Contagious Joy

I went to a WOF (Women of Faith) conference this past weekend. I had a great time listening to the speakers and spending time with the girls. It made me think about the "joys" I have in my life.
I am very joyful and thankful that I have a wonderful husband that loves being a father. When I go places, he steps in and doesn't miss a beat. I never worry when they are with him, he loves the alone time with them. The boys bring so much joy to my life. I can't help stopping and laughing at the crazy things they do, or watching how they figure something out.
I am joyful for the friends I have in my life. For instance today, 2 nutty friends went to the zoo with me. Yes, it was raining, but we went anyway. We had a great time. The great thing about going to the zoo when it is raining: NO ONE is there (I think maybe 20 people were there today, we made up 7), we were wet and cool (usually we are wet too, but that is from sweating due to the heat), and all the animals were out! We have never seen the lions out playing and running, they were adorable. The boys had so much fun stomping in all the water puddles! I don't even think they knew it was raining.
I have to share one more "joyful" story with you. I have a best friend from college who is going to experience so much joy this week. She and her husband have been trying for 4 years to have a baby. They had many struggles, defeats, and downfalls. But this week, she will give birth to TWINS! (I am thinking this week because she stops her medicine that has kept her from having them too early.) I just think what joy the twins are going to bring to her life, and how long she has been wanting and waiting for a precious angel - now she gets 2! Good Luck Ann - I love ya!

Random

The boys playing together. Ben is actually sharing his blanket with Carter.

Random thoughts and sightings from the boys:

When Ben prays each night, he starts by saying thank you for my family (he usually list the ones he can remember and then we fill in the rest, he always ends with baseball, bats, ball, glove, and sometimes adds homeplate - AMEN!) If the prayer is getting too long, he will throw in the AMEN, and we wrap up!

Ben's favorite commercial on TV is the baseball one where the players are comparing their achievements, and it ends with "Can I get an amen from the bobbleheads?". If you say that to him, he will shake his head like a bobblehead - it is pretty funny!

Carter is starting to push his knees up under him and inch around. Ryan calls it the inchworm crawl. He will be moving around before long!

Carter loves it when Benjamin talks to him. Any noise Ben makes, Carter will look at him and start laughing.

Ben wants Carter to play with him so bad, he just doesn't understand he can not play rough with him! I am not looking forward to the days that WWF takes place in the living room. Something makes me think, Ryan will be right in the middle of it.

Okay this next picture is from our wedding. I always laugh when I see and remember this. On your wedding day you want everything to go perfect. WELL, our limo had a flat on the way to the reception. The driver wanted us to wait while he fixed it, we took the alternate route. We jumped out of the limo, hiked up the hill to my aunt's car! You can see the flat tire, back right!

Okay, the one advice I give new mothers after they have their child. Think about how you are going to look in the pictures. I didn't think about it with Ben, after seeing the pictures, my make-up bag and hair brush were the first things I asked for BEFORE pictures.

Picture of us after Carter - up in my house somewhere!

Picture of us with Benjamin - NOT showing in the house. Ryan learned too, no hats!

Baby Vaughn is here!

(Vaughn Elizabeth Merriman 8/14/06)
(Dylan and Ben giving Vaughn cousinly advice)
(Uncle Doug, Ryan, Daddy Rich, Chad - the triplets are the 3 on the left)

We were blessed on Monday with baby Vaughn into the Merriman family. Darby was a trooper, great job mom! She is beautiful! We have been waiting 20 weeks (that's when we found out it was a she) for pink in the family. Darby and I decided awhile back Vaughn and Carter would be best buddies (they are the youngest). I love it how our family is growing, all the little ones are blessings from God.

Hook, Line, and Sinker!

Picture taken of Ryan and Ben fishing in January

Ask me how today went, and I will probably laugh out loud - sorry Ryan! Benjamin caught a 200+ daddy fish today! Ryan took Ben fishing this morning while Carter was asleep. I received a phone call from Ryan asking if I could please come get them, because Benjamin had "hooked" him and it was pretty bad. Okay, so pretty bad to me was lots of bleeding. I get Carter up, go back and get a clean towel "to clean up the area", and off we went in the car to the pond. From a distance I see Ryan sitting on the curb with Ben and the stroller. The closer I get the whiter Ryan is getting. As I am getting out of the car, I notice no bleeding - hummm! I look, the massive hook is STILL IN HIM!!! We talked about what to do, he tries to call a friend (JQ) that lives nearby to help me get the hook out of him, no answer. So, plan B. If you know Ryan, you know this couldn't get any worse because out of my mouth comes; well, you need a tetnus (did I spell that right?)shot anyway, so we need to go to the hospital. Okay, it just got worse for Ryan, he hates needles, doctors, machines, etc. On the way to the hospital, I remember no diaper bag, no food for either boy (feeding for both was approaching fast), and no purse! We get to the emergency clinic in TC, and up to the room we go (all of us and a stroller)! Then God sent an angel(s) via cell phone - the Quile's call. I quickly give Joel the update, and off him and Kim come to help out. Great timing because pain was starting to set in, and Benjamin didn't like the small room. Joel and I switch places; he gets to deal with Ryan, and Kim and I come home with the boys! 2 hours later, Ryan and Joel show up with the hook (out) and a bandage. Now if you are thinking how could a hook do this, well it was a rattle lure (ladies, that is something that looks like a small fish and has 3 hooks on each side, total about 6 hooks). If you want the gory details of pushing and pulling to get it out, ask Ryan. Ryan said the lure was going on Benjamin's wall of fame!

Happy 6 months Carter!

Today Carter is 6 months (and 1 day). I can't believe he has been with us 1/2 of a year already. We went to the doctor today. we was 261/2 inches long, and weighed 17.3 lbs. Compared to Ben, that is 1 inch longer and 2.5 lbs heavier - WOW! We have had a wonderful 6 months with him. He is so calm and peaceful, such a blessing. We are sitting up on our own, and he loves talking and laughing to anybody and everybody.
Carter at 1 day old.
Everybody says the boys look alike. I think they have characteristics that are similar, but I do not think they look that much alike. What do you think, this is a picture of Benjamin at 6 moths? Now, I know the big blue eyes are the same, anything else?

Pictures and Update!

London and the boys at the airport holding their sign for the picture. London stayed with us for 2 days. We had tons of fun with her.
Ben and Carter playing around one night before bed. The boys are growing up so fast. A couple of things about them, Ben went to the bathroom twice on Friday in the potty (#2 that is). Once with Aunt Mel (thanks!) and the other with Daddy. Ben now has to designate something as home plate, so he can slide somewhere when he is running the bases. He ask us everyday if we are going to a baseball game!
London and Carter

Carter has moved to fruits, he likes these much better than veggies. He is such a little eater, I can't wait to see how much he has gained in the past 2 months. He is sitting up on his own (falling to the side some). He hates laying down, he doesn't think he is interacting with others that way. Ryan said he will be our sensitive child because when you take something away from him now or you are not including him in conversation, he cries.

The kids at the airport holding a sign for Mums! They were the hit of the airport, everyone stop to read their sign "We love Mums!" Of course when it came time for Mums to walk up; as you can see Ben was tired of holding it! But, they surprised her, I think we actually got tears from her! I guess after 20 hours on a plane, most of your family waiting for you at the airport is better than anything!

13 Great things about this past week!

1. Getting to have London stay with us for a couple of days.
2. I love my boys, but getting to take my girl to dinner for Birthday Club.
3. Going to birthday club, a meal that is just with the girls!
4. Taking all the kids to the airport to greet the family. - We had signs and everything. (I will attach later).

5. Watching Carter finally getting to eat fruits. He loves them - much better the yucky veggies!!!

6. Listen to Benjamin make Carter laugh, no one can make him laugh like his brother.

7. Getting goodies back from my family trip - just ask Ryan what he got!

8. Getting to spend the weekend together with our family. For once we didn't have anything to do except family time!

9. Meeting a college friends and their kids for a baseball game on Saturday night.

10.Going to the park Sunday night to play with friends.

11. Our weekly zoo trip on Monday and riding the train - now we are going every other week - BOO!

12. Watching Treasurer Hunters with Ryan (go Air Force)!

13. Picking the boys up for the sitter's today, and having Ben run to me yelling "Momee"!