Emma Leigh

Emma Leigh on the last day of 2005, just a few hours shy of 7 weeks old! What a happy girl! What a sweet precious blessing! December 31, 2005

Joshua's New Bedroom

Formerly known as Raini's Room, this has now become Joshua's New Room. More room to play, a bigger bed, a real dresser (LOL), and now little Emma Leigh has a crib in the nursery. She doesn't sleep there yet, but that will happen soon. She's 7 weeks old now and doesn't fit very well in her bassinet anymore. My kids are growing up so fast! December 31, 2005

A Toad and his baby sister watch Nemo Fish Movie together. December 26, 2005

Christmas

Great Grandpa H reads a book with Joshua while waiting for Christmas dinner. December 25, 2005


This is Colby standing in the fun tube we got Josh for Christmas, holding Joshua by the ankles inside! If you look close, you can see Josh's face through the highest window in the tube! December 25, 2005


Our family on Christmas morning, 2005. Colby: 27, Lisa: 26, Joshua: 2, Emma Leigh: 6 weeks.


Miss Emma Leigh sitting on the couch in her little sleeper with Pooh Bear on it that says "Merry Christmas". She is exactly six weeks old! December 25, 2005

Before the fun began...

Christmas Eve, waiting to open presents! December 24, 2005

Sabbath afternoon

Sabbath afternoon and Grandma was happy as could be! Holding a cutie baby and reading to Joshua! December 24, 2005

Grandma M got to give Emma Leigh her Sabbath bath! December 23, 2005

Our Christmas tree with the skirt that Mom made me under it! You can't see it very well, but it's very cute! December 19, 2005 

Look! She's smiling! What a cutie! She smiled at us for the first time on Sabbath! This was taken last night, December 19, 2005 

Yeah, not that great of a picture, but this is me driving down Valley Road. December 18, 2005 

Driving down Valley Road on my way to get the Sunday paper (by myself! no kids!) December 18, 2005 

Trinket thinks the round ornament box is a perfect fit! December 16, 2005 

The siding is going up! It is actually a nice color called Village Green, but the cloudiness yesterday made the lighting bad. This picture makes it look brownish, but it's not. December 14, 2005 

This is my 1-month-old baby girl! Time is going by so fast! She holds her head up well, and even tries to roll over! No smiles yet, though. Can't wait for that moment! December 13, 2005 

What a big girl! December 13, 2005 

The view this morning from the window in the stairwell, looking southeast. Temp. about 20 degrees. December 9, 2005 

Joshua helped decorate the Christmas tree last night! He was very proud of himself for hanging the bulbs up! December 8, 2005 

Here's a good profile shot of Emma Leigh. We had the home visit from the nurse at the Health Department on Tuesday. At 3 weeks and 2 days Emma Leigh weighed 9 lbs. 15.5 oz. Just half an ounce shy of 10 lbs. At 24 hours old she weighed 8 lbs. 7 oz., so she has gained 24.5 ounces in 3 weeks, which is about 8 oz/wk. The nurse said a good weight gain is 5-8 oz/wk, so we're doing good! December 7, 2005 

This is Joshua yesterday morning talking to Grandma A. He's pointing at a scratch he has on his knee and telling her about it. And no, he's not completely naked! He does have training pants on! Every morning and every night we go through this mostly-naked phase where Josh begs to have a fuzzy blankie on his tummy or his legs. And so we wrap him up in a fuzzy blankie and he laughs a special laugh and snuggles in until his restlessness gets the better of him and he gets up to go play with his trucks or tractors. At which point we wrestle him down and get him dressed! Oh, and I have a *News Flash*: Joshua Toad has suddenly and completely abandoned his yellow fuzzy blankies!! Instead, he wants the Sponge Bob fuzzy blankie that has been hanging around here unnoticed for about a year! December 7, 2005 

A close-up of little Emmy Leigh! She will be 3 weeks old tomorrow! December 3, 2005 

After church today we went to Josh and Caleb's and had lunch with them. This is Joshua and Emma Leigh sitting on the couch over there, Josh is saying "Go night-night on baby sister!" He tries to go night-night on anything and everything that feels soft to him! December 3, 2005 

An exerpt from "The Johnny Popper"

"The Johnny Popper" is the Monthly Newsletter of the Michiana Two-Cylinder Club. Here is an article from their October 2005 newsletter:

"On Saturday night, August 20, the Two-Cylinder Barn at the Berrien Co. Youth Fair was overflowing with people hoping to hear a familiar name called out when Bob G. reached into the barrel of 675 entries. And the winner is - two-year-old Joshua J.!

John Deere tractors and implements have been running in the J* family for many years. Joshua's great-great grandfather Faye J. and brother Floyd operated the first John Deere dealership in Kalkaska County, Michigan in the early 1920's.

Back then, there were still lots of Michigan fields to be cleared of trees and it was a long and difficult job to get a field ready for the first planting. Knowing how their Dad felt, Faye and Floyd went behind their father's back and purchased a John Deere tractor to help clear stumps from the field.

When their Dad discovered they had bought a tractor, he challenged them by stating that his team of horses (he was known across the country for owning several of the best draft horse teams in the nation) could pull more stumps in a day than they could with their "newfangled" tractor. After only a few hours in the field competing with his sons, he left the field convinced the John Deere tractor was a useful piece of equipment. He then allowed his sons, Faye and Floyd, to open up the dealership which was called the J* Brothers' Johne Deere Implements and Farm Supplies. The dealership was in operation until the late 1950's.

Obviously, the family still has a keen appreciation for John Deere tractors and equipment. When Joshua's name was called out on August 20, Grandma J was at the barn ready and waiting to take the J.D.Gator to Joshua.

This was the first time the Michiana Two-Cylinder Club had a drawing for a large John Deere toy. We are pleased that it was given to a child that has such a strong legacy with John Deere and Company."