Westin

My Westin is such a silly boy and oh so sweet!  I'm going to be honest, he went through a major whiny phase while he was three, but it seems to be on it's way out and is being replaced by the sweet disposition I vaguely recall from that pre-three period!  Westin is the most likely to come up to me and give me a hug and kiss for no reason at all and tell me, "I love you mommy."  Obviously this is the absolute best way to butter up a mommy!

I absolutely adore kisses from Westin.  I'm not sure I can quite describe it, but when he gives me a kiss, he makes this exaggerated fishy face with a dramatic smack post kiss.  He even gives me a kiss that we have named the "favorite kiss" (don't ask me how this name came to be, it just did).  It starts with the same fishy face, follows through with the same big smack, but finishes up with a wide open mouth post smack as he pulls his lips away from mine.  Okay, so in writing it sounds weird, but when I look back on this years from now, I think this description will help me remember this very special and very silly kiss from a little boy that I adore!

Westin continues to have the best giggle, the biggest dimples and the most expressive face!  It doesn't matter if he is smiling or pouting, he can work it!  His smile can light up a room, but when he pouts, I swear his bottom lip extends 6 inches!  His personality matches his expressive face.  Whatever his mood, he does it big.  He can be the absolute happiest kid, but oh boy when he is mad!!  He has a temper that his brothers and sisters try to steer clear of and I think it is magnified by general preschool aged unreasonableness!

One of my favorite things about this incredible kid, is how easy it is to cheer him up.  Unless he is really mad, you can usually get him to break into a smile just by smiling at him!  It is really awesome and that grin is definitely a pick me up for me!

Westin in his Texas Tech shirt with the smile I love!

Silly face!

This might not look like a picture of Westin, BUT I had to include it because I see this expression on his face ALL the time!

Westin loves to play pretend with his brother and sisters.  He usually gets assigned the role of dad.  He also loves cars and most recently pokemon cards (an obsession for both of my little guys that was sparked by Jackson's interest . . . have I mentioned that Jackson is their idol).  Westin's other favorite past time is dance parties.  Remember that I said he and Brooklyn love to proclaim "Party time!"  For Westin this usually means turning on the music and gettin' down!  He has the best little hiney wiggle ever.  I can usually just ask him to show me is wiggle and he will shake it for all he's worth!    

While he has a big, silly personality at home, he is very quiet and shy in public.  You can often find him hiding behind my leg if someone tries to talk to him.  He is almost a different kid in public.  At home, he is LOUD, but when we are out and about, he goes mute.  He has recently started playing soccer on a team with Gage and while he loves practice, he hasn't played in a game yet (there have only been two and in his defense, he missed the second one because he was sick).  I think he feels a little more shy when there are more people watching at a game.

Westin has such sweet little personality, but running deep is a stubborn streak a mile wide.  I have never in my life met a kid who can stand his ground like Westin.  Once he has made up his mind, there is nothing that can sway him.  I have seen this kid go to bed at 6:30 just keep from having to taste a single bite of food that he claims to dislike.  I have seen him remain in his bed for more than an hour because he adamantly refuses to use his manners or apologize or whatever the current sticking point may be.  This, my friends, makes parenting challenging . . . but I figure if I can help him harness that strong-willed, stubbornness into perseverance, then who knows what he might accomplish!!  I see great things in his future!

When we pray at night, Westin always has to "Gob-less" all of his family.  I absolutely love the sweetness of this and the way he says "Gob-less" instead of God Bless.  Clint and I are constantly exchanging our own huge smiles over the things this sweet little boy says and does.  Westin is probably usually second in line for the big hug when I walk in the door with a very loud exclamation of, " Mommy!  You're home!"

I am so blessed to be Westin's mommy.  I look forward to continuing to watch this amazing young man grow and mature!  He is an amazing part of our family!