The Zoo

A couple weeks ago Brian took Max to the zoo for a class.  It was fabulous, but unfortunately when they tried to ride the train afterwards there was lightning and it was shut down just as they were about to board.  I don't think Max has ever been so upset.  So on Sunday we headed back to the zoo with the promise to ride the train TWO times - thank goodness we have a pass (Bev and Karen you are the best!).  The look on Max's face when he saw that train coming was priceless!

 

As always Max was the man with the map.  He let us know anytime a tunnel was approaching.  The zoo employee in front of us was impressed that he was only five.  He called Max 'precocious'.  I'll take that to mean intelligent.

After our second trip around we headed out to see a few animals.  This grizzly bear was pretty darn cute.  The boys thought he was fabulous.  Will asked daddy to pick him up so he could have a better look. 




We saw some monkey's too.  Will thought their pink butts were pretty funny, but I didn't think I should post a picture of that. 

Two Months

 

Can this big boy really be two months old already?  Time flies when you are having fun, not to mention when you are crazy busy chasing three boys around all day.  Jack is doing amazing.  We had his two month check up with Dr. Joe and he looked great - 24 1/2 inches and 14lb 7oz.  He is one big boy!  I guess mommy makes good milk.  He is more and more alert.  He turns too my voice and gives away smiles when I ask for them.  His hands are more open and he loves to grab the collar of my shirt when I nurse.  It melts my heart.  

I think my favorite new development is when we have conversations.  I ooh and aah at him and he smiles and coos back at me.  It is the sweetest sound in the world and I love our little talks.  This is also when I get the biggest and brightest smiles.  I can't wait to see when developments the next two months bring!  It is just so fun to watch him discover the world around him.

Jack absolutly loves his big brothers and they love him too!  There is nothing like seeing Will give Jack a kiss or hear Max ask to hold him.  It is love in its purest form and this momma loves it!

Adventure Day

Max has several toys that drive me crazy, but of course he and Will love them.  These yellow diggers/trucks all have buttons that you can press and they yell out 'Caterpillar Power'.  I think I have heard 'Caterpillar Power' about a million times.  I've tried hiding them, but somehow the boys always seem to find them.  Well on Saturday they got a glimpse of some real Caterpillar Power.  We packed the kids up at 6am and headed to Peoria, IL - home of Caterpillar. 

 There were diggers of all shapes and sizes for hte kids to climb on and try out.  The wheel Max is standing next to is a replica of one of Caterpillar's largest pieces of mining equipment.  It was crazy to see just how huge some of the things were. 

 

Max, and Brian too for that matter, loved the simulators.  You sit in a chair and use the controls to run the equipment. I have to say that running a backhoe is tough work.  I was totally confused by the controls, but Max seemed to do pretty well -until it pinched his finger that is.

 Will had a blast running around from on piece of equipment to another.  I think this giant digger blade was one of his favorites. 

 

After leaving Caterpillar we head to lunch - unfortunately mother nature ruined our plans for a nice picnic on the riverfront so it was Chik-fil-a instead.  We then headed to a strange, but rather neat exhibit called Wheels O Time.  They had all kinds of transportation theme equipment from the past.  Will had a great time driving this little car.  

Max loved the train whistles that are behind the boys in this picture.  Mommy wasn't too crazy about all of the creepy old maniqunis they used. 

Our trip was a huge success and we are looking forward to going on another adventure soon.

Prayers

Every night before bed Max says his prayers.   We also thank God for our day and ask him to watch over all of our family.  Last night he added an extra prayer.  He wanted God to help the sick little boy feel better.  When I asked who was sick, he told me a little boy at Sam's but he didn't know his name. 

After tucking Max in I called Nonna because Max had gone to Sam's with her earlier in the day.  Sure enough there was a little boy in line behind them coughing and he told Max he was sick.  I just love the way Max thinks of others.  He is growing into such a caring individual with a huge heart.  I'm so proud of the person he is becoming.

Congratulations to Aunt Anna

Last weekend - or actually it may have been two weekends ago - we had the honor of celebrating 'Aunt' Anna's college graduation.  We are so incredibly proud of her!  She graduated from Mizzou with the highest of honors with a degree in communications disorders.  Her three little tigers were super excited to help her celebrate, although by the time this picture was take Will was about to crash he was so tired.  In fact he plopped his cute little butt on the sidewalk halfway to the car and refused to go any farther. 

She just started graduate school last week, and we can't wait until she is out there helping kiddos like Max.  Max's speech therapists have been total godsends.  They helped to give our little boy a voice and it has made all the difference in the world.  He is growing into a confident, kind, and vocal little boy and I know that they played a huge hand in that.  I know that Anna will make that same difference in the lives of many little boys and girls down the line. 

Kindergarten Jump Start

On Monday morning I dropped Max off at his elementary school for Kindergarten jump start.  It is a three week program designed to get the kids comfortable with school routines and other kids - I bet it also gives the teachers a bit of help as they make their class lists for the fall.  Brian and I were thrilled to send Max.  We have no reservations about his academic skills, but we do want to give him every opportunity to meet kids before school starts in August.  He can be pretty shy, so having some familiar faces come August 13th will really help him with the Kindergarten transition.

It is day three and it has been a huge success!  He was super excited to ride the bus - in fact he told me that was the best part of his day.  I'm so glad we signed him up!  It also gives me a bit of a break so that I just have the two little boys.  This way Will gets a bit of fun mommy time - not to mention baby Jack time.  He was so excited to hold his baby brother.  I even think they look a bit alike in this picture.  Sweet boys.

The Big Truck Show

Grandma and Grandpa had a great idea for an outing with the boys this past Sunday - the Big Truck Show at Kemp Auto Museum.  I think a better name would have been Little Boy Heaven.  That is exactly what it was for Max and Will.  

 The boys just couldn't get enough.  We went from on vehicle to the next and there was not a single car that we missed. 

 From fire engines, to diggers, to a DeLorean on big tires these boys saw and sat in them all.

 Jack just kinda hung out in his stroller enjoying a nap.  I think the smiles on the boys faces let you know just how much fun they had!

I had to throw in this last picture of Jack.  I feel like it is a much better representation of his cuteness than the two I put in his one month post.  I love this little guy! Oh, and his big brothers too :)