Jack's birthday

Well, we are back to posts after Evan was born at least now.   I remember on November 1, thinking, oh, it's NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month), which I did last?  year and the idea is to post everyday in November.  I use it to just post more often.    Instead, I didn't post at all in November.  Kind of crazy since I have a new baby and lots to talk about, but kind of normal too, since,well, I have a new baby. 

So, if you missed my marathon posting yesterday, I posted THREE times, of things that happened BEFORE Evan was born.  

Now I'm at Jack's 3rd birthday!   It was pretty low key, since well, I have a new baby.  That is the recurring theme recently.  Jack's birthday was 11 days after Evan was born, so there were no invitations, decorations, or a homemade cake.  But there was a cake, family and gifts, and love.  That's all a birthday needs, right?  It's all Jack needed.  Oh, and a Happy Birthday song.  You need that too.

Some of our cuter guests.

Jack not looking excited opening gifts, but he was, he loves this car!

Jack not sure about being sung too.....which is funny, he loves singing Happy Birthday to people!

Blowing out candles

Now, finally a smile! 

And since I didn't get a picture of Evan at the party (he was mostly being worn in the Moby) here is a random bath picture.



More of Evan...

So, this is what has been happening in our lives since October 10. 

Being a big brother is tiring!

Mama and Evan

Evan napping in the Moses basket

Brothers happy about the Tigers win! 

I had a birthday.  (33)

Lots of people have come to visit.  Here is Nana and Evan.

I'm babywearing!  Here we are in our Moby Wrap!  Evan loved it!

And one more picture of the sweetest brothers!   Jack has been so sweet to baby Evan.  

Next up....Evan and Jack's new cousin!

birthdays/Ferndale Chamber Gala

Last weekend Rachel and Bryant hosted a party for John and his dad's birthdays, which are 4 days apart.  His mom made pasties (YUM!) and we had a nice get together, as always.

Here are the boys blowing out candles.

And, of course, sweet baby Boden

That weekend, we also attempted family/2 year pictures again at Mill Race Park in Northville. This time, Jack was great, but we got kicked out because someone paid for the whole park to get married in.  I have never heard of closing a public park for something, but whatever.  The lady was really rude to us too.  Hopefully Katie was able to get something!

This past Thursday, John and I went to the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce Gala.  It is a an awards event with dinner, and dancing for the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce members.  Not to sound vain, but we were extremely disappointed to see that we weren't even nominated for any awards.  New business of the year?  I wonder who brought more business to Ferndale than us, since they opened?  There was a LONG list of nominees, and we weren't on it.  I don't think we should have won, as as the winner was very deserving.  But I do believe we should have been nominated.  Oh well.  I think we will still qualify as a new business next year, so maybe then!

Happy Day to you!

Today was John's birthday, and when I started singing to him, Jack looked around frantically, and picked up a decorative lighted candle to use as a microphone, and belted out "Happy Day to You!"  We have no idea where he learned this!

Jack is 2!

Jack turned 2 on October 21!  He was sung to at our La Leche League meeting that morning, but otherwise we didn't  really talk about it too much, since Daddy was out of town.   We had his party that weekend, and thankfully no one this year had H1N1.  (Last year John brought H1N1 home with him from a business trip and we had to postpone Jack's birthday party!) 

We had a train theme, and I wish I had taken pictures of the invitations, they were SO cute!   Here are some pictures of the other stuff:

These wraps say "chew chew"  heehee

This is a terrible picture, but these are some little pillow box favors for the kids.   They had organic dye free suckers, dye free ghoul gummies and a 100% fruit wrap in them. 

Opening gifts!   The first gift was a ride on Mickey Mouse airplane and he wanted to do nothing but play with it, so I kind of had to force him to open the rest, so we missed out on the "WOW!"s and things he did earlier when he opened gifts from us.   That was a bummer.

Time for cake!

Yum!  This is carrot cake sweetened with honey and maple syrup sweetened cream cheese frosting.  Thank you thank you thank you to my friend Tanya for the use of her food processor.   Shredding the carrots only took about 10 seconds this year, and not HOURS  like last year.

But, even better than the cupcake, was the ICE CREAM!!  I was thinking about letting Jack have some ice cream on this birthday and then my friend Tanya convinced me that was crazy talk and gave me this recipe for banana ice cream.  Step 1.  Freeze bananas.   Step 2.  Put them in the food processor for 5 minutes.  Ta-da!  Banana soft serve!!   Jack LOVED it!!  Nothing but bananas!!!

There was kind of a theme with a lot of the gifts.   And Jack was in heaven.  

this is blurry and my face looks fat, but it's really cute of Jack.

And thank you Uncle Jim and Aunt Nancy for all the 2 dollar bills!!  Great idea!

Welcome Boden! (a month late!)

Ok, Mom, Rachel and Uncle Steve, here is my 2nd post, for you!  My 3 loyal readers! 

So, October 4, my nephew was born!  On the morning of October 3, we got the call that my sister in law was in labor, so we went to the hospital....around 2ish I think?   We had to get home, as Jack wasn't with us, so around 9 or 10 pm, we hadn't been home long and I got a text from Christine that said Kelly was getting close to pushing.  So, we grabbed Jack and went back.  I pushed for an hour, and I assume everyone's birth will be like mine (???)  so I figured it would be soon. 

Here is Jack while we wait....

And while we wait some more....

And, 3 hours later, Boden was born!   I don't believe I have permission to post pictures of mama and daddy and baby right afterwards, but they were just beautiful and happy, all three!   

We went back the next day, and here's a picture of sweet Boden wanting Uncle John to give him back to his mama....

And, here I am giving a lesson on putting on prefolds. 

Nice job, if I do say so myself!

Proud Aunt, Uncle and Cousin (who has strawberries all over his mouth)

 

Here is a blurry mama and baby shot, but it's cute anyway.  

After a bit of a rough start, they are doing great, and Kelly calls me her natural birthing, cloth diapering, breastfeeding Godmother.  That makes me really happy, especially the breastfeeding.   He's breastfeeding like a champ, and it made me cry when I heard he latched on right away.  I hope to someday nurse a newborn baby successfully!  It's my biggest fear about having another baby.   I'm so happy when other mamas get to experience it. 

Happy birthday Marcel!

Last Sunday was Marcel's 3rd birthday!  I can hardly believe he's 3!!

We went to Crossroads Village/Huckleberry Railroad to ride a train for his birthday! 

Before the train, we went on the carousel.  It's the fastest carousel in Michigan, and it was FAST!  Jack didn't really like it.

He did however, like sticking his finger in the horses ear.

Here's the birthday boy on his own horse!

Then onto the train!  

Here is Ben peeking over at us.

Us!

Katie and Greg

Grandma and Grandpa

Marcel enjoying the train ride

The train!

After the train ride, "Handsome Harry" wished Marcel a happy birthday.

And Marcel got to check out the caboose.

And, of course, there was birthday cake!!

The three boys...

Happy birthday Cel!!  (that Jack's name for him!)