364 days old...

Tomorrow is Joshua's first birthday and if you ask him how old he is, he will show you (sometimes).

Joshua teaches us new things everyday. Some things we now know:

• A baby doesn't have to be one year old to try to play one parent off the other.
• You can watch the sunrise from the rocking chair in Joshua's room. It makes being awakened before sunrise a little easier when you can rock a snuggly baby and watch the sun come up.
• Telling Joshua "no" produces the same results as spanking him.
• Babies with ear infections are miserable and being away from home with a sick baby is miserable for the parents.

(photo taken on 1/7/10-it was snowing outside and we had just been out to check the mail. The Crimson Tide was about to play for the National Championship.)

It us unbelievable to us how much Joshua has grown up in one year. He gained another tooth this week...that makes 4! He continues to fight an ear infection in his right ear-hopefully round 2 of antibiotics will take care of it. Joshua loves to play peek-a-boo and will say boo to his reflection in the mirror and crack himself up. In addition to these new developments, these are things we know about Joshua:

• Joshua does not need music playing to dance. Sometimes the rhythm takes over and he starts dancing on the spot.
• Joshua loves to laugh and make others laugh.
• He is a problem solver. For example: Joshua spent 10 minutes last night figuring out how to move the chairs we had set up as a barricade at the door in order to get out of the living room.
• Joshua is very curious. He opens doors, drawers, cabinets, books, baskets, boxes, etc. just to see what is inside.

(Joshua also likes to remind you where the Crimson Tide is ranked after their win over Texas!)

We are celebrating Joshua's birthday Saturday with our families. Joshua is having an E-I-E-I-O party. We are looking forward to having everyone at our house celebrating with us.