Joshua's 2nd Year

1984 --

Joshua's 2nd Year---

By the time he was two years old, his speech had digressed and he was saying only one word, “ball” (sounding more like“bah”) and seemed to be digressing in overall child development. 

Joshua and his best cousin John

Joshua's 1st birthday party was so fun!  We borrowed a large bulky video camera to capture some of the moments.  We had many family and friends there and enjoyed this very special 1st birthday.  We continued with the "Larson tradition" of letting Joshua dig in to his own birthday cake with no worries about getting messy! 

When he was about 14 months old we were a little concerned that he was not yet walking, in fact he was very clumsy.  My doctor said not to be worried, and that some babies did not walk until 18 months.  In fact, my own mom did not walk until she was 18 months old.  It was difficult though as some of our closest friends had an adorable little boy, Gregg, who was six months younger than Joshua and walked when he was only eight months old.  I did begin feeling some concern.

 Joshua began saying about 10 words by 15 months.  He said “Mama,” “Dada,” “ball,” “bottle,” “Joshua” and others.  This was very exciting and I loved hearing him talk.  We always laughed that from the very beginning one of his favorite words was "ball."  In fact, he never did forget how to say this very fun and important word.  He loved any kind of ball!  And he really, really loved throwing them too!!

Joshua and his cousin John were beginning to play together. My sister Susie and I just knew they were going to be best cousins! Lydia, Lisa, John and Joshua were quite a fun and exciting team!  They were often joined by their Uncle Mark, who was just a few years older than them.  This was a sweet time. 

About this time I found out I was expecting a second baby.  I was so excited.  I had the usual morning sickness, and with working full-time and chasing Joshua, I was often very exhausted.  I really was hoping for a brother for Joshua and could already envision the closeness they would have!

Then at last, when he was 18 months old, Joshua began to walk.  As excited as we were, even in our first naive years as parents, we realized that he was not learning the basic aspects of walking such as pulling himself up and he was also very clumsy.  We noticed a big difference between his slow progress and children much younger than him learning much more quickly.

About this time we also noticed that his fine motor skills were not progressing very well.  He could not turn knobs or play with toys meant for children his age and younger.  It was very hard not to compare him with other children, but in this comparison, we became more and more concerned.  By the time he was two years old, his speech had digressed and he was saying only one word, “ball” (sounding more like “bah”) and seemed to be digressing in overall child development. 

On my 23rd birthday, November 26, 1984, my sweet Grandma Selma Larson passed away quietly in her sleep one morning.  I cried and was so sad for this temporary separation with my loving grandma.  But I also knew that she was joyously reunited with her wonderful husband, Carl Larson, who had died many years before.  We were sad for us, but very happy for her.  At the time I was about 30 weeks pregnant and was also sad that my grandma would not meet my new baby.  I have always been very thankful she was able to know Joshua.

I was so thankful that he continued to be so well cared for at my parents' house while I continued to work.  He LOVED his papa, grandma, uncles and aunts so much.  They played with him, laughed with him, took him many, many places and most importantly, loved him!

And I continued to be completely in love with this very special boy.  I loved holding him.  I loved playing ball with him.  I loved taking him to the park --- probably more than he loved going to the park.  (Little did I know just how many parks I would eventually take him too!)  He loved the slides, the swings, running and playing. 

I loved taking him anywhere.  He was so handsome.  He was so fun. 

And I absolutely loved being a mom!