summa time

I absolutely love the summer. I spent endless hours back in the day soaking in the sun at the pool where I was a lifeguard, for 7 years. The sound of the water splashing, the hot cement on your feet, sunglasses, walking into a/c after sitting in the sun, ice water, and a yummy hoagie sandwich with lettuce and tomato. Summer means vacation, family and friends, and yummy bbq and ice cream.

Because I love summer so much I got married outdoors in the middle of the June heat. It was beautiful and I loved every minute. The groomsmen might have thought otherwise in their tuxes..but they lived :)

Sunken Garden
June 14, 2008

Mike and I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary on June 14th. With schedules and family events always going on we weren't able to celebrate til last night. We went out on a much needed date. Ate dinner at Spaghetti Works, walked around the university campus (which we did on our first date) and then slipped inside for some Red Mango. It had been awhile since we had been on a date, just the two of us, and had a chance to talk to each other.

on our date walking around campus

 It was really refreshing. It's amazing how having a newborn takes it out of you! Mike and I were talking about how we both felt like we were just roommates for the last couple weeks. It seems like we go through the day surviving and then get ready for the next day to do it all over again. superficial conversations during dinner while James is saying "mommy, mommy, mommy..."

"what james?"

"read" as he hands me a book to read for the 15th time that day.

And I love it. I'm not complaining at all. James and Eli are the two sweetest boys they are. I couldn't be more thankful for both of them and how easy going they are. It's just parenthood takes a lot of work and so then you have to try and sqeeze in time for our relationship and we haven't done a very good job of that lately. It's amazing though how during the date and our conversations we were able to reconnect, get back on track, and go home recharged and ready to get the boys in bed!

James loves to "share" the playmat while Eli is using it

Such a sweet little face

We also celebrated Father's Day yesterday. We went over to my parent's house and had Famous Dave's BBQ with the entire extended family. We got to celebrate my Dad, Grandpa, 2 uncles,

brother-in-law and Mike. As always, it was a great time and great food. I am so thankful for the time energy and love my dad put in while raising me. He is and has always been there ready to help out in anyway I need. He's so generous and thoughful. It's been a lot of fun to see him love on James and Eli and be the best Papa they could have.

My dad and Eli

I also could not have asked for a better daddy for James and Eli. Mike is such a good example of a godly husband and father to the boys. Mike is always helping me with them or playing with them. It's so fun to watch James copy him already wanting to be just like him.

yes it's sad that this is the most recent picture I have Mike with both boys.
I need to get on that!

2 months old

Eli is two months old! It's hard to believe it's been that long already. It's going so well and he's such a cute baby :) It's amazing how much he's grown in the past month. At his two week appt he was 22 1/4inches and 10lbs. At his 2 month appt he was 25 1/2 inches and 12lbs 9oz! He's finally filling out and getting some chunk to him. Now that he's sleeping better he has been such an easy baby. Taking after his older brother I guess!

Here's what he's been up to:

-Sleeping from 9 or 10pm-2 or 3am and then 3:30-6. The nights have gotten a lot better. At about 6 weeks it all drastically improved. I am still up sometimes for an hour at 2 or 3, but usually it's only about 30 minutes. It seems like his acid reflux (if that's what it was) has improved a lot. He still chokes and spits up sometimes, but it's not near as bad. yeah!

-Takes about 3-4 naps during the day that are still about an hour or two, sometimes 3!

-Has stretched his eating to every three hours so that makes things a little easier

-Wearing size 3 month clothing and size 1 diapers

-cooing and smiling a lot

-tracking objects

-swatting at objects on his play mat

-he still loves to be swaddled and will only take a pacifier for a few minutes as he's falling asleep

I have been doing the laundry basket pictures that I saw on pinterest and I like them to show his size, but he's not a big fan. He's already too long for it and he doesn't like his head up against the hard basket. I have to take a couple really quick because he starts crying. I don't know what I'll do next month if he keeps growing this much! I was so happy I got a smiling one. I took him out of the basket and put him on a blanket on the grass. He (of course) loved being outside to look around while James was busy playing! Of course I'm standing in the lighting as I stand over him to get the picture..oh well!