Amazing Moment of the Day

While I was typing up the last post, Nate was goofing off in the office. Then he said, "Mom, this glass is pretty dirty. Do you mind if I clean it?"

My answer after I picked my jaw up off the floor? "Nope, go right ahead!"

What's more amazing, is what he did next.


Yep, he actually cleaned it.

Solar System

Today I asked Nate if he would draw a picture for my grandma (Grandma Deen) for her birthday, which is in a week. He decided to draw the solar system. With a little encouragement from me, and not much else, he drew the entire solar system, complete with planetary accessories like the Moon, Saturn's rings, Jupiter's red spot, and dwarf planets near Pluto. He asked me to label everything so she would know exactly what he drew. :)

This is the best drawing he's ever done, and now I don't really want to send it off - I want to keep it for myself. But I took lots of pictures, so I'll remember what it looked like, and I know Grandma will really enjoy it.

a welcome diversion

This afternoon I leave for a (relatively short) trip to Germany. Even though it's only four days, the fact that I'm going alone and overseas is making me nervous and anxious. If any one of those two factors were removed (someone going with me or just traveling domestically), I'd be fine. Add that my last trip to Italy was awful, and combine with the fact that I will miss my boys incredibly, and I just am not looking forward to it.

So today instead of our regular trip to the gym, I decided to take the boys to do something fun.

We went to the Bettendorf Family Museum.

The boys loved playing in all the various exhibits...

But the highlight had to be a free (well, after paying admission) concert by Jim Gill - the boys love his music. There was a lot of singing, dancing, and clapping. Mostly by the parents, though. Nate did join in on several of the songs. I do admit some of the songs are catchy but my ears were done after 25 minutes...or maybe it was my stomach. It was lunch time.

Afterwards we went to Arby's for lunch. It was at lunch I realized I'd forgotten completely about my upcoming trip. And as I realized I needed to get home and finish packing, the butterflies set in again. Oh, well. At least I had three hours that I didn't think about it.

a pea in my pod...

The word is getting out. Our close friends and family know, so I no longer am worried about posting it online.

Coming this October 3 (or more likely September...), we will be adding to our family. The boys will be getting either a new brother or sister. Of course we'd like a little girl, but honestly I don't care what we have. Three boys would be pretty cool too. And we'd have plenty of clothing...

Hopefully, just one. Twins don't run in our family, but man, at the rate I feel like I'm growing, I wouldn't be totally surprised. I'm kidding, kind of. 9 weeks and I feel like I'm starting to outgrow my clothes. I've heard this is totally normal for your third, your body knows what is coming and decides not to fight it. Why didn't my body tell my brain this, though? It would have made things a lot easier.

I've never been pregnant (visibly pregnant) in the summer. This time I will be in the most uncomfortable of the 9 months during the hottest time of the year. Yippee! ;) But I am looking forward to it, in a weird sort of way. Maybe I'll get some use out of that maternity swimsuit I've had for the last five years.

Nate and Nile are excited in only the way that a 4 1/2 and 3 year old can be. They pretty much don't care right now. Every once in a while, Nile will remember, and say something like he did at breakfast this morning. "When it's summer, and the baby comes, you'll have to sit in that chair, right?" (He was remembering a conversation last night when we told him why he can't sit at the head of the dinner table.) Or, "After summer, when the baby comes, I'll be in PRESCHOOL! Yeah!"

For the record, Nate thinks it's a girl, and wants to name her Emily or Emma. Nile thinks it's a boy. If it is a boy, Nate wants to name him Andrew. Sorry, Emily, Emma, and Andrew, but we told him we'll have to think of more original names ;)

Something fishy...

Last Saturday we started swim lessons. I was a little (okay, REALLY) apprehensive about this. Last summer when Nate was taking swim lessons, he freaked out and wouldn't get in the pool the first day, the second day I had to sit next to the side and literally talk him off the wall each time they wanted him to do something. So I was expecting the worst. Plus, I wasn't sure how Mr. Cranky (a.k.a. Nile) would do in the water - the last time we had tried this class at the indoor pool he had cried throughout it. The summer class was in the 1 foot deep baby pool and much less intimidating.

Turns out my fears were unfounded! Nile's "Mom/Dad and me" swim class went first, Nate got to watch Nile have fun in the water, (which he did! A lot of fun!), and then when his name was called he stuck his chest out and tried to march into the pool. I had to stop him, because they were just taking attendance and it wasn't time to get in yet.

This morning I was a little surprised when Nile said he wanted to swim with Daddy, but I was also very excited. We packed up and headed to the pool, and I did not bring a swimsuit. Turns out, I didn't need it either. Nile did great! And, so did Nate.

I may have two little fish on my hands this summer... :)

Nile and Tom waiting for class to start.

Nate, watching Nile's class.

Nile on the kickboard.

Nate waiting patiently to jump in.