Labor Day 2012

 

This was our 7th year having a Labor Day party at our house.  We look forward to it every year when both of our families get together to watch the first Husker game of the season, eat lots of good food, and play games.

 

This year was so hot that we didn't spend much time playing games outdoors.  Instead we went to the new water park that just opened up with it's big slides, wave pool, and diving boards. It was fun watching the kids splash around.  I think Andrew enjoyed the wave pool the most! 

 

After we were all worn out from swimming, we feasted on pork loin and brats from Jarod's smoker.  Everyone always brings a side dish so we end up with tons of delicious food, and best of all..an assortment of sinfully good desserts. 

 

Each year gets more challenging figuring out where everyone will sleep as each year our families continue to grow.  This year we had three new babies; Dominic, Corbyn, and Pete which brought the total up to 9 little ones running (or crawling) around!  I love having a house full of kids!  It makes everything so much more fun!   

Undies

Andrew, you are growing up so fast.  You have reached a new milestone and have changed right before my eyes.  I doubted you.  I didn't think you could do it.  You proved me wrong.  You have been showing interest in using the toilet for a while now, so one day I thought, "OK, let's try this."  I bought you some under ware and prepared myself for a long drawn out battle with you. 

 

It took 2 days.  You caught on right away and amazed me!  After one week you didn't even need the M&Ms and popsicles we were using as a reward.  And if that wasn't enough, we stopped putting diapers on you for naps and nights right away too.  It's like you are an old pro at this.  Sure there have been some accidents that I've had to clean up, but nothing like I imagined.  Is it suppose to be this easy?  Or are you just spoiling me for the next ones?

 

 

I love seeing you run around with your little bare bottom and the way you say the word "undies" is priceless.  We got you Thomas the Train of course so you call them your "choo choo undies".  To celebrate, Dad got you some more Thomas tracks which you thought was pretty neat. 

 

Thank you for making this one so easy on me.  I will remember this for the times that you test me in the future!  I love you, my big undies-wearing boy!

Family Time

 

I have always enjoyed spending time with family, but it's so much more fun now that we are all starting to have kids.  We love seeing our nephews and watching them all grow and play together.  Jarod is holding Corbyn who is 5 months old already! 

 

Elliott and Andrew were having fun on the dance floor.  It was comical to watch them because their personalities are completely different.  Andrew is very shy and timid around people.  He just stood and watched other people dance.  Elliott on the other hand is a dancing machine!  He is so outgoing and loves to be around people. 

 

Isn't he handsome in his bowtie?

 

Andrew loosened up toward the end with a little help from dad.  His signature dance move is bobbing his head up and down!

The next day we took a trip to the park.  The boys played while the moms chatted about everything baby!

Guess What...

These little guys are excited to announce they are going to be big brothers!

Our precious new baby will be ready to make his/her appearance on February 9th (which happens to be Grandpa Dave's birthday!)

We had our ultrasound at 10 1/2 weeks and this is me at 13 weeks. 

I am 15 weeks now and am feeling good.  We are thrilled about this new addition and have lots to do before he/she arrives.  Andrew WILL be potty trained so I do not have 3 in diapers.  We will also need his crib for the baby so it's time to start looking for a toddler bed and move Dominic's crib into Andrew's room.  There will be lots of changes and transitions coming up which are sometimes hard for me, but at least we have a really good reason to motivate us!


P.S.

The very next day Dominic picked up his sippy cup and started drinking milk. 

He's been chugging ever since!

Phases and Moments

O Dominic.  You have been the easiest baby.  You go to sleep by yourself, sit on the floor and entertain yourself, you rarely cry, rarely have been sick, you are so easy going.  But when it comes to food...you are my picky eater.  You are refusing to drink from a sippy cup or eat your vegetables.  Sometimes you like certain foods and other times you spit them out.  You gag every time you get a sip of formula (although I don't blame you for that one, it smells horrible!).  I have been trying to ween you for about a month now, but you just won't cooperate. (This picture is deceiving...he was pushing it away!) 

About the time I started getting really frustrated and thinking that you would never drink a glass of milk, I read an article that helped me put everything in perspective.  It was an article in the Huffington Post that someone posted on Facebook about the phases that kids go through.  The author talked about how each phase can be tough when our kids are going through them, and gave some examples: 

waking up every two hours at night

  crying unless they are being held

putting everything they can find on the floors in their mouths

requiring assistance for three hours at night to fall asleep

taking their socks and shoes off the second we put them in their carseat...

Her list went on and on and I could identify with so many of them. When our kids are going through these phases we think it will never end.  But the author assured us that it will end and another will begin.  And that one will end and another one will begin.  It's called Life. 

Looking back, I know she is absolutely right.  About a month ago, Andrew started climbing out of his crib and wouldn't go to sleep at night without Jarod or me rubbing his head until he was out.  I thought my life was over.  Turns out, that phase ended after a couple weeks and he is back to sleeping like normal.  I wonder what his next phase will be.

The good news is that amidst all these tough phase are wonderful moments that make it all worthwhile.  I've been witnessing a lot of these moments lately.  Dominic has started saying "mom" and every time I hear it I smile.  Andrew learned how to pedal his tricycle and now goes up and down the sidewalk all by himself. It's amazing the joy I feel watching my children learn new things. 

This morning there was a moment that completely melted my heart.  I was holding Dominic, and Andrew came up to me and took me over to where he was playing on the floor.  He motioned to me to set Dominic down right next to him.  So I did.  Andrew then gave Dominic a big hug and started handing him toys.  They stayed there and played together for a long time.  I just love watching them play together!

I am so thankful for all these wonderful moments and can't wait to experience many more!



Celebrating The 4th of July!

Jarod couldn't be happier...Andrew's attention to detail is impeccable!  I'm just thrilled that he has a new car washing partner and I'm off the hook!

We had a nice and relaxing Independence day.  Just me and the boys hanging out at home.  We spent lots of time playing outside in the 100 degree weather but stayed cool in our family size blow up pool.  I love entertaining and being around friends and extended family, but sometimes it's nice to just be at home.  It was the perfect day, complete with cherry pie and watching fireworks in our neighbor's driveway. 

The weekend after the fourth, the city had their Big Bang Boom firework celebration at the lake.  Andrew and Dominic did so well staying up late and weren't scared a bit from the big booms and flashing lights.  Jarod and I really enjoyed the show.  Every year we comment on how this was the best year ever.  And it was!