Wesley's 1st birthday

Wesley turned 1!!  We no longer have any infants in our house  - he is officially a toddler!  I still can't believe it.  This year has completely flown by.  It is amazing to think about all of the changes we have had since this little fellow has blessed our lives.  One year ago, we held our baby boy for the very first time. 

He is just the apple of my eye.  Words can't even express.  He has changed so much over the past month or so.  The day he turned 11 months old, he decided to start walking.  He was slow going for a week or so, but he is picking up pace.  He would rather walk than he would crawl, so he gets lots of practice.  He has two teeth on the bottom and the 4 up top are coming in.  He weighs just over 24 lbs.

The girls absolutely love him, too.  He gets lots of kisses from him - especially from Mary Catherine (no surprise there, right?))  :)  It is so fun to watch the kids play together.  Sometimes, I will hear Ella reading him a book.  He and Mary Catherine have been seen playing along side of him.  The other day, Mary Catherine even walked up to him and say "See Essy, book.  Can you say book?"

He eats just about anything these days - except mashed potatoes.  He still has a few jar foods here and there, but for the most part, he will eat table food.  Still taking some bottles, but I guess we will be stopping that pretty soon.  He will have to learn to hold his cup though!  I noticed a month or so ago (when we started giving him more bottles at home), that he just wouldn't hold his bottle.  I remember the girls holding theirs by this age, but I didn't think more about it.  Although he has been "using" a sippy cup at dinner for long time (rather playing), we have been encouraging him to use it more and more lately.  Since then, I have noticed that if he really wants something to drink, he points at it, I put it to his mouth, and he drinks.  But, he won't hold his own cup.  Coincidence? I think not.  Clint says I spoil him :)

We had a great birthday.  Not as big and elaborate as Ella's, not as dressed up as Mary Catherine's, but sometimes, simple is just perfect.  Mimi, PaPa, Aunt Katie, Pearce, and Anna Elise all came up to help celebrate.  After they got here on Saturday, we attempted to take all of the kids to Sears to get their pictures made.  They all looked so cute all dressed up, and at the end of the day, I guess we got an okay picture.  Defiitely an adventure.  It was a rough night a sleeping, or lack there of to say the least.  Poor Anna Elise wasn't too sure about Wesley's bed and ended up sleeping with Katie in the bonus room. Wesley wasn't too sure about the pack and play and I wasn't too sure about hearing him sleep and listening to Clint sleep.  After some yummy pumpkin muffins (Thanks Katie!) on Sunday morning, the kids were ready to play.  They had them a good ole time - which is what it is all about.  Anna Elise and Wesley napped most of the morning.  After lunch, we had cake - and boy was that messy.  Wesley wasn't too sure what to think about the cake.  He just sat there and analyzed it a few minutes.  He painted himself with all colors of the cake and then was done.  He didn't really eat too much.  Ella thinks we should give him the cake back tomorrow so he can finish it.  After a good bath, he opened presents.  Felt a little like Christmas around here with the the presents and laughter...and then the "Mine!  No, Mine!"  lol

After everyone headed back home, the house took a nap.  Poor Wesley didn't take a long one, but MC and Ella did.  Hopefully he will get a good night's rest. 

After the cake was taken away, he is definitely wearing more icing than he ate!

Kyle Ray

On October 6, I returned home from a conference in CA to totally unexpected news - Kyle had been in a serious car accident and had been airlifted to Jackson.  I talked to my Aunt Cheryl when I got home that night, and things didn't look good.  After about 20 minutes, I got in touch with my brother.  As soon as he answered the phone, he told me the worst news I think I have heard - Kyle had passed.  I screamed and broke down and then we just sobbed together on the phone.

The next few days were a complete blurr.  We packed the kids up and headed to MS.  We went to see Jody, Angela and Zac on Saturday afternoon and on Sunday afternoon.  The service was on Monday - there were so many people there, it was unbelievable.  It was an amazing service - the preacher did a great job. 

The comfort we have to get thru this is knowing that he is in heaven with God.  And even though that provides a level of comfort, I am still sad and hearbroken.  During that first week, I would cry and then be okay.  And then out of no where, I would just start sobbing.  And then I would be okay.  It was the most emotional thing I think I have experienced.

It is amazing that even as the days pass, how much he will pop into my head.  I can't count the number of times that I have been driving to work, or laying in bed, Kyle will pop into my mind and I will just cry.  During those first few days, I asked Clint, "I am sure Heaven is pretty amazing, but as sad as we all are, do you think Kyle is looking down, seeing us and is sad just a little bit b/c he misses his mom?"  Clint responded, "I think he is looking down and saying - if you only knew how wonderful and joyous it is up here."

I miss him.  It is easy as that.  I struggle becaue there are no words that I can say or nothing I can do to provide comfort to Jody and Angela.  My heart breaks for them.  My daily prayer is that even though we may never understand, that they will find peace and comfort knowing that he is with the Lord.  It is better to have known Kyle for the time he was here, than to have never known him at all!