Joshie at 2!

The first thing that happened when Joshua turned 2 was he became a big brother to McKenzie 5 days after his birthday, 3 days before Kellys. She was a cute little birthday present to both of them. Joshua wasn't quite sure what to think of her though. He was the baby and he told everyone that. He was one of those kids that refused to potty train and would tell people he was the baby so he had to wear diapers.

He was a cute little guy with a hilarious sense of humor though. Look at this face. He is laughing though I can't remember why now.

Another one of my favorite of him. This one is also out of my scrapbooks. A rare photo of him actually sitting in a chair hehe. This was about the age we started noticing some behavior issues with him. Ah this kid had 2 tempers, actually still does. Either he is happy and he is really happy and he is flying of the walls happy. When he was not happy? He was pissed. This kid was strong! He litterly destroyed things when he was mad. I gave up with baby gates after the fifth one he destroyed with his temper. He broke the railing outside our house clean off! Oh yes he was fun.....


Like I said though he had a great sense of humor. We just had to pay alot of attention to his nap times and bedtimes. Any variation in his normal schedule totally threw him for a loop.



Notice his hair? He had the whitest hair! Mine was actually the same way when I was little only difference is mine was curly. Look at this sweet little guy. Although boy did he (still does) have a temper! I know I keep commenting on that but this kid was the reason the terrible twos ever became. I was actually convinced something was wrong with him and had him tested. He did score as having social delays and not responding correctly to social ques a few other things as well but he was (is) quick as a whip. Man is this kid smart!
We took him on his first camping trip this year and he loved it. This boy loved getting dirty and playing in the mud. Haha he could find mud in a desert! I've always said that about him. He also liked machines such as the quad below that he is sitting on. Don't worry he wore a helmet when actually riding it but he loved just sitting on it and insisted on wearig the gloves.

This was also the year I changed my idea about child leashes! One of the things with Joshua and his not having any fear is that being away from me never scared him. Around the time this picture was taken we went to the zoo with Izzak, him and Kenzie. In the split second I reached into the back of Kenzies stroller he disappeared out an enclosed exhibit. This was a good sized zoo and he was gone in an instant. Honestly I'd never been so scared in my life and Izzak was sure his brother was gone forever. He was actually missing for over 45 minutes. They found him climbing on a gate near the tiger exhibit. All the way on the other side of the zoo! He had made it there in such a short amount of time it scarred me to think of how far he could have gotten with any more time. He was not upset about not having us with him during that time at all he was just excited because when they found him they brought him to me in a golf cart. After that I changed my mind about the leash things. He would not ride in a stroller.
He was a difficult toddler and had a lot of issues from that but after almost losing him when he was born it didn't matter I was just grateful he was a thriving healthy little boy. I still am. I did learn something with him during this time though. I don't ever judge people or their parenting based on their kids behavior. Joshua and Izzak were being raised the same way and had completely different personalities. Sometimes when kids are difficult there is something more going on and the parents need more sympathy then glaring looks when they are trying to hold their child down during a major tantrum! This may not seem like a glowing report on what he was or is like but it's honest. I have people tell me I'm a good parent sometimes I don't feel that way and sometimes don't look that way either. One thing I can say though is I've fought for him and all of my kids to get what they need and deserve to be able to live normal lives. Joshua has always been an example of that. He was too young to diagnose with anything in everyones minds at 2 but even then we knew something was going on, I'll get to that later.