A Hot Week!!

!!!UNDERDOG!!!

This week we enjoyed LOTS of time in the sun!! We visited Grandpa and Grandma's pool lots of times!! Had fun with the neighbors and visited Mac Legends pool too! However, the biggest excitement of our week was the addition of a swing set in our backyard!! THANKS DADDY!! The boys love the new swing set!!!

Deacon enjoy the splashes from the kids playing in the pool

Jacob and Kenzi playing in the pool!

Jacob couldn't wait for daddy to get the swing set off the trailer with the BIG tractor

Jacob loves riding the tractor with Daddy!

Deacon just thinking

Thought it was fun have the water drip of the truck onto his head.

My little swimmer enjoying a day at the pool!

Mostly Pics

The last two weeks have been fun now that the weather has warmed up a little. We have been spending most of our days outside! I love it when the house isn't destroyed at the end of the day and Jason normally helps with the outdoor toys at night so that is nice! Jacob is anxiously waiting for daddy to build his swing set in the next week or so. He has also been doing really well with his bike!! Deacon is my speed crawler getting into everything. Wish I could fence him in the yard to keep him safe. He loves the concrete steps, the bark, and the flowers. Jacob has also enjoyed lots of spoiling with overnights at Grandparents and other special treats!! Sorry so many pictures just couldn't pick what to leave out. Helps me remember all the fun we have been having lately!!

Spoiled little boys cuddling up with Grandma before nap time!! Jacob looks like he is in a trance because he is a praise baby trance.

My first trip with the boys and grandma to the beach!!

First front yard picnic lunch! Not as successful as we had hoped. Jacob had a little trouble with the idea of actually eating at a picnic. He did much better spilling his food all over the blanket.

My sweet little Deacon already for a picnic in the front yard!

Visiting with the Berghorst Girls!!

I think Jacob liked the idea of the bunny better than the actual bunny!

Jacob and Jenna are such a funny little pair!! They both are full of fun and just make me laugh!

The girls were so sweet and even wanted Deacon to get a little ride!

Deacon loved snuggling up and showing off for his great Grandparents when we visited last week!

My two helpers ready to spill a few things for me while I make dinner!!

Jacob and Carter taking a ride in Liam's fancy wagon built by his Daddy!

Jacob enjoying a special cinnamon roll made by one of my moms good friends. Obviously he is enjoying it. No need for a fork!!

Jacob 2 years 3 months

Jacob is just so much fun!!! I love love love having a two year old. Despite the tantrums and strong will Jacob just makes every day so much fun. He is so much more cuddly than he was as a baby. I love to cuddle with my kids so this is a major plus. He is also loving just being home and playing with his brother. This is a major plus for Mommy even if we make it to the gym less and less every week. I keep telling myself I have the rest of my life to be thin, the boys will be big before I know it.

Right now Jacob's favorite things are to play make believe and to sing songs. It's nice for him right now that Deacon doesn't know the difference and will go along with his little games. His favorite thing to play make believe with is his blanket. Sometimes it's a cage for his puppy and other times it is a cape or a scarf. It is so funny to listen to him play. He has a BIG imagination. The other day he was giving my friend Haley pieces of sand that were caterpillars and bugs. How funny is that, seriously where does he come up with this stuff??? Our table is also a rain forest for him and Deacon to play in. Don't call it a table or Jacob may loose control. Jacob also pretends to be animals and that his is hunting and fishing. As long as he doesn't pretend to be shooting the lady at target again I'm OK with it.

Jacob is such a little singer. His favorite song to sing is the ABC song. The only problem is that he is very selective about who he will sing it for. He sings it best for Great Grandma Huyser and for me. Don't know why the little guy is so shy about his favorite song. I hope to video him soon!! He also like the song "When Pigs Get Up In The Morning" from kindermusik. He loves to change the wording and sing when Jacob gets up in the morning.

Jacob's most recent obsession is the girls who live next door. He talks about them and asks for them everyday. If the girls aren't outside he always tells me what they are probably doing. "Mommy, Kenzi and Brooke are probably eating lunch" or "Mommy, Kenzi and Brooke are probably sleeping" It is really very cute how much he enjoys playing with them. They also two of the nicest little girls. They play really sweet together and because they are both a little older than he is they try to take care of him.

That's my little Jacob!! I love him more and more everyday and I'm so thankful that I'm able to be home with him and enjoy his sweetness!! Praise God for the beautiful gift he gave me in Jacob!

My little Artist

While Deacon took a nap this morning Jacob and I did a little painting! Jacob loves arts and crafts. Mommy also loves all the fun things Jacob is able to do now that he is a little older. We laughed and sang lots of songs as we painted together. Most of the paintings have lots of pink, Jacob's favorite color!!

Thanks for a fun morning Jacob!! I love you buddy you are getting to be such a big boy!!

9 Months and still so SWEET!!

Deacon is still my snugly little sweetheart! It's hard for me to believe he is already 9 months old. He is our speedy little guy cruising around the house using anything in sight to pull up on to get to what he wants. One of his favorite spots to stand is by our bar stools in the kitchen. Makes mommy nervous as his little feet slide apart on the wood floor.

Jacob and Deacon have been interacting more and more, some good some bad. The cutest is when Jacob pretends Deacon is one of his favorite characters or animals and then Deacon is just so excited that Jacob is being "nice" he just giggles and follows Jacob around the house.

Deacon had his first 2 teeth come in in the last month. They are finally through enough that you can really see them. I guess I should try to get a good picture of them. Deacon still loves to eat but the only table foods he can tolerate are the carbs. just like his big brother. Mommies dreams of her little boys eating lots for healthy fruits and vegetables aren't exactly coming true. Hopefully they will grow out of their reflux issues and be able to enjoy the yummy fruits and veggies in a non-pureed form.

Favorite things at 9 months: Blanky: Deacon basically melts into his blanket. Thankfully my mom found a back up one for half off so we don't have to live in fear of losing it like we do with Jacob's. Club Crackers: Deacon could probably eat 10 of them in a sitting. Thankfully Target had them on sale last week so we stocked up! Outside: If the doors open Deacon is crawling to get out. He loves the fresh air and being outside. He doesn't care what we do he just wants to be outside.

Deacon had his 9month appointment this morning. He now weights: 19 lbs. 8 oz. (40%) Length: 28 inches (50%) Head Circumference 46cm. (75%). I guess we can't really call him Frank the Tank anymore. :( Developmentally he is doing really well he seems to be ahead on all of his motor skills. The Doctor was thrilled that he is crawling as sometimes babies with lots of congestion and reflux have trouble with these things. We need to keep listening for Deacon to become more verbal. I'm sure Daddy will love having to little chatter boxes!!! We praise God for our happy little boy and continue to pray his reflux and allergies remain under control!

Deker Bear I love you little guy! You bring so much joy into my days! I love how excited you are whenever I walk into the room. I know these days wont last forever, soon you will be like your big brother you will want to do lots of things without your mommy but even if just for today I will savor these moments!

Our Little Dutch Boys

We have been enjoying the Tulip Time festivities with lots of dressing up and eating junk food. We met our small group downtown Sunday night and then went back down tonight with both my parents and Jason's parents. We also made our first every trip to Veldeer tulip farm with the boys on Monday for lunch and to check out the Buffalo's. Despite the price it was a fun little family activity. Jacob loves his costume and shoes making it much easier than last year to get out the door for all the Tulip Time activities. Sorry couldn't decide on pictures so you get LOTS!!!

This is the best picture we could get of the two of them together. Neither of them like to sit :)

Don't they look precious walking together through the tulips!

Grandpa and Grandma with all the grand kids!!!

Lydia was sleeping so we thought we could maybe get them all to lay together. It was funny at the time but it looks pretty silly now!!

Gisele loves to help hold Deacon!!

Thanks Grandma Bouwens for making all the grand kids costumes!!! They all look so cute!!

Teeth,Stitches,Allergies,Flu?,Ear Infection,Reaction

TEETH
Deacons first tooth finally popped through last week Wednesday! It sooo fun to peek in there and see his little white sliver of a tooth. His bottom right tooth will soon be poking through too.

STITCHES

This time it wasn't Jason getting the stitches it was my little Jacob. He had a slip in the tub and split his chin open. Jason thought he could fix it with second skin or super glue but Mom disagreed when the supper glue came out. Jason instead took him to Zeeland ER and returned around midnight with 4 stitches. Jacob also got lots of stickers for begin such a good patient!! He must have been tired because that little guy never sits still.

ALLERGIES

Deacon had his first appointment with an allergist yesterday and the conclusion is that he is allergic to dust mites, dogs, mold, fresh cut grass and Christmas trees. He did great at the appointment now mom and dad just need to work on making some changes to his environment to keep him more comfortable. The doctor also thinks he may have asthma due to the allergies and reflux so we now have an inhaler for when he has difficulty breathing. Yikes!! Who new one little kiddo could have so much going on.

FLU

Yup! Deacon has the flu again!!! We went for lunch after his allergy appointment yesterday and he went through 3 outfits during the meal. We headed home and couldn't keep anything in the poor kids. Jacob is thankfully staying healthy at my mom and dad's while we get Deacon better again!

EAR INFECTION

Deacon was also diagnosed with a double ear infection while at the doctor today. Sadly at 8 1/2 months Deacon has his first ear infection. We are hoping this isn't a sign of more to come for him.

REACTION

Deacon's ear infection could not be treated with an oral antibiotic because he has the flu so they decided they should give him an antibiotic shot. Bad idea, he had a reactions and his poor little legs got a bumpy red rash within minutes. Needless to say I spent an extra 40 minutes at the doctor due to the reaction waiting to see if it would spread. Thankfully it didn't and he is finally sleeping in his crib for the first time after a little car ride to put the poor baby to sleep.

We are praying Deacon gets better real soon, we are starting to really miss our Jacob but know it's better for him to stay away and stay healthy.