Life's journey

Our new chair

2011-11-11T06:41:00.001-04:00

Ariel and I were excited to stumble upon an estate sale the other day. We wandered through the house of some unknown, imagining all the things we suddenly needed. We ended up buying more than we expected, of which involved an oversized chair an ottoman. So then we had to get it home.

We have a Honda CRV which does not accomodate 2 adults, a baby and his carseat, as well as said chair and ottoman. But I knew my dad's truck was sitting in driveway unused (they were on vacation). But something in my got a little scared about using this new truck to pick up our chair.

So I had a moment of "get real" and remembered what was once my Dominican life. Not only did I drive our gua-gua (van) through the sugar cane fields over dirt roads followed by crossing through (not over, through) a river, I did it pregnant.

And I drove a manual shift safari truck down the bumpiest road ever thought of.

So yah, I hopped in my dad'sbrand new automatic Dodge Ram, drove down the pristine roads of Persimmon Country Club, and picked up my chair. What a wimp America makes me turn into sometimes!!

Trick or Treat

2011-11-11T06:31:00.001-04:00

We had a little monkey this year for Halloween. He did so well putting his outfit on and trick or treating. That is, as much trick or treating as an 11 month old does, which is about 4 houses. We went to visit family in the afternoon, then met up with Jenny and Justin to trick or treat with their family. Josiah got a few candies for his mom and dad and did a good job of looking cute.

Pumpkin woes

2011-11-11T06:26:00.001-04:00

Funny how you get in your mind what something will be like and then it turns out totally different. I imagined pumpkin carving to be such a fun activity with Josiah and in the end, he hated it, went to bed, and we carved the pumpkins. Oh well, here's hoping for next year!

11 months

2011-11-11T06:23:00.001-04:00

11 months of awesomeness all packed into a monkey suit...doesn't get much better!

Sunday morning

2011-11-11T06:17:00.001-04:00

What a blessing and joy it is to have Josiah. I never knew babies were so fun. I thought newborns were my favorite, but I was wrong. Turns out, each new stage is my favorite. I lament a bit the stage left behind, but fall in love with all the new and exciting things the next stage brings. His laugh is fully contagious, I smile just thinking about it! He is a little sponge and copycat all at the same time which means he is learning like crazy. He loves music and anything that makes music, dancing, playing hiding games, riding on my back, and cheese. Such an amazing little boy!

Saturday Market

2011-11-11T06:12:00.001-04:00

One of the great things about being close to Portland is being able to go to many of the activities that are going on. We headed out to Saturday market and walked through endless stalls of things we'd never buy for sale, had great food, and enjoyed being together! Josiah got to see a marionette which he LOVED and also like riding MAX (light rail). It's so amazing to have this boy and even better than I ever imagined!

Fall

2011-11-11T06:10:00.001-04:00

We went for a walk through Persimmon to see the amazing colors of the trees and ended up having a photo shoot as well! It's so beautiful this time of year, the oranges and reds and yellows. Makes for a great backdrop for photos and nice to look at driving around.

Pumpkin hunt

2011-11-11T06:00:00.001-04:00

Out at Liepold's Farm for the great pumpkin find. Josiah found a good pumpkin and we had fun walking around and then lunch out. It's so fun having a baby!!

Crafting

2011-09-28T13:28:00.002-04:00

Pintest. It's kind of become an addiction. It's a silly website where you go and see everyone elses interests and get ideas for things. Very helpful for first-time-mommy-Jessi who is always intersted in new activities for Josiah. Also great for ideas for those of us who are house hunting and hoping to be able to decorate sometime soon. So here are a few of my latest creations, thanks to those mamas on Pinterest who are creative.

The first one is glo-sticks. I mean, that should be obvious, who doesn't love a glo stick? Josiah is LOCO for them. I got a few and took him to the dark bedroom and he was laughing so hard. His favorite was when I put it above my lip like a moustache...yay for mommy making being the superstar!! So then (pinterst idea) I put them into balloons and blew them up and went back into the dark room. Balloons+glo stick+10 month old =endless fun!

So then, as you previously read about Josiah's awesome sleeping patterns, the middle creation fit perfectly for us. I work night shift so have issues sleeping sometimes, but Josiah is truly my favorite reason for losing sleep. He's also my favorite nap buddy which makes the lack of sleep better.

And the last is kind of like a spy bottle. It's just an old spice bottle filled with jewels, fluffy stuff, and glitter, then water. Easy-shmeezy and great for the car. Also serves as a wonderful teether. Not that Josiah has any teeth to think of!

Baby days

2011-09-28T13:18:00.001-04:00

I knew having a baby would be good, but I didn't know it would be THIS good. Josiah is a dream baby, I mean, I don't want to brag, but he is the BEST! Okay, apart from the fact that he still can't sleep a whole night through, is a picky eater, and doesn't like being in the car seat, this kid is so easy and fun. He has recently started dancing, and dancing all the time. I picked him up from his crib this morning, got a little hug, and immediately the dancing started in my arms. I've given up hope that he will sleep through the night. For us though, that is normal, the way it's always been, so I guess it doesn't matter. He goes through spells where he'll sleep really well, then he'll learn a new trick like rolling over or sitting up from laying down or pulling himself to a stand and we are lost again. I try and take it all in stride though, repeat to myself "this too, shall pass" as I get up at 3 a.m. and enjoy the extra time with him :).

Fun in the Sun

2011-09-16T19:49:00.001-04:00

Nothing better on a hot summer day than to play in the sprinkler with cousins and go for a ride in his car!

Old friends

2011-09-16T19:46:00.001-04:00

We had a mini mama reunion the other day when Bridget was home. It has been years since I've seen some of these girls and now we're all "grown up" and have kids. Trying to get a group photo proved a little difficult with so many little ones, but we managed one in the end!

Blue Lake Park fun

2011-09-16T19:37:00.002-04:00

We went to Blue Lake Park and were surprised by a water park! Josiah LOVES, loves, loves water so it was a fantastic day for him! He also loves his car and rode all over the park, including through the fountains. He got nice and wet but loved every minute of it.

2011-09-11T00:54:00.002-04:00

So my computer broke a few months ago...it smoked and burned to be more exact. Thankfully the nice computer man was able to get my important things off of it, but it is now happier in laptop heaven. That meant bad things for me in the blogging world. You see, I like to blog with my legs kicked up, sitting on the couch or bed, just kind of writing and posting. With two desktop computers in the house, that proved to be a problem. Not only can one computer not post pictures, the other one is a bit slower than I'd like and my patience often ran short. Hence, no blogging.

But I am happy to say that I and our new laptop are back in the blogging world. I have missed it in a weird sort of way...as much as you can miss a blog I guess. But I love writing, I love pictures, and to it is a great way to share both.

My days are mostly filled with Josiah, sleeping, and working. Josiah is a dream baby. He is the love of my loves and fills my heart so greatly. I have some favorite times with him, like when he wakes up at 6:15 and lays on my chest while we watch a bit of Baby Einstein while the rest of the house sleeps. Or when we rub noses. Or he chews on my chin (he's still without teeth!). But one of my most favorites is when he just falls asleep so calmly and peacefully before a nap or at bedtime after nursing. I know, lots of people say it's a bad habit, but it's one I can't break myself of. I love napping with him...he comes and naps with me when I am sleeping after a night shift. I love it all, even the hard stuff because after all...what is there not to love??

My baby boy in a basket

2011-08-08T23:33:00.002-04:00

Josiah had another "grandma photoshoot" the other day while I was napping. He clearly hates having his picture taken and is surprisingly patient with photos...as long as he has something to chew on!

I just love this little boy so much, words don't even do it justice. He is more fun literally every day and always has something new to show us. He is like a little sponge just soaking things in and learning so fast.

Family photos

2011-08-08T23:30:00.002-04:00

Riverview is not only an excellent place for dinner, turns out it is also great for family pictures! We were there with our family a few nights back and as my mom always brings along the camera, we took advantage of the great backdrops for some photos.

Seattle

2011-08-08T23:25:00.002-04:00

Ariel and I took a little trip with Josiah up to Seattle for the night. We had such a good time, we continue to talk about it! It was perfect weather and we had a great hotel near the market and mall and it was just a special time for the 3 of us. We all slept in the same bed which meant we all woke up earlier than normal, but thankfully Seattle had attractions for us at 5:30 a.m. and some Starbucks. We even got to meet up with some friends that were in the D.R. with us, Layne and Caitlin. Josiah was a champion traveller and we timed the driving time (3.5 hours) to his nap time and so he slept through most of it! We are now huge fans of Seattle and can't wait for another trip!

Summertime!

2011-08-08T23:21:00.002-04:00

I forgot just how awesome summer in Oregon is. The weather is now perfect, not too hot and not too cold. The evenings are cool which make for a nice walk or just being outside. Josiah thinks summer is also great as he gets to be out all day long (minus nap time). He has eaten his fair share of all the berries that are growing, and thankfully we have frozen lots so he can have them throughout the year. It's even been hot enough a few days to put him in the blow up pool, of course, we had to use hot water!

Old friends and babies

2011-08-08T23:17:00.002-04:00

It is so nice to have "old" friends. Friends that you have known for almost all of your life. Jenny and I have been friends since 3rd grade, Bethany and I since high school. How our lives have changed through the years but how special it is to have grown up and changed together. We met up with our little ones at the zoo the other day which was so much fun. Josiah is a bit animal lover so it was clearly a big hit! He smiled and "talked" the whole way through. It's so nice to be back in Oregon for more than a few weeks and be able to do fun things like these!

New Ride

2011-08-08T23:12:00.002-04:00

Josiah LOVES going for walks, being outside, and doing all of that in his stroller. I saw a picture of my nephew Gabe in this car and knew Josiah would love it. Love is a bit of an understatement. Josiah can literally be in this car for hours. I know because we've tried. Ariel has taken his for rides at Fred Meyer a few times, and we went to the park and all around town in it! You can tell by the pyjama picture that we car-ride at all hours of the day. Definitely worth every penny of the car purchase price just to see his excitement!

4th of July

2011-07-11T23:31:00.002-04:00

For the 4th, we had a big party at my parent's house. Both sides of the family came over for a big BBQ with my mom's amazing ribs and endless salads and sides. Of course we had a bonfire and once it FINALLY got dark, we had an awesome fireworks show at home. Josiah slept through it all, only to wake up once it was over, but he wouldn't have remembered it anyways. What a fun week it was to be together, play together, and reconnect with everyone!

Roasting Pollo

2011-07-11T23:28:00.002-04:00

So each of us had a night to make dinner for the family so Ariel and I made a Dominican dinner. He spent all day roasting chickens over the bonfire pit. He did an awesome job and tended to them so well. We also had rice (moro de guandules and arroz con maiz), fried sweet plantains, arepita de yuca, and salad. It was fun to cook for everyone (after Ariel and I stopped disagreeing about the fire!) and I know Ariel loved being able to share a little bit of his country with the family.

Family Week

2011-07-11T23:22:00.002-04:00

My brother and sister-in-law drove up from California to spend a week with us in Oregon. It was the first time in years that we have all been together.

We did a lot of cooking and eating and spending time together. The kids were outside nonstop playing on the swings, in the pool, and picking berries. We had a little bonfire each night which was almost my favorite part!

7 months

2011-07-11T23:14:00.001-04:00

7 months old??? He has mastered sitting on his own and is now working on standing up on his own. He can pull himself to a stand if he is grabbing onto my shirt or something high. We've been working on getting him to crawl...it might happen one of these days!

Cabin time

2011-07-11T23:09:00.002-04:00

We took a few days and went up to Mt. Rainier in Washington. We stayed in a lovely little cabin with a fireplace and hot tub and BBQ! In the daytime we went on some hikes on the mountain. Many of the upper hikes were closed because there is still so much snow! It was such a nice time to relax and spend time together with the 3 of us.

Portland trip

2011-07-11T23:05:00.003-04:00

We took a trip into Portland during the Rose Festival and got to see all the ships and lots of people. We took MAX across the river and then walked back to where we parked the car. We had a picnic snack along the way in the park and Josiah got to nap in his stroller. I love these sunny days...and so does Josiah since it means he gets to be outside so much!

growing up

2011-07-11T23:02:00.001-04:00

It feels like I just brought Josiah home from the hospital but here he is...wanting to stand and hold on and be a big boy. It's incredible to see him change and grow so quickly.

6 months

2011-07-11T22:58:00.002-04:00

We've been able to mange getting Josiah's photo done each month which has been fun to compare each one to another. This boy has grown up being constantly photographed, so he is a ham in front of the camera. He knows that when the camera comes out it is time to smile...he never disappoints.

Fingerpainting

2011-07-11T22:43:00.002-04:00

So I wanted to send fingerprints and handprints to the DR for Ariel's mom...Josiah didn't know what to do at first. It started out so fun and entertaining, until he decided to suck his thumb (top right picture). He didn't like the taste of the paint too much, but at least it's non-toxic!

Still alive!

2011-07-10T01:32:00.004-04:00

Wait a minute, I have a blog? It's been years since I've updated due to a new job, a little man named Josiah, and Facebook. But a part of me misses the writing, the explaining, the more than a little caption on a photo for Facebook updates.

Josiah is almost 8 months and is the joy of every minute of my day. He makes me laugh like no one else can. He has so many new tricks, can do so many things. Not a day goes by that I don't thank God for the blessing of this baby boy. So here are some new things about Josiah:
-he loves being outside, to a ridiculous extent
-he has a farmers tan, a serious farmers tan
-he hates being on his tummy and therefore is not yet crawling...he might go straight to walking as he likes to pull himself to a stand and can "walk" with the help of two hands
-he has tickle spots now
-no teeth yet
-his favorite song remains "We Wish you a Merry Christmas"
-he is an avid thumb sucker
-I have yet to "sleep through the night" with him...maybe by the time he's 15 we'll get that down
-he loves Peek-a-Boo with a blanket and can do it by himself
-his favorite thing to eat is yogurt, to a unbelieveable extent
-he cuddles, which is especially amazing after coming home from work

So we're doing well. The transition to me going back to work (Emanuel Labor and Delivery) has gone surprisingly smoothly. Ariel is a super dad and has gone above and beyond to take care of this little man. We're feeling more and more settled but remain in a continual transition as we get adjusted to life in the U.S.

Thinking

2011-04-22T23:01:00.002-04:00

Somehow the time to post a blog is amazingly scarce. So here are a few thoughts on my journey of mommyhood thus far:

I thought babies just slept
I found out they need to be taught good habits

I thought I wanted to give Josiah a pacifier
I was wrong

I thought I would get out more
I found out nap times are important for a happy boy

I thought I would have more free time
I found out that he is active (even with all the extra hands!)

I thought pregnancy weight just went away
I realized we are not all like Angelina Jolie

I thought it would be hard to watch him grow
I found out each stage is amazingly fun

I thought I would love being a mom
I was right

Pacifier Woes

2011-03-31T22:50:00.003-04:00

Before I had Josiah I knew I would never give him a pacifier. But then he was born and got a Soothie in the hospital, and I had been gifted a few that I held onto, so why not? He was happier with them, calmed quicker, and they are meant to reduce the risk of SIDS. So I popped it in. And again, and again, and again. He became an addict and we all got in the habit of it. Problem is, he is really good at falling asleep with it and then spitting it out. When he goes through his normal little sleep cycles and starts waking a bit, he wants his pacifier again. Therein lies the problem. It is next to him in his crib, he wants it, but is 4 months old and hasn't learned that skill yet. So...about a zillion times a night, I walk into his room with barely opened eyes and pop that thing back in. He most often calms quickly and sleeps again. Sometimes not so much ,so I bounce him and swaddle and pray he will fall asleep again. That's how we were rolling in the house until 2 nights ago. Yes, we went cold turkey with the pacifiers on him. Poor kid. Didn't know what was coming. It actually does break my heart...I wish I wouldn't have gotten him hooked on them, it's a hard habit to break. It's just not healthy for any of us anymore though. If he were sleeping more soundly and not needing it everytime he wakes up, things would be different. I've tried teaching him where his hands are so he can find them and suck on something there, but it is a process. He has done so well and I know I'll be grateful for it once he is sleeping well. I've been giving him extra cuddles and bought him that stupid "Lovey" to try and make it better. Last night he went 5 hours which was a personal record. Tonight we're going for 6!! He's decided he wanted to go 7-10 hours between feeds, but that awful little pacifier just keeps us all awake. The protest crying has now stopped after 35 minutes, so I guess that means I can breathe again and wipe away my own tears. Phew. This mommy stuff is hard. Sometimes you think you're doing the right thing and it turns out it wasn't. I get the feeling I'm in for a lifetime of these things!

Nonstop fun!

2011-03-16T18:29:00.001-04:00

This little Josiah is getting more fun by the day! He loves to smile and laugh now, wants to stand and pretend he's a grown-up, and just today he rolled over! It's amazing how quickly he is changing, each new stage and activity is so fun and exciting. I love watching him grow and learn and doing things he couldn't do before.

Bathtime

2011-03-16T18:26:00.000-04:00

Nothing like a big yellow duck tub to bring out some smiles for bathtime!

Dominicans in Oregon!

2011-03-16T18:05:00.003-04:00

We celebrated the 27th of February, Dominican Republic's independence day, with a whole group of Dominicans. I'm glad there's a few Dominicans around...brings a bit of the DR a little closer to Oregon.

Snow!

2011-03-16T18:01:00.002-04:00

We were so excited to have a few snow days here! We watched it falling and then got out a few times to go on walks. It only lasted a short while, but it was great to get a little excitement from the snow!

Iceskating

2011-03-16T17:56:00.001-04:00

Josh and Emily went iceskating in Portland and we went along to watch. Josiah can't wait until it's his turn, although I think he has a few more months!

Rides

2011-03-16T17:54:00.000-04:00

Ariel is so good at finding activities for the cold days when there isn't much else going on...

You are my sunshine

2011-03-16T17:50:00.002-04:00

We don't see a lot of sunshine these days in Oregon, so when it came out for a bit the other day, I stripped Josiah down and put him on a blanket to soak it in! He loved it and just watched his bear, smiled, chewed some fingers, and got nice and warm!

2 years!!

2011-03-16T17:37:00.002-04:00

Ariel and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary on the 14th of February. Two years went by so fast, as does all time these days. I have learned so much from Ariel and our marriage in these years. I am so blessed to have him for my husband, he is so supportive and encouraging and excited about everything. We have been through our share of "in sickness and in health" already and a good amount of trials, but are thankful we can look back on them now and see how we have grown because of them. We are hoping the years ahead are as full as these ones have been!

Learning the bottle

2011-03-16T17:27:00.002-04:00

I know I have to go back to work eventually, so we've tried to have Josiah take a bottle every now and then. He was doing so well and then decided he didn't want to anymore. I eventually found a new bottle for him (Playtex drop-ins) and he is back on again! It's nice that others can feed him every now and then, although he still prefers his momma. I've got a good amount of milk now stored up...just waiting for the right job to come around! I mean really, I'm in no hurry to leave this little guy after all!

Happy Valentines Day

2011-03-16T17:25:00.003-04:00

This is what happens to Josiah when Ariel and I go out! It did make a cute Valentine's surprise in a frame though...poor kid is going to hate these someday! :)

Visit to the snow

2011-03-16T17:21:00.001-04:00

We took a trip up to Mt Hood to see some real snow! It wasn't planned so we didn't take coats or anything, but it was fun to be out in the snow for a little bit. Ariel loved seeing it and I even made him eat it!

Papi

2011-02-12T13:26:00.002-04:00

I have loved having this transition time to watch Ariel and Josiah spend so much time together. Ariel is such a good dad to him, sometimes I just smile while I secretly watch them. Ariel has done great with his steep learning curve, meeting him and getting to know all his tricks and likes/dislikes after 6 weeks, but now it seems as if they were never apart. What a blessing it is to be together, to have each other as we raise this little guy.

Our family has truly learned the importance of waiting in God (versus waiting on God) and how just leaning on Him when we don't understand why things happen is the key to getting through hard things. It doesn't always make it easier or let us understand it...I don't think I'll ever understand why we have gone though some of the things we have, but I guess that's not important. If I was supposed to understand, I would. But in the end, we love each other more, hold each other a little more tightly, are a bit more patient with each other, and thank our God every day that we are together.

Multnomah Falls

2011-02-10T01:37:00.002-04:00

We did some exploring around town, in and out of shops, and a trip to Multnomah Falls. It was COLD there, especially on the bridge, but we made it up! It was fun to feel that cold again with all the wind biting our noses and ears. We hustled back down and into the warmth of the car, but had a fun time seeing it all!

Back in Oregon

2011-02-09T15:44:00.002-04:00

Josiah is doing well back in Oregon, just wondering what happened to all that noise he was starting to get used to! No more motorcycles or trucks or chickens to wake him up...now we are in the land of quiet! We have all enjoyed the cool weather, going on walks and being outside on the nice days has been a good change.

Meeting

2011-02-09T15:29:00.002-04:00

We were met at the airport by family at midnight and headed home. All the family came over the next day to meet Ariel and I'm sure these days have just been a blur (that's why that picture made it in). He is taking all in stride and doing great, despite all the many changes he has faced!

To the U.S.

2011-02-09T15:24:00.002-04:00

With all the snow that New York got, our flight on Thursday was cancelled. We re-booked it for Friday, still unsure that flights would be able to get through, but were willing to give it a chance. After a lot of hard good-byes and moving out of our apartment, we were officially on our way to the United States. It was an exciting flight with Ariel and Josiah and we did lots of talking and playing the whole way! Ariel got to touch the snow in New York as we had a layover for awhile. I think he was thankful he had his coat ready as it was pretty cold out! It was surreal to me as I have thought about this moment for so long. I know it is hard for him, he had to leave his fantastic job, his family, friends, church, language...everything. But we know and trust that God has opened this door for us and are looking forward to all that is ahead.

Beach, round 2

2011-02-09T15:19:00.002-04:00

So after a failed trip to the beach with friends, we decided to give it another try. We went to a quite beach this time and Josiah did great! He got his little feet wet in the ocean and we got to spend lots of time with Ariel's family.

We ended the day with a dinner at one of our favorite little restaurants, Mr. Lunch. Lots of hamburgers and french fries for everyone!

Last days

2011-02-09T15:14:00.001-04:00

We did a lot of visiting in our last days. We were at the neighbors, with family, eating lots of great things (and no, I didn't eat all that rice). It was a nice time to get to visit with everyone and be with them in our last days. Josiah loved the neighbors parrot and was talking and smiling at him!

Trip to La Isabela

2011-02-09T15:10:00.002-04:00

Our last Saturday in the DR we took a trip with friends to La Isabela. It was meant to be a day to spend time with everyone, but turned out to be a time with Josiah! When we got to the beach, the music was crazy loud and there were so many people that the little guy couldn't sleep. Ariel and I had to drive further down the beach to find a quiet spot so the poor baby could sleep a bit as he hadn't slept all day. We got back in time to see everyone packing up their things as we got back in the cars to head home. Oh well, that's life with a baby I guess!

Happy Birthday, Ariel!

2011-02-09T15:06:00.002-04:00

For Ariel's birthday, we had a BBQ on our roof! He seasoned the meat early in the day and by evening it was ready for grilling. We were able to share wth lots of friends and family, especially as it was our last week in the DR.

Instead of a birthday cake, I made a cake out of his favorite cookies-coconetas. They are made from coconut and molasses and very Dominican!

Cousins

2011-02-09T15:01:00.003-04:00

I saw Josiah's cousins, Saul and Joel, with their Converse on one day and knew I had to get a picture of all of them with their shoes on! Josiah has his own little pair of red shoes and the boys loved it!

Thumb sucker

2011-02-09T14:55:00.000-04:00

Josiah has discovered he likes to suck his hands/fingers/wrists and sometimes manages to get the whole hand in! He always brings up his other hand to help...it's a hard thing sucking fingers!

Moving out

2011-02-09T14:52:00.000-04:00

I would've taken two trips, or perhaps three...but then again, I'm not quite Dominican enough!

Date night

2011-02-04T13:30:00.001-04:00

Ariel and I brought back our date night with a fantastic dinner at Al Porto, one of our favorite restaurants. We got there early enough for sunset and photos and then had a nice dinner while the baby slept! We wrapped him all up so the mosquitos wouldn't get him and ended up spending 1.5 hours just talking and enjoying our time while he snoozed!

Cabarete dinner

2011-02-03T01:07:00.001-04:00

My mom left and Ariel and I began our preparations for heading to the U.S. One of our priorities was spending as much time with family as possible. We had a lot of meals and going out time, trying to soak it all in!

Sea Horse Ranch

2011-02-03T01:03:00.001-04:00

We were able to take a night to have dinner at Sea Horse Ranch. This place is special to us because Ariel took me on our first date there, we got engaged there...and then married there! It was an awesome night as we sat overlooking the ocean. Josiah slept in a chair and listened to the crickets and ocean while we ate an awesome dinner.

Baby dedication

2011-02-03T00:57:00.002-04:00

It was special to be able to dedicate our baby while in the Domincan Republic, surrounded by our church family. We chose Alberto and Lydia to be the godparents of Josiah because of how special they have been in our lives. They are like parents to me and have been crucial in my growth, care, and guidance in the DR-especially starting out. I lived with them for about 3 months and learned so much about humility, service, prayer, and values. During the presentation, Josiah didn't take his eyes off of Alberto, it was really sweet. We know that this doesn't make Josiah a Christian, but we promise to raise him in God's way, to follow after Him, and to continue to make Him the center of our family.

Together as three

2011-02-03T00:55:00.002-04:00

Words don't do justice to how nice it is to be together. Those first weeks that we had apart thankfully are now a gone and we continue to cherish our time together. It is so fun to be parents to little Josiah, to have the support of each other, and to learn about our baby with each other. My mom took these photos while we were at the hotel to take advantage of the great backdrops and settings.

Changes

2011-02-02T23:35:00.002-04:00

Josiah had a lot of changes in a few short weeks, but did so well with all of them. He went from snow to sun, English to Spanish, quiet to noisy, grandma to daddy...and the list goes on. He's such a good baby though and came through it all like a champ!

Visting

2011-02-02T19:43:00.001-04:00

My mom and I stayed at the hotel while Ariel went to work, but he was able to come and visit us on his lunchbreak, hence the shirt and tie while we're in bathing suits. It was such a nice time!

Baby

2011-02-02T19:41:00.000-04:00

Josiah liked the beds on the beach the best.

Hotel time

2011-02-02T19:38:00.001-04:00

Before we left, I got sent an offer for an allinclusive hotel in the DR. It was for $20/person a day for what normally is over $100/person a day. My dad booked us in and we were able to relax and enjoy the beach and sun and rest up!

Family

2011-02-02T19:36:00.001-04:00

New Years

2011-02-02T19:31:00.000-04:00

We celebrated New Year's Eve at church with the whole group

Daddy Ariel

2011-01-19T14:54:00.002-04:00

I love watching Ariel be a daddy. I love being a parent with Ariel. All the things I learned in 6 weeks, Ariel had a crash course in in just a few days. He's doing so well in his new role and it's fun to be parents together. Sometimes, well, everyday, we watch Josiah sleep together. Yesterday Ariel went to put the baby to sleep for the night and it had been quiet for awhile, so I went to check on them. I walked in to find Ariel asleep and Josiah sucking Ariel's finger with wide eyes!! That being said, he has such patience and stamina that is so necessary as this little one grows and changes. Oh, how nice it is to be together. May I never take it for granted.

Words

2011-01-19T12:16:00.002-04:00

I feel like I'm drowning in pictures and will never get them all posted. Because of that, I lack any post of actual significance. So here I am taking a break from the photos, which I love so much, but just breaking to actually write something more than a passing thought. So here are some insights into these last two months of motherhood...

-I love being a mom more than I thought
-I'm more tired than I thought
-I never knew how much I would need my mom
-I love this kid so much, it literally hurts my guts sometimes
-Sometimes I stay in my pajamas all day until just before Ariel gets home and I get cleaned up to pretend I've been like that all day
-There are days when nothing else gets done except napping, breastfeeding, and diaper changes
-Most of the time, I don't know what I'm doing
-I need more help than I thought I would
-It is the most overwhemling, amazing, incredible feeling in the world.

What I love about being Josiah's mom these days
-how he smiles when he looks at me
-when he touches my face while nursing
-that he knows me
-that I'm the go-to person when he's upset
-that he fusses when I come in the room after he's just woken up and sees me

-I have done all the things I said I wouldn't do:
+take the carseat into the store
+not go out because he is napping
+get home early cause he needs to nap
+let my life revolve around naps
+use a pacifier

-Sometimes I feel like a bad mom cause I don't follow what the books say, or even the law, like:
+I let Josiah sleep on my chest and sometimes I sleep too. I mean, really, sometimes we just need to do that
+I've taken him out of his carseat while the car is moving. On a freeway. And breastfed. But I wasn't driving.
+Sometimes I let him cry and walk away. Hey, after all our time together, I think we could both use a break.
+letting him nap his whole nap with the pacifier in because I know he'll stay asleep longer
+sometimes the only "tummy time" he gets in the day is when he is sleeping on it
+I left him with the sales clerk while I grabbed my purse from the car (he was in his carseat and that thing weighs too much and it was just right outside the door...always in sight)

I had to do lists because that's how my mind has become to function better. I am always checking the clock and trying to remember his last feeding/nap/diaper/burp/coo/etc. So I make lists a lot too, trying to remember things that my brain pushes out so it can instead remember these useless times, because in all reality, it doesn't matter if he ate an hour ago...I'm going to feed him again if I think that's what that cry means.

It's the best thing being a mom. I love the ups and downs and cries and smiles and coos and wiggles. There's just nothing else like it.

Meeting

2011-01-19T12:14:00.001-04:00

Josiah continues to be a champ as he meets the whole world! We take walks and stop at almost every house (or so it seems sometimes) and meet as we walk! He's gotten lots of cuddles from his great grandmas which is fantastic!

Wash

2011-01-19T12:11:00.003-04:00

Ariel asked me if he could be in charge of washing the baby's clothes. Of course! He is such a good husband and always says how much he loves to wash such little clothes. I have to admit, I kind of like it too. There's just something fun about pulling mini socks out of the water...

Visiting work

2011-01-11T12:20:00.002-04:00

Josiah got to visit his proud daddy at work too. Ariel was smiling from ear to ear as he got to show off his little boy to everyone. We went from office to office and Josiah went from hand to hand. He doesn't know what to make of all these changes yet but is doing amazingly well. His dad is so proud of him though and it's worth it all to see how he loves this little guy!

Family time

2011-01-11T12:12:00.003-04:00

Josiah continues to spend time with family and friends and get to know them all. It has been nice to just have relaxed time with everyone, not needing to rush out to the next thing. Ariel has had a lot of days off as well with all the holidays, so it's been great to have him so near. I have been learning lots about breastfeeding in public and have become somewhat of a pro at it. Thankfully the DR isn't as sensitive as the US about things like that so I don't feel so nervous about covering up.

Back in Montellano

2011-01-07T10:26:00.001-04:00

Josiah continued meeting family and friends once we got back to Montellano. It was funny because we had just come from cold Oregon and it seemed fairly warm to us in the DR. Well, for the Domincans, it was cold and so everyone thought I had to have a hat on Josiah's head. Not only did I not put a hat on him, I was actually taking clothes off the poor kid cause he was sweating! It's just a different climate and customs...we're all getting used to the differences!

Puerto Plata arrival

2011-01-07T10:18:00.002-04:00

We got off the bus in Puerto Plata to what seemed like the entire city waiting for us! It was such an emotion for everyone to be there to meet this little man. Josiah was a little overwhelmed by it, but he's starting to get used to lots of new faces and getting passed around. I loved how proud Ariel was to show off his son, bringing people over to see him and making sure we had a picture of each step of the way.

At Last!

2011-01-07T10:11:00.002-04:00

And then it actually happened, we got to finally be with Ariel. Words can't describe the joy and relief it was to be by his side again. How amazing and special it was to be able to hand him his baby after all these weeks. He just kept staring at him and watching him and smiling. I loved watching Ariel watch Josiah.

We stayed in Santo Domingo for the night, as it's about 4 hours away from where we live in Puerto Plata, but it worked out well because we were able to go to the U.S. Consulate for Ariel's visa. He had an open appointment from the last time he was there, so we went first thing the next morning. After waiting for 3 hours, we were both called into a little booth. I was so nervous at this point as this was going to decide so much for us. We lasted about 30 seconds in there, which included maybe 5 questions, and the visa was approved. Finally. We would be together in the States after all. I was beginning to doubt it! From there we jumped on the bus to Puerto Plata with so much to be thankful for.

Ft. Lauderdale

2011-01-07T10:06:00.002-04:00

We got into Florida at 5am Florida time...that's just 2 for us Oregonians! We spent what seemed like an eternity there, walking, sitting, eating. Because of so many other cancelled flights, the airport was packed with often no place to sit, yet alone a good enough place to sit to nurse little Josiah. We did our best though and made it to the next flight. We had seats in the first row which was awesome for getting on and off and moving around with a baby. It was such a relief to step onto that last plane, knowing that Ariel would be on the other end finally! My mom was such a huge help during all the journey, walking Josiah and giving my arms a break. She was a great pack horse and got all the equipment around for us. I couldn't have done it without her, honestly.

First stop: Long Beach

2011-01-06T16:39:00.002-04:00

One of the great things about the re-routing was that we got to meet up with my brother Dennis and sister in law Abby in Long Beach. They drove the hour out to meet us at the airport and have dinner for a few hours. It was so nice to be with them again, I haven't seen them for 3 years! They got to have some cuddle time with Josiah as well which is always special! It's amazing how it worked out that way, I'm so glad it did! We then got on a stand by flight to Ft Lauderdale and literally ran to find our seats on the plane when they said we were on it! What a relief to know we were really and truly going to make it to Ariel!

To the Dominican Republic!!

2011-01-06T16:35:00.002-04:00

We finally made it to the 27th of December...the day to go to Ariel!!! And wouldn't it just work out that a huge snow storm in NY cancelled our flight! My mom and I headed early to the airport and had some magic workers at Jet Blue work for nearly 2 hours to find us a way there! We got routed through Long Beach and then to Ft Lauderdale, then to Santo Domingo...but it meant we would get there. Josiah did so well on the flights, just sleeping and eating and smiling. He got his first flight wings which he is excited about too!

Christmas Day

2011-01-06T16:22:00.003-04:00

Christmas Day we started with oatmeal pancakes and bacon..the best way! Josiah then got to read his books, which he pays attention to so much. headed over to the McCool grandparents house. The boys started early with their bows and arrows and loved running through the fields shooting everything! It is way more fun having Christmas with a kid...even if he is a baby. Josiah loved Christmas this year and can't wait until the next one!

Christmas Eve

2011-01-06T16:17:00.002-04:00

We celebrated Christmas with the Dixon family on Christmas Eve. John and Rachel and the kids came over along with my Dixon granparents. We had a great dinner that my mom made and then to the presents! Josiah was showered with all sorts of gifts that he was, of course, thrilled about! I'm excited about his Johnny Jump Up! It says he can't be in it until 4 months, but at the rate this kid is going, I feel like I could nearly put him in it already! Ariel sent him an amazingly soft blanket that he cuddles up in, it makes him even more snuggly, if that is possible!

Vaccines

2011-01-06T16:12:00.002-04:00

Josiah got his 2 month shots a bit early (at 6 weeks) because we'll be heading to the DR. He didn't get any extras, just the regular baby shots, but it was still a lot! He got some oral drops and then 3 injections! Poor little guy. I held my breath and was brave...and Josiah was too. He did really well and just got a bit crabby in the nighttime. He was all smiles to the pediatrician though and had a great check-up. He's now a whopping 10 lbs of a baby and going strong!

Two hands

2011-01-06T16:10:00.000-04:00

Hey, sometimes you just need your hands free, you know?!

Growing up

2011-01-06T16:07:00.002-04:00

This baby is growing so fast! It is so hard because I love each new thing he is learning and doing but then realize he's leaving behind his newborn days. He is so strong and holding his head up like a champ...so much so that he hates laying down or being cradled like a baby! If he's being held, it has to be upright only! He's smiling more and so attentive and interactive, following with his eyes and starting to recognize me. Hey, that only took 6 weeks!

Ready for Christmas

2011-01-06T16:00:00.002-04:00

Josiah got some great Christmas outfits this year and looked so sweet in them! He wore them a lot as the days got closer, full of Christmas cheer! Someday I may get in trouble for putting him in these outfits, but as he's just a baby, I took advantage of it!

Salem visit

2011-01-06T15:57:00.003-04:00

We got to visit the Dixon family in Salem and see their Christmas tree. Josiah did so well on the car ride and is starting to put up with his car seat a lot better! He has the best big cousins that love him so much and take care of him. It's fun to see them with him and how they are ready for anything!

Seattle

2010-12-15T19:30:00.002-04:00

We made a trip to Seattle this week to get Josiah's first passport! With the new rules, they require both parents to be present or a signed form if they can't. So after mailing things back and forth to Ariel (via friends that are there) we were ready. We went first into Portland to get a copy of his birth certificate, then to get the cutest passport photos EVER! We had an appt for Tuesday at 10 am, so my dad suggested we just head up Monday night and be there so that we didn't have to drive so early on Tuesday morning. It was perfect! We didn't get into the hotel until around midnight, and after feeding and showering, got to sleep around 1:30 a.m., but it was so nice not to have to drive early morning!

We dropped off the passport papers then had to wait about 4 hours, so my mom and I walked around the mall and parts of Seattle. I had a fantastic mix of sore throat, cough, laryngitis, and pink eye, so I was a good travel companion! We made it through the day though and walked around nice and bundled up.

It was a cold and super windy day in Seattle, so we wore coats and hats and gloves. Josiah traveled in style in the Moby and under blankets. When the wind did creep in, he started squirming around!

So we are officially ready for travel to the Dominican Republic!! It is the cutest little passport and we are so thankful to have it and be one step closer to being together again with Ariel!!

Another photo?

2010-12-15T19:17:00.003-04:00

So I'm giving Josiah the "least photographed baby" award. It's just that he's pretty stinking cute and I'm constantly wanting to photograph it and send them all to Ariel to see! I send pictures daily so he gets to see his little man. It is going to be the most joyful day when we walk off that airplane into Ariel's arms. This has been such a challenge to be so far apart, but again, we trust that this was the best plan all along, that God has chosen this for us, and try to do our best with pictures and videos. But believe me, we are desperately looking forward to the 28th of December when we will finally be the parents that we dreamed of being together!

Santa!

2010-12-15T19:12:00.001-04:00

Josiah made his first trip to sit on Santa's lap while Julie was here. He got all dressed up for the event and after waiting in line asleep, sat so well on Santa's lap. I know he's my kid, but it's pretty much the cutest Santa pictures I've seen!

Julie visits!

2010-12-15T19:05:00.002-04:00

My best friend Julie and her little man Drew came to visit from Arizona last weekend. It was so special to see her again, even though we did so little! I'm still working on getting my sleep adjusted and need naps almost as much as Josiah, but we had a good time together anyhow. We were sent out of the house by my parents, ordered to leave the babies, and got pedicures. The next day the babies got to go with us to the mall and walk around. It was such a nice time to see her for a few days and catch up and we're hoping that next time, maybe it'll be Ariel and I visiting her in Arizona!!

Thanksgiving

2010-12-15T18:48:00.001-04:00

On Thanksgiving we visited both sets of grandparents (or greats for Josiah). We went to visit the Dixons first and then in the afternoon to the McCools. Josiah liked being packed around in the Moby and snuggled up and slept. It is still fantastic and fun to be in Oregon...it hasn't quite worn off yet. Having Thanksgiving in the DR with all the Americans was fun, but just is never the same as being with family!

Watching

2010-12-15T18:39:00.002-04:00

This little baby keeps us smiling! He loves to hold his head up and does so surprisingly well. He also loves watching the Christmas tree with its lights and colors, although I'm sure it looks pretty similar to the bottom right picture to him!

Christmastime

2010-12-15T18:35:00.001-04:00

Mr. J is ready for Christmas...

O Christmas tree

2010-12-15T18:28:00.002-04:00

We got the Christmas tree awhile back and Josiah had fun picking it out. Acutally, he slept the whole time, but he likes sleeping so that was fun for him. It has been YEARS since I got to pick out a Christmas tree, so it was nice to get to go along and find one!

Alert!

2010-12-15T18:10:00.002-04:00

Mr. Josiah is so alert and attentive! When he is awake, he watches so closely and takes everything in. He looks so intently it seems he is going to say something the next minute! He is starting to have little smiles when he's awake which is super sweet. My favorite smiles are still right after he's done breastfeeding when he's in what I like to call his "milk coma", fully passed out, and he has big gummy smiles. Especially at 3 a.m., those are the best!

My mom

2010-11-26T13:25:00.002-04:00

So of all the moms in the world, I got the best! It has been so fantastic to be staying with my parents in this time. They have spoiled me and supported me and loved me through it all. My mom stayed awake with me in the hospital through every contraction, and didn't leave my side for the c-section (except to take some photos of the new one!). She makes sure I'm getting my naps and brings me snacks while I breastfeed.

I love breastfeeding, don't get me wrong, but when the kid is eating every 2-3 hours for 30-40 minutes each time, that it a lot of sitting time. It's good because it forces me to slow down and I get to sit there and stare at him and pray over him and think through a lot of things. But it can also get boring sometimes and my mom is great at sitting and talking with me and waiting for him to get done! It's also amazing to have extra hands and great advice. About 1,000 times a day I'm asking if this or that is normal and how to do something. She could be making it up for all I know, but it is also so nice to have answers! So in the list of things I'm thankful for...my mom is way up there!

Going to see Papi!

2010-11-26T13:07:00.002-04:00

We are going to be heading to the DR again in a few short (please, be short!!) weeks. On December 27th, we'll head back for the first trip for Josiah and the first time for he and his daddy to cuddle and love on each other. I wait and pray for that day with so much anticipation and excitement. I get watery eyes and cry (okay, a little postpartum hormones going on here!) just thinking about how sweet and special those first moments and days will be.

We have been making the most of these days apart by sending photos and videos like crazy. Ariel has always been the most positive and uplifting person that ever existed, so he constantly reminds me this is best for Josiah and we have made the right decisions. Although the time has been long, we are thankful it has been filled with lots of blessings and great days. We will cherish even more deeply now the time we are together and know how special it is.

We decided to wait until after Josiah completed his 6th week of life and we can get him his first round of vaccines and he has a little more time drinking ultra-defense building breastmilk! We will, of course, take all the extra precautions with him, but the main sources of illness (food/water) won't be an issue for Josiah as he is on a strict mama milk diet! We also just have to let go of our fears of illness and trust that God has done great things in Josiah's life and will always care for him just the same. We can't live in fear of the little things when the great big things have already been taken care of.

Photo shoot

2010-11-26T13:01:00.002-04:00

We had multiple photo shoots of Mr. Josiah and it's so fun to have the photos. Who knew how much work it is to photograph a newborn! They have to be sound asleep so you can move them and position them. But that means eating before photos and then getting rocked soundly...it's a time-consuming process.

We also had a LOT of space heaters, plus the house heater going for his little naked shots. There was no way he would have slept so well without it!

Love

2010-11-26T12:56:00.001-04:00

The love is stronger each and every day (is that possible??!!) for little Josiah. He has started smiling in his sleep with is awesome...but means I often just sit and watch him sleep when I ought to be doing something else (sleeping?). Visitors continue to meet Josiah and it is great to see everyone love on him.

Josiah also got his first snow! Don't worry, he was outside for probably a whole minute to take this picture, and actually was happy about it. He was so bundled up...he's wrapped in a blanket beneath that snow suit! He's taken a loving to his bouncy chair and loves to sit in that and stare at us!

Week 1

2010-11-26T12:49:00.003-04:00

Josiah had a great first week. Loads of friends and family came to visit and meet Josiah for the first time. He continues to do well at eating and sleeping and filling diapers! He went to the pediatrician for the first time and gained 4 ounces from his hospital discharge weight, so we were happy about that (minimum was 2 ounces).

I still believe that God has given us the most perfect baby. I never knew I could love SO much, it's incredible. I can stare at this little man the whole day long. My heart aches when I think of just how special he is. What a blessing it is to have a baby!

First days

2010-11-22T19:00:00.002-04:00

He did so well in the hospital, his exams were all fantastic and by Sunday, we were ready to go home. I was waiting for the "how to raise this new baby you've been given" manual, but they seem to have sent me home without one. Thankfully I've got my mom nearby and extra help is always near.