This particular show that the two boys were watching displayed various shapes and colors. The audience is supposed to say each shape as it appears.

All of a sudden, my wife hears Matthew say, “Triangle.”

“Huh,” thought my wife, “Was that Matthew?” She looked over and saw a triangle on the television.

Matthew didn’t just learn “triangle” (an so many other things) from just watching television. It comes from the teachers all around him–mom, dad, grandparents, aunt, and big brother.

As a matter of fact, it really is big brother (Nick) who Matthew watches and learns from most!

I guess Nick couldn’t make up his mind. ”Should I drink root beer or milk?”

Maybe next time I will tell Nick, “Root beer and milk. . . that is so faux pas.”

Well, I was driving to their house today when I called my wife and asked, “Does Nick want to come with me and help?” She asked Nick and he responded, “Yeah, I want to go with daddy to help poppa set up the Christmas tree.” So I turned around to pick him up. He was so excited; he loves helping. When I returned home I saw Nick already in the car with his Santa hat and cool shades.

Our journey begins. Halfway there I look in my rearview mirror. He is passed out because it was way passed his nap time.

When we arrive I gently carry him into the house and lay him on the couch. You all know how they get if their nap is disrupted. Next thing you know, Nick popped up quickly, as if he was never asleep. Like I said, he gets excited when he can help. Whether it is feeding the dogs, taking out the trash, or putting up Christmas trees; he is willing to lend a hand.

He watches as we all struggle to get the tree in its place and says, “I can’t help push up the tree because my muscles aren’t big enough yet. But I can help move the rocks.”

He assists with the rock moving and helps clean up. Nick is such a great helper. I can’t wait until they are all three of my sons are old enough to help! Hey, maybe then I won’t have to pay for lawn service each month.

He was a pilgrim.

Anyways the class walked in and began singing. I was video taping and he was participating—moving his hands up and down with the other kids. About halfway into the second song one of Nick’s friends began to cry. Nick immediately got quiet as everyone else sang. At that same moment I was kneeling about ten feet away. He was looking around with a sad look on his face. The moment he saw me he rushed over hugged and kissed me, and began to cry. I asked him what was wrong and he responded, “I’m scared.” I talked to him a while to tell him how proud I was of him. Mommy came over and also talked with him. I guess he gets stage fright.

After the “show” the entire family got to sit together for that early Thanksgiving feast. Nick had both sets of grandparents, his auntie, his brothers, and his mommy and daddy there to celebrate.

When he is around his family he reverts back to his usual self of smiling and having a grand ol’ time. He got the chance to show off all his school projects; he was proud.

Everyone have a great Thanksgiving with your friends and families!

A couple of days ago Andrew woke up from his usual 5 hour mid-day nap. I got real close to him because I know their eyesight isn’t the greatest yet. He stares intently at my forehead. I hear that newborns see black and white so they will look at your hairline. At least that’s what my wife says.

Anyways, as he continued to stare I noticed his facial expressions change dramatically from a blank look to a smile from ear to ear. I was so excited. He was smiling at me for the first time.

Well it turns out I thought wrong. His expression quickly turned to a strained look. It all made sense now. He wasn’t smiling at me. It was a baby’s instinctual expression when they are pooping. I waited a few minutes and changed his diaper.

I didn’t catch the smile quick enough to take a picture, but I can always get him while he is sleeping.

Matt replied with his usual, “Ta!”, which apparently means yes. Nick on the other hand is going through the momma’s boy stage.

“I want to stay home with mommy.”

So Matt and I begin our adventure. We drop off the car at the car wash and head to Starbucks.

I ask him, “So do you want a vanilla scone and some chocolate milk?”

“TA!”

We sit, eat, and talk for a bit. Well, I do most of the talking. He is too interested in people watching and stuffing his face with scone. Yeah, and at 23 months old, he can’t talk quite yet.

When we got back I showed Nick the pictures of our adventure. I asked him, “So do you want to go with us next time?”

Of course he responded, “Yes.”

“Hey Nick, do you want to take a picture with Santa?”

He answered back, “No! I don’t like Santa.”

“Nick you don’t want to be on Santa’s Naughty List, do you?”

“I don’t want presents! I don’t want to take a picture with him.”

I guess this is a normal reaction for a three and half year old. My two year old, Matthew, didn’t seem to care at first. Most of the time he just goes with the flow. Well let’s just say: He goes with the flow until his older brother starts screaming.

The funny thing is Nick talks about Santa all the time. “I like Santa. He brings me presents. I am on going to be on the Nice List.” But when he has to sit in his lap; then that’s a different story.

“Perry, don’t wake up Nick. My water just broke.”

“What?” I surprisingly responded. “Jump in the shower and I’ll call your parents to come over and watch the kids.”

My wife was at that moment 40 weeks pregnant and her projected due date was the following day. The doctors were finally right. Going full-term was unusual for my wife. Nick and Matthew (my first and second sons) both arrived about a month early because my wife’s fluids were low—or something like that. She was used to the never-ending NST tests twice a week; followed by an inducement and an epidural to dull the pain.

About 20 minutes later my wife was dressed in the car and a little cranky. I wonder why.

She called her dad wondering, “Where the heck are you?” and he responded, ”We just got on the freeway. Your mother had to put on her makeup.” In the background you could hear her mother yelling, “No. You were sitting stuck in the bathroom for too long.”

Finally they arrived and my wife was waiting in the car and about to bite someone’s head off. We finally left.

At 3:30 a.m. we arrived at the hospital and were led to Labor and Delivery. As my wife was sitting in a wheelchair and dying from the pain, I pulled out my iPhone to capture this memorable moment. She cursed me like nobody’s business.

Finally we were in a room and a nurse saw my wife. The nurse said, “Let me check you real quick. It looks like you are in some pain.”

“You think!?” my wife thinks to herself. Well, at least that is what I was thinking she was thinking.

“Oh my gosh! You are 10 cm. dilated. This baby is coming now!” the nurse said. “WHATEVER YOU DO; DON’T PUSH!“

There was one thing, and one thing only on my wife’s mind. “Do I get drugs?” she asks. All through the pregnancy she talked about making sure she got an epidural; she didn’t think she could handle the pain.

The nurse said, “No drugs today. This baby is gonna be here soon.” and wheeled her into the delivery room. After a bit of chaos finding an available doctor and a few screams from my wife, the doctor entered. By this time my wife is yelling profusely. The doctor says, “Don’t yell, just push, okay?” Keep in mind the doctor is a male. My wife looks at him puzzled; like who are you to understand the pain I am in right now.

About 10 minutes and one push later (yes, one push!), Andrew Taylor Wiseman was born. 4:07 a.m. to be exact.

And then there were three…..