B is for Brothers and Bath time.

Note: I apologize for the large amount of photo's in this blog post...I couldn't just pick a few to be my favourites - which has me worried about trying to scrapbook this blog post :) 

Now that Ryder is more on the move, Ezra is slowly starting to enjoy the company of his brother.  Although today, I felt like I could add a new job description to be resume - REFEREE!  Ryder so badly wants to be with his brother, while Ezra is still (slowly) learning how to share and "want" to have his brother around.  We as parents are given such daunting tasks when it comes to parenting and I do think that this is one of the largest (although not the greatest) challenges we have faced so far.  It's not only a challenge to get Ezra to "get it", it's also a challenge of our will power....so many times I just want to shout and be like "he just loves you!".  God is definitely teaching me/us patience with our two boys!

I usually do bath time and bedtime routine by myself, as its the time that Steve can finally just "veg" after a busy day at work.  I am starting to realize that life is going to get more interesting when baby girl arrives, so to cut time down by at least 20 minutes, the boys now bath together!  I love watching them interact during bath time.  Ryder loves his brother and Ezra loves to play with him.  Perhaps I should just keep them in the tub all day as well!  The other night, the antics that they were both putting on were to precious not to take pictures of!  Here is a glimpse of our Brothers & Bath time fun!

Just A Cruizin!

It amazes us how fast Ryder figured out how to crawl.  Yes, it did take him until he was 10 months old to even have the desire to do it but now he just cruises along.  It didn't take very long from the point of "worming" to me letting Steve know that we needed to get the baby gates up right away!  Ryder seems to have little fear now that he is mobile.  

Ezra's Message (a tad bit late!)

Hoppy Easter Everybunny!

Mom! Mom! I Want That Bike!

For weeks I had heard that.  Whenever Ezra saw any bike I just knew that's what would be said, and then repeated, and then repeated, and then repeated until I cringed :)   

I had looked at these Strider bikes ever since Ezra was born...I know, I know, you are all thinking....it's missing training wheels and pedals.  The whole purpose of the Strider bike is that they learn balance right away.  Once Ezra is comfortable with "walking", we will teach him to take long strides and put his feet up...voila BALANCE!  Once the balance is mastered than, ideally, we will be able to get a regular bike.  Friends of ours gave them to their nephews and it worked.  

Ezra was super thrilled when his green bike arrived.  He was super anxious for me to put it together and head outside.  In fact, even as I am typing this blog post, he is wanting to go ride his green bike - even in the rain!  I am sure that it is going to come in handy at the lake this summer!

   

Here's a link to the lady that we purchased it from:  Bumps, Babies and Beyond.  

I have actually purchased a ton of stuff from Heather!

Gone Are The Stationary Days!

We had a doctor's appointment the other week...a prenatal appointment for myself, a check up on a few things for Ezra, and Ryder's 10 month check up.  At that appointment, our family doctor agreed with me that Ryder is behind on his motor skills...he's at about 8 months....so our doctor said that he would be referring us to an occupational therapist.  I'm not certain, but I'm pretty sure that's all Ryder needed to hear, because it feels like literally overnight, Ryder went from stationary to worming/army crawling and is getting into everything!  

We were downstairs the other afternoon....Ryder disappeared and wasn't making a sound....I decided to go and check on him.   Apparently, the toilet paper was providing some great entertainment! :) 

And Their Eyes are Open!

We have been checking on the kittens morning and night each day because we lost 2 kittens.  And when there was only 5 to start...2 is a lot (even though we aren't keeping them!)...we talked with our wonderful vet friend and she wasn't sure why 2 had died....so twice a day we make the trip out to make sure that 3 are still hanging in there.  And they are!

We went out on Easter Monday to discover that they finally have their eyes open!  I thought they were cute before....soooo cute now!  

Happy Easter Part 1

We celebrated Easter this year by spending a lot of time together as a family.  It is hard to imagine that this was our last Easter as a family of four...we focused on our boys and spent a lot of time reflecting on our lives.  God has blessed us in so many ways!  

We are off to Bob and Jan's tonight for supper (which I'm sure is going to be delicious!)  

Week 29

Here is week 29 for y 'all.  I'm still feeling great, but definitely getting ready to meet our newest family member!

How to Make a Nightmare a Fun Event!

Soooooooooooooo.....

I have always been very diligent on making sure that every animal creature that is a pet in our home has become an "it".  We don't need little babies adding to our animal farm.  However, two years ago, we got two kittens from my cousins and even though we diligently tried to make it so that they wouldn't be "wild", they became very wild!  Only until recently, have we been able to pet one of the "wild kittens".  Rewind a few months and we had a black cat show up.  We gave him a chance and after witnessing him taking a round out of Spoony (one of our other cats), he went to kitty heaven.  Unfortunetly, not until he made friends with one of our wild kittens :( and unfortunately it was with the one wild kitten that we can't even get close to! (We had our fingers crossed that this wouldn't happen, see we couldn't catch them to have them become "it", so we just hoped for the best!).  

Steve went out to the shop yesterday morning, heard a little squeak and began his search.  After a few minutes and climbing up onto our mezzanine, he came across the very angry wild momma cat with 5 kittens (we originally thought 6-7 but after closer inspection...only 5).  He brought one into the house for the boys to see....

Ezra loved it!  And I am such a sucker for baby kittens.  They are so friggin cute!  Steve laughed and said..."oh look, mommy says that we aren't keeping any, but she sure loves these kittens".  He is correct...but our animal farm, is very quickly becoming a funny farm: 3 big dogs, 3 little dogs, 3 adult cats, 5 kittens, and if Steve has his way, a few goslings this spring as well!  Add to that mixture, come the end of June 3 children under 3.  Steve is going to have to get a better paying job, just buy all the food we will need :) 

Here are some pictures of our little nightmare :)  If you know of anyone that wants a kitten...we will have 5 ready to go in 8 weeks! :) :) :)

Would You Like to Meet Our Daughter?!

Of Course You Would!!!!

Wayyyyy back on February 21, we went for out 21 week ultrasound.  It was one (not the only) but one of the best days of my life.  Nothing like being told...it's a girl!!!! :)  

Here are some pictures of our baby girl.  She is so very active and we can't wait to meet her...just a few more months!