The Merkley Family

just a few notes on my kids... i love 'em and they are growing up too fast.

Zane grabbed his toes on Thursday night. Don't know why this is a moment, but it is. He is almost rolling over! He is such a happy and content baby. Happy and happy. He is half giggling! And slept eight hours last night making him my favorite child o' the day. He loves company and hates being left out of anything. In the morning, when I have to go to work, I wake him up, change his bum and get ready to feed him. He just lays on the changing table, stretches his arms up, opens his eyes and then he smiles the sweetest smile. He melts my heart.

Emma, oh Emma! She is a study in contradiction lately. She is so bouncy and flashy at home. I guess flashy might not be the right word, but I can't think of the right word. She is loud, she likes to be heard, she loves to dance and sing. Until you leave home. Then, she is quiet and reserved and all things that Emma is not. Thursday, my friend Darlene picked Emma up for "bring a friend to preschool" day with Andi, and brought her home 30 minutes later. Why didn't Emma want to stay, "Because, I was being shy!" At dance class, she dances her little heart out exactly the way she is supposed to, but when they have "free dance" she stands there not knowing how to break the mold. And insists on holding the teachers hand when they aren't dancing. I told her she didn't need to do this and she said, "I'm her friend. She needs me." Such a big, dramatic heart.

Noah has become somewhat of a planner. He has planned out his life and I fear, oh how I fear! how disappointed he might be if it doesn't turn out how he tells me it will. And his plans are so specific and detailed. (Brittany, if you happen to stumble upon my blog, please don't be alarmed). There is a sweet and gorgeous little girl in our ward/neighborhood/Noah's school that Noah has decided to marry. Her name is Dylan. He is not forward or kissy or lovey-dovey... yet. He is... matter of fact... decided to marry her. He has planned out their life. He tells me bit by bit as it is planned and the timeline goes a little something like this...

• Noah and Dylan will get married in the Bountiful Temple
• They will live in Zach and Melanie's old apartment on 1200 S. in Bountiful
• Noah will be a police officer and a teacher. Sometimes, he wants to be a Costco 'cooker' as well. Basically, he wants to pass out food in a hair net.
• Noah will work for Centerville being a police officer.
• Dylan will stay home with the kids and bring Noah his lunch while he is at work.
• Noah and Dylan will have 4 or 5 kids.
• He will buy Jelly Belly beans at Costco. And he will share them with his kids.
• They will move to Silver Creek someday

As far as I can tell, Noah has not told Dylan any of his plans. But Dylan's mom, Brittany, has told me that they are quite chatty in the car on the way to school. When I was driving carpool, it was the beginning of the year and nobody spoke too much yet. And Brittany tells me that Dylan has told her that Noah is pretty much the only boy she likes to be around. The rest are too loud, crazy, bouncy or what have you. Oh my! Don't try to argue with him about this. It just results in him being stubborn and upset that you don't agree. He has also informed Luke and I that there are 2 more babies that need to come to the family. One girl and one boy. This last week, he informed me that they are coming at the same time. Oh dear. We'll let you know how that one turns out!