Mini-Vacation (Part 1)

This past weekend we took a mini-vacation to Northern Michigan. We started out trip at Mackinaw Island. Ryan and I were there 2 years ago. It is actually where Ryan asked me to marry him :)...we were planning on taking an anniversary trip just the 2 of us, however decided that we would rather take Blake with us so we adapted out trip a bit to be "baby friendly"!! We figured that this would probably be our last opportunity to go on a trip as a family of 3!!

I have TONS of pictures of our trip that I would like to get up here on the blog, so I think that I will just post them a few at a time and label them all under our mini-vacation for my reference!

This was taken just after arriving at the island. We took off on Thursday a.m. and drove the 2-3 hours north to catch the ferry over to the island. Blake slept the majority of the way in the car and then was sweet as can be on the (abt. 20 minute) ferry ride. At lunch he was a little bit if a pistol...but nothing TOO bad!!
We kept him occupied with crayons and snacks (or "nacks" as he refers to them as)! Since there are no cars on the island and LOTS of horses...Blake was going crazy at first. He is still slightly obsessed with horsies, so every time a horse and carriage went past the restaurant he neighed like crazy!!

After lunch we took a stroll down the main street on the island. The weather was really nice...cool, but not cold. Much better than the HOT temps we were having. Here is Ryan and Blake in front of one of the inn's.

And Blake and I...that is St. Anne's Catholic Church in the background...

Again, a little better this time, since he is looking. It has been hard to get a good picture of him lately....he won't look at the camera!!

More to come.....

21 Months Old!!

I can’t believe that my baby is 21 months old today. He will be 2 in no time! Sometimes I forget that he is still only 1, and I treat him like a big boy….but at the same time this past 21 months has gone SO fast!!
What has Blake been up to?

-He weighs somewhere around 26 or 27 pounds I think. He is quite tall and slim.
-Still wearing mostly 18 month clothing; however the shirts are getting to short, but the pants are too big around the waist. He is hard to buy for!

-Just bumped up to a size 6 shoe! They seem so big, but the 5’s seemed small.
-had his second real haircut. Sat in the barber chair like a big boy all by himself and didn’t move a muscle!!
-vocabulary is exploding! Talking all of the time now. We can make out most of it…and talking in sort sentences now!! Makes knowing what he wants SO much easier!

-eating is sporadic. Sometimes he is a good eater….and other times he seems to have no appetite at all.
Seems to love school and all of his friends there…however, we do get some reports that he is being aggressive with his classmates. Teachers say that it is just his age (he is one of the older ones in his class of 12-24 month olds now).
-time out seems to work for discipline…he does NOT like to get yelled at!
-reading is the favored past time….he will have us read every single one of his books in one sitting!! Recently got books from the library and you would have thought that it was Christmas morning :)

-still struggling with allergies and stuffy nose. Hopefully he grows out of it!
-loves Mickey Mouse Club House and Wonder Pets

All of thse pictures are from Blake as school over the past month. His teachers have started a web page where the parents can check out what the kids are doing each day....I love it :)

Pregnancy: Week 25

DATE: September 8, 2010

How far along: 24 weeks, 6 days
(I am doing this post a day early because we are leaving for a mini-vacation tomorrow and I won’t be posting!)

Total Weight Gained: 18 pounds …. REALLY popping out now, there have been major changes in the last few weeks

How big is baby: The structures of your baby's spine are beginning to form while the blood vessels of the lungs develop as well. Also, his nostrils are beginning to open. Your baby now has fully formed fingerprints and his bones are continuing to harden. If your baby were delivered now it would have a chance of surviving due to some great advances in medicine. The premature baby could survive in an incubator for few months. Her taste buds are forming, and she may be developing a weakness for sweets. She is about 13 inches long and weighs a pound and a half.

Maternity Clothes: Yes! And I have to admit…I am much more comfortable!

Sleep: really good this week…esp. the past 2 days b/c Blake has slept in til 7:15 and 7:45!

Best Moment of the Week: Ordered the crib, so we can start working on the nursery….actually, we will start working on Blake’s big boy room 1st and when that is complete, we can start on baby girl’s room!

Movement: yes…she is QUITE the mover…always flipping around.

Food Craving: oh just EVERYTHING…I am very hungry…and just could eat and eat (this is NOT a good sign)!!

Food Aversions: meat

Morning Sickness: nope….

Gender: It’s a GIRL!!...

Symptoms: my back is starting to hurt a bit here and there…but that’s a bonus b/c I can talk Ryan into a massage every once in awhile!

What I miss: wearing my “skinny” clothes I guess

What I'm looking forward to: Our mini vacation this weekend…probably our last trip as a family of 3!! Pretty crazy to think about!

I have to say that these pictures are NOT flattering in the least, and I debated even posting any this week (or at least cutting off my head)...but then I figured what the heck...one day I will want to look back on this!! right?!?

Top 2 Tuesday: Fall

I haven't participated in Taylor's Top 2 Tuesday in awhile...but I am going to do it this week since I LOVE fall and I am so excited for it to be here!!

Top 2 favorite things about fall

1. The color's changing.

In Michigan we have the best of all worlds when it comes to seasons, but fall has to be the best!! The colors are great. I have seen a few trees that are already starting to change, but the majority should be starting in the next few weeks here! I can't wait.

I love the crisp air in the morning and the cool breeze! It is so nice to turn the A/C off and open the windows at night.
2. Halloween!
I love everything about Halloween. Halloween was always a big deal in our house growing up. My dad, sister, and I would trick-or-treat like it was our job! Now I get excited about dressing Blake up, even though he doesn't quite get it yet....next year for sure!!

This is my cute little pumpkin from last year!!
I also like to decorate for fall. I have been itching to break out the decorations, and now that Labor Day is here and gone I think that I just might!!

Nasty new habit....

Blake has started a nasty new habit....waking up at the CRACK of dawn! I know I should not complain, because we have been very spoiled in the sleep department...but let me tell you, I am NOT a morning person. Blake just may be turning into one! Ryan leaves for work at about 5:30, so mornings are just me and Blake. We used to sleep until about 7:15 or 7:30...this whole week he has been up at 6:00! UMMMMM, hello Blake...we still have an hour+ to sleep.
BUT, he is ready to GO. He wont lay back down. I show him that it is still dark and quiet and not time to get up...but he pitches a fit! He will just stand in his crib and yell "MAMA" until I come and get him out. And when we are leaving his room, he says "bye-bye night-night"...like is is ALL done with night time! UGHHHH!!

BUT, how could I be mad at an angel face like this?!!? He is just so sweet....although I would prefer not to see this face until after 7 a.m.!!

As you can tell...he is READY for the day....1st thing in the morning!! I wish mama had some of that early morning enthusiasm!

Pregnancy: Week 24

DATE: September 2, 2010

How far along: 24 weeks

Total Weight Gained: 16 pounds

How big is baby: By the end of this week, the baby will be weighing around 2 lbs and will be about 14 inches long.

From thebump.com: Baby's now the size of a papaya! Baby's skin is becoming more opaque as the fat starts to pack on. And, thanks to the formation of small capillaries, her newly thick skin is taking on a fresh pink glow.

Maternity Clothes: Yes! I started wearing some of my maternity pants this week…but still wearing regular shirts (the longer ones)

Sleep: pretty good….but Blake is still getting up at 6:00 a.m. this week, so we are a little tired!!

Best Moment of the Week: Had a dr. appt. on Wednesday. Everything looks good and we are right on target!

Movement: yes…she is QUITE the mover…always flipping around.

Food Craving: oh just EVERYTHING…but still not much meat (if any)

Food Aversions: meat

Morning Sickness: nope….

Gender: It’s a GIRL!!...

Symptoms: none this week…feeling great!

What I miss: hmmmm….wearing some of my “skinny” clothes I guess

What I'm looking forward to: just continuing to feel good…and counting down the weeks! 112 days left!

And one more picture....b/c Blake really doesnt understand why all of the pictures are of me and not him...he stands there and poses for his turn too :)

(dont mind the mis-matched jammies!!)

A day at the park.....

We have a small part across the street from our house, and Blake loves to go there and play on the slides and swing! These are pictures from our visit there last week.

The whole time Blake was swinging he pointed to the swings on each side and said "mama"...and pointed one way, and then "dada" and point at the other swing...SO, of course we just had to swing with him!!

Here's Blake and dada swinging away!!

And then he decided that he was to big for the baby swing and wanted to swing with daddy....sure did make this mama nervous, but he LOVED it.

Two cutest boys I know!!

I LOVE this picture...and I love these boys :)

"weeeeeeeeee dada!"

And now for a couple of trips down the slide....or "side?!" as Blake says over and over!