Our home away from home

This is our tent trailer. This will be our home away from home when we tour the countryside. Prince Charming has been combing the internet for over a year for the perfect tent trailer for our family. He had been diligently saving his pennies and doing research and dreaming about all of the camping adventures in store for us when last month he found it. Not long after he found it did it end up in our driveway.

Not being able to wait until the beginning of April for the first camping trip, he planned a backyard camp out for himself and the boys. They did everything they would do on a camping trip, but in the backyard! We had dinner together. We dined on cowboy steaks, baked beans, and a salad – all prepared in the comfort of the trailer. Don’t forget the s’mores. Of course there were s’mores! They spent the night outside while I slept inside with the baby cakes. In the morning he made the boys a breakfast of scrambled eggs and fruit. They had a good time breaking it in.

While it was a great adventure for the boys, we were also able to make a list of things we would need for our first trip coming up at the beginning of April. You would be surprised at the things you take for granted.

Look what she found!!!

AND girlfriend slept from 8pm until 5am last night. Oh, bless that thumb!

She's TWO months old. Already!

Two months have passed since G joined our family outside of my womb. I can't believe it has been 2 months already. We spend all this time waiting for her to come. It seems like FOREVER! And then, BOOM! She is graduating high school. These past two months have flown by.

She is smiling at us! She isn't just a giant newborn anymore. She smiles when we chat with her. I can't wait for that belly giggle. She is also becoming a champ at nighttime sleeping. She usually wakes once in the middle of the night and goes right back to sleep after she nurses. Daytime naps are a bit trickier. She doesn't like to fall asleep by herself. So, in order to sleep during the day she has to fall asleep in her swing, or I have to be a slave to the binky in the crib. Although, I think my binky slave days are coming to an end soon as she is feverishly trying to suck on any finger that happens to pop out long enough from that tightly clenched fist. Won't that be nice? A baby that can soothe herself to sleep. I am a tad nervous that I am creating bad sleeping habits by letting her sleep in the swing and helping her to sleep by making sure that binky stays in. I have a feeling that the "let her cry it out" days are coming soon. I wish I had kept better notes when E was this age.

She had her 2 month check up this week and she weighs 11 pounds 5 ounces. I was worried that she wasn't getting enough to eat, but that doesn't seem to be the case! We will have a better idea of her weight trend at her 4 month check up.

All in all, she is doing great. I love her wakeful periods. She just stares at me, smiles, and is starting to coo more. I always thought the word "coo" was funny. But that is really what it sounds like. I have started walking more with her in the mornings along the Bridal Path. We have to take every chance we get before it starts to get to be too hot.

Welcome to your 3rd month G-money. Can't wait to see what is next.

E's 4th Birthday Party

E's party was held on a rainy, rainy afternoon. However, everyone that came managed to have a great time! The kids were able to take out EVERY toy in the house and made sure that all toys were played with. The snacks were tasty and the day after the party our backyard looked like a 4 year old frat party with all the juice boxes that were thrown about. E received lots of very nice gifts and he got the purple cake he wished for. He had a great birthday party.

A Photo Session

We had these taken 3 weeks ago. It was super fun and I am glad we did it. Don't you just LOVE her furry back?

E turns Four!

Today you turn 4. Has it really been four years since you made us a family of four? We have been having so much fun with you that the time has flown by so fast. You are becoming such a nice young man.

You are almost always in a good mood, unless I just woke you up from a nap. You love to play with us and your imagination for make-believe is fantastic! You definitely love your mama and would choose to be with me all day if you could. The things you are interested in these days range anywhere from trains, to watching your brother play the Indiana Jones Wii game. If you were in charge for a day, we would play every game in our closet, set up an enormous GeoTrax track, and swing on the swings. Playing is your favorite thing to do (next to talking) and I just love watching your imagination come to life.

Speaking of talking, you got the gift of gab from your mother. You truly enjoy sharing your day and the moment's interests with anyone who will listen. And I just love listening to you. Another thing you enjoy is "soft tickles." This is also a trait that you inherited from your mom. Right before bed, or just relaxing anywhere, you ask for arm tickles, leg tickles, foot tickles, and belly tickles. My favorite is when you lift up your shirt in an inappropriate place (like church) and ask for belly tickles.

You manage to have a good time anywhere you go and tend to make friends with anyone who will listen to you. School is the only place that you complain about going to. But once you are there, you have a great time! Even though you enjoy school, you relish being home with me on the days you don't attend. You have been very patient with your new sister. More accurately, you have been very patient with me! Our time together can be interrupted from time to time while I care for your sister and you are very good at adapting and moving on to something else.

You bring so much joy to our home and we just wouldn't be complete without you. I fall in love with you more every day and I am so lucky that I get to watch you grow up. I am also so happy that I get to be your Mom.

Happy Birthday, Buddy!