Maggie's big day

I've mentioned before that TEIS contracts with agencies who send out therapists to the homes of special needs children. Ms. Kellie is our therapist and the agency she works for hosted several pool days this summer; I really wanted to make it to at least one and finally made it to the last, which was the family picnic. Daniel was able to take a little time out of his day, so we loaded up the kids and headed to the picnic. We had a really great time -- swam in the splash pad/wading pool, ate some yummy food, played in the sand and at the park and even got some goodies out of a pinata! 

Jake is 10 months old!

Well, it happened again. Another month flew by. And Jake is another month older. In fact, he's getting dangerously close to the age where I'll stop counting his age by months, but by years. Eeek! I guess that's not entirely true, that really stops at 2. But will I really continue to write monthly updates? Jury's still out, but I'm leaning toward-- doubt it.
So, Jake, what have you been up to in your 10th month of life? Check it out, all about you...

• You are cruising on furniture a little, but not in full-on cruising mode just yet
• You love table food! Especially bananas...I haven't fed you a whole one because you're usually sharing with your siblings, but I bet you could take that 'nana down!
• Still have not cut those teeth! I am more surprised by this than either of your siblings because you have been chewing since day one and I'm pretty sure more than they did! Anyway, I can see them now, so it shouldn't be long
• You say "bye" sometimes and have waved a couple times, but have not yet done them together
• You love some music and bounce almost every time music comes on...you're definitely dancing! And it's so cute...you have pretty good rhythm
• Can "drive" a riding toy just a little, but go backward more than forward
• You have no problem climbing over things. So far it's just people and pillows but if you're anything like your brother...
• You love your family and get excited when you see any of us...I think you get most excited when you see me, which is so endearing to me :)

I love you my sweetums boy!! I so enjoy being your mommy and watching you grow.

Summer-summer-summertime

...is almost over. And this year that actually means something to us. 'Cause our Will Will is going to Kindergarten! Oh, this is gonna be tough. Everyone keeps telling me I'll love it and won't be sad long, but we'll see. I love having my little man around. Most the time...I mean, he is five and wants something every five seconds...maybe when he turns six, he'll wait an extra second to say "mom"? We'll see.
I wrote about some of our summer adventures here, here and here, but wanted to add a few more pics.

 Maggie put the hat on all by herself and was so proud!

Will asked to take off his training wheels...we'll see how this goes :)

 everyone wants to play with Ms. Kellie's iPad

 Maggie helps daddy put together a new chair for his office

 Ah! All worth it...cartoons, please, daddy!

 Plus we got a new playhouse out of it...win win!

Nashville Zoo

Last week was my first trip to the Nashville Zoo. And not just since moving to Nashville 7 months ago, but ever. So why didn't I go in all the 10 years I lived in Murfreesboro before moving to Birmingham? Here's the thing: I grew up in St. Louis. At least during your prime going-to-the-zoo years...I moved here (the 'Boro anyway) when I was 12. And, you see, the St. Louis Zoo is awesome. Like really awesome. And that's not just I-was-born-there-pride or childhood nostalgia talking- it's ranked #2 in the nation. Seriously, look it up. I think San Diego is probably #1. Anyway, aside from the size, cool exhibits and diversity of animals, the St. Louis Zoo is also awesome because it's free. They may charge for parking. So moving to TN, we were like, "what, you have to pay for the zoo? And it's not even as big as 'our' zoo?!" No interest in going. Anyway, I guess I got over all that by the time I had kids because we went to the B'ham Zoo all the time.

My sister is a member at the Nashville Zoo and was able to get me in free- I only had to pay for one child. It was a good day. The jury is out on which zoo I prefer- here or Birmingham. I like different things about each- B'ham had free parking (though it's included in membership here) and a really good layout. I loved all the trees here, but I felt like we did a lot of walking and very little seeing animals. I did like the picnic tables set up inside the zoo here...in B'ham, food was not allowed in the park, they had tables set up outside the zoo or you could eat in one of their cafeterias. And in B'ham I liked the mammal exhibits better...they had some tigers here but no lions, rhinos or hippos. Anyway, I'm sure I'll learn to love it here too. 

Jakers was so tired by the end of the trip

 No pictures please! 

Independence Day

We had plans to visit Nashville's Adventure Science Center on the 4th because Daniel was off work and we thought it was our last chance to use our transferable membership from Birmingham. Turns out it expires at the end of the month you purchased it- not on the exact date. Either way, it was nice to finally make time to do this as a family and a great way to spend a rainy day. It was crowded, but still enjoyable.

Then we went to my parents for a little celebration and to see Rachel before leaving town the following morning. We didn't end up going to a fireworks show because of the rain. But my parents actually live close enough that we could see the show from their street if we stood in the precise spot between two trees. I don't think anyone wanted to walk up there in the rain with all the little kids- Rachel certainly didn't want to take the newborn. We had a fun day. Happy 4th! (only a couple weeks late)

Our Summer

Boy, it's been a long time since I've posted anything! We have been bu-say. We've had friends over, went to friends houses, visited St. Louis, had my cousin, Rachel, and family visit us for a week- well, they stayed at our house a few days and my parents' house a few days, went to the Science Center, celebrated Independence Day, went to a family reunion, had family over to swim, went to the zoo and have just had lots of fun. All this in between the typical and trying to get some projects done. Needless to say, there has been much time to blog. In all the busyness, I didn't take many pictures, but here's a few:

driving to St. Louis...first time with the headphones on

Daniel sometimes calls this little one DJ Jake so Will put on this slap
bracelet as 'headphones'

Will and baby Abigail

Will has started swimming on his own now and is super proud of himself. He's learned the doggy paddle and is in full on fish mode...I think the child could swim all day. And he got his first sunburn, which made me feel horrible, but he made it out alive. Here he is going back and forth from me to the ladder...under and on top of the water.

I'm so proud of my little man! And he was super excited to show off his new skill. Love you Will Will!

Three quarters of a year

It's true, baby Jake just turned 9 months old!!! How is this possible?!??! This is crazy for a couple reasons: my sweet baby boy entered our lives 9 months ago, how has that time gone by so fast?! Didn't I just write his 8 month update like 5 minutes ago? Also, I only have 3 months to get his birthday party together...I gotta get to work!! Oh, if only we could pause moments in time and just hold on to them, squeeze them and love them for a few moments longer than they actually last. Well, we sort of can...with a camera. But mine is broken. :( And our backup is broken. And my phone has been really bajiggity lately, so. I digress, this is all about Jake. Our sweet little Jakie-poo.

• As expected, you're in full crawling mode! You are all over the place and pretty quick too. You started out crawling with your feet tucked under your butt as you moved, but it didn't take long to get that full stride in. Every once in awhile you crawl like Will did- using one foot for leverage.
• Transitioning from prone to sitting- you can't quite do a sit up yet so you usually roll over then transition to your bottom
• You've been pulling up to your knees, especially at the busy zoo
• Then on Father's Day, pulled up on the couch! Now you pull up all over the place- your bed, under the table and on the activity table Maggie got for her first birthday. You haven't started cruising yet, but my guess is it won't be too long. You're growing so fast!!
• You stand on your tip toes sometimes
• Pincer mode is on now, so you've added puffs to your list of finger foods and love them
• I officially have you down to four meals a day- three revolve around everyone else's meals, then an additional milk feeding. Plus snacking plenty :)
• You still love to rock back and forth, it's so cute. Especially now that you're standing with support, it looks like you're dancing. Just precious
• I love your interaction with toys...it's like you're playing with them already. While holding action figures, you'll converse with them and fly them around, it's really sweet. You must be paying attention to big brother. :)

We took these with Daniel's phone and since then I've borrowed a camera from my parents. I was going crazy without one! A whole 3 or 4 days.

Jakers,
Mommy loves you! And boy is your personality coming through...you are a funny little dude. You will hold an item and talk to it, well mostly yell, as if to tell it to do something. Like the other night you found an empty Puffs container (I'm kind of a container hoarder lately) and you moved all around the room with it, kicking it, dropping it, picking it back up all while yelling at it. I'm pretty sure you were saying, "get in my belly!!" You also love to babble and seem to think "mama" communicates all things. It's like the most basic word. Duh. Mama. I love you, sweetums!! I'm so glad God made me your mommy!