Catching Up!

We have been super busy lately, but haven't really had anything exciting going on.  Hence, the lack of blog posts.  This will be my attempt to catch up because I know how exciting keeping up with our lives is!!! :)

First, Will is 13 months old now.  He's got 6 teeth,  says mama, dada, bye, and the other night he said Bible!  Awesome!  I show him the Bible everyday and sing him a little song. He loves it.   He is walking and loving every minute of it.  He is in to everything.  Just the other day we wised up and put child locks on all of the kitchen cabinets (best thing we have ever done).  When Will realized that ALL of the cabinets were locked, he threw a fit (and I mean a HUGE fit, like we had ruined his life fit).  He's getting pretty good at that now, especially when he hears that ever dreaded word, NO!  We like to call him the Tasmanian Devil.  He moves through the house like a little tornado, wreaking havoc on anything that gets in his path.  He has learned how to flush the toilet and loves to do it every chance he gets.  That shoe made it into the toilet.

The other day I was sitting at the table reading the paper and Will was playing in the laundry room.  A few minutes passed and I noticed that I hadn't heard much out of him.  I looked up from the table and into the laundry room and Will was gone.

He was on the back porch....had made his way out the doggy door, with the dog's food bowl.  You'll notice it in his right hand in the picture above...TAZ (that's how I'll be referring to our little Tasmanian Devil)  He has since made it out several more times.  The other day  I was putting laundry in the washing machine and Taz crawled right on out, in the POURING RAIN!  He didn't care.

Which brings me to my next point...Will loves the bath, SOLO.  You put anyone else in there with him and he throws one of those "you are ruining my life" fits I was talking about earlier.  

Taz has become quite the climber.  He goes up and down the porch stairs and  has discovered the dog stairs that lead up to our bed.  He favorite place to play is on our bed.  He loves to jump!  

Lately the weather here has been beautiful.   Our local BBQ festival, Whistle Stop, is in a few weeks.  Some of our best friends have a team, "Why You Grilling Me Dog?".  We have been spending most of our Saturday nights grubbing on some good BBQ in preparation for the big festival!  Good Luck Guys!In fact, one Saturday night, after being gone only 3 hours, we came home to a missing dog.  Remy was gone.  He went out under the house again.  We THOUGHT we had shored up all the holes so he couldn't get out, but NO...Remy squeezed his little butt through this.....

I wish I could have seen that....  The first time he got out he ran because he was scared.  You'll remember from here http://rldclark.blogspot.com/2011/01/remy.html.  This time, he had no reason, so I was MAD!  We looked for about an hour, but decided to call it a night and head to bed.  About 11 Pat thought he heard something and got up to check it out.  Low and behold, there was Remy, on the front porch, scratching his ear.  He is also a Tasmanian Devil.  :)  He ended up sleeping on my pillow that night and snored the whole night.  OH,  How I Love My Dogs!!!!

Pat has been hard at work on his BABY.....Doris, the car.  That's right, his car has a name.  She's named after his late mother who probably thinks he is nuts!  Just kidding.   I'm the one that thinks he's nuts.



I actually read a book the other day!   I started it on Sunday and finished it the very next day.  Such an easy read and a great story.   It was refreshing to read this sweet story about a child's faith.  Highly recommend it to anyone!

I am also in full training mode for the Nashville Half Marathon.  This will be #2 and I am super excited!  It's on April 30th.  I've only got 2 weeks left.  Wish me luck.  I'll let you all know how it goes.  
Spring Break was this past Wed-Friday.  We lost two days because of snow.  Pat took off Thursday and Friday and we spent most of our time working in the yard.   I have to say, it is looking pretty good!  I will have to post some pics soon.  We were also able to enjoy a nice lunch at a local place by ourselves!  Oh, the little things in life that make us so happy.

I guess that about sums up the last few weeks of our lives.  Nothing exciting.  We're just enjoying Will and all the fun we are having with him.  Look for more posts in the coming weeks.  Pat and I have a great life and we are loving every minute of it!  God is Great and is blessing us daily, with more than we ever knew was possible.  We are excited for what the future holds!










Love to you all,

Bouncer Fun

Will's friend, Luke, got a big bouncy house for his 2nd birthday.  It has been a huge hit with all the boys.  They love it and have the most fun bouncing, sliding, and chasing each other around. 

Peter Cottontail Express

Last Saturday we headed out in the rain to  breakfast at Another Broken Egg and then to the Peter Cottontail Express.  You can just imagine what everyone thought when they saw this group coming.  We didn't let the rain stop us from having some fun on the railroad though!  Our train ride was a success and we'll be back to ride the Polar Express in December.

Easter Bunny Brunch

Last Saturday my friends and I decided to take our boys to an Easter Bunny Brunch at the Huntsville Depot.  We had a great time enjoying each other's company and letting our boys play.

As you can see, Peyton and Grayson did not love the Easter Bunny.  Will thought he was okay.

Sweet Friends, Grayson and Will

Momma's and Their Boys

(Melissa and Grayson, Catherine and Alex, Kristen and Peyton, Rachel and Will, Caroline and Luke)

Geez Will, you could have smiled :)  

Baby Dedication

Each year our church holds a baby dedication for all the children born in that year.   We were honored to be included in this year's baby dedication service (March 20th).  Pat and I are so thankful for such a loving and supportive church family in which to raise Will.  We know this journey is just beginning and we are aware of the awesome responisbility it will be, but we are encouraged to know that so many are praying for us and are helping us along our way.  

Stats at One

We finally got into the doctor Tuesday for our one year check up.  All looks good in Will's World.  He's growing and is healthy.  That's all we can ask for.

Height: 31in  (off the charts)...YAY!  Hope he gets those Dodson genes.
Weight:  23lbs 5 oz  (above average)
Head Circumference is about average

At one, Will can squat (while holding on to something), sit on his knees, stand on his own, and take 4-5 steps at a time.  He's no walker yet.  He definitely prefers crawling.

Will has found his tongue.  He loves to stick it out, loves to make noise with it, and loves to play with it.  He thinks it's the funniest thing.

We've turned his car seat around.  I didn't really want to do this yet, but Pat insisted, so we did.  Will seems to be much happier now!

Will LOVES the bath!  He SCREAMS every night when we take him out of the bathtub.  I think he'd stay in there all day if I let him. 

He is the best sleeper.  He used to go down about 8, but ever since he turned one, he prefers to go down about 7:15.  He sleeps at least 12 hours on the weekends, if not more.  We are so blessed to have such a great sleeper.  He's also the easiest kid to get to sleep. One little song, a prayer, and Will is off to dreamland.  Lay him down, turn off the lights and done!  SO EASY! 

Goodbye Formula, Hello Whole Milk!  I love saving $15 a week!  Will seemed to have no problem with the switch and will take the milk from a bottle or a cup.  I think this summer I'll get rid of those bottles altogether! 

Being one is great!  I miss my baby, but I sure do love my toddler.  He's so much fun and has so much energy.  He always keeps us on our toes and we wouldn't have it any other way. 

(Sorry, no pictures this post....I didn't take any at the doctor's office, but we go Monday for our Professional one year pics.....stay tuned!)

Party Time!

We had all of Will's friends over for a birthday party March 5th.  As luck would have it, it POURED down rain all day long, but we had a good time anyway....All 25 people crammed in my little house.  We enjoyed BBQ and cookie cake and spending time with GREAT FRIENDS and GREAT FAMILY!  To everyone that was able to attend.....We love you and are so grateful you are in Will's life.  Will is one lucky little boy!

Brooks

Grayson is here!  Notice the nice weather.

Luke had more fun in Will's room than Will ever has!  He loved this pony.  It was mine when I was little.

Will cried.....

and so did Peyton.....

Grayson!



Sweet Peyton, Just 5 days older than Will!

Will loves this toy that Grandpa George gave him for Christmas.

The cake!  It was a hit.  Everyone loved it.

Thanks Caroline  for serving everyone.

Brooks and his daddy, Greg.

Leave me alone, Dad!

Peyton and his daddy, Justin.  I gave bubbles with those truck balloons tied to them as party favors.
Best. Idea. Ever.

This picture makes me laugh everytime I look at it.  Just prop your feet right up, Grayson!

Grayson gave us the big, red ball. 

Watching SEC basketball!  Auburn actually won!  It's a sign...I think. 
Will will be an Auburn fan.

All these for Will!  So Blessed!

Happy 1st Birthday Will!  We have enjoyed so much having you in our lives.   You have brought us more love and joy than you will ever know.   We love you and can not wait to experience this next year with you.  May you always know how cherished you are.