Good Friends

I am so thankful today that I have some great friends in my life. Ones who are easy to talk to about life, kids, husbands...the good, the bad, and the ugly. I'm also thankful that I have made some hard decisions about moving on, growing up, and surrounding myself with people who support me, my family, and my kids. True friends are so hard to find, and I'm thankful for the people in my life. Of course I have my family, but friends are always necessary, and sometimes right after you have kids is the hardest time in your life to make new friends and keep up connections with others.

This morning I had such a wonderful time getting together with two friends and their kids. Jacob had a great time (despite spilling juice on himself) and is becoming more and more social during play dates. I think he still gets overwhelmed when other kids have a fit, scream, or cry (even though he has his own fits), but I think he's always been like that and always will be. He's not sure what to do when that happens, and he's never been fond of loud noises (still doesn't like it when we vacuum). But, it's something I adore about him, because he is truly concerned when another kid is crying. He's very sensitive to other people's feelings, which is why discipline has been so easy with him. He genuinely wants to make us happy and not be "bad," that a firm "NO" is all it takes. But, we had a great morning, and I loved catching up with friends and watching our kids play. It's been almost a full year of them playing together, and it's amazing to see their play progress as they get older.

Zoo Boo

My parents joined us for a fun afternoon at the zoo for their annual Zoo Boo. Unfortunately, it was raining like crazy when we arrived, but we waited it out in the car and it ended up being perfect weather at the zoo. Jacob had a great time, despite still being tired from his party the night before and a short nap before the zoo Sunday afternoon. And, it was very fitting that he went as a zoo keeper (the only costume his size left at Target on Sunday morning when we realized he hated being a ghost after a full month of begging to be one).

Us in the parking lot before going in.

Jacob and Grandma and Grandpa.

Being adorable.

Jacob loved petting the goats. The area was closed to go in because it was feeding time, but he pet them through the fence. Here he is trying to make a new friend - he loves talking to other kids when we are out now, which is so cute!

Just a cute picture of Jacob and Daddy!

Halloween Party

We threw a little Halloween party for Jacob and his friends. He had such a great time with his friends. They decorated pumpkins, did some foam stickers, made their own pizzas, played with every toy in our house I think, had some balloon fun, and had an excuse to wear their costumes one more time. I was TERRIBLE at taking pictures, but here are a few.

With the pumpkin balloon that lasted about 30 seconds before it touched the ceiling and popped - thank you, textured ceiling.

Trying on Daddy's costume.

Waiting for his friends. Jacob has been asking to be a ghost since September. He became obsessed with ghosts after reading a Dora Halloween book where Swiper was a ghost. He makes a great ghost noise, and had been refusing every other costume at the stores. He told everyone he was going to be a ghost for Halloween. And then...he hated being a ghost. He wore his mask all week, but wouldn't wear it for the party. Wanted his sheet off of him and everything. Oh well. Only caused us to run out the next morning to get him a Halloween costume that he would actually wear. At least he had a good solid month of ghost fun!

Mommy and Jacob.

Daddy and Jacob.

Jacob and our neighbor, Kylee.

Jacob and Ginny.

Chaz holding up his pumpkin.

Crazy Week!

Last week went by in a blur. I ended up at the doctor on Monday with what ended up being sciatic nerve pain and a minor UTI. Then Tuesday I felt like I was coming down with the flu. Wednesday was the start of Bob's fall break, and we headed to the library for story time. Jacob had fun, but I was miserable and called the doctor. Ended up having to go in to check for contractions (none, thankfully!), but found out I tore my umbilical ligaments. Apparently it doesn't matter if you didn't know you even had such ligaments in order to tear them. They said it'll be more painful as my pregnancy progresses, but baby is healthy and won't be affected. Friday was my regular OB appointment - had blood drawn for gestational diabetes, so keeping my fingers crossed it comes back negative! I didn't have it was Jacob, and don't really see me having it now, but you never know. Two months from yesterday I will be full term - going by way too quickly now!

Some fall

Jacob and Daddy at the zoo.

Jacob and Mommy at the zoo.

Our ghost sandwich lunch.

Making our own Halloween cards.

The craft Jacob did at the library storytime. I was so amazed that when he went to color in the "L" he traced the shape of the letter. The "L" next to it was a cut and paste project to make an "L" leopard.

Daddy and Jacob at the park.

Pumpkin Patch

We took Jacob to the pumpkin patch today with my parents. We have gone to Stoney Creek every year with Jacob with them - this being our third year together! I can't believe how much has changed in the three years. The first year he was too small to even care we were there, last year we were still really nervous of him falling while he was walking around and he couldn't ride anything, and this year he is just talking up a storm, following around turkeys, climbing straw hills, riding a pony and a pumpkin train, and picking up his own pumpkins. He is just such a joy to watch as he experiences new things.

Our annual picture in front of the pumpkin tree.

Jacob dancing

Throwing straw

Surrounded by pumpkins

Checking out the seeds in the broken pumpkinsWith Grandma and Grandpa

Pushing pumpkins to pay

Playing

Jacob Sings

Jacob has been singing On Top of Spaghetti for a while, but it's so hard to catch him on camera. Here's a good one! He really enjoys singing, and has quite a few songs he'll sing all the way through, but for this one he just likes to sing it with you unless you can catch him when he thinks no one is watching.

Happy Third Trimester To Me!

That's right, I'm officially in my third trimester! I can't even believe that, but we are almost ready for little Joshua to come and join our family. Jacob has been saying his name like crazy now, which is cute, and my little nesting kick and started. Bob got it in full force when I launched 50 million projects on him at once. It's weird that you get this sudden feeling to have everything exactly in order. I remember with Jacob the day before I went in to have him I cleared everything out of our closet and every single drawer and reorganized everything of ours by the time Bob got home from work. Not sure where that energy came from - pregnancy does some crazy things to you!

Well, my little Joshua, you take the cake as giving me the WORST heartburn in the world. I had it bad with Jacob, but nothing like this! Other than that I'm still feeling pretty good, just big! Still running around with Jacob in the backyard, going on lots of walks, and feeling baby kick like crazy.

Jacob is still amazing me every day. I'm still shocked he is only 2 years and 4 months, but seems so much older. I absolutely love hearing what he has to say and have him put his own games together now. He has roped me in to his Halloween costume finally. He has been asking to be a ghost for such a long time, and finally I have caved and now have to make him a ghost costume that doesn't go over his head. I would so much rather just buy a costume from Target or somewhere, but he really wants to be a ghost and has been making ghost noises.

I have some really cute pictures to share of the past week, but I accidentally brought the wrong cord with me to upload pics while at my mom's house. Jacob had the cord pretending to be a belt while I was putting make-up on one morning, and I assumed it was the cord to our other camera. Nope.

We've been having lots of fun lately though. The weekend before last we got our Halloween decorations up, had Jacob color his own Halloween stickers we found for only $1, and enjoyed the cold fall weather. We got down the first round of baby clothes, only to realize there isn't much we can use since our boys are going to be in totally different seasons. Made some ghost sandwiches last week (thank you, cookie cutters, for having a ghost in that box!), made some Halloween cards, and decorated windows with Halloween window clings. Jacob and I went to story time at the library last week, and he did really well considering it was a preschool story time. The library by us only has toddler story time once a month, so I just took him to the preschool one. They learned about the letter "L" and had a craft, along with a game much like duck, duck, goose that Jacob was THRILLED to play and chase his "friends." I have pictures of his crafts I'll post later.

Gymboree last week was grocery themed, and Jacob decided he needed to buy bananas. And only bananas. We also used one of our make up classes last Friday for a music class. Not Jacob's favorite since there isn't as much running and freedom, but he had a good time and it's nice to expose him to some different activities and new kids. He's been playing with our neighbors lots this past week, which he loves, but doesn't understand why none of them are home during the day.

This past weekend Bob and I bought a new comforter for our bed and drapes for our room, and new cube organizer for the living room for Jacob's toys. Our living room looks so much better, and I'm in the middle of re-organizing toys that are going to be in Jacob's room (since he currently doesn't have any stored in there), living room, or baby room. Thankfully two boys means only one set of toys - I don't know where we would find room for girl toys right now! This weather has been nice, but I'm so ready for fall. Jacob in shorts in the middle of October is crazy! But, we've been able to be outside every day, visit the park and zoo, and do lots of things we normally wouldn't be doing in the middle of the month. But, I'm ready for jeans, soup, sweaters, and real pumpkin patch weather!

There are monkeys in our house

This morning Jacob woke up, looked at me (I sometimes sleep in his bed with him in the morning - he has some trouble hearing Bob get ready for work and falling back asleep, so I'm in there for about 40 minutes in the morning), and said, "Oh!! There monkeys in the house! Let's go!" So off we went through the house looking for monkeys. And then, we had a banana and waffles for breakfast. He is too funny!

He has also decided to call my dad Dave sometimes. This morning in the car he heard someone on the radio say Dave and he said, "I call him Dave." I told him, "No, you call him Grandpa." He just smiled at me, and said, "No. Dave." Oh boy.

Yesterday we were out to dinner and the man behind us kind of coughed or sneezed or something and it sounded like a pig noise. Jacob points at him and says, "He a piggie!" Thank you, buddy, for pointing that out. Followed by your own loud pig noises. Silly man.

My OB appointment this morning was super quick - can't believe I'm getting closer and closer already (but still plenty of time left!). Jacob enjoyed hearing his "baby brovver" when we hear the heartbeat. He's starting to understand baby more and more, which is fun! Lunch with Grandma and then the rest of the afternoon will be play time when he wakes up from his nap!

This weekend we are heading to the pumpkin patch. Who knew the first weekend in October would be a high of 60 degrees?! Jacob has been asking to go to the pumpkin patch since August, so it'll be fun to see his reaction!