Sorry for the two month delay...

We are sorry two months have gone by without a post. Like all good Houstonians these days, we'll blame our slow pace and delay on Ike. :)

As you can see Joshua is growing up so fast. It is a blessing to be his parents. Enjoy these pictures and videos. As you can see, Joshua is now quite the mobile little monkey...

Playing in the tupperware cabinet (the only one he's allowed to open)

One of Josh's favorite games is when we make a big tunnel out of the couch pillows...he loves to crawl and try to find us...

Joshua's christening (Sept. 6th)
Poor Abi--we think this was right after Joshua accidentally hit her in the face.
Happy Grandparents :)

9 month appointment--Joshua passed the developmental tests by chewing on all the tools.



A night at the Arboretum during the days following IKE...

The cousins sport their super cute jeans...
Sweet Abi smiles
After Joshua's first haircut
Fun times in Dallas with family...

Check out all the things Joshua can do now...

Do you believe in me??

Check out this amazing keynote speaker at the convocation for faculty in Dallas ISD. http://www.dallasisd.org/keynote.htm

Our Little Tigger

During a presentation for work last week, my friend Amy and I showed a clip from "The Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" by Professor Randy Pausch--it is really an awesome speech and the three-minute clip is posted below. Watch it! :)

After we showed the clip, we presented our information to the teachers and reacted to each idea the way Tigger would and then the way Eeyore would. It was pretty funny since we had these ears, which we are now lending to our kids. I think Joshua's wearing them very well. :)

We hope he grows up to be a Tigger like Professor Pausch, although we admit he certainly makes a cute Eeyore as well. :)

Here is Joshua playing soccer!

Here is Joshua tired of soccer and interested in our chair. :)

Joshua's 1 meter dash

We think it might be a world record! :)

Our Little Olympian

Joshua is so WONDERFUL!! In the spirit of the Olympics...here are some stats/updates on our little one:

• 7 teeth (3 on bottom and 4 up top)...still drooling like crazy!


• Weighs 21lbs


• Army crawls the 100 yard dash in less than 10 seconds (He has been watching the Jamaicans)


• Crawls on his knees for about 2 1/2 meters, but then quickly realizes how much faster he is on his belly


• Lifts 21lbs!...Well, kind of... He can now pull himself up to standing, as we discovered this morning when we went to check on him and found him standing up and bouncing on his mattress (which subsequently led to lowering the crib today)


• Throws toys more than 3 feet expecting us to pick them up for him so he can toss them again


• Speaks the words "baa-baa" and "daa-daa" (which Brian claims is short for Daddy)


• Walks the length of our house while holding on to Jenny's hands


• Races at a speed of 2 miles an hour in his walker around the house, bumping into walls along the way
  
• GOLD medalist in the 1 yard freestyle swim in our blow-up pool...watch out Phelps!!

We think Joshua is the best little boy ever and we can't believe how BIG he is already! :)

Part II: Top Summer Family Memories

The McGown Family Top 10 Summer Memories

10. Celebrating Brian's first Father's Day
9. Abandoning our “to do” list in order to spend time just relaxing together, especially on Mondays when both of us were off from work
8. Celebrating our sixth wedding anniversary :)
7. Spending Fourth of July watching fireworks with Fa-Mor, Grandpa McGown, Aunt Mel, and Cousin Amanda
6. Enjoying seeing Auntie Ginger and Uncle Lewis from Boston and introducing them to Joshua for the first time
5. Taking a road trip to Austin to see the Froedge Family with Aunt Tammy and Baby Luke
4. Experiencing all of Joshua’s new skills: crawling, swimming, indiscriminately saying “mama” and “dada”, playing at the park…
3. Relaxing and exploring the amazing city of Seattle while Joshua had a special week alone with Grammy, Grandpa, and Great Grandma
2. The birth of our beautiful niece, Abigail Kirsten Grace, and all the fun spent with family celebrating her arrival in Dallas!
1. Spending so much quality time together as a family!

We are thankful to God for all the blessings and wonderful memories He gave us this summer! They will be forever treasured. Here are some more pictures from all our fun...

Mom and Josh smile after throwing a party for our friends Brian and Julie who are adopting a beautiful baby boy from Russia

Smiling as we celebrate our sixth wedding anniversary at Brennar's on the Bayou--lovely! (Side note: Before leaving for our date, I was giving Joshua a hug--he started playing with my necklace and one of my earrings so I took them off. I realized when we got home from our date that I had spent the entire evening missing my necklace and only wearing one earring! Oh, how things change when you become a mom!)

After all the fun we had in Grammy and Grandpa's pool, we bought a small one from HEB for our yard. Not nearly as spacious, but Joshua doesn't seem to mind. :)
Check out Joshua's new bathtub--when you touch the beak, it quacks! Josh loves it!
Josh spends some time with Miss Hailey.
Joshua and Bella chew on Mr. Giraffe. We loved the way they shared the fun.
Beautiful Grammy and Joshua

The Happy Grandparents with Abi and Josh
Joshua and Abi--we can't wait to see them grow up together!
Grandpa and Joshua hit the pool clad in their hats
Celebrating our anniversary in the Space Needle in Seattle
Best friends take a ferry ride

Joshua and Grandpa McGown on 4th of July
Joshua laughs with delight as Uncle Doonald and Daddy play with him
Mom and Aunt Jenny delight in Abi's arrival
The proud Uncle
Joshua and Mommy go for a swim

Beautiful Big Eyes in the water
More swimming with Mommy
Josh and Luke catch a quick nap in Austin
Joshua and Amanda on the 4th
The happy family on the 4th of July

Josh and Aunt Mel

Joshua and Luke bond
Hanging out with the boys
More swimming times