Special things about you !

My sweet Joshua,

There are so many special things about you and I want to recount a few here, so that someday when you read this you will know how you were as a little baby. I imagine that some of these qualities are ones you will have your whole life.
Whenever we go out in public, whether it be in a store or on the bus or if we meet others in play group, baby swimming, or whatever, people are always taken with and comment on your gorgeous blue, blue eyes. I get so many comments on your eyes, I'd be rich if everytime they gave me a dime. You have a charm and magnetism about you and when your smile is so infectious - you bring the even the most sourpussed German face to light up and smile. We were having lunch in a restaurant one day and an old lady sitting by herself lunching in the corner stopped by our table to say what an amazing baby you are and that the sun comes out when you smile.
You also laugh a lot. In baby swimming you are the one always laughing and everyone knows you as such. You find things fun and funny and are very immediate about expressing your delight.
You regularly crack up at stuff your brother Leo does. He doesn't even have to be doing anything in particular, directed at you or trying. Just his being cracks you up. It is the same with the cat, Erasmus. You laugh at the very sight of him - and even more if he is doing something funny like playing or jumping, then you laugh hysterically. But the cat needs to only walk by or only sit there blinking and you thing he is a riot and giggle and giggle. You have also pet him a few times, or grabbed on to his fur in a fist full. We are working on teaching you to be gentle with him (and with others! like your poor mommy).
The other sweet little thing about you, is you love books...not necessarily in the way I had hoped, at least not yet. I sit down with you and try to read books, or show you pictures. You take a limited interest. More interesting for you is to take the book and investigate the shape of it from different angles and then more importantly yet, the book goes into your mouth for closer exploration. You give "devouring" books a whole new meaning! I have to make sure therefore, I give you cloth books or otherwise spit-resistant books, cause they would be otherwise destroyed in no time. As of recently, you have started to take more interest in the actual pictures and content, but it is always straight back to mouthing it.
You are also really into telephones, remote controls and keyboards....anything with buttons to push and pound on. We of course give you limited access to telephones and remote controls...however, you have gotten your very own keyboard (old broken one from Papa). You love to pound away at it. Whenever I am talking on the phone with family, I put the speaker phone on and the person on the other end talks to you too. You stare at the phone and want to take it, push the buttons, talk at it and put it in your mouth (naturally), trying to make closer contact, I suppose.
It is so sweet.
You are generally a very good natured baby, but you do have a hot head sometimes. You are trying to crawl and are still unable to move forward ( you only are able to push yourself backwards still) and this makes you mad...you pound on the floor and yell.
I think one of the cutest things that you do though, as of recent, is play with your shadow! You play with it on the floor trying to crawl, or on the wall behind the couch when you are lap standing. You are so curious about it! You play with the shadow of your head and mama's or papa's head, trying to touch it, grab on to it and recently we have started making rabbit ears and barking dogs which you find totally fascinating. It is truly adorable.

Lots of love,
Your mommy