Sleep Problems

Though he looks like a little angel when he's asleep, those times are still all too few. He doesn't nap long during the day and wakes often at night. I'm just hoping he'll grow out of it soon.

Polar Bear

I needed to take Joshua out early in the morning so he had to be all bundled and dressed warmly. I thought, what's warmer than a bear? Incidentally, Joshua's fever has broken and so has mine. He's mostly better, I'm at about 50%, and poor daddy has just come down with it.

A day in the life of Joshua

It's a busy life for a 5 month old. He needs to investigate toys, sleep off that exertion. Then he's hanging out wearing his shades when a teething fit happens and it's time to chew up sports bear! Now he's taking a milk break before bed while mommy posts his pictures on the computer. Check out how blue his eyes have gotten!

Bear Bottom

No, I didn't spell it wrong.

He's so cute!

Ok, I'm taking a lot of pictures, but he's so cute!

Wow! Feet!

Joshua has discovered his feet! Apparently they look yummy.

Joshua is playing

Joshua is busily playing on his mat, but he's not too busy to smile at mommy!

He thinks he's a plane

Joshua is wanting to crawl, but he's still getting the hang of things. He'll get his knees under him but forget the chest, or lift his chest up and forget his knees...I think he just got frustrated and is now trying to just fly away like superman! His alternate technique is to spin on his tummy so that he can see the whole room without actually leaving his starting spot.

Playing

Joshua has learned to play with his exersaucer.

Easter

My little man is too big for his bassinet now. Here are some pictures of him being a little chick for Easter.

Smiley Baby

Joshua is a Smiley Baby!

More Baby Pictures

More Pictures of my little Pumpkin...

Joshua Carl DeClark

Joshua was born November 25, 2006, exactly on his due date. He was a whopping 9.5 lbs!!! He's now around 14 lbs and doing wonderfully. He rolled over last weekend and is a happy, smiley baby!

No baby yet

Gene and I went to see the midwife on Tuesday. I seem to be having some pre-labor contractions, but nothing major yet. No, they're not braxton hicks. Apparently, for those of you who would like the personal details, I was at that time not quite at 1 centemeter, 50% effaced, and the baby is at zero station, or fully dropped. The last part was my favorite because it means that my hips are definitely wide enough for his head, since it's already down there. Being a woman of somewhat less than ample hips, and carrying this enormous bulge in front of me, I had begun to wonder. The upshot of all this is that I continue to get prelabor contractions. I am dialating and effacing more but the baby could come any time between right now and a week or more from now. After next Saturday we'll talk about induction if he hasn't made an appearance. Overall, I'm just pleased that I have a very considerate baby who waited so that mommy and daddy could have a nice Thanksgiving dinner.

Wait, I'm supposed to drop the baby?

Gene and I went to our baby appointment today. We go in weekly from here on out. All is well with Joshua and he's standing on his head facing my left side. I'm supposed to crawl around some to help him move so that he's facing my back. Joshua is still up in my ribs a bit, but apparently after this week he should begin to drop. This can happen gradually or very suddenly, but one way or another it will be nice to take a deep breath again.

The Great Pumpkin

Gene and I enjoyed halloween this year. Even though Joshua isn't technically able to dress up, we dressed him up anyway. Joshua was the great Pumpkin this year. I suppose that makes me the great pumpkin patch...hmmm....

The Last Month

My entire life is going to change in a month. I have 4 weeks left and everyone keeps asking if I'm sick of being pregnant. Actually, no, I'm really enjoying being pregnant. I'll be happy when the pain next to my sternum goes away, and it'll be nice to be able to lie flat comfortably again, and being less awkward will be nice. That said, while I'm eager to meet Joshua, I think that I'm happy to be pregnant just as long as he needs me to be. I know that I'm very fortunate to be having such a smooth pregnancy so far. As long as it continues smoothly, I'm going to enjoy every minute of it and keep marveling that such a thing is possible at all.

Hiccups

My baby is apparently prone to hiccups. I don't know if this will last after he's born, but right now every few days he gets the hiccups. Unfortunately for me, since he's floating, there's nothing to hold him steady. His entire little body moves with each "hic." It's an interesting sensation to say the least.

Our baby has a name

Gene thought it would be a good idea to name the baby, rather than calling him "Baby DeClark" for his entire life. This posed something of a problem since there are a nearly infinite list of baby names to choose from. Finally, after much deliberation, a consensus has been reached. Gene and I are expecting: Joshua Carl DeClark.

TopsyTurvey

My little baby is already turning out to be well behaved. We went to the doctor yesterday and apparently he's already standing on his head. For those of you out there who haven't gone through this already, that means he's in position to be born and isn't trying to come out feet first. I personally can't imagine that standing on your head for 6 weeks is a comfortable thing, but then again I'm not a baby, so I guess things are a little different for him. My tummy was measured and is just the size it's supposed to be...AKA HUGE! The baby's heart speeds when he moves, which apparently indicates that he is healthy and doing well. We're in the home stretch now, so I go in every 2 weeks from hear on out, just to check on how he's doing.