Last Day as 3

June 4, my labor started slow. 

It was a Monday, husband was off and I was working from home. 

As the day went on, we were more sure this was 'it'. 

Husband wanted some last pictures of us, as our little family before #2 joined. 

The three of us that Monday:) 

Abram was very into picture making for once... !

And the final pictures of my belly with boy #2 

A few hours after these pictures, Abram was off to spend time with the neighbors until my parents arrived to take over his care:) 

And we were off the the hospital to welcome our next baby boy! 

Memorial Day Devastation

Under normal circumstances, I'm not posting a memorial day post. 

We might have the day off but nothing worth posting about. 

This year wasn't dramatically different, though we did meet a few friends for a picnic and playtime by the creek. 

They were plopped on the rocks, looking for fish. 

Abram had big hopes for not only spotting a fish but getting one. 

without a fishing pole. 

but simply with Dad's bare hands. 

Can I tell you? Dad did not come through. 

Bad Dad. Sigh. 

My boy was devastated and downright mad at Dad. 

How DARE he not catch a fish in his bare hands?? Seriously. 

See the disappointment on his poor little grubby face?!?!

He could. not. believe. Daddy. didn't. do. it. insert dramatic sad voice here:( 

Sometimes, we just can't give him everything he wants. and it isn't pretty!

Happy 4th Birthday

Warning. Picture Overload!! 

My baby Boy turned FOUR. 4!! 

I cannot believe how quickly its gone. 

and suddenly I'm planning a birthday party for my big boy. inviting lots of his little friends, of which only 1 is a girl!

we picked special party favors out just for miss ava too;) 

This year the boy wanted more than cake/ice cream with his friends. 

he wanted playtime and pizza and more playtime! oh, and cake!

The cake had to include both Mater AND Lightning McQueen!

Thankfully that was an option at Wegman's Bakery. 

I planned his party for the weekend before his actual birthday because I wanted to be sure the party happened and wasn't jilted by me going into labor. Luckily, we made it thru just fine! 

He was worn out after his friends left. A good worn out. 

We did our gifts and zoo trip the next weekend. 

The family day started with his gifts and his favorite breakfast - waffles:)

His 'hot wheels' was a craigslist find - for $3.00 - hello, score! 

And while he loved his 'hot wheels', he had some other faves too - his OWN umbrella and Woody. 

But he was probably most excited to open his very own measuring tape!! 

With all our recent household projects, there's been lots of measuring going on round here and now he can contribute his own measurements.  

"This is 3 3 5 mom. write that down.  3 3 5. okay?" 

After church, we were off to meet friends at the Zoo, our birthday tradition for Abram.  

First up, the petting zoo... 

Silly Time with Friends... 

And his idea of a pose with dad in front of the hippos. or is a that a rhino? 

Our family pic of the day ha. 

And can I say, we worked in an activity every moment of the day.

We even stopped at a fair on the way home, as promised, so the kid could ride the 'super high wheel'. 

In line with Dad, he seriously considered changing his mind, but in the end, he stuck it out and got on:) 

And loved it!! 

 What a birthday celebration it was. Birthday Party, presents, zoo, fair, and all the yummy snacks he wanted to top it off... so much fun and many great memories. 

I can't believe my baby boy is 4. It doesn't seem real. I just realized I need to fill out his kindergarden application by this December. What?!?! Get outta here! 

And thankfully, I made it past both weekends without going into labor - Yah! 

Now with Abram's celebrations under our belt, we're ready to welcome Boy #2 to the family!! 

It's very exciting and we have a care plan in place for Abram when I go into labor so we're just playing the waiting game and enjoying our time as a family of three for a little bit longer... 

And once he comes, I'm really looking forward to spending the summer off and home with both my baby boys!

Mothers Day Coconuts!

Anyone else have a boy who is desperate to drink out of a coconut? 

For days, he's been asking - "Can we get some coconut milk?" 

and

"I really need some coconut milk!!" 

So we hunted at our local grocery. 

I showed him the cans of coconut milk. NO!!! 

I showed him the containers of coconut water. NO!!! 

IN a Coconut!

I'm guessing Jake and the Neverland Pirates do this? 

Not sure but whatever brought this up wasn't going away! 

So after church, we were off to the health food store for a coconut!  

While there was mild disappointment that the coconut was already peeled (without the original shell), it was the ONLY coconut we could locate, so he was willing to make it work. 

This also meant I didn't have to pull out a hammer i think haha... 

After finally cutting a hole in the top, we were ready to go!!

He loved it!

And my sweet boy and me on Mothers Day weekend:-) 

He made me the cutest little handprint flower pot with his own prints and picture! 

He was so excited to have made me his own gift - i love it! I might make a picture to add here later. Its precious!! 

Happy Birthday Daddy...

May is a busy busy month around here. 

It kicks off with our wedding anniversary and hubby's birthday!

The kid was concerned that Dad was not having a party. very concerned! 

But what about Daddy's party?!?!?

So I tried to be more festive including some balloons, cupcakes, and candles! 

we sang and did our own mini-party. 

Abram was also concerned that we only got Dad books and money for his birthday. 

But thats what he wanted I reminded him.... 

Ohhh kkkkk, he said, clearly doubting me! ha

Those scissors somehow made it into both pics haha... 

But our real birthday treat was going out to dinner. a date! just the two of us! 

We only do it once or twice a year, usually for one anothers birthday. 

Abram went to the neighbors for some fun playtime and movie night. 

We went out to dinner at a new spot called The Whip, located in rural Chester County. 

An amazing find of a place!! A casual british pub type place that has lots of local food.

We had great food and concluded our evening with a movie - Hunger Games!

It was our first non-cartoon movie together in over FOUR years. 

While we try to do mostly family activities, we must admit, it was nice to have uninterrupted conversation and see a real adult movie! 

We picked up the kid who was sad to see us i believe - he was in the middle of a spiderman reenactment! 

Next up -- the kid's fourth birthday -- i am not ready to have a 4 yr old:( 

Our Fridays

I could not be more thankful for a job that allows me every Friday off. 

That extra time with my boy is soo wonderful. and soo necessary!

Its mommy/abram day we call it. 

Because now on Mondays, husband is off. 

And that is 'boys day!'

Boys day has only been in operation for about 8 months. 

but mommy/abram day has been happening since I went back to work when we was 5 months old! 

I am still so thankful for it;) 

We sometimes do nothing but lay around the house playing and doing chores together. 

In the warmer months we try to do playdates, go to the park, and go on nature walks. 

With the weather warming, today we went on a walk to pick wildflowers. 

The kid said "they can be for daddy!!" 

So dad came home to a freshly picked bouquet! 

Aren't they pretty? They grow along the road below our house! 

I also ventured into making abram some sidewalk paint. 

Yes making. thank you Pinterest. 

A combo of water, cornstarch, and food coloring. 

While it would wash out of his clothes just fine i feel sure, he still wanted his shirt inside out:) 

It turned out - o.k. Next time I will make the colors darker with more coloring. and also perhaps add less water. The paint was a bit too runny and hard to manage. 

But we had fun with it:) In our Fridays to come, we have more projects and fun things planned. 

Summer Time Fridays are the best:) 

I've been especially cherishing my Fridays with him lately... not many more will it be just the two of us. 

Definitely Bittersweet! 

I can't wait to meet our #2 but am still really treasuring mommy/abram days as well:) 

Easter Time!

Easter Morning Fun -- 

The Easter bunny drops off the kid's basket on the back deck each year:) So its a mad dash for the deck to view the goodies;) 

He was extra excited about his new frisbee and the new kite. 

The frisbee= great. The kite= dud. 

Abram has been saying "why did the Easter Bunny give me a bad kite?" over and over. 

I have no idea honey. No. idea.  

We headed to church for Easter Service.  

My wardrobe is a bit limited being 7 months pregnant - so it was pants for all of us:) 

After Easter brunch out with friends, we came home for our back yard egg hunt. 

So fun! the kid loves it. the hunting, the hiding, counting the eggs, etc. 

He found all the hidden eggs with a few hints here and there... 

We had hidden about 40 plastic eggs! some had treats, some didn't. he shook every single one to 'check for a treat' :-) 

And after finding all we had hidden for him, he did some hiding. then I hid them again. 

We repeated this over. and over. and over. about 12 times. 

I decided I would keep at it with him till he grew tired of it. 

It took awhile haha... but we had a great family day together:) 

Dying Eggs

Bad Mom confession: I've never let Abram dye eggs before... 

Ouch, i know! 

Easter here in SE Pennsylvania is always cold. so we can't do it outside. 

and we used to have carpet in our dining area. our only dining area. 

I just saw visions of dye all over ivory carpet.

Plus, I didn't think he would care much about the activity. 

But this year - I had no excuses. 

our carpet is gone - YEAA!!!!! 

and when i asked if he would like to dye eggs, I got a loud "YESSS!!!"

Soo, since it was still a little chilly out - and our dining table project is still going - 

we used his table! 

I was a bit frustrated with the boiling process. 3 eggs cracked while boiling! 

I boil eggs sometimes and never have this problem - but alas, for our egg dying project, i'm calling my mother in a tizzy wondering what on earth i'm doing wrong! 

Thankfully, only 3 cracked and - we put egg wraps on those to save them:) 

All others were dyed! 

he took great care in checking his eggs for just the right color ... and well - 

He just loved it! I underestimated the fun of egg dying apparently... 

He can't wait to do it again and luckily I did pick up two kits. 

So we can do it all over again sometime very soon:) 

With his finished product!

Tee Ball Time!

It's Tee Ball Time for the kid and the first enrolled activity we've ever signed him up for... 

It's 10 weeks long, only on Saturdays, and finishes just before boy #2 is due... 

So it seemed like perfect timing and meant to be!

plus one of the kid's best buds is on the same team - FUN:) 

His very first day (March!) was COLD. 

and then it also decided to RAIN. 

Cold Rain = not fun and not good pictures either, grrr!

plus a hodgepodge outfit that doesn't match. at all. but was so stinkin' excited!

and do you think he cared it was raining? nope. cold? nope! 

And he took direction so well from the coach. 

almost TOO well, as in his feet seemed to be planted in concrete lol... 

Here he is getting moved to his place in the 'infield'. And once he was placed - he did. not. move. 

there were actually a LOT of tears on day 1. 

Abram didn't get it (i really didn't either!) - "why are kids crying?" he kept asking. 

"They might be nervous..." Dad told him. 

"Nervous??!? huh??" 

Talking to a new teammate... 

They have practice from 9:30 - 10:00. Then a game from 10:00-10:30 every Saturday. 

They each get two turns at bat (two turns meaning two good hits, no matter how many tries). 

He got two good hits right away and loved it! 

and my favorite pic of the day - right after he was done batting, he was so proud of himself and gave us a little wave:) my little cutie pie!!