Halvsies

To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends, to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch...to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded. - Emerson

Lately the boys have been such a joy to have around.  Sure, they still have their fights, but for the most part it seems like they've entered this phase where they are so much more tolerable.  I know, that sounds terrible.  But it is true.  For awhile there I was honestly contemplating calling it quits on adding to the family.  And lately I think it'd be completely manageable (minus the $$ part...) to add another baby... but I also find myself feeling kind of content with the two little munchkins I have for the time being.  I want to enjoy these sweet little guys while I can.  Life is so busy and goes so quickly.  I know someday we'll have another baby... maybe next year, maybe in 2 or 3 years.  Who knows.

PORTER: 4.5
Porter has blossomed so much since starting Preschool.  The kid who couldn't stand to color for more than 45 seconds?  He's rarely without a crayon or marker in hand, and even asks to be tucked in bed at night with a box of Color Wonders and his coloring book.  He colors himself to sleep.  Not kidding.  Hudson and I picked Porter up at Cubbies last Sunday and we were a little early... I peeked in from the hallway and saw Porter sitting so quietly, concentrating so hard on his coloring art project they were finishing up.  I felt so proud and in awe at the little boy he was becoming.  He is so independent and loves to help. He is quite the Mama's Boy as well.  When we get home from school/work, he usually is asking to go play with Kyle, our 11 year old neighbor... which cracks me up.  I think part of it has to do with the fact that he has Nerf guns!  Last week we were putting Cars tattoos on the boys and he kept asking me "Hey Mom!  Do I look famous?"  And then he says to me "I really should have put that Sally tattoo on.  That'd have looked rockin' on me!"  Where does he come up with these things?  His teacher has dubbed him "Best Dressed" and it cracks me up. She seems to have a soft spot for him... he's usually the last kid being picked up and she's always giving him candy from her candy stash.   Today she said "Oh I told him he could have a piece... I told him he'd have to wait until everyone was gone."  What a little sneak :)

HUDSON: 2.5
Hudson is no longer a baby.  Sure, I still call him my baby but this kid can talk circles around you.  And to watch him... he's a toddler!  A kid!  He's growing up so fast.  He is such a compassionate little guy... if he even thinks he's hurt my feelings or made me upset he's immediately hugging me and saying "I'm sorry Mama!" with his sweet little voice.  He still has his Mine Mine.... and pretty much always has about 4 cars and trucks in his hands at all times.  And even at 2.5 he still hasn't shaken the "Bessie" nickname.  Its not uncommon to hear us refer to him as "Bess" or "Bessie".  This kid is still an awesome sleeper... since moving him to his big boy bed oh, a year ago (?) he rarely protests bedtime.  Its not uncommon to check in on him an hour later and he's quietly laying in bed reading a book or driving his trucks on his pillow.  Hudson is finally back at Miss  Marleen's and he fell right back into the groove of things with no problem.  He's pretty laidback anymore about change and transitions so it doesn't surprise me.  Marleen hasn't seen him since spring, when he had just turned 2.  She is blown away by his speech and she said he's their source of daily entertainment... he cracks her up with the things he says and does.

I should add... these are the baby pigs we saw at Flavor Fruit Farms.  They were sooo tiny and cute!  Hudson LOVED the pigs... the big one in the cage next to them was his favorite and he kept trying to climb in the pen.  He got so far as to have his legs through the fence and was sitting on the fence.  Stuck!