Almost-Complete Family Reunion

It was so nice to get together with (almost!) our whole family in Michigan last weekend. Mom and Dad had brainstormed all sorts of great things we could do in the area, but we all agreed that the best thing to do would be to spend as much time as possible hanging out as a family at the house. Our kids are all "city" kids and we don't have the experience of running around and exploring the countryside very often. And plus, what could be better than endless rides in the John Deere tractor wagon and bonfires in the backyard at night?

Cousins

Noah had so much fun playing with his cousin Cole while they were together in Michigan. They jumped in leaves, went to the pumpkin patch, ate smores, went for rides in Yaya's John Deere wagon, and were just generally silly together. There were even a few times when we caught them walking together and holding hands, and Grammy overheard them telling each other "I love you." It was the cutest thing ever!

Noah and Cole are only six months apart, and they were a great pair. Seeing them together was a good reminder that we need to make more of an effort to get together with our family throughout the year. It had been too long!

Brothers on Parade

...and that's it...

Isaac woke up on Monday morning and made the decision that he is completely finished nursing. That's it...cold turkey. He is less than three weeks from his first birthday and he doesn't have the time for being a baby anymore! He will only drink from a sippy cup now, and he prefers to be on the move while he's doing it - like pushing a chair around the house. I had just started planning to get him weaned after he turned a year old, but he made the decision and that is a much easier way to do it! It's a strange and freeing feeling to be finishing a year of NO bottles - Isaac only took a bottle once or twice - and suddenly having an almost one-year-old who has determined he doesn't need anything from me anymore. I was almost offended by it on Monday, but it's a wonderful thing and I'm just going to celebrate the fact that we made it through a year of being completely dependent on nursing and we survived!!

Wrestling

This was a fun moment. Really! Noah and Isaac love to wrestle, but we don't call it wrestling - Noah says, "I'm going to eat you up, Isaac!" and when Isaac hears that, he comes crawling to Noah at full speed. They roll around on each other and make lots of silly sounds. Isaac tends to be the more aggressive "eater," and I need to keep a close eye on him to make sure he's not pulling Noah's hair or biting him! Moments like this are so cute. I love to see them playing with each other!

Our First Family Photos

We had professional family photos taken yesterday at Jetton Park.  It was the first time we've ever had family photos taken.  Lindsey was so fun to work with - Noah didn't want the session to end.  I love every photo in this sneek peek!  How are we ever going to decide what to order?  What do you think?

Here's the link:
http://lindseyturnerphotography.com/blog/?p=649

Brothers

Organization Habits of a 3-year-old

Our secretary desk is now in the playroom. I have used it to organize paperwork in the past, and so have Noah's Grammy and Great-grandmommy. But, in all those years of use, I doubt it has never been used so actively! I have cleared out all my paperwork, and now the secretary desk is Noah's "little kitchen" or "Harris Teeter," depending in his mood. Every section has been painstakingly organized and according to Noah, everything is in it's place. One of the best aspects of his new desk is that it's full of little parts and pieces that are too small for Isaac, so it's an entire world that is only for Noah.

27 more days

27 more days of having a baby in the house.

Isaac is working hard to become a toddler, and he'll be one year old in 27 days.

His days of being a baby will soon become a sweet memory.