Enjoying the Outdoors...Finally!

Well, since our last post, I've started back at work full-time, and Jacob is now doing day care full-time, also. So far, he's been doing really well there. At first, we'd drop him off, and he didn't seem to mind one way or the other when we left. Then, there started to be some "separation anxiety" issues, with him crying and trying to grab onto us when we'd try to leave. Now, he plops down at the little table and starts chowing down on his breakfast, pausing only long enough to give us a kiss and wave "bye bye". Same thing has been happening at home when we put him down for bed. Before, we'd have to stay in his room with him until he fell asleep or we could sneak out without him noticing - otherwise if he knew we were leaving his room , he would throw a fit. Now, we put him down in his crib, kiss him goodnight, and he waves "bye bye" to us, blows us a few kisses, and we can leave right away.

The weather in Michigan these past few weeks has finally been nice - and we've been taking advantage of it! 60's and even 70's!

Here is Jacob with Daddy, flying his first kite:

We also take lots of walks around our neighborhood. Jacob loves riding in his stroller, and so as not to leave out our other boys, we usually try to take Max & Rusty along as well. Here's a picture of all the boys ready to cruise the neighborhood (isn't Jacob a cool dude with his shades?):

Last weekend, my parents came up for a visit, and we took our boat on a quick outing at a nearby lake, just to get the cobwebs out and see how Jacob would like it. He seemed to like it - it didn't hurt that we fed him a hamburger while out on the lake, since it was getting close to his dinner time. He wasn't the biggest fan of his big, bulky life jacket. Michigan just passed a law requiring kids up to 7 years old having to wear a life jacket with that thingy behind their neck.

Here's Jacob out on the boat, one with his Grandma Bushe, the other with Daddy:

This kid is growing like a weed! Chris drew a line on a wall in Jacob's room to record his height after his last dr appt in mid-March, when we found out he had grown 1.5 inches in just 6 weeks. A few days ago, Chris took another measurement, and it appears Jacob has grown another 1 to 1.5 inches! All his 12M pants are too short, now! And, we just had to take him in last night to buy new shoes - his feet have grown a 1/2 size in 10 weeks. Just in the last week, he has really started to climb, too - I found him on top of the kitchen table, and I didn't even know he could climb up onto the chair!

In preparation for his Aunt Laura's wedding next month, Jacob tried on his tuxedo - size 18M, and it was a bit too small in places! Here's a picture of Jacob in his snug tux. (Later, after we starting undressing him, he decided he'd had enough in the middle of changing, and started running around the house in just his dress shoes and socks, and tuxedo pants - he looked like a little Chippendale!)

Jacob's Surgery & other recent pics

Sorry I have been a bad blogger! To make up for it, this is the 3rd of 3 new posts in a row to play "catch up". My time home with Jacob is coming to an end - Jacob starts day care full time on Monday, and I start back at work on Tuesday! It has been fun, rewarding yet challenging at times being a temporary stay-at-home mommy. For those with that job full-time, I have new admiration & respect for you!

Jacob has been doing well - I see him growing, maturing, and learning every day! He has come so far in just 2 short months home with us now! At his last regular dr. appt last Tuesday, he had gained 2 lbs and 1.5 in in just 6 weeks! Amazing! He is now firmly on both the height & weight charts. We also found out that some follow-up testing from a borderline TB test result was negative - no active or latent TB infection, so no long antibiotic treatment necessary - YEAH!

Today, Jacob had a rough day, as we took him in for a scheduled outpatient surgery (i.e. circumcision - OUCH). He came through the surgery just fine, although he became a bit apprehensive as we walked into the building this morning, and even more so when he saw all the people walking around in blue scrubs. (This was the same hospital where he's had all his blood draws and chest X-rays...). They took us back to a little room where we changed him into yellow "scrubs", then gave him some liquid Valium-type drug to "relax" him before separating him from Mom & Dad to take him back to surgery. When they called us into recovery, he was NOT a happy camper - he was crying and unconsolable. He did perk up for some juice and graham crackers, though. So far, today back at home has been pretty miserable, Jacob just cannot get comfortable - he keeps whimpering, even with Tylenol w/codeine... he didn't nap well... I think Chris & I are in for a long night.

We'll keep everyone posted on how he's doing... and how the adjustment back to work and daycare goes... I will try not to let over 3 wks pass before my next blog!

An Easter egg nose for Jacob:

A new hat for Jacob (Max's cone collar...):

Peek-a-boo!

Peeking through the cone hat - I see you!

Jamming to tunes in the kids section of the outpatient surgery waiting room this morning:

Jacob dressed in his "scrubs" - does he look like a duck?

Jacob after the valium-like drink:

In the wagon ready to go back to surgery - is he "Friday night drunk" yet? (those were the anestheisiologist's words, not mine...)

Easter Weekend

We took Jacob (and the dogs) back to St. Louis for Easter weekend, both to add to his list of new people to meet, as well as for me to help throw Laura's bridal shower. We headed down on Thursday, after Jacob had yet another eventful pediatrician appt. He had gone for a regular check-up on Tuesday, where they had given him a TB test, so we just needed to stop by the office Thurs to have it read. Well, a newer dr from the practice read his test, because there was a red bump present. She measured a bump of 8 mm - anything 10 mm or greater is considered positive. Well, since it was only 2 mm away from being positive, she wanted to be conservative and treat it as though it was positive. What did that mean for us? Off to the hospital for yet another chest X-ray and blood draw. Still no word yet on the results.

We stayed in Red Bud the whole time on this trip, and G'ma Sue & G'pa Willie's house. Friday consisted of me running errands for the shower, while Chris and Jacob hung out. Then we all met G'ma Sherry & G'pa Gary for supper. On Saturday morning, before Laura's shower, the Red Bud YMCA hosted an "Easter Eggstravaganza". We took Jacob, he had brunch & pictures with the Easter bunny (which he wasn't too sure of...), then had an Easter egg hunt. He was not exactly sure what to do for the hunt part, but got a few eggs thanks to the G'mas, who spotted and defended several eggs for him. Later in the afternoon, after Laura's shower at a nearby winery, more new people came to meet Jacob - Fran, Suzanne, and Maggie.

Easter morning we headed over to Jan's for Easter with my mom's side of the family. Jacob got to meet more new people - my cousins Dwight, Vicki, Daniel, Barry, Brenda, Brian, Aaron, and Audrey, and Sarah's boyfriend Josh. We had to leave early Sunday to head back to Michigan, as Chris had to work Monday.

Here are some pics from Easter weekend:

Hanging out at G'ma & G'pa Wolters, with my really cool stretchy, high-waisted brown pajama bottoms... do I look like a certain Great G'pa???

"Sword" fighting with G'ma Sue:

Jacob's solo picture with the Easter bunny (not too sure...)

Feeling a little more comfortable on Mommy's lap:

Eating Easter brunch with the two G'mas:

See? There's an egg, Jacob - pick it up!

I've got it!!!

Family Fun Time at Home

It's been a while since we posted. Since our visit with the Steiners, we have had some fun events:

1. Jacob's Baptism - Sun 3/9/08 at St. Mark's Lutheran Church. Both G'mas and G'pas came up to Michigan for the event, as well as Jacob's God parents - his Aunt Laura and soon-to-be Uncle Matt. Everyone arrived Saturday, so we all went out to eat dinner to celebrate at Miller's Time Out. Everyone was impressed with Jacob's appetite, as he ate a gigantic plate of turkey & mashed potatoes. On Sunday, we went to the 11 am Higher Ground service - a more contemporary service with a band, stage, etc. It also happened to be the finale of their "American Idol" series of messages, so there was a lot of "extra" happenings in the service. The baptism was at the very end of church, and while Jacob was extremely well-behaved and patient for the first 1+ hrs in the front row, he was about at the end of his rope when they finally got to us. He proceeded to scream and cry while we stood in front of the congregation. He wouldn't let Pastor Rob hold him. Then, with all the commotion, Chris thinks he may have accidentally thrown away Jacob's baptismal shroud. It was a memorable ceremony, at least! We had another meal together at Cracker Barrel afterwards before family had to head back.

Note: We have no pictures of baptism day - we were going to take pictures at church after the service, but as you heard, Jacob wasn't too cooperative at that point...

2. Hanging out with Mom & Dad - inside and outside. Since we've been home with Jacob, we haven't had too many opportunities to play outside. Michigan takes a long time to thaw to reasonable temperatures, and this year was a record snowfall for Battle Creek. Chris did manage to take Jacob on his first tractor ride. We both also attempted to sway Jacob's baseball team preference...

Here are some pictures of Jacob helping Daddy outside...

And here is a picture of Daddy corrupting Jacob...

Alone time with Mommy:

Jacob practicing the moves Aunt Laura taught him (is that a Cubs hat under his foot???):

A weekend with the Steiners

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

Jacob's Maiden Voyage to St.Louis

Last week, we made the first trek as a family of 3 to our family homes in the St. Louis area. Jacob did surpisingly well on the 7+ hr drive (although we did get a portable DVD player to ensure the return trip went just as well...) We spent the first half of the week in Red Bud at G'ma & G'pa Wolters, with visits to Percy & Herrin to visit the great-grandparents, while also getting to meet Great Uncles Paul & Gene & Great Aunt Emma while at Great Grandma Wolters'. He also had a semi-professional photo shoot at Grandma Sue's house with family friends Ally & Heidi. He met family friends Alyce & Travis, too! During the Mueller half of the trip in Imperial, Jacob met Great Aunt Jan & Great Uncle Mike, as well as Aunt Sarah. We went to visit Kathy & Paul & new baby William, and went bar-hopping with them! (ha ha - just dinner at a sports bar - this explains the pictures...) Then G'ma Mueller had a party on Saturday where Jacob met his Great-Great Uncle Nelson & his friend Faith, Great-Great Uncle Don & Great-Great Aunt Rozella, Great Aunt Linda, cousins Ariel & Aubrey, Great Uncle Dennis, Great Aunt Ruthann, and cousins Sandy & Stephanie. Overall, Jacob met nearly 30 extended family members, while getting to sleepover and have more fun with his grandmas & grandpas.

Next up on the agenda is a visit from friends Joe & Cheryl & their son Ethan, who's 2.5. Then, Jacob's baptism on March 9th. Then, another (shorter) trip home for Easter.

Here's a slide show Chris put together of highlights from our trip to St. Louis. NOTE: for best viewing, you may have to adjust the speed of the slide show on the lower right from fast to slow.

Love, C&C&J

The Dogs & Kid Make Friends...

Today Jacob had a playdate with Justus, who is just 2 months older than him. One fun thing Justus showed him was that it's a lot of fun to ride in the back of the big dump truck (Justus has one just like Jacob's at his house). Jacob was a little shy about it when Justus was here, but once he left, he wanted in the truck! What's more fun than being pushed around in your dump truck? Your dogs pulling you!