Crocs

Last weekend, Ty got his first pair of Crocs! I love them because I can just rinse them off if (when) they get dirty. Corey thought they were so cool that he decided to get a larger version for himself. And Ty likes wearing daddy's Crocs too!

I love this kid!

Learning to talk

I love--absolutely love--hearing Ty talk. It's so sweet and pure. I love when he jabbers on and on with his arms flailing and an intense expression on his face (I really do consider this "talking" because he's trying really hard to tell us something). I also love when he really says words! He says lots of words really well and clearly. But there are a few that just make me smile every time. Here are a few:

"monny" = mommy
"noodie" = noodle
"money" = banana
"aweda" = avacado
ga ga" (usually said, "GA GA!!!!!!!!!!!) = crackers
"Yane" = Laine (one of his favorite friends)
"wadee" = water

Weekend with Mimi and Grandpa

Nora and Joe (aka "Mimi" and "Grandpa") visited this past weekend. We had a great time! Ty ate corn on the cob and drank from a straw (both firsts for him!) And, for some reason, I didn't even think to get a picture of either event!

One other first from the weekend is that Drew laughed!!! He has the sweetest, most adorable little laugh! I didn't get a picture of him laughing, but here are a few of him with his Mimi and Gpa...

Drew's baptism

We had Drew baptized today! It was so special, just as it was with Ty, to think of the promises of our covenantal God for us and our children (and our children's children (and so forth) and to make a commitment before the church that we would--with God's grace, help, and wisdom--raise our children in the Lord that they might know and love Him.

I really wanted a great family picture after the big event, but Ty didn't cooperate. He just wanted to be running around--not held and definitely not still. So, the best pictures we have show me bribing Ty with Cheerios and his hands in his mouth (because of the Cheerios). Drew was sound asleep on my shoulder the whole time. But first, here is little Drew (wearing the same outfit Ty came home from the hospital in almost two years ago):

Earthquake in The Lou

I woke up this morning at 4:30 because our bed was shaking. I was so tired and confused. I didn't know what was happening. I kept asking Corey, "What is that?" but he was too tired to answer. It was still shaking! It was crazy. When it stopped, I got up to check on the boys and look outside. In my dazed sleep-state, I really thought for a moment that maybe it was the wind (dumb, I know), but when I looked outside all of the trees were perfectly still. I got back in bed and hesitantly said to Corey, "I think that was an earthquake." I felt kind of ridiculous saying it because who plans on waking up to an earthquake??? Anyway, it was all over the news this morning so I feel better now. And, looking back on it, it was kind of fun! (It was pretty minor...a 5 point something...but it was felt as far away as Chicago and even (I heard on the news) Florida!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

We love you!!!!

Morning at the zoo

We took advantage of the pretty weather this morning and went to the zoo. I have been so anxious to take Ty to the zoo again. We went many times last year but he was kind of too little to really appreciate it. This morning, everything was a dog. I said, "Look at the camels, Ty," and he shouted, "DOGGIE!!!" It was pretty funny. Then, we went to look at the giraffes (also "doggies" this morning) and one came right up to us. (Giraffes have long, triangular tongues...they're kind of gross.) But anyway, Ty loved seeing it up close. Here is a picture of him with a few of his friends...

Laine, Ty, Maia and Peyton (it was too hard to get them all up on the fence at the same time so we settled for this picture! :)

VIP Tour

When your grandpa is a fireman, you can get a VIP tour of the fire station including an up-close look at the trucks and all of their gadgets, and that is exactly what Ty did this past weekend! Ty had his first visit to the fire station with Poppa and loved it! He loved checking everything out, but one of his favorite things was walking up and down the stairs and not having to go backwards down them. Several of the firemen clapped for him when he took his last step down onto the floor, and once he realized he had an audience he wanted to perform his new trick over and over! He also jumped on and off the scale (we think he weighs about 29 pounds), stole a ball off of the pool table (during a game), ran all around, and even got inside a firetruck! He had a great time! Here are a few shots of Ty and Poppa at the station.

cooing

ooooh
ahhhhhh

my high heals

One of Ty's new favorite pastimes is putting on our shoes and walking around. He typically puts on whatever shoes are lying around, which is usually tennis shoes. However, he recently discovered my heals! He loved the loud, clanky noise they made as he walked on the hardwood floors! Corey doesn't just LOVE these pictures (you know, the whole boy in heals thing), but I think they're so cute, and too cute not to share!

Happy THREE MONTH Birthday, Drew!!!

My tiny is three months old today! I can't believe it! In a sense, it feels like I just had him yesterday, but it also feels like he's been a part of our family forever. The words of a song that our friends, the Burns', sing to their kids express my feelings so well: "We got a long without you before we met you, but we can't live without you now!"

In celebration of his first three months, Drew has been all smiles and quite talkative today! He is a sweet little flirt! He spent most of his waking hours today smiling and cooing. I have to say--it's the best! He is more alert than ever, and he loves attention! He just discovered his tongue recently, and I think he spotted his hand the other day. It seemed to catch and hold his attention for several minutes! Let's see...what else? Oh, he doesn't really like being on his tummy when he's awake. He's not a big fan of "tummy time" yet. He loves to suck on his fist in order to comfort himself, and he sucked his thumb for the first time yesterday. It didn't last long. That thumb is so little; I think he lost it. He loves to watch his big brother playing, he spends a lot of time in his bouncy seat (especially while I'm cooking) but rarely complains, and he likes to stare at lights. This makes his daddy nervous, but Ty did it too. I think it's a baby thing.

Three months has also been a marker for Drew sleeping through the night. He slept 6 hours during his second month, but he is officially doing between 7 and 8 now. I'll definitely take that. I can tell that I'm getting more sleep. I feel a little sharper (from a few weeks ago when I tried to put the tupperware back in the pantry with the leftovers in it!).