Uncle Matty T is in town!

Uncle Matt is in town... hooray! He brought his friend Genevieve with him from California, and we've had great fun together. Here are some pics of our visit...

Stephen, the paper boy...

Building an arch at the Mayborn Museum...

Playing with trucks and trains...

Joseph... not quite tall enough... but trying!


Fireman Stephen...

At the zoo...

Yea for Uncle Matty T!!

Playing in the Spray Park at the zoo...

Having lots of fun...

Stephen...

The other day, I asked Stephen "What we should do tomorrow?" and he replied, "Plant a garden." I thought it was a cute response, but having the very brown thumb that I do, I didn't actually envision planting a garden. Well, Stephen took matters into his own hands. He found some supplies next to our shed and planted his own garden. He moved the pots where he wanted them, added some lattice for decoration, and then planted some seeds (buttons he had found). Here's a picture of him watering his garden...

He also surprised me one day when he decided to take care of his puppy. He found a bottle on the rocking chair and proceeded to feed it to his puppy. Then he carefully put puppy down for a nap. When he got up, he made sure puppy ate again. Then Puppy needed to swing. Puppy, Puppy, Puppy! Hopefully it is a reflection of the help he'll be with Baby #3!

Stephen carefully put him in the baby swing... :)

Here's a great picture of Jerome and the boys swinging...

I am really enjoying his creativity and imagination. What a fun kiddo!

Belly shot

Here's a pretty recent belly shot. Kolbe (we think that's his name... he hasn't said otherwise, yet) is really growing. Yesterday, we were watching a movie, and Jerome could feel him kick! He's being a good baby... not making me sick or tooooo terribly tired. Just growing and kicking around in there. He's actually right now kicking as I type. :)

Joseph's first step

Joseph is sooooooooo ready to be running after Stephen... he's not there yet, but at least he's getting closer to walking after him! Yesterday, he took his first step... I think I can consider it his first. He was pulled up to the couch, turned to me, took a step, and then lunged into my lap. He didn't get far, but he did it all on his own. He's been standing up without holding on to things a lot more, too. Today, he actually clapped a couple times while standing on his own. (It was a big clapping day... he's just figured out that he can do it.) He's gotta learn to walk soon... his cousin Isaac will be here in only two weeks, so then there will be two that he'll be running after! :) Here are a few fun pictures of the little guy....

MMmmmMMmm.... spoon.

Learning the art of fencing

Look at those pearly whites!

Getting into trouble... the little monkey

Our little bookworm

A photo from 2007... yes, out of date... but appropriate for the post, I think. :)

Stephen is so funny. He looooves reading books, and he remembers them so well that he quotes them throughout the day. For example, Jerome showed him our new umbrella, and as Stephen was twirling it on his shoulder, he said, "Tut tut... it looks like rain." (A quote from Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree.) And at breakfast yesterday he said, "I'm feeling embarrassed in polar bear pants." (A spin off of a Sesame Street book about feelings... the actual words are "I'm feeling embarrassed in polka dot pants, but Stephen was wearing polar bear pants... so there ya go. I only wish I could convey his expression, too. It was so cute.) I've mentioned that we're known as the Tonka Truck people at the library because we've checked out all of the Tonka Truck books. Well, I often hear him quoting those books as he's playing with his trucks. Today, he was playing with a dump truck and said, "The mighty dump truck is king of the construction site." He cracks me up. :)

Joseph is so different... it's already obvious. Yes, he's only 9 months old, but he has very little interest in books. Well, except to maybe chew on them. :) But, I bet with Stephen's example -- because it is also quite obvious that Joseph very much looks up to Stephen -- that one day Joseph will become a reader, too. Until then, he can chew on the board books.

Baby BOY #3

Baby #3's 3D sonogram...

We went to the doctor today and had an ultrasound... and yep, we're having another boy! We're so excited (not that we wouldn't be if it were a girl...). The baby looks very healthy, so all is good. I'll keep you posted once we've decided on a name. :)

Stephen the little helper

I'm so proud of Stephen... he's really becoming a good little helper. He even volunteers to help without being asked.

Today I was feeling a bit tired and less than enthusiastic about emptying the dishwasher, and I felt the need to announce this to him. I wasn't asking him to help, I just said, "AAaaaallllrriigghtt... I'll empty the dishwasher even though I don't really want to. Sometimes we just have to do things even when we don't feel like it." I was trying to make it a teaching moment... so he could remember it when he's asked to pick up his toys and doesn't want to. Well, he surprised me and came over and put away all the silverware. Not only did it surprise me that he helped, but also that he did such a good job. He's really growing up.

He also helped me "vacuum" today. He's really good about pulling out his popper and "vacuuming" all the rooms. And at H.E.B. he helped put all the groceries on the conveyor belt. Then when we got home he helped put them away. What a kid! I'm just so proud... and thankful... that he's becoming such a good lil' helper.

This picture is of him "washing the dishes." This was a while back, but I couldn't resist posting it. :)