Sea World

We have certainly traveled but this is the first time Chris and I have gone away for a couple of days with the kids by ourselves. It was an adventure! We didn't really know just how much energy it would take to manage 3 kids especially when two of them are Jaden and Luke!
We were so excited to go to Sea World (Jaden has gotten very good at saying "Shamu") that we were able to brush off quite a bit of whiny-ness and crankiness from little ones who don't do well on long trips. They did fairly well on the way out to San Antonio while they were fresh. The problem is that Jaden and Luke like to be on the move so, they don't take very well to being strapped into a car seat for extended periods of time and they don't really nap in the car much. Children need to sleep! Luke didn't at all on the way up and only did for about 30-45 minutes at a time on the way back. So, by the end of the trip he was a mess. He didn't eat hardly anything the entire time. He just drank milk - and let us tell you it is not easy to come by in Sea World. We know where to look now!

The boys had a lot of fun playing in the hotel. They were all so excited to sleep some place new.

Next time we are thinking about staying some place cheaper and just pay for two rooms so they can have their own space!

Anna did awesome. She was the best little girl! We told her over and over how wonderful she was :) She was definitely rewarded.
There aren't any pictures of Shamu, unfortunately. We sat in the soak zone and so I didn't take the camera out of the bag. I actually wrapped it up in diapers (clean) - it worked. We got pretty wet but the camera stayed nice and dry!

Feeding the sea lions

Feeding the dolphins!

Just look at that ornery smile. He knows he's doing something he shouldn't. He thought it was so funny to run farther and farther away. When he couldn't go any farther that way he decided to go up!

Penguins in Texas. Jaden really enjoyed seeing them.

All in all we had a really nice time. It was really neat to watch their little faces light up at all of the new sights they got to see. We bought a pass and will definitely be back before the year is out - just not during the summer! We'll wait for a nice fall day off-season when it is not as crowded. I think we'll be more prepared next time as well.

Must have been the shirt

Anna wore her "Big Sister" shirt the other day to school and when she came home she was sooo sweet to her brothers! While Jaden was fast asleep in the van she played so nicely with Luke and even posed (happily) for pictures. I've got to get some more of those shirts!

Happy Birthday to my boys

Today Luke turns one year old and Chris turns...well let's just say he's got a few more birthdays under his belt!
I can't believe my baby is one already. Where did the time go? A year ago I was still having a hard time accepting the fact that I was indeed going to have another baby and now I can't even imagine a single day without him. He was just what we needed. We are more complete because of him. In so many ways now I can see how perfectly he just "fits". I continue to learn everyday to just trust God because he knows what I need much better than I do :).

I'll post some pictures from the party soon. You've got to see pictures of babies covered in cake and icing on their first birthday!

My favorite time of the day

...right after putting them down for naps or bedtime is going in to get him when he wakes up! He is sooo sweet when he wakes up. He's all smiles and grunts and points and plays coy. It's the best!

Who needs expensive toys?

He's just so cute

even if it is a little weird...

I don't even know what to say

I have been going through baby clothes and what-not in the attic to get ready for a yard sale. In a plastic container with things I've decided I didn't want to part with Jaden found this Tigger jacket that was part of his Halloween costume when he was just shy of 4 months old (and he was born 2 months early so he was teeny tiny still - it was a 3-6 months size). He insited on putting it on. When I told him that it was for a baby and that it wouldn't fit him he just threw a fit! So, I put it on him fully expecting that he wouldn't even be able to get his arms through. By some strange twist of fate he was able to get it on AND I was able to zip it up! He even put the hood on! He played in this costume, ate dinner in the costume, and even wore it to bed! He actually just woke up as I'm writing this and he's still got it on! ha, ha, ha...

Luke is 11 months old

This is probably one of the last times I'll really be able to report his age in months. After this he'll be one year and _ months (though I know it's perfectly fine to say "15 months old" or "18 months old"), etc...
He's doing great! Now that he's walking and developing his gross motor skills he's got his appetite back. I'm so happy to watch him eat just about anything you put in front of him. That's my boy! I didn't like the hunger strike.
Okay, I'm going to admit something I probably shouldn't. Today at church I had the first pang of "Oh, my goodness, maybe I should have another baby". There was another couple in the cry room with us with 4 children. As I was watching them and watching my own little ones my mind went to that bad place. I actually started thinking that this could be a possibility. I thought about how Jaden was the same age as Luke is now when I got pregnant and they would be 20 months apart. I know what that's like now, I could handle it since I know what to expect. And I've learned more this time around so, I'd be better prepared. Right? Wrong! These were my thoughts though, it's true. Then, I had to shake my head and tell myself "No!" These are crazy thoughts. Crazy. Yes, babies are wonderful but they are also a lot of work. These three are more than I could have wished for. I am so blessed.

Honestly, I don't want to have to pack any more kids into the not-quite big enough bedrooms we have and can't even think about moving again to get a bigger house! Besides, even if I could afford another baby how would I be able to afford 4 teenagers! I can't even imagine the bills for clothing, entertainment, and car insurance!

I think the moment that sparked this chain of irrational thoughts was noticing that Luke doesn't feel as "soft" to me lately. He is on the move now. He is walking about 80 percent/crawling 20 percent and that is widdling away every day as he gets better at standing himself back up after he falls down. It just makes sense that since he is getting stronger and is in constant motion he's not going to be as "soft". I'm going to miss the "soft".

I am loving watching him walk around a little akwardly still with his arms flailing above his head and his little fat legs moving faster and faster as he perfects his gait.

I know that they will always be my babies and I will see them this way even when they are sixty years old. It's just such a wonderful time! I do look forward to all of the new milestones and fun times ahead. Maybe I need to find someone with a baby who needs a babysitter? Maybe that would help me to get my "baby fix".

BTW- I know what you're thinking about the pics with the golf club...that kid looks a lot more like a hockey player than a golf player!