Isn't HE Pretty?

I know many of you have experienced having some stranger call your baby by the wrong sex. You are shopping in Wal-Mart and some grandma-ish person comes up and says, "Awww! She's just precious!" Your response is either, "Thank you." or my favorite, "Yes, we think HE's just beautiful." You could have them in blue from head to toe with baseballs and monster trucks and it still would make no difference. This usually stops around 18 months or so. Not us. Everyone here thinks Will is a girl!! It could be the state in which we are currently living. I don't think anyone has ever heard of a john john or smocking. If they have you can bet they are from the South. Little boys are decked out in khakis and button downs as newborns here. There is no concept of real "baby" clothes. It could also be his hair. He does have great hair, and I do keep it cut kinda long. Girly though, I don't think so. Finally, it could just simply be that he is just plain gorgeous and no human could possible imagine a boy acquiring all of that beauty. Who knows? All I can tell you is that it's getting pretty funny. Both of my children's teachers have made comments about Mae and John Russel's little sister. People in the grocery store tell me how pretty SHE is daily. Strangers on the street comment on HER shiny hair frequently. Come on people. My usual response of, "I know HE is pretty," is getting very old fast. I'm loosing my amusement with this. Rusty is now at the point of telling me I need to cut his hair. HORRORS!! I will not resort to that!

I guess I'll have to keep on living with this. I will NOT cut his hair, nor will I stop dressing him in john johns and smocked outfits. Who knows if it would make much difference anyway. I'll just take it like a mama and realize that it's simply because he's so beautiful. Who knew beauty would be so hard!

Snaggle Tooth

OK, So I've told you about John Russel loosing his tooth. It's not his first, it's his third actually, but it makes him look so different. I guess it's because it's his top front tooth. I don't know, but he looks so strange sometimes. I'll catch myself doing a double take to see if that's my son sitting in the backseat. (UH OH, did I rush some other little boy in the minivan after school? He sounds like John Russel...but something's different?) He even talks differently. Of course the hole makes him have a little lisp, but it's also the way he's holding his mouth as he forms his words. I just stare at him as he tells me how he made a goal at soccer practice, or how he made his friends laugh at school like he's this new little boy that has come to live with me. It's so WEIRD!!!! All you mothers out there probably have experienced this strange phenomenon, why didn't any of you warn me?? Don't get me wrong, I love how he is changing and growing. It's just such a drastic change all at once. At least the other changes occur slowly. I like how God does this. He uses these little things to show us that he's in charge, and he can still surprise even the most seasoned mother. I can't wait for the shocker of how he's going to look with those big chicklet permanent teeth. At least that will be a slower more gradual change. I have a feeling I'll be just as shocked!

Best Day EVER!!!

I just got my Southern Living, Wonder Time , and Kraft's Food and Family magazines in the mail today. Let's all say it together. The BEST DAY EVER!!!!!!!! I can't wait to sit down and read them all cover to cover.

Go to Sleep My Sweet, Sweet Will!

*The title of this post is a song I made up when John Russel was a baby. I have sung it for all of the children. Now we sing it to each other.*

Will loves to take a nap. He loves his bed. He loves his muckus (his blanket). And....unfortunately he loves his pass (his pacifier). He will run up to me and say, "Take a nap, Mommy, take a nap." He'll even do this at night time when it's time for bed. It's amazing. If it's around nap time or if he's looking tired all I have to do is ask, "Are you sleepy, Will?" He'll answer, "Yes, Mommy, take a nap."I'm almost afraid to talk about it out loud for fear he will morph into a normal two year old in the particular area. I added that last part because he is a typical two year old in most other areas. He can throw a huge tantrum and run off at top speed toward a parking lot or hit a friend for no apparent reason. His little personality is pretty easy going though, or maybe it's the third time around thing that make him a little easier than his brother and sister. He's still in his crib which he will stay in until he is five... unless he climbs out, and he does still have the dreaded pacifier. Hey, why mess with perfection?

I know one day I'll be yelling upstairs, "Will, get up you're going to be late for school!!" He will probably be the biggest bear when it comes to sleep. Oh well, I'll take it!

Even more Phoenix pics

More Phoenix Pics

Phoenix Trip

We had such a funfilled weekend in Phoenix. It was full of activity. John Russel lost his tooth when we arrived Friday night. It had been hanging on by a thread for some time, but it was still a surprise to us. We visited many fun places and had a blast.