joachim & daddy

I put this picture together for Benjamin's Grandma Dees. Ben is the one in the middle and I love the family resmblance. Today I came across a picture of my nephew, Justin, at about the same age and I was surprised how much he looks like a Jones. Maybe Grandma Dees will send a picture of Ben's dad so I can have 3 generations.

joachim at the park

We've been outside more and more much to Joachim's delight. On this outing I discovered a winding sidewalk that is a shortcut from the park up the mesa to where our new house is.
It was hard to snap a photo with his eyes open because the wind was a bit strong, even with the wind he passionately protested when I took him out.

Grandmommy + Grandaddy

We visited the Bartel Grandparents this past weekend and he had loads of fun.

Auntie Beckah's

We often visit Auntie Beckah because she is on our way home and there are lots of cousins and new toys.

This is baby Benjamin, I'm often told how much Joachim looks like his Papa, and yes, it's true.

Visit from the front range

When I expressed my loneliness and isolation to my dear friend and voice of reason, Eleni, she packed up her 7 month old daughter and drove 6 hours over the mountains to visit me for the week. Her visit coincided with our first stretch of sun and warm weather, both of which we savored deeply.Joachim thoroughly enjoyed his little playmate, Veronica, and showered her with all sorts of entertaining antics. She rewarded him with smiles and flailing arms.
and I gave her some crawling lessons.
Another highlight of the visit was our play date with Joshua. I appreciated visiting with two other "first time moms" who are making the same "new" discoveries as me.Joshua is Joachim's best bud at church.
Joachim says: "See Joshua, you squeeze and say 'grrrrr'."

the fields are aflame with the signs of spring

Our neighbor, Elmer, burned his field yesterday. This popular farming technique violates the carbon dieter in me and makes thin air all the more difficult to breathe. But! In a few short weeks the irrigation waters will be flowing and it will be a brilliant green oasis.
Here is my brother in law's new tractor. He made a really good trade for it and then spent all morning driving it home 20 miles at 4 mph. Spider-Jacob riding barefoot... he tells me he still has his calluses from last year.And, the new brood of chicks. This week I found out that we are allowed to have chickens at our house in the city. I might consider it for next year

A Look Back

In light of his first birthday, here are a couple of images of his first day.
I regret I still haven't written down his birth story, but it's still so vivid I don't think I've lost many details. I will share the humorous (in hindsight) anecdote of being pulled over by the police as we sped our way to the hospital after I'd pushed unsuccessfully at home for several hours. I was unable to have my coveted home birth, but I am grateful to have given birth to beautiful baby without surgery or drugs.