The Molter Family: Joshua is 9 Months Old!

Joshua is 9 months old!

What a very busy month we have had. I'm sorry this post comes more than a week after Josh's 9 month birthday but read on and you will see why!

Josh is growing in leaps and bounds both physically and developmentally. Not long after learning how to sit himself up without support last month, Josh learned how to stand in his crib and then crawl in the same day! Now at the end of the month he crawls all over the house, "furniture cruises" and pushes his little walker all the time. He's a fast learner. Needless to say, the playpen in the living room is no longer sufficient. Because we have an open floor plan in the living space, we can't really close off a space for him with a baby gate. So we got a circle-play-yard with an extender-kit so Josh has plenty of room to crawl and play while not having free reign to the whole living room.

While the majority of Josh's vocabulary is still just jabbers he does say something that sounds a lot like "Hi Dad!" whenever Tim is around. He has started to say something that sounds like "dog" when he sees Coco, too. But still no "Mama". That's okay. I know he loves me. Nothing can soothe him quite like being held by Mama. Josh has also started to point at things he is interested in. I guess next comes the accompanying "what's that?" question.

Joshua has now had his first unofficial hair cut. Several weeks back we were over to my parents' house for dinner and my mom began to braid Joshua's little mullet. Tim said, "That's it! Get the scissors!" So Josh got his first hair cut. Don't worry, I was able to tie a piece of it up to keep in his baby book. I couldn't believe how much a little trim in the back could change his appearance. Now Joshua really looks like a little boy and not so much of a baby anymore.

Joshua also got his first kiddie pool last month. He loves to play in the bathtub so we thought he should like the pool too. And he really does! He has the cutest little swim trunks and swim diapers. It is all just way too much fun.

Besides Joshua kicking it into high gear, Tim and I have had a busy month as a family as well. Just a few days after Joshua's 8 month birthday we participated in a local walk as a family to support a Christian Pro-life clinic here in town. This is a ministry that is near and dear to the heart of both Tim and I. We hope to make this a yearly family tradition. And after participating in the walk, I felt called to volunteer as a nurse in the clinic. I have filled out the paperwork and I am now waiting on God's timing to begin.

For several months now Tim has felt called to begin a Bible study here in our home. After much prayer we will soon begin a family Bible study open to families with children of all ages. We have never done something like this before and so are trusting the Lord to lead, guide and provide. It will be an adventure, to say the least!

Tim and Joshua gave me a wonderful Mother's day weekend for my first Mother's Day. We went to a Chocolate Festival in Paradise, Tim made me a special breakfast, and I got a beautiful card and wonderful gifts. I felt very loved. And we are looking forward to the Chocolate festival again next year!

A few weeks back, Tim took a weekend trip with the High School students from our church youth group to serve at a nearby youth camp. Josh and I stayed behind. It was a long weekend and I tried to get a lot of tasks done while Tim was gone. But when Tim got back he said he missed us so much that he didn't know how he could go a whole week without seeing us during summer camp. So after some praying and information gathering, the decision was made for Josh and I to go to summer camp this year too. We are trusting God with the details and looking forward to the adventure in the unknown.

The day Tim got back from the servant trip, his dad and step-mom came out for a week-long visit from Minnesota. It is always a blessing to spend time with them. This is the second time they have seen Joshua and how much he has changed since their last visit when he was just three months old. If it is God's will, maybe they can move out here soon.

Time is going by so fast and we are thankful for every day. God has truly blessed us beyond what we deserve and it is a joy to serve Him. Tim and I are very tired, make that "well spent", but wouldn't trade being Joshua's Mommy and Daddy for anything. Just don't say the word "pregnant" around me any time soon!

Enjoy the many pictures and videos from our busy month of May!