Hilton Head Island

This year I decided to finally take advantage of the education money I get from work and I attended a conference in Hilton Head.  Peggy was in between jobs so it was perfect timing for her and I and the boys to take a little vacation.  We rented a 2 bedroom condo near the hotel where the conference was being held and just had a blast. 

Outside of the time I was at lectures we spent our days playing at parks, playing on the beach and eating seafood.  It was the off season so we never had to wait to eat and there were no crowds.  The boys just loved the beach and playing in the sand.  We all also enjoyed spending some vacation time away with Grandma.  It was great to get away, have a break from home life, and enjoy a little sunshine before winter hits. 

Baby # 3!!!

A few weeks ago Dave and I found out that I was pregnant with Kaiser baby #3.  This will be our last child and I couldn't be happier about it.  I honestly think I'm happier about this third baby than I was with the other two.  With Brody I was thrilled but nervous and with Jett I was so worried about how Brody was going to do without all of our attention.  All those fears are gone now and I can't wait to welcome this baby that will complete our family.  Of course I am still nervous about being outnumbered, but we will manage.  I just hope that this baby will be as easy as Brody was as a baby.  Jett, I love you buddy but you were hard. 
So far for symptoms I am really nauseated and it is like that almost everyday, all day.  I feel like it is worse this time but I'm not sure if that is because it is here and now and not in the past.  I am also exhausted.  No amount of sleep helps, and in fact when my annoying internal alarm goes of at 5:15 I wake feeling just as tired as I did when I went to bed the night before.  I am anxiously awaiting these symptoms to subside.  My due date is approximately July 9th so I will try and keep posting regarding Baby #3's progress.

Brody & Jett

Let me start with you, Jett.   You are really coming into your own.  You have such a fiery personality.  In an instant you can go from the cutest, cuddliest kid to a screaming banshee.   You are so smart and are really starting to talk a lot more.  You say words like, "dree" for drink, "more" for anything you want, "dank u" for thank you, you sing your abc's, you pretend you know your letters by pointing to them and usually saying, "A", and you recently started saying, "yeah, yeah, yeah" when we point to what you want.  Your starting to throw obvious tantrums and you even stopped your feet at me the other day when I wouldn't let you go outside.  Brody is your hero and you mimic everything he does even if it doesn't make sense to you why he does it. You are starting to fight back and I bet you and Brody will soon start wrestling each other when your mad. 

Brody.... you are loving school and you look forward to going.  You are learning so much and you have also learned a few things that I wish you hadn't.  You have started back talking and really challenging us sometimes.  It is hard to find your currency and to know how to get you to listen and or obey.  You have really started to take an interest in playing with your brother which warms my heart.  I love to see how much you love him, even though you do love to push his buttons.  At night you have started wanting to snuggle him on the couch and it is so precious.  I love the bond you two are forming. 

Jett's 1st Hair Cut

Today Jett got his very first haircut, at just a few days shy of 20 months old.  He did so good, and loved the one on one attention. 

Halloween

This year for Halloween we had the most amazing weather.  It was warm, sunny and just beautiful out.  Brody was especially excited for Halloween this year.  He understood trick or treating and he couldn't wait for school that day because they were having their Halloween party.  Unfortunately I was unable to attend his Halloween performance at school but Sara captured the cute moments for me. 

Once Dave and I got home from work we got the boys ready for trick or treating.  We were a little disappointed that the Tewes family was unable to join us this year but since the boys were just getting over Hand foot and mouth we thought it best they stay away.  Brody dressed up as spider man and Jett was mickey mouse.  I had originally bought him a batman costume but he was so tickled with himself dressed as mickey that we just decided to go with Brody's old mickey costume.  Brody loved running from house to house but after about an hour got overheated and started coughing.  After that he had a huge meltdown and sadly Dave had to carry him over his shoulder kicking and screaming the entire way home.  I still don't know what set him off but he was mad.  Once he calmed down Dave did take him back out to end the night on a positive note. 
Picking Apples and Pumkins:

 Trick or Treat!

 Brody as Mickey Mouse 2 yrs ago!

1st Day 3 Year Old Preschool

I am writing this entry so much later than I should be, and because I have some distance from this day my feelings have changed a lot about this milestone.  August 31st was Brody's first day of preschool.  Sara had been dreading this day for about two months but up until a week prior I was happy about it.  As Monday the 29th (preschool orientation) approached I became a little more apprehensive.  I became more and more worried that Brody wasn't ready for school and the outside world.  Sara and the boys go all over and meet people but did he really have to leave our safe keeping and go to place where we wouldn't know what he was doing, who he was with, or if people were treating him well? 

Monday the 29th came and I went to preschool orientation where I had to hold back tears most of the evening.  I kept telling myself that I really needed to get it together.  We had planned for Dave and Sara to take him the next morning for his chance to meet his teacher and see his classroom.  Unfortunately because of Dave's new job he had some obligations that he just couldn't get out of.  our sweet little Brody loved his classroom that day and his teacher Miss Anne was so sweet to him.  He kept trying to get Sara to play with him in the classroom and on the playground but Sara knew that she really needed to start helping Brody understand that school was for him and not her.  We often joke that Brody sees Sara as his friend and not his nanny.  They left the meet and greet and luckily Brody was really excited about his first day the next morning.  Miss Anne even gave him a surprise story with magic confetti to put under his pillow that night to help him sleep.  He loved this and I decided to just go for it and let him put the confetti all under his pillow and we would find a way to clean it up later. 

Wednesday morning came and Dave made arrangements so he could take him to school for his first day.  He even had a chance to meet his friend Sophia at the door and they took some obligatory first day pictures.  Brody successfully went in with Dave and showed him where his classroom was; his is the monkey room.  He put his backpack in the container by the door and pulled out his red folder and put it his "apple" mailbox.  He was so excited Dave even had to remind him to give him a hug and kiss goodbye.  When Sara came to pick him up that afternoon at noon he came was holding Miss Anne's hand.  We (I of course got a play by play via text) were instantly worried that something must have gone wrong.  When he got to her car though we learned that he just asked to hold her hand and of course she said yes.  He had a great day and couldn't wait to go back. 

I'm so glad that school has been such a wonderful experience for him.  He is learning so much and we are all surprised how much it has changed him in such a short period of time.  Brody now can sit and do an activity with much more focus.  He understands story time and he is asking so many questions about things that show us he really enjoys learning. 

Jett on the other hand is getting some one on one time with Sara which has been great for them both.  They are going to classes and their relationship is growing stronger.  Jett adores his classes and loves to sing, and count.  He is really starting to develop a vocabulary, and can actually count to 12 all by himself.  He has finally learned to ask for things he wants.  He usually points and just says "more," but we atleast now have an idea about what he wants.

 Meet and Greet Day: 

 Night Before 1st Day:

 1st Day:

After 1st Day: