Well, it's a bit embarrassing really. Today is July 20th. I haven't updated this blog since early April. What is wrong with me? Why do I even bother the try to keep a blog? The truth is, all of April and May I was too busy playing with Joseph to stop and record any of it on this blog. And then in early June my new job whisked me away from home...and, well... I am still gone. That's right- I have been at a training academy for the past 6 weeks. I am now in my very last week...ugh...and I cannot wait to get back home and spend time playing with Joseph again. Which, of course, means that there will not likely be another entry on this blog until I have had a good few weeks full of playtime!Since I left home, Youssou has been gracefully holding down the fort. He has been changing all of the dirty diapers, washing all of the dishes, doing all of the laundry, and biking with Joseph all over town. Youssou and I have been married for 7 years- but this year I have gained a whole new kind of respect for him.
Joseph has grown up quite a bit since April, as you can see in the below pictures. He now has some big words, like "appetite", "alligator", "cooking", and "swimming". He also likes to emphatically say "come on!" He does not want us to rock him to sleep at night any more. He has all of his molar teeth in. He is so very independent. I miss the little cuddly baby, but I am so very happy to see his personality emerging. Check back in a year, though, and I might not think the personality is so cute anymore!
Here are some photo highlights of our spring and summer adventures:
Joseph & Youssou in Ft. Worth, TX (July)
Jamie & Joe in Texas (July)
Youssou & Joseph at JFK Memorial (July)
Joseph cannot wait to get in that pool! (July) 
Joseph playing at the water table (June)
Jack & Joe at the DePage Children's Museum (June)
Joseph stops to smell the flowers in Iowa (May)
Joseph and Laura in Iowa (May)
Joseph and Youssou at an old train station (May)
Joseph playing with his train (May)
