Powerful

If you were to ask Weston what his favorite word is right now, it just might be "powerful." He describes many things as powerful, such as a baby lizard that is able to crawl under a rock without getting smashed, or his bones and muscles, the power of which truly impresses him on a regular basis!
The other night after getting out of the tub, I reached for the towel he used to use as a baby. I thought it would be fun for a change, and I love the little hoodie part. I told him that in that towel he kind of looked like a Pharaoh. Of course he wanted to know what a pharaoh is, so I said it was a powerful ruler. This was his response:

"You mean powerful like he can drink his apple juice straight, without any water in it!?"

Powerful means different things to different people, and apparently to my four year old it means drinking un-diluted fruit juice. Ha ha ha ha ha!!

My favorite little boy

Weston is so stinkin' funny! Every day he says at least 10 hillarious things that I just know I will remember... but then I forget! My favorite thing that he has said so far this morning is: "I love my armpits!" So unpredictable. I realize that Weston isn't the only cute little 4 year old that says amusing things, but he also asks a lot of deep questions, like "Why does Jesus love bad people?" I must admit that I wasn't sure at first how to answer that, but after considering it for a few moments I told him that Jesus is perfect, and that is why he loves everyone. I love simple answers, and I think he actually understood it.

Weston is extremely interested in the concept of good and bad people. I keep telling him that people aren't really good or bad, they just make good or bad choices. And people can always begin to make good choices. So now every day when he prays, he says (exactly): "Snake you (thank you)that everybody become good guys." He knows he is supposed to thank Heavenly Father, and he also knows that he can ask for blessings... so in this one line he kind of combines the two, which I think is pretty great. I love that he wants everyone to be good. I also love that he gives thanks for the blessing before it is even given. I know he doesn't understand the deeper implications of that, but I still love it.

And then he continually wants to know how things are built. On several occasions he has asked me, "how is whole city built?" When I answer that it is a long, complicated process, he eagerly implores me to "tell [him] all about it!" Just about every day he asks me how something is built. Last night he asked how our house was built. I told him you start with a foundation, but I think that's as far as I got. Maybe he should have a little chat with Uncle Mike about how things are made!

So, this morning Weston starts bagging up ALL of his toys in plastic bags and dragging them out to the family room. When I ask what he is doing, he informs me that he is storing these toys for the Summer. I question him to verify that he really does want them to go away for awhile and then suggest we store them in the garage. Well, that does not fit his plans at all! Apparently he is planning on storing them right here in the family room, crowded all around the TV! I suggested that they didn't look good cluttering up the room, to which he retorted that to HIM, they looked very nice!! Very nice, indeed.Still rather baffled by this little dude, and realizing that he is occupied so I should sneak out and use the computer while I have a moment, he comes running in with one important question, "where are all my Summer toys?" It then occurs to me that he is expecting a bunch of different toys to replace his regular toys for the Summer months! What a siiiiiiiiiiiiilly kid!
What can I say? My days are never boring!

p.s. As he jumped out of the car today, Weston told me that he's not afraid of anything anymore... except for really terrible monsters.

Funny Kid

Weston makes me laugh every single day. Today he told me that his best friends were Marc, Owen, Evan, and Calvin Klein. What? I was aware of the first three, but the last one? Where did he even hear the name Calvin Klein?

He has now said three prayers all by himself. His first one was a week ago yesterday. Tonight he insisted on saying the dinner prayer. He is so sweet when he says, "Jesus Christ, thank you," and "keep safe mommy." But the best part of that dinner prayer had to be when he asked for privacy from Sophie while he is in the "bloom-bloom." Translation: he prayed for Sophie to leave him alone while in the bathroom. Jason and I kind of glanced at each other mid-prayer and tried not laugh out loud!

Here is a recent picture of Weston, wearing Spiderman pajamas and his ghost pack... I'm pretty sure he believes that he is Spiderman half the time and I know for a fact that he wants to be a ghostbuster when he grows up.

Go Weston!

FOUR WHOLE YEARS!

I can't get over how truly amazing it is that Weston is talking so much. He began pre-school six months ago. It started off with a new word here, and a new word there. Pretty soon it was a steady stream of new words. After awhile, he had the confidence to try anything! Now, he consistently repeats the things he hears us say (for better or for worse). For the last three weeks, he has been reading a verse of scripture out loud every day!! We read a phrase, then he repeats. Sometimes he can only handle repeating one word at a time, but when I think of where he was just six short months ago at age 3.5, I can hardly believe it! He also prays at least once a day.

There are a few words that Weston still says his own way. Kind of like how he used to call Sophie "puppy" until he learned how to say "Sosie," and then eventually "Sosie" morphed into Sophie. Anyway, here are a few of Weston's words:

lope = yogurt

sirmut = syrup

vepables = vegetables

no-neets = noodles

Language development is not the only thing that's changed. Weston has grown so tall! He is taller than all the 5 year olds at school with him. I've had the chance to visit his preschool a few times now, and I've seen how he interacts with the other kids and with his teachers... he is so much like me! (Well, you know, except for wrestling with the other boys during outside play time.) He is an obedient student, a social creature, and somewhat of a people pleaser. Whenever he sees Sophie and me coming to visit his class, he gets all excited to include her in playing with all his friends.

Weston loves his little sister. Whenever she gets hurt, he kisses her face (always reporting to me exactly how many kisses he gave her... counting is one of his newest skills, after all). He'll comfort her by saying, "Okay Sophie? It's okay, Sophie!!" Weston doesn't just say things, though. He repeats them over and over and over again. He is extremely tenacious. He never gives up on what he wants, and he will e n d l e s s l y insist on something until he gets it. I'm not talking about the ordinary thing that all kids do where they just whine about something because they know you'll eventually give in if they just wear you down (although he has been known to try that, too). If he goes to sleep wanting something - assuming it is something we won't let him have - he will most likely fall asleep crying for it. But that is not the end! Whenever he wakes up, the first thing he'll do is start asking for that thing AGAIN! No matter how much you try to distract him or divert his attention to something else, he will absolutely NOT forget the thing he really wanted.

One day this past Fall, I thought it would be fun to look at some old pictures and watch some videos from when Weston was a baby. He loved this, but when he saw pictures from our trip to Disney world with Grandma, he became upset. He was upset because he saw himself wearing the Mickey shirt Grandma had given him, and he realized he didn't have it anymore (he had long since grown out of it). He began to cry, repeating over and over again that he wanted the Mickey shirt Grandma gave him! I wasn't sure if he was attached to the shirt because of his sheer, unadulterated love for Mickey Mouse (that really doesn't sound right), or because Grandma had given it to him. All I know is that I could NOT console the kid! He cried for at least an hour before the bus came, and he was crying so hard at that point that I had to carry him onto the bus and set him in his seat. When he came home from school three hours later, he walked in the house an immediately began crying about his shirt again! Needless to say, I found him a great Mickey shirt for Christmas... which he is equally attached to, I might add.

Not only is Weston extremely sentimental, but he has the memory of an elephant (okay so I got curious while I was writing this and just had to know if elephants really have the best memories of all the animals, and according to chacha.com, not that anyone has ever heard of them, either chimps or sea lions take the cake). In the people kingdom, I think Weston wins the prize. Of course, he has only now barely lived 4 years, so that remains to be seen! Let me share a story to illustrate my point. Yesterday we were going through his closet and sorting out his shirts. I looked at one cute orange shirt and said, "buddy, this is so cute, and I don't think you've ever even worn it!" He immediately recalled the one time he did in fact wear the shirt - several months ago while watching Back to the Future. He remembers details like that all the time.

When he was about three and a half (sometime in August), my mom came over to visit and asked me how the 24th went. She was referring to the 24th of July, meaning Pioneer Days... our Stake has a HUGE (and super fun I might add) celebration that weekend each year. We generally refer to it as Pioneer Days. We don't talk about it in terms of the date, so when she asked how the 24th went, I would have never guessed that Weston had any idea to what she was referring. And yet, to my utter surprise, he started telling her about the fireworks and how they hurt his ears! I'm sure at some point he heard someone say it was the 24th that day, and he just remembers things!

So last week Weston turned four. I was emotional that day, because it was also my mom-iversary! I thought about how his arrival into this world and our life was the best thing that ever had happened to me. I thought about the intense anticipation we all felt the day he was born. I also thought about how glad I was not to be reliving that day! When I think about all the life-altering moments in my life, Weston's birth tops them all. Of course my life changed dramatically for the good when Sophie was born too, but nothing in this world compares to becoming a mom for the first time. I don't think I really knew what love was until I had that tiny, adorable little boy in my arms! He had the most piercing, beautiful eyes, and large hands! He was long and skinny, but he quickly filled out. Now he is tall and thin again! He is tender and sweet like me, but he also has quite a sense of humor, which he clearly got from Jason. It is just so exciting to watch his personality emerge more and more as time marches forward. I am so proud of my little Weston!!

By the way, if you are still reading this post and you aren't family, you must be an extremely devoted friend! I will post the pictures of his birthday and birthday party, but for now I just wanted to record my thoughts on my little Bean, who is not so little anymore! We do still call him Bean sometimes, so just the other day I asked him whether he was a black bean, a pinto bean, a white navy bean, or a green bean (I didn't even give the option of being a kidney bean or a lima bean because they are just too gross). He responded that he was, in fact, a BLUE bean! I thought about that for a minute and then asked if he was a blue JELLY bean, which of course was what he meant. You've got to love that kid!!

My Son the Scriptorian

About a week ago, Weston discovered the word "why." Ever since then, he asks "why" at least 100 times a day. He'll say, "Hair. Why?" or "nonies, why?" (nonies is his word for "noodles") or "brush teeth - why?" You get the idea. There is no end to things he wants to understand, and although it is not always convenient to answer a zillion questions, I am loving it! After three and a half years of wanting to understand what goes on in the mind of my sweet son, these past 5 months have been amazing... especially now that I have the chance to explain so many important things and know that he is understanding and even repeating the things I teach him!

Today he picked up a Book of Mormon that had been laying on the kitchen table. He said, "Scriptures, why?" I told him that we read the scriptures to learn about God, and how to be happy. So he opens up the book, and directing his attention to Sophie who was in her high chair fussing, says, "Jesus Christs loves Sophie!" He said it over and over again. The rest of the afternoon he walked around with my scriptures pretending to read them. When I'd ask if he wanted me to read them to him, he would respond that he could read them "by self."

As I lay down with him before bed, he asked if I would tell him a story about when he was a baby. My mind drifted back almost four years as I recounted how he was born in a tub of water at Grandma Ruth's house. Sometimes I feel like I can barely remember him as a little baby. And yet, I will never forget certain things - like the absolutely consuming, powerful love and adoration I felt for that precious little life.

Exactly 3 years and 11 months ago today, I become a mommy. Here is a picture of Weston moments after birth (I am aware that I look terrible, so if you can just focus on him, I would appreciate it!)

About an hour after birth...And earlier this month at Disney on Ice:

How I love this little guy!

My very own American Idol

Both my kids love to sing and dance. Sophie mostly just sings the words "rock and roll" over and over again while going around and around in circles... something she learned from her brother. Weston, on the other hand, sings about just about anything. He also recently learned the term "bootie shake" which is just what he was doing when I ran to get the camera to record. However, when I came back, he had moved on to his newest musical masterpiece...

March Memories and Milestones

The first week in March, my brother in law, Chris, entered the MTC. My mother in law drove him up to Provo while we went to stay with the other kids at her house for a couple of days. We put Weston and Sophie on opposite ends of one king sized bed, but somehow they ended up all cuddled together... For Weston, March marked a few firsts:
1. Popping Corn the old fashioned way... or at least the way mommy did it when she was a kid! I recently learned (thank you Julie) that microwave popcorn has some kind of chemical or junk in the lining that is bad for you, so I decided to get out my mom's ancient electric popper. What fun! 2. Helping (or at least attempting to help) with the dishes. I am thankful for the sentiment. Now, if we could just match Weston's desire to help me clean the kitchen with Jason's ability...
3. Weston went from his car seat to a booster seat! It took some convincing, but after letting him choose the one he wanted (ok, so we only gave him two choices) and being reassured that dad thought it was super cool, he was sold. Isn't it great that three year olds are still young enough to value their dad's opinion above that of anyone else?4. This was his first year dying eggs for Easter, and his first year to be involved in an Easter egg hunt (at his Grandpa's house). Aunt Shae-Leigh spent a couple of days with us during Spring break, so she was involved in the egg coloring. Weston LOVES Shae-Leigh and runs around the house yelling "Aunt-ie!!" whenever she is around. Weston also got some nifty new sandals from his grandma, that he was very excited to show off:We also had a Halloween flashback. Every once in awhile, Weston discovers his Elmo costume and wants to wear it again. Sophie has had an eventful March as well. She had been getting around pretty well as it was...Then, on March 13th, she attempted her first crawl!

She didn't waste any time at all! Next thing we know, she's climbing up steps.Shortly after reaching her 7 month mark, Sophie is on her way to standing! She is one ambitious little lady. She has also been busy cutting her first two teeth and attacking/playing with her brother, who is a good sport most of the time!
This picture may not seem significant to anyone else, but it captures a look that somehow reminds me of my Grandma Knapp. There's just something about that glance...Sophie is a real charmer. I swear it almost looks like she is wearing makeup in this picture. Her rosy cheeks, naturally red lips, bright blue eyes and infectious smile are just part of the reason this beauty is absolutely irresistible!

Our Day At The Park - A Sweet Reminder

Just yesterday I was thinking about what a big boy Weston has become. As a baby, he was the biggest mama's boy in the whole wide world. I remember once when he was about 12 months old I left him with Jason while I went to Enrichment. I had a wonderful time and was thrilled about it until I came home to an upset husband and an even more upset little guy! Weston had screamed and cried from the moment I left until the moment I arrived home.

Well, those days are long gone.
Yesterday I was thinking about how independent he has become, and feeling a little nostalgic for the little baby that used to be my whole world.

Since he is a social creature who desperately needs interaction with other kids (something he has been deprived of lately), I have decided to take him to the park as often as possible. Yesterday afternoon we arrived at the Rec Center, which is just adjacent to the park. I noticed a large group of older little kids (I'd say between the ages of 8 and 12). I noticed how they were all joking around, trying to be cool and obviously seeking the approval of each other. I thought about how they were probably starting to think they didn't need their parents so much, and probably didn't give them big sweet kisses at bed time any more.

I asked Weston if he wanted to hold my hand while we walked up to the swing set. He enthusiastically responded that he did. I thought how great it was that he still wanted to hold his mommy's hand. When we got up there, he let go and ran to climb up one of the platforms with slides. After going down a couple of times, a group of three older kids congregated on the platform. (By the way, why do older kids, obviously not interested in the play ground, just go there to "hang out?" I have never understood that!) Weston decided that he wanted to be part of the group, so he nonchalantly walked over to where they were, and just stood there. I guess he didn't feel awkward that they were all 6 to 8 years older than him! He just figured they were all buddies. I think it is so cute the way that he assumes everyone is his friend... a lovely reminder that he is still just a little guy.

Finally I spotted a little girl about the same age who had arrived and was playing in another part of the play ground. I nudged him in that direction, which worked immediately. The second he laid eyes on that cute little girl, he was following right behind her. And I mean quite literally that he was only one step behind her... for the next half an hour. And she loved it! At one point I saw him following her up the stairs. He is pretty tall and has no problem at all with the stairs, but she is shorter and kept tripping. Every time she tripped she would say, "ouch!" Next thing I know, Weston is pretending to have a hard time, and repeating "ouch!" over and over again! It was hilarious.

It is only a recent thing that he goes down the slides by himself. Before Sophie was born, he would want someone to actually go up onto the platform with him. Well, I figured he didn't need me much anymore, but I still usually wait for him at the bottom of each slide. Yesterday I noticed him looking for me, making sure I was watching him and cheering him on! It was adorable, and yet another welcome reminder of his tender age.

When it was time to go, Weston gleefully grabbed my hand. And as we again walked past the too-cool older kid crowd, I gave silent thanks for my sweet toddler whose greatest delights are playing at the park with his mom near by and making his baby sister laugh.

One week 'til Christmas

Weston has been pretty busy this morning. While I was putting in a load of laundry, he was busy opening up some of the presents I wrapped late last night...

(I have to admit that the main reason it was so late is that I decided to read a snippet from the book I got for my brother, but then got engrossed in it and kept reading until almost midnight - do you think it would be rude to borrow it from him after he's done?) My mom found this HUGE box of precious little clothes from when my brother and I were
babies! It was such a fun find, and while we were digging through the box of cute little mittens, sweaters, and shoes, Weston was busy dumping out the holiday trail mix in search of all things chocolate -which he quickly devoured. Now all that remains are a few stray nuts.

After cleaning up the nut mess Weston came into my mom's room where we were sorting through the baby clothes. As the sugar-high from eating all that chocolate set in, he ran around the room until he discovered an unwrapped Christmas present intended for him - a story reader of the movie Cars. Being the softie that she is (after all, she is the grandma), mom decided he could have just this one gift early. Man, was he excited!! Here is one of the precious little sweaters from when I was a baby. Also, the sweet satiny little infant shoes. How I wish we would have found this box about 2 months ago! Weston is not always a trouble-maker. In fact, earlier this week he worked very hard helping put up the Christmas tree!I don't think any amount of bribing could have persuaded that kid to look at me long enough for a picture. He was way too focused on the work at hand! What has Sophie been up to, meanwhile? Just being her cute little self. And, of course, modeling my old bonnet and booties!P.S. While writing this post, Weston has again been busy... this time dumping a myriad of items into the washing machine including but not limited to: several pieces of the nativity set, ornaments, ribbon, nuts, jingle bells, hair pins, cat food, and hand soap.

Charming.

Well, at least I'm never bored!

A little jaunt to Bear Lake

Question: How do you keep a two and a half year-old occupied on a 10-12 hour car ride?
You let his mind turn to mush for a day while watching the movie Cars over and over and over and over again on a portable DVD player. Then you hope you haven't made a permanent dent in his intelligence by exposing him to so much TV. Here is a picture of my sweet Weston clenching his retro earphones while completely riveted to the movie. By the way, the trip is normally only 9 hours. But with a newborn and a two year old, we ended up making a few stops along the way... like 6!! They were: Mesquite, Beaver, Nephi, Provo, Heber, and Evanston. Yikes!
While passing through Heber, we encountered the single most incredible rainbow I have ever seen in my entire life. It was stunning! It was impossible to catch the brilliance of the colors on camera, but you get the idea!

The next day (after arriving at Mike and Carrie's house), Weston couldn't wait to play! He somehow spotted this dump truck on top of a fridge in their garage, and pretty much didn't let it leave his side the entire time we were there! He loved it so much that he even waved good-bye to it when we left to come back home. Funny, huh?I enjoyed the cooler weather, but I'm not sure how Sophie felt about it. Weston clearly did not mind the chilly air!I like this pic - doesn't my mom look like such the modern grandma? Here is a lovely Carrie holding Sophie... I just love that motherly, pregnant glow! It's funny how you feel like a fat blob when you're pregnant, but then other pregnant ladies are always so darling and cute.

The whole reason we made the trip was to go to Carrie's baby shower, and I wasn't going to miss it because of a wild toddler (even my own wild toddler), so Mike willingly agreed to hang out with Weston until it was over. I thought it was funny that Mike was so squeamish about Weston needing to go pottie... he actually dropped him by the Shower so I could take him to the bathroom! Weston thoroughly enjoyed doing manly things with his uncle, like riding on a 4 wheeler to go feed the cows. I never did get a good picture of Weston on the 4 wheeler, so this one with the scowley expression will just have to do. That scowl has unfortunately become one of Weston's more popular faces lately. Hopefully it is nothing more than a fleeting childhood phase. We also visited Aunt Carrie's barber shop while in Bear Lake... ha ha ha. She doesn't have a shop, but she does have one of the nicest electric shaver thingies I have ever seen. She showed me how to use it, and I couldn't believe what a cinch it was!! Normally cutting Weston's hair is a long, stressful affair. This only took a few minutes. (I think I am beginning to sound like an infomercial :)Nothing like the promise of reward to make even the most rambunctious of little boys hold still for a haircut!Such a handsome little munchkin!