Kentucky Part II The Horse Races

KEENELAND

Blue Grass Stakes

2006

What an absolutely gorgeous day we had at the horse races. I think we finally got all packed up and headed down the races at about noon. Just in time to figure out how to make a few bets on the first couple of races. I had only been to the races one time and Dan had never been, so we had lots of questions but when it came down to it...we just did things simple:) Dan picked all of the long shots (the ones who were not expected to win) and I picked the 2nd and 5th horse in every race (the 2nd for Josiah's B-day and the 5th for Dan's B-day). All in all we won about $45...not above and beyond our bets, but since the money was a gift, it was as if we really did win some money:)

All in all it was just a fun day. The following pictures are just a few I took while at the races...

On our walk into the races there was a horse in the stall that was very willing to get his picture taken...too funny!

A few of mom, dad and Josiah (and Samantha:)

Josiah and his cousins being silly...having a good time at the races:)

We took up 2 rows...19 adults and 13 kids...that's alot of family. I think the cousins all had a great time getting to know one another. I know I had a great time getting to see family I hadn't seen in a long time. It was also great for the family to meet Josiah:)

We left before the last race, hoping to beat the crowds, but I think lots of people had the same idea. At any rate we had a few minutes to take our shoes off and play in the grass while we waited for the rest of the group to head on out. Josiah seems to really like the grass!!

When we got back to the hotel, Josiah was awake and we were excited to get him in the swimming pool!! His first time in the swimming pool! I had alot of fun....we got the video camera out and took pictures. I think Dan was just as glad to be the photographer than to be in the pool. It was so great...the only other person in the pool with us was his cousin Samantha. So there weren't lots of kids scaring him and splashin him. It was also fun to be in the pool with Samantha to see how great she is doing in the pool...swimming under water and jumping in the deep end. I think she had a good time too:)

Kentucky Part III Easter

EASTER

To start the day off, Josiah slept in:( Which meant that we had to rush around to get everything packed up so we could head over to the other hotel for the Easter Egg hunt. Kind of a bummer that we had to rush around on Josiah's first Easter, but I did get a picture with him and his Easter Basket (a gift from Grammy Dianne..too cute).

My brother Doug had this great idea to have the Easter Egg hunt outside on the lawn of the hotel where they stayed. There was a big hill out back and he invisioned the old style Easter Egg hunts where there were lots of eggs scattered all over the hillside. Dan and I missed the initial hunt because Josiah slept in which we hadn't expected and we were late. So I was really dissapointed that we missed all the kids scurrying about looking for their eggs..that must have been to cute. And there is no way you can make 12 little kids wait for something as exciting as the Easter Egg hunt. But Josiah's eggs were at the bottom of the hill pretty much all in one area, so we still got to search for eggs and a few of the kids were still looking for their eggs.

After the Easter Egg hunt we gathered for some group pictures. There were 13 children and 19 adults. We didn't get a picture of the entire group which was kind of a bummer, but very difficult to do. We did get a picture of all the siblings and their spouses. I have 8 brothers in total and am the youngest and obviously the only girl. These are my 2 real brothers and 3 of my stepbrothers.

Then we were off to have an Easter Brunch and celebrate Grandma H. 85th B-day. Nothing like eating cake right after breakfast:) How fun for Grandma to have almost her entire family with her to celebrate her 85th B-day. What a weekend!!

OUR VERY 1ST EASTER AS A FAMILY

Josiah Rolls Over

(This picture was taken just seconds after he completed his roll over...I wanted to get the video camera to capture the first one on film...but I was afraid I would miss it;)

Josiah rolled over today and I didn't miss it. I was so afraid that I would miss it, but he was kind enough to wait just a few seconds so that I could see the last of the roll. I had gone to the kitchen to get something and he was on the floor playing in his room. From the time I walked to the kitchen and back he was completely on his side (which he hadn't done before). And right before my very eyes he completes the roll over from back to tummy:) I felt so proud of him!!!! He wasn't even frustrated when he got there...he just started to reach out for the frog sitting in front of him!!

Josiah 1sts

1st Time in the Crib

It is so great having the crib set up...it feels like a real nursery. Now I just need to get on the ball and put up the rest of the mickey mouse stuff I have. Right now it looks a little like McDonalds, but with the crib up and the mickey crib bumper it is started to take shape:) It only took him a day to get used to it and now he takes all of his naps in there!!

1st Time Eating Food

(Mom feeds Josiah his first real food-Carrots. He didn't seem to mind the carrots to much, but the next day he gagged and gagged on them. We finally figured out that we could only do either a fruit or a veggie, not both in one meal. Not yet anyway)

(Dad feeds Josiah his first fruit..pears. Doesn't really like them so much...but he warmed up to them within a few days:)

He has now tried carrots (1st veggie), pears (1st fruit), apples and sweet potatoes (dad says he loves the sweet potatoes...he even dives for the spoon to get more...he doesn't do this with any of the others). Although he is starting to like the apples. I think the next foods to try will be peaches and squash. We'll see how it goes:)

Other Baby Milestones

1. He is sitting up with his hands propped on the ground
2. Trying his darndest to roll over
3. Arching his back to get out of his carseat (little stinker)
4. Reaching out and grabbing anything and everything that is in front or to the side of him.
5. Sucking and chewing on everything that he grabs onto.
6. He has the most adorable laugh. We can get him to laugh by just saying "Pie" funniest thing in the world:)
7. He loves being outside...and slowly but surely learning how to breath in the wind.
8. Loves having his shoes and socks off. This is very new to him since he has been bundled up since he was born.

1. Loves the grass...I put him on his belly the other day on the grass and he just pulled the grass out...I think he just thought it felt kind of like daddies beard and he loves to pull on that:)
2. Just started wearing size 2 diapers this past weekend. 3 wet clothes in one day clued us in:)
3. He went to sleep last night for the first time since he was a week old without a bath. Seemed to be ok...however his nights are not what they used to be. I think the food has given him alot of gas and he wakes up crying alot. Thank goodness all I have to do is give him his pacifier and he goes back to sleep. But that is happening about every 2hours now. I miss the nights where he slept through the night without hardly making a peep. Hopefully they will return some day soon:)
4. Yesterday was Josiah's first trip to the zoo! We went with Katie and Noah...what a perfect day for a day at the zoo. I think the mom's had a better time than the kiddo's, but all in due time, they will love seeing the animals.

   

5. This past weekend he took his first bath in the big bath tub with mom. We put swimsuits on so that he could get used to the feel of it in water. We are hoping to go in the big pool this weekend.

6. 1st time in a Polo shirt....pretty snazzy! And these two pictures turned out so nice, I just had to post them:)

Visiting Grandma and Grandpa

We had such a wonderful time at Grandma and Grandpa's these past couple of days. We went to Dow Gardens for a nice long walk and Josiah woke up just in time to see the butterflies. He actually almost squished one because he wants to put everything in his mouth. Luckily I swooped in and saved the little butterfly from the grasps of little Josiah:) We had beautiful weather to get out and get some fresh air yesterday. I am soooo looking forward to spring and summer. I really enjoy taking Josiah for walks and the older he gets the more he will enjoy them!!

It was also a very productive couple of days as well. During one of Josiah's short naps my mom and I got my car completely cleaned out. It needed it badly and would have been pretty tough for me to do by myself. And since we are taking a road trip next week I thought it was a good time to get it done.

You probably can't tell in the picture but my mom cut my hair. We have been cutting each others hair since she trusted me to cut hers when I was probably around 15 or so, I can't really remember...of course she had always cut my hair growing up. Then when I went away to college, she cut it on and off, but when I wanted to cut 8-10 inches off I went to the salon...I didn't think she could bare cutting all the long beautiful hair off (kind of vain, but I did always have really long pretty hair:) At any rate, I am sooo glad I had her cut it again. She always does the best job:) And it feels so good to have it the length I want it!

4 Months Old Already!

Cute as a button!!

I can hardly believe that Josiah is 4 months old already. The time sure has flown! We are having more and more fun every day!!! He is just so funny and has the best little personality. I couldn't have asked or dreamed of a more laid back easy going kid. He has melded into our lives without a hitch. Dan and I are such content parents, because this little guy is the best. Yah, we have our rough times when he cries alot or when we just can't seem to figure out what we can do for him or just fussy times. But when he wakes up and he is grinning up at me, my heart just melts. He laughs alot and is always charming the women he meets (men too, but especially the ladies;) hehehe Those dimples are to die for and I am sure he will grow up learning how to use them to his advantage.

As with every other month he has been alive I have taken pictures on his month birthday and here are a few more of my favorites...

Gotta love the pacifier/serious face:)

This face is pretty new...he loves to suck on his bottom lip
(very handy when feeding him)!!

Eating oatmeal for the first time! I love this picture because it is very
hick (no shoes, no shirt and a camo bib)! A if you click on the picture you can
see the oatmeal smeared all over his face.

Can't turn your back...even for a second!!

I was typing at the computer and had Josiah in the kick and play bouncy seat. I didn't buckle him in because it was only going to be for a couple of minutes. So I was typing away and looked over at him and this is what I saw...

He was just having a good ole time. He could finally grab a hold of the toys now that he was half way down the seat:) But we really do have to strap him in and not leave him on the changing table or anything like that. Even though he isn't quite rolling over yet...he is very close and is constantly trying no matter where he is:) Oh the days are about to get very interesting when he is mobile.

3 Months Old (A Little behind, sorry;)

I didn't post his 3 month pictures because I wanted to make sure that the grandparents got their picitures before I posted them. So here they are! Christy did an AWSOME job...but then again when you have a kid as cute as we do...:) She took 20 pictures or so and we had a really hard time deciding which ones we wanted blown up because they were all so good...but we got the last three pictures blown up and are hanging in our living room:)