Does this count as a date?

Okay, so it isn't really news to anyone that kids get together for playdates.

When the kids are only two, I think it's safe to say that the play date is more for the the moms than the kids. I do love hanging out with Lisa, and our frequent gatherings at the park. Eli loves to talk about Matt, Lisa, and their sweet little girl Audrey, who just turned a year.

But here's the question.

If you voluntarily give up your tricyle to a girl, and voluntarily push her on the tricycle...
Then give her an eskimo kiss (ok, we told him to do that part)...

Then is it more than a playdate? Is it a real date?

34 Weeks

We haven't been great about taking pictures during this pregnancy, since I'm usually the one taking the pictures. But here's one of me and my friend Ashley. We're both at 34 weeks- our due dates are two days apart!

24 Weeks

Sometimes, it's still hard to believe that a fourth member of our family is arriving this fall. I know it's just around the corner, but I just can't picture what our life will look like then. Right now, I just know to trust God, and savor this stage. The simple joys of loving one child- being able to pay attention to everything he says, indulging in long outings at the park, taking time to explore almost everything he's curious about, resting during his marathon afternoon naps, being very portable, restful nights, one wake-up and bed-time routine...and yet I trust that God has immeasurable blessing in store for our family with the new addition.

Here's a pic of me and my tummy these days... We're still stuck on a name, but we have time, right?

The Cupcakery

We decided this should be a tradition. A visit to The Cupcakery for any Lindsey birthday.

Yum!

Eli is TWO!!!

This little boy has some kind of intuition. Does he KNOW what a birthday is? He woke up at 5:30 this morning (versus his usual 8:00) as if to say, "this is my big day, and I don't want to miss it."

Then, he was snuggling in our bed, and Joel got up earlier than usual to take a shower. When he came back in the room, Eli said, "Daddy, pay gawf?" Yep, that's exactly where Joel was headed.

Then, Joel said, "Eli, we have a song to sing for you." When we started singing Happy Birthday, Eli sat up, put his hands in his lap, and grinned ear to ear. "I see big trains. Climb the stairs. Ring the bell." He was talking about the train museum we visited last weekend, which is where we are having his birthday party tomorrow.

More birthday updates soon...

Boy Stuff

Eli got an early birthday present from our neighbors down the street. They were moving, and gave him a very cool tricycle. The moment he saw it, he hopped on as if he'd done it a million times. He's got the steering thing down. "I tun ayound. I go dis way."

What was even funnier is that he STAYED on while Joel and our neighbor filled each of the tires.
He scooted along for the rest of the afternoon. We even brought it in the house for a while, but that didn't do great things for our walls- it's definitely an outside bike.

Ahhh, a boy and his bike. Good times.

Nonna

We have lots of fun Nonna stories and pictures to share. Words cannot describe the blessing of her visit.

Some highlights-

Eli woke up each morning saying, "Go see Nonna".

She gave him dancing lessons, and he loved it.

We got to go to church together.

We ate Ted Drew's.

He learned "Jesus loves the little ones like, me, me, me."

He now requests "da saints"...aka Oh When the Saints.

We visited the Botanical Gardens.

We ate Ted Drew's.

When we pass Starbucks, Eli says, "Nonna coffee."

Joel and I got to go on a two night retreat together.

We enjoyed an all-american block party.

We ate Ted Drew's.