A first for both of us

Can anyone guess what today was? OK. Here's a few hints. It involved:

getting a haircut yesterday
dressing in a spiffy new shirt
packing a lunch

Anyone who does not already know want to take a guess?




It was Lane's first day of preschool! He'll be attending school on Monday and Wednesday each week.

It is a little earlier than Papa and I originally anticipated but plans change. With a baby on the way, we both want Lane to have something of his own. Some set time to play each week. Preschool guarantees that Lane will at least have somewhere fun to go twice a week while I am at home nursing a newborn. (And if Bro Bro is anything like his big brother, he will nurse a lot those first few months.)

It also gives me time to give my undivided attention to Bro Bro, which I think we will both enjoy.

So, not wanting to drop a baby and preschool on Lane at the same time, we signed Lane up earlier than we thought we would. (Our original plan was after his second birthday.)

Lane and I went for a trial run on Wednesday, and he really enjoyed himself. I really like the school, the staff and the curriculum.

Lane will attend the young two's class - two teachers, six kids and a mom of one of the kids is in the classroom each day.

Today, we went big and went to school.

Any one want to guess what that meant for me?

Faking a smile as I watch the babes head out to the playground. Then, Papa called and I lost it. I cried all the way from Woodstock to Alpharetta, where I was headed to go for Bro Bro's monthly appointment.

Want the run-down on my boys:

Lane:
The teachers there don't sugar coat.
Today was not his best day.
But, they've seen worse.
He didn't enjoy himself as much as he could have/will.
He didn't play much.
He didn't eat much of his lunch.
He didn't want to participate in the after-lunch activity so the teachers changed the plan and just let the kids play with the toys.
He didn't cry the entire time.
He did get very tired.
When I arrived at noon, he was sitting in his teacher's lap, very sleepy, reading a book.

My heart broke all over again.

We will go back Wednesday.

Bro Bro:
Bro Bro still does not have a name.
We aren't forcing it.
We each have one or two we like.
We aren't sure if those few are his name.
Like Lane, we will wait until his name comes to us.
Like Lane, that might mean a few weeks before he arrives.

He is growing as he should be.
My belly measures right at 22 weeks.
His heartbeat beats at 152 beats a minute.
(Just like his brother.)
Unlike his big brother, he is not making me anemic.
(Those mega pills I have been taking must be working.)
And for those of you who were worried about my weight, Paola, Mom and Dad, he has finally made me pack on a few pounds.
I am no longer on the opposite side of my prepregnancy weight.
In the last month, I gained back the few pounds I lost and even gained a few more.
The bump proves it.

Lazy Sunday

The boy & the bump

21 weeks






P.S. I forgot to post these on Friday because Lane and I were too busy celebrating my mom's birthday with her. Thanks for spending the day with us Mom. Isn't Lane one of the best presents you could ever get?

Brothers

More photos from Sunday's shoot.

Andrew Thomas + Preston Ryan Ward =

Brothers.

Our boys

Photographing our boys.

Stephanie's sister Diana and her son Gabe came in to town to visit with the family and to meet Preston. On Sunday, we took the boys outside for a photo shoot.

The cousins

The brand new babe

The cutie

The onlooker

The unofficial photographer

The wildman

The bubble admirer

The sleeper

Breakfast

There's more than a million things I love about my babe.

How much he enjoys eating his breakfast is just one of them.

Happy

These few things really make Lane happy:

Playing in the backyard
With his short hair
Eating a poppie
Throwing a ball

These few things really make Marley happy:

Lane playing in the backyard
With the short hair
While eating a poppie
And throwing a ball

That means he is leaving her alone.
And that makes her happy.

The boy & the bump

20 weeks

Jump Day

Monday proved to be a long day for the babe. Our original plans included visiting Stephanie and Preston to take some photos of our newest babe. When Eddie and Preston offered Stephanie the opportunity to catch up on some sleep, we all agreed it would be best to postpone our plans.

That left me with a day to catch up on laundry, do some cleaning around the house and enjoy some time at home. While this is always nice for a mama, the babe didn't agree so much.

He had a bad case of ants in the pants - running around the house like a mad man, jumping off furniture, harassing the dogs, coloring on the walls.

Papa provided mama with some relief while I went to Pilates Monday night. Hoo Bird stayed home.

On the other side of town, Andrea had a case of ants in her pants as well.

That evening, as the two of us talked, we decided we better make some plans to get our little ants together first thing Tuesday morning.

We'd meet at the pool.

I felt a sudden sense of relief knowing Lane would see his bestie and run off some of his energy.

On the phone that evening, I recapped our day to my mom as Lane used the bottom step as a launching pad. I warned him otherwise. Then, I heard the cries.

A busted lip.

Just the way to end our day.



When we woke to gray skies Tuesday morning, I knew a change of plans was needed. Canceling plans was out of the question.

So, we settled on a good old fashion Jump Day.

It has been a while since we have taken the two of them to jump -what with all the warm weather offers.



And they looked so big in those bounce houses. Such a change in such a short amount of time.

For more than an hour, these two bounced, went down the slides, climbed, laughed, snacked - and burned some energy.





















And then they went home and slept like babies.

Just what all four of us needed.