2008

2009

2010

Joe is getting over a little cold, which seems to happen every other week or so now that he’s in school.

Silver lining: He fell asleep in my arms the other night, a rare treat that only happens when he’s feeling icky.

Patrick brought me my iPhone and I put on some Christmas music, just rocking and looking at this face:

Sleep in heavenly peace …

For a couple of years now, I’ve been chatting online with a group of moms whose children all have developmental delays. One of them has a daughter, Sammie B, who’s very much like Joe — right down to the super-cute glasses.

Sammie B and her folks live in Los Angeles, but they made a trip to Baltimore to see specialists at Johns Hopkins (a lot like we did a while back!) Sammie’s mom and I have been saying for a while that these two are destined to meet, so we planned a little afternoon date there. (I nearly froze my buns off — I can’t imagine what that weather felt like to people who live in L.A.!)

Anyway, here are the little four-eyed lovebirds just moments after meeting:

Word of advice: If you don’t like a lot of attention from strangers, don’t go out in the city with two ridiculously adorable bespectacled children. Lordy, we each thought we got a lot of attention with just the one kid — together, they are an unstoppable death ray of cuteness!

For more on their hot date (including Joe’s regrettable decision to hit on his date’s mother!) looky here.

We recently had family portraits done by Madison Fairburn of M. Chase Narratives, and I have finally used them to make our 2010 Christmas cards!

Snow Kiss Green Christmas

Get custom photo Christmas cards online at Shutterfly.com.

View the entire collection of cards.

Joe’s teacher sent this photo of him working out in the walker at school. That’s all him, just using his little arms for support!

Patrick and Joe went out for one of their father-son hikes on Sunday.

Look how much Joe loves hanging out with his Dada:

Joe’s old friend Santa sent a very special video message for him. (It takes a while to load, but it’s totally worth it.)

Check out the photos in his file!

We enjoyed a great Thanksgiving with Patrick’s parents in town!

I made my second-ever Thanksgiving dinner (with no reports of food poisoning, YET) and Joe provided endless entertainment. We even got Crazy Aunt Shelly on the phone, and made her promise to come this way some time next year.

Joe absolutely adores his grandparents. When they arrived, he lit up with a face that said, “Hey, I know you guys!” The next morning, when he saw them again, it was like he couldn’t believe his luck. Adorable!

Joe’s Uncle Tony (brother of his Grandpa Mike) enjoys woodworking in his spare time, and has made a really cool “Box of Wonders” for Joe.

It is decorated on all sides (even inside!) with cartoon and storybook characters, and even has his full name on the front. Every time we look at it, we notice something new!

Patrick has already started to fill it with some of the cool things he’s set aside for Joe. Who knows what Joe will fill it with in his lifetime!

Thanks, Uncle Tony!

Now he’s worked up to pulling the napkin off of his head or ours.

Hours of fun!