A cute picture from our Christmas adventures. I'll post more soon. Don't you want to just cover her in kisses?

James Thomas Wilson

Born December 29, 2010 at 6:37pm

8lbs 8oz

19 3/4 inches

Sweet Baby James is beautiful! Mother and baby are well.

"And from his fullness we have all received grace after grace." John 1:16

Welcome baby James! We love you so much already!

More Dance Moves from Mac

Mac's new dance moves. He kept Arden screaming with belly laughter for somewhere around 20 minutes earlier today. Brad caught the same moves later on video. You can barely hear music, but it's there.

Such a 21st Century Kid

Mac's latest pretend game? Recycling. Here is the game:

1. Empty shoe-box sized plastic toy bucket (the recycling bin).

2. Fill up bucket with miscellaneous items (items to be recycled).

3. Toss the items into closet (the recycling truck).

4. Nonchalantly toss the empty toy bin to the side in the room (the same way the man who picks up our recycling does).

He came up with this entirely on his own and never tires of it.

Tonight while making supper...

Mac: Mom, are you making a FEAST?

(Where on earth did he learn the word, "feast"?)

Me: Well...You might think it's a feast. I guess it depends on how you look at it.

Mac: (The child is SO literal!) I want to look at it!! Mom, let me look at it!

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In other news, we've taken close to 300 photos trying to get a good one for a Christmas picture (over the course of a week). We're working on it. I think I have a finalist...it has 2 children, not crying, looking in the general direction of the camera, entire faces are in the frame, in focus. Smiles? Who needs smiles? (Who gets smiles, simultaneously, from a 1 and 3 year old?? And how??)

Mac Funnies

{As I'm pulling brown sugar out of the pantry}

Mac: Mom! You've got cookie sugar! What are you doing with cookie sugar!??! Are we making cookies??

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Mac has some serious confusion on cupcakes and pancakes. Since his birthday he keeps pretending to be making pancakes. "Mom, I'm making pancakes for you!"

I suspected that he meant cupcakes, so today I asked him, "Are you making pancakes or cupcakes?"

"Pancakes."

"Did you eat a pancake on your birthday or a cupcake on your birthday?"

"I had a pancake on my birthday with candles in it."

Hmm.

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Mac likes to sing the son "God our Father" for the blessing. It's so cute--he sings it like this:

Gawd are Fah-der,

Gawd are Fah-der,

We dank you,

We dank you,

For our men-y BLESS-wings,

For our men-y BLESS-wings,

Ah-Ah-men

Ah-Ah-men.

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The day of Mac's birthday party, he couldn't wait to have his cupcake. He repeatedly asked me throughout the day when he would get his cupcake. I told him again and again, "Wait for your party."

When guests began to arrive for his party, he began to get really excited about eating his cupcake. He kept asking me when it would be time. I answered that as soon as everyone arrived, we'd give him his cupcake.

We'd planned to sing to Mac first so he would not be antsy about having to wait for his cupcake while we sang to Arden. When everyone was ready, I told Mac it was finally time for his cupcake! I expected him to dash to the table in happy expectation. Instead, he flat-out ignored me.

"Mac, I said it's time for cake! Aren't you excited?"

"Mom, please give Arden her cake first!"

"Are you sure?"

"Please do Arden first."

So, we sang to Arden first. Then when it was Mac's turn, he reluctantly sat in his seat. I brought out the cupcake with three candles. Everyone began to sing. Mac's eyes began to fill with tears.

As the song went on, Mac became more and more visibly upset. His eyes were full of tears. His lips were quivering. He looked completely overwhelmed. I tried to comfort him and then helped him blow out his candles and gave him a big hug.

After that, he happily ate his cupcake.

Since then, he keeps telling me, "Mom, at my birthday, I don't like it when people sing. Please don't let people sing to me. Everyone was looking at me."

Apparently his Sunday School class sang to him as well--and he keeps telling me how much he didn't like that either.

So, we'll see if he changes his mind before he turns 4. But next year's party might involve only singing to Arden. And that's okay : )

Happy Birthday Mac! (A week late)

Dear Mac,

Happy Birthday! You are three! (And actually--you've been three for a solid week now! Sorry for the late birthday wish, but since we spent your actual birthday partying, the birthday weekend hosting houseguests, and the week following at the happiest place on earth, I didn't have time to sit down and write a real birthday letter to you. And since you can't read yet and don't know the difference, I don't think you'll mind. But I do hope you read this someday--and feel the depth of the love daddy and I have for you!)

What a year it's been! You began the year with a brand-new baby sister. I'm so proud of the big brother you've become. It touches my heart to see you be kind to your sister. I love watching the two of you play together and giggle together. (You LOVE to make her laugh.) Of course, there are plenty of times the sweet tender moments take a turn...like the other day when you wanted Arden to walk to you. Against my better judgement, I allowed it. She toddled from me to you...you welcomed her with open arms...and then you body slammed her. The sweet sibling moment ended in shrieks of pain from the "gurl" (as you call her). So...your big brother role is sweet--but also requires a fair amount of supervision from me!

You also have mastered so much language this year, and it's been amazing to watch. A year ago, you were forming simple 1 or 2 word sentences. Now, you are the master of the run-on sentence! It's wonderful and shed so much light on what goes on in your head. For example, here is a conversation we had today:

{Context: washing our hands after I helped you in the bathroom at cookout. The hosts had candle burning on the counter beside the sink.}

Mac: Oh no Mom! Watch out! There's fire right there!

Me: Mac, it's okay. It's just a candle. We do need to be careful around candles, but it's not going to hurt us if we don't touch it.

Mac: {pauses to consider} Oooooh. Is someone turning one?

It's been fun to watch you play this year. You've mastered the tricycle, and daddy and I think it's time for your first bicycle! You have become very good at (simple) jigsaw puzzles. You enjoy drawing, especially the letter "M". You've finally mastered the digger at the park (it's pretty tricky, but you've got it!). You love your Thomas the Train set and using legos to build tunnels and parking garages for your trains. The most significant change in your play this year has been the amount of make-believe! You love to pretend, and are always telling me one complicated scheme or another about what is "happening".

Along with play comes social life. It's funny to watch you play with others. You are generally more quiet around other kids than you are around us. You love playing with one or two other kids, but in a big crowd tend to stick to the edge of the crowd or play by yourself instead. You don't seem to be a ringleader, but you don't appear to be a follower either. I hope that makes you a "quiet leader"--but time will tell. You're quite at home with the "big kids" (youth group teenagers), and love when they come to our home, talking their ears off and inviting them into your room to play with your toys. You seem more comfortable around them than kids your own age--probably because they pay you so much attention and think everything you say and do is adorable.

You are stepping into the part of childhood when you beginning to understand that bad things can happen. With that has come some fear of things--like the dark. We try to keep you sheltered from scary images and ideas, but some cannot be avoided. The other day, we were looking a daffodil bulbs at Lowes when you pretty much jumped into my arms and buried your head in my neck. You had seen the Halloween decorations, including a very life-like witch, with a loud cackle and eyes that lit up. You would not move from the spot and I had to carry you (all 40 pounds, as we were told by the doctor last week)--while wheeling Arden in the shopping cart--out of the store. Now you won't go to Lowes--and I don't blame you! We try to help you take your fear to the Lord, praying with you and encouraging you to pray on your own when you are scared.

You've begun to ask many spiritual questions. We try to answer simply yet fully--a difficult task. It's such a blessing to see you interested in spiritual things. We pray continually for wisdom in guiding you. We pray continually that you will grow in your knowledge of the Lord and in your relationship with him.

This post would paint an untrue picture if I didn't mention your 3 year old WILL. You want things done YOUR WAY, and we will hear about it if things are not. You want fiercely to control the world around you, in any way you can. It's an interesting contrast--because you want so passionately to be in control, yet you also need to always know that WE (your parents) are in control. The irony--you (like all children) want control and fight for control--yet gaining control is also what you most fear (though you could never verbalize this), because it means your parents are no longer in control. I pray for wisdom continually in this balance.

The main thing I want you to know on your third birthday--how very deeply your daddy and I love you. We are so thankful for the gift of you. I love your sweet little boy self, I love you hands and feet and your sweet blonde hair. I love the words that come out of your mouth (usually!), and how you can't wait to show me when you've figured something out. I love watching you helping your sister. I love watching you tackle daddy when he comes home. I love seeing your little legs pumping the tricycle to go fast. I love hearing you "read to my buddies" at night (reading books in bed to your stuffed animals). I love who you are, and I love who you will become.

I pray that this year the gospel will become increasingly real to you.

I love you Mac. Happy Birthday!
Mama

Happy Birthday Arden!

My dear, sweet Arden,

Happy Birthday! You are one year old today. What a precious year it's been! It seems to have flown by so quickly, so much more quickly than your brother's first year. I savored each day of your babyhood--but have also been so excited to watch you grow and learn.

You are such a sweet girl. You are a little shy. You love to be held and to cuddle. You let me rock you to sleep if I want--but you're perfectly happy to go to sleep on your own too. You're so sweet--but you're also tough! Having a rough-and-tumble older brother has taught you that. You get knocked down but get right back up. You fight back--which, though I hope to teach all my children to respond in love and kindness--I can't help but be a little proud of you for standing up for yourself. I hope that you can learn to take that same fighting spirit to stand up for others one day.

I love watching you learn to walk! You are taking a few steps at a time now--you can go about 4 feet before you collapse in giggles. (You think walking is hilarious and laugh every time you're able to do it--I really hope you don't take the same hopelessly giggly approach when you learn to drive!) I can see your determination and I think a lot of it has to do with wanting to keep up with your brother.

You are talking and SO proud of your new communication skills. Your first intelligible words were "Bye, bye" (sounds like "bah, bah), followed closely by, "Mac" (sounds like "Mah"), "No" (relatively clear), and "Uh-oh" (sounds like "oh-oh"). You have a word for Maya--it's difficult to tell what you're saying but it always sounds the same (sort of like, "Mah-ee"). You do not say "mama" but instead call us both "dah-dee". Pretty cute. You also use a little sign language--our own Anderson adaptations of "more" and "all done".

You love to eat bread. Every time I bring it out, you react as if it's pure bliss--kicking your feet, leaning forward in your high chair, signaling for more. I have to reserve it for the end of the meal, otherwise you would eat nothing else. You have shown far more enthusiasm for bread than any other food.

I'm proud of you lately because you're learning to happily play by yourself. This is huge--since you've learned to crawl you usually use your mobility to follow me (or sometimes your brother) everywhere. But just in the past few days (and I hope it lasts!), you'll decide to go crawl in your room and play with your toys by yourself. (Actually, I say toys, but more often than not it's actually shoes. You are obsessed with shoes and love to play with them. You love trying to put them on yourself--though of course you are nowhere near mastering the skill. You will often crawl around the house carrying one or two shoes with you. So funny and cute...and girlie!)

Sweet Arden (or, "baby gurl" as your brother calls you), we love you so dearly. I am sad to see your babyhood dissolving as you become a toddler, but I am so excited to see who you are becoming. I pray that you grow in Jesus: knowing him, loving him, trusting him, and becoming more like him. I pray that we can be the parents that you need. I pray that you and Mac grow closer and closer, and learn to love others in the world by learning to love one another. I pray that these early years of your life become a foundation for a life lived in Christ, and that we are able to make decisions for you to that end.

I am so thankful that the Lord has entrusted you to us. You are a blessing, every day. Happy Birthday my sweets!

I love you,

Mama (or, "Dah--dee"--your current name for me)

Overheard this morning, as Arden was crawling around the refrigerator at the place we stayed this weekend, pulling at the grate at the bottom of the fridge:

Mac (to Arden): No, no, no Arden! Don't pull that! Jesus put it there!

Me {thinking I'd surely misheard}: Who did you say put it there?

Mac {solemnly}: It was Jesus mom!

Arden...talking?!?!?

A few nights ago at supper Arden waved and said, "Bye Bye", clear as a bell. I thought maybe it was a fluke--a coincidence of making a baby noise at the same time as a gesture, especially since no one was going anywhere. But the next day, my mom popped over for a bit and when she left, Arden waved and said "Bye Bye" again. Wow. She is 10 months old. I KNOW Mac wasn't doing this at this point. {But really, the funny thing with first words is that you never can know for sure what a child's first word is...how do you KNOW when they have a word and a thought paired up? Without a gesture or a clear context, there's no way to really tell...}

The next day, Arden woke from her afternoon nap sooner than Mac. She was in the kitchen with me, playing on the floor while I made supper. I noticed that she kept repeating a sound that sounded like "Mah". Next thing I know, she's stealthy crawled away, and when I go to look for her she's pulled up on Mac's closed bedroom door. Was she saying "Mac" and looking for him? (I'd love to think so, but then she's also quite aware that Mac's room is where the vast majority of the toys are....so it was likely more want of entertainment than sisterly affection.)

In other news, Mac is entering the phase of "I'm-obsessed". (I hope it's a phase, at least!) His current 2 obsessions are: "church music" (cd of kid praise songs given to him by his new Sunday School teacher) and his Aunt Meg. His almost-3-year-old brain is SERIOUSLY fixed on these 2 things about 99% of time. (That's an exaggeration...but if I say 80% of the time, it's not an exaggeration.) Cute...but wearing me down. The first thing he said this morning when he woke up, "Daddy I turn on my church music now?"

A few cute pictures to share...I'll post more from our beach trip soon!

A recent tantrum. I decided to take a picture since it was just SO DRAMATIC. Who knows what he was complaining about? He was distracted and forgot once I took the picture.

I asked Mac to carefully pour a few more cheerios on Arden's highchair tray. He happily obliged. I think she's rather he always prepare her food from now on.

On the road. We've taken quite a few tricycle walks lately.

Arden admires herself in the mirror after a bath.

Sweet! I love this picture. The expression on their faces is not joy at being together, but anticipation of the slide they're about to go down at the park. (Thus the yellowish reflection on their faces.)

We have a million beach shots that I'll post soon. It was SUCH a beautiful time to go, and so deserted that by the end of the week, Mac and Arden ditched bathing suits and donned only underpants and diapers on the beach.

Happy Friday!

Arden Dancing

This video was taken nearly 2 months ago (June 13). So sweet!

I just uploaded hundreds of photos...get ready!

Our summer...

Fun times with baby powder...

Evan! Aunt Heather made waffles. Mac thought it was heaven.

The ubiquitous sunglasses shot.

Hangin' in the front yard in her PJs.

Wow, the boy needs a haircut!!! But he didn't get one until several weeks later. Oh well : )

Arden on my baby quilt.

I told him to clean his room and this is what I found...all toys on the bed.

A visit from my oldest friend, Mary Anne, with her 2 boys...a sweet, sweet time.

Bonclarken!

Home from 2 weeks at Bonclarken, we visited the children's museum. Mac's favorite part is the grocery store.

Arden dancing:

Dance party! My favorite picture of this whole batch.

Mac's room. Arden's favorite place to hang out.

One day, we were attacked by a swarm of mosquitoes. Mac is still talking about it: "There were bugs EVERYWHERE!"

Some fun brother/sister shots!

Teeth!!

He has made this expression since he was a baby. It kind of makes my heart melt a little bit.

So that's a taste of June and July! I'll post videos of Arden's unique crawl and her dancing soon!

Milestones

In the past 3 (ish) weeks, some milestones for Arden:

1. Crawling. The "tuck and scoot": tucks the left foot under her bottom, uses her right foot to propel herself. The girl can MOVE and has decided that she would most like to spend time in her brother's room. She keeps getting bruises on her forehead though, because she'll get some momentum and her arms won't keep up with her propelling leg, causing her to faceplant. (But she doesn't seem upset when this happens, despite the shiner.)

2. Pulling up--but not yet sitting down. The source of many terrified shrieks from her room. "Help me!!! Help me!!! I'm standing up but I'm supposed to be sleeping and I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SIT DOWN!" (Once I went in to help her and she was so relieved and excited that she put her arms out for me to pick her up...only to immediately fall sideways...and of course become more upset. Sweet girl!)

3. First tooth! You can barely see it, but you can feel its razor edge that has (finally) poked through.

Interestingly, she is doing all these at almost exactly the same age Mac did (between 8 and 9 months). He did learn to sit from standing much sooner than she has. I'm working on teaching her this skill.

One other cute thing from around here: Yesterday and today, Mac has been gathering stacks of books and then announcing to me that he is leaving to go to Bible Study. "Bye mom! I'm going to Bible Study! See ya later--honk! honk!" (He always follows "see you later" with "honk-honk". No idea where it comes from.) Sweet boy.

Little Pitchers Have Big Ears

{Background to story: Brad's affectionate name for me is "babe".}

Today, when I coughed Mac looked at me and in complete seriousness asked, "You okay, babe? You okay?"

I was laughing too hard to answer his question.

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We've had a very busy three weeks! Will post more about our travels and adventures soon!

Watching the 10 o'clock news tonight...at 10 pm it's 95 degrees outside. Wow. {It's like this every summer...but I always forget...}

{the new--official--Columbia logo}

Overheard

Mac (to Brad): I want sum-ping! {Translation: I want a snack.}

Brad: Are you hungry?

Mac (pauses to consider): Um...no. I want sum-ping!

Brad: What's the difference between wanting something and being hungry?

(Long pause)

Mac: Ummmmm...sixty?

"I took a nap!"

Mac was SO excited last week when I told him we were going to visit Aunt Heather, Uncle Matthew and his cousin (my nephew) Evan. I knew better than to tell Mac days ahead of time, but I couldn't resist telling him the morning of the day we were supposed to leave.

Of course, he kept asking all day if it was time to leave yet, and I kept telling him we would leave after he took a nap.

Late in the morning, I was in the kitchen and I heard him shut the door to his bedroom. After being in there for a few minutes, he came out and proudly announced that he'd taken his nap and he was now ready to go: "I'm all done taking nap! Let's go mom! Let's go to Uncle Maffew's house!"

So sweet.

Of course he was in heaven once we got there. He adores his Aunt and Uncle and has a great time playing with Evan, who is only about 6 weeks older than him.

The trip was all in connection with a wedding of one of our youth group kids from North Carolina. He was a freshman in high school when we began youth ministry, and is now out of college! He is a dear person and we were very close to his family while we lived in Kings Mountain. Matthew and Heather kept our kids for us while we went to the rehearsal dinner Friday night--such a huge help! {I don't know how we would have managed if we'd had to get a babysitter Mac didn't know in a hotel room. It would have been such a mess. } Thankfully, Matthew and Heather live less than an hour from Kings Mountain, so it was very manageable with their help. We were able to get a babysitter during the afternoon ceremony while the kids napped, and then take them to the reception. A FULL weekend, but Mac and Arden were wonderful and we had a great time seeing old friends!

{UPDATED: Don't you love how Mac has not yet learned to smile for the camera? At least I tell myself that he hasn't learned it...but probably he just doesn't want to...}

December 7, 1946

This is silent footage from my Great Aunt Dot's wedding rehearsal party. You can see my Grandpa McCabe just after the part with the bride and groom, and my great grandmother towards the middle (the only older woman shown). You get a peek at my grandmother through the doorway (in glasses) as the various people are passing through the mistletoe. {I think I've got the people identified correctly...hope so!} This is SOOOOO cool, in my opinion. (One of my second cousins, also named McCabe but goes by Cabe, put this on YouTube.)

I've always loved to watch my Grandpa with his sisters--he was one of only 2 boys in a family with 8 children! I remember them all getting together and laughing so much. It touches my heart to get this glimpse of them when they were young.

Sitting up!

Our girl can now go from lying on her back to sitting up! Yesterday and today I have gone in to get her from her nap and she's been sitting on her bottom waiting for me : )

Tonight we invited our youth volunteers and spouses to our house for supper. I let Mac stay up past his bedtime to play. When he finally went to bed, he was desperate to stay up and hang out with the grown-ups. He didn't cry or throw a tantrum, though. Instead, he (apparently) brainstormed ideas of how to get me to come back into his room after he was tucked in.

All kids do this, right? They ask for water, or say they have to go to the bathroom. Mac has used both these methods before, but tonight he was a little more creative: about 2 minutes after he was tucked in, I heard from his room, "My fingernails are LOOONNG! My fingernails are LONG!!!!!"

I had to tell him that cutting his nails can wait until the morning.

A Juicy Insect and Other Stories

When I asked Mac what he wanted for a snack today, he responded--with a completely serious look on his face--"A juicy insect."

{Background info: He's been really into a book about chameleons lately. In the book, the chameleon eats 'a juicy insect'. So it's FUNNY, but not completely out of the blue.}

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I was planting flowers a few weeks ago in the front yard, almost finished, when Mac began pestering me for lunch. (Arden was napping.) I kept telling him I was almost done, but he kept telling me he was hungry, so I finally succumbed and came in and got him lunch. I left him eating at the table and ran out to plant my last couple flowers. A minute later, I heard yelling from inside the house. I stood up to come closer and find out what he was saying, and I heard, "MAY I BE 'SCUSED? MAY I BE 'SCUSED???" (Translation: "May I be excused?")

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Along the same lines of the previous story: Saturday Brad and I were doing yard work in the backyard Saturday, Arden was napping, and Mac was running around, in and out of the house. He'd been inside for a little bit, and I wondered what he was up to. As I got closer to the back door, I heard yelling (again!). This time, "PLEASE WIPE MY BOTTOM!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!! WIPE MY BOOOOOTTTTOOOM!!!!! WIPE MY BOTTOM PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I'm not sure how long he'd been waiting for me on the potty!

With both of these events, I've been thankful that Arden's room was an addition to our house and has bricks under the plaster! Nice sound insulation!

Time is Relative

Our normal morning routine:

Brad and I get up, enjoy coffee on the porch, spend a little time together.

Mac calls for us at 8 o'clock. (We have a clock in his room and he knows not to call for us before 8. He usually wakes around then, but if he wakes earlier, he 'reads' books until it's time. Then he calls to us, "It turned number 8!!! It turned number 8!!", until someone comes in.)

Arden wakes between 8 and 8:30. We feed both kids, Brad leaves for work, I take Mac and Arden for a walk.

Saturday mornings:

We all sleep until 8 : )

This morning:

Brad and Mac were up at 8, Arden was still sleeping so I slept in too (waiting for Arden). When I got up around 8:30, Mac and Brad were sitting at the breakfast table. Mac says, "It turned number 8 for Mama!"

I wish I could relay how cute and funny this was! I suppose Mac thinks that the clock in our room had just turned 8--and that's why I got up then?

A Slew of Pictures

Last weekend we spent at Bonclarken, my favorite place: the place where I met my husband, the place of 1,000 memories growing up, the place where I see friends I've known my whole life and will know until I'm old, the place where Brad proposed, the place where I feel the most renewed. We had a great time! The weather was wonderful and it was a great celebration of Brad passing his comprehensive exams! He was in a meeting Saturday morning, so Mac, Arden and I strolled around and visited several family members there last weekend as well.

Then we visited the playground.

I wanted SO MUCH to get a nice shot of them together. This is the closest I got...maybe next time.

I have so many sweet pictures of Arden lately. I thought I'd try to get some good ones of Mac. Why do I even try? He never stops moving. (Don't know what's up with his shirt collar in these, either.)

A moving target...

Oh well. So much for a photo shoot!

The best photo of him all weekend was taken when he was eating:

Just makes me laugh!

Here is where Brad proposed to me, one freezing cold November night. FREEZING. COLD. I couldn't believe he was dragging me out in such weather to take a WALK. After he got down on his knee, I don't remember being cold anymore at all : )

After we got back home, life got back to normal:

(Please notice the empty TP roll on the wall, the underpants and shorts on the floor.

We kept my nephew Samuel later that week. He and Mac had a ball playing together. He looks so much like my sister it stops me in my tracks sometimes.

All in all, a great week!