Will In the Window

So, we're staying at my parents house during Christmas break. Will sleeps in a bedroom at the front of the house. You can see his window as you walk up the sidewalk to the front door. So, Saturday (which was our 5th wedding anniversary, by the way) we put him down for a nap. He only had on a t-shirt and a diaper. Well, my mom came out to ask us if she knew that Will kept opening and closing his door. Randy went to check on him and put him back in his bed. When he went in there, he saw Will looking out the window, opening the curtains with two hands, and NO DIAPER ON. He was exposing himself to the entire neighborhood. It was hilarious. When Randy asked him why he didn't have his diaper on, Will said, "Yeah, I don't have my diaper on." Funny kid.

Jack Attack

He weighed 16 pounds 9 ounces and was 26 inches at his 4 month appointment. He's getting so big. He loves smiling! He can get up on his toes and hands and do "push ups." He can also scoot backwards. I think he'll be crawling really soon.

I put him on my lap the other day while we were having dinner. He just grabbed my dinner roll and put it right to his mouth. It was hilarious. I don't think he'll be a picky eater like his brother.

Will Will Will We Love Our Will

Will is so awesome! I sure love him! We go to story time in League City on Tuesdays. We've been going for over a year now. He just loves it and knows all the songs and games we do there. After it's over we color and get a stamp from the "teachers." They told me that they just love his enthusiasm.

Will likes to get "balls" from the gumball machines. He doesn't know that it's candy, though. So, I am kind of a sneaky mom. I just save a gumball in my purse and we turn the thing and out pops the same green gumball everytime. It's amazing!

We have the missionaries over for dinner sometimes. The other day he was miss pronouncing it by saying Nissionary. So, I said, "M m m m m...missionary." And he goes, "m m m m....Nissionary."

We had a snow storm, believe it or not, in Houston on Wednesday night. I happened while Will and I were at "Lizzy's Grandma's House" helping the Young Women. When we got home we went outside and threw a couple of snowballs.

Yesterday, at Target, it was really windy from that cold front. The carts were blowing all over the place. I put Will in the cart. I told him to not let the wind blow him away. I went to go and get Jack out of the car and was having some difficulties. Sure enough Will starts calling my name and saying that he's blowing away. I run over and get him. He says, "Thanks for saving me." I thought that was hilarious. He knew that I "saved" him.

My Brother Andrew

My brother, Andrew, died in a car accident on Tuesday, December 2. What a tragedy for our family! It has been very difficult. I feel that it was a tender mercy of the Lord that I was able to see him just days earlier at Gran's house on Thanksgiving. I've thought a lot about him and life and death since this has happened. I've come to the conclusion that it was simply his time to go. I don't understand why and I don't think I need to, but I have faith that the Lord knows his sheep and watches over us.

The viewing and the family prayer were difficult. When Thomas starting speaking at his funeral and told stories of his life, the atmosphere changed and everything seemed ok. I am so sad for Taylor, his daughter. I can't imagine what impact this will have on her life. I know that she has a strong and good mother, though, that will take good care of her.

I have such an incredible support system. My very best friends Emily, Angela, and Vanessa were all there and gave me such big hugs and love. What a blessed person I am! There were at least 250 that attended the funeral. What an impact Andrew's life has had on so many people!

I loved my brother! He loved me! I will be able to see him again and give him a big hug!

Grandma Merrell

My wonderful grandmother passed away on Thursday, November 16. She was 90 years old. I loved her so much. She was always so enthusiastic and optimistic. I remember that she would jokingly hold our hands and tell us to go and play. She would make such delicious meals. After every meal she would always describe every dish and declare how wonderful it all tasted.

I was able to attend the funeral in Arizona. Jack and I flew out there. Melody was also able to go. It was bitter-sweet. It was nice to see all of our cousins, aunts, and uncles. Everyone got a kick out of Jack. He was always so happy and smile-y, except in the car.

I will miss my Grandma, but I will see her again.

Football....Player

I was watching Oprah the other day and saw this segment about a little boy who only lived 99 days. He wasn't supposed to live even a day and he made it 99. Those parents took thousands of pictures of him and celebrated his 2 month birthday. I had Jack laying on me taking a nap while I saw this on tv. It made me just want to hug him and kiss him. I know that I take my children for granted too often. I want to do better.

Last Thursday night we went to the mall as a family. Will loves to "stomp his feet" on the computer power pad thing that they have there. Jack was sleeping in the stroller. Randy and I were standing next to Will watching him play. I realized that Jack was starting to wake up, so I started to push him around some. After I began walking with him, I realized that Will was right behind me. I felt like a mother duck. My little duckling just followed right behind me. I just love Will so much. It makes me happy that he wants to be close to me.

Contrastly, today as we left Target (aka Target Red Circle Store) he threw a major fit. He wanted to leave the store walking by himself. Although we just had a big discussion the day before about how we have to hold Mommy's hand because the cars could hit us, he still threw a fit. I still love him...enough to want to keep him safe. Someday he'll understand that I do want him safe and have good intentions. Someday.

For Halloween, Will dressed up as a football....player. He always says it with a delay. It's cute.

Will was playing over by the movie shelf in our living room on Sunday. He saw the label for Costco on the photo album and said, "Costco." It's crazy that he recognized that and knew that it was Costco.

Finally, on Sunday, Will and Jack were in the living room watching tv. Jack was laying on the floor just sqeeling and yelling. He wasn't crying, just trying out his abilities with his voice that he's found. Will said to him, "No, Jack, you don't want to scream." I thought it was funny and cute. They are cute together. Jack just loves to see Will and gives him big smiles.

"Nap" on the Changing Table

Will is in a playgroup. It is our week to host it. I've been teaching them about the letter G and words that start with that letter. Several days after it has been over, he can still recite to me all of those words and explanations that I gave them. Like, we put the garbage in the garbage can and then put it next to the street and the garbage man comes and puts it in the garbage truck. He is so great. Then, last night I went to check on him after he fell asleep and he had something in his hand. On closer inspection, I found the green letter "G" in his hand. I was so proud of him. He can learn so much. I need to take this opportunity to teach him since he can retain so much knowledge.

On Saturday Randy was at school and I was home with the boys. It was about 4:00 in the afternoon and Will was in his room "taking a nap." I heard him open his door and I could hear him creeping slowly down the hall. I told him to go back and lay on his bed. Yeah right. I stayed on the couch because Jack was sleeping on me. I was dozing on and off myself. I could hear Will making noise and doing who knows what, but I just stayed on the couch. At one point I could hear a distant "Mommy." But it was nothing alarming, so I didn't do anything. He knew he was supposed to be sleeping, so he played very quietly, as if I wouldn't hear what was going on. (Well, that turned out to be kind of true.) I could hear a familiar noise, but I didn't recognize what it was. Well, when I finally got up, I found Will. He had climbed to the top of Jack's changing table and was stuck. (The familiar noise was him kicking on the table, like Jack does when he gets his diaper changed.) He was like a cat climbing up a tree; he could climb up but couldn't get down. During his stay on the changing table (who knows how long it was) he had somehow dropped the white pad. He was also playing with the blinds. When the cats away... It was really quite funny, but of course I couldn't laugh in front of him. After I helped him down, he was looking a little distressed and probably teary eyed so he would avoid getting in any trouble. Oh Will! Randy and I got a good laugh about it later when he got home.

Jack is starting to do some cool things. He's always been a very alert baby, just like his brother. He looks around and makes eye contact (usually smiles, squints his eyes, and loses his binky at you when he does that) and seems to know what's going on. The other day I was holding him and Randy was sitting next to us on the couch. I said to Jack, "Where's Dad?" Right away Jack turned his head and smiled at Randy. It was so cool!