This child has given us a run for our money. The only one of our eight children to sleep through the night before eighteen months of age (in fact, he was sleeping through by the time he was 6 months ), I came to the early conclusion that Joseph would continue to be a dream child.
Joseph does not look like his four older brothers, who all take after their daddy. In fact, I've been told the boys are all "clones" of their father. All except Joseph. He is almost a dead ringer for my baby brother, Jacob. Since I was fourteen years old when Jacob was born, I remember a lot about him as an infant and toddler. Joseph's mannerisms are almost exactly the same as Jacob's. He also appears to be left-handed, just like Jake. He observes what people do and then does the same (like running the DVD player or iPad, etc.). Jacob was the same way.
Joseph still speaks very few actual words. My brother, too, was mostly non-verbal at this age. That's not to say that Joseph doesn't communicate. He communicates very well. His use of sign language and his own made-up gestures tell us exactly what he means. If Joseph sees that his older siblings are headed outside to play, he points very forcefully to his feet to let me know that he wants shoes on so that he can go outside, too. When he's found some sort of trouble and I catch him in the act, he waves both hands and says, "Uh, uh." Translation: "Don't punish me!" When he eats something he really likes, he gives the "thumbs up!" sign. I have no doubt that Joseph will begin talking more soon. My brother started talking when he was three years old. He spoke in full sentences and has hardly stopped talking since. (I love, you, Jake:)
Joseph is also a lot like my dad, in both looks and personality. He doesn't like it when his hands get dirty. My grandma tells me that my dad was the same way at a very young age. He is very organized in his own little way, just like Grandpa. Let me explain. Every night, we have to clean out Joseph's pockets. Each pocket is full of the things he has collected throughout the day. Each pocket has similar items in it. For instance, rubber bands, marbles, Lego heads, buttons, pennies or bouncy balls. Always multiples of the same category and the categories are never mixed.
Joseph is still in love with his blue blankie. In fact, I had Grace make a duplicate in case THE blue blankie ever got lost. Joseph knew we were trying to pull one over on him. He would not accept the counterfeit at first, although he now prefers it over the original.
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