Tomorrow is the BIG day!

Tomorrow (March 1st) Joshua turns 1.
We are taking him to get his pics made in the morning and then we are doing a little shopping. (me my grandma and the kids)

Then for dinner we (my whole family) are taking Joshua out for pizza (his favorite).
We are having his actual birthday party this coming Sunday...I will post pics of that then.

:) 

Joshua eating part of a board game... :) 

Joshua crawling as fast as he can down the hall after bathtime. (Look how big his eyes are!!) :) 

Joshua Paul  

Joshua Paul - Feb 2006 

Only 3 Days Left.....

In 3 days I will no longer have a "baby", I will have a toddler. I am a little sad about it. I have been thinking soo much about it lately. How did this year go by sooo fast? And I know the years to come will only go by faster! Joshua has grown and changed so much in one year. He is now walking and I know it won't be too long until he is talking. Why is the 1st birthday the hardest?
I can remember tearing up at Christian's first birthday party....and I know it will happen again with Joshua.
I guess you just realize that they HAVE TO grow up.
I just wish they could stay little a little longer.

Being a parent is hard....it is soo hard to watch your kids grow up. Enjoying, entertaining, joyful and hard. I can't even think about signing Christian up for kindergarten....it makes me tear up every time! But...I know it will come. I guess you really can't think about things like that....I guess I would just stay in tears all the time... :)
I guess the best thing to do, is just take it day by day, prepare our children for the future the best we can, and thank God every day for every moment he gives you with your children.

It's Official.....and Better....It's Paid for!!

Yeah! Ryan and I are going on Vacation. We haven't really been anywhere together since our Honeymoon in 2000. (we went to Hot Springs, AR for 2 nights...but really...is that a vacation?)
So...we are going on a cruise May 14-May 21!
We will be stopping in Montego Bay, Jamica, The Grand Cayman Islands and Cozumel, Mexico.
I have already been to these particular places, but Ryan hasn't. But really....I don't mind going again!! HEHE :)
May 14th (the day our cruise begins) is actually Mother's Day! What a gift, huh? I will miss being around my family, but we couldn't fit it in any other week.

Joshua's 1st Birthday Invitation

This is a copy of Joshua's Party Invitation. If anyone is looking for someone that does professional invitations at a great price....I've got a lady for you!
Aren't these the cutest!
I just sent them out to everyone yesterday.....I think I am actualy going to frame mine!! :)

My poor little Joshy

Just when you think youv'e heard it all, you haven't. I posted how I took Joshua to the ER Friday night (in the middle of a snow storm) to find out he has a ear infection, Conjunctivites and a chest cold. But since then he has been coughing and just still not acting himself. Well today marked the 5 day that he has been on his antibiotic and so I called the doctor. The pede listened to Joshua's chest and heard some wheezing. He gave Joshy a breathing treatment there in the office and then listened again and the wheezing was still there. He prescribed Joshua with having
Bronchiolitis, which is different than Bronchitis. Bronchiolitis is usually a viral infection. RSV is responsible for the illness in most children. Adenovirus, parainfluenza (croup), and other viruses can also cause bronchiolitis. Bronchiolitis is very contagious. It spreads most commonly by contact transmission so we are having to keep Joshy at home. It is actually pretty weird that he got his because they tested him for RSV Friday night at the hospital and he tested negative for it! (weird) Anyways, we are doing breathing treatments every 4-6 hrs. to try to help him breath. I will post to let you know how it all goes. Keep him in your prayers! :)

Christian on the other hand is doing well. His exitment for the day was going to Wal-Mart with me to fill Joshua's prescription and we bought him some new underwear. We ended up getting 3 different kinds (patterns) one of them being just the plain white Hanes underwear. He couldn't wait to show Ryan and Ryan filled him in calling them " whity tidies" (as we all know them). Christian thinks that is like the coolest underwear now....even beats Spiderman underwear...funny huh??

Finally....he's walking!

Yesterday marked the beginning of a new phase in Joshy's life! He is finally starting to walk!
He just sorta braved it all by himself.... :)
He still crawls alot too...but he is really trying and we aren't even trying to get him too! :)

Below are a few pics that I snapped of him walking across the room. And one of Christian walking. I think he got just a little jealous of us cheering Joshua on...so he had to show us that he could walk really good too! hehe :)

watch out...here he comes!! 

careful...careful.... 

Christian shows us how great he can walk!

How great it is to be LOVED!

I took this picture when Ryan walked in from work. The boys ran right to him! I am sure this made him feel EXTRA special!

How cute...huh??

And yes...he did pick up Joshua shortly there after!! :)

The Burt Boys 

Snow..Snow and More Snow (and sleet)

It started sleeting/snowing Friday night on my drive home from the ER with Joshua (boy that was nerve racking!) Anyways...we really got it! This is the 3 or 4th snow of the year....the kids love to look at it! It snowed basically all day Saturday and it has been sleeting today (Sunday).
Most schools are cancelled tomorrow (Mom is excited - teacher) We love snow...it is just sooo pretty.
Posted below are some pics of Christian in the snow.....and no...I don't think him being in it is what is getting him sick. (he was probably only in the snow for 5 min.)

Christian's Snow Angel

My poor kids!

I knew Joshua was getting sick when he slept all night Thursday night....(that is terribly unusual for him). Low and behold...he has a runny nose and a cough Friday morning. I KNOW when my kids are getting sick....so naturally I call the doct. to get him an appt, but they just told me to give him over the counter junk and he would be fine.....I'm not stupid, I knew this was no small thing coming over him.
Anyways, around 5:00 that evening he was running 102.6 temperature and boy was I mad at my doct! And of course the clinic had already closed and the after-hours clinic for some reason was closed Friday??!!!! So, I took Joshua to the ER and I was really scared for a while because the doctor said he really thought Joshua was going to have to stay overnight! They tested him for RSV and the flu...but thank God they came back negative.
So...he has a middle ear infection, conjunctivities (eye infection) and a chest cold.
He is sooo medicated right now (4 different things)...you just wouldn't believe!

Below is a pic of Joshua...he really has not been feeling well at all...he even fell asleep in his favorite chair (the eating chair!!) Poor guy!

So...anyways, today (Sunday) Christian has started complaining of a stomach ache and that his throat hurts!! I took his temp tonight around 7:00 and he was at 101.5...and I had given him tylenol about 20 min earlier....so who knows if it was really higher earlier?!
Hopefully he will be able to sleep tonight. We will know more in the morning. I might be making another trip to see a doct! (hopefully not)

Christian loves all the snow 

Poor little Joshua

Krispy Kreme Donut Tour

Today we went to Krispy Kreme (a Mom's Club event) for a tour.
The kids got to walk through the store and see how the donuts were made from start to finish.
At the end of the tour each kid got to decorate his own donut.

Christian loved the whole experience and I think Joshua enjoyed parts of it too!

I enjoyed 2 donuts and a Mocha....yummy.

Christian enjoyed watching the donuts get glazed thru the window.

Joshua eating his first donut (ever!!)

Christian decorating his donut.

Happy Valentine's Day!

This year is mine and Ryan's 9th Valentines together!! I honestly can say, I don't really remember our first, but atleast I remember when it was!

Ryan and I really celebrated Valentines last Saturday night ( I posted about it)
But Ryan got me roses for the actual day and I got the kids some candy and balloon.
I got Ryan a few corny things and a card. (saving for our vacation...details to come!)

I kept the nursery Tuesday morning at church so I didn't get to go to the MOM's club Valentines Party, but a friend of mine took Christian...and he had a blast.
They all exchanged Valentines cards and made necklases (see below) for their Moms. I sent cards from Joshua too...so he got cards back, even though he didn't go.

This was Joshua's first Valentines day.....and his last 1st holiday of the year. (does that make sense?) I am sorta sad about it...his birthday is getting here tooo fast! Only 13 more days!!

I sent off for his birthday invitations....they are sooo awesome! I will scan them in and post it when I get them in the mail. We are actually having his party the Sunday afternoon after his birthday. (birthday is actually on the 1st)

Tomorrow we are going to Krispy Kreme for a tour with the Mom's Club....I will post pics! Yummy!

I got Christian a balloon with some candy....he loves his balloon! 

Christian with the roses that Ryan got me (he has his mouth full of cookies) 

Joshua and his Valentine cards 

Christian made me this heart necklace for Valentines day. It was a great suprise and now one of my most cherished possesions. 

Cold Sunday

This morning we went to church and then we went over to Mimows house to eat lunch...it was soo yummy. (chicken and spaghetti) We stayed at Mimows till around 4:00 and then we went home.
I kept the nursery tonight at church from 5:30-8:30 and the boys went with me.
Pretty chilly day here.....too bad it isn't snowing anymore...it's all melted off. :(
Tomorrow we are just staying in! Just going to catch up on house work.
Then Tuesday is Valentines day.....and we have plans, but I will share them with you then.

A snowy day

Today we got up and had our Saturday tradition (homeade waffles) yum! After breakfast we went back to the bedroom and Christian came in telling us that it was snowing....I guess I really didn't belive him, but surely enough....it was! For most of the day it just snowed and it didn't stick, but since it has snowed all day and soo much it is really building up! I hope it snows all night....it is sooo beautiful.

Tonight one of our great friends came over with her two kids and watched our two while Ryan and I went out for dinner. We went to the cutest little restaurant. The lights were really dim and each table had it's own candel...it was very romantic. We decieded to celebrate Valentine's tonight instead of Tuesday since Tuesday is a work night.
We had a blast.....!!!!

Yeah...Its' the Weekend!

I was soo ready for this weekend to get here! I just have really needed a break...and I can't get one when Ryan is not here! The kids have been pretty demanding the last couple of days...and I don't know why. Like this morning Christian didn't want to get dressed or eat breakfast (why is this so difficult?) And I don't know what Joshua's problem has been all day...whaaa whaaa whaaa

My 11 month old is STILL not walking...but he is a VERY good crawler. He is very fast.
We have been working with him, maybe it won't be too long till he's running with Christian. ( I know I'm in for it then!)

Christian has been wanting to stay in his P.J's 24-7. After I finally manage to get him in "going out" clothes, as soon as we walk back in the door he wants back in his PJ's! He even brought me Joshua's PJ's tonight and wanted Joshy in his!! What's up with that?? Maybe I should stop buying "cool" P.J.'s??

Joshua in Christian's robe 

Joshua fell asleep yesterday in his high chair. I really wanted to feed him lunch before his nap time...but I guess he really wanted to wait!!  

The Burt Boys.... 

Joshua will play with almost anything...why do I buy toys?? 

Joshua is FINE!

Thank the Lord....the swelling has gone down and he looks half way normal again. He's still black and blue....but fine.

I called the doctors' office today, and they said everything should be fine (based on how he is acting).

So...maybe I am nothing more than a stressed out mom....that's okay though.

Joshua's Real First Ohweee!

Today was a pretty nice day until around 3:30 this afternoon. Joshua has a fascination with looking outside of the windows ( I usually keep the blinds pulled up halfway so he can't play with them). But today he slipped and fell and hit his nose/head on the window seal. It made the loudest sound....I ran to him and he was just bawling!! I was able to calm him in a few minutes but his head/nose immediately started to sweal and turn blue! I called Ryan immedialty and said come home! I was going to take him to the ER but when Ryan arrived he said we should wait it out. The swelling has gone down some and he is playing/acting normal but we are taking him to the doctor tomorrow to see if anything was badly bruised/broken. I just pray that he wakes up in the morning and everything looks normal.

At this age, bruising and ohhwee's are just inevitable. They are going to happen and I know that....but man.....it hurts me just as bad as it does them! I can't stand to see them in pain!

I will post the results tomorrow.

Ooowweeee...... 

My poor little man 

25 Days till my baby turns 1

Oh....I am so depressed this month! My BABY is turning 1 in 25 days! How did this year go by sooo fast? For all you Moms who have more than 1 child...you understand how you hold on to your "baby". You totally "realize" how fast your babies grow up after the first one....so you seem to sorta hold on TIGHT to the following ones.
(I will try not to use this blog as a therapy session)

One thing that I do have is : Joshua really has not "grown up" as fast as Christian did.
Christian was walking at 9.5 months......Joshua is still not walking.
Christian was interested in "reading" books at 1...Joshua could care less.
Christian had a few more words in his voc than Joshua does.

AND NO...I AM NOT "COMPARING".....I am just stating the facts.

Who knows how long it will be before I have another baby. (yes...i want to have more)
So...I am holding on to my little (yeah right...youv'e seen pics) 3 year old and my little (almost 1 year old) TIGHT!


Okay....enough for tonight.......oh .....in other news....Ryan and I are going on vacation May 7th!
We are going on a cruise....yipee!! All I can say is....I have lots to do.....Exercise, shop, tan!

Joshua playing with his Leap Frog Table