Raleigh is Getting Better On His Bicycle.

I got to spend about an hour yesterday outside with Raleigh, watching him ride his bike. He is improving greatly. He rode up and down the street he rode from the cross street of Willow Circle to the end of the street and back.

He did it three times without stopping. He is growing so quickly it is fun to watch him at play. I read an author who said that "God is happiest when his children are at play"(Legend of Bagger Vance). Watching Raleigh play is definitely something that makes me happy.

The instant cure for Will

Last night Ral and I were on the bed playing. Will came into the room and put something in his mouth he shouldn't have, so I took it away.

Will proceeded to throw a big 1 year old fit...screaming, crying, turning beet red, etc.

Ral gets very upset and yells, "Quick mom, give him a boob!"

I question him to make sure about what he said and ask him why I should do that. He tells me, "Because him turning red mom! Quick!"

So now even Ral knows that the quickest way to quieten Will down is to nurse him :-)

My big boy is 1!

  

Love that laugh!

  

My beautiful Will!

  

A picture of a picture...

  

Raleigh

~~Last night we went to a Sunday School leadership meeting at Bud and Betty's house. Raleigh's favorite friend Sophia was there. As soon as we walked in Ral took his shoes off and wanted to take off his socks. After dinner I set Ral and Sophia up on a bed with the portable DVD player to watch Curious George. A little while later I walked by the room to find Ral in nothing but his underwear while Sophia was standing up on the bed getting ready to take off her shirt.

Oh no!!!! Too early to be stripping down in front of each other, kiddos!

Ral stays in his underwear when he is home, so I know he was just getting comfortable :)

~~Earlier in the day we heard the song, "Walking Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu." Ral LOVED to sing it and dance. He wanted to keep hearing it on the radio. I told him to see if daddy has it on his Ipod because he could listen to it with daddy. He looks at me and say, "But I won't my own Ipod!"

Yeah.

I don't even have an Ipod yet.

~~Raleigh tells me today that I should never touch a sharp knife. I agree with him on this. He proceeds to tell me, "Its a safety violation."

Quite a big vocabulary for 3, don't ya think!?

Too much TV!!

Ral is a TV addict.

He watches TV toooo much!!

Lately he has been very ugly acting over TV. If Mike and I want to watch something and change it off of his beloved Sprout channel, he has a fit. Crying, whining, kicking, yelling, etc.

So, we're cutting him off for a while.

No more Sprout after dinner for Ral.

He's already having a fit over this. He's already cried about it. Begged to have it on tonight, and pitched a fit.

When Mike told him no, Ral ran to his room and said, "I'm running away!" before slamming his door.

Yep...TV is way too important to him right now!

Will is trying to walk!

Yep! I was *hoping* he would wait until 13 months like his brother...but it doesn't look like that is going to happen.

Will is standing on his own quite a bit without holding onto anything. He's also beginning to take 4....5....even 6 steps at a time before falling down.

After church on Sunday all of the nursery ladies commented on how Will is beginning to "get around" so well.

Oh my! The fun is just starting to begin!!!

Will is not saying many words yet still. Just dada da at everything. He will wave goodbye and say "bye"..or something like that now.

A 3 year old + chocolate cake = A mess!

  

Mmmmm...Ral loves icing!

  

Raleigh scraping up the icing

  

Great hands!

  

Raleigh loves his brother! Especially when he has cake!

  

Now THAT was fun!

  

Those beautiful eyes still shine through!

  

Where's the cake??

  

Oh yeah...Cake!

  

This looks like it could be fun!

  

What a beautiful boy!

  

Beautiful Will!

  

Happy 1st Birthday, Will!

My baby is 1 today.

How did this happen so quick?

The year has flown by....even quicker than it did with Raleigh.

He still seems like such a "baby" to me that its hard to believe that he is a year old today.

One year ago today I had him via c-section. I was SO nervous about it since my last C-section was a nightmare. I was also worried about him being ok.

He came out beautiful.

Bruised...but beautiful.

Although I had a c-section, they had to use forceps and the vacuum to get him out of me. He had little bruises on his head and his face.

9 pounds, 12 ounces at 38 weeks. What a big boy!

The past year has been truly delightful with him.
Yes, we've had a few rough times. A few sleepless nights. But most of all...joy.
I was able to stay home with him for 6 wonderful months. I think that really made a difference for me. I wish I had that opportunity with Ral.

Will is a total sweetheart at 1 year old. He is beginning to take small steps. It won't be long until he is really walking on his own.
He is a champion waver now and is also saying "bye" when he waves. He occasionally gives a hey as well. That is all as far as words that are recognizable. He talks a lot, just not in English!

Will is a good sleeper. The past few nights we have put him down while he is awake and he doesnt even cry. He just knows its time to go to sleep. (Yeah, I know, Ive just jinxed myself).

He is starting to play with his brother's cars/trucks/trains more. He is also beginning to tackle Raleigh quite often!

Will is still nursing.
WooHoo!! I made it a year. Something I NEVER thought I would be able to do.
I had a rough start with him, but kept pumping and kept working with him. Nursing him has been an incredible experience.
I will keep nursing, but not worry about my milk output so much. He can have whole milk now, which is a good thing.
Will is a comfort nurser, so having that available at night to him is important to me. How long will I continue this? I don't know. Im not putting a time limit on it right now.

My baby is 1.
My last child is 1. No more 1st birthdays in our family.

You are a delight, Will.
My only sadness today is that my daddy is not here to see you.

You are so loved, my son.
Happy birthday!!!

I'll miss you

Yesterday when Mike and Ral were leaving for church,Ral came to give me a hug goodbye.
As he is walking over he looks at me and says, "I'll miss you sweetie."

Yes, my heart just melted.

New carpet!!!

WooHoo!! We finally got new carpet! Goodbye 70's shag full of germs, dustmites, and grossnes....hello fresh carpet!

Life in the 70's house

  

70's shag

  

Before the new carpet

  

After the new carpet was installed!

  

AFter

  

After