Weight - 12lbs 9-1/2 oz

Length - 24 inches

Just like big sister Gracie, he smiles so big his eyes close to make room for it. 

Diaper changes are a great time to strrrrrr-etch.  He really enjoys his stretches.  Every little bit. Oh how I love that.

Baths are a happy time.  Naked is a happy time. 

I think I'm getting soft in my "old age" because all of our babies slept through the night by now.  Not Josiah.  Every 2 hours.  Day and night.  

If I wasn't nursing a baby, I'd just have some caffeine and get on with the day.  I think that might be the worst part.  Lack of sleep and no caffeine.

Things I cherish:  the feel of his peach fuzz head against my cheek, the sweet baby smell, and the sound of his little squeaks and coos.

Josiah is settling into life on the outside quite well.  We'll get through the sleep deprivation.  Eventually. 

We cheer for yellow on Tuesday's. 

(Night games, poor lighting, and inability to use flash makes for blurry pics.  They are low quality pics but high quality memories.) 

Still crockpot-ing it.  Gotta love the crockpot.

This steak is so tender and it is amazing on flour tortillas. 

1-1/2 lbs. boneless beef round steak, cut into serving-size pieces

2 c. frozen corn

18 oz jar salsa

15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 onion, chopped

1/2 cup water

1/2 t. salt

1/8 t. red pepper flakes

Place beef in crockpot.  Mix remaining ingredients together, pour over beef.  Cover and cook on low for 8 to 9 hours.  Delicious!

Big sister steals baby brother for some "new baby" loving.  Baby brother falls asleep. 

Do you see the sleeping baby? 

Big brother and I stole him back.

January to March we go all out bball! 

We cheer for blue on Thursday's.  That's our blue streak running her warm up laps.

(Be watching for the upcoming post, "Yellow Tuesday's.")

I had to get busy on a new project to replace the Valentine flop. 

(Spring comes early in the south.)

My project (above) was inspired by this (below) found on pinterest,

I used a pool noodle for my wreath form.  I duct taped the ends together. 

The burlap was left over from making this beachy cuteness,

The nest and sign I purchased on clearance last spring at the Paisley Pineapple (a sweet local gift shop). 

The moss and yellow flowers came from the Dollar Tree. 

I was so blessed after the birth of our baby to have dear friends bring us food for several days following.  I had some things in the freezer to serve up as well.  I love having freezer meals on hand to give me a little extra time to love on the baby and my big kids. 

Now that the freezer is empty, I'm back to cooking supper for my family.  The crockpot is tremendous right now.  Just tremendous.  (We might starve without it.) I've pulled out my crockpot recipe books and I'm going to have some fun trying lots of new recipes.  Bacon-Swiss BBQ Chicken was a huge hit with the Chief and kiddos. 

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

26 ounce bottle barbecue sauce

6 slices bacon, halved and crisply cooked

6 slices swiss cheese

Place chicken in a slow cooker; cover with barbecue sauce.  Cover and cook on low for 8 to 9 hours.  Arrange 2 strips halved bacon over each piece of chicken; top with cheese slices.  Cover and cook on high until cheese melts, about 15 minutes. 

I used chicken tenders because they were on sale and cheaper than chicken breasts.  Still yummy and more manageable for the little people.  And to save a few minutes, I put the tenders in the oven to melt the cheese. 

My February pins didn't turn out quite like I envisioned in my mind.

Loved this hairstyle!  (@mytoesareblue, you knew I'd give this one a try right away!) I didn't get a picture of my hair but there are two things I should share.  One, no clips for me.  I preferred this style without the embellishment.  Two, I had trouble getting my hair to stay.  I think it needs to be longer. 

Made this push-up smoothie.  Really sweet.  Probably won't make it again.

Finally, the worst flop of all.

I deleted this pinterest link permanently. 

Better luck in March, right?  Right. 

I live far from everything.  Far from the mall, far from Walmart, far from my doctor's office... So, when I had to make my last pregnancy related visit (yes it's already been six weeks), we planned to have lunch at the brand new Olive Garden that just opened in the beautiful city of Beaufort, SC.   

(The view from my doctor's office.)

Anyway, it worked out perfectly that my appointment was on the anniversary of the "muddy knee day." 

We (kids too) love Olive Garden salad and breadsticks!  We really enjoyed our lunch.  I pretended to not notice the looks of panic on the faces of the adults we were seated very close to.  It was "just their luck the hostess put the family with five kids right next to them."  

I was blessed to learn a little tip long ago from some older moms in my life that has made restaurants, church, and public places in general much more enjoyable.  The time for training a child to sit through church or behave in a restaurant is not at church or when you go to the restaurant. It's pretty much too late then. The training is done at home.  If you don't have them practicing good behavior at home certainly don't expect good behavior in public. 

As we finished our meal and prepared to leave the restaurant the adults, no longer trembling with trepidation, commended our children on their good behavior.  

Now, I get to commend the ladies in my life who blessed me with their wisdom.   

And what would be a post without a pic of the ever growing ever changing baby?

We snuck off to Virginia for a few days this week to let family and friends kiss on our littlest while he is still little.  He came home to South Carolina tuckered out. 

With our oldest two playing basketball plus our midweek church activities the week nights are filled.  We are plugging away at our homeschool.  I nurse the littlest around the clock and often.  He's been a very hungry baby who is just now showing signs of establishing a more normal nursing routine.  My days are (joy)full but leave me wondering where did January go?  And how the heck is it already mid-February?