Kitchen Help

You know, it is hard to find good help these days....and with such great attitudes and smiles on their faces!

When you don't take a nap....

John Paul decided that he didn't want to take a nap this afternoon so by supper, he was exhausted. And of course his parents just watched him nod off rather than just taking the poor boy and putting him to bed. It was quite entertaining though.

Playing House

On Tuesday, John Paul spent much of the morning playing with Jillian and Kylie while Mom had her prenatal appointment. There are only two weeks difference between him and Jillian and they both loved playing with the kitchen--even to the point of babble talking to each other and sort of responding to the other. Pretty amazing what kids can pick up and learn!

Lil' Firecracker!

Well, most of you know this, and I guess I am ready to announce it to the blogging world that we are expecting another baby--July 4th! The due date might be a new thing for most. You see, I found out I was pregnant on January 3rd while Matt was deployed. So I didn't tell anyone for a few weeks until he was able to respond back (via email) that he knew we were going to have another baby. I mean, the Daddy's gotta know!! At that time, the projected due date was September 10th.

Then I started telling people slowly, and I had my first OB appt on Feb. 4th at which I had my first ultrasound. The nurse mid-wife and the doctor both thought I was a little farther along so my due date was moved to July 29th. I still wasn't proclaiming it because I really wanted Matt to be home--it already looked suspicious. HAHA!!

Then Matt returned on March 2nd and on March 5th, I had my 20 week ultrasound only to find out I was more like 23-24 weeks along. New due date (and probably most accurate): July 4th!

Anyway, to share in my surprise when I went in for my February appt. thinking I was only about 9 weeks along and saw these images of the baby:
Now that is a developing baby!!! The first one is a profile picture and the second is from the front. (In reality I was about 19 or 20 weeks along at the time.)

So to compare, here is an ultrasound picture from when I was 9 weeks along with John Paul. Quite a difference, aye?

Baby Steps

These are a few of John Paul's first steps that he took while in North Dakota. He loved playing on the piano too!

Background music provided by: Colleen (on the piano) and Matt (on the harmonica)

Back from North Dakota

We are back!!! And it was a wonderful vacation. Although we didn't get to hang out at the beach and sun ourselves, we did have a vacation where there were at least 4 extra hands and attentions to watch John Paul. Matt and I were able to go and do somethings by ourselves--even go on a date! So this is what it is like to live near family.....

Here are a few highlights from our trip.

Colleen had her wisdom teeth out. This picture is only a few hours after her surgery. She recovered much more quickly than I did!

John Paul loved showing off his adorable personality (and don't worry, he gave them a taste of his not-so-adorable side too.)
John Paul and Daddy made many memories and Matt had a chance to play the guitar as well. I think we might have a budding musician on our hands too.
Time with Grandma and Grandpa was definitely a highlight. Grandma was able to get him to nap and Grandpa got to show him his sheep!
Here is Great-Grandma Pauline. She too loved on John Paul!

We celebrated John Paul's birthday.

And Grandpa and Autie Heather's birthday too.

There are always games to be played when we all get together. This was Cranium Turbo edition--I really liked it too.

Here is Stephen, John Paul's cousin. The two of them had quite a few good times together, especially when JP wasn't crawling into him or swinging cell phones that happened to be in the path of Stephen's head.
And then there is the engaged couple, Elaine and Brian, who have set the big date for February 14, 2009.
Playtime with Uncle Nick. John Paul is just trying to protect his identity.
Then we have the trilling of the tongue picture. That is John Paul's favorite noise and everyone got a kick out of it--except Colleen who has suffered from not being able to trill her whole life. Good News--by the end of our stay, she was able to pick it up from John Paul's repeated drilling and practicing.
The totem pole picture
More fun with Grandpa.
We were all sad to leave, but I think JP was the saddest. Just look at this face.

Vacation

So we had the options of going to boring drab Hawaii or to exotic and exciting North Dakota. Obviously we are going to North Dakota! I won't probably blog while we are away, but I will update when we return after Easter. Don't give up on me!!! ;)

Look what has greeted us!!

Sunday was so nice out that we spent much of the afternoon outdoors. John Paul loved this as he has been cramped in the house because of rain or snow. And then all of the new things to discover outside too--like eating dirt our of the flower pots and picking up rocks. Also these cute yellow flowers are popping up in our yard.

Computer Geek

John Paul Loves the computer. But his parents are strict.

Meanwhile...

It has been SO WONDERFUL having my husband home again! And I just haven't had as much time to blog either--but I am also sharing the computer and today we worked on taxes and filed! Woohoo!! Anyway, here are some pictures of Matt and John Paul. When Matt first returned, JP was never scared, but he wasn't that warm to Matt. Of course, it only took him being home the ENTIRE DAY on Friday to cure the shyness. And it means that I don't have to hold him all of the time either.

OK--SO I HAVE HAD IT!!! I can't get my pictures to upload for the past two nights! Sorry for the delay and I will add the pictures to this post as soon as it lets me. but now, I am off to bed.