2011 " The Lord has done amazing things for us - YES, glorious things! What Joy!"

WHAT A YEAR!!  It has been a year full of love, growth, laughter, excitement, and challenges!  But....through God and with eachother...we truly have had a year to remember!  The greatest thing I have been reminded of this year is just how lucky I am to know and feel UNCONDITIONAL LOVE in my life!  From my God, my husband, my mini, my parents, and many friends!  I am lucky to have constant reminders in my life about just how lucky I am!   

" The Lord has done amazing things for us - YES, glorious things!  What Joy!"

          - Psalm 126:3

Some of our top memories of 2011!!  (our number one....has got to be watching Waylon learn, grow, and steal our hearts over and over and over again!)

Finding out were were being given the girft of another baby....and that is it a BOY!

Being surrounded by so many family and friends that love Waylon on his 1st birthday!

 

Watching Waylon BEAM over Minnie Mouse and yell her name out!  HE IS IN LOVE!

 Being able to go to Disneyland twice this year...once with the Baumeister's and once for our 3rd anniversary!

Going to the beach with the Pearces and watching Waylon turn more and more into his daddy! 

 Trip #2 to Pismo with the Pearces.  We love the beach!

 Going to LA and Waylon's 1st dodger game with the soon to be Mr. and Mrs. Bud.  (even though we only made it through 4 innings)

 Going to see the fishies at the Monterey Bay Aquarium!

Watching Derrick hit a homerun on his BIRTHDAY!!! 

Bass Lake with the Baumeisters!

 Waylon's 1st rodeo.

 Shooting with my Hubby!  A hobby we have always done and I hope to do more of in 2012.

 Watching Waylon become a SWIMMER through swim lessons with his Daddy!

Our newest little nephew...the oh so sweet Jensen being born!

 Christmas and all the festivities that lead up to it!  But mostly the time with our families, friends, mini's friends, and EACHOTHER got to share!

 Picking out HAHA's with the Mini!

 Our little BOXER!

 We have so many special memories this year!  Thank you so much to all our friends and families (old and new) who make our lives so rich and awesome!  We are SO looking forward  2012 and all the blessings it will bring....mostly...our new BABY BUG!! 

16 MONTHS!! My happy and healthy Mini Man!!

16 MONTHS!! I cant believe that my Mini Man has been a part of our family for 16 months! So my toddler (yes, I am admitting it these days!) is keeping me on my toes and laughing more than ever! There are some definite advantages to having a more mobile and independent Mini Man! For one, I LOVE that he can walk himself to the car. When he hears the garage door open….he knows right where to go!! This is a huge advantage for me being that Waylon weighs 28 pounds now and usually I have him, a diaper bag, a purse, a sippy cup and a water to get into the car! Waylon…Mom Mom’s arms thank you! I also love that he brings us a diaper when he goes poo-poo and needs a clean butt! Then, he will even throw it away for us sometimes! Way to go Mini! He also knows right where to go when I tell him “Lets go do your hair” or “time to eat”! He even helps Mom Mom throw away the food he throws on the floor while he eats! He is an amazing little guy and such a great helper! We couldn’t be more blessed!

So with me being off with the summer….the activities have been crazy!!!! Mini started Little Gym in June.

He loves the activities, playing with his friends Addi and Braydon, chasing the bubbles and ball…but mostly, I think Waylon loves his teachers and getting one on one help from her!!! She is a cute, young blond! Oh Way! He is learning how to hang from the bar, do forward rolls, and walk across the balance beam. (Oh, and how to play nice with others!) We have a great time going and I love watching him try new things!

He also started swim lessons this week! They are Baby and Me class which he is doing with Daddy so Mommy can watch and take pictures! He is doing great and I love seeing my boys in actions together!

We also have been taking morning walks with some old friends who now happen to be neighbors who have precious babies too! His buddy Clark is only two weeks younger than him and well….he just can’t get enough of Preslei!!

We have met up with our playground once and spent some other afternoons with friends we don’t get to see enough also!

Other recent highlights….we went to Pismo with the Pearces for the car show.

Mini played the beach and even got his precious little toes wet!!

We went Bass Lake with the Baumeisters!

Waylon went on his first boat ride and loved it! His favorite part was being Captain!!!

We even took Waylon to the circus to see the elephants and horsies!! We thought it was the coolest ever.

When Waylon gets excited, he ooohs and aaaahs and swings his arms around in a crazy motion! I wish I could read his little mind! After spending the day swimming at Grandmas,

we came home and watch the firewords with Grammy and Papa and a few close friends!

HE WAS ON CLOUD NINE!!  Check him out watching the fireworks!

Waylon also got to spend some special time with his cousins from Arizona and his Auntie Kim when they came out for a week to visit! He loved playing with Kennedy and Gigi,

and rough housing with Davis and Spencer!!

It is so great to hear him giggle with his cousins! I just love it!

So some Waylon stats…..Waylon is now 28 pounds and almost 33 inches tall. He wears 2t clothes and is about ready for some size 6 shoes. He loves to eat watermelon, olives, corn,

quesadillas, hot dogs, mac and cheese, pineapple, fishies (of course) and about anything he can DIP! Especially in ketch up….HE LOVES THE STUFF! He is also talking a lot more these days. He can say dog, Mom Mom, Dada, Pop for Papa, JT, fish, two, no, yes, yeah, ball, toes, nose, shoot, shoes, milk, green, tree, truck, bye, Gigi, and I am sure I am missing some others!! He knows countless words and can identify almost 40 flash cards.  I am amazed at how many he just “knows”. He sure is a little sponge.

My most favorite thing Waylon knows (I am pretty sure he is the smartest baby ever). He knows what 1 +1 is…check him out in action!

Maybe I should send this video to Stanford so they can start recruiting him now!

He loves to watch Toy Story, Nemo, and Cars when riding in the car. Sometimes as a treat we will let him watch Mickey Mouse club too! He loves to play outside, swing, go on walks, chase around a ball, throw his lemons, play with his train, dance with Mom Mom or by himself…HE LOVES TO DANCE is an understatement, here he is getting down with his cousin Gigi,

swim,

 bake,

throw all the pillows on the floor and fall on them, ride in his car while being pushed, paint, take a bath, give Kisses, but MOSTLY…his favorite thing to do is READ!! Like I said…watch out Stanford, here comes Mini!

I think that as parents we always and continuously hope that we are doing the BEST possible job for our children. I know how fortunate I am to be a temporary stay at home Mommy with Waylon! I DO NOT TAKE ONE SECOND FORGRANTED!! We have had a blast this past month and I am looking forward to the next few weeks. I think it is absolutely unimaginable and unmeasurable how much you can love someone until you are Mommy! Waylon has my heart…and always will. He is smart and funny and sweet and loving and HAPPY!!! People always say “he is such a happy boy”. And it is true!! My Mini Man is happy , healthy and loved!! He is perfect!!!! Waylon...you are our everything and ALL our dreams come true!  Mom Mom and Dada LOVE YOU!!!

My Wishes, Hopes, and Wants for Waylon

I think as a parent, it is quite normal to wonder what the future holds for your child. I wonder how tall Waylon is going to be, what his favorite subject is going to be in school (it better be MATH), where he will go to college, and what sports he will love to play. And, while I am pretty sure that my Mini Man is going to be the star Chicago Bear linebacker

WHILE going to be school to become a doctor (smart and studly) there are a few other REAL wishes I have for my Waylon.

My Wishes, Hopes, and Wants for Mini…..

1. I hope he loves the Lord with all his mind, soul, heart, and strength. I hope he prays when things get tough and praises the Lord when prayers are answered. I hope he never feels alone and trusts that God sees the whole picture. I hope he has faith.

2. I hope he is strong.

Not just physically, but mentally. I hope he stands up for himself and what he believes in. I want him to make his own decisions and not just follow what everyone else is doing. And, I want him to stand up for others when they need the support of another.

3. I hope he treats women with respect

and falls in love...at least once. I hope he loves with ALL his heart.

4. I want him to believe in himself and NEVER let anyone tell him that he can or cannot do something.

5. I want him to not quit something when it gets tough. Being around high school aged kids all the time, I see this frequently. I want him to push through the long practices, piles of homework, and discouragements to achieve greatness.

6. I know he won’t be perfect so my wish is that he learns from his mistakes. (And the mistakes of his friends, cousins, siblings, or peers).

7. I hope he can fix things on his own, with his own two hands.

8. I hope he doesn’t cheat! Like I tell my students, it is better to fail with pride then pass by cheating!

9. I hope he know how lucky he is to be an American and is thankful for the sacrifices of others.

10. I hope is isn’t afraid to work hard and knows how to play hard too.

11. I hope he is giving, courageous, go with the flow, funny like his daddy,

goal-orientated like his mommy,

loyal, determined, charming, honest and independent.

12. Finally and most importantly, I hope he knows that no other little boy has EVER been more loved by his Mommy and Daddy! We will always believe in him, stand by him, and support him! You can’t lose us Mini!

Remember Waylon

“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4: 13

THINGS I WANT YOU TO KNOW....

You just turned 13 months old!!! HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?  There are so many awesome and unique things about you.   When you turn 13 years old...I want you to have something to look at and read that tells you about all the joy you have brought into our lives and all the special little things that make you ... YOU!

So....at thirteen months...you are still about 26 pounds and about 34 inches tall.  You wear a size 18 months - 2T shirt or shorts and size 5 shoe.   You are built just like Daddy, buff and broad....your shoulders are so WIDE!  Everywhere we go....people  tell us how cute you are!  IT IS TRUE!  You have the most adorable dimple and smile...it could light up the world.  Your hair is getting a bit longer these days....well only in the back really!  You have a natural mullet!! Oh...and it has bit of a RED tint to it!  Mommy dresses you up for almost every occasion...and with that being said....you are one of the BEST dressed babies in town...if I do say so myself!  From your converse shoes, wranglers jeans, hurley shirts, and of course Mini Man Apparel custom designs....you are dressed to impress!  But, even in your diaper...you are the world most adorable baby boy!

Saying you are into everything, does feel like I am accurately describing just how crazy things are theses days.  You get into every cabinet, every drawer, you dig in the trash can, and we have even caught you playing in the toilet twice!!  Oh, you are SUCH a boy!

You love to...
Watch Toy Story in the Car
Watch and Dance to Dancing With the Star with Mommy and King of the Hill with Daddy
Play outside...in the dirt of course.
SWING on your play fort at Grammy and Papa's house.

Go on walks in your new wagon from Grandma and Auntie Kim and Uncle Scott.

Sit in your "Gaming" Chair from Uncle Steve like a BIG boy.

Playing in the courtyard with the snake!
Pet out fake Doggy...and give him kisses too!
Ride your quad and horsey.

Play catch with daddy!  You have one hell of an arm Mini!
WALK AROUND!  You are so proud of yourself!  You pick your feet up all high and pull your shoulders up and have a huge smile on your face!  
Brush your teeth....using the sonicare of course.  You can even turn it on and off all by yourself.
DANCE!  You have got the moves Mini Man!  You don't even need music!  Here is a video of your shaking it in the back yard!  Your prom dates are going to be so lucky!

READ READ READ!! 

You are officially our little book worm!  You love every Toy Story or Cars book you have.  You like the touch and feel books and often read these on your own.  But with Mommy, our favorite book to read is I'll Love You Forever.  Being that you are so busy, one of my most favorite things to do with you is read.  This is because I get to spend a long period of time hugging and snuggling and loving on you.  When we read this book, we rock ...back and forth....and giggle and laugh.  This book tells my promise to you.....

I'll love you forever,

I'll like you for always.

As long as I'm living,

My MINI MAN you'll be.

Waylon...you need to know that you are our EVERYTHING!  We love showing you off to the world and you make us PROUD each and every day.  You are so well behaved and such a sweet mini man!  Your family and friends fight over who gets to watch you when Mommy and Daddy have date night.  You are just too irresistible.  You are stubborn!  You think "no" means go faster, and even a swat on the bottom won't stop you from digging in the trash can.  You hardly ever cry...except for when we make you get a clean butt or put clothes on....and you constantly make us laugh!  We are so amazed that God would entrust us with such a perfect Mini Man to raise and love.  We feel privileged to be your parents and blessed to have you with us each and every day.  You are healthy, happy, strong, sweet and smart!  YOU are our dream come true Mister! 

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY MINI MAN

1 year!  ONE YEAR!  There is just NO way that my Little Way is 1 year old today! It just blows my mind.  My baby, my Mini Man is now 1. 
A year ago today, I woke up to contractions at 6:30 and we were blessed beyond imaginable at exactly 3:30pm with a perfect baby boy.  It truly was love at first sight. 

Our world changed in just one second and my heart could never had been prepared for the amount of love I felt in that instant.  Waylon Lawrence Pearce immediately became our everything.  Since that moment, our lives have revolved around him each and every second.  Everything we do and every decision we make is ALL about what is best for our Mini Man...and we wouldn't have it any other way.

Being a parent is far beyond anything I could have ever dreamed of.  I still cannot believe that the Lord entrusted us with such a perfect blessing to raise and love and learn from.  And while Waylon is truly our Ginny Pig Baby....and we are far from perfect parents, I think we are doing good at the most important facts of all.  Waylon is Happy, Healthy, and I am pretty sure he knows he is so so so so so so loved!

Today, I wish I could say I am just so thrilled to see my BABY boy turn 1, but it is of course bittersweet!  It is a clear reminder that my ever changing and growing baby will eventually be an adult all in himself.  But, no matter how old he gets and how much bigger than me he gets...he WILL ALWAYS BE MY MINI MAN!

Happy 1st birthday Mini Man!  We are spending today (not writing a blog) as a family watching Toy Story 2

 and visiting the animals at the zoo!  Waylon, your Daddy and I are so excited to spend your special day with you!  Thank you for all the love you have brought to our home and the extreme amount of joy your have brought to our lives.  YOU ARE OUR BIGGEST BLESSING FROM GOD EVER!!  We love you!