Happy Mother's Day

Thank you God for giving me Nathan as a husband  and for choosing me to be Caleb and Benjamin's mom.

 

Visit with Uncle Ed and Aunt Laura

Nathan's Uncle Ed and Aunt Laura came to visit us from Mississippi, to spend time with us before moving overseas in a few weeks. We really appreciated them coming to see us, and we enjoyed spending the weekend with them.We had a lot of time to talk which was a real treat since, we only see them during Christmas. Uncle Ed and Aunt Laura are very special to our family, and we had a fun time showing them around Maryland this weekend. The day they arrived, we went to their hotel and the boys warmed up to them right away. Caleb learned how to say Uncle and Aunt Laura, and he said it a lot this weekend:)

On Friday we went to the Baltimore and Ohio train museum. It was a gorgeous day in the 80's, and we got to enjoy the inside and outside exhibits. 

The museum is filled with history, dating back to the beginning of the railroad. It was fascinating to hear Ed and Laura's stories and knowledge about the railroad industry. For example, the train car below is a restored Pullman Locomotive, which was a popular passenger train from the 1920s. It was very sturdily built and the seats were made of mahogany wood and beautifully upholstered. Ed said in the 1930's this was one of the top trading companies on the stock market. Times sure have changed!

Train engineers back then really had to understand how the trains worked. This was only 1/4 of the valves, buttons, and gages needed to operate the train. I bet it is very different than how trains are operated today!

Ben enjoyed looking at all the trains, and Caleb yelled 'choo choo' every time he saw a train...which was everywhere he turned:)

 

Both boys especially liked riding the carousel with Ed and Laura

Snuggling with daddy and mommy

And playing outside.

We spent a good couple of hours exploring and touring the museum. Ben was pooped at the end of the day and he fell asleep in Uncle Ed's arms.

Afterwards, we went out for Mexican food. Here is Caleb sampling a lime...for the 3rd time, haha!

We stuffed ourselves and decided we should walk around the mall for a while to walk off our meal, and then find ice cream for dessert :).

The next morning we had a nice long brunch at Bob Evans, and got to talk and hear more stories about Ed and Laura's life. We had such a wonderful visit with them, and we really appreciated that they flew up to spend the weekend with us. When we get back in a few years, we plan to make the next v trip to Mississippi to visit them. Thank you Ed and Laura for the great weekend together. We love you!

After they left, the boys went out for a run with daddy in the double stroller. It was raining off and on during the day, but nothing too heavy.

When they were at the furthest point away from home, the sky opened up and it poured! The boys were very brave in the storm and we wrapped them in big towels and warm clothes when they got home, and they watched a movie :). The stroller pockets were a big puddle by the time they got home, so if you are trying to get a hold of Nathan, his phone drowned!

Seven months old

Ben is 7 months old! He babbles, rolls from his back to his belly, sleeps on his belly, likes to bear weight on his legs, pushes himself up when he is on his tummy and pivots around. He will be mobile soon! He is getting really good with his hands, puts everything straight to his mouth, and he is siting up well.

Ben has 2 bottom teeth, likes to show them when he smiles, and he loves solid food. He nurses or has bottles every 3-4 hours, and this past month he ate oatmeal, rice, mum mums, peas, sweet potatoes, peaches, and carrots. He no longer fits in his bumbo seat because his legs are too chunky!

Ben wears a size 4 diaper, 9 month clothes, and he weighs close to 20lbs. He takes 3 naps a day, and sleeps 8-9 hours at night. We love our sweet little boy :).

Here is Caleb at 7 months old.

My awesome husband took this month's pictures, thanks babe!

Uncle Ed and Aunt Laura are here visiting this weekened. Stay tuned for pictures!

Afternoons Outside

It was a beautiful week, and most afternoons we got outside to run and play in the park. We are moving in 4 weeks and trying to soak up as much greenery and cooler temperatures as we can!

 Two future IU track and cross country stars...

 One super climber

He likes his new shoes!

Caleb went on a squirrel hunt. He is saying I had to be quiet because they were sleeping in the trees.

 Ben gets a huge smile when you bring him down the slide

 It won't be long before these two boys are running around the playground together!

Jenna is 2!

Who turned two this weekend? JENNA!

We went to Tom and Erin's this weekend to celebrate Jenna's 2nd birthday. She looked so pretty in her birthday dress and had lots of colorful party hats and cool sunglasses. Caleb got his own pair too...

We played outside, ate burgers and hotdogs from the grill, and sang Happy birthday to Jenna. She enjoyed her homemade Minnie Mouse cake from grandma.

What a difference one year makes in eating. Last year cake smash, this year a little lady eating her cake and ice cream.

After cake, Jenna opened presents. And Caleb have helped open presents too...

Daddy and his boys

Jenna gave everyone big hugs for coming to her birthday party. She and Caleb have become good buddies this past year, and we will miss spending time with them once we head overseas...but we will see them again in a few weeks!

Happy 2nd birthday pretty girl!

Friends and Philly

This weekend we went back to Philly so Nathan could meet Henry and we could hang out with Mike and Marissa one more time before we head overseas. In the few weeks it had been since I last saw Henry, he grew a lot...mostly in that cute little belly of his. He is almost 3 months old and is looking like a little man. Nathan used his Purcell baby whisper skills on Henry, and he sat calmly in Nathan's arms.

Don't you just love that handsome little face!

M&M with Henry and Ben. Marissa teased that Ben looks more like her baby than Henry...haha!

Future partners in crime...they are even dressed alike:).

And both little slobber monsters.

Best friends and future best friends:)

All the excitement put Henry to sleep.

But not for too long....

It was a beautiful day outside, so we walked downtown and went to a park. 

The men and babies stayed outside talking, while the ladies and Caleb played on the playground.

We ended the afternoon eating sandwiches and hummus at an outdoor cafe, and having lots of good laughs. We have lived close to Mike and Marissa for the past 8 years, and we are going to miss them a lot, especially seeing Henry grow into a little boy, but are very grateful for the invention of the Internet, Skype, and Facebook to keep us connected. When we return in a few years, our boys will be wrestling with each other and we will only remember the days when they laid there so quietly together on a rug;).

We love you Marissa, Mike, and Henry!