Funny pics

John LOVES to climb!!! He has learned to climb up Garrison's ladder to the top bunk and on top of the changing table and back down again. Tonight I saw him practicing: up the kid bench to Lorelei's bed, then down, then up the kid bench to her bed, then down, etc. Liberty passed this coat down to Lorelei, although I think it was originally Cecilee's if I remember correctly. She's stylin' and she knows it!

I think you'll see right off why I included some of these photos: Lorelei makes some of the funniest faces--EVERY time I pull out the camera! Her eyes get bulgy and her smile goes crazy. Nevertheless, she's so darn cute in every shot!

Garrison made this gingerbread cookie at his preschool back in December. He just found it last week (middle of March) in his cubby area and desperately wanted to eat it. I convinced him that it wouldn't be healthy to do so, but he then asked "maybe I can taste it then spit it out?". I decided as long as he rinsed afterward it probably couldn't do any damage, so I let him. I wish I had videotaped his reaction to the taste of the cookie. He said it was "DISGUSTING"! (why is it that I would love to see my own son's reaction to something disgusting, anyway?)

1. John loves straws--for blowing bubbles. His face here cracks me up!

2. Garrison's dance moves: holy moly, watch out future "So you think you can dance" contestants!

3. John being cute

4. If any of you can tell me what the last video is about, let me know! I caught it on tape as soon as our conversation started as she tells me about "her children". There are some very sad moments as she describes what happened to them...her imagination is alive and well, anyhow!

St. Patrick's Day

I saw that a friend of mine made a hat and belt last year for one of her boys and decided I would do it this year. (Thanks for the idea, Kara!) They are so darn cute!!! (A little too much work, and thank heavens I didn't have any more green construction paper to make John his own because all he wanted to do was tear them apart, but overall, worth it for Garrison and Lorelei). We had a great day--registered Garrison for kindergarten, and had a fun party with the Broadbent cousins thanks to Aunts Emily, Liz, Cammie, and Becky. Garrison especially loved that the leprechaun had tinkled in the basement toilet! (He did not hear or pay any attention to the nonbelievers who thought it was green water.) And of course, Garrison, Lorelei, and even John loved the candy that was in the pot of gold at the end of their search.

Pop gun

Anyone else see the yahoo ticker of the laughing baby today? Reminded me of this and thought I'd actually blog about it... Aren't they soooooo cute?! The pop gun still makes John laugh.

Blessing day

I'll post pictures later, but thought I'd at least post what John Hiram Wilkerson wrote for baby John Hiram Wilkerson:

John Hiram

Cold Decembers and fragile fallen snows cover the earth in silent white and its midnight stillness humbly purifies the chill of winter. In a month filled with glittery presents adorned by foil bows and satin ribbons meant somehow to attest to the divinity of mankind, a more perfect reminder of origin and belonging was received. As ancients millennia before declared to a struggling world, a tiny child, John, quietly professes the graciousness of God.

For now, there are almost-smiles and small fingers curled in trust around those of family who love him. Under dancing Christmas lights and carols of togetherness, we gather around him. It's an indescribable thing to hold something perfect; a tangible connection to an eternity that seems so distant from what we know. We imagine for him, with him. We wonder, asking silent, impossible questions and pleading with the universe for it to recognize what has happened within our hands; within our hearts.

Generations pass and renew themselves in cacophonous flashes of emotion. But, life is never as tenuous as it seems in its darkest places, because in flesh and blood, spirit and devotion we are eternally tethered one to another. He reminds us of our connections to a past that has faith in our imperfect creation of the future. Within a small, December child born at the celebration of an exalted brother, are the gentle echoes of thousands of voices, infinitely bound.

In his own silent stillness, maintained under eyelids closed tightly to the world that awaits him, he dreams. It's a world that is imperfect and wounded, hopeful and faltering, terrifying and infinitely rapturously beautiful. It's a world meant to show that he is loved, and thought upon, and hoped for. And because even the scariest parts of life are softened by the ephemeral tendrils of love and unquestioned acceptance, he will forever remind us that we are blessed with the graces of a father who loves and could offer no gift more perfect than this.

Sibling Haircuts

Why is it that just about every family I can think of has had this happen? Sadly, I guess it was our turn... Garrison tells me that Lorelei asked him to do it, and she agreed that she did. Funny thing, though, she just told us recently that she did not want to cut her long hair. Anyway, this afternoon Garrison comes to me saying, "Mom, look at Lorelei's dragon wing I made". I was not very happy and Garrison almost looked puzzled, to be honest, and said something to the effect that Lorelei was just fine because he did not cut her-- he was being "very careful". Thankfully it's not quite as bad as it looked although there are a few strands on top that are pretty short. In case you can't tell, she had buns today but had pulled on them before Garrison took a few chunks out of both sides with the kitchen scissors.

Things that make me laugh

The other day we were in the car just getting to Wal-Mart and Garrison was bugging Lorelei and may have hit her, although I'm not sure. I make him say 3 things (I'm sorry, I won't do it again, and I love you) almost all of the time and we proceeded to go through them but stopped short when he said he was sorry and his voice told me that he wasn't sorry one bit. I said "Say it like you mean it". He whispered back "it like you mean it" with a smurk on his face and I thought that was what he said but I said back "no, say it like you mean it" to which he replied again "IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT" very loud and slow. At this point I probably should have not laughed but I couldn't help it. I laughed pretty hard and so did they.

Garrison to dad last week: "Sometimes it's okay to lie... like when you're saying "sorry" ". (WHAT?!)

Garrison yelling in pain at me after he trips over the vacuum, stubbing his toes: "Mom, I wouldn't have done that if you'd put your vacuum away after you used it!" (He's remembering what I say to him after I trip over his toys)

Announcing...(Finally) John Hiram Wilkerson!!!

After inducing labor at around 7 a.m. I got my epidural and then took a good nap until around 11:30 a.m. when I could feel some pressure. I had the best labor of all 3 children with him because it was the first time the epidural worked to its full extent (both left and right sides). It was great! I did break my tailbone again just as I had when Garrison and Lorelei were born but I can't complain given the fact that I have been blessed with 3 beautiful babies. Anyway, we sure love our newest addition, and he is the best Christmas present I've ever received. He was born at 12:38 p.m. on December 22, 2009, was 21 inches long, and weighed 7 pounds 3 ounces.