Proportionate

Mason had his four-year check-up last week...I put it off for a while because I had heard that the 4-year was a doozy...it was.

He hasn't had any shots since he was a baby (ie before he can remember) so this one was tough. Thankfully, Graem went to the appointment with us because we had to hold Mason down while the nurse gave him the shots. The poor fella cried and kept repeating, "I don't love shots." By the time the appointment was over, it was time for lunch, so I told him we could go out somewhere - his choice. He picked Cold Stone. Typically I wouldn't give in to "ice cream for lunch" but he was still crying and told me that some green ice cream really would make him feel better. How could I resist?

Mason was so tee-tiny when he was born, only 6 lbs, 1 oz, and for the longest time he seemed so little. Then he grew taller but was still skinny. Between age 2 and 3 he really took off in growth. At his last check-up (3 yrs), he was in the 65th percentile for weight and the 76th percentile for height. This year, I could hardly believe it when Dr. D gave me his growth chart print-outs...he is now in the 83rd percentile for weight and the 82nd percentile for height. So much for tall and skinny!

Happenings

I have been itching to update my blog this week but have had a hard time coming up with a subject. I scrolled through my camera looking for new pictures...and the only new ones I have are from work. While I have appraised some really interesting properties in the past few weeks, I realize y'all don't want to read about them. :) So...I thought I would do a general update on what has been going on here, sans pictures.

Mason is thoroughly enjoying his new age of 4. He announces to random strangers that he is 4, with such pride in his voice. He has told me that he is now an adult (ha). He is doing well in his pre-school class this year; he loves to tell me all about his buddies in class. I think the highlight of each preschool day is the playground -- they either go to the "big kid" playground or the "little kid" playground. He has also been meeting with a speech therapist once a week for the past six weeks and he adores her. We have seen lots of improvement with his speech. Soccer is going *okay*...he says he would rather get to tackle like they do in football.

Roper has to have a minor outpatient surgery next week for a hydrocele. So if you want to know what it is, you will have to click the link because it makes me uncomfortable...or I can just tell you that it involves his private parts...and if he ever reads this later in life I'm sure he'll be humiliated. Other than that, he is doing well and is also loving pre-school. He is so sad on the days we drop off Mason and he doesn't get to stay.

New Baby is giving me fits, but its getting better. :) My first 2 pregnancies were so easy...now I have seen the other side. The nausea has subsided a little but I still have a terrible metallic taste in my mouth and have had some killer headaches that last for days on end. I had an ultrasound last week but it was too early to tell if the baby is a boy or a girl. So...I'll have to be patient and wait for my next ultrasound on November 10...which seems forever away!

Graem & I are doing well too...we are taking a class at our church on Wednesday nights by Paul Tripp, "Getting to the Heart of Parenting." It is reinforcing so many things that we know about parenting, but it is so easy to get caught up in the busyness of life and routine that we kind of forget about them from day-to-day. The most important thing I've taken away so far is that for your children's behavior to truly change you have to get to their heart. The concept is straight from Scripture -- "For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." Matthew 12:34. I correct my children all the time when it comes to behavior, but how often do I use those opportunities to minister to them and teach them about grace?

So hopefully this post in all black and white wasn't too boring. :) I promise to post new pictures soon.

First Game

I know I document all sorts of "firsts" on my blog...last weekend Mason had a "first" that he was very excited about -- his first Carolina football game!

We kind of made a big deal about it & really talked it up to Mason. By the time Saturday rolled around he thought he was going to be playing football for Carolina! Maybe that has something to do with why he was trying to play tackle during his soccer match on Sunday afternoon? :)

The boys have tailgated with us but we have deliberately not taken them into any games yet...mainly because I want them to be old enough to appreciate the experience. I have heard age 7 is the magic age that they really "get" the games...so maybe Mason was still a little young. Nonetheless, he had a great time and made it all the way to the end of the game!





Now that I'm posting this picture I realize you can only see "Navy" on Mason's fleece...which of course was the opponent for this game. Oops...at least the color is right. (For the record, we were playing the Naval Academy, not to be confused with Old Navy).

"Happy Birthday, Dear Mason..."

Beat Navy

Four Years Old

Birthday:


One Year:


Two Years:


Three Years:


Four Years:

And Baby Makes...5!!!

Remember this?? Seems like forever ago! It is so hard to remember what life was like with just one little boy!

Before long, we will have 3 litte ones! That's right, if you haven't already heard, I am expecting Clark Baby #3. Mason and Roper will both be big brothers. Graem's mother has always told me that Roper doesn't have the temperament of a typical second child. Mason & Graem have such a similar temperament that I think she naturally expected Roper, as the younger brother, to have a temperament similar to Brian's (Graem's younger brother). This couldn't be farther from the truth...and finally I told her that Roper has the temperament of a middle child. :)

We are so thankful for this new baby and are thrilled about having another child. My next appointment is on Tuesday...I will be 13 weeks and I'm excited to get another peek at the baby via ultrasound. And yes, we will be finding out the sex of the baby, sometime around 20 weeks...which really isn't that far away!

My due date is March 25...just three days after my birthday. Mason was due on October 9 and was born on September 16 (I had predicted a September 23 birthday, so I was off by 6 days)...Roper was due on July 27 (Graem's birthday) and was born on July 16 (which I accurately predicted)...so of course I'm predicting that this baby will be born on March 16. We shall see!