2 1/2 going on 16

Will's new favorite thing to do when Matt gets home is to jump in the car and pretend to drive.

multi-tasking

tired girl

another family pic

pre-July 4th cookout family pic. not the best of Annely Blake but we'll take what we can get!

July 4th

Happy July 4th everyone! After a late breakfast we went for a mid-morning swim at Aunt May May's pool. Will swam by himself today for the first time! This may seem like no big deal for a 2 1/2 year old but just three weeks ago he wouldn't get in the pool even with someone holding him so this is a huge accomplishment. He was so proud of himself and even ventured out to the deep-end alone several times. This is great news for me, meaning now I can actually enjoy going swimming without having his arms snake hold around my neck like a little anaconda.

Other dramatic news of the day: We think a little black cloud must follow Will around on July 4th. Last year it was a head-first tumble down a flight of concrete stairs resulting in a scraped forehead, nose and lip. Today it was a duck attack. Yes, that's right, a duck attack. When we left the pool and were loading the car up Will stepped up into a patch of bushes next to the car and was walking around in them. He unknowingly stepped onto a duck who was apparently using the bushes as a hiding spot (for herself as well as some eggs we think.) The duck flew up out of the bushes and started attacking Will, pecking him in the head and flapping it's wings as he helplessly but unsuccessfully tried to defend himself and escape. My sister and I stood by, too stunned to even move and were yelling helpful things like, "oh get off- stop- no- move Will..." it was actually Matt who saved the day, and Will, by leaping through the bush to swoop him up in one giant move. Now if you know anything about us, that in itself is comical. Here I am, an ex-ER nurse who's seen every kind of horror imaginable, and I can't even compose myself to save my son from a little duck. Matt's usually the one panicked, dramatic, flustered. But I have to give it to him, he remained calm and of course looks like a hero to his little guy!

We're off tonight to grill out with friends. More pics to come as the day is already shaping up to be quite eventful and it's not over yet.....

cutie #1.... cutie #2

Adventures in sewing continued: yesterday I headed to the fabric store, picked up some gingham, called my sister to come help, and pulled out the sewing machine. Five hours and two advil later I had the completed product: two one-piece boy suits for Will. I'm actually pretty pleased with them! Here's what I learned:

1. seam rippers are very important

2. button holes are tricky

3. pay attention to each step; don't jump ahead

4. put away all sewing instruments lest your 2 1/2 yr old find the fabric pencil and use it to draw all over the hard wood floors in the dining room

Not bad for a first-timer........?

tagging and other things

So our good friend Emily "tagged" me in her blog today- thanks Emily :) Apparently I'm supposed to answer eight questions about myself to which no one really cares to know the answer to. At the end of this post I'll include some funny things Will is saying these days lest I totally bore you to death. Oh, I almost the most important thing; I have to "tag" other people. So.....how about Jawan, Sarah, Davina, and Bridget. Let's see you post your deepest darkest secrets for all the world to see!

1. What were you doing ten years ago? just graduated high school, looking forward to college
2. What were you doing one year ago? taking Will to the pool, enjoying sleep, you know, pre-2 kids stuff that people do
3. 5 snacks you enjoy? chips, cheese, chocolate, cereal, ice cream (no one ever accused me of being a health nut)
4. 5 songs to which you know all the lyrics? baby got back (I'm with you emily.....quite possibly the best song ever written :), happy birthday, jesus loves me, star spangled banner, I honestly can't think of another one- pretty pitiful isn't it :(
5. 5 things you would do if you were a millionaire? hire a personal chef, hire a maid, buy a big house, pay off debt, and give to the church
6. 5 bad habits? cracking my knuckles, talking during tv shows and movies, interrupting people, gossiping, laughing at inappropriate times
7. 5 things you like doing? reading, cooking, having people over, taking hot showers, drinking coffee in the morning while watching Good Morning America
8. 5 things you would never wear again? tapered jeans, white socks that go up past my ankles, big baggy sweaters, keds, panty hose

whew- that was painful!
now on to the interesting stuff:

Will's version of abc: ABCD HIJK UUUUUP, QRS, DVD, W, X NOW I NOW I ABCDHIJKUUP

Will's blessing he learned at church and now sings before every meal:
God ga fadda, God ga fadda, we bancum (thank you), we bancum, da da da bwessing, da da da da bwessing, a-men, a-men

nap time?

By these pictures it sure doesn't look like Will was taking a nap! He's been taking longer and longer to fall asleep during his nap-time lately, sometimes just dozing off before I come in to get him. He doesn't seem too worse for the wear thought, that's the scary thing. I really thought it would be a year or so before we dropped the afternoon nap. Will has always been a great sleeper, so he's surprised me with this one! Now don't think for a second that he's not still going to have "quiet time" in his room after lunch each day! I won't be able to look at him at the end of the day if I don't have an hour or two to myself! Here are some pictures of what he was up to today for his nap. Notice in the second one how he found one of his jackets and made an unsuccessful attempt to put it on. His cries for help were what brought me to his room to discover the damage......

first smiles

"ow-side"

Will loves his Aunt May May- who's a columbus resident now! Yeah!!! Mary's rat, ummmm I mean dog, Harry Winston :) love you Harry!

I had to bribe Will with chocolate to get him to even look at the camera for this one...