Happy Spring!

Whoa!  It's June already?!  Dave has finished his first year of teaching which went quite well.  He really seemed to enjoy himself and got good reviews from the students!  I had no doubt he would do great.  I thought things would slow down for him this summer--silly me!  His summer has already filled up with student research projects, his own research, and other various things a professor has to do.  Still, we have a lot of very exciting things going on this summer.

First and foremost, Jonah is with us full time!  He finished school on June 2nd, so we officially have a 2nd grader on our hands. :)  I am amazed at how much Jonah has grown this year.  He has really become a "big kid!"  Not to mention he has a mouth full of missing teeth!  I think he has lost 6 teeth so far.  Jonah had a great year at school.  His reading is exceptional, he had good grades across the board, his teacher said he was a joy in class, and his drawings are still far more impressive than anything I have ever been able to create.  I really hope we can continue to encourage his creativity.  

 By Jonah- Age 7

This is one of Jonah's school assignments that was my favorite and I just had to share (he spent spring break with us):

"by: Jonah.  Spring break was a awesome week!  I went to a karate class.  I learned kicks, punches and streches.  Also I played with my baby brother and he was cracking up at me.  Sometimes my dad made me laugh so hard my eyes watered.  Spring break was the best!!!!!!"

Jonah is VERY excited to be participating in Tae Kwon Do.  He has already gotten quite good and is close to earning his yellow stripe (the first step up)!  Not only is it a good physical outlet, but it also focuses on respect, determination, and integrity.  Every class he has to recite the tenants: "Courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self control, indomitable spirit, modesty!"  All in all, we hope it will be good for him.  We definitely need to get that kid back in shape!  Hello bike rides, swimming, trips the the park, and lots of outside play time!

Go Jonah!

Dave and I have been most impressed with what a great big brother Jonah is to Will.  He is great about trying to help Will the moment he becomes upset, and he is the BEST at making Will laugh!  It is so fun to watch the two boys together.  They seem to really love each other.  

Jonah-7   Will-6 months

Jonah-7   Will-8 months

I was more than happy to see winter go this year.  The nicer weather could not have come sooner!  One of the spring highlights was having my parents and the Smiths come for a visit over Spring Break.  It is always great spending time with family, and it made Will's first Easter extra special!

Easter 2015
Jonah-7  Cammie-6  Maysie-4  Will-6 months

  

  

Fun at the zoo!

    

Will ready to check out the zoo!

Will resting with Nana and Papa in his favorite spot!

We also had a fun time during our visit to Michigan in May.  It was so exciting watching Maysie graduate preschool and to celebrate Cammie's 7th birthday!  Will also had his first visit to the beach.  He spent a lot of the time fussing... Hopefully he grows to like the beach a little better. :)

Big Red -May 2015

  

Cammie (almost 7 yrs) is one of Will's favorite babysitters!

Beach fun!

Happy 7th birthday, Cammie!
Cammie, Uncle Nico, Maysie

Happy preschool graduation, Maysie!

Will is growing like a weed!  He is now 8 and 1/2 months old.  As his mom, every new stage he reaches is somewhat bittersweet.  It is SO FUN watching him figure things out and gain new abilities each day.  (He just learned how to climb the stairs the other day!)  But at the same time I am watching my baby grow before my eyes!  He is now crawling all over the place, getting into anything he can get his hands on, pulling himself up to a standing position, "talking" more and more, and has tons of personality!  It's like as soon as kids figure out these new skills, they instantly master them!  We are convinced he will be walking well before he turns one.  He can already walk if he holds onto my fingers.  What a big boy!

8 months

6 months

3.5 months

4 months

5 months

Loving bath time!  5 months

His face after he splashed himself :)  5 months

  

7 months 

8 months

8 months

Hangin' with mom at the grocery store!

Silly goose!  8 months    

While it is a little sad to see Will grow out of some of his cute tiny baby clothes, it is so much fun to watch him these days.  He is definitely a Mama's Boy, but he's becoming more independent.  Sleep is still our biggest challenge.  My boy doesn't seem to need steady sleep!  He is down to only 1 nap (about 2 and 1/2 hours long on a good day), doesn't fall asleep until about 10 or 11 at night, and then wakes up at least every 2 hours in the night.  He still spends most of the night in our bed because we don't have the heart to let him "cry it out."  He is only this young once, and the truth is that I love having my baby curled up under my arm.  On the rare occasions he does fall asleep in his crib I find myself missing him and fighting the urge to go check on him!  There is nothing sweeter than a sleeping baby.  I just wish he would sleep a little more soundly so Mommy and Daddy could get a decent night's sleep!  Overall though, he has been a pretty happy kid.

7 months

8 months

Birding with Daddy!  7 months

As for me, I am just enjoying my time as a stay-at-home mom.  It is financially tight having only one income, but I am so thankful to be home with my baby and my big kid!  There is not a day that goes by where I am not grateful.  Will and I have had lots of fun getting to know other moms and kids at our play groups.  Turns out there are a lot of other moms in my position--new moms who are new to the area and trying to meet new people!  We have met a lot of great people this way.  I have kept my sanity by doing lots of walking with Will, mostly to the university to visit Daddy.  I also joined the YMCA to get some exercise and take advantage of the Child Watch they offer. Will is still adjusting to other caregivers.  Some days he does great, other days he screams until Mommy comes to get him.  We had a fun surprise a few months ago--Will already made it in the newspaper!  We are on the far right.

We made it into the newspaper!  Will-5 months

I have also officially enrolled in graduate classes for the fall.  I am excited to start my Master's program in Science Education, but am also nervous about the whole mothering-while-studenting thing.  I hope it will be a good transition going from stay-at-home mom to student mom to (eventually) working mom.  My hope is to eventually teach at the university and/or become involved with a local nature center.  Wish me luck!  I think I am going to need it...

We also have a lot of upcoming trips this summer.  Later this month we are going to the Adirondacks of New York so Dave can teach a fishing class at a camp out there. Some other faculty members are also going with their families.  Gotta love all-expenses-paid vacations!  In July we have our visit to Washington planned to see the Janetskis, and then we will be heading back to Michigan in August so Dave can do more field work and to spend time with my family.  We are so excited to see our families again!

I will end with a few photos that were taken by our friend Cheri Widzowski.  Thank you, 

Cheri Widzowski Photography!

Will-7 months  Jonah-7