Motor City Babies and Birthdays

Before I forget (baby brain is in full effect lately), I must write a post about our February family trip to Michigan. While the Motor City may not be a dream destination in February, there is no place I would have rather been. I was able to celebrate two very special occasions with loved ones: my dear friend Sarah's baby shower and my grandma's 93rd birthday. Sarah threw my baby shower in Michigan when I was pregnant with Jack, and I was honored to help throw a shower for her when she was expecting her first precious bundle of joy.

Sarah, the girls, and I at my baby shower. I can't believe I forgot to take photos at Sarah's shower...we will nearly certainly never be pregnant together again!

My grandma has always been so very near to my heart, even though we're often separated by miles and miles. I was thrilled to be able to celebrate the big 9-3 with her, and to spend some one-on-one time with one of my most favorite people ever. I love when Jack gets to spend time with her, they really get a kick out of each other. Jack is quite the entertainer, and loves to make my grandma laugh.

Singing "Happy Birthday" to Great-Grandma.

All in all it was a great visit "home" for me, even more so that Marc and Jack were able to come along. We had such a good time visiting with friends and family, and I'm already looking forward to our next visit!

Jack's 1st snowman!

Brian lets Jack be the lieutenant for a day.

Making a new friend at Somerset.

It's a Boy!

This past Wednesday, Marc and Jack accompanied me to an ultrasound appointment where we got to see our youngest family member. The tiny person (currently the size of everyone's favorite root vegetable...a turnip) was very active throughout the entire ultrasound, and so freaking cute. First we saw the baby's tiny little feet kicking around and crossing and uncrossing at the ankles. Then we saw the outline of that sweet little baby face, and the baby made my heart melt when it took its little hand and put it up to its face. And then...the ultrasound tech showed us that we are most certainly expecting another boy!! I would have been equally thrilled if it were a girl, but now I get to look forward to life as a mother of two boys. After seeing my little fella, I really just can't wait to meet him (hopefully at a healthy 39 or 40 weeks in August). I love him so much already, and am so looking forward to introducing him to his big brother.

The sweetest footprint in the world.

January & February 2012

Contrary to what you may think, my family and I did not fall off the face of the earth in 2012. No, the Mayans didn't come down from outer space and snatch us up, or whatever nonsense people are predicting for this year. We've just had a really busy winter, and I've been exhausted thanks to the baby that I've been carrying around in my belly!! Now that I'm out of the first trimester, I'm slowly getting over the nausea and exhaustion, and wanted to share some recent photos of Jack.

Jack is such a joy these days (then again, he's always been a joy...). It's so fun to watch him gain his independence and learn new things. He resolutely will not allow us to feed him anymore, so mealtimes are pretty entertaining (and a bit messy). Each day he springs a new word or two on us - my current favorite is "Excuse Me" (sounds like scew-pee) when he burps. He's starting to use multiple-word sentences, which always blows my mind. He loves to dance, and love love loves Elmo. Where he found out about that little red monster, I have no clue. As far as I'm aware, he's never seen a minute of Sesame Street (I'm a stickler for no television before age 2), but he has somehow fallen deeply in love with ELMO! Every time we get in the car, he yells for Elmo and we have to pop in the Elmo's Greatest Hits CD. I can sing the whole thing by heart, and it's actually far less annoying than I would have imagined. Plus it's so worth it to see Jack bopping around in his carseat and to hear him singing along. There's one song where Snuffleupagus says "Staaaand Back!" and Jack loves to yell it out with him. So stinking cute. I can't wait to see Jack with a little brother or sister, he's going to be an awesome big brother!

Messy Spaghetti, aka "pasti"

Hiding under the dining room table.

Animal Crackers - yum!

Downing some Pedialyte after a night of the stomach flu, and he's still got a smile on his face!

Superbowl Sunday

An unseasonably warm January day.

Loving the snow and sled as much as he did the year before.