PS-

There is a marathon of blog posts down there. Don't fall asleep. :) and feel free to comment on every single one. It's like that saying "When it rains, it pours."

Toodles.

Easter Weekend

After AAAA, my dad came down to Huntsville for Easter Weekend. We spent a ton of time over there so Wesley could get in some GPA time. The first day he was home we spent out in the yard, Wesley climbed the ladder. As he would get to the top he would say woah, woah, woah, louder and louder. He carried trees to the pile. We dug up worms and played in dirt. Wesley was so happy to have something to do all day long! He also got to ride around in a wheel barrow. Wesley carried around two little buckets and wouldn't put them down for anything. On Sunday, Everett was being blessed at his building, so we went to Church there. Then after we headed back to my parents for Easter dinner and an egg hunt before Dad had to go back to the airport.

We had a delicious dinner. And great company. They are practically family. After we played outside with the awesome bubble mower the Rogers bought Wesley for Easter. Then it was time for the Easter egg hunt. We brought Wesley inside while the eggs were hid and did some practice rounds so he could be an egg finding champ. Then we went outside and let everyone go at it. All the "kids" (us included) got to hunt eggs. After they were all found, we dumped them out and divided up the goods according to who wanted what. They Easter bunny was nice this year and gave us money! what a treat! Then Wesley got to open his Easter basket from his Thurgood Grandparents and was spoiled with tons of goodies. He enjoyed his time. We had to say goodbye to Grandpa, and then we headed home. The Driggers came over that night to see Wesley cause they hand't seen him all week. They were having "Wesley Withdrawls". Wouldn't you too?

Water and Sand Table

Wesley gets super fussy if he doesn't have something to occupy him all the time. This is quite a struggle to always find something to do in our apartment without having any yard or much area to play. So we have to get pretty creative. I have seen water and sand tables in the store. But most were pretty big and cost a lot of money. I had seen a few diy ones and thought Kris and I could master it. After a trip to Lowe's and twenty bucks later we were good to go. Just a few 2x4's, play sand, and two bins. Wesley is pretty happy with it, and I can get some relaxing time outside.

AAAA

Every year we have the opportunity to go up to AAAA with my Dad. (this year Kris had to work and have class so he didn't make it. I went up with my sister.) We always get bags of cool stuff, tons of reusable bags, and food. We get to see old friends and of course, see helicopters. Last year Wesley wasn't quite old enough to enjoy all the goodness of the experience. This year he was more aware. He could say helicopter and airplane. He started to shake peoples hands, and turn away from others. He could run around. And sit in helicopters. Wesley wasn't too sure about the noise of the helicopters, it freaked him out pretty bad. He warmed up to people pretty fast, and enjoy shaking their hands if Grandpa was shaking their hands. Some people had special stuff for him from seeing him last year, and whenever someone would give him something he would hold on to the item for dear life. If you tried to take it away he would scream. We were only there for one night of events and a day, then we had to come home.

While we were up there we were able to go to lunch with some good friends, and mom and I walked around Opry Mills Mall now that it opened up after the floods a few years ago. Wesley slept in his stroller the entire time we walked around the mall which was nice.


A funny story or two:

The night we stayed, we actually stayed at the Opry Land Hotel. We stayed in my parents room. There were two beds, so my sister and I shared a bed and my parents were in the other. Wesley was going to sleep with my sister and I, but as we were getting ready for bed, my Dad came over picked him up and put him between my mom and him. It was so funny. My dad is attached to Wesley just a little bit. I briefed them and told them he would wake up in the middle of the night and probably want juice, gave them his juice, and his little blanket. Well sure enough about 3 o'clock in the morning he woke up saying juice juice juice, but mom couldn't find the juice cup. We had the "juice search of 2012". WE all had a good laugh in the middle of the night. The next morning we were all awake at 630 and all very tired.

When we first got to AAAA, we walked into the room to drop off our bags, and GPA was on the phone. He just casually waved to Wesley. Apparently wasn't happy with that, and went up to him and slapped him on the arm to get his attention.

Motherhood

“Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. You do not collect children because you find them cuter than stamps. It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for.” - Rachel Jankovic

"Model yourselves after your mothers, not after celebrities whose standards are not the Lord’s standards and whose values may not reflect an eternal perspective. Look to your mother. Learn from her strengths, her courage, and her faithfulness. " - Elder M. Russell Ballard

 "...Parents are entrusted with the education of their children and, ultimately, parents must ensure that their children are being taught what their Heavenly Father would have them learn...Teaching in the home is becoming increasingly important in today’s world, where the influence of the adversary is so widespread and he is attacking, attempting to erode and destroy the very foundation of our society, even the family. Parents must resolve that teaching in the home is a most sacred and important responsibility. While other institutions, such as church and school, can assist parents to “train up a child in the way he [or she] should go” (Proverbs 22:6), ultimately this responsibility rests with parents....Parents must bring light and truth into their homes by one family prayer, one scripture study session, one family home evening, one book read aloud, one song, and one family meal at a time. They know that the influence of righteous, conscientious, persistent, daily parenting is among the most powerful and sustaining forces for good in the world. The health of any society, the happiness of its people, their prosperity, and their peace all find common roots in the teaching of children in the home." - Elder L. Tom Perry

* All of these quotes were taken from lds.org 

A tender moment

Last weekend my dad was home( a post on that soon) but Wesley was his little shadow the whole four days he was home. Little Wesley heaven, anyways, last night my mom and I were walking through Walmart. Wesley was in the cart and mom was pushing, Wesley looked at mom, and asked where is GPA? And she said he was in DC. Wesley said I miss GPA! Seriously. I almost cried in Walmart. Sweetest babe ever.

Children's books

Kris has been a little under the weather. Today, while Wesley was napping we turned on netflix. Kris chose Brian Regan. He is a comedian, kris introduced me to it when we are dating. We can laugh pretty hard. It has accompanied us on road trips and random late nights. We quote him too. Well today I saw a new on children's books and we laughed so hard. Here it is...
 a good laugh about children's books.

Independence...

We have hit a new stage in our house. This stage of independence. We have been treading in and out of it for a few months now. But I think we are finally waist deep and no looking back. Sigh. It's a struggle, but exciting all at once. This means Wesley is learning, developing, growing into a young man. But this also means I don't have my baby who wants to cuddle every time he cries or share his snacks or even get help of something. And to add the independence, he has got two pretty hard headed parents, which makes for an especially hard headed child. Patience, it takes a lot of patience. I have heard plenty of no! And mine! lately. And I keep thinking in my head... This too shall pass... And one day I will miss it way to much. So I need to enjoy his ride of motherhood. Right?

Cousins.

A few weeks ago, my brother in law and his family came In From Utah. They have a little girl Kenley who is six months older than Wesley. Kenley is so cute and hilarious. Her and Wesley enjoyed hanging out I think. She would walk around asking for Wesley. And they would hold hands or give hugs. She talks a lot, and that got Wesley talking a ton more. He hasn't stopped since she left. It is so funny how that helped him start saying a lot more. She also did sign language, and Wesley picked up some from here and has been way more into it now that he has seen another little person doing it. We have been teaching him more signs as a result.

Anyways, while they were here, we did a lot. We went to a Havoc game, on carousel rides, ate out way to much, went to the park, the mall, and just hung out a lot. I think they kids really enjoyed himself. He slept great from being so worn out all the time.

While they were here we attempted to get a cousin picture, and to be able to photoshop the new baby in (the baby I made the sailboats for, he will have his own post soon) Well try getting four children unde the age of five to cooperate. Not happening. Frustrating is what that is. But it was comical to look back at the pictures. Here, you can have some laughs too.

18 Months

Mr. Wesley,

Oh dear. You, my sir, are a YEAR AND A HALF! What! Where has time gone? Surely you can't be this old already. Just yesterday you were a newborn, slept all day, and just barely started to fill my heart with love. Now, I love you more and more each day. Really. It's crazy. You are so sweet. You give kisses and hugs, you like to cuddle, you want to sit on my lap, and take my finger and take me places. Now, don't' get me wrong, some days you are so stubborn and cranky, it is downright frustrating. Ah. But some days I just don't think I could possible love you more. You are full of all sorts of tricks. You talk like no one's business. Just yesterday I asked if you wanted a cracker, and you said no, not that one, the other one! What!. Sometimes you do speak in sentences. It freaks me out just a little bit how much you know!

A list of words you say constantly....snacks, crackers, airplane, helicopter, mama, dada, bye bye, love you, night night, Malachi, Ethan, grandma, grandpa, iPad, little Einsteins, baby Wesley, mine, no, yes, slide, outside, up, down, all done, eat, cat and the hat, baby sign, oh toodles, eww, gross, gucka, cars, stars, trucks,...the list could go on and on.

We have been working on our sign language more lately too. I think the Easter Bunny will bring some baby sign DVDs. Some signs he knows is more, juice, ball, all done, eat, stars...i can't remember the others.

Well Mr. Wesley, it's been a fun year and a half. I love you more than I could ever imagine. You are a wonderful, handsome, smart, little boy. Keep growing and learning.