Vacation!!!

Our vacation was amazing, wonderful, fantastic and SO MUCH FUN! We have to admit that we were a little sad to come back home. We were busy but relaxed the whole time. When Josiah wasn't napping or eating he was in the pool or on the beach. He collected sea shells, and got to touch a variety of sea creatures: octopus, sand eels, fish, star fish, jelly fish and crabs. Alright, enough talk - time for pictures!


Josiah enjoying his breakfast.



Josiah and Papa playing in the water.


Josiah really liked to pull his toy boat on the sand.




Josiah and the octopus - I have no idea what he's doing in this picture.


Yep! He touched it!


We had ice cream every night after dinner.



On our way to Monkey Island.


We took a boat to Monkey Island and Josiah fed the monkey's bananas. I was nervous!


Family picture on the beach.


Josiah and Mommy looking at a big jellyfish.


Josiah in the pool.


My precious boy in the ocean. I love this smile!


On the way home the pilot let Josiah in the cockpit with him. Unfortunately he was not as excited about it as we were. He was tired and ready to be home! Being the good mother I am, I thought it was funny and could not stop laughing...

Giving Birth

The last month has been a whirlwind at our house! Many of you already know this but I'm going to put it on here anyway - just bear with me.

When I had Josiah I ended up requiring a c-section. This was in NO WAY what I had planned for the birth of our child. I was unhappy with the c-section but so grateful for a healthy baby. Only a few days after Josiah was born, I asked my doctor if he would do a VBAC (Vaginal birth after cesarean)with the next baby. He said he was willing to try it and that put an end to my fears. When we found out that we were pregnant again, there was never even a doubt in my mind that we would try to have this baby VBAC. However, last month when I went in for my normal check up the doctor told me that the hospital had changed it's policy and was not going to allow me to attempt VBAC. You have to understand that there is a less that one percent chance of uterine rupture and they are afraid of the liability. Aaron and I were shocked, we had not expected this. We tried to appeal the hosptial's decision but they refused to change their policy.
The other hospital in this city is not equipped to perform VBAC as the operating rooms are not on the same floor as labor and delivery and there is not an anesthesiologist on call 24 hours. So, if something were to happen with my uterus they would not be able to act quickly enough.
So now the plan is to give birth in Bangkok. We absolutely do not want to go but at the same time, I at least want a chance to try to give birth naturally. I found a doctor in Bangkok who has a 70% success rate with VBAC and he seems to think that I can have this baby the way I want.
It's going to be a pain since we'll have to leave a few weeks before the due date and wait around for the baby to be born, but if I can have the birth I want then it will be worth it!

On a totally different note, we're going on vacation tomorrow! We haven't had a vacation in four years so you can imagine how excited we are about it. We are going to the beach in Hua Hin (still in Thailand). We have to pass through Bangkok on the way so we have an appointment with the doctor there on the 19th.

To tide you over until I get back from vacation, here are a few pictures of my big boy.






And a funny story about Josiah:
Last week I was playing in the floor with Josiah and said "Are you Mommy's boy?" He said "yep!". So a few minutes later I asked him again and he said "No". I acted like I was going to cry and said "What?!? Aren't you Mommy's boy?". Josiah smiled mischeviously at me, cocked his head to the side and said "tease Mommy". I laughed so hard that my stomach hurt! I love how his sense of humor is coming out more and more!

Josie Pictures

Has it really been a month since I updated this blog? Wow, I'm so sorry. Time is just flying by lately and the baby's not even here yet. Okay, so it's time for an update on Josiah. Ready?

1. Josiah is talking like CRAZY!! I can't get him to be quite now and I have to repeat everything he says.

2. Josiah has 12 teeth and number 13 is currently on it's way.

3. He is a total book worm. Everywhere we go, he MUST have a book in the stroller or the car with him at all times.

4. He loves trying to put on Papa's clothes.

5. His favorite things to ask for are "pool", "juice", "mall" and "Nani house".

6. He'll be 21 months old in just a few short days and it's breaking my heart to see him turn 2.

7. He is so much like Aaron in looks and personality! He's my OCD child who can't have food on him, and things must be in their place.

8. He loves to hug my belly and say "baby". Although the other day he pointed to my belly and said "baby, yucky". But then he redeemed himself the next day and when we forgot to pray for the baby, he reminded us.

9. He loves all animals and can't get enough of them. Even the huge scorpion Aaron brought home named Pinchy. Nice, huh?

10. Josiah is the most wonderful, loving, precious, amazing gift that God has ever given us!

Trying on Papa's shorts.

He's so proud of himself!


Peepaw torturing Josiah and he's loving every minute of it.


Josiah coloring his first Easter eggs.

And here's his first Easter egg hunt. It was too hot to go out so we did it inside.



We've recently had two new additions to the family - a parakeet (Jessie) and a kitten (Cleo). The parakeet was my Christmas present from Aaron. The kitten was brought home by Aaron about 6 weeks ago. He was riding his bike and saw her in the road. Her mom was gone and the vet told me she was only about 10 days old. So, guess who bottle fed her for weeks on end. She's eating cat food now and I like her a lot more.

Cleo and Jessie - buddies...for now.


We thought Cleo's tail was broken but the vet informed me that Thai cats are missing a vertebrate in their tale and it's genetic. There's actually a story about the Princess and how she went to bathe in the river but didn't have a place to put her jewelry. So her cat bent his tail to hold it for her and all Thai cats from then on had bent tails.


My pretty Jessie - she's white, blue, green and gray.





And here is my 28 week picture. I'm looking large but at least I'm tan. (And that's my totally awesome TV cabinet behind me.)