All about Wes.
Wesley Visits the Florida Keys
Wesley has met pelicans, dolphins, and all kinds of new fauna and flora in the Conch Republic.
The Ups and Downs of Petunia
By Daddy
Wesley, Hallie, and Travis fell asleep on the moon on Christmas Eve. They'd flown there in canoes pulled by ostriches all the way from the piano room, up the stairs, and into their moon beds, still humming songs about Frosty and Rudolph and Santa Claus. Wesley had wanted to know where flying reindeer stopped to use the bathroom, and before Hallie could think of a reasonable answer, whatever that would have been, Travis had explained that reindeer often took breaks on the moon. So, off to the moon the children went in ostrich-pulled canoes (don't ask).
Fun With Wesley
I spent some time with Wesley and his family last week. He's been pretending for quite a long time. His parents really play with him and it's quite a lot of fun.
Wesley and Bruce Springsteen
How many days in a row can one three-year-old boy wake up and play Bruce Springsteen and the Seeger Sessions Band CD at full volume, songs 1 and 11, "Dan Tucker" and "Pay Me My Money Down" while dancing, jumping, screaming, and jamming on the guitar? We don't know but are pretty sure Wesley has broken the record and is extending it.
Wesley Hits Rehoboth Beach
Wesley and his mommy and daddy, Gram, and Uncle Matt, spent a week at Rehoboth Beach, renting a part of a house less than a block from the boardwalk. Wesley had a terrific time, as we all did. Wesley had been to Virginia Beach for a couple of days when he was one, but now he's three and he spent a whole week in the sand and waves.
Actually, we only spent part of each day at the beach and none at all a couple of days. One day we went to Jungle Jim's water park, where Wesley floated on a river and slid down water slides and loved every moment.
Most days we went to Fun Land, a few blocks from us on the boardwalk, where Wesley drove fire engines, helicoptors, motorcycles, etc., played in a playground with a pool full of balls and moonbounce etc., and took his mommy and daddy on rides that turned their stomachs but not his.
Wesley loved the ocean at first, without a trace of fear or concern. We held him and put floats on his arms and helped him swim, and he screamed with delight. But then I took him out in a little inflatable boat, which he loved until we came into the beach and a big wave tipped us over.
Then Wesley was quite concerned about the waves, and it took a couple of days before he wanted to go swimming. It helped that he also went and got soaked and sprayed in more controled ways at Jungle Jim's. It helped that Anna got Wesley a good book about waves. And it helped that the waves got smaller. Then at the end of the trip the waves grew much bigger, which I loved for body surfing, but which made it harder to swim with Wesley. However, after we got home, Wesley told me he liked the big waves, and I expect by next year he will.
We stopped in Annapolis on the way home and rode on a boat. Gram and Matt drove home a different way. Wesley loved living with them and having his mommy and daddy on vacation for a week. He's getting used to the real world again now.
We stopped at Wesley's Gum and Gup's house on the way home from Annapolis and he told them all about it.
There are more photos in the Fourth Year gallery.
We wish Gramps had been able to come -- maybe next time.
Wesley loved playing in the sand. We'll see how it transfers to his sand box at home.
He also loved living in a different house and knowing the address of it and how to find it from the boardwalk.
Wesley's Sunflowers
Remember this photo of Wesley and a sunflower he grew last year when he was two? Here's a new one of three-year-old Wesley with a new sunflower he grew, one of several accompanying all the vegetables and herbs in our backyard.
Wesley likes planting, watering, weeding, wheelbarrowing, raking, mowing, harvesting, and especially cooking, sometimes even eating.
Click photo to enlarge it.
Dancing With Wesley
Today Wesley and I were showing our dance moves. I asked Wesley if he could dance the "Wiggle Your Ears" dance. I moved my earlobes with my fingers.
Ear Infections
For a few days Wesley was never at 100% and was sometimes really miserable and tired and grumpy. He told us his ears hurt and a doctor agreed. Medicine brought back Happy Wesley!
Sculptor and Engineer
Wesley's favorite building material is scotch tape, and he'll tape things like frisbees suspended between a table and a chair, and pieces of paper and toys. He'll also build with blocks or anything else, and he has eleborate stories for how things work, switches, doors, pipes, drains, and elevators.
Wesley Art Work Makes It Onto Gramps' New Fridge
From Gramps who now has an apartment at the beach in order to take a job there:
New Apartment, the Final Touch
It isn’t a fridge without art from Wes.
Matt and I moved my stuff into the new Virginia Beach apartment. I’ll be staying there through the week after my new job starts with Amerigroup on June 15.
The place is 2 bedrooms located in a quiet golfing community. We’ve managed to completely furnish it with extras and a few small purchases. Wesley’s art puts the finishing touches.
Wesley Sings and Plays Guitar
And with Wesley accompanying himself on guitar:
Dancing Wesley
Wow, Wesley loves dancing at concerts! We went to the Friday's After Five concert tonight, past Wesley's usual bedtime, and he was dancing, jumping, spinning, kicking, grinning, and stomping his way through as many tunes as his Mommy and Daddy were willing to stay for. He really gets into the music and loves to move!
Independent Wesley
Wesley had a big bruise on his forehead the other day that we noticed when brushing back his hair, but we had no idea where it came from. However, all the other bangs and scrapes on his knees and elsewhere, we've seen him fall down for, and he doesn't cry or stop what he's doing. At most he grimaces, gets up, pushes on.
Wesley Birthday Letter from Mommy
Wesley’s Birthday Letter 2009
Dearest Wesley,
You are amazingly beautiful. You have a light that shines from within, a gentle way about you, you are curious about your world, and enthusiastic about living life. You are intelligent, charming, inventive, and one of a kind.
You’re so many things, still and quiet, exuberant and bubbly, an observer, the center of attention, strong and independent, cuddly and huggable. You adore adventures and are immensely creative.
You love trying new things. Some firsts for this year are flying on an airplane, bowling, attending your first UVA basketball game, swimming alone with arm floats, riding a bike with training wheels, and visiting the mountains.
You are oh so sweet and generous with your hugs and “I love yous” to those you’re close too. You have strong relationships with people you spend a lot of time with.
You are thoughtful and are the most enthusiastic helper ever. Whenever work needs to be done, you love to assist or have me assist you. You work very hard and diligently when you are engaged with a project.
You started school this year at First United Methodist Preschool, going two mornings a week. It was very hard at first, for you and me, but now you love going. I could not have dreamed up a more wonderful school for you to be a part of. You had such a wonderful time with Ms. Paige and Ms. Marcella and your friends this year.
We are going through a language explosion at our house right now. You are talking up a storm and asking about things that happened months ago and books that we read months ago. When you are not talking you’re singing.
