The Year of the Smile!

I think I'll dub 2008 The Year of the Smile. There have been so many reasons to smile this far, and for heavens sake, it's only the end of January. For instance...this sweet little pouty lip above. Picture if you will: holding little Joseph in your arms, thinking about straightening up the kitchen and what will be for dinner, glancing around the to asses the dirty bottle situation, then you look down at the sleeping baby and almost as if on cue he sticks his little pink bottom lip out to completly melt your heart. Clearly he is not interested in dirty bottles. This is Josh's favorite face, and a close favorite for me.

The Year of the Smile also includes fun couch time with mom in the mornings. We like to sit around (or lay...I am not particular) and coo at each other. It's kinda our thing.

The Year of the Smile includes lots of tongue sticking out, too. Lots and lots and lots! So much that sometimes I have to sponge down his tongue to re-wet it. It's good for when I have to send mail...even though he get a little squirmy when he sees envelopes coming.

Of course, this is the year of every one's smile - not just Joseph's. Basically, it's just easier in life to smile and I think we should all try it. I don't usually catch myself scowling (because I just don't scowl really), but if I do I will remember to stop and think of something nice. And smile.

If I need something to think about stop scowl-face in it's tracks...then I might think of stripes. Fuzzy, warm, footed stripes. I've really always been a fan of stripes (vertical of course), but now that I see them on Joseph I like them even more. I was just telling Josh this the other day as we admired our "handy work". I better watch what I say - if Joseph is ever in the slammer wearing stripes this will have bitten me in the butt.

Something else to smile about this year? Cake of course! Betcha didn't think I was going to say that! It's very random but some how I started thinking of cake and why isn't it a reason to smile? Ahh yes, I know why I was thinking about it. There is some over there on the counter from mom (Louisiana crunch pudding cake) and I was eyeing it earlier. I guess it was my subconscious calling out as I write this.

The Year of the Smile will include good health. Because happy people who smile a lot are less sick. I know it for a fact. I know it for a fact in my book, anyway. Who knows if it's been proven but since this is my blog I will make up whatever I want. I think you better beware of what you read here since apparently I am making things up now.

Oh, man...where is that letter I needed to mail!? Here I come little Joseph, HOLD STILL!! Oh--how about the Year of the Smile including snail mail? That always makes me smile. It amazes me every time I actually do get real mail that isn't junk since we all email so much these days. There is nothing wrong with that though. Thank goodness for the internet that brings me email! Thank goodness for the mailman who brings me letters! Thank goodness for the stork that brings me babies!

Speaking of mail...look what we got yesterday! New cowboy boots! Yeehaw! Josh's cousin Adam and his wife Aurora sent a whole cowboy themed package to the new baby. These boots were sooo cute that I slapped them right on him and started taking pictures. Additionally, and I guess this wouldn't count for the boys out there (unless you have a Brokeback Mountain lifestyle), but cowboys make me smile for sure! Big grown up ones in nice jeans are good, but mostly my little cowboy in his boots and sheriff's badge bib. And I like horses that come with them!

This year will include lots of laughs. Big throw your head back and wave your arms around laughs! Laughs that make your face look kinda crazy with a funny look in your eyes. We can learn so much from babies! I am laughing at that picture right now!!

So I think all of us here in the Blachly household agree that 2008 will be great. We are going to take the bad in stride and welcome new beginnings in where we see fit. We are going to sip delicious hot teas and take in the aroma - instead of battling with neighbors who keep dumping their trash in our cans. We will "teach" Joseph about classical music while drinking bottles of delicious milk. We will always keep family close, and not forget that anything can happen at anytime. We will use troubled and hard times to develop our patience and devotion to each other. We will continue to love each other and remember how far it has gotten us. And we will change lots of poopy diapers and try not to gag. I thought a little comedy relief was in order! So, here comes February and we hope it's as great as January - for each and everyone.