It's GONE!

Well, actually it's in a bag on my dresser, waiting to be mailed to Locks of Love.

Why does it look prettier sitting on the counter than it did on my head?

Yes, I finally cut my hair...chopped it off. It was way too long...I felt like the crazy lady with 100 cats. Now it's short, dries in 5 minutes, and I'm on my way.

Should I be mean and not post a picture of what it looks like now?

One month old

Nathan turned a month old on Sunday. I can't believe it's been that long already! He's getting bigger too, I can tell. He slept for four hours in a row last night, and he's staying awake more during the day...and he seems entertained by his brothers when they talk to him. Yesterday Wesley was teaching him to "pew the ships with his eyes"...they had their own little video game going on. I think Nathan made it to Level 2. hehe These boys are so fun!

Life with Three Boys

An exhausting labor of love :) This is the best way I can describe the events of the past four weeks. Today is Father's day. I am experiencing fatherhood like never before! Today I am grateful for:

1. The health of our family and simply being alive today
2. Thomas's infectious giggle
3. Wesley's inquisitive spirit
4. Nathan's quest for the nector of his life; boob milk (that is all I know about his character at this point - he is determined to meet his goal
   
5. My wife's determination to run our house and raise these boys to love God, be respectful and allow me to work. I had a meeting on Thursday that I was stressed about. She was so cute. She was absolutely exhausted yet trying to let me sleep. Finally, I looked over at 3am to see Thomas nursing and she crying our due to extreme sleep deprivation. Moved I said, "please, go to sleep, I'll take him." I was inspired by her heart to think about me and try to give me some sleep. Much stronger than I am she has the ability to go without sleep and maintain a positive attitude. I am much more like Nathan; I cry about every three hours letting everyone know how tired I am.
6. Having a home and a career I enjoy
7. Friends that we care about and that care about us. I feel very fortunate that we can build strong frienships with people in a similar life situation as us. It is fun to see so many of our friends, whom we have known since we were all students or single professional, get married, start families and progress together through life. I love the history involved and the comradery it produces.
8. Dinner with the Smiths, Andersons and Hollands last night at Su Hongs and the Hollands surprising us all by paying - very thoughtful
   
9. My brothers thoughtfullness - he sent me a "radiation" free headset for my cell - leave it to Tim to always come up with and find something very cool
10. The outcome of my meeting on Thursday - it went very, very good
11. Breakfast this morning with the boys
12. My friend Josh who I wrote about that got baptized a couple of months ago and who has truly become a best friend, brother and a joy to work with everyday in business - he inspires me
13. The spiritual revival that I feel is taking place in my heart and in many of the churches of which I have been a part. The past 5 years has been incredibley difficult and, at time, heartbreaking, yet I see so much healing taking place. I am glad to have friends that are going here, in Sacramento, Seattle, Portland and other places. Also the friends I have that are no longer going to the "same" church but still working on their journey and trying to find their way like the rest of us. Though we have a number of differences I am encouraged to see so many trying to become more understanding, patient, humble and work together organically - it's much more inspiring that ever
14. Anthony Miller, Jasmine, Todd and Veronica who have really given his heart to our boys and been willing to watch them on the fly on many occasions
15. Mike & Marian Livingston who have been an enourmous influence in our boys lives and have helped us to learn how to teach them and to expect more than we thought we should
16. The struggles of life - they make the good times all the better
    

The hightligh? Wesley's pre-school graduation.

Wesley had his graduation this week from pre-school. It was really amazing! Mike and Marian put together little hats that said, "class of 2006," diplomas, a prepared speech, shirts and food. I was amazed at how much thought they put into it. However, in light of how much heart and thought they have put into our kids over the past 5 years I guess I should not have been so surprised.

It's Retro Day!

It's a dreary day in Redwood City, so I thought I'd take a look back and see what we were up to on this day for the past few years. It seems we were doing the same thing...playing with babies!

June 2002: Wesley was 8 months old. We didn't have a very good camera when he was a baby so all his baby pics are fuzzy. I love this picture because he was so excited and shaking his arms around and laughing.



June 2003: Wesley was 20 months old, taking his first set of swim lessons through Parks and Rec. I was pregnant with Thomas and it felt so good to get in that pool! Now he swims all by himself, he's my water baby.

June 2004:

Thomas was 8 months old and just learning to crawl. I thought the boy would crawl forever, it worked for him I guess...he didn't walk till he was 14 months old. This is right when his eyes were changing from blue to brown.



June 2005:

Wesley almost 4, Thomas almost 2. They look like Irish twins here, I love this photo.

The Weekend - Tons of Fun!

This weekend was filled with lots of action! Wendy has been tied to the house due to little man's feeding schedule. However, I feel like it has not stopped us all from having a good time. Tired - yes! But still having fun.

Here are some of the highlights:

Nathan - out cold - too cute!
















Where am I?
















Wesley is a great big brother so far. He absolutely adores Nathan and shows his affection often.
















Saturday morning I took Thomas and Wesley to play soccer at our E-Soccer program. We have started going most Saturdays. It takes a little to get them motivated. However, it is very inspiring and encouraging to see them get involved, playing with the other kids and getting coached. Wesley starts by saying I don't want to go I want to play in the park. So I told him he could either sit and watch his brother play or get on the field. He sat for about five minutes then called me over and said, "Dad, I am bored. I think I have changed my mind. I want to play."

Thomas goes out and, other than getting distracted sometimes (he's 2.5) he does real well.
















Afterward, I let them tromp through the puddle left from the sprinklers. They were drenched head to toe. Thomas took a spill but got right up and went back after it. I love it.

















Saturday night we had our friends, Jonathan & Kelly Hudgins (see link to familyhudgins.blogspot.com to right) over for a BBQ. They brought their three kids (Jacob, Miles and Ava) over. It's fun to have friends with similar things going on (ie; 3 kids). We had a great time.
















Sunday - Jonathan offered to take Wesley on a hike with Jacob. That was great! It gave Wendy some time to hang. I had the opportunity to take Thomas to get some ice cream (he was absolutely devastated that he couldn't go on the hike). Then late that night I went out to play some basketball. These two teens showed up that absolutely schooled me. I sat there thinking I am 33 years old. These two guys are half my age and they are very, very good. It was quite a humbling moment.

Till next time...