In between trying to update my blog on our trip to Disney World (which seems it may never happen) I thought I'd throw in a general update about what's been going on at our house. Most of what's been going on revolve around the boys. They fill our days with soooo much energy, laughter, hugs, and life. I can see that they are becoming the very best of friends and the play well together about 95% of the time (something I hope never changes). When they are apart, which is rare, Raleigh is constantly asking for "Nys". We are thrilled he calls his older brother the same nickname Tennyson gave himself. Actually, he either refers to Tennyson as "Nys" or "brother", which he pronounces something like "Rah-ruh". Too precious!
We got a 2nd hand but newer Mac and since our iPhoto is overloaded it's been a while since I've been able to really do anything with my photos. So happy that's gonna change! Gosh, when Tennyson was little I was the Blogging Queen and never missed a milestone of his, even the tiniest accomplishment was noted. I feel guilty that Raleigh hasn't gotten that same attention to detail.
Speaking of our littlest man, he is really starting to talk! He's putting words together like, "More please" and "Me help" and "Thanks, Mommy". It makes me proud he's so polite all the time! I must be doing something right! Raleigh has also finally become quite the eater and out-eats Tennyson at almost any given meal. He's roughly 24 lbs. now and 35 inches tall and sadly the baby in him is all but gone now. Makes me kinda sad. Another sad thing is that about a month ago he stopped calling me "Mama" and I am now "Mommy". Don't get me wrong, I l-o-v-e hearing him say "Mommy" in that sweet voice, but "Mama" was just so endearing.
As for Tennyson......where do I start? He's getting big...really big. He's roughly 42 inches tall and weighs one pound per inch. He's nearing 80th percentile for height, so he's gonna be tall like me! WOOHOO! Tennyson has always been exceptionally smart, sometimes too much for his own good, and I'm sure he'll have no trouble in kindergarten next year making friends and running the classroom. Haha!! Tennyson has also become quite the comedian. Here are a few of the funny things he's said lately:
~ Tennyson went to VBS at a local Presbyterian the week before his birthday in July. I asked him what he was learning he said, "God loves you. God listens to you, even when you whisper. God hears our hearts...and big people...and lamps."
~ I asked Tennyson one night if he wanted some sour cream on his taquitos because they were a little spicy and his response was, "No, sometimes sour cream makes me do bad things." When I asked, "Like what?" He said, "Like poking you in the eye." Crazy kid!
~ The other day he randomly asked, "Mommy, why don't we have a jack-in-box?"
~ Last week we had a chicken and couscous dish for dinner and Raleigh was shoveling it in. When I joking said, "One of Raleigh's middle names should have been Couscous instead." Tennyson said, "Couscous is my
real last name. That's what the old people call me."
Lately Tennyson has been into comparing how much he loves me, this number usually varies between 1 and 1,000, and Daddy, most often it's 1,000,000. Of course, we know he loves us the same, but it would be nice if my number was a little closer to Tom's! Oh, what a bond that father and son share. Tom does bedtime with Tennyson almost every night. Tennyson loves the elaborate bedtime stories, which usually involve playgrounds and chasing "bad guys". I told Tom I miss him asking for the more innocent stories of Thomas the Tank Engine and Disney World.
The boys still love to be read to, play trains, do puzzles (or "puz" as Raleigh calls them), play outdoors, spend time with their cousins, play hide-n-seek, and building Legos. I am trying to put more housework off and really try to listen more to them, their needs, and just PLAY with them. I really want to raise them differently than I was raised. I want them to look back at their childhood and say, "Boy, my Mommy sure loved me and enjoyed spending time with me. I felt loved. I felted wanted. I felt cherished." If I can do that then I've done things right.
I just want to finish this long overdue post with lyrics from an Andrew Peterson song called "God of My Fathers". This verse really speaks to my heart.
Now we're counting stars
and counting sand
Little feet and little hands
We're counting joys
