Joseph’s at that age where he loves to tell stories.  Every adventure in his life lights a spark to tell a story.  If we visit the aquarium, he’ll tell it to you in a story.  If we play hide and seek, he’ll tell you about it in a story.  If we hide Easter eggs, go to Grandma Nury’s, visit the bookstore, shop for new clothes…he’ll be happy to describe the outing to you in the form of a story.  

His latest storytelling material…a playdate we had last week with the Metz family.  Here’s the beginning of some of the stories he’s been telling lately… 

Mom, one time we went to visit Ben and Gabe.  We chased each other all around the yard… 

William and Gabe

If it looks like Ben is about to get hit in the head with that ball, don't worry, Joseph has terrible aim, so hopefully it did not hit him...might have hit Gabe, though. My promise to the Metz's: we'll work on Joseph's aim.

William's giving Ben a push

Once upon a time, I went to visit Miss Virginia.  She taught me the Bunny Hop.  Here let me show you how to do it… 

A long time ago, in a place called Corpus Christi, a little boy named Joseph went to visit his friends. He saw Maddie and Lizzie and Gabe and Ben and Jonathan and Christopher and Nicholas and Miss Virginia.  Joseph played outside with the other kids.  They played a lot of basketball.  Christopher said to Joseph, “Move please,” because he wanted to shoot the basketball and Joseph was in the way… 

Lizzie and Joseph

Oh and Mom, I forgot to tell you in the last story, but Jonathan held my hand and helped me get in my car seat.   

Once upon a time, Joseph and William got to eat a picnic lunch with Ben and Gabe and Maddie and Lizzie.  Miss Virginia made bunny cookies.  They were very cute!  They had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and pretzels… 

Hey, Mom, did you see when William knocked Maddie down?  He made Maddie very sad.   

 And the stories go on and on and on….I had no idea one short playdate could be the fuel for so many stories!  

Now since we’re telling stories and since we’re talking about that particular playdate, here’s my version… 

We had a beautiful playdate with the Metz family last week.  Joseph and William had a blast, but I think I got more out of our playdate than they did.  Sure, they got to socialize and play all kinds of fun games, but I learned some important mommy lessons just by being with Virginia and her kids.  

I am always struck by Virginia’s quiet peace and her unshakeable calm.  I have yet to see Virginia get ruffled.  Me?  I’m ruffled at least every hour.  But I noticed that Virginia doesn’t seem to stress about the little things.  She’s so orderly, yet so adaptable.  So organized, yet so spontaneous.  Me?  I’m organized and orderly, but I have to mentally prepare to be adaptable or spontaneous, so I think it’s safe to say adaptable or spontaneous don’t really describe me..and it’s not just my personality, it’s because I stress about the little things…the things that in the long run really don’t matter.    

I saw a beautiful portrayal of love.  Not just from Virginia to her kids, but between each of her kids.  The older ones are so patient with the younger ones.  Lizzie was happy to teach Ben how to dump the dirt from one truck to another.  That patience and love was so evident even in the littlest ones, as shown by Ben when William joined them in the dirt and there was no pushing or shoving or telling William to keep out…instead Lizzie and Ben happily let William play right along with them. 

And Christopher!  Oh what a beautiful example of love!  If children are mimics of their parents, which I truly believe, then just watch Christopher with the little ones and you’ll see exactly what kind of parents John and Virginia are!  (I single out Christopher here for two reasons: #1: he was the only one that morning that had a few extra minutes to come and play with us and #2: William snuggled right up to him and would have happily fallen asleep in Christopher’s arms if it had not been time for lunch…Virginia calls Chris her “baby whisperer”…I wholeheartedly agree!)

Oh, my dear Virginia, how do you do it?  How have you created such a loving and gentle family?  I just know what she’s going to say because she’s said it to me before (and she’ll probably say it to me a million more times)…prayer, prayer, prayer and all the grace that goes along with that devotion.  Well, Virginia, if the outcome of prayer and devotion is a family like yours, then that’s advice I will take.  Thank you, dear friend, for sharing your mothering wisdom with me…I can’t wait for another playdate (oh and I know Joseph and William will enjoy it, too!)

Dear William, 

I loved those first days with you.  You don’t remember them, but I do.  You were such a quiet, content little baby.  You just snuggled and nursed and napped.  In those first few days, Joseph proved to not only be a sweet big brother, but also a very loving and gentle brother.  I was amazed that there was no sibling rivalry.  No jealousy.  No hateful glares.  Just love.  Pure, fresh brother love. 

The day we brought you home

Grandma Cindy was there for your birth. She stayed with us for two weeks after you came home...here's Joseph loving every little thing about you.

As time went on, your little personality emerged.  You were so curious from the very beginning…

3 months old and watching everything around you

Sometimes being so curious just wore you out!

As you continued to grow, you tried so hard to keep up with Joseph.  You learned to crawl quickly which was a great triumph in your eyes…finally you could chase brother down the hall!  I can still hear your giggle echoing down the hallway when he’d turn to chase you.  Oh and you discovered the art of playing with Daddy.  Rolling, tickling, chasing…

Now you’re no longer content to watch life from the sidelines.  You participate in everything we do, whether it be preschool or playing ball, we find you in the center of the action, happy to be a part of the excitement. 

Here you are as one of the Wise Men during our Epiphany celebration.

Watching the stingrays at the aquarium

Watching Signing Times on YouTube with Joseph

You’re always such a happy little boy (even happier now that you can walk and really keep up with Joseph!).  Seems like these days you and Joseph are stuck together with glue…where we find one of you, we find the other.  You follow him around, happy to do whatever he’s doing.  And the few times when he doesn’t let you play with him, you’re happy to come find me and help me in whatever way you can. 

I’ve learned now that one of the greatest battles I will always face as a mom is an internal conflict regarding the passage of time.  On one hand, I rush you, in my mind, to grow up, eager to see you learn new things, hear your 1st word, watch as your personality blossoms.  But on the other hand, I desperately try to slow down time, wanting to savor each moment.  I look at you today, one year old, and I want to stop time.  I want to always be able to see you as you are today…so full of life, so curious, so very, very happy. 

Happy Birthday my sweet little one year old!

Love, Mommy

Last week, after breakfast, Joseph was sitting on the kitchen counter watching me wash dishes, just chatting away.  Suddenly he stopped chatting and looked at me and said, “Mom, you’re really good at washing dishes.   You’re a good girl.”  Aww, thanks Joseph…I now have all the encouragement I need.