Family Dates!

4-18-06

Jack,

Boy are you getting so big! I really feel it in my back and my arms now when I carry you around, but I think it's good for me. Mommy is getting cut! (that means that my muscles are really starting to show - not that I've been injured... :) )

It's been a little while since I blogged last and a lot has happened. On April 8th, we went to Purina Farms to see the animals. Purina Farms is a little farm where they have mostly dogs and cats that they train to put on shows for animal training and care when kids come to visit. They also had bunnies and baby chickens and ducks, piglets, fancy miniature hens, goats, sheep, cows. Basically, every barn animal you could imagine. You were fascinated with the baby chicks, the fancy hens and the bunny rabbits. You looked over the little fence at the baby chicks as they ran from one heat lamp to the other back and forth. A couple of times, you tried to climb the fence because you wanted to join them. You also loved the bunnies and patted their very soft backs and the backs of the fancy hens. We had such a wonderful time.

You fell asleep on the way home and so we stopped for lunch at Fuddruckers. You woke up as we finished eating and we played with you at the table and then we went home.

Last weekend, I wanted to try a family date, so I proposed that we all go to a drive-in movie together. We planned it in advance so that we got to the drive-in and folded down the backseat so you had the whole back of the car to roll around in and put out your toys and blankets. We played with you until the movie started and then I held you on my lap while we all watched the movie: Ice Age 2. You loved watching the movie with us and snuggled on my lap until you got tired and then you drifted off to sleep. We put the blankets folded up under you for cushioning and you slept through the rest of the movie while your Daddy and I watched a double feature: The Benchwarmers, shared an Italian sub, some sodas and candy and then we all went home. It was a very nice evening!

The new stadium for the Cardinal's is open and the first game of the season opened last week - just a reference point for you when you read this when you are older, you'll know around what time all of these things happened.

And two days ago was your second Easter! You were so precious! You are still a little too young to grasp that it's a holiday, but we told you that someone had come the night before, and took you into the family room where there was an Easter basket with Peeps in it, a video, a plush Spongebob with bunny ears and other toys - match box cars and Mr. Potato Head parts - and you were so excited! You threw your little hands in the air and screamed and ran to the table all excited to grab your new Spongebob! It made me feel so good to see that!

We had so much fun, too, going to visit the family on Easter Sunday. We started out by visiting with Grandma and Poppa Dougherty and Erin, Brett, Calum and Denni & Dara Shank. We took pictures and you hugged baby Calum. It was so sweet.

From there, we packed up and went to Scott and Mary's house for Easter with the Roses. You hugged both Hannah and Brent and just loved getting to see everyone and spend time with them.

At one point, you tripped and fell in the grass and cut your lip on your teeth. There was a lot of blood. I had to cup my hand under your chin to catch it because it was running out of your mouth. I was really scared. I sat you on the outside table and Grandma Rose brought you her ice tea and you sucked on the ice until the bleeding subsided and you felt all better. I can't even see the cuts anymore! You are doing just wonderfully!

Right now, you have a bit of a cold - you are such a little trooper! We got up today and listened to music and danced and you crawled around before you left to spend the day with Grandma Dougherty and I came to work. My mind is still with you, though, my little boy! I can't wait to see you tonight!

Love,

Mommy