First Day of Preschool

Jack started school yesterday.  He was excited, but really nervous.  When we asked him if he was a little bit scared he would say, “no, I’m a lot scared!”  This is the picture we took to go on the bulletin board in his classroom.

Here he is getting ready to leave with his backpack.

This is in the parking lot before we walked down to the school.

His school is a little log cabin on 9 acres of mostly wooded land.  It’s awesome!  They go on a nature walk everyday (even all winter) and all their class themes are nature based.

This was an after school shot.  The first thing he told me when I picked him up was, “I can’t wait until I get to come back to school!” He said they had circle time and went for a walk.  He told me there were “lots of leaves and branches and sticks” on the trail.  They ate snack, but didn’t have time to play on the playground.  He also told me all the kids were nice to him, which was something he was worried about.

Cole didn’t much like leaving Jack at school, he was pretty upset with me when we drove away.  He and Annie napped most the time he was gone.

  I put Annie in the chair while I went get something and when I came back Cole had climbed up to sit with her.  He’s getting much better at being gentle with her.  He even lets her chew on his fingers and then acts all grossed out…it’s pretty funny to see.

Zoo

The other day we met some friends from “the other world” (as Jack likes to call Midland) at a zoo about halfway between us. Jack has been missing his friend Julia and he was absolutely thrilled to see her. It turned out to be a really cute little zoo. I have very few pictures of anyone’s face, but I did get some cute ones.

We were so glad they were willing to make the drive down! The boys had so much fun. Cole has been hearing peacocks everywhere and asks if we are going to the zoo to see Julia every time we get in the car.

I didn’t get any pictures of Annalee at the zoo, (she was either sleeping or screaming to be fed the whole time). So….

And have I mentioned Jack is pretty cute with her?

A lot has happened since I last posted!  Matt finished residency,  we had grandparents visit (Matt’s dad, my parents), we blessed Annie and we moved to Kalamazoo!  Of course I have pictures of none of it because our nice camera lens broke the day of Matt’s graduation and our little point and shoot is missing a battery charger.  We’re back in business now with a new lens…so here are some picture randoms!

Blowing bubbles on the back porch.

Cole is a future wrestler/linebacker, I think.  He  loves to knock Jack down and/or sit on him.  Jack is amazingly tolerant, and Cole seriously can’t be stopped (he thinks its funny to get in trouble).  I realize I wasn’t exactly helping matters by taking pictures, but seconds before this Jack was laughing…I promise I rescued him moments after these were taken.

Even Annalee is not exempt from steamroller Cole. (Again, she was rescued soon.)

I just love this one because it is so Cole!

Jack was particularly proud of this Mr. Potatohead and asked me to take a picture.

He loves playing with Annalee, especially when she grabs his finger.

This NEVER happens!  My kids are not ones to fall asleep anywhere but in their beds or maybe the car. (yes, he has a little bit of a black eye, a result of jumping on daddy and catching an elbow in the process)

Cole thought Jack sleeping on the floor was funny, too.

Social smiles!

Cole has some breathing issues…so when he gets a cold we have to do nightly breathing treatments. He is getting so used to it that I just tell him it’s time and he climbs up, gets his mask and turns on the nebulizer. We watch Yo Gabba Gabba while he gets his meds and he will usually sit through most of it holding the mask himself…so cute!

Today we went to our town’s annual Memorial Day Parade. It’s perfect for our boys…marching bands, trucks, tractors and candy! (They are also sporting their new summer haircuts.)

Annalee slept the whole time, and apparently was having some pleasant dreams.

Cole was old enough this time to want to go after the candy. We were right at the end of the parade route and so lots of people were unloading the rest of their stash. By the end we were just picking it up so it didn’t get left in the street.

If you’ve talked to me recently, I’ve probably told you about our new stroller. It is a monster. Having three little kids I already feel like we attract a lot of attention…I get told all day long, “wow, you really have your hands full.” Now people point me out to each other and I hear stroller comments. Yes, it’s giant and heavy and long, but it’s functional and I love it.

I can’t believe our little Annalee is five weeks old already! I have been seriously slacking in the picture taking. Sorry, poor 3rd child--I know your Aunt Lindsey will be able to commiserate someday. I’ve always heard the transition from 2 to 3 is the toughest, and I must say it’s a big adjustment…it’s generally total chaos at our house these days. We are getting out and about a little easier and I’m pretty sure we’ll all live through these next few months.

Annalee didn’t love her first bath like the boys did…she screamed the whole time.

She may also be our first thumb-sucker. You can’t really tell in the picture, but she is actually holding her thumb in with the other hand. She’s pretty good with a binky these days though.

These are just a few pics I took today when I realized I didn’t have all that many good ones from the last few weeks (at least not with her eyes open). Notice the awesome pink and black lovey that Aunt Rebecca made for her…yes, I’m using it as a blanket for now.

I love this one, but I wish she didn’t have her binky in! I have to point out her shirt. We were shopping one day while I was still pregnant and Jack saw this shirt. He insisted that his little sister would love it and that we had to buy it for her. How could I resist? (It’s a monkey holding an ice cream cone)

Annalee Nalani Taylor

After many, many doctor visits and ultrasounds and lots of worry, she's here and she's perfect! We went in for induction Monday morning and at 6:28pm Annalee Nalani was born. 6lbs 4oz, 19.25". Pretty good size for a baby we were so worried would be super teeny tiny! It seems she made up some time the last few weeks, going from <3rd percentile for months, to 11th on the last 2 scans, to pretty normal size at birth. Labor went really fast again, once it got started...5cm to baby in about 2 hours and 1 push! Our doctor made it in time to deliver this time. Some of you will be interested to know I did get a working epidural ;-)!

She is a fantastically mellow baby so far (knock on wood) and her brothers absolutely adore her. Jack was almost in tears after leaving the hospital the first night, telling grandma "I didn't even get to hold her!" The next day he did get to hold her and kept telling me "Mama, I just love her so much!" Cole constantly wants to know where the baby is and to continuously give her hugs and kisses. So far she's been very tolerant. We are so grateful she's here and healthy and like Jack, we all "just love her so much!"