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!

So in addition to the amazing – gag – breakfast and the cry fest we also received gifts at yesterday’s Mother’s Day Brunch.  As cheesy as it may be I thought it was really sweet.  The kids painted flower pots and planted seeds.  There is a photo of them planting the seeds in the pots.  I have mine proudly displayed on our window sill and smiled when I watered it today.  I sure hope I don’t kill his little plant he worked so hard on.  His teacher said most of the kids’ plants didn’t sprout but that his did great all on its own.  Like Agoon, like grandson maybe?

Noah’s school had a Mother’s Day Brunch for us today and it was really sweet.  You know the kind of event where the teachers tell you how excited the kids are to sing us a song (that none of them actually sing) before they pass out cold pancakes and stale bagels.  Nonetheless, it was a very sweet gesture and something fun for us to do on a Monday morning.

Unfortunately before they broke in to the festivities they read us a very sweet book.  But, I’m pregnant. I’m emotional, no two ways about it.  I remember being emotional when I was pregnant with Noah but not this bad! I don’t know if it’s worse because it’s a girl (and there is extra estrogen) or I just got lucky.  But this book, “Love You Forever”, turned me into a slobbering idiot.  As soon as I saw the title I started getting choked up and thought “this isn’t going to be good”.  Well, it wasn’t.  As soon as they read the first page I welled up before breaking into the “ugly cry”.  Lips quivering, water works like crazy, I was a mess. Noah kept looking at me like I was nuts and all the other moms kept asking if I was ok.  My voice was so shaky I had trouble explaining why I was so emotional.  I was/am completely embarrassed.  I feel like such an idiot.  I couldn’t keep it together and it was mortifying, not enough to stop, but just enough to lose all my dignity.

If you haven’t read the book, it’s so sweet. But oh my, prepare to tear up. Here are the words that continue to make me get misty even now – “I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, as long as I’m living my baby you’ll be.”  

So in French papier is paper.  In our house – it’s FRUIT LOOPS!  Yes, Fruit Loops.  I’m not exactly sure how Noah came up with his own name for them or how he would be able to communicate that he wanted some to anyone but us, but I thought it was cute enough to share.

I do realize I won’t win the Mother Of The Year Award for allowing my nearly two year old to have a few Fruit Loops now and then but to my defense his other favorite cereal is Fiber One; which by the way he pronounces perfectly.  It’s also taken him a few months to get through a small box of the “papier”, we’re hoping the stale, gross ones will turn him off eventually.

While I love Walter to pieces, if you’re anything like me the renderings below of our addition did nothing for you.  Here I come to the rescue with some real photos.  Pretty soon we’ll even be able to have guests stay with us.  We’re already taking reservations if you’re brave enough to hang with us and the kids.

This is before, taken only 3 weeks ago…

This is from the same angle taken yesterday…

And here’s the inside -

Looking out from the house, into the backyard (which is still plenty big)…

And now looking into the house from the back of the addition.  Notice the pint size supervisor in the sliding glass door?  By next week that should be a set of French doors.

Today they framed out all the walls and will start with the drywall soon.  I can’t believe how fast this has come together.  We’re very excited to move in.  If only we can decide on a paint color!

So we seem to go there a lot, I know!  We have an annual pass and Noah loves the giraffes and water park.  Monday our friends Rachel and Ayla had a lot of family in for Ayla’s second birthday party so we all caravaned up to West Palm for some fun in the (hot!) sun.

This was the first time we saw goats.  Noah got stabbed by the horns of one but did much better once he found some his own size and some without horns.  Ayla on the other hand warmed up very quickly!

Noah and the baby goat having a deep conversation…

And his personal favorite – the giraffes…

This was the first time we got to feed them leaves.  He had no fear.  I on the other hand didn’t want to get licked but was still slimed at least once.  Do you see my belly?  I’m not even half way pregnant and I already have a tummy!  It’s going to be a long summer!

Monkey see, monkey do?

Yeah, the waterpark!  Noah and Ayla’s Nana had a blast!  I got a break under the shade.

Here’s what Noah thinks of people watching him eat…

And we finished the day with rides.  Here he is on the Ferris Wheel.  Ayla’s Nana (Diane) was so great, she took him on everything I couldn’t ride because of my “condition”.  He loved every minute of it!