Update on Wy Guy!

My little warrior is now 3 and a 1/2!

Really... where does the time go? It literally disappears just like that. With a snap of your fingers or as mist in the air... each moment is here and already gone before I even realize it past. Until I look back, that is. And then I'm hit square in the face with the reality that time is ticking away and my favorite firstborn is growing and changing with each little tic-toc of the clock. I'm learning.... very slowly I'm learning that it's a accumulation of all of these little moments throughout my days that create the memories for a lifetime. So I'm trying very hard to stop, soak up the moments, and make memories.

I read an article the other day about SOMEDAY... someday when my boys go to elementary school, then middle school, off to college, and eventually when the are walking down the aisle... I'll be wishing for a little more time. Time to teach them a few more things. I won't want to be done.... done with my life's goal to raise these boys in the ways of the Lord, to impart to them everything I know, every mistake I've made, every blessing I've encountered because of their presence in my life. Someday seems so far away, yet I'm gaining perspective on how very near that someday really is. So once again, as I'm pleading for more time... I'm trying to memorize the moments, one by one as they are passing by... to PLAY, to LAUGH, to WRESTLE, and to impart all of these things into their little souls that SOMEDAY I will no longer have the privilege to do...

INTROSPECTIVE sometimes.

HANDSOME :)

What's been happening in the past 6 months since I the last official update on Wyatt? Well, it's been a very full and fun 6 months. We'll start with swim lessons... I had several mamas highly recommend private lessons. I was hesitant, but finally decided to cough up the money and it was well worth it, to say the least. Wyatt had Miss Catherine as his instructor and he totally adored her. After the first day of class he asked to take her a pink flower... so we did just that on the last day of swim lessons. He was pretty proud of himself and the great big smile it brought her! Wyatt is very SWEET.

After 2 weeks of lessons, he finally got it. I mean really got it! He mastered the art of staying afloat on his own and even tackled the breast stroke! He was swimming in a crazy diagonal-like fashion across every lane of swim traffic at the pool, but he got it and was doing it without any assistance at all! : ) He's a QUICK LEARNER!

This boy might be part whale... Miss Catherine would sometimes have to pull him out of the water because he'd stay under so long, determined to pick up every single dive ring from the bottom of the pool! DETERMINED.

Wy guy attended 2 different sessions of VBS this summer!

Here is was performing all of his new lyrics and motions on the last day of Bible school. Wyatt LOVES MUSIC and HAVING FUN.Here's Wyatt styling his own rendition of a STAR WARS character. He saw one episode with Daddy and has been totally hooked ever since.

We don't normally let Wyatt wear hats to the dinner table or during prayer time... but I think this photo is just priceless! Hands folded, star wars shield over his face and talking to God.

CAMO. Wyatt saw a Sesame Street episode about camoflauge and has worn some sort of camo just about every day since. This is one freedom I allow Wyatt to indulge in... he picks his outfits each morning. I have come to celebrate his sense of STYLE and INDEPENDENCE.

Wyatt loves to build SHOOT GUNS with his Trio blocks.

and Wy guy still loves to DRESS UP.

Wyatt and Isaac love to play BEAR HUNTS with a flashlight in the dark storage room in the basement. This stemmed from our book, "We're going on a Bear Hunt". So we've got our little mantra... We're going on a bear hunt. We're gonna catch a big one. Oh, what a beautiful day. We're not afraid. Wy is BRAVE and ADVENTUROUS.

Wyatt loves to CREATE all kind of block structures.

Wyatt loves to make SPIDER WEBS out of any material that will stretch across a room. I have to admit that it's kind of fun!

Below is a picture of Wy with his friends at school.

Wyatt's report at parent teacher conferences were this:

Strengths: his IMAGINATION and being a good HELPER

Buddies: Jude and Owen

Favorite Centers: Blocks, kitchen, and art projects

Favorite activity: Playing dinosaur hunt with Jude. Wyatt wears a camo hat and Jude wears a blue hat and they hunt for dinosaurs every day together!

Wyatt, I love your strong will and determination. I love the way you think creatively and remember every detail about everything. I love the way you constantly observe the world around you and ask questions. I just love YOU, from top to bottom, and from the inside out. You are so LOVED. I can't even put into words how much I enjoy your company. You are my buddy! I just wish I got a little more one-on-one time with you during the days. You have so much to say and I'm not always able to give you my full attention and engage in conversation, but you just keep on talking anyway and I love you for it! I'm humbled by your character at such a young age and wonder how I received the blessing and privilege of having you as my son. You stretch me and test me constantly... but you comfort and affirm my soul that discipline really does produce a crop of righteousness!

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Here are a few Fun Facts and Saying that I've collected about you over the past 6 months, Wyatt Joseph...

• you have this thing with Valentine's Day! When you give me little gifts (like leaves and rocks from outside:) you say, "I got this for Valentine's Day. I thought you would like it!"
• you have a very giving heart. We were talking about going through our toys and giving many away to boys and girls who don't have as many fun toys. By the end of our conversation you said you were ok with giving away everything except your swords and shoot guns...Maybe these are the 2 items we DO need to give away, or at least put away for reward and privilege purposes!
• you came to me another day after our above conversation and said something like this to me, "Mom, I have an idea... how about we give away our yellow stick to the other boys and girls." It didn't click with me at first and then I got it. He was referring to the yellow rod, the rod of correction, ie the paddle or spanking stick...yep, he was ready to give it away! What a sweetie you are... got to give you an A for creativity on that one :)
• you have a very loving heart... I love to hear you say, "I love you so much!" to Micah Jay or anyone, for that matter.
• your teacher's name at parents day out was Miss Haddie, but somehow you got confused and innocently called her "Miss Heine" I laughed hysterically and helped you make the correction very quickly!
• You have a cute little saying of "Oh my hinges" (I think this is from Tow Mater)
• alternate between orange, purple and black as your favorite colors
• you keep me in line with the traffic laws... you are very quick to tell me when I run a yellow light or turn right on red... you haven't figured out that it IS legal and always think you caught me disobeying the law!
• "I can't wait till I grow up so I can spank Isaac's hand too." If only you realized that Isaac is growing right along with you, sweet man!
• love to quote David when he said to Goliath, "This day you will die!"
• "You are such a mushroom!" is what you say to Isaac when he's being a stinker bear.
• "Humans are disgusting" this is another favorite quote!
• "Want to see how tall I am?" then you sprawl out as tall as you can on the floor and want to be measured.... daily.... to see how much you've grown
• We were by a lake and you asked me what the bobber thing was in the water. I told you there was a buoy in the water and you said, "A bootie? Why is there a bootie in the water?!"
• My very favorite is when you say, "I love you. You are such a good mom" It makes every hard day all better and makes me realize that my life really does have good purpose!

We love you forever and for always, Little Warrior! We are so PROUD of the little man you are...