Happy Independence Day!

Tad, Sommer and Baby Elliott came to visit over the long weekend. Andrew was a little under the weather, but we still had a great time. Elliott is the happiest baby I've seen. He smiles from ear to ear all the time. All you have to do is say "hi" to him and he is overcome with excitement.

Elliott and Andrew in their matching shirts: Mommy's little firecracker!

While Jarod was giving Tad and Sommer eye exams, I stayed home with the kids. This gave me a little glimpse into my life in the near future. For the first time I started to worry. From the moment that we found out I was pregnant, Jarod and I have been completely overjoyed. To be blessed with the gift of another child was what we had been praying for. It wasn't until now that I started thinking of the responsibility. Caring for two children is a lot different than one. Andrew is still so needy and requires a lot of redirection. How am I going to keep him out of trouble while I'm nursing the baby or fix lunch when they are both needing my attention? Although I am getting a little nervous about what lies ahead, I am not losing perspective. Raising two children 17 months apart will be a challenge, but it will bless my life in more ways than I can imagine. Thank you God for this blessing.

Bike Rides, Pickles & Fireworks

Yes, that's me, 7 months pregnant...on a bike! I didn't think I could do it, but I surprised myself. Being pregnant has been my excuse for avoiding exercise. But we recently bought this bike trailer for Andrew and wanted to take it out for a spin. So I dusted off my tennis shoes and, after getting reacquainted with my bike, we took off. I may have looked a little weird, but I did it!

We kicked off the 4th of July long weekend by riding down to Jimmy John's for lunch where we made a new discovery. Andrew loves pickles. He didn't just eat the pickle, he devoured it!

I've got a pickle, I've got a pickle, I've got a pickle hey hey hey hey!

Later that night we walked down to the lake and watched the fireworks show. We were a little nervous about how Andrew would handle all the noise. It was way past his bed time and he's been known to get pretty shaken up when we've been in loud crowds. At the first big boom he started screaming and was plastered to my body, his little arms squeezing tight around my neck. Jarod and I looked at each other as if to say "What were we thinking???" and immediately started making an exit plan. But after the first couple minutes, he calmed down and started watching the bright colorful lights. He was still pretty tentative, but soon he relaxed and we all enjoyed the amazing fireworks display.

Summer is...

Flowers

Yard work

Landscaping
My first garden
Bike rides
Getting dirty

Boo-boos & Bandaids
Canning

Sweaty car rides

Spiderman jammies

Summer Vacation

Our first long road trip with Andrew. We drove 7 hours to visit our good friends, the Kirars in Stockton, Missouri. Andrew was a trooper in the car...with help from his see 'n say, V-Tech book, and a baby Einstein DVD. We spent the long weekend relaxing at their home which is right next to Stockton Lake. Jarod and Doug went fishing in the mornings and, although Jarod admittedly doesn't know much about fishing, he was able to catch four different types of fish with the help of the pro, "Captain Doug". Of course each morning he came back with a story about "the big one that got away". Wish I could have seen them!

Andrew had a good time playing with Sophia and Gage. Notice how nice and protected Gage is from the sun with his hat, sunglasses and UV swim shirt. I can't get my fair-skinned blue-eyed boy to keep a hat or sunglasses on for more than two seconds and the swim shirts won't fit over his big noggin! The hat is a constant battle between us. I don't know why I keep trying!

This is heaven for my son...digging around in the mud, splashing in the water, throwing rocks...and I only stopped him when he tried eating it. I made myself not think of all the nasty bacteria and germs in the lake water and let him have a little fun.

Thanks Doug, Ali, Sophie and Gage for a great time. We're looking forward to next summer already!

My Little Fish

I get it. Now that I'm a mom, I finally get why my mom buys me clothes and does nice things for me. It hit me as I was watching Andrew play in the inflatable pool that we just bought him. Seeing the joy in his face as he splashed around, filled my heart with so much joy, I realized I would do anything for him. To see him so happy made me so happy. Jarod gets it too. The other day he said to me "This pool makes me happy. I'm so glad we got this pool."

Andrew loves to be in the water and is not afraid of getting his head or face wet. He is already trying to blow bubbles, which usually results in him swallowing big gulps of water, but he continues to try. The squeals he makes as he splashes water in his face are adorable. I just love watching him play. We've also been taking him the the pool at the Country Club. I have to watch him closely because he will crawl right up to the edge of the pool and want to jump in. In the baby pool he forgets that he can't walk that well and lets go of the edge. A couple of time he had gone under for a few seconds. I quickly pull him up and he's right back to playing. Doesn't faze him a bit!

This is a fun summer for Andrew. But I think I'm having more fun just watching!

My Strong-willed Child

June 11th: Andrew takes his first two steps towards Jarod.

July 9th: Andrew is still not walking on his own.

Lesson I've learned: Andrew will do everything on his terms only!

As he's getting older, I am noticing how he wants to be in control of everything. I hand him his drink and he pushes my hand away. I put his shoes on and he takes them right off. I take my hand away as he is walking and he immediately sits down. When he wants to go outside, he wants to go outside NOW! Maybe this is just the developmental stage he is in, but I can't help but think of stories I've heard of Jarod when he was growing up; how no one was going to tell him what to do; how, as a teenager, he told his mom "rules were made to be broken". STOP. BREATH. Those words make me panic as a mother! I have to think of the positive qualities that go along with this strong-willed personality. Independent thinker. Leader. Passionate. Dedicated. Fearless. Come to think of it, I will be very blessed if he takes after his father...

...maybe with a little less of the rule-breaking behavior!