Happy Mother's Day!!

We just want to wish all the new moms, old moms, and expectant moms out there a Happy Mother's Day!!! Blog updates done. Be sure to scroll down so you don't miss anything!! Some of the posts have been backdated. (Yes, I cheat on occasion ;-) )

Boys and Baseball

So, my dad made it to a-lot-of-years-old without ever going to a professional baseball game. When Scott heard that, it became his goal to get good seats at the Cardinals game while my dad was visiting. So, my dad & William went to their first pro baseball game together. William made it onto the Jumbotron (the very large TV where they show stuff happening in the stands & on the sidelines when the game is taking a break or switching innings) & was up there for quite a while, apparently. He also had an offer to take a picture with Fred-bird (the Cardinals mascot) while on his way to the bathroom, but the potty won out & he told them no. The Cardinals staff who was taking the picture, along with my dad, did their best to convince him as they intended to put it in one of their publications (we never did get the story on which one exactly--program vs. newsletter, etc), but William was having none of it. I guess they don't see a lot of young fans at the games, so William was a bit of a novelty. He came home very proud of the fact that he made "the big TV" and that he learned the name of the Cardinals first baseman, Albert Pujols (pronounced "Pool-hose" or something similar!). He also couldn't wait to tell us that the Cardinals won & they had fireworks!

Here they are waiting on the Metro train (until the fireworks, William's favorite part of the trip!):

From Will first Cardinals game

From Will first Cardinals game

From Will first Cardinals game

And a shot of the field. Shockingly, it was supposed to rain! They had great weather, tho.

From Will first Cardinals game

Beautiful shot of the St. Louis arch just behind the field (and the big TV just under the Budweiser sign is the Jumbotron):

From Will first Cardinals game

The boys in their seats:

From Will first Cardinals game

From Will first Cardinals game

From Will first Cardinals game

From Will first Cardinals game

Now, all William can talk about is how he can't wait to go back to another Cardinals game, but this time, he wants me & Daniel to come. Oh, and he REALLY, REALLY wants there to be fireworks this time!

National Day of Prayer

So, for those of you who weren't aware, May 4th is National Day of Prayer. Every year, the preschool that the boys attend do an entire program with songs & costumes & of course, PRAYERS! This year, Abe Lincoln attended (otherwise known as William's friend Hayden of the firestation BD party!):

From National Day of Prayer

Here is William & his "buddy", as he calls her, Anna waiting for their turn to go onstage. This is the most cooperative picture I could get:

From National Day of Prayer

Here is the Daniel-man saying hello to all of us on his way to the stage. Check out the fancy hat!! (It takes center stage later when they're singing their song in the video below)

From National Day of Prayer

Here is Daniel being sad because he can't come sit with us:

From National Day of Prayer

And, here is the William-man being silly (imagine that!):

From National Day of Prayer

Nana & Grandpa Sam

So, my parents forgot their camera when they came up (bad Grandparents!) and we kept forgetting to pull ours out! (bad Mommy & Daddy!), so there aren't too many pics of my parents holding the newbie. Here are a few cute ones of Nana:

From Nana

From Nana

From Nana

From Nana

They're supposed to come back in a month or two, so we'll have to make an effort to be better picture-takers!!

Little Firemen

William's friend Hayden won a firehouse birthday party at their school auction. My parents came in this morning, so Scott & I were able to take William all by ourselves! Nana & Grandpa Sam were very happy to have some baby time while Daniel napped!!!

From firetruck birthday party

Here are all the kiddos listening to the firemen tell them about safety & what to do in case of a fire. I was very impressed when the whole room shouted "Stop, Drop, & Roll!!" in response to the question of what to do if your clothes catch on fire. Go, Preschoolers!!

From firetruck birthday party

And, here are a couple of the younger brothers with their hats on. This is Peter, Stephen's little brother and our friends Michelle & Jason's youngest:

From firetruck birthday party

This is Wesley, Kaitlyn's little brother and Summer and Corey's little guy:

From firetruck birthday party

Here is William staring in (horrified?) fascination at the fireman in all of his gear. I couldn't decide if he was scared of him, or amazed by him!!

From firetruck birthday party

The kids even got to ride the old-fashioned fire truck since the weather held:

From firetruck birthday party

From firetruck birthday party

From firetruck birthday party

From firetruck birthday party

And, then they got to climb in & out of a more modern one & William even got to ring the firestation bell.

From firetruck birthday party

From firetruck birthday party

From firetruck birthday party

From firetruck birthday party

Conversations with Daddy

Here is just a random cuteness picture of my biggest guy sleeping on the couch with my littlest guy! Aren't they sweet?

From Colin & Daddy

And, later, they're having conversations. Scott would talk to Colin, who would listen attentively, then when Scott would pause, Colin would start moving his mouth & his hands. It truly looked like he was talking to Daddy!!

From Colin & Daddy

From Colin & Daddy

From Colin & Daddy

From Colin & Daddy

From Colin & Daddy

Hospital Visitors

We were very fortunate to have several visitors during the 48 hours we were in the hospital. Here is one of Colin's favorite visitors--they bonded while the "biggest brother" was in school Tuesday morning.

From Colin Hospital and Homecoming

From Colin Hospital and Homecoming

Daniel was very gentle with him & VERY glad that Mommy's "boo-boo" was better so he could curl up in bed with her. He DID NOT like it the day before when he couldn't hop onto Mommy's lap & cuddle with her because her belly had a boo-boo. The first thing he said when he walked into the room was, "Mommy, is your belly all better so I can get in your bed?"

And, here are our neighbors, Maddie & Allie, holding the little guy. The girls couldn't wait for him to be born so they could meet him. Allie is seven & has told me on numberous occasions that she'll be happy to baby-sit whenever I need her to. Can't wait to take her up on that ;-) Here is Maddie:

From Colin Hospital and Homecoming

And Allie:

From Colin Hospital and Homecoming

And, the Mommy helping in the corner is Mikki, my neighbor who helped us out by watching the boys while Colin was busy making his arrival. Thanks to their whole family for being such FABULOUS neighbors!!

Here are a few snaps from this morning before we left the hospital. The hospital has a wall on the maternity ward where they put the babies' footprints and the mommy's thumbprint before they discharge you. I got to write Colin's name and his birthdate. Here we are getting it all ready as well as a snap of the finished product:

From Colin Hospital and Homecoming

From Colin Hospital and Homecoming

From Colin Hospital and Homecoming

From Colin Hospital and Homecoming

And, just some snaps of the little man as we got ready to leave the hospital and after we got home. He's been SOOO alert today, in-between naps, of course!

From Colin Hospital and Homecoming

From Colin Hospital and Homecoming

From Colin Hospital and Homecoming

From Colin Hospital and Homecoming

From Colin Hospital and Homecoming

From Colin Hospital and Homecoming

From Colin Hospital and Homecoming

And, click this pic for the whole album--I left out a few, believe it or not!

Colin Hospital and Homecoming

More to come soon! Nana & Grandpa Sam arrive on Saturday, so the cameras will be clicking. Stay tuned........