Baby BOY #3

Baby #3's 3D sonogram...

We went to the doctor today and had an ultrasound... and yep, we're having another boy! We're so excited (not that we wouldn't be if it were a girl...). The baby looks very healthy, so all is good. I'll keep you posted once we've decided on a name. :)

Stephen the little helper

I'm so proud of Stephen... he's really becoming a good little helper. He even volunteers to help without being asked.

Today I was feeling a bit tired and less than enthusiastic about emptying the dishwasher, and I felt the need to announce this to him. I wasn't asking him to help, I just said, "AAaaaallllrriigghtt... I'll empty the dishwasher even though I don't really want to. Sometimes we just have to do things even when we don't feel like it." I was trying to make it a teaching moment... so he could remember it when he's asked to pick up his toys and doesn't want to. Well, he surprised me and came over and put away all the silverware. Not only did it surprise me that he helped, but also that he did such a good job. He's really growing up.

He also helped me "vacuum" today. He's really good about pulling out his popper and "vacuuming" all the rooms. And at H.E.B. he helped put all the groceries on the conveyor belt. Then when we got home he helped put them away. What a kid! I'm just so proud... and thankful... that he's becoming such a good lil' helper.

This picture is of him "washing the dishes." This was a while back, but I couldn't resist posting it. :)

Deere season

Stephen is mega-into tractors these days. We're actually known at the library as the Tonka Truck people. We've checked out every Tonka Truck book they have... some several times. I can tell you all about graders, backhoes, loaders, dump trucks, cranes... yeah... we know tractors. (Although I'm not sure if calling all of them tractors is appropriate... maybe I should say "heavy machinery.") Anywho... it's apparently "Deere" season here in Texas, and they had a lot of John Deere tractors out at the mall. So we took Stephen and Joseph and let them climb aboard the tractors. I think it was a dream come true for Stephen. :) Here are some fun pictures of our adventure....

Can you see his excitement????

Tractors is so dummmmb... but so much fuuuunnnn....

Trying to reach the pedals...

Even Joseph had a good time!

Yahoo for Deere season!!

Joseph's check-up

Joseph had his 9 month checkup... and all looks good. Although he may be smaller than Stephen was, I tell you he packs a punch! Auntie Lauren calls him her little Altoid, because he's curiously strong. He weighed in at a little over 18 lbs and is 28 inches tall. That puts him in the 20th percentile for weight and 40th for height. A wee little guy, but cuter than cute. Papa says his smile is in the 99th percentile, and I think that's what counts anyways. :)

He's already walking along furniture, and we've caught him more and more often standing up without holding on to things. He'll be walking on his own soon... which makes him very excited. He can't wait to catch up to Stephen. He looooOOOOoooooves his big brother. Anything Stephen does is HILARIOUS. I could tickle him all day and maybe get a chuckle, but if Stephen even touches him, he busts out laughing.

Here we go...

Today is the BIG day... I'm going to start blogging about my boys! There are so many fun stories to share about these kiddos (and their daddy) that I have to start writing them down. So here begins my attempt to chronicle our wonderfully blessed life.

Today was a big day for Joseph... he finally cut his second front tooth. His total tooth count is up to 6... 4 of those came last month, and of those, three in a week! I think he's trying to get four this month, too, because those bottom gums are looking swollen. All in all, he's handling it like a champ... although the nighttime wakings haven't been terribly fun. All for a good cause, though. Teeth are important.

Jerome had a good day, too. Tonight was the Political Science Awards Banquet. Not only did we get to enjoy a yummy free dinner, as well as win a football koozie and umbrella (door prizes), but Jerome was also awarded the Distinguished Masters Student award. There's a proper name for it, but I'm not sure what it is. Basically he was recognized above all the other masters students. Hooray! And in case you didn't know, he also passed his comprehensive exams with a high pass. I'm very proud of him. All of his hard work (and trust me, I know how hard he works!) is paying off. Yet, glory be God's.

Stephen had a good day, as well... although no earth-shattering news. I think the biggest accomplishment for today was his beautiful rendition of"Happy Birthday" sung to Titi Laura. Oh yes... Happy Birthday, Laura! He also has managed to stay awake until 10pm, even though he had only the slightest of naps. He's very much like his daddy... they can push through exhaustion. Not me, though. So, I think that I'll stop here. There will be more to write tomorrow. Joseph is going in for his 9mo well baby check-up. It's always fun to see how much he's grown. Yes, tomorrow's another day. So... until then...