A sad day :(

Today was Monica's (she was aka "Gaga" for about a year--Hunter's name for her) last day watching Hunter & Jack. She started watching Hunter in June of 2008 (when he was only about 9 months old). Never did we think we'd all fall in love with her like we did. She has been so amazing to our kids. Having someone so awesome and trustworthy made it possible for me to go to work each day. If I didn't think the kids were in good hands, I would have probably wanted to be a stay at home mommy full-time. I have always trusted that she would take good care of the kids for us. Monica basically potty-trained Hunter for me (I still have the picture she texted me the first time he ever pooped in the potty--of Hunter and the poop), and has just been so wonderful taking them to do tons of fun things (museums, pool, petting farm, park, and much more). We are going to miss her so much. I don't think Hunter really gets it, but I'm sure he will eventually b/c he loves her so much. Monica asked for visitation rights so I sincerely hope she will come visit or even babysit in the future. She got a job at Bank of America in Ann Arbor, so she will still be close....yippee! I cried after she left this afternoon when I think it actually sunk in that she was done caring for our kids three days per week. I calculated that she has spent roughly 3,000 hours with our kids since she started watching them---that is a lot of time! She has played an important role and we are just so appreciative of her. I know our new nanny will be great, but building that trust with someone takes time. It's so crazy for me to think that Monica started watching Hunter when he was younger than Jack...she's been able to see him go from a baby to a big 3 year old little person! She started watching Jack when he was two weeks old (she still came three days while I was on maternity leave).

Hunter & Monica at Jump City in May 2010.


Monica & Jack at the tot splash in June 2010.

Monica, thanks again and we will miss you....but also hope to see you soon!!

udpate:: below are two pics from her last day...so cute!

Two Fish and a Duck

Isn't this the cutest duck you've ever seen !!??!!??

We will be in Florida for Halloween this year so I have been keeping an eye out for something that he won't be sweating in.

Hunter's Nana got him two fish for his birthday. Nick and I aren't too excited, but we're going along with it (we didn't have much choice). We are already arguing about who will clean the bowl each week and both of us are refusing. I'm sure I'll end up doing it and I'm not happy about it--it's just a pain and I can't even keep a plant alive, so I'm not sure how long these fish will last. My only motivation for taking care of them is that I don't want Hunter to be sad if they die and that counts for a lot, but I'm just not convinced we will have them for long. Poor fish.

Hunter's Birthday Party! Lots of pictures...

On Sunday we had a lot of family over (and a few friends) for Hunter's party. We are so fortunate to have so much family in the area! Hunter is one lucky boy to have so many people come celebrate with him :)

Gigi made him a Mickey Mouse cake--thank you Gigi!!

Everyone singingBlowing out his candle
Yummy cake and superman ice cream :)


My dad and my aunt Rhonda. Thanks Rhonda for bringing the popcorn snack and zucchini bread! You are a wonderful great-aunt to Hunter!

Michelle & Alex. Alex's dad, Kris, and I are first cousins. Lots of people...Hunter was opening his gifts in the family room

Hmmmm. The back rubbing train.

Hunter gave Mason a hug to thank him for his trains and puzzle...so cute!

Jackson...he's so adorable! His mommy and I are friends :)

Hunter got a cute polo shirt and sweatervest from Mimi & Hoppy

Hunter got some fun dinosaurs from Uncle Mark

Angela, Mason, and Chris

Connie (my first cousin) and her nephew Tyler. He is about 6 weeks old and this was his first birthday party he got to attend. He's a cutie and looks a lot like his dad, Joe (who is my first cousin).

Michelle with her other son, Luke.

The Couchman Family got Hunter a BIKE! Of course it's a John Deere bike :) We will have lots of fun with this!! Turns out we got him a bike too, but I think we're going to put ours in the basement and save it for Jack. He's got to start practicing...

Happy Birthday Hunter!!

I haven't posted in a few days...we had a busy weekend! I have lots of cute pictures of Jack, pics from the Whitmore Lake festival on Saturday, and Hunter's birthday party on Sunday...I just need to get caught up! Today Hunter turns 3. We had a fun party at the house yesterday. This morning he got to open a few little presents before school. Nick and I went to his school for his birthday ceremony and snack time--he acted up in class with us there, but the teacher said all the kids do that when the parents are around. He went home to hang out with Monica until we get home. We're going out to dinner tonight and have a few more gifts for him. Monica got him a cute outfit and a new really neat puzzle, so thanks Monica.

Thank you to everyone who attended his birthday party too.

We were happy to have you come celebrate with us!!

The birthday boy! He was almost in tears on the way to school saying he still wanted to be 2, not 3...goofball.

Before school this morning. I let him open two presents. One was a Diego Saves the Sea Turtles book and a Melissa & Doug spelling puzzle. I think he ruined this shirt today at school--blue marker all over it! Yesterday blowing out his birthday candle. Gigi make him a Mickey Mouse cake--we appreciate her making it so much and Hunter loved it!!

Two funny things recently from the birthday boy:

1) On the way to school I usually let him eat cheerios from his snack trap. Today I forgot it and he remembered like one minute from school and asked for it. I said, "I'm sorry honey. I forgot it today, but we'll be sure to have it tomorrow". He looked at me totally serious and said "You are a bad mommy!" Thanks buddy.

2) Friday Monica watched the kids and Julie, our new nanny, was there shadowing her. They put him down for a nap, but I was home when he woke up. I went in his room and he looked right at me and started crying HYSTERICALLY. He said "I want Monica and Julie". He was so upset that they were gone (especially Monica) and that I was there. It really hurt my feelings, but at the same time, I'm glad he likes them so much!

Hunter, we love you SO much...and so do so many other people. You are so blessed to have such a loving family and friends. You are an amazing little boy and growing up so fast. You have a great personality and you are constantly making us laugh, while testing our patience at the same time :)

Cheap Thrills

Did you know it's still only a penny to ride Sally the horse at Meijer? One happy boy!

One of those weeks...

Well, I don't have any cute pictures to post today, so I'll have to work on that. It has been one of those weeks. I've been completely overwhelmed lately. I have had tears the last two out of three days and I'm not usually a crier. Uhhhh. My to-do list is a page long. Here is an update of what is going on. Normally I like to keep my posts happy and about the kids, but as I said...it's been one of those weeks.

-Back pain and leg pain. My pain level on a scale from 1 to 10 is a 12. I can hardly sit. I cried the whole way home from work two days ago b/c I'm in so much pain. I am going to the Mayo Clinic two months from today and it can't come soon enough. I hope to get some answers. The pain meds don't even help anymore and that stinks to put it mildly. Mark my words. I bet I will be having another surgery. Out of commission for 6 weeks and no lifting--hmmm, that will be fun with two little ones. Then add two kids and work into the mix and it's just hard to deal with. No one has a clue how much pain I'm in ALL the time. I try to keep it to myself. Nick had a certificate for a free massage and I went on Sunday. Big mistake. I have felt a lot worse and think the low back was irritated by the massage. This also leads to lack of sleep. I have been up between 4:30-5:30am all week b/c I wake up in so much pain and can't go back to sleep. That makes for one unhappy mommy and wife--I need my sleep. I have a follow up appointment at the pain clinic next week so hopefully my doctor there will have some suggestions (I had two injections a few weeks ago--got some relief for a few days, but it's back).

-Nanny situation. I'm so sad our nanny is leaving us. We found someone new and I think she will be great. It's just stressful thinking about having someone new watching the kids when I've been so happy and had that trust with Monica for almost two and a half years now. I am sad that the kids will not get to see Monica after she has spent so much time with them over the past couple of years. She requested visitation rights, so I hope we'll still see her :)

-Hunter starting school. It has been great and he loves it. I can't complain, but the change in schedule takes some getting used to. Taking him to school and dealing with traffic. Stressing about if he will have accidents at school. It sounds silly, but the mornings used to be so laid back--I didn't care when he got dressed or ate breakfast and now we have a time table to deal with.

-Sick kids. Both have had colds. They are pretty much over it now, but Hunter was throwing up, runny noses, coughing, sneezing...YUCK.

-My friend's dad died. We are going to the visitation today. Our husbands were college roommates. Her dad was so nice and such a great dad and grandfather. They were just here for a week visiting and stayed with us for a few days. They had just driven back to Texas and he died a few days later of a sudden heart attack. I am so sad for their whole family and have been thinking about it a lot. It's scary to think that stuff happens...she's my age, has a 4 week old, 3 & 5 year old, and her dad was in good health. My heart just breaks for them and I get so sad thinking about what they must be going through.

-Hunter's birthday. He is turning three next Monday. Have to figure out gifts, ceremony and snack thing they do at his school, and his party on Sunday. I really wanted it to be Saturday, but ended up having to change it. I'm not happy, but Nick insisted. It's Hunter's first pre-school class at church on Sunday, and then with having school the next day, grrrr. I am excited to have his party, but it's a lot of work! I put this upon myself, so I shouldn't complain.

-Not getting along with people. I will leave it at that. People asking me to do things I don't want to do and don't feel comfortable doing and they just don't care. I've had tears and unnecessary stress over it and it's just not worth arguing about, but it's upsetting.

Well, all of this in combination with my real job. I feel at times like I don't have time to go to work. I am done complaining for now. I am so fortunate to have such a great husband...he's so supportive and is a great dad, so thanks Nick :) Tomorrow I am starting MOPS, getting my house cleaned, and hanging out with the kids...it will be a good day! I have a lot to be thankful for too--Nick, healthy kids, a great job, a home I love, and a lot more, so I know it could be worse. I've been wallowing in my own pity for the last few days and it's no fun. Please say some prayers for me in terms of my back pain--I can use all the prayers I can get right now.

***Update. We went to the visitation in Battle Creek this afternoon. On the way back, Nick made a spontaneous decision to stop at Firekeeper's Casino for 20 minutes. That's all the extra time we had to spare to get home on time. I won $110 playing blackjack in about 15 minutes--no joke. I had a quick lucky streak and walked away. Nick won $35. I was so fun...and considering we could have lost $100 each in that amount of time, it was awesome! That made my day end on a more positive note :)

Jack 10 month update

Jack was 10 months old on the 9th of September...I'm a few days late,

but it has been a totally crazy week for many reasons.

I got some great pictures of him last Saturday morning. I feel like not much has changed with him...still no teeth and still not totally crawling. He is still rolling and scooting. He rocks back and forth like he's ready to crawl, but then ends up scooting anyway. He is standing up good when holding onto something. I wonder if he could end up just going straight to walking? He is still super happy and sleeping well. He's had a cold this past week too and I've felt so sorry for him. He has been fussy the last two days, so I'm not sure if maybe he has an ear infection or is getting a tooth. He's pretty smart b/c any time I grab a tissue or washcloth he turns his head as far away from me as possible b/c he hates having his nose wiped. I just LOVE to cuddle with him. He is so content just sitting in my lap watching Hunter act crazy. I am so thankful that he's calm at this time with my back problems. I'm actually dreading him crawling and walking b/c it will be horrible for my back with all the bending and lifting I'll have to do (as in more than I already do)! He is eating more foods too...cheese, soft fruits, breads, cheerios, etc. He loves regular food and actually has a way of begging when he sees us eating so we share with him. Jack will kick his legs when he's happy and it's so cute! He is also loud...he will mimic Hunter by yelling, and just make noise. He says "mama" and "dada" and "baba" (bottle). It's all pretty much unintentional, but I love hearing mama anyway! I can't think of anything else at the moment, but he's just the sweetest thing in the world right now and I wish he would stay this age forever. I am sure he would be crawling by now if I didn't hold him so much. I just can't get enough of him and could just sit and hold him and smell him all day! He has the BEST baby smell ever. (I know, I am crazy in love).

Saturday morning before daddy left for golfing

Aren't those eyelashes amazing!?!?
He just smiles and laughs all the time for no reason--he must think his mommy is funny

He's gotten really good at standing and playing with this toy

In the crawling position rocking back and forth

Being silly with mommy

I was standing behind the couch playing peek-a-boo and he thought it was so funny I love this outfit...I just got it the other day and I think he looks so cute in red and black :)

Our last week in pictures (with a few comments)! It's a long one.

Lots of random pictures from the past week... Saturday morning Nick was golfing in a fundraiser event, so I was on my own with the kids. Jack was napping, so Hunter and I played with his train set. I am the best at setting up cool tracks for him (in comparison to Nick). He goes through phases with this...he didn't like it when I got it for him for his bday last year, but then played with it when Jack was born which was awesome b/c I could feed Jack and this would entertain him for long periods of time.We set this up together and he did a great job playing on his own with it for a while. I'm happy to see him entertaining himself for longer periods of time. I got to clean out and organize our back hall closet, which was a disaster! He found his rain boots and had to wear them the rest of the day on the wrong feet.

On Thursday he got a present for pooping on the potty! He always brings it to the same spot to open it...he does that for Monica too.
The anticipation is so much fun for him...this was some spiderman stickers. They are all $1 presents or his pooping would cost us a small fortune :)

Last Tuesday he rode his tricycle and tipped over twice. He didn't get hurt, but decided it was time to get a bike helmet. I took Jack to Target on Wednesday night and came back with a helmet to surprise Hunter. He loves it (b/c it's Thomas the Train) and I'm going to make him start wearing it from now on when he's riding his bike. I think it's pretty dorky and we never wore them when we were kids, but all the kids wear them now and I guess it's in his best interest for safety (although Nick thinks he should not wear it).
It came with some free knee or elbow pads, so he wanted to wear those for fun.

Wednesday morning before leaving for school. He wasn't feeling good all week so he watched some cartoons in the morning before leaving for school.
One smile for the camera :) I never get enough of this smile.

Relaxing after bath before bedtime...wearing mommy's sunglasses!

Hunter loves his smoothies!

I just love the expression on his face here.

Daddy & Hunter watching cartoons...in the zone

This was from last weekend. Nick and Mike had gone shopping last Saturday for tailgating stuff and they took Chopper along. Mike didn't want Chopper on his lap in the passenger seat, so Chopper ended up in Hunter's carseat and Mike snapped a picture with his cell phone. Too funny!