Our Handsome Boys...

What a gorgeous weekend! Yesterday we took full advantage of the sunshine, and tried to be outside as much as possible. Nicholas enjoyed napping in the fresh air, while big brother Michael enjoyed digging in the dirt with his new cars. Our weekend was full of activity, which is why I'm ready for bed right now. Josh is in the process of kicking off his (rec league) basketball coaching season, yesterday was the draft. And, Michael went to a birthday party for one of his daycare friends yesterday. Of course, Josh and I were so excited about the party that the whole family ended up going. (We're so silly, I know!)

Today was our first visit to mass with Nicholas. It felt so good and so healing to be back at church today. All four of us were there, with support from Michael and Mary Jane. Surprisingly, the boys handled the mass just fine. Nicholas slept in Mary Jane's arms the entire time, and Michael could not have been more well behaved. We've spent the rest of the day doing chores around the house and visiting with friends.

I don't think we could have ordered a better fall weekend...

Almost Normal...

My mom stayed with us today because Josh needed to get back to work. The morning started out a little rough. Michael threw two fits in the course of about two hours. One being as soon as he got out of bed, nothing like waking to a screaming three year old! ( At least the baby wasn't crying, too.) Naturally, I was a little worried about how the day would go. As it turned out, the day could not have been better. My mom and I took the boys to a local co-op farm, that is full of fun activities for kiddies. We went on a hay ride, picked out four pumpkins, watched a pig race, jumped on a gigantic pumpkin inflated with air, and we played on a toddler/little kids playground. Towards the end of our visit, we bought some hot apple cider and kettle corn. Nicholas cooperated quite well by sleeping throughout the entire outing. 

Today I was so grateful to no longer be pregnant, with a baby ramming my rib cage. I could breathe, I could climb on the gigantic pumpkin with my Michael (though I probably should not have..), and I was able to truly enjoy his laughter and curiosity again. It's been a long, long time since I have felt good enough to truly appreciate his magical age. And, sharing this wonderful day with my mom and Nicholas was quite a delight, as well. We can't wait to take Josh back to this farm, Michael wants to take him back TONIGHT. That's how much fun he had today, and I'm so glad for that. The new baby is kind of taking it's toll on Michael B right now, which is completely understandable and to be expected.  

I am looking forward to more days like this one...

Such a Blessing...

This morning Michael played in a sandbox, while I sprawled out on the grass with my enormously stretched out belly.  The sun was shining warmly on both of us and I felt so happy to be sharing this quiet fall morning with our son.  We went to a farm in a neighboring county so that Michael could pick out a pumpkin and play on the playground equipment.  There were lots of children at the farm from the time we got there until the time we left.  Michael cautiously played on the equipment, be sure to note the picture of him "slowly" walking down the ramp of the pirate ship.  (He cracks me up!) 

I would definitely like to go back to this farm with Josh, Michael, and the baby on one of the days that Josh is off for "paternity leave."  : )   I'm afraid, though, that I've blocked out the memories of how awful I felt for the first two weeks after Michael was born.  I'm praying that everything will be slightly "less traumatizing" than the first time around.  I'm expecting the exhaustion and the abdominal pain; but I'm hoping that nursing will be more relaxed and that just caring for a baby in general will be a little bit more relaxed this time around!  At least we won't have to worry about the heat and sunburn with the baby, when Michael was born it was HOT and it was not easy to romp around outside with him.  I suppose time will tell, right?

What football does to a man...

Can you say comatose?  Rendered speechless?  Zoned out?  

And furthermore, why does it start at such a young age?

In a little bit we're heading over to Carrie and Jason's to watch the "Skins" play.  I'm wondering if Michael will choose to watch the game or play with the other kids!  (I'm thinking and HOPING that he will want to play and will be totally oblivious to the game. ) We'll see, though!  

I'm just about as happy is Josh every Sunday during the fall, since the SEASON PREMIERE of DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES is this evening!!!  And, SISTER AND BROTHERS!  I've been waiting for this Sunday to come for soooo long!  : ) 

We've got an exciting week ahead, so stay tuned for updates.  Josh is going to be inducted to the Hall of Fame on Friday night for our high school. I can't wait to see how Michael will react, I just know that he's going to be so proud of his dad!  As ready as I am to have this baby, I kind of hope that the baby waits until the football game is over Friday evening....I'm going to be completely thrown off my game if this baby decides to arrive before the tenth of October.  Completely.  

Can't we just lay around and watch movies all day?

Uh...  My belly feels like it is going to explode, my ribs are killing me (AGAIN!), and my skin feels like it is sunburnt!  How I would love to lay around and watch movies all day!!  Michael is helping me to "press on", though!  How can you not press on, when you have a precious little face like the one above asking for nature walks and time outside?  This morning I worked in the backyard on the tomato plants,  because it supposed to rain over the next few days.  Michael helped me stack the cages, toss out the non producing plants, and clean the pots.  As soon as I turned on the hose to clean up the pots, he was in make believe heaven!  Out came the cars, the "garages", and the prickly plants; the moment water was sprayed from the hose.  

Unfortunately, we cancelled on lunch with my Grandparents, I needed a little bit of a break after working outside.   Michael threw a temper tantrum, of course, and was furious with me for changing the plan.  After his time out, he decided that he was ready for his lunch.  : )   We then went for a nature walk, to look for acorns and walnuts.  

The walk was so much fun.  Thankfully, Michael walks a bit slower than me, especially when he is exploring so the adventure wasn't too taxing!  Michael brought "Giraffe" along, and made sure to feed her along the way.  The path that we walked on today was one of the cross country courses that Josh and I ran on in middle school and high school.  Walking on that path takes me back to those fall afternoons that I spent running after school with my friends.  This path was my very favorite course as a high schooler, though it has changed dramatically over the past ten years.  I miss the apple trees and the litter free, dirt paths.  Even though the path is different, I cherish the memories that this path conjures up every time I walk on it with Michael B.

 And now, it's time for a nap before he makes me play some more!

A little of this, a little of that.

****** Little Sugar is really sick. : ( . And, I do mean really sick. 101.5. : (
I don't think he's ever had a fever this high. He'll be spending the day with his Nina and Granddad tomorrow, so hopefully he'll recover a little bit faster. He didn't move from the couch this evening and watched almost the whole second half of the Skins game on his Dad's lap. Poor baby. ******





We've had one of those weekends where you don't get out of your P.J.'s until 5 pm because you've been scouring the house all day. Which, really, let's be honest, here~these kind of weekends are heavenly every once in awhile! My parents took Michael B to story-time and to the puppet show at a local library so that Josh and I could get some things done around the house yesterday morning. We really, really needed that time to clean the bathrooms, to get laundry caught up, and to organize fall/summer clothes. Now, naturally we didn't get EVERYTHING done, but we've at least made a dent. And, that, feels really good.

Last evening, we had a date with Mary Jane and Michael. The five of us went out to dinner, and then headed over to Baskin Robbins. Michael did very well with going to eat, much to our surprise. He ate his dinner--normally, when I order something from the children's menu he doesn't eat. It's almost like he enjoys the money being flushed down the toilet. : )

This morning, Michael and I went to church, where we sat with Michael and Mary Jane. His girlfriends, Lauren and Audrey, greeted him with hugs after mass. They tried to hold hands with him, but he refused. (He wanted his Mommy's hand!) After church, the little one and I headed over to a park. He played for a little bit, but was very tired.

The time change and the late night have thrown him off a little. We'll see how bedtime goes tonight, as he took his nap about two hours earlier than normal. I have a feeling this time change is going to affect him much more than previous time changes. (The other time changes have never seemed to affect his sleep...We shall see.)


We've got a big week ahead-ELECTION DAY (Go, Granddad!) and a Wiggles concert! Stay tuned.

Making himself at home.

The first time we went to the library, Michael wouldn't touch the books.

A few trips later?

Now, he refuses to leave them on the shelves. They all belong in our basket, in fact.

Surprisingly, he picks out some good ones this way. Maybe I oughta try it? Forget recommendations, best seller lists, book club lists; a pretty cover and a good size will suffice.

I'm really enjoying Here if you Nee me. You should check it out if you get a chance...remember the library is FREE. How awesome is that??