ONE More Week!!!

Well, John and I have come a long way....only one more week!

And by long way, I mean long way...I've gained 34 pounds (4 more than I did with Will)! 

Next Thursday, at 4:30pm, John will make his big debut and Will will become an official Big Brother! 

Our bags our packed, the nursery is stocked and we are ready to go! 

Field Trip

Will's school was closed last Friday for the holidays, but that didn't stop us (well, I had to go to work) from providing him with a fun learning field trip to the Houston Museum of Natural Science!  I was really sad I couldn't go, but Nana Rosie took some great pictures to memorialize the whole event...thanks Nana!

Here is one little boy who is ready to check out some fossils!

Aunt Stacy was in town for Christmas from Chicago and from what I've been told, Will told her everything he knows about all the dinosaurs at the museum...

 And of course, Nana Rosie was there to walk Will through The Butterfly Exhibit (totally cool place if you've never been!)

The Browns had a blast!

And I can't wait to go next time because Will and I plan to see Sea-Rex in 4-D (new cool Imax movie about dinosaurs that lived in the sea) and the new Paleontology hall that opens in May!!!!

Christmas Day Recap

Christmas Day met Will like this...

Presents presents presents!  (because he is such a good boy ;))

First Will went for the stocking...and found two very important items (to name a few)...a giant chocolate bar and a dinosaur fossil excavation kit!

 Then it was on to the main attraction....what could be hiding under this wrapping paper???

A Batcave!!  Just what Will asked for :)

 I'm not sure who will be enjoying this new toy more...Billy or Will. You should see the two of them upstairs...Billy sets up the Legion of Doom and all the 'bad guys' while Will sets up the Justice League in the Bat Cave...and then the battles begin!  Our little guy's imagination is just growing growing growing!

And of course this Christmas wouldn't be complete without a new sweatshirt ;)

But more than all the gifts...spending time with family was the most fun!

And when it was all over, Will assured us he "got everything he wanted" which made us smile :)

Christmas Eve Traditions

Some Christmas Eve traditions stay the same, some change a bit, and some are added every year.

One Christmas Eve tradition that will always stay the same is my dad (aka Papa Dave) reading 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' to me (and now to Will too), whether in person or on the phone, and of course leaving cookies and milk for Santa.

One Christmas Eve tradition that has changed over the years is going from early early morning mass, to midnight mass and now to 6pm Christmas Eve mass. 

And here is one new tradition this year...a Christmas Eve reading of:

The perfect Christmas book for the worlds biggest dinosaur lover :)

Christmas Blessings

This morning when Will woke up, he was bright eyed and bushy tailed (as usual).  As a working, tired mom, it usually takes me at least 10 minutes or so to "get going" in the mornings, but this guy wakes up ready to hit the ground running with conversation...before we can even get out of his room!  

And the conversations are sometimes serious I might add....for example, the other day...this is what I got hit with the moment I walked into his room:

Will:  Mommy, did God make baby John?

Me:  Yes.

Will:  How did God make me?

Me:  It's magic babe.

Will:  Did he make me out of wood?

Me:  (Holding back giggles) You better ask your Daddy about that one when he gets up ;)

Will:  Did God make the dinosaurs?

Me:  Yes.

Will:  But they are extinct!  Why did God get rid of them?

Me:  Because he knew people and dinosaurs couldn't get along together.

Will:  Because the meat eaters might eat us?

Me:  Yep.

Will:  But that doesn't explain the plant eaters!

Me:  You better ask your Daddy about that one when he gets up ;)

Will:  Oh, maybe because they could stomp on us?

Me:  Maybe.

Today, on Christmas Eve, I walked into his room and he popped up asking:

Will:  Mommy, what do you want for Christmas?

Me:  I just want you to be happy babe.

Will:  No Mommy, you have to want something.

Me:  Ok, I want your baby brother to arrive healthy and strong.

Will:  No Mommy, you have to want a toy.  John isn't going to be born until after Christmas.

Me:  Ok, I guess I'd like Catwoman.

Will:  I want a Bat Cave.  Are you going to get the Catwoman who rides the motorcycle?

Me:  I sure hope so!

To all of you and yours, whatever it is you want for Christmas, we hope your wishes come true!  Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas

From our red nosed reindeer to yours :)

Will "didn't know how to draw a heart" (I guess he could have written 'love') and I didn't want to ruin his masterpiece by drawing it myself, so we just left it off :) because I was so proud of him doing this all by himself!

American Gladiator for Tots

I don't know about any of you, but one of the shows I liked to watch Sundays after church when I was little was American Gladiator.  This Saturday, Will attended another friend's birthday party and they basically had a huge American Gladiator style obstacle course set up for the kiddos.  From what I hear, it was totally awesome (I was busy at the cookie exchange) and Will had a great time with his friend Jaxon.  Here are some pictures!

Here is a view of a portion of the course...

And here is Will, on his way up and in....

Here is Will and Jaxon at the top getting ready to slide down!

And here is an action photo of Will making his way through...

What fun!  I'm glad I didn't go because I would have been tempted to get in myself!

Superhero Birthday Brunch

This was seriously the busiest Saturday we have had in a looonnnng time.  It all kicked off this morning with Dylan's Superhero Birthday Brunch followed by a quick nap.  Then it was time for me to go to a neighborhood cookie exchange (can you believe I actually did this?) while Billy and Will went to another kiddo's birthday party from school...Jaxon.  Busy busy busy!  Somehow we survived!  Here are some pictures of my two favorite friends together this morning...I just love watching them interact!

No superhero party would be complete without a cape!

And serious conversations about how to save Gotham City.

Don't they just look like they are up to something?  Trust me...they were!

These are the two cutest superheros I've ever seen!

Here's super Dylan...after he defeated his pinata!

All that hard work (play) means it is time to settle down with some birthday cake!

And then, of course, it was gift time.  

Even superheroes have a softer side :)

After the cake and gifts, it was time for more playing...

Don't they just look like they are on a mission?

Finally it was time to head home for a nap...even superheroes need to rest every now and then :)

The Two Sides of Will

Will is very loud and boisterous at home...but very quiet and meek at school and in public...he has everyone (teachers) fooled for sure!

Click on the two videos below to compare/contrast our little guy as he sings!

Here he is next to his bestie Dylan at their school Christmas party this afternoon, singing nice and quiet...

And here he is singing me Happy Birthday this evening...singing so loud you can hardly make out what he is saying haha!

Notice the difference?

Pinterest Posting

I like to think I am moderately creative...and that a lot of things I do with Will from a crafty/artsy standpoint are unique...but when I saw this posting on Pinterest, I simply had to steal the idea and re-create it!  Just look at these two little feet and ten little precious piggies!

Breakfast with Santa and Dylan

Saturday morning was a very important morning for Will...we had our annual breakfast with Santa at our friend Marianne's Five Acre Farm.  

This year was extra special though because Will's bestie Dylan and fam got to tag along with us!

This was Will's one shot to tell Santa what he wanted for Christmas...

a Bat Cave (think huge Batman play cave)

Dylan's wish for Christmas was a helicopter!

 Will also got to go for a ride on a pony...

 And take a carriage ride with Dylan...aren't these the two sweetest boys you have ever seen???

I just love this picture :) :)

And this picture just makes me wish I didn't live in a neighborhood!!!

 After all the fun, it was time for a hearty brunch...it amazes me how much better Will eats when Dylan is around...nothing like peer pressure! 

So we've talked with Santa...

Now Will will just have to wait and see if his wish comes true on Christmas morning!