It's Been A Long Time...

Palm Sunday our church had their annual Egg Hunt. The boys were very excited to get their first egg hunt underway and had no interest in pictures for mommy.

A family pic on the lawn. I had the best Sunday teaching Hunter's class that morning. Being Palm Sunday, we of course covered Jesus' triumphal entry, but the most precious part was taking the class into the sanctuary waving their palm leaves. We got to sit at the front of the sanctuary and hear the story. The kids were so precious.

Easter weekend we split between Waco and San Antonio. On Saturday, we were in Waco and got to go to Ridgewood CC's Easter celebration. This year, they had a camel to ride. Guess who rode that camel? Me and the boys! Her name was Coco Chanel and like me, she was expecting. Poor Coco- that's a rough job for a mama-to-be!!

Blake and the "Easter Bunny." Hunter refused to take his picture with the bunny, and I cannot say I blame him. It's a little creepy.

Blake totally got the concept of picking up eggs and putting them into his basket. He even figured out how to shake them to see what was inside. Smart boy!

Making our way around. The boys were mesmerized by this animal. No one said a word the entire time we were riding.

As usual, Hunter had a blast with David and Ryan.

Back in SA, we went to church and then came and had Easter lunch at my parents' house. It was a wonderful day and the boys had a great time. Hunter made the neatest thing at school- a Resurrection Box. Inside, it had 10 little items that symbolized something important about the story of Jesus' death and resurrection. Hunter was able to take each one out and explain that part of the story to me. It was so incredible to hear him and know that he understood the story.

The boys were eager to get out the door the morning we went to the Dinosaur Exhibit at the Witte Museum. I grabbed my camera just in time to see this act of brotherly love- or probably more like, "Hurry up and get in the car so we can go see the dinosaurs!" We had a great time and both boys loved it!

Blake LOVES to be read to. His favorite books are.... Goodnight Moon, Big Book of Trucks, Big Book of Animals, Pat the Bunny, Moo Baa La, La, La.... I found him in the rocker the other day just reading away. So cute!

We spent a weekend at the lake "working" to get things ready for the summer. The boys worked hard out in the yard and mom and I cleaned like crazy. We got lots checked off the list chore-wise. Of course, we did manage to fit in some fun while we were there. No weekend at the lake is complete without being smashed into a stiff life jacket and taken on a boat ride.


Then, as luck would have it, the bluebonnets were beautiful all around the lake house. So before we left, I insisted on snapping a couple of the boys in the flowers. They were not in the outfits I would have wanted had I had the choice, but they turned out pretty good for being a last minute thing.


Fiesta was a busy week around here. Chris and I had several nights in a row of events. One that we really enjoyed was Town Club. The theme this year was Roaring 20's, so I was a pregnant flapper. We had a great time!

More later....

Birthdays...mud pies...and Baby Boo growing in size

We celebrated Chris' 31st birthday on Friday. It was very low-key and just the 4 of us. When he got home from a round of golf, we sent him on his birthday scavenger hunt around the house. Hunter was a great helper and pointed out several of the hiding spots and treats that awaited him along the way. The most fun was the last place he had to look- our shower. Hunter was waiting there with silly string and cascarones to make a royal mess. Chris pulled his white golf shirt off just in time for the silly string to fly. Blake got in on the action too and didn't quite understand what was showering down on his head.

Oh, did I forget to mention that we had background music provided for our listening entertainment. Blake and the harmonica are a great pair!

Hunter and Daddy sharing a laugh over one of the silly cards we picked out. I let Hunter pick his own card this year and he insisted on a musical card that had a big beer belly gut on the front. Lovely!

"Don't mind if I do Dad!"

"What is all this mess about?"


On Saturday, we had a beautiful and very warm day. We spent the majority of it outside and after a quick hosing of the porch and the porch furniture, there was a very good size puddle, mud and all, on the front walk. It was too hard to resist! I let the boys splash around and get completely covered in the muck. They had the BEST time. Chris and I just sat in the grass watching them have the best time. What a fun memory!


Hunter calls this move his "rad move."


We still need to talk over names for this baby. We decided it would be best to call it by a nickname for the time being to help us really feel attached. It's harder to identify with this little person not knowing what he or she is. I hope that's not a terrible thing to say. So, here are some of the past belly shots of Baby Boo.
This is late February- so I think I was 19 weeks along here.

This is at nearly 25 weeks. Baby Boo is growing fast!

Once upon a time....

....in a city called San Antonio, lived two of the cutest little boys you have ever seen. Their mommy did not blog often enough to record their fun memories, so she finally had to sit down and tell it like a story for everyone to see what fun things they had been up to.

Back in the month of February, they traveled a short and very "worth it" distance to the city of New Braunfels to play at the NB Children's Museum. Boy oh boy did they have a great time! Their very best friends, Kate and Luke, came along for the adventure. They also met their new friend, Rhett, while they were there.
Hunter enjoyed playing in the camping area and kayaking to Nowhere Land on the carpet river. :)

Blake, a water maniac, loved the outdoor water tables and even though he couldn't quite reach to get into too much trouble, he was in heaven.

Blake and Luke, both 15 months old, shared their shopping duties in the grocery store.

My little doctor in training.

And this was the end result of a fine day at the Children's Museum. Sweet victory!

Then, to cap off a month of rodeo in San Antonio, Cowboy Kevin visited Hunter's school and did some really impressive rope tricks. Hunter was mesmorized by his cool tricks.

We ended the month of February with a trip up 35 once again. This time it was to Waco to see the Jones crew. The boys had a great time as they always do. There was lots of fun to be had.


To get March rolling, we took a morning train ride through the park.

So then things got really exciting around here. We had a notice in the mail a couple of weeks ago that our street was slated to be repaved. Well, boy were we excited when the tractors, scrapers, sweepers and dump trucks descended upon our street. It was a sight to see. The boys loved the action and we spent a good morning out front in the grass, eating snack and watching the "workin' men" as Hunter calls them.

They thought it was big time entertainment for sure!!

In honor of Daddy's 31st birthday, we went out to dinner last night with the Stouffer family. Mommy took the opportunity of two clean and tidy boys to take some pictures out front. Here is my handsome four year old...

...and my precious and looking quite chub one year old.

Nothing better than brothers!

The two sets of matching boys at dinner. Hunter and Blake were intentionally matching, but Dad and Uncle Blake were not. So funny!

We have wonderful and impecable manners at restaurants...

...can't you tell??


So that brings you up to date with just a few things left out. Those will have to get addressed in other story from the Jones family. And they lived happily ever after. The END.

It's a....

....healthy baby! We had our 20 week ultrasound this morning. It was so exciting to see the baby on the screen moving and opening it's little mouth. The baby seemed to enjoy having their hands up by their face. It was cute to watch. Several times during our ultrasound, he/she yawned really big and we could see their tongue.

Here is Baby Jonesie's little profile. So cute and I think he/she looks like their daddy. Cutie pie!

The "sonographer" (not sure if that is her official title or not) is so sweet. Hazel showed us to her little room and got us set up. She is the same person who did the sonogram on Blake only a little less than 2 years ago. She truly is the sweetest lady.

We told her that we were hoping to keep the gender a surprise and if she could just give us a heads up to turn away we would happily do so. So, we got settled and first and foremost we saw a little heart beating away. She made way through her checklist of things to look at and as she moved I just relaxed more and more as we saw what a healthy little baby we had. Such a huge blessing and answer to prayer!

At one point, I mentioned to Hazel to let us know when she was heading down "that way" and we wouldn't look. Her response to me...."Oh, I already know." What?? I couldn't believe that I hadn't caught a glimpse of anything. I had pegged it on both boys before the sonographer had to say a word. I had myself convinced I was very good at seeing the gender. Apparently not! She must have seen the parts when I didn't even know what I was looking at. Sometimes it's like that in a sonogram- the angles and areas she is able to pick up are so hard to tell. I just figured a gender shot would be really obvious. For all I know, the baby could have been spread eagle and I missed it.

Point is, WE STAYED STRONG! I cannot believe it to tell the truth. This is SO against my personality in every single way, but it's going to be fun. Keeping the mystery going is going to be interesting for sure.

We will have to get on the ball and start really coming up with names. Pray that Chris feels as strong of a bond this time around as the last 2. For him, it has been important to find out each time and it seems to really connect with him when he knows a person to "get to know." If that makes sense at all. I know he will enjoy the thrill of the moment when we get to it, but I want him to enjoy the anticipation too. Talk about against personalities- this is compltely off his norm.
A little foot and then below an arm and a foot.

Baby Jonesie's face with mouth open from the side view and another view from the front. Baby liked to open his/her mouth alot!

15 months

Blake,
You are officially 15 months old. At your appt today, you weighed 22 lbs 5 oz. That's about the 20th percentile. You are 30 1/2 inches long and that is 25th percentile. Your head continues to be on the large side little guy at that 80th percentile. My cute little melon head!

You are walking more and more and have this Frankenstein-ish toddle with your hands out stretched. You fall down lots and either decide to crawl because it's easier or get up and walk because you have a crowd cheering you on.

Appetite wise, you are eating all and everything. You have grown so much since you turned one and rarely snub anything we give to you.

You communicate via pointing mostly and jibber jabber. Sometimes you say da da for daddy but never ma ma. We will have to talk about that. You still LOVE your pacifier which we call your pop pop and you also love your night-night blankie. It's with you most of the time.

You love to play with Hunter. You all have the best time and he's a great sport to play with you as much as he does. You all love to pull out toys together and make a grand 'ol mess, but it's ok because I love to watch you all laugh and pretend together.

Bathtime is still one of your all-time faves. You splash like no one I have ever known. The entire bathroom floor is wet and whoever is the "spotter" sitting on the outside is covered from head to toe. You just love, love, love to splash.

We started Little Gym a couple of weeks ago. You love going and are often the "example" because you are not afraid to try anything. You love going upside down and doing forward rolls. You don't love hanging on the bars much though. The balls and bubbles at the end get you to giggle, so I love that.

A funny thing you are doing these days to express your frustration is that you sit on the ground, lean over and tap your head on the floor. It's like your way of saying, "See what you made me do. I am so mad!" It's hilarious to watch and we all kind of laugh when you do this. It can happen when I take you out of your highchair for throwing food on the floor (ahem), pull you away from something that is not a toy, tell you "no" about something.... Basically, whenever you are inconvenienced in the slightest.

You have 6 teeth, wear size 3 diapers, nap usually 2 times a day, sleep 7 at night to 7 in the morning and have the most fun personality. I think you are a class clown type- you love to get a reaction.

Blake, you are so precious to me and your daddy. Hunter is crazy about you and we all love you so much~ Now, stop growing up so fast!

Only a week left....

....until my big 20 week sonogram. Wow! This is flying by too quickly for me. I remember with Hunter reading my Pregnancy Journal every night and taking in all of the details and information like it was my job. I knew what week and what exact day I was the entire time.

With Blake, I was pretty good about reading the Journal, writing in my own journal and knew fairly well what week I was.

Now, this time... the weeks seem to fly faster than I can count. The journal sits open on my bedside table and I read several days at once. I am constantly amazed at all of the intricate development taking place. My anxiety is much worse this time around. I hear this is very normal but I will be so glad to see that little baby with all of it's fingers and toes on that ultrasound. We are still in a toss up about whether or not to find out this time around. We did with both boys which was still such a thrill. I was completely wrong with both of them- oops! So much for motherly instinct!

This time, knowing this is our last baby, I cannot decide. Chris will do whatever I decide, but we all know that if he had his choice he would find out. I'm just thinking if I can make it past that day not knowing I can make it to the end. I know it would just be amazing to meet that little person the day they are born and be totally and completely surprised. I have no feeling this time (perhaps because I have been so wrong before) as to whether it's a boy or girl. I have felt the best this time, feel the like I look the ugliest and am carrying wide. Who knows?! With Hunter I was low and felt ok, with Blake I was high and felt crummy and this one is wide and I feel like a million bucks but look like crud. The wives' tales do not apply to me. Heartbeats... you know they say 140 and below is boy. Well that was Hunter to a T. His never went over 155 but usually hovered around 139-144. Blake's was everywhere from 155 to 178, which is supposedly girl territory. This baby is around 155ish everytime. Seriously, I do not conform to any wives' tales or superstitions. Love to know what you all think this baby is.....

This is a portrait Hunter took of me at 19 weeks. Hmmm.... no head. Oh well, you are not missing much.

Hunter on Pajama and Pancake day for school.

My wild man! Blake sporting his first mohawk at the lake.

Rodeo SA!

So last weekend, the sun finally decided to make an appearance and we took the opportunity to join the Spielhagen family at the rodeo. Hunter and Kate have the best time together and this trip was no exception. We started this tradition of going with them last year and knew we had the routine down. We were there early, got to ride ponies, do the petting zoo, walk through the barns and ride some carnival rides. We topped it off with a little lunch and headed home for naps. It was a great day!
Hunter and Blake in their boots ready to rodeo!

What a great looking foursome! Kate, Luke, Blake and Hunter.... best buddies!

Luke and Blake ready to take on the rodeo grounds. They were hilarious riding side by side. If one had something, the other definitely needed it too. They also took down some serious food in that stroller.

Kate and Hunter "posing" for their mommies. We are determined that these two will have the BEST rehearsal dinner pics if they get married to each other. If not, their husband/wife is going to wonder who that cute kid is in all of their childhood pictures. Ha!

Hunter remembered that there was a pony named "Dr. Pepper" last year at the rodeo and talked about riding him for days. Wouldn't you know, as soon as we got to the ponies he changed his tune and decided to ride the black and white pony. Giddy up Dolly!

All I can say is Moooo!

Oink!

What sheer joy on the rollercoaster! He loved it.

Sliding with a smile!

Hello World!

It's been a long time since I last blogged. We've been busy...

*Blake is walking now. As of about a week ago, at 14 1/2 months old, he started really getting brave enough to venture out. He still crawls from time to time, but is getting more and more interested in walking and doing great at it. He gets very proud of himself.

*Hunter was a ring bearer in Chris' cousin, Julie's, wedding in January. He had so much fun wearing his tuxedo and looked so handsome. That was a fun weekend.

*We remodeled our front hall bathroom. It took 2 weeks, but now we have a fresh, new bathroom. I am still amazed at how quickly it all got accomplished.

*I am currently a little over 18 weeks along. The baby treating me well- I have really felt so good this time around and am so thankful since I have the boys to keep up with. We have still not decided if we will find out the baby's gender yet. The big sonogram is Feb. 24, so less than 2 weeks away, and we seriously cannot decide.

*Rodeo is in town, so we are going this weekend to take the kids to the grounds. Chris will be taking Hunter back the following weekend to see the actual rodeo with some other dads and sons. That will be fun! We love the rodeo.

*It has rained so much here the last 2 weeks. I am officially tired of being cooped up with no outside plans. Yuck!

*Last but not least, I turned 30 a week and a half ago. So far so good!

Here are some pictures of Hunter as a ringbearer. Such a cutie!