Second half of the Summer

So much to catch you up on. I feel like years have passed since the last time I posted but really its only been a couple of months-  The biggest change; since then is a newer member of our family. Somewhere first of July I was plerplexed to find out I was gaining weight. My pants fit tighter and I started to worry. I began a weekly regimine at the gym about this time but it didn't seem to help. Then one day I felt nauseous.... next you know I test positive for pregnancy. We were very surprised and its taken me at least the last month to settle down to the idea that James isn't going to be the baby anymore. We're excited for a new surprise addition, but I have a feeling that three kids three and under is going to hit me like a frieght train. Wish me luck!!!

As for the boys they are ADORABLE!  Lets start with Ben. He had me running around the house this morning side stepping his tantrums before church. By the time we were on our way to church I was burnt out- until I hear this sweet little voice int he back seat singing "Follow the Prophet, Follow the Prophet....he knows the way.." He can make me so crazy and then be so cute all in the same 5 min period. I spend half my life chasing him into timeout and the other half laughing at all the cute things he has to say. Speaking of chasing. I've failed my second brave attempt at potty training. This time we had him going pee pretty good everytime in the toliet but the poop just was not his cup of tea. He missed everytime. After a month of that and me being in my first month of pregancy we threw in the towel again. Third times a charm right :)  One more interesting tidbit about our little Ben. He has a fear of the wind. Even if it is just barely going. If he can see it in the tree tops he wants to head for home. It's silly. We went camping this weekend and it was really windy so he spent the mornign in the car waiting for us to pack up and leave. Silly kid!

Lets move on to boy number #2. James is still the most social kid on the block. Today at church he crawled up to the front of sunday school and was trying to pull the microphone from the teacher. He is such the distraction at church the ladies love him! He also love water. Unlike his older brother James doesn't mind getting his face wet. Lately he screams everytime we take him out of the bathtub. He is a water baby! The best news for James is he is mobile!  And as goofy as it seems he is a scooter just like Ben.  I didn't think that was genetically possible. I'll have to call the Genius Book of world records and see if I have some contenders. Another unsual trait our skinny little boy has is eating. He does it a lot! And it seems like sometimes he can put down more than I can. It must all be going to his height because he was in the 90th percentile for height last time we took him in. He says "ma ma" and "da da" and the other day I swear I heard him say "Ben."

Finally, I have a new paragraph to insert here for baby #3! First of all if you are reading this, we love you if you are a girl or boy! And if you are a boy you better not make for too many WWF wrestling matches I don't know that I have the energy to break them up all the time ;)  As far as how you are treating me in utero- I'll give you a 6.5 - Which may be a sligthly higher score than your two brothers. I'm not nauseous and I'm not moody- these were the order of things for Ben and James. But I am EXHAUSTED with you! At one point I'd lay down for three hours then be up for an hour and then be back down for another hour. My poor house has been pretty messy lately. I can't wait to meet you sometime around March 11th. Our family will be more complete!

As for Will and I - our summer has been packed. Two cabin trips, lots of family. Swimming, birthday parties, a camping trip and lots of "how to be a better parent lessons." We are going on a vacation to San Diego in two weeks - so we are excited about that. Will is still working on getting more writing work under his belt and I'm trying to keep up with my writing work. Well I think I've covered enough. I've got some summer fun pics to post so bear with me :)

This last one is classic Ben. Linning up shoes instead of napping :)