Oh how I wish I could post my videos on here...I can never get that to work!!! Anyway, today is a HUGE milestone! My baby boy turned 1 year old today and I have a mixture of emotions! I am excited because I can see more and more of who he is going to be as he grows. I am also sad because this past year was a whirlwind and I know this precious time is going to fly by before my eyes.

This one little person has changed my life dramatically...and I have learned that I LOVE that!!!! My day is not complete until I have those chubby little arms around my neck. I love when he only wants to be with me and makes that fact known to me. I love how he dances to silly songs with me in the playroom. I love how he claps/laughs at himself when he does a trick we have taught him. This mother and son bond is more than anything I could have dreamed. Having said all of that, I also realize the responsibility that comes with this little man. I want to raise him well. I want to teach him love, compassion, and honesty. I want him to hurt with those who hurt and truly know life beyond himself. I know I still struggle with those principles as well, but God has never given up on me because I am His child...what a crazy thought!

I have posted some pics from our little party. Josiah was scared out of his mind of the candle on the cupcake...he is definitely not a pyro! Someday I will post a video on here so you can all see "Mr. Personality" or you could all just get a facebook account and see them there...you know who I am talking about ...Mama Q.

Okay, so nothing really new here...I know it seems that I have abandoned this blog, but not a whole lot of new things are going on. J man is still standing a lot. In fact, the other day, he stood up completely on his own without holding on to us first...hasn't done it again though! When he first started standing, daddy and I would clap and holler for him, which made him get completely excited. So now he stands until he knows that we have seen him! We then start the clapping/hollering exercise which prompts more standing, which can wear you down a little! However, I have said it a million times, but it is so true...there is NOTHING like witnessing a little person doing something for his first time! I feel completely blessed!

I also have been having my night time prayers during Josiah's final bottle of the night. By this, I mean that I pray out loud with him. Any hurt or challenge or praise that I have, I pray for with little J man in my arms. I want this baby to know where his mama gets her strength from! I also have been praying a lot for Josiah to be a man of compassion and to love others above himself. My mom and I were in Bergners the other day (community day) and we saw this kid that completely touched our hearts. He worked with severely handicapped kids and had one of them there with him to help him sell community day coupons. He was so great with her! He was the type of kid that had probably just graduated college, but was not out to "get ahead" or measure his life by the amount of money he makes a year. He chose the job he did to make a difference in these special adults/children's lives. I admire kids like that today. After his partner in crime had sold us a coupon, he gave her a high-five and said, "Good job Brianna." That is when my mom and I began to cry. At that moment, I realized that my prayer for little Josiah was not to go out and conquer the world and make as much money as he could, but rather, to make a difference in someone's life and learn how to be a compassionate individual! I came home and shared this account with Seth...tears streaming down my face the entire time. I am thankful that I was at Bergners that day...and I was thankful for that kid that made me realize what our priorities should be to truly make a difference in this world! :)