We're in the Lou...

We headed down to St. Louis last weekend, taking full advantage of me not working at school this year and Christian's work having the flexibility of working off site.  We haven't seen my parents since Kari's wedding back at the beginning of July, and knowing how quickly babies change and grow, I thought it would be best to get down and see them before too much more time passed.

It was a great weekend and we enjoyed the summer like temperatures by heading outside for as much as we could.  Friday ended with some sidewalk chalk drawing.  Christian is quite the artist, and Micah has been getting a kick out of seeing the different characters Daddy can draw.  Ew-Ah (aka, Curious George) was the current work of art.

 

Micah being his goofy, usual self.  Quite the ham sometimes, I tell ya! 

 

The boys took their first bath together with the help of Nana Kay holding Reid.  Micah was a little resistant at first but then after he realized he could "help" wash Reid he was all in.  :)  Soon enough, these boys will be best buds in the tub, I'm sure!  

 

 Saturday morning we met up with my brother Mike and his wife Deanna and their son Luke.  Although Christian is a die hard fan of the St. Louis zoo, we wanted to check out some other favorite past times in St. Louis, and Deanna came up with Grant's Farm.  What a great place!  You're able to take a train out to the farm, and then there are lots of interactive activities for the kids.  Micah wasn't in the best of moods, unfortunately, but he had fun regardless.

 

Reid and Luke becoming reacquainted, while Micah looks on as the oldest cousin. 

 

Something pretty sexy about Daddy's pushing strollers :) 

 

Riding the train out to the farm.

 

Micah and Christian feeding the goats.

 

Micah and Christian feeding the Llamas.  Micah really had a blast doing this one!

 

Luke offering up his pumpkin bread to the camel.  What a nice gesture!  

 

Reid deciding he'd had enough...no matter facing forward or inward, he can sleep when it's absolutely necessary...a blessing while out and about!   

Sunday consisted of church and football, with family through and through.  Mike and Deanna made their way out to my parents house for some extra company time, and I'm so glad they did.  We were able to hang out with Luke just a little more, and they did the same with Micah and Reid.  I love that the boys are so close together and will be able to hang out as they get older.  Luke and Reid will even be in the same grade in school, as Luke is just about 5.5 months older.

 

I love the next sequence of pictures!  Nana Kay, Papa C and their grandsons.  Maybe one day there will be a girl to challenge all these boys, but if not there will be some exciting wrestling matches to be had at family gatherings ;) 

 

Again, Micah hamming it up...silly boy!

 

 

Aww, so cute of these two boys.  They even have similar facial expressions! Sweet cousins.

What a great weekend that came to a close too soon.  The boys will get a little more Nana Kay and Papa C time in just 3 weeks, as they will be watching the boys overnight while I go and run marathon #17 in Des Moines, Iowa.  Crazy, I know, but I'm actually highly looking forward to a 4.5 hour car ride with my love and no boys to steal our attention.  I love, love, love my boys - but 24 hours away with Christian, even with the purpose being to run 26.2 miles, might be just what the doctor ordered :) Thanks in advance, parents!

Kuipers Pumpkin Patch

Christian took a much needed comp day yesterday from work, and we made sure to take advantage.  Not too hard, of course, because he really has been burning the candle at both ends with work and family (and I have been burning the candle in the middle, so put us together and we're just a bit tired these days!).  It was such a gorgeous day, however, and we really wanted to do something outdoors.  We decided to hit up Kuipers Pumpkin Farm, and we're so glad we did.  Micah loved all the activities that were there, and we enjoyed watching him. 

 

Micah running around on the jumping pillow - he was loving it - that is until the "big" people came and started jumping...then we moved on to the big slide.

 

 Proof that Reid was, in fact, at this outing as well!

 

 

This stuff is so cool Daddy.  Corn, like a sand box?  Yes, please!

 

Whoa, a tractor too?  Look how big I am here! 

 

 

Yummy Apple Cider Donuts!

 

I love how I'm smiling at the camera, Reid is pulling Micah's hair (and clearly enjoying it) and Micah is goofing around with the wagon handle.  A taste of family pictures in the future, I think :)

 

Sweet picture of Micah and Christian!

5 months here we come.

 

Am I supposed to sit up, like Mickey?

 

How about grabbing his foot?  Is this okay?

 

Oh, no?  Grabbing my foot instead?

 

Wow, a wardrobe change and all...sure, that's good for a laugh.

 

Okay, enough of the poses, I'm hungry!

 

But this foot is calling my name.

 

Oh, and so is this one.

 

Okay, enough of Mickey...just check me out :)

Oh, there are just too many pictures to choose from, as you can tell!  Reid is getting to be such a big boy and we are already making note of his 5 month.  It's crazy how fast time goes.  Each month that rolls around, I find myself reminiscing on Micah's monthly post as well.  And although I was looking at his 5th month post today, I was quickly brought back to reality with my almost 28 month old...I just can't believe he's getting so big.  And by "he's" I mean both Micah and Reid!

We headed out to the doctor today for a few shots (no official doctor visit) but I was about to get his weight - coming in at 16 pounds, right in the 50%. 

Things to remember this month:

• how you started rolling both ways
• how you love time in your exersaucer and have started also loving the jumparoo
• how you grunt really loud when eating your toys, and it's hard for me to tell if you're hurting yourself, frustrated or just enjoying yourself
• how you have started putting yourself to sleep without Momma's (or Daddy's) help...and although that means crying sometimes, you are figuring it out
• how much you love looking at your hand, Mommy's hand, Daddy's hand...basically any hand that comes across your face
• how you get a death grip on any hand in your grasp (in a good way, of course!)
• how you love grabbing faces
• how you have begun taking interest in your foot...even putting it in your mouth at least one time, to my knowledge
• how your face just lights up when your Mom or Dad walk in the room
• how your face also lights up when your big brother is dancing all around you and giving you lots of attention
• how you are getting really close to sitting up
• how much you smile and giggle...you are ticklish, and super expressive, bringing us much joy!

We love you sweet Reid!  Stop growing up so fast... but thank you for providing us such happiness in our family.

Sun is sleeping...

Moon's awake!

These are the latest phrases we hear coming out of Micah's mouth.  It's amazing to watch a toddler's imagination start to grow and Micah has been fascinating this summer.  Back on our Labor Day trip to Glen Arbor, Christian and Micah enjoyed smores by a campfire and watching the sun set, and this is where Micah learned all about the moon and starts.

Then this past weekend we traveled to St.Louis to visit my family down there, and were in the car past the boys bedtimes both on the way down and back.  I realized how sheltered Micah really is, as he's never up past the sun setting (except for that one night in Glen Arbor) and he was enamored with the darkness that came and the lights that ensued.  He just couldn't get over the many, many cars with their lights, the billboards that lit up, the lights on the road, the gas stations and restaurants with their pretty colors.  It was just the sweetest thing to watch his little brain processing.

He also, this past weekend, figured out how to climb out of his pack-n-play.  Christian and I had put our boys to bed, were downstairs and all of a sudden the hall light was on.  Christian turns around, says Kelly?  Micah???  Yep.  Sure enough, Micah had climbed out of this bed, opened the door, come down the stairs and turned the lights on.  Oh man.  Let the real parenting begin:)  We took him back upstairs, told him he to stay in his bed, and shut the door again.  I sat at the top of the stairs waiting...and sure enough, 2 minutes later, door opens with Micah standing there.  "Me go poop-poops."  Micah, you didn't go poop-poops.  "No, me go peep-peeps.  Change diaper.  Me lay down riiight here."  Okay buddy.  (To his credit, he was very wet for having just put on a new diaper.)  Back in the crib, and thankfully he was down for the count.  I just figured we were not going to have this battle of climbing out of the crib since Micah is almost 28 months and hadn't done it.  Boy, was I wrong.  Thankfully a big boy bed was in the agenda for October...and it seems like we were right on track with that one!

I truly love my Micah baby so much.  Although he's long gone being a baby, he'll always be my baby.  He is really testing Christian and I...exerting his free, stubborn, strong will...and that combined with being a 2 year old...there are some days we are both spent.  It's hard for me to discern the behaviors that are occurring because he's 2 vs. strong willed, and I know time will tell for that.  Christian and I are constantly asking for wisdom, as directed in James, trusting that the Lord will guide us in this amazing parenting journey.  We are doing our best to stay consistent, trusting that Micah will indeed learn that we are the parents, and it's his role to listen and obey.  Through these trials we face, however, my love for him never wavers...and I know that is how the Lord feels for us.  He's always there, always with open arms and regardless of our stubborn, strong willed, independent behaviors, he's there.  If only we would trust Him in the first place instead of constantly relying on "me do it."   Ahh, the never ending illustrations/parallels of parenting and God's love for us.

So, maybe I digressed from the title of this post...but as the sun is now sleeping as well as my two boys, I look at their peaceful bodies rising and falling with each breath and thank the Lord for the little miracles of life and joy He has given us.  Each day brings a new set of emotions but the overwhelming wave of happiness and love is what I cling to.  Oh, before I forget, one more Micah moment.  I pulled out of the driveway last night for a much needed girls night, and he stands on the balcony and shouts out "I lub you Mommy."  Insert heart melt here.  It was actually the first time he's ever said it unprompted and without repeating it after I have said it to him.  It was almost enough to keep me home from girls night.  Almost :)

I close with the below picture.  He might bring me challenges and test me daily, but it's his job...and it's my job to continue to set those boundaries in place to provide a place of safety.   Look at that picture though...it's impossible not to love a kiddo that has that much joy (going head first down a slide, no less!) 

Date Night

It counts, even if it's at a wedding, right?