Jack's new trick

As soon as he takes a step, it'll all be over.

*Edit- As I'm in process of posting this, Jack has taken two or three steps from the coffee table to the couch.*

San Antonio Zoo

I took the boys on an outing to the San Antonio Zoo. It was a really nice day, so Will was able to play on the children's beach. Most of the day was lost on Jack, but he did seem to enjoy the swinging monkeys. Will really enjoyed all of the "amnals", but like the elephant and the train ride the best.

Halloween

Ben came home for a visit Halloween weekend. We took the boys to our friends Leslie and Rob's house to trick-or-treat in their neighborhood.

It was their son Jon's 15th birthday, so I made "spooky" werewolf and moon cupcakes for the occasion.

Their daughter, Lauren, wanted to be a vampire for the evening, so I vamped up her hair and make up while Ben and Will carved pumpkins with Rob. Rob often assists in surgeries, so he brought home some supplies for the carving and was showing Will the finer points of slicing and dicing.
Will was eager to go trick-or-treating and as soon as kids were ringing the doorbell, he was clamoring to put his costume. Last year I had bought a cute horse for him to wear and be a cowboy. Once purchased and home, it was scary and he didn't want anything to do with it and we substituted with a stick horse. This year he was all about the horse, but he was not a cowboy. In his words he was a "pardner...on the range". Once he was dressed, he was out the door. Luckily I caught him before he made it off the porch!

9 months

Here's Jack's 9 month picture. Keep in mind, he'll be 10 months in a matter of days!

Stats:
21 lbs. 10 oz. 75th percentile
30" 90th percentile (he grew 3 inches in 3 months)

He can point, wave, clap, and play peek-a-boo (in his own hilarious sort of way).

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.