28 + 3 years and 8 months

So, here's a much belated birthday post!
September was birthday month for Will and me. I had my 28th birthday last month and Will celebrated his 3rd birthday two days later. We were so happy that Ben was able to come and spend the weekend with us. After seeing "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs," we had friends and family over to our house for food and fun.
Another two days later, Jack turned 8 months. As on-the-go as he is these days, this was the best shot I could get. He turns nine months in a few days, so maybe we'll get a better one then =)
Will is really something else. The day after he turned 3 so many things "clicked". His vocabulary and pronunciation advanced. "Nilk" became milk, however juice still remains "nuice". T's are still often K's, so we don't "like it", we "like ick". And our C's and L's transpose in words like color. They become "locor" and (my favorite) when combined with the "ick" T, chocolate is "lockick". He's starting to use the words remember and forgot and is very interested in matching and sizes (bigger/smaller). Here recently, he is always "the leader" and we must wait and follow him. His fascination with music never ceases to amaze me. He grooves differently to each style of music whether playing or listening to it. He's started singing along to songs on the radio and never performs at home without a "stage" to stand upon. As always, he has such a sweet heart. As I was putting him to bed I was reminding him that he has daycare in the morning and that he'd get to see his friends and play. He looked at me and asked, "you miss me at school?" Ah, sweet boy, how could I not?

(Someone ate his brother's crayons)

Jack is just happy. He cruises along playing with Will, playing alone, just hanging around. Unless Will is trying to ride him like a horse, there's not much that bothers Jack. He says mama, dada, and uh-oh and Will says everything else. He still only has two teeth but manages to gum table food well like soft veggies and tiny pieces of chicken. His size 12 month clothing will attest to his appetite. His new favorite game is to sit in my lap, facing me, and throw himself backwards and hang upside down. So a warning to anyone holding him...he might decide to play without telling you first! He has yet to take his first steps like I figured he would have by now, but I'm ok with that. I realized how much more difficult that would make my life at the moment, so I'm content to let him work it out in his own time. He gets into enough trouble as it is now!

Birthday Pictures

Pumpkin Patch Kids

I took the boys to take pictures at the pumpkin patch. I started doing this with Will when he was only a few weeks old. This year was double the fun!!

This is my favorite shot from the day.
Look at that sweet face!

Academy: Round 2

After giving his all, we're in for another round at the academy. I couldn't have asked any more from Ben than what he gave, bless his heart. Running with a broken foot put him a very painful (emotionally as well as physically) 6 seconds over the mark. Without much time for recuperating, another attempt was made, but it was not meant to be this time. But, it wasn't for lack of trying.

Ben's been given the opportunity to "re-tread" and start the academy over again from day one. Day one starts tomorrow. No rest for the weary. If his foot continues to worsen, there is the possibility of being granted some time off to heal. He'll just have to take it one day at a time. At least he knows it's nothing he can't do. He's done it all already, and quite well at that.

So, as with everything, it's all in God's timing and we leave it in His hands. The boy's and I will have to make it without a daddy for a little while longer. And Ben will have to keep pushing on. We may never know God's reasoning for this little speed bump, and maybe we should be thankful we don't know. But, we remain ever faithful that we are working for His will and that He knows the greater good; a plan greater than we could imagine, tenfold.

6 and 7 months

Ok...so you can't blame me for procrastinating, what with Ben away and lonely little me to tend to everything on the home front.

Example:
Even though in our prior way of life I was only managing an average of one post a month, needless to say, blogging has indefinitely taken a back seat. Just think of this as a two-for-one!

Jack turned 6 months (last month)

weighing in at a hefty 18 lbs. 15 oz. and 27". That's a good two pounds on what his big brother was at 6 months.

And, as chronologically anticipated, he turned 7 months yesterday.

Ever the sweetest little one, he is making great strides in his development. He is quite agile as he maneuvers his way through the house, cruising along the furniture. He can pick up a toy with one hand while pulling up to standing with the other. Occasionally, he will let go with both hands and slowly lowers himself into a seated position on the floor. With a little more balance, it would only be a bit of practice and he would be walking. His frustrations manifest into a babbling of "mama mama", which makes my heart happy and all the more eager to assit him. He is a healthy eater. Just today, for lunch he ate an entire nectarine mashed with enough rice cereal to double its volume. I have taken it upon myself to make his baby food from scratch. It's not as difficult as I had anticipated and it allows me the opportunity to get Will to partake in trying new foods as well, not to mention the economic savings.

Will is the little man of the house. Nearly 3, he's growing up far too fast. He's constantly displaying his little boy-ness with "he-yah" kicks and running and jumping from low pieces of furniture. Forever wanting to be chased, there is always a bear or monster to run and hide from. But the evenings always bring tender cuddling. His thoughts are coming in complete sentences now. Action/reaction has taken hold, the memory is strengthening and events are beginning to string together. And our conversations are lengthening due mostly in part to the ever unsatisfied "why?". He also thinks it's hilarious to refer to me as "Mom", to which I will not answer. I am not ready to be "Mom", yet.

We're looking forward to Ben's much anticipated graduation. He's been doing extremely well in his training. With only two weeks left in the first phase of training, the biggest hurdle left is "the run". As it is required to pass the academy, Ben must run 1 1/2 miles in 13 minutes (Sept. 10), all the while hindered by a fracture in his ankle and heel. It is our daily prayer that God heal his pain and guide him, swiftly! We are looking forward to making the trip to New Mexico to attend his graduation (Sept. 16) and spend a few hours with him before he returns to his studies as he begins the Spanish portion for the next two months. I cannot adequately express how immensely proud I am of him and how grateful I am for his commitment and the sacrifice he is making to provide a better life for our little family. We are all looking forward to the day when we can reunite and begin this new chapter in our lives.




As I write, I am distracted by a tiny, fleshy-colored gecko trapped in the fluorescent light above me. In fear that it might escape and fall on my head, I will sign off for now with hopes that my next blog will not be so delayed...and that the gecko will petrify in the light and become the next tenant's problem.

5 months

Needless to say, with Ben away, I'm a bit behind with the blogging.

We're all making it day by day while Ben's in training. I would venture to say that he needs your prayers much more than the boys and I do. He's tackling a very difficult challenge and I'm so proud of him for it.

Will is doing well and is ever becoming more independent. He wants to do everything "myself" and will undo and re-do whatever it was that I did for him. He is quite the character full of funny faces and silly things to say. He's becoming less of a toddler and more of a little boy every day. Yesterday we got our first "big boy" hairstyle.



Jack turned 5 months June 28th and is about to turn our world upside down!

This boy's
- rolling both ways
- sitting unsupported
- pushing up from his stomach to his hands and knees and rocking back and forth
- pushing up from his hands and knees to his hands and feet
- pushing up from his stomach to sitting up
- scooting around (backwards) in the sitting position

That last one has gotten him to Will's toys and stuck under a few pieces of furniture. We've also started "solid" food and let me tell you, this chunk eats like a champ!

Now that I have filled you in on all of Jack's new accomplishments, I will leave you with this:

Uh-Oh!

West Texas

We dropped Ben off at sector headquarters at the end of last month to then travel to Artesia, NM to begin the training academy. The slide show below documents the trek from San Antonio west to Fort Stockton, then south through Alpine, Marfa and Presidio. It is a vast and somewhat desolate landscape, but really beautiful. The pictures don't do it justice.

Family Reunion