Happy 14 months little P-baby!

Perry is such a happy baby and enjoys being loved on.  He is happiest when he is on your hip!  He likes to follow York and me everywhere including the bathroom.  I'm convinced that he will be potty trained before York!! He loves to sit on the little potty while we are in there.  (What is it like to use the facilities without children pulling the toilet paper off the roll, slamming the seat lid up and down while you wash your hands, or flushing while you are still going?... hmm)  He loves to snack but refuses to eat REAL food.  His daily diet includes: oatmeal, bananas, fruit cups, yogurt, an occasional chicken and stars or turkey and rice meal, and vegetable pouches.  Yes he is 14 months and I have to do the veggie pouches mixed with fruit.  He adores all fruit, fresh and dried.  Any type of snack food: gold fish, teddy grahams, ritz, crackers, peanut butter, nutella, etc.  He will not even try new food... I try to give him pieces of meat here and there and he spits it out and make the biggest mess.  I even try to get York to feed him because he loves all interaction with his bubba.  NOPE.. he clenches his teeth and shakes his head.  He is such a turkey.  Forget trying to sneak in a real vegetable at dinner... NO WAY!  It ends up on the floor or smeared all over the table... FOOD ART!  It is the most irritating thing in the entire world.  Luckily he loves his milk and drinks it without a problem most of the time.  York NEVER turned away food... N E V E R!  So this is a completely different ball game and I'm loosing!  I have spoken to our pediatrician and she suggest only offering the real thing at meal times and he will eventually eat.  I can't do it. . . I have to feed my little runt!  Even if he goes to Kindergarten with spinach and pear pouches... hehe!  He sleeps great and has since about 10 weeks! No complaints there!!  I guess you cant win them all!  He loves trucks and makes the best "truck" noises while driving them all over the place.  He also loves to point and thinks it is hysterical when you point back at him... ie the E.T!  He runs after his brother everywhere and loves to tackle him!  He will imitate A N Y T H I N G his brother does and that is D A N G E R O U S.  He recently attempted the outside of the stairs ... thank you Brother!  When York is put in time out and crying ensues Perry is right there with him... sympathy cries!  (or a symphony of cries to be exact)  Oh the sounds of LIFE!  This sweet life that I'm so blessed to lead.  The precious moments when its just me and my boys on the floor laying together... those moments can't get better.  The joy that explodes from my heart when Perry reaches over to touch his brother or York leans over for a kiss without my prompting.  The amazing things these little boogers pick up on each second.  It is truly a once and a lifetime experience that is going by entirely to quickly.  I hope that when I read these words 10 years from now the sweet feelings will spill over me and take me back to this unforgettable time.  Life with 2 boys... life that doesn't slow down, life so overwhelming it brings me to tears one moment then exploding laughter the next, life that can't be measured in words, life that proves how great our Creator is in the simple things -like looking into the eyes of your child and seeing your own, feeling their tiny fingers as they hold your hand or pat your back, or hearing the sweet words, "mommy I need you!" or "do you know how much I love you?".  Wow.. what those simple words do to a momma!  They make each diaper change, meal made, grocery trip, and mounds of laundry worth the hassle.  Truth is there is nothing like raising children... Truth is each milestone and moment is affirmation that this is what you were born to do.  I am blessed to be a mom and take incredible pride in raising the best boys I can!  I love them to MARS and back!  (( stole that from York))

I'm all JACKED up!

"Dad.. I can't fire you!" -York

"York why did you poop your pants?" -me

"God told me to!" -York

((Perry is taking EVERY toy York has in "his area"))

"P that's NOT cool!" -York

"How long have you been sitting in poop?" -me

"umm... just a couple of hours" -York

"York... what is P doing? -me

"Uh.. he's just chillin" -York

"Daddy... please shave your wis-jers" -York

"You look great today... that outfit is so cute" -me

"Yea... I look FANCY" -York

"Perry is such a ras-cer" (rascal) -York

"York, look at those birds on our hill..." -me

"Oh that's cute! just adorable!" -York

"Dad... dont grab my ear LUBE!" (ear lobe) -York

"York.. your pants are falling down!" -me

"You need to buy me a belt!" -York

"York.. you are going to have a NEW baby brother!" -me

"No... I already have a bruder, I'll take a sister thank you." -York

and this weeks FAVORITE.......

"York that is too much sugar" -Dad

"Yea... I'm all jacked UP!" -York



Adding another B O Y...

to the Harless roster!

Our sweet family friend who normally takes a little "peak" around 15 weeks gave us the news on Friday.  We are thrilled to be welcoming another precious BOY to the mix come summer.  I think it is the perfect fit for our CRAZY life and I couldn't be happier.  York still refers to the baby as her... we will work on that!  I have decided on buying a new baby bed and moving Perry upstairs in his... he isn't quite ready to take the "big boy" bed plunge.  I found a sweet new bedding for Perry's new room and baby 3 will inherit the same bedding both boys used before him.  Poor little guy... hand me down baby!!  At least little boys wont care... right?  Since Perry also used it I felt is was time for him to get something of his very own.  Once H3 gets a little older ... he to will get new bedding as well!  (just keeping it fair) 

Oh that is a whole other blog... how do you keep things FAIR?  I remember growing up with 2 other siblings and the "fair" discussion was raised frequently.  You want each of your children to feel special and treated as individuals ... but how hard is it to find a happy medium?  Does that even exist?  I remember my mother telling us that we were each different children with different personalities that needed discipline and rewards accordingly.  I never thought that was FAIR!!!  I guess you get older and get over it...?  I will do my best to make each of my boys feel special and make it my mission to establish some sort of FAIR-ness amongst them.  Whew... I better start anticipating certain situations!

Looks like I will have my hands full...

On another note... my best friend delivered a beautiful healthy baby GIRL! (the first of her "kind" within our group)  I was able to hold that perfect baby for a while today and visit her family in the hospital!  Prayers for mom and baby to come home safely!  Congratulations and Much love to the Henderson Family!

We are definitely having a HE... or a SHE!

Girl or Boy...

that seems to be the question.  Although it is more important that I pray for a healthy baby with the ability to learn and love ...the gender question hangs in the back of my mind.  This is most likely our last pregnancy and I guess that is why it is KILLING me to find out.  ((Also had an ultrasound tech tell us at 10.5 weeks that she would venture to say it was another BOY))  It is definitely a different pregnancy than it was with the boys, but if you go by the "girl" and "boy" wives tales then I should have had 2 girls already.  With the boys pregnancies I was SUPER sick until 19 weeks, had the horrible pregnancy mask, and wanted SWEETS constantly.  Those things tend to be most prevalent with girls (from my research).  This time I haven't been nearly as sick, no pregnancy mask, and and loving the salty-sweet combo.  My doctor suggest that I have become "accustomed" to being pregnant and my body has 'gotten the hang' of it!  Well I have to say that being pregnant annually since 2008 has made pregnancy my new norm.  I cant remember what it was like to not be caring a little one.  LITERALLY -either in my tummy or on my hip!  I'm happy that God has chosen this path for our lives and am eagerly awaiting FEB 17... GENDER DAY!  I have had 2 dreams where the ultrasound revealed twin boys!   T W I N S .. that's right!  I actually said "We just doubled our litter" in the dream!  Some days I wake up and think boy just because I'm not sure Wes and I can produce PINK... and other days I just KNOW its a girl.  We have a name which we will use regardless of gender.  As for the middle name... who knows!??  York is 100% sure that baby is a GIRL and refers to her as baby girl or her/she. He asks me to open wide so he can "talk" to her.  Perry obviously could care less and is just trying to concentrate on survival in this BOY ZONE! 

I will have to admit that I have participated in the MANY outrageous gender predictors on the market.  I did the Chinese gender calendar for gender which told me both boy and girl... 2 different sites!  Then I did the wedding ring on the string held over your belly which circled.  When I researched what the circling meant I found 2 websites -one that said girl and the other boy.  In a moment of hormonal weakness I bought the CVS gender predictor that indicated....

And have taken a million gender quizzes online that seem to all have this result....

As you can see I have NOTHING definitive but all of this things were FUN.  It makes Wesley crazy that I am so psycho about it and he just wishes I would quit talking about it for at least 10 min.  I think every time we sit down for dinner I say "So what do you think deep down?" because with both boys he was always convinced they were MALE... and look he was RIGHT!  At first he said girl and now has changed to BOY.  I am still on the fence but deep down think BOY... maybe because that is all I know.  The weeks fly by so the gender revelation is not to far away.  Don't expect a "gender revelation" party from this momma!  (nothing against them... it just isn't my style)  I like to find out with my sweet hubby and share the news with the boys in an intimate setting and not find out with a crowd.  Just personal preference I guess...  So I pray that God will give me peace regardless and continue to ask him to form this gift perfectly with not only 10 fingers and 10 toes but a mind that is curious, eyes that see his beautiful world, and ears that can hear all of the loving words being spoken to him/her.  ((and... maybe to throw in one of Wesley's dimples)) hehe!  Until then I will live in comfort knowing that God has chosen the perfect little person to grow and flourish in my womb and I couldn't be any more blessed or happier.

Bob the boy baby...

Have I shared the 2 names York has picked for baby #3?  When we first told York we were expecting he offered up the name Quesidilla for a girl and tow truck for boy.  Recently he has changed his mind to Little Girl baby or Daisy for a girl and bob the boy baby or York 2 for boy!!

York asks for "pupcakes" all of the time... "Pupcake please!" - Cupcake Please

I asked York "Do you think I WANT to spank you?"... he replied "Of course you DON'T mom!"

I was asked to "shut it down" the other day when ranting to a friend on the phone about mommy woes...

Perry would NOT stop crying in the car the other day and York told him to "lock it up!"

We went to McDonalds to get a "milkshake" and I was ordering a smoothie when York yells, "Smoothies make me nervous mom!"

York only likes to listen to "boy music" in the car (aka songs sung by men) so we were jaming to a little HEART when he interupts, "Mom, this in NOT a guys song!"

I tell York that we are on the way to see Mimi and Grandaddy and he replies, "That's wonderful... their my favorite colors!"

Instead of "I can't believe my eyes" York says "I don't understand my eyes!"

When talking to Perry while I was in the other room I hear him say, "Hey sugar pie!"

"I love you in the circle of God, mom!"

He asks all the time, "Do you know how much I love you?"  (((MY FAVORITE!)))

York why are you yawning?  "God made me yawn, silly!"

He calls EVERYONE silly goose or heifer... hmm!

True Meaning of Christmas!

Below is a story about the True Meaning of Christmas... I enjoyed her website so much that I used her explanation with our pictures... I hope you enjoy!  Merry Christmas!

"Teach the CHILDREN"

Santa told me...

Teach them the old meaning of Christmas. The meaning that now-a-days Christmas has forgotten. "Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it before the mantle. "Teach the children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind, all the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man's thoughts turning toward heaven."

This was the "infamous" Harless Christmas Tree... 13 feet tall and a MONSTER to decorate!  For Wesley and York it was love at first sight when we spotted it on the Christmas tree lot.  I felt that as beautiful as it was it looked like a pain to set up, decorate, take down, and keep watered!!  I was right... but so was Wes!  We couldn't have found a more perfect tree.

He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR. "Teach the children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of His promise."

This was a gorgeous New Year firework I was able to capture on film... It reminded me of  a star.  Wesley put on an amazing show for us and our new neighbors -the Hendersons!!!

He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE. "Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness."

York and Turner blowing out their birthday candles.

Once again he reached into his bag and removed a WREATH and placed it on the tree. "Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the real nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection."

He then pulled from his bag an ORNAMENT of himself. "Teach the children that I, Santa Claus, symbolize the generosity and good will we feel during the month of December."

Our annual Bass Pro Shops Santa picture... York thinks the Bass Pro Shop is the North Pole by the way -I'm going with it!

He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF. "Teach the children that the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly berries represent the blood shed by Him.

Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT and said, "Teach the children that God so loved the world that he gave his begotten son." Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.

York was such a wonderful elf this Christmas... He learned valuable lessons in sharing and helped his brother open ALL of his gifts.  This was such a special time!

Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on the tree. "Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherds' crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring back strayed sheep to the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother's keeper."

He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. "Teach the children that it was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior's birth. The angels sang Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and good will toward men."

my 2 angels

Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out a BELL,. "Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it should ring mankind to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return.

Obviously this isn't a BELL picture but the was BOTH boys favorite gift...

 

Santa looked back and was pleased. He looked back at me and I saw that the twinkle was back in his eyes. He said, "Remember, teach the children the true meaning of Christmas and do not put me in the center, for I am but a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to worship him, our LORD, our GOD."