have still beckoned them.

It was pretty late when we got the kids in bed. Elijah and Aubrey slept together on the air mattress. It didn't take Elijah long to go to sleep after we told them to stop talking, even though he was excited and Aubrey kept crawling over him. But our little girl kept getting out of bed (even more than usual), and we had to go in there probably a dozen times.

Anyway, so the next day, Christmas Eve, we had our evening packed. We went to the early Christmas Eve Service at the Baptist Church with my sister and her family. It was enjoyable, but we got there a few minutes late, the place was packed, and trying to sit through any service, even a short one with kids all around, can be a little distracting. Then we all went over to their house for a wonderful dinner of chicken tortilla soup (It was most yummy, yummy). There we decorated gingerbread men, and then took the kids back to G-Mommy's house to get them in bed.

Then, Stephanie and I were privileged enough to go out on a date and actually enjoy a Christmas Eve Service, just the two of us. We went to Brentwood Methodist Church, a large traditional building with stained glass windows and giant organ pipes. The pastor there had moved there only a year ago from the Methodist church in Lawrenceville and had married Steve and Kimberly last November. It was probably the most beautiful service I've been to. The Sanctuary was spectacular. I usually don't even enjoy choirs, but this one which was made up of probably 100 youth (high school and college) and was spectacular, and combined with soloists and a small orchestra made for the most beautiful worship music including Hallelujah and It Is Well. Pastor Davis Chappell's sermon was wonderful, and we sat next to a nice couple who made us feel most welcome. It made a perfect Christmas Eve.

When we got back, we watched a little Elf, and then went to bed. The next morning we woke up to celebrate Christmas morning at G-Mommy's.

Aubrey enjoying her new skating Dora and Boots. Elijah, checking out another Rescue Bot. Joshua, laid back as ever, just enjoying the show. Elijah and Aubrey enamored by the television.

The kids were excited (I guess it never gets old) to open all their presents. Elijah had not stopped touching all the presents as soon as we arrived, and so he was thrilled to finally open them. Aubrey racked up with playsets, figures, and yet more cute clothes. I think her favorite was the skating Dora and Boots toy. Elijah got a hand-painted Movie Night box filled with popcorn, candy, and a TMNT DVD from Uncle Greg and Aunt Riya (you guys know the way to his heart-the kid loves movie night).

Thank you everyone for being so generous with your gifts and most of all your time this Christmas. We enjoyed spending time with everyone.

Rolling Around the Monkey Tree House

So Today we went to the Monkey Tree House to let the kids run around in a play area for a while. I think Aubrey has the most fun, launching herself in the ball pit multiple times. Then she spent quite some time playing with the giant soft blocks. I took some video, but was greatly disproportionate in my filming of my children. My little girl was just cracking me up.

The most exciting thing was that our little guy rolled over for me for the first time (from his belly to his back). I couldn't get him to repeat it, and I was the sole witness, so... I guess I have no real evidence other than memory.

Anyway, here's the video. Monkey Tree House Fun!

Cookies with Santa

Well the Church we've been going to, Southside near Jefferson, had an event this morning called Cookies with Santa. We took the kids to the church, and true to the name, saw Santa and ate cookies. Santa also told the kids about the true meaning of Christmas and sang a few carols. Elijah was so excited when we told him about it, and even drew Santa a picture that he gave him when he sat in his lap. He didn't ask for anything big, just a plane and a flying car. Oh, and a Rescue Bot Movie (which doesn't really exist... but I'm sure he meant the season on DVD... which he doesn't need since we have it on Netflix). Then the kids went out to eat cookies, which pretty much sufficed for Aubrey's lunch.

After the morning's festivities, we went to the Comer Fair for the first time since we moved her nine years ago. The kids amassed a good bit of candy that people threw at their feet, and then we went to the Neighborhood tree lighting. Santa made another appearance (and counting the two Santas in the parade, the kids saw him four times in one day). And even though it was cold and raining, it was good to see the neighbors and talk for a bit. Aubrey finished off her eating for the day with a chocolate chip cookie. But she was a doll in her cute jacket and hat.

Bath Time Variety

A lot of time its just easier to give all the kids a bath at the same time. Elijah and Aubrey take a bath in the big tub, and Joshua gets one in the baby tub. Here's a glimpse from the other day. Elijah was gone, so Aubrey got the tub to herself. She was so cute just playing quietly in the tub. Joshua wasn't so happy with his arrangment, which I guess is the norm at this age.

New Siblings

It was so cute seeing our two other kids come into the hospital room. It was a far cry from when Aubrey was born and three year old Elijah was more interested in pressing buttons and running around the room than seeing his baby sister. But this time, little Aubrey smiled sweetly up at her little brother and exclaimed, "Baby" as soon as she walked in the room. She was eager to hold him and was very interested in his little features, wanting to see his "air" (hair) and his "eat" (feet).

Elijah was also a totally different kid this time around, also eager to hold little Joshua (and he did not pull his arm out from underneath Joshua like he did his sister). Squeeze showed great interest and excitement, and I believe he will be looking forward to sharing his room in the near future. And with the way he sleeps, it won't matter if Joshua wakes up crying, Elijah won't hear a thing. Just hope Joshua can tolerate the heavy breathing from his older brother.

Welcome Joshua Steven Neal

IT'S A BOY!!!

Elijah and Aubrey have a little brother.

6 lbs, 12 oz of cuteness with a full head of hair. He was born at 12:39 in the afternoon and was 20.75 inches long. The Lord is good, and has blessed us so much!

I guess we'll have to change the title of this blog again....