New Addition!!

No, I am not pregnant, but I've had a really exciting week! My friend had her baby on Tuesday at 12:55pm. I got to the hospital around 4:15am and she ended up having to have an urgent c-section b/c at the last minute they discovered the baby was breech (long story). It's not my place to tell the story, but I was so happy and honored to be there with them during this experience. It was a miracle to witness this little girl's birth! They named her Alana Marie. I absolutely LOVE the name. They called me yesterday to tell me the middle name was after me--Marie is my given middle name. I am so touched and just appreciate it so much. I won't lie, I feel pretty darn special right now--haha!! They took about 24 hours to choose the name...they had a few in the running, but couldn't decide :) I can't wait to love and spoil this little girl. I will probably live vicariously through them b/c I want a girl so badly and don't know if that will ever happen. They will be great parents and I am just so excited to see this little girl grow. I just want to thank Matt & Jacquelyn so much for allowing me to be a part of their special day. It means the world to me and I'm just so blessed to have a friend like Jacquelyn (and Matt!) I am beyond excited to raise our kids together and make tons of special memories in the future with our growing families!

Before baby arrived...I had a dream last Sunday night that it was a girl by the way!

Holding Baby Alana a few hours after she made her entrance into the world! She is perfect!!! I love her dark hair. She was making adorable faces, looking around, and just amazing. She was about the same size as Hunter at birth and it's so hard to remember that Hunter was that tiny. Please excuse my shiny face and tired eyes...I was up at 3am, no shower, and very tired.

I feel like I'm "Aunt Jenny" to her already. Hopefully that is ok with her parents. We call her "Aunt Jacquelyn" anyway, so I'm sure it will be ok!

Sleep and more sleep

I am seriously wondering if Hunter is starting to sleepwalk. On Sunday afternoon everyone was sleeping, besides me, as usual. I was lying on the floor in the family room doing stretches and waiting for the kids to wake up. All of the sudden I heard Hunter in his room taking off his diaper. Then he came out, walked down to me and said "why are you on my frog chair?" so I moved over and let him lay down. He had this really strange look on his face and wasn't really talking, so I just sat next to him watching him to see what he was going to do. He was just staring off into space with his eyes half shut. All of the sudden he fell back asleep like this (see below)! I have no clue why he would have taken off his diaper--he's NEVER done that before. Then, that same night, he came into our room around 1am and said, "I need a drink of water". Usually he will get the cup by my sink, use the bathtub water since he can't reach our sink, get a drink, leave the cup by the tub, and go back to bed...I was awake listening to him and just heard him wandering around the bathroom in the dark. I finally got up and said to get back to bed. The next morning, I realized he never got a drink...I think he was totally out of it. Weird huh?I love him sprawled over the chair with hands down pants...too funny.

He is a cute innocent child when he's asleep

He woke up for a minute and moved around...He was impossible to wake up later too. Jack came down yelling at him, Chopper running around, us trying to discreetly wake him so we could go to the lake, nothing...I eventually had to rub his back and get him moving.

Nick loves to nap on the weekends when the kids nap...reading his paper and watching the Tiger's. I sure wish he would do some chores every once in a while with me!

July 4th Weekend--Part 4 (last part)

Ok, finally, here are the last of the 4th of July weekend pictures. I need to get this done b/c lots of funny pictures from this past weekend...

I love this picture of my and my cutie on July 4th :)

This might be one of my new favorite family pics!

Our boat driver...interesting huh?Nick and Gigi

Hunter refused to get in this pictureI made about 50 water balloons at home while the kids napped. My fingers hurt from tying them all and getting them on and off the faucet. We had fun with them...Hunter especially.

Hunter and Aunt Emily tubing...they did great and Hunter was a crazy kid out there on the tube. Too bad the pontoon boat doesn't go very fast.
I was worried they were going to fall off b/c they were acting silly

July 4th Weekend Pictures Part 3

On Monday, July 4th, we went to a parade in downtown Northville. Nick heard they were going to have a flash mob thing so he wanted to go to this parade instead of the Ann Arbor one, which we've gone to the past few years. The flash mob was ok, not too impressive. We walked around for a bit, watched the dance, and then found our seats for the parade. We sat next to a family with 8 and 9 year old boys, so Hunter had fun playing with them. They were super nice and were sharing their candy with Hunter since they were much faster than Hunter at grabbing it. We were near the end of the parade, so we didn't get much candy :( Jack was content with a sucker in his mouth--he would take so long to eat it that the stick would get super soggy and gross.

I bought the kids matching shorts and tee-shirts for the 4th of July. I just LOVE dressing them up in matching outfits. I plan to do this until they flat out refuse.

Jack was not interested in sitting next to Hunter. When I tell Hunter to put his arm around Jack he practically chokes him.

At the Northville parade...

This was my favorite float...they were real people in the uniforms.

Hunter loved seeing Batman :)

Lots of old cars...

We stood up to applaud the men who serve our country. I often think about the sacrifices they make, along with their families. It would be so hard to be the wife of a military man. I have a client who lost her son back in the fall over in Afghanistan and another client who has a 19 year old son there now. My heart breaks for these moms as I could not imagine losing my son at age 19 or 20.

All kids love the fire trucks!

We walked around this fountain before the parade...Jack was trying to keep up with Hunter.

Action shot! I was waiting for him to fall in :)

Trying to get a picture with our two boys...unsuccessful. The family next to us were super nice. Hunter and the 8 year old were playing tag and wrestling.

July 4th Weekend Pictures Part 2

Sunday B.N. (before naptime)--We went to Costco in the morning to get several groceries...our usual Sunday ritual. Then we went to the pool at the club for lunch. Hunter actually walked out on the diving board, but wouldn't jump in. Jack wasn't interested in swimming, so we sat in a chair and hung out watching the other kids in the pool. Again, no pictures from the pool b/c it's just too hard.

Sunday A.N. (after naptime)--We went to the lake. My parents, Emily, and Gigi were out too. We went on a boat ride and grilled for dinner. The kids were pretty wild, Nick burned his finger on the grill badly, so we went home after dinner...it was just a little crazy. I felt badly that my mom had to do most of the prep and clean up for dinner--Emily had left, Nick helped to grill, and I watched the kids--I am no help when I have to chase after the kids.

Jack and Grandpa driving the pontoon boat

Jack ate tons of watermelon and got it all over his face

We had squirt guns on the boat which helps to keep Hunter and Jack entertained.

Jack and Gigi. I love the mowhawk! He's a pretty cool 1 year old if you ask me :)

Today Hunter has his first swim lesson...we are doing private lessons b/c he needs the one on one attention. He did SO WELL. I dropped him off and went to hide and spy on him with Jack. He was kicking, floating (with Miss Amanda's help), and blowing bubbles. I was so proud. I was worried it could be a disaster (like karate), but it went so well. On the way out to the car he said, "Did God make Miss Amanda?" I said, "Yes, why?" and he said "B/c I love her!" I said, "Wow you love her after just knowing her for 30 minutes?" and he said yes! haha.

July 4th Weekend Pictures Part 1

I called this our "staycation" weekend b/c we didn't go up north and just did fun things around our house.

Saturday B.N. (before naptime)--We got up and went to Meijer before heading to Rolling Hills water park.

I love that riding Sandy the horse is still only a penny!

Jack rode today too and Hunter rode Sandy's head.

We got some fun things...goggles for Hunter and a tube for Jack at the pool. Testing out his goggles on the way to the water park.
We got sparklers and those pop-its thingys...we brought them to the lake Sunday and Monday. Hunter had a good time with both!
I also picked up some water balloons. Since I have nothing better to do (insert sarcasm) when the kids are napping, I filled up about 30 of them for the lake on Monday. We had fun throwing them at each other and Hunter laughed hysterically when he smashed one over grandpa's head.

Nick bought this...it didn't work well at all. Thank goodness I had nothing to do with it b/c God only knows the heck I would have caught for spending $14.99 on this junk. I did not say a word except, "Lets think about how you would have reacted if I would have bought this!" Enough said.
Checking it out, but no interest. Hunter and Daddy went down a few times. Hunter doesn't quite get that you have to run FAST and dive to get going down the slide. My cutie pie hanging out watching Hunter on the slip and slide.
Saturday A.N. (after naptime)--Nick and Hunter went to see Cars 2. My original plan was to get a sitter for Jack, so Nick and I could take Hunter, but I never got organized enough to arrange something. I stayed home with this fussy guy and then met Gigi for dinner in Brighton. He woke up from his nap CRYING and CRYING. There was nothing I could do. I finally said, "lets go watch Elmo in the car" and that made him happy...so we headed to pick Gigi up. I almost cancelled on her, but he was fine after we were in the car. We went to Red Robin and had fun!! Gigi always love to see Jack, so I am always happy to make her happy :)

Trying to calm Jack down before we left. I even resorted to Mickey Mouse and a Jelly Belly...I was desperate!!

Friday night at Buhr Park. We went to Little Caesars for a $5 pizza and took it to the pool. The line for pizza was out the door. I think that was the first time I've had their pizza and probably my last b/c it did not agree with my stomach. We had fun at the pool Friday night. Why is it that all kids love to sit on the water to practically give themselves an enema? Jack discovered this and it kept him entertained for a half hour.

I'm bummed that I didn't take pictures at Rolling Hills b/c we had a lot of fun. Jack and I had a great time on the lazy river. Both kids went down water slides and checkd out the wave pool. It's just too hard to take pictures and chase after these two wild boys.

More pictures from Sunday and Monday coming soon :)