And so it begins...

Stew turns 40 next Wednesday. Jennie and Sean got down here late Wed night to start their vacation, so they came over to our house Thursday evening for supper. Candi sent a sushi gift for Stew to open. Then he got a package from my parents today and a couple cards. We were planning on a night at home since Bode has a friend spending the night. Then completely out of the blue, John Poley walks thru the door! We were so surprised! He flew down for the weekend to help kick off Stew's birthday and no one had any idea he was coming. Such a great surprise and such a great friend! Stew was giddy to have someone to go out with tonight. I think it's going to be a great week!

Bode at 12 weeks

I can't get over how much Boone look like Bode did! I also love this picture of Lani, she looks so little!

12 weeks old

Boone is 12 weeks old this week! I can't believe how much he is growing and changing. He is super smiley and giggly. He is sleeping about 10 hours at night and eating like a champ. He is completely fascinated with Bode and they adore each other. He loves all things water; bath, pool, beach. He is amazing, couldn't ask for a better baby!

Friday night

We are all in our bed watching Night at the Museum 2. I love the weekends!

Work stuff

I took off a couple hours early and came home to an empty house and took a nap! Much needed after Stew and I stayed up late last night contemplating my lastest work...opportunity. We had some budget issues at work and my possition was in jeopardy of being elimiated. I would have had the chance to teach reading in the classroom which would have been fine. I really do like my job working one-on-one with the kids and it gives me a little more flexibility in my schedule, which is really nice right now with Boone's morning routine. Anyway, I had mentioned to my boss that maybe they could make my position 9 months, having my summer off, maybe that would be enough for them to be able to keep my position. It was! So I will be off next summer! Unfortunantly, unlike a public school teacher, it will be unpaid leave. But considering we would be paying for 2 kids in daycare plus gas money for my 25 mile commute (1-way) it really won't be too much different and I get to stay home with the boys and stay in my current job. It actually worked out pretty well. Usually the right situation seems to come our way.

A day at the beach

Went to Siesta Kay today. It is our favorite beach. It was hot and sunny with a little breeze, perfect. Boone did great! He slept for about the first hour in the stroller. Then he woke up and ate and took a little dip at the waters edge. He was so relaxed, he loves the water and it was very warm today. Bode may have stayed all day, he just plays in the waves for hours. Great end to the weekend!

zzz!

Just when you get used to your baby doing something one way, they completely change overnight! Boone is doing so well sleeping, it is awesome. He is sleeping from about 9pm to 6 am which is about perfect for my morning getting to work. Getting a full night sleep again is so great! He lays down awake and within about 5 minutes is sleeping. Up until today he has been napping in his swing, boppy, or on one of our chests. Today he wanted nothing to do with any of it. I could tell he was tired, but just would not go to sleep in any of the ways we were used to. So I laid him down in his crib...and just like at night, he was asleep within 5 minutes! I think Bode was the same way once he started sleeping through the night in his crib too. Good thing because he looks like before too long he will be too big from the swing anyway!

yesterday

today

Bode slept over at a friends last night and took a 4 1/2 hour nap today as well!

5 year physical

Bode had his 5 year physical today. He is 47 inches tall and 48 lbs. He was off the charts for height! He grew 5 inches from last year and gained 5 lbs. His hearing was good, but she did recommend that we have a more thorough eye exam as he scored a little on the low side. Some of the symbols may have confussed him, but we'll probably try to get it checked before Kindergarten starts. Also, we need to get him to a dentist, he's never been!

Oh my heart!

Our birthday boy

That's his baby blanket, he is huge!

Bode turned 5 yesterday, 5! In a way it has gone by so fast, but in another, I can hardly remember our lives without him. Bode is a great kid and I am so proud that I get to be his mom. He has always made me laugh, and always has had a great sense of humor. He has grown up so much this year in preschool. He has learned so many new things and is becoming very indepedent. He has also become a big brother, and I can see Boone learning from him already.
We love you so much buddy!

Happy Birthday Bode!

Yep, that's right 4 cakes, 5 friends, and 6 celebrations! We started celebating Bode's birthday 2 weeks ago, but I think today was the last day. We celebrated in Iowa 3 times, at school, home on his birthday and he had some friends over today for a swimming party. It's great to be 5!

Don't want to jinx it but...

...Boone slept through the night last night! At his 8 week appointment our doctor assured us that because he is at a healthy weight there was no reason why we needed to feed him in the night. So Monday night when he woke up at 3:30, we let him cry for about 20 minutes (which is the most unnatural thing you can do as a mother, not respond to your crying baby) then I walked into his room and he smiled, I knew he was just wanting me. I gave him his pacifier instead of feeding him and he went right back to sleep. Tuesday night he woke up around 3:30 again. We let him cry for about 10 minutes, he wouldn't take the pacifier, so I fed him and he fell asleep after nursing for about 5 minutes. Last night he started crying around 3:30 and by the time I had gone to the bathroom and laid back down he stopped and didn't make another peep until I woke him at 6:30 to eat and get ready for daycare. Hope this is the new routine, because I felt GREAT today after 8 hours of barely uninteruped sleep!

Big day

Back to work, back to school and started daycare. Busy day. It went well. My students and co-workers were glad to have me back. Bode was happy to play with his friends. Boone did great at daycare. They are all in love with him already. It wasn't too hard, just a few tears last night when I was putting him to bed and pulling away this morning (my tears, not his!). But I called and Stew stopped between patients. They probably think we are crazy! The first day is over.

Milestone #678

Well Bode can go to Kindergarten because he can tie his shoes! He has really been working hard for the past couple weeks at it. We've been showing him and he's been practicing. I have tried to kind of let him figure it out on his own because I didn't want him to get frustrated or give up. He was so close this morning. Stew sat with him, showed him, helped him, and he got it! He has been tying and untying them all day.

4th of July

It has pretty much been raining since we've been home : ( However, it did clear up for a bit last night and we had an amazing time! We went to North Port High School, where they had a bunch of inflatables and activities for kids. Bode got to climb up this high web thing that was awesome and got down one of the big slides before the fireworks started.
Oh the fireworks...
There are some things in life that just make you smile, and I have always felt like the absolute biggest kids whenever I watch fireworks. I point and oh and awe and it's pretty silly. Last night it got better. Shareing those moments with your kids make them brand new again. Boone could not take his eyes off the sky, it was unbelieveable. And Bode was absolutly cracking us up. Some of my favorite quotes from him... "I can't even look at these fireworks anymore, they are so beautiful!" Translation, I can't take my eyes OFF these firewoks they are so beautiful. "These are the best fireworks I have ever seen in my whole life!", "Can we do this again tomorrow?" And yes, you guessed it...I forgot the camera.
Hope everyone had a great 4th.

Bedtime

Right before we left for Iowa we had Boone going to bed pretty well. Laying him down after eating, a little sleepy, and he would drift right off. Well a week full of many willing hands to hold him did not allow him going to bed awake much. Last night he was fighting pretty hard, but tonight, it was back to normal.
Bode also spent the week with no naps, up late at night and early in morning. He slept about 12 hours last night, a 2+ hour nap today, and in bed with no arguments at 9 tonight.

Stew slept in this morning and I managed a nap as well. We may actually be rested by the time we report back to work. I think having the weekend at home was a great idea!

...and now to bed!

More fun

The Poleys

John and Stew have been best friends since the 2nd grade. They have had MANY fun times together. They both started dating Melissa and I within a few months of each other and we have become friends as well. Now they both have 2 boys. Landon and Bode are only 5 months apart and even went to the same daycare for awhile. Now Stone and Boone are only 1 month apart (to the day). They are both turning...29 this year and still managed to have 2 sleep overs in 1 week!

Johnson side cousins

"Stewart" cousins