The Ezra Show (starring Josh's shoes)

Here's the movie that I was unable to load in the previous post.

16 Months and Countdown to Canada

Ezra on the shore of Lake Huron, Sarnia, Ontario, CANADA.

Taken from the Canadian banks of Sarnia, Ontario, this photo is of the bridge that connects Sarnia with Port Huron, MI. The bridge crosses the St. Claire River at the mouth of Lake Huron. The bridge to our new life!

We are moving to Canada. We are moving to Canada? We are moving in 3 weeks. 3 weeks???!!?!?!??! Why didn't anyone tell me? That's sort of how I feel anyway. Though we've known for a few weeks now, moving in just 3 seems like we will blink and be gone. Sigh. I've so much to process: leaving camp, another move (not cross country this time, but out of country!) leaving our families and friends, and all the newness to come, which is just too much to list at the moment. Yet we are excited amidst the chaos of my painting for an exhibit in Florida the first week of February, packing our home, saying goodbye, and celebrating the holidays. ( While I think of it, this will probably be our last post state-side.) I am even more thankful for this blog and our friends' blogs when I think about moving out of the country.
Josh will be a youth pastor at Lighthouse Community Church in Sarnia, Ontario, and this brings immense joy to both of us. This "newness" as I mentioned is a gift we are thrilled to receive. So more news to come as a new adventure begins!

In Ezra news, I've been wondering where does the time go? The 4th of December marked Ezra's 16th month of life. Just in the last few weeks he has taken a giant leap in his development...things are really clicking, linguistically. He went from about a dozen words to now a new word everyday. It's an attempt, of course, and not always that accurate, but oh for the joy and hope he has discovered in his little mouth. New and exciting words like "olive" (he's working on his L's and basically just sticks his tongue out a few times during pronouncement) are repeated at every chance he gets and it just about breaks my heart for how darling and tender it is. And I'm not sure why, but this development has my mind wrapping around the fact that my baby boy is so much more than what meets the eye. This little person is a person! One whole and fully human being, one learning boy extraordinaire. I told Josh the other day, "I've never looked at a little baby this way!" To which he raised an eyebrow and said, "Oh, really?" Of course I haven't, but what I meant was that I had no idea how smart and complete babies are. Each day they simply add to their wholeness. Their minds are growing in wisdom, sense, and ability. And it is a breathtakingly beautiful thing to witness.

Over the last month I have been taking short videos of Ezra's latest accomplishments and isms. Catching what I can, when I can, at least. My thought was to assemble them together for a cute little movie. Well, in the time being, he's gotten to the place now where we can just ask him to do something and he will vs. happening to have the camera around at the right time. So, yesterday I asked him to do a few things for our viewers and this is what we came up with: Enjoy.

"The Ezra Show, starring Josh's shoes, Toivo, too"

(video upload error, will try again soon)

And some photos:

As you saw in the movie, Toivo is one PATIENT dog. He and Ezra have a great thing going as you can see. Maybe not so great for the dog, but Ezra sure has fun!

Ezra and Mankind. Think song: "I will follow him, follow him whenever he may go.."

He is a block-stacking wonder. He even got the ball to balance!
(fine, you got me. I'll play the proud mama card on this one)


Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of our friends and family!

Phots of Ezra from Kavod Photography

Rocking photos of Ezra from the talented photo-duo of Kavod Photography.


http://kavodphotography.blogspot.com/2009/10/ezra-is-rockstar.html

14 Months comes to a Joyful Close

More fun photos!

Getting behind the wheel.
Err, on top of the wheel (while Dad isn't looking).

Here Ezra and Mankind play with the log house from Christie.

More exploration everyday. Hannah, his new favorite book? Mr. Seahorse! He loves the cellophane pages that camouflage various lurking sea creatures.

No!!! It can't be over already!
(The other morning he woke me up by ever-so-not-gently-at-all hitting me over the head with it. It's his way of saying "read me this book or else.")

Trying on all the shoes he can find. Funny how this kind of picture becomes a classic. Something all little ones attempt, it seems!

And we saved a very special photo for last. Great Grandpa Keith came to visit all the way from Florida! Ezra had so much fun with him. He would run around him while he sat in this chair, pop out from behind him and giggle.

We can't wait until we see you again at Christmas, Pa:)

14 Months (13, too)

It's been too long...and Ezra grows and talks and falls and runs and we just can't believe how his little mind is growing with such speed and insight. He is a little smarty-pants. And so much fun!! And so personable! Waving and kissing and smiling and high-fiving. Melt your heart.

Last week he climbed out of his crib and fell to the floor. Josh figures we could just flip the crib upside down. Or we swap the crib for Toivo's kennel. A big boy bed may be in the works.

He is getting 4 molars all at once. He is 30" and 24 ish lbs. He climbs everything in sight. Turn around for one second and he is on top of the tallest thing to climb in the room. He says many words. "Bamama" has finally become "banana." "Sauna" and "baby" and "dy-pa" for diaper. He will attempt any word. New cousin, Kaja? "Kaja," he says with a smile. He is a crafty wordsmith already in these young years.

Here's pics of some fun things we did to wrap up the summer...and I'm working on a little movie about his newest move: the somersault. There's some refining to do, sure, but the effort is priceless. There's a few other adorable things I'll have to sneak in there, too. Some photos in the meantime-

Sticks. Still a boy's best friend.

Superior Hiking Trail or bust.

Playing in the woods. He was enthralled.

He's a natural rock climber, of course. Oh, the look of determination.

He was like a little trucker- elbow out, leaning for a better view.

Taking a nap in the tent.

He's so good at smelling the flowers:) Darling.

Hooray for Micah and Cassie! They had the BEST wedding at Blue Water. So much fun and lots of love celebrated.

LOTS of love celebrated.

Lara, Petra, Aberdeen Gray and the best visit ever

Finally, we were able to come together...Lara and Petra and little Miss Aberdeen Gray came up to the cabin this summer so that we might finally hang out. Lara, all the way from Alaska, and Petra and Gray all the way from Lancaster. Ezra and Gray had a ball playing outside and the whole deal brought health and healing and beauty and gratefulness to our art-love-children-family-friends' hearts.

Meals are best eaten outdoors. At least Aberdeen thinks so.

Adorable.

Ezra walking down the slide. (That's what friends are for?)

Love you girls.

The Salminen Family Unites!

Happy 60th Mom and Dad - ( you sure don't look it!!)

Ezra's uncles (Natalie's brothers) all made it to Duluth this summer to help celebrate many a birthday! My parents both turned 60 in July! Congrats to the young whippersnappers. And Ben turned the bittersweet 29:) It was an amazing week of being together for the first time since September 2007. Matt was also able to meet Ezra for the first time. Spencer surprised us all by flying home for the weekend (between fighting fires in Colorado and Alaska). We are so grateful he could come! We spent most of our time up at the cabin....

...relaxing. Spencer taking a much needed nap. He may just be the hardest working firefighter around.

Grandpa and Ezra in the sauna (fountain of youth).

Water skiing with skill at 60!

A Salminen family portrait

Uncle Matt and his Ezra. They really hit it off:)

Josh barefooting. (Is there anything he can't do?)

Noble. Dear, sweet Noble.

Uncle Ben and his little lime-eating nephew. You guys are TOO cute!

Quintessential cabin time.

Hanging out in the sun.

Hanging out in the dark.

ONE Year Old!

Wow. One year. One year? One year has passed since our bambino was born on August 4, 2008, at Imma and Grandpa Salminen's house. What marvels we've witnessed! Ezra celebrated his birthday with his family at the cabin. It was wonderful in every way. Thank you to everyone who has loved on, cherished, nuzzled, made giggle, gifted and most importantly prayed for Ezra this year. At this very time last summer, we didn't know if he would make it. God is faithful and good. There has been no year so full of abundant blessings as this....

Such a big boy, blowing out his own candle.

Truth to be told, he prefers watermelon over absolutely anything. Having had 4 giant pieces of it before he was offered his cake meant more carrot cake for the rest of us. His first little trantrum, in fact, was over watermelon. I'm sorry baby, but you just can't eat the green part!

We had to secure him in this little seat for the cake eating ceremony. It worked great!

Cousin Josie came for the party. She likes watermelon, too.

Smiling birthday boy:) I like this present thing happening...

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Rude!

More watermelon love

Happy Birthday To You

11 Months!

Ezra turned 11 months old on the 4th of July! We had a great time at the cabin. You'll see him going down his new slide on the 4th in the "walking" movie I finally made (and it's full of his new tricks and growing-up skills). Obviously he was having a good time!

11 Months

Ezra and his dad are like this (index and middle finger twisted tightly together).

And for Father's Day Dad got a Burley! Though Ezra loves it like his own and so does Mom (especially for cruising around camp all day).


Okay! Watch this video and be filled with joy...at least the first 30 seconds:)

Ezra Walks and Other Antics

Ezra walks on June 4th. His 10 Month B-day!

Ten Months

He walks! It's almost been a month and I keep saying to myself, "must post, must post, as soon as I ______." Fill in the blank with a) get some good video b) get my camera back from Chicago c) get some free time... d) any of the above. I finally told myself to get on it or else I will completely miss month 10 and so without further ado, here is the cutest 9 seconds ever...


Walking at 10 months


We have been so busy this month and here it is almost the 4th of July (and Ezra's 11 month b-day.) So, though we somehow failed to take the official "10 Month" photo, we have gotten a few of every day living. Ezra's walking has been fairly selective. He first walked to Grandpa Rude. How darling! Then it was to Josh and I and now he walks wherever and whenever he pleases. Still in small distances, but walking (and falling) a ton!

I have also put off posting until I got my next movie made...hopefully I'll get that up soon. It's like when you need a good chat with a friend, and you think, "I'll call her/him when I know I have at least a half hour to talk." And the phone call never gets made. I think you know what I mean. So, for now:) here are some snippets. Better late than never!

Milestones:

Says: "mama", "dada", all-done ( "ah-dah") and lots of "ba" sometime "BBBBAAAHHHH" (for ball or any round object). He also makes a cat noise. Basically a high-pitched "eeeeoooowww." He is really putting things together.

Still climbing: For those of you who have been in our home, you know that ledge that drops 12 feet down into the living room? If he can get away with it, he'll climb up onto a chair and then onto the armrest so that he can grab the ledge, pull himself up and look over. Can you say "heart attack?"

Loves reading: fastest page turner you'll ever meet.

Also plays ball. See other video.

Here's some photos.

This is Ezra's new "camera face." He knows we want him to smile and this little squinty face appears. It's been hard to get just a simple smile on record lately!

Jerry had a retirement party in Grand Rapids. Congrats, Grandpa! It was great to gather with everyone. Noah and Ali, you were missed! Notice Kristen's growing belly:) And Happy Birthday to Cassie.

Grandma Rude and her boy.

Can his smile get any brighter?

Getting into (and able to open) just about everything...
His preferred method of getting off the couch: over the armrest.

Playing around at the cabin.

Cooling off after a sauna.

Helping move the fire pit. Gosh, he's such a hard worker.

Here he is playing ball, saying ball. SO cute!