Zoo!

We wanted to go to the zoo as our finalle to the summer. We LOVE the waco zoo! but it really was still too hot! Stupid Texas. Still had fun though. Good sweaty fun. Jacob was a trooper. First trip for him- awww :)

the zoo?!?  I love the zoo!

 Have you ever been so close to a lion face? amazing.

 got to hear him roar too. so cool!

 It's like she could tickle the cheetah.

 sorry jacob. I packed everything in the house but not a hat for you. sister's had to do.

 pretty sure she is picking her nose

 can you find the animal? that's what I thought. its behind the bush. love that I am never on this side of the camera and it always goes so well.

 the gator is coming for you ellie

 I am telling you. Way too hot.

 
worn out!! 

First Day of School

 The kids were so excited to start school this year! Alex is in Pre-K (4s) with Ms. Nancy, and Ellie is in the Twos with Ms. Dee. Ellie was extra excited since this was her first year to start going. She was always so jealous of Alex!

The kids were so excited they were acting like crazy kids and doing some kind of song and dance and driving Momma crazy...all the more reason to go! : ) And yes..we are always late! I am just not a morning person and neither are my kids. But it seems I can get up at 5:30 and still be late!! Lord help us next year when Alex goes to Kinder...every.day. yikes! Not only do I not want to think about him being big enough for that but it also makes me tired. So I am treasuring this fun year of the kids going together 2 days a week from 9-2.  

 Ellie has really impressed me and wants to hold something as we walk in the big trek from the parking lot and she tends to walk the whole way (since Jacob is in the stroller). This is not like her at all. She is really growing up!
Alex insisted on a Star Wars backpack (well, only after I said there were no Power Ranger ones) and Ellie picked out Minnie Mouse. These things are cheap-o so we will see how long they last!

 All of Alex's dreams came true when he saw that Kinnick was in his class again! We were so glad that there were a lot of kids from his class last year. So nice. He barely said goodbye to me! Miles apart from years past! Yay!! He seems to really love his teacher and I love her too! She is so sweet and soft natured. Just what you would picture for a preschool teacher. She seems to have connected with Alex quickly and he listens well to her. The best is that she is completely understanding about his allergies. She has been so flexible and really works with me. Such a blessing! They do really cute and fun lessons and he is so good about telling me all about the day now.

 Ellie didn't seem to be nervous about school till right when I was leaving and saw me turn back to snap this shot. But the look of sadness only lasted a minute and she was so excited to get to play. The sensory table is her favorite! I was shocked that there wasn't a single tear. Each day got a little harder at drop off though. She was getting more and more tired and has had a harder time leaving mom. I know she likes it though because her teacher raves about how great she is and how cute she is and how well she participates. She takes a nap at school and actually sleeps! Not sure how long, because she is a bear most evenings after school, but at least she sleeps (unlike Alex at this age). I love when I go pick her up and she runs to my arms with teary eyes and gives the biggest hug shouting "Mommy"! Always warms my heart after a morning away. Oh, and she loves snack because she gets to have things that we don't eat at home because of Alex- aka goldfish. :) I also love that she is so proud of her artwork that she makes at school and loves to show it off- "me make that! at school!" We hang it up at home and she revisits the work often (sooo different from Alex who could care less about artwork).

 Guess who was the most excited about school starting!?! I love my Jakey time!

Jacob 6 Months

Oh my little sweet pea, I never forget about you and these special posts, I just struggle to find the energy at the end of such busy busy days. We also had a major event come out of nowhere that kept me off the computer for quite awhile- we bought a new house and put our house on the market! More on that later. So, Mr. Jakey, here it is...

You are such a happy happy little boy. A really good baby!! You have grown so much this month and are becoming quite the little entertainer. Your sweet giggles, BIG gummy grins, warm lil hugs, chubby cheeks, focused looks, and soft baby talk ("dah") make us all melt.  



You LOVE to lay on your tummy and play with toys! You tend to be quite content there.

 

 

You have figured out how to be mobile and get what you want...aka. big kid toys! Forget rattles, give me Batman.  You get sooo excited to get close to Alex's toy tubs. We have since moved all the dangers :)
 
I know you will be crawling in no time because this movement progress has happened what seemed overnight and its all you want to do. One day your were pulling your knees in and pushing up and the next day you were rocking. It seemed as though the next day you were moving! You throw your self forward and then push up and throw it again. You are pretty fast too. 

Really strong- can do a good downward dog.  (ugh, I wish I could freeze time for just a little bit!)

Not as much a fan of the bouncer seat or exersaucer any more. You do love to jump in the doorway jumper and really figured it out. You are a good jumper!

another friend, Callan, only 4 days apart and both the poor third child ;) they can do therapy together someday 

Working on sitting up! You were doing really well there for awhile. Had a good tripod stance but now that you want to move and go, you don't hold it for but a second. You are also working on going from a crawl pose to a side sit. Its pretty cute how you rest your lil booty and look up at us.

You are so interested in the world around you. Taking it all in. You definitly want to be a part of the party now. Sometimes I fear of that though...the bigs are not the best role models. I wish I could shelter you from their crazies. :)  I also tend to fear for your safety around them. They are just wild. But I know that my words are not being totally lost. Alex said to Ellie the other day, and I quote, "Careful Ellie. You might break him. He is just a baby!" I have not used the word break :) but I had to pull my jaw up after that one.  


You are grabby grabby. Cant hold things while holding you, if I don't want you to grab at it (most likely spill it or ruin it) and shove in your mouth. 

I have given you a gummy pacifier to chew on and you tend to love it and cry if you drop it. You are getting better and better at hand control though. Those teeth sure are pushing and taking their time. Not fun. ** And we have breakthrough!! As I was writing this over two days, your first tooth broke through! I felt it with my finger! Yay!

You have gone back to sleeping all night (woo hoo) and tend to take two naps a day- that is if we can keep you home and in your bed for them. If not, then three naps, but I try to avoid that third nap so that you go to bed at around 7 or 8. You were doing well on bouncing and singing to sleep (wouldnt take but a few minutes) but then you got super hungry and we are back to nursing to sleep most of the time. I know I know, but I cant help it. I like keeping you on schedule. If I make you cry, you just cry for an hour and then dont want to sleep. Its torture for all of us. So, I am concluding that you are a lot like brother- but at least you sleep all night.  Forget transferring you from sleeping in the car- you will wake up. (And not really a fan of being in the car for very long either)

To also help with you being super hungry we started you on baby food this month. I would have never believed it but you LOVE it!! You lap it up a jar at a time and cry if its not coming fast enough and cry when its gone. You are my only baby who has eaten like this! I love it! It makes feeding you fun and worth the effort...because you can only imagine how much time I have in my day to sit and feed you. I gladly do it to spend time with this sweet face!  You also like Mum mums although you arent real good at holding them yet. We tried some broken puffs but you don't seem to be ready yet. You aren't a big fan of water in the sippy but we are slowly getting better and better.

 
 
Getting a little bit of stranger anxiety and you will smile when you see me or someone you know.
You LOVE Alex and Ellie. You really talk for Alex and put out your hands like you want to hold him.

(These shots all look like Jacob is being tortured a little bit but I promise that it is all love and he actually doesnt seem to mind it all too much.)

We love you so much lil man. You are just more precious than I could ever put into words!! 

Happy Half Birthday!