Since it appears we’re now planning for a September baby we’re kicking preparations into high gear.  Her room is one of the biggest projects on the to do list and it definitely needs some love.  We’re still desperately searching for a dresser and bookshelf for Noah, or a changing table and dresser for Kate.  Either way we have just enough bedroom furniture for one child but no one seems to sell anything as nice as what we originally purchased, which of course has been discontinued.  The other big obstacle is painting the room.  It’s best for me not to participate in the painting, given my “condition” and all (and the fact that if I have to lug this kid around it just seems fair that someone else can get ready for her), so it’s all on Walter.  To help I decided to tape off the trim work in the room.  Noah couldn’t resist helping though and we got several laughs out of his techniques.  I don’t think my son will become a master painter anytime soon!  Here is the taping process through Noah’s eyes -

First, you supervise while catching up on important phone calls -

Then you work very hard to properly tape your friends -

Next you take camera phone photos of everyone involved -

And then you assist in the taping process (apparently Kate is going to have random polka dots on her walls, ummm, and carpet) -

And once you’re done you give all of your employees a big hug for a job well done -

So about 5 years ago I bought these doormats that have been deemed “death mats”.  I refused to get rid of them, they were perfect, we even got the rubber lining underneath, it didn’t help.  We’ve had (and so have some of our house guests) a few slips and many near misses but tonight Noah took the cake.  He walked on top of one and turned the corner and down he went.  The poor kid wasn’t even running.  Man, did he scream!  As with most wounds you can’t really see the extent right away.  As soon as the tears stopped it was pretty obvious though.  Our son looks like he’s trying to become a unicorn.  Maybe I should toss the mats now, that is after I accept my Mother Of The Year Award.  Yikes!

I’ve blogged about “Monkey” before but we have some sweet new photos of Noah’s favorite pal to share.  I’m afraid he’ll take this poor thing to college with him, should he still be in one piece by then (monkey that is). 

My boys have cooties!  Well, Hand Foot and Mouth Disease, or the coxsackie virus, to be more exact.  We think Noah picked it up at school but we had no idea, we are such first time parents!  On Tuesday we saw a blister under his toe so on Wednesday after school I was going to take him shoe shopping, since his shoes must be getting too tight – right?  WRONG!  I took his shoe off after school that day and his feet were covered in them!  We went straight to the doctor’s office to learn it was in deed HFTM, which sounds so gross!  And since it could be dangerous if I get exposed, because of the baby, Walter took two days off of work to handle cootie duty and guess what, now he has it.  Everything we read and everything the doctor’s say tells us that adults *shouldn’t* be able to really catch it, that it’s a children’s disease.  I guess for Walter there are downfalls to never wanting to grow up! 

Here was Noah at the doctor’s office -

And my boys this morning.  Noah’s is getting better, Walter’s is just starting.  Please pray I don’t start showing symptoms!  On the bright side it doesn’t seem to be slowing either of them down, they haven’t caught the fever or loss of appetite portion of the virus and it’s so nice to have all of us together for a few extra days.

I love coffee.  I hardly make it through a day without a cup, although these days it’s decaf.  Because of this addiction, Noah and I have spent several mornings watching strangers and playing on furniture at Starbucks.  I love Starbucks.  Well yesterday as we’re driving home from school he says he wants a treat from Toolbox.  It took me a few minutes but I finally asked him “Starbucks?”, his face lit up and he said “YES!”.  I guess we both love Toolbox, umm, I mean Starbucks. 

As promised I am updating our kitchen photos.  We hope to have it COMPLETED this week.  How exciting if we can actually cook next weekend!  Here are photos from last Thursday.  Things should be moving by Tuesday and done on Friday if all goes well. 

Very unfortunately our refrigerator will be the last appliance to be replaced.  We purchased it with everything else but the new model is on backorder until the middle of August.  Luckily we have this one in the meantime but it’s just such an eye sore!

And this, Ladies and Gentlemen, is DEAD SPACE!  It’s in the corner between the refrigerator and sink and it is absolutely killing Walter.  I wish they could just put a counter top on already so it didn’t hurt so much.  He would love to find a solution where he could cut a hole into the cabinet in order to use it but I’m afraid we would be sorry we did it.  I wish our contractor actually LISTENED to us but it seems the more money he gets and the closer to the end we are the worse his hearing, uhhh… listening, becomes.  Oh the joys of home ownership!

I also had Walter snap a few photos of Kate and Noah this weekend.  Unfortunately I had to be in the photos too.  I’m definitely bigger around this pregnancy and getting a lot more of the lovely stranger comments (“You must be due any day!”, “Are you sure you’re not having twins!?”, “You may want to double check with your doctor, you must be further along!”).  I’m fat and pregnant people, get over it.  Hopefully I don’t get too much bigger though!  It’s a hot summer and I’m already starting to waddle!  Noah wasn’t very interested in being a part of this exercise so we’re lucky to have gotten something.

He and Walter love to talk to Kate.  They lean down, bury their mouths and in their loudest, deepest voices say “Helllllooooo Kaaatttte”.  Noah felt Kate kick for the first time this weekend.  He jumped and said “Oh!  Do it again!”.  Just wait until he finds out she’s moving in!

We seem to have become a home improvement blog.  Did you know – we have a two year old too?  Just kidding.  It just seems it’s been awhile since he’s made an appearance.  So, here you go – some new photos.  On a side note the kitchen cabinets are all done, I’ll show you later!

Noah is loving swim lessons and now could spend hours in the tub just floating, swimming and playing.  I couldn’t resist grabbing the camera the other day.

And here’s how you know it’s summer.  Check out that WHITE BUTT!  He tans up very quickly!  Too bad mom doesn’t have that luck!

The first photo is the proper response to “where’s your smile?”.  These were just before a haircut.

Some of you know that Noah has started a new school.  This is his second week at Summit Montessori Private School.  We chose to make the change because we felt he would get more out of the montessori environment and while we’re not expecting him to be a master of statistics by kindergarten we figured if he was going to a school he might as well learn something, even if by accident.  His previous school (which I loved to pieces) sent home progress reports with their weekly lessons and unfortunately it was “This week we learned about ice cream!” or “This week we learned about cookies!” and I’m not exaggerating!  While its great for them to focus I think dessert is something they’ll learn all on their own in the real world, and definitely in our home!

So at the new school he has 9 weeks of swim lessons during summer camp and they spend a good majority of their time outside.  They play on the playground, they have lunch on picnic tables with the other classes, his teacher plays the guitar and they all sing in a little circle in the mulch, and in between all these super fun summer activities they do lessons in their classroom.  I think all the outdoorsy stuff and physical activity is finally catching up with our little guy though.  Today was the third or fourth time he couldn’t keep his eyes open on the way home.  I couldn’t resist taking a photo, I thought he looked adorable and as you can see he’s still madly in love with monkey (who is a little worse for the wear). 

Today was Noah’s birthday party!  We had a very small party this year with family at Apoe and Agoon’s house (those are Walter’s parents for those not in the know).  Since I was assisting with a wedding the night before we didn’t want anything too taxing or elaborate and this was perfect!  Family cooked, the decorations were simple, and Walter made the cake.  Overall we just visited and played.  The kids had a blast with so many people to entertain, the food was nearly glutinous, and at nap time everyone had just about used up every ounce of energy left.  Here are a few photos from the day.  Thank you to everyone who made it and apologies to those we couldn’t include this year.  I’m sure after the house fire and crazy My Gym parties back to back from last year you understand why we opted for something low key.

Noah’s actual birthday is Wednesday (05/21).  I can’t believe he’s going to be two!  It just doesn’t seem possible.  We’re planning to take him out for dinner and more birthday cake.  He LOVES blowing out candles and yells “FIRE, FIRE, FIRE!” whenever he thinks someone may let him blow anything out (this includes anything that lights, not just birthday candles).  I hope to have some photos to share then too.

Noah and I were at Publix the other day (we go almost every day) and followed our usual routine – get in the cart with the attached car (the size of three regular carts or so), “drive” to the bakery for a cookie, and get everything on the list before the cookie is gone.  This day at checkout though the bag boy was striking up a conversation with Noah.  He became so fond of him that he told us to wait and returned with a coloring book and crayons, featuring Plato the Publixaurus Dinosaur.  I had no idea they had goodies!  I’ve seen a helium tank and logo balloons from time to time (although no one has ever offered one) but I didn’t know they had such cool thanks-for-shopping-with-us gifts.  Noah couldn’t wait to color on it and didn’t waste a second.  This is him in the car on the way home, I couldn’t resist snapping his photo.  Notice where his feet are and how fun it must be to be my front seat passenger!