Well family, we´ve come a long way from the home from the hospital pictures. I would like to iterate that exploding diapers, abundant spit-up waterfalls and crankiness before naptime were of the past, but those special moments seem to come with the trade. Fortunately, Joseph doesn´t mind being dirty while Mommy and Daddy get their act together in finding creative ways to get him cleaned up.

So I thought halfway through month five that there wouldn´t be much to tell, but boy, was I wrong! Baby Joseph is weighing in at a little over 8 and a half kilos (close to twenty pounds I presume?). Our chunky monkey grows Popeye muscles on just about anyone. He is healthy, happy and hit a few milestones this month, all super exciting for the first time parents. In fact, we probably should have video taped our reactions to him doing things, it just might have won the grammy.

This month started with Feburary 10th he stuck his two feet in his mouth, and ever since then trying to change his diaper is all about the strategy of doing it before his feet get glued to his pucker upper. February 17th at 10:30 a.m. he rolled over from belly to back twice in a row, hasn´t started doing it constantly, but he gave us a fair warning that things are picking up the pace now. He likes to rock himself pushed up on his arms back and forth, and before you know it- boom botta bang! He´s over on his back again. February 24, he was crank and clingy alllllll day (we were both pooped) and come to find his first bottom tooth is piercing his gums! Hasn´t quite come in officially, but we are now teething! Drool city, ere we come! I have busted out the bibs in a feeble attempt to keep his dry, hahahaha, primary to help him not get that nasty heat rash over his double chin again. Oh, the life of a hefty one.

So inevitablly, everything officially goes to the mouth, he has fallen in love with his teething rings and books. We have some smaller and thicker ones that have bright colors and he absolutely loves reading together. My favorite part is when I open a book and he starts babbling at it- imitating Mommy "reading".

He has learned to reach out for things and manipulate rattles and syncronize his hands together to draw something close to his face, he also likes to open and close his hands to feel the different textures of things (which means it is easy to know when his nails need to be trimmed). He still laughs when I clean his nose, when we play horsey, and when we sing patty cake and the itsy bitsy spider. He likes the roll over song too.

Joseph is quite flirtatious with the ladies. On buses he likes to peel one of his heart melting grins and enjoys cooing at them also. In fact, in his first blood test for his medical record, he flirted through the entire test with the nurse (who was so tender with him). He ended up crying because I had become tense and was holding a little too tight his arm for the nurse to draw the blood, but we made it! He thought the whole thing was amusing.

We officaly finished off the donated diapers and clothing and are entering into a phase of trusting God for His provision and to fill Joseph´s needs, thank God for His lovingkindness towards us. Can you believe for the first 4 months we didn´t need to buy diapers, wipes, hygiene articles nor clothing? God is so good!

This month God touched a family close to our heart to bless Joseph with an activity chair and blanket, they have been fun activities to help develop his motor skills and muscle coordination. And Mommy and Daddy get some extra time to pull everything else together meanwhile.

Joseph still takes two to three half hour to an hour naps, in fact this was written courtesy of his morning nap which has been an almost two hour shin dig, thank the Lord for good naps.

We have started up finding a babysitter for Friday evenings, and it has worked out really well. Joseph sleeps at home while Mommy and Pappy go to Couple group. A healthy situation for all the family. It is amazing how much marriage benefits from those brief times together just the two of you.

We have made it to the six month point exclusively with breast milk. Pretty soon we will start to introduce some starches like potato and some others little by little to supplement breastfeeding. Joseph si doing great and has his next appointment this coming Thursday at 1:30p.m.

We continue to organize ourselves with the ministry and training the leaders in the communities who will be in direct contact with the families and the children. We are so thankful for all we have experienced this month.