NoteWorthy... Earthquake!

We experienced our first (and hopefully LAST) earthquake this morning in Maryland. You heard me right, there was an EARTHQUAKE in Maryland of all places! We awoke to a violent shaking very early this morning.... There was a huge grumbling noise and it sounded like a jet was hovering over our roof, causing the ground to rumble beneath us. It only lasted a few seconds but left us very perplexed. Joe said, "That was an earthquake!" and I said, "No it wasn't. There aren't earthquakes in MD!" Well we were both a little groggy and fell back to sleep. But sure enough, as soon as we turned on The Today Show at 7am they were reporting the strange event that took place to be an earthquake. My man was right! And the epicenter was about 3 miles from our house! Here's a short article from the Washington Times... Earthquake in Maryland: D.C. area rocked Michael Blanpied Earthquake Expert, U.S. Geological Survey(USGS) Friday, July 16, 2010; 11:00 AM The U.S. Geological Survey reported a 3.6 magnitude earthquake centered in Montgomery County at 5:04 a.m. Friday. The epicenter was in Gaithersburg near I-270 and Route 124 (39.145 degrees N, 77.222 degrees W), USGS reported in a preliminary finding. Its depth was 3.1 miles

Wy Update!

It has been too long since I last posted an update on my Wy Guy. So here he is at two years and four months. And as you can see, Wyatt is not lacking in personality...

Wy is still quite the little chef, except this time he cracked the egg on the chair instead of in the pan. "Oopsies!" he said. Wyatt loves snacktime and often browses through the pantry all on his own. This is the 'I'm caught!' look! But he does always comes to me with snack in hand, before opening the wrapper and says, "Want this, please!" As if PLEASE always gains Mommy's blessing! : ) Like mother, like son! OK, so let me explain... I included this photo to remind us of Wyatt's need for things to be straight, in-line, and orderly! I love it--let's hope it sticks! Ahhhhh! Is he the cutest little cowboy you've ever seen ? Wyatt LOVES Buzz Light Year and all of the characters from Toy Story 2 (Toy Story 1 was too scary so he'll only watch the second one!) Wy loves to build towers and then knock them down! Mr. C-O-P in the making, writing some tickets... Wy feeling very remorseful for coloring all over his arms and legs. Wyatt does NOT like to be in trouble, but it certainly does not stop him from testing the waters to see what happens... Wy LOVES the pool... We make it there several evening a week!

This was the first time Wyatt has EVER fallen asleep on the couch! My buddy had his first fever in well over a year just a couple of weeks ago. : ( But one day of good rest and he was back to normal. Wyatt says, "God gave Wyatt a brother... Buddies forever!" I do think they will be very good buddies and friends forever.

Fun Facts and Cute Quirks about our little man: WYATT...

• Has very sophisticated taste buds! He loves mint, white chocolate, and lemon flavors!
• Likes for doors to be closed! There are no open doors or drawers in our house, that's for sure.
• Is totally fascinated with juggling! Joe and I have both learned to be pretty good at it because Wyatt thinks it's hysterical...It all started after he met his first clown! : )
• Loves to get a laugh and is very FUNNY. It's sometimes hard for me to keep his sinfulness in appropriate perspective and to discipline him accordingly when he's saying, "Wy, funny!" with the biggest cheesy grin after he's been naughty. Wyatt is funny but I always have to remember that sin is never funny to God and will not go well with my son if it takes root in his heart.
• Loves PLAY-DOH
• Is all about BASEBALL...We normally stop at the baseball fields on the way back from our morning run for Wy guy to feel like he's in the major leagues playing ball on the field!
• Cute Quirk: Wyatt is always touching his eyelashes...and normally with his middle finger! He falls asleep touching his eyelashes and wakes up doing the same. Don't know how this started but it's pretty cute and very quirky! : )
• has a very SWEET SPIRIT... When we're walking home from the park he often grabs my hand to hold and kisses it!
• loves to tell STORIES... He always wants a story (normally about Uncle Jay playing football) right before going to sleep
• is still the BEST big bro in the whole wide world. Isaac gets about 100 kisses (literally!) a day along with a few 'fives' and some 'knuckles'.
• Favorite Bible story: Definitely David and Goliath... One of the most violent ones, of course! He's all boy! So Wyatt has about 7 different Bibles and he knows exactly where the story about David is at in each Bible
• Favorite movies: Toy Story 2 and Lion King!
• Favorite Book: Its STILL Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks and Things that Go! And this would be Mommy's least favorite book... but it doesn't matter where I hide it, Wyatt always seems to find it! It's the never-ending book with no story line at all that my little boy just LOVES--it's a boy thing, I guess!
• Favorite Song: I'm in the Lord's Army! He loves the 'Yes, sir!' part the most!! : )
• Still loves the BOB (jogging stroller)! We started this morning routine when Wyatt was about 3 months old and it's still one of our favorite activities each morning. Wyatt TALKS ALL DAY, except while he's in the BOB... There's just something about strolling outside that does something for my kiddos. So we all enjoy a little bit of 'quiet time'...

Out of the Mouths of Babes!

Famous Wyatt Quotes

(keep in mind that he has the cutest raspy voice)

• "Wy do it self!" is probably what we hear out of the mouth of Mr. Independent most often
• "Is that thing?" Wyatt is very inquisitive!
• "Daddy crazy driver and Mommy safe driver!" (Which is very TRUE but he didn't learn it from me!)
• When Gabbi toots, Wyatt take a big wiff and says, "Smells GOOD!"
• Wyatt looks at me after I come home from running and says, "Mommy pretty...and stinky!"
• Often says, "Beautiful Mommy."
• So Wyatt must have drank alot of pool water because he went potty right before we left to come home. When we got home Wy wanted a snack... So I found him in the pantry in a puddle. Hmmmm, this was very unusual for Wyatt. So we cleaned up the pee pee and talked about what had happened. This was the dialogue, Wyatt: "Potty there in pantry." Mommy: "Yes, you did potty in the pantry and you feel very bad for it, right?" Wyatt: "No. Feel better." I'm sure he did feel better... He had to go pretty bad apparently!
• When he sees motorcycles on the road he says, "Bikes Dangerous! Wyatt ride it!"
• When Daddy goes to Bible Study, Wyatt says "Daddy go story time!"
• loves for everyone to be HAPPY... He goes around the room and says, "Ederbody Happy! Wy guy happy. Daddy happy. Mommy Happy. Baby Happy!"
• Often refers to himself as Wy guy; Daddy, as Joe or Jojo; Mommy, as Honey; and Brother, as Ikey Owen! I love it when Wyatt is upstairs and I'm downstairs and if I don't respond to him, he yells from the bannister "Honey!" to get my attention!
• answers his own questions, for example, "I want candy. OK, Daddy? Ok."

We just LOVE LOVE LOVE our Wy guy to pieces...

Trying TWOs

Wyatt is defintiley in the stage of the TRYING TWOs, or so I call it. All the mamas warned me that it was coming by two and a half. Well, it's here! But it's certainly not terrible at all(although I now totally understand where the term 'terrible twos' comes from!), it's quite rewarding, refining and VERY sanctifying actually, but I will defintiley agree that it is an intensely TRYING season. But it's funny though, because as trying and difficult as this stage is, I actually enjoy my time with Wy guy now more than ever! He really is my little buddy and I just LOVE LOVE LOVE him to pieces! So I certainly won't wish this precious season away, not for a single minute, even on the hardest days...This is the calling the Lord has for my life right now, and nurturing the souls of my fellas each day is my greatest accomplishment! I'll continue to pray for strength and perseverance, that I may respond to this high calling of motherhood, to raise my boys in the ways of the Lord, with passion and dilligence...

I often try to teach Wyatt that his ways are foolish and God wants him to be wise. So I say, "Do you want to be wise or foolish?" His response, "Foolish!" I was perplexed by this at first. Then it hit me hard that of course my son wants to be foolish... It's more fun and much easier at the time. But then I was reminded that my job (with the Lord's help!) is to get that foolishness out of his heart... Proverbs 10:23 says, " A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct, but a man of understanding delights in wisdom. And Luke 6:45 says, "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks."

Isaac's Half Birthday!

My sweet little man is now a 6-month-old! I have no idea where the days keep diappearing to, but I love this guy more with each passing moment...

Ikey had his 6-month photo shoot on Saturday. He didn't make the photographer work too hard for her money since he smiles 99% of the time! I think the above photo truly captures Isaac's sweet, yet very playful personality! He really is my little sunshine and the laughter in my heart...

Wyatt loves for Isaac to wear his red converse, so I thought it would be a good 'prop' and fun memory at 6 months! Full of Laughter...

This shot might be my favorite... Isaac with his thumb and the shoelace in his mouth! And there's just something about that profile and enormous legs that I find irresistable! ; ) Does this guy have rolls, or what? Isaac finally got to try some 'real' food (if that's what you call rice cereal!)... It was NOT a hit! We are going to have to venture quickly into the world of fruits and veggies because Isaac has learned to spit the rice cereal back at mommy... Yes, he literally spits it into my face! ; ) Now that he's tried cereal, he thinks he should have a bite of everything that we eat! Loving playtime! All played out! Headed to the pool...Have I mentioned how much Isaac LOVES the water? Look at this Pillsbury belly! Daddy's buddy! Sitting big and very proud! __________________________________________________________ Fun Facts About our 6-Month-Old: ISAAC...

• continues to fill our world with sunshine and laughter!
• has entered the world of 'real' FOOD--Only rice cereal, if that counts!
• is SITTING BIG, but still topples when he gets excited and loses his concentration
• has learned to BABBLE! It is so sweet to hear him 'talk'
• loves the swimming POOL
• is a crazy man in his crib...I find him anywhere but in the original spot where I lay him to sleep! Sometimes he's on his belly, or completly at the other end of the crib, or poking his little feet through the spindles...He definitley does not stay put!
• enjoys being a part of every family activity... He does not like to be left out! From picnics on the porch, to baseball in the backyard...you'd better find a way to bring Ikey along! : )
• has gone a very STRONG GRIP!
• puts everything into his MOUTH... We are going to have to childproof this place very soon! Yikes!
• loves to sleep on his BELLY
• cannot be cuddled or rocked to sleep! Ike loves to play and snuggle and be held while awake, but when it's time for Ikey to fall asleep, you'd better put him down quick! As much as I'm THANKFUL for my independent sleeper, sometimes I miss having a sleeping baby in my arms. : /

a cute story and a NOTE TO WYATT...

WYATT...Our days are filled with trying to teach you diligently..Lessons about life, lessons about the Lord, 'how-to' lessons, hard lessons about patience and kindness and gentleness and self-control!, lessons on how NOT to treat girls (you're a bit of a bruiser these days with the ladies and anyone smaller than you!), and lots of lessons on SAFETY... I am always reminding you that Isaac does not have teeth and isn't able to eat the things that we eat. I'm constantly trying to teach you that Isaac can't hold small things in his hands because he'll put them in his mouth and possibly choke. I'm teaching you, but always wondering in the back of my mind how much of it is really 'sinking in'... So I was at the grocery store the other day and Daddy calls to tell me that you came to him with a very concerned tone saying, "Ikey....Band-aid in mouth!" Sure enough, Isaac had pulled a band-aid (from his shots that morning) off of his leg and had it in his mouth! Super Wy came to the rescue! So not only are you, my little warrior, really 'taking it all in', but also learning to apply the lessons that Mommy and Daddy are trying to teach...and even protect your baby brother!!!!! So PROUD of you, Wy guy! It is my greatest joy and daily struggle to raise you in the ways of the Lord! I love you to the moon and back, my son. And thank you, Lord, for small glimpses of grace like this one, and even some occasional fruit in the heart of my fella! : ) This Mama's heart is encouraged and my joy remains FULL in you!

Independence Day 2010!

First time we'd ever been to a BOAT parade... It was very cool!

Getting ready for the big shebang!

My handsome fellas...

Wyatt was totally in AWE... He LOVED the fireworks! I stared at Wyatt almost the entire time because his enthusiasm was so much more entertaining than any amount of fire in the sky! Oh, the simple things in life are really what make life worth living...

Isaac even liked the show!

Wyatt had to cover his ears for the finale, but our warrior wasn't the least bit afraid!