WY at 9 months

In lieu of the standard update, William wanted to share a few of his favorite things from the past month...crawling...pulling up (especially if I have someone's shorts or pants to hold onto)...feeding myself...the white plastic colander...tinkertoy sticks...crawling...eating...my turtle door stop...climbing the stairs...(have I mention crawling & eating yet?)...putting anything and everything into my mouth...bathtime...splashing in the water...mr. yellow rubber duck...hearing me make sounds...laughing and giggling...naptime & bedtime...playing in Dobson's crate...climbing in and out of my red chair...playing peek-a-boo with Thompson...being outside...riding in the stroller...the dog's water bowl....steady cruising if I've got something to push...trying to open doors...and much more!

Oh, one more thing...expect teeth to show themselves in the coming month. The doctor could see the bottom two making their way up and mommy saw my gum split a little bit yesterday.

No-No-No

Look what William's learned!

Need we say more?

20 lbs 15 ozs & 27.5 inches

...William's latest stats after his 9-month well-visit this afternoon. Up just over 3 lbs and 1 inch longer/taller. He continues to stay right around the 50th percentile line in both height and weight, although this month he was a little higher and weight and slightly below in length. Our pediatrician describes toddlers growth a lot like an accordion, whereby they chunk-up then thin-out, so he imagines we'll find William's height a bit more than the 50th percentile and his weight either right on or slightly below at the 12-month well-visit. (Thompson was 18 lbs 12 ozs and 28 inches.) Check back in 2 days for WY's 9-month pictures.

Our God

One of our favorite songs these days is "Our God" by Chris Tomlin. I hope as you read his lyrics, your heart will be reminded of God's greatness and the power of His Holy Spirit in the lives His children.

Water you turned into wine,

opened the eyes of the blind

there's no one like you ... none like You!

Into the darkness you shine

out of the ashes we rise

there's no one like you ... none like You!

Our God is greater, our God is stronger,

God you are higher than any other.

Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power,

Our God! Our God!

And if our God is for us,

then who could ever stop us.

And if our God is with us,

then what could stand against.

Splash!

At the conclusion of swim lessons this afternoon, Thompson took his inaugural jump off a diving board! Ready for the "challenge", he was the first in line and eager for subsequent turns. We are proud of T's progress in the pool this summer. After his first 5-week session, the instructor advanced him from Kinderswim to Little Swimmers 1, and as we concluded this second 5-week session of swimming today as a Little Swimmer, he continues to improve. Thompson is comfortable jumping in and sliding down the mini-slide, can swim short distances on his own, working on his windmills (freestyle strokes), practicing breathing to the side, enjoys the "slithery snake" (swimming through an underwater "castle"), is quite the floater, and mastering "monkeys-airplanes-rockets to your pockets" (aka elementary backstroke). Can't wait to see what the next session of lessons brings!

Star Wars

Three weeks ago, Thompson saw his first Star Wars movie. We figured he should see them in the same order we grew up seeing them, so we started with the original Star Wars, followed by The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. And this past weekend, he watched The Phantom Menace (Episode I).

As you can guess...he's hooked and "Star Wars" has fast become one of his favorite playtime activities. We are most amazed at how, having only seen each movie once (and sometimes twice), he remembers and recalls characters, scenes and movie lines (just like his father!). The Freemans had a Darth Vader mask and two light sabers that they have passed down and he uses his creative talents to transform his tinkertoys into the appropriate colored light sabers depending on which character he is pretending to be. He also used his money to purchase his first action figure. Kristine and Anna each bought him one as well figuring you need at least two, one good guy and one bad guy, to play...right? So, he's now got a storm trooper, Hans Solo and Princess Lea, and is anxious to add more.

Belt Wrappers

aka belt loops

Coming home from church today, Thompson was lifting his shirt and pointing to the belt loops on his shorts as he told us his friend wore a belt through his "belt wrappers". We couldn't help but chuckle...what a perfect description! And when asked if he'd like to begin wearing a belt, he beamed a huge grin. I guess we're in the market for T's first belt.

Capturing Real Life

I'm here to "toot the horn" for our dear friend and local photographer Jill Schwarzkopf, owner of Realities Photography, again. She just revamped her website and for those of you who have followed her talents via our family, I encourage you to take a few moments to look at her new website (and then forward to family and friends!). It's hard to believe she's been capturing the "real" Joneses for 9 years!

Nifty 9

Today marks our...count them 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8...9th anniversary! We celebrate our marriage, God's blessing upon it and our friends & family who have and continue to support and encourage us. We've come a long way in nine years and know marriage is a daily decision to love one another and live in the presence of our Father. In honor of the occasion, we will be enjoying a delightful dinner (without the boys!) at the Inn on the Biltmore Estate.

"Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self.

Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.

Love doesn't strut, doesn't have a swelled head,

doesn't force itself on others, isn't always "me first,"

doesn't fly off the handle,

doesn't keep score of the sins of others,

doesn't revel when others grovel,

takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

puts up with anything, trusts God always,

always looks for the best, never looks back,

but keeps going to the end. Love never dies."

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (The Message)

W * Y * J

William's room now features his own canvas monogram!

(a picture of T's canvas monogram is in the
"No Bed Rails" post from October 2009)

Today's Thompson-ism

Driving home from church this morning, Thompson interrupted me while I was speaking. I politely reminded him to wait until I finished talking to dad then he could ask me his question. When I finished, I told Thompson it was his turn and asked him what he wanted to say, to which he replied, "It went out of my head because you took too long." Bobby got a good laugh (I'll admit I chuckled) and told him to get used to it.