New York Trip

 Time Square with my man!

(So crowded. I can't imagine what it would be like later in December.)

Scott and I finally got away for our "babymoon" that was supposed to be taken last year. I have to say that I am glad we waited as all that walking would not have been as enjoyable at 33 weeks pregnant! It was an amazing trip and I am reminded each time we take a trip by ourselves just why I fell in love with my handsome husband. I love him each and every day, and I love being a mom, but it is hard to focus on each other while striving to parent two little men. However, a trip away brings back all the fun we have together, the fact that we know each other so well after 7 years together and some much needed rest and relaxation. We had an amazing time and want to go back every year. :)

 Double-decker bus tour. Such a cool way to see the city!

 9-11 Memorial. So well done...all the names are inscribed around the falls and such a spirit of remembrance.

Most delicious cupcakes! So worth the trip to Soho!

 Excited about a night on the town! Loved the Warwick hotel, too.

Radio City Music Hall

 He is so handsome!

The Rockettes do an AMAZING job with their Christmas spectacular. Talented dancers, fun music, the best stage work I have ever seen and a live nativity...ending with the audience singing "Joy to the World"! Best show EVER!

 Biggest Toys 'R' Us...3 stories of fun complete with ferris wheel and giant anamatronic (sp?) t-rex! Made us wish the boys were with us!

2 full city blocks of glorious shopping! I needed a week just for this store :)

10 months...

What a fun month! Will is showing his understanding and communicating more everyday...and I love it.

Words: "Mama", "Dada", "Uh-oh", "Dog", "Hi", "Owl" and "Ja-Ja"...his new name for Jackson

Will celebrated his first Halloween and Thanksgiving this month. He did not like his Robin costume (Jackson was Batman :)! ), but he did enjoy watching Jackson trick or treat. And he loved the few smarties and m&m's that came his way. I know, 10 month olds don't need candy, but he wants to be just like his big brother! :) He was sick over Thanksgiving, but we are so very thankful for him and had a great day with family.

Will loves being outside, wagon rides, dog and birds! He has funny new gurgling noises and loves his whistle in the bathtub. He is becoming quite the whistle musician! He climbs like Spiderman on the slides and is fearless when sliding down...makes Mom nervous.

He is eating his baby food SO much better and tries to steal food from Jackson on a daily basis. (Mainly muffins and goldfish!) He is quite the Mama's boy this month and his teeth are hurting. Still just 4 pearly whites, but I expect new ones soon. I wish all 16 would come in this week and we could be done with teething...it is the worst.

Thankful for my boys...will post about J's fun with the holidays next!

9 months...

Stats:
23 lbs. (85%)
30.25 inches (95%)

Mr. Will is super clingy this month and dealing with separation anxiety...especially from Mom. It sure provides good snuggles though! He is enamored with motorcycles, Jackson and his teeth are hurting. He got 2 new top teeth this month and hopefully, we will have some new ones soon.

Our 8 month Will!

We have had another wonderful month with Will. Sadly, he had his first virus this month and then got a cold or two. So, he was sick most of the month and wanted to sleep in mom's bed. Thus, we didn't get much sleep in September. We did get plenty of good play time at home and Will is into EVERYTHING! Drawers, cabinets, closets, baskets, bins, all of Jackson's toys...we had to hurry and baby proof. This month also brought many bumps on the head as he is pulling up and trying to stand on his own. He is definitely my little explorer and keeps me on my toes. It can be exhausting at times, but the trade off is the wonderfulness of getting to watch him learn as he plays and explores pretty much everything!

Will has 4 words: "Hi, Mama, Uh-oh & Dada". He knows the commands, "Pat and Shake". He also understands no and is starting to respond to it...sometimes. :) My favorite accomplishments this month are that Will can clap and wave! It is too too cute.

Will is still nursing every 3 hours. I think he is concerned he is going to lose some of those leg rolls if he finally goes to every 4 hours. His favorite foods are carrots and cheerios and anything we are eating. He will literally pull my fork out of my mouth and try to put it in his if I am holding him while eating. He tolerates avocados, tomatoes and peas, yet dislikes fruit. We've tried bananas, apples and pears... all no go!

William loves his bath and tries to repeat sounds we make. He also has the cutest tractor sound you have ever heard, "Brrrmmm"!

At most of his doctor sick visits, he weighed 23.5 lbs. I will post 9 mo. check-up length and weight next month.

Money Matters...

J is obsessed with the movie, "Cars". He received the movie for his birthday and everytime we see anything with Mater or Lightning McQueen on it (toys, books, puzzles, wrapping paper)...he thinks it must be the coolest thing EVER! He used some of his birthday money to purchase "Mack" and "Lightning McQueen" and plays with it daily...sometimes hours a day. One day at the toy store, he saw a different Mack and LM and just thought he HAD to have it. So, I decided, he could earn it. We left the store without his coveted toy and talked about how you had to have money to buy things and began brainstorming ways J coud earn some money. Every night for 2 weeks, he picked up his toys, took out the trash and help to put away laundry to earn money. Then, he would deposit earnings into his jar bank until we earned the amount needed to purchase Mack plus money to take to church as his tithe and leave a dollar in the bank as his savings account.

 Can you see how proud he is of all his hard earned wages?!?

Then, we ordered "little Mack" on Amazon, because it was cheaper. Teaching good shopping habits! :) And when it arrived, there was much to be celebrated!

He could not contain his excitement!

I really do think it means more to him since he earned it!

 I am thankful for my parents who taught me the importance of earning money and giving to God with the firstfruits of my income and always keeping a portion of savings. I hope J carries this lesson with him all through life.

 Cars PJ's all around!

The pair Will is wearing were given to J when he turned 2. Yes, I have a big little man! Either way, J thinks it is awesome when they wear their matching cars pj's and I agree!

7 months...

This has been a big month for Mr. Will! He is pulling up to standing now and wants to cruise all over our house. He loves to crawl and play under things (chairs, his jumper or the crib). After much negotiation and work, Will sometimes takes a bottle and other times it makes him furious. He now has 2 razor-sharp teeth. Thankfully, they are pretty precious in his smile! :)

The highlight of his day is to play "rough" with Daddy and J. He will also randomly squeal at and attack Jackson. Thankfully, both parties think this is hilarious. He is crawling all over the house and is so fast. I call him my little shadow, because if I walk out of a room, he is right behind me.

Will still wants to be just like his brother and play with all his toys. We are slowing learning to play with J's toys, rather than eat them. I have to give props to J, as he has been so understanding and patient with Will sharing his toys this month. I am so grateful!

We have many new noises, and he says "Mama"...mainly he is hungry or tired. Will has been sleeping great in his bed, but not so much when we are out. There are just too many new and interesting things to see and learn about!

We are so blessed by Will.

Always on the move!

Vacation

With a new baby, we laid low for vacation this year and stayed in town. AND, it was awesome! No long car ride with potential babies screaming and when it was over, we were home in 20 minutes. I enjoy a good road trip, but this was not the year for it!

 Our room...it was awesome! J and his "Cars" friends took over our bed the whole time!

He really is getting good at this.

 Our resort had this amazing mini-waterpark. J loved the pool, I loved the lazy river and Scott is excited about when the boys will be big enough to go down the massive water slide and play pool volleyball!

Our water baby! 

French fries and a hotdog by the pool! I think this was his favorite part of the day. 

Nap-time :)



 Rest-time being interuppted by an excited little brother.

 Will says, "Forget baby-food, I would like that hamburger, please!". If he had more teeth, I truly believe he would eat hamburgers.

The Candy Shop had weird hours and we kept missing it while hangin' by the pool. The last day, we made it and it was oh so fun!

Big boy stroller!

 So tired, but lasted through dinner.

 Super-awesome giant train! J could have watched it for hours.

Highlight of his vacation: playing lots of cars with Dad! 

Waiting on the shuttle bus...also a trip highlight.

Vacation was so fun! We loved getting to make memories as a family and relax a bit!