Thanksgiving Part II

On Friday and Saturday of last week we celebrated Thanksgiving with Josh's side of the family.  Genevieve, Joe, Laura, and Harvey made the long trek to visit with us and to enjoy Mary Jane's delicious meals.  (I think she should open a restaurant!)  Michael and Harvey bonded over Thomas the Train, even though their mothers didn't approve of all the television time. : ) We did manage to get them outside, though, so that we could take advantage of a beautiful afternoon at Granddad's park.  Michael really enjoyed this big swing in the picture above.  (I can't stand pushing him in it because it is so heavy.  He always wants to go HIGHER! and FASTER!)  Thankfully, his Granddad stepped up to the challenge.  Josh was just as thankful as me, it seems.  On Saturday morning there was a lovely article about Josh's mother, which was a wonderful surprise for Genevieve and Joe.  Check out the "Star" if you get a chance.  Josh is the cute baby, sitting on his beautiful mother's lap.  

Weekend Getaway.

We headed back to our alma mater this weekend.  Josh and I figured that it was time to introduce Nicholas to one of our favorite vacationing spots.  It's funny to refer to W&M as a vacation spot, considering it felt nothing like a vacation the entire four years we were there.  (It actually felt more like a pressure cooker.)  :)  Michael and Mary Jane also joined in the fun, and humored us by staying at the indoor water park.  This post is going to take a few weeks to wrap up with the way things are going!  So! Stick around....

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...

Party on the mountain!

Pictures from Jennie's birthday party on the mountain!  Michael had a blast, he LOVES Jennie and birthday cake!  And, I believe Nicholas enjoyed himself, as well.  He slept really well Sunday night, as a thank you for taking him to the party.  (Any time, Nicholas, any time...)  

Enjoying our company!

Obviously, things have been busy this week!  We're learning how to adjust to two babies now, how to deal with a sleep shortage, and how to get daily chores completed around the house while squeezing in naps.  Even though we have a lot to learn and a lot of adjusting to do; we couldn't be happier.  Michael loves his brother so much.  The crying seems to bother him a little bit, and he frequently tells the baby (in a sweet voice), "Too noisy, Baby! Too noisy!"  He does worry about the baby when he cries, though.  He's such a sweetheart....

Josh is an awesome father, and he loves to cuddle Nicholas. Josh will often take over the "shushing" duty after I nurse Nicholas.  

Cousin Amanda came over to meet Nicholas with Mango the other day.  She did a fantastic job holding Nicholas!  And, Michael was SO HAPPY with the paper, crayons, and coloring book that she gave him.  Michael worked on his writing ALL day yesterday with that paper!  : ) 

And, now some pictures of some very, very special visitors!  Grandma and Pap-Pap!!

Grandma and Pap-Pap also came over this week to meet their newest Great Grandson.  I think both of them fell in love instantly.  Pap- Pap said that he is a "fine baby boy."  And, Grandma was actually speechless for a moment or two.  I am so incredibly thankful that our  children know three of my four grandparents.  

What a tremendous blessing it was, to be able to introduce our baby to his Great Grandparents on such a beautiful fall day!

A Reality Check from Grandma.

One of the very best aspects of taking a leave of absence for a year from teaching is the opportunity to spend more time with my Grandparents.  While I haven't been able to get to my Grandmother who lives a hour and a half away this summer, I have every intention of visiting her and my Aunt as much as possible this year.  Once I have healed from the surgery and once things have settled a bit with the new baby, we'll be cruising on up to see her, as well.  Currently, though, Michael and I have tried to visit my Grandparents here in town once a week.  Due to a variety of reasons, we haven't been able to lunch with my in-town Grandparents lately.  So after I picked Michael up from the sitter today, we decided to pay them a visit.  

My Grandmother bought me a brand new, comfy robe and a new pair of really cute pajamas.  When she handed over these great presents, we got on the discussion of what I should wear while in the hospital.  I mentioned that I packed some of my own pajamas to wear, even though with Michael's birth I just wore the hospital gowns my entire visit.  In her most southern voice, she emphatically motioned across her body and said, "Awww, HONEY!!!  If I were you, I would NOT wear your own pajamas!  Remember!?! You are going to be a MESS ALL OVER!!!"  

(Great.  I must have forgotten.......)

In a deflated voice, I conceded.  She's right. I am going to be a "mess all over" in a few days.  And even though I felt a little deflated, she still made me laugh.  Her gestures, her voice, and her honesty, made me chuckle.  I suppose it was time for a reality check from Grandma.

All three of us are getting very excited, to say the least!  (Though, we have yet to decide upon a name for either gender!)  This evening I talked to Michael a teensy bit about my stay in the hospital.  In his sweetest voice, he asked if I was going to come back.  While I could have cried a bucket of tears, I replied in a firm and unwavering voice.  "Of course I will come back, angel.  I will just be gone for a little bit."  

I'm hoping to make tomorrow a very special day for the little guy.  We're going to a race in the morning, that some of my girlfriends are organizing.  We'll probably go out to lunch, go to story time at the library, AND buy a present for the baby from Michael.  I can't wait to take him to pick out a stuffed animal for the baby.  I'm taking him to the boutique that "Moo" came from three years ago.  (For my sake, I hope there aren't any "duplicate" Moo's because I have a feeling that the shopping trip will result in a temper tantrum!)  

One last belly shot tomorrow!  : ) 

A Mommy-Michael Day...

We're having a wonderful day: the temperature is much cooler (HOORAY!), we have been able to relax, and enjoy some time with my Grandparents, the baby isn't splitting my ribs and back, and we even completed a few errands!  

This morning Michael and I did a little craft.  Honestly, these crafts are perfect for him because of his three-year old attention span.  They are incredibly simple and interactive, but quick.  Brevity is key with toddlers, or so I'm learning.  So, here's a picture of Michael painting the "B's" for "Bumble Bee".  (The lower case b's and d's and p's really throw him for a loop.  I completely understand, they all look the same to me, too.) I don't have a picture of the letter B, as a bumble bee, so you'll have to trust that it's very cute.  Maybe he'll pose for a picture after his nap with the official finished product. ; )  (Again, check out the links to No Time for Flash Cards, it's a fantastic blog!!)

After we completed the craft and cleaned up, Michael decided that he wanted to play with the new chalk board and spell some words.  We did that for a little bit, and then got ready to complete our errands.  The number one errand being, a haircut!  

Around lunch time we went to see my grandparents, for our weekly lunch visit.  We had a delicious lunch, as usual Michael stuffed himself with whatever my grandmother offered him to eat (or, drink).  And, of course, we played in my grandparents' yard.  Their yard is like a fantasy land to him, it's so precious!  He explores, plays with his cars, inspects the grass and the dirt, it's almost like he's never seen such an amazing back yard.  

And, now here we are at nap time.  I'm sitting on our bed, with all the windows open and the fan blowing, taking in all of this deliciously cool air.  The baby is moving quite a bit and is kicking up a storm.  Sometimes I wonder if I'm growing an octopus because I'm feeling little jabs ALL over my stomach.  How's that possible? : ) I love it, I really do...

(He still pulls his ear when he's tired.  My sweet baby boy.)