Busy, Busy, Busy

Life has felt very busy the last two weeks.  We have had a couple doctor appointments for Nathan.  He has had problems with spitting up since the beginning.  We finally got him on baby Zantac and it seems to finally be the answer.  We took Nathan on August 16th and he weighed 11.1 pounds and was listed as 50th percentile for height, weight, and 35th percentile for head.  This wasn't counted as his official 2 month visit though because it was regarding the spit up.  We took him back in yesterday for the official 2 month appointment.  He was 12.5 pounds and almost 24 inches long.  He was 90th percentile for height and weight and 85th for head.  He still doesn't sleep in his crib but he sleeps in the baby rocker.  He doesn't mind being flat on his back now that we have the spit-up under control but I think he likes the rocker because it has him snuggled tight.  He prefers sleeping in someone's arms preferably while said person continues to pat his back or bottom.  His cutest quality is the fact that he will be crying in his rocker mid nap and you go to put the pacifier back in his mouth and he won't take it because he can't stop smiling at you.  The kid LOVES to smile.  He is doing all the things babies are supposed to do at 2 months.  He probably needs more tummy time to develop those muscles but he hates it so much so I hate to make him do it.  We also had a home visit with our case worker in regards to our adoption of Nathan.  She said all looks good so we are on track for our October 1st finalization!

In other news, we began official "school" again with Joshua.  This summer we have just been doing our calendar and daily scripture reading with some educational activities occasionally but nothing really planned.   We finished the letter A and the letter B doing one letter a week.  We are now focusing on sounds instead of letter recognition.  "School" has had lots of songs, books, coloring, math, crafts, etc.  I also thought I would alternate poems with scripture or other short statements to memorize.  We have 13 statements that summarize our religious beliefs called The Thirteen Articles of Faith.  Joshua has memorized the first 2 without much effort.  This kid is really going to be a nerd.  :-)  My favorite activity was probably when we learned about astronauts.  Joshua loved "floating" around the house saying, "Oh no!  We don't have gravity."  Nathan likes being in on the action too.  We always make sure he is right there for the books and everything else.  He seems to enjoy hearing music.  

We are also watching our friend Roxy again twice a week too.  She is fun and Joshua loves having her around.  They are both fascinated with Nathan and love to race to return his pacifier.  Nathan has quite the fan club!  

I also had a dental appointment, a hair appointment, took kids to the children's museum, gym regularly, kept the house cleaned, and still managed to catch some episodes of Duck Dynasty!  Seriously, life is good!   However, after a lot of appointments and things out of the house I am looking forward to some nice home time coming up.  Turned the calendar over to September and it looks pretty calm.  I like keeping my chicks in the nest safe and sound with me especially when Texas is back in the triple digits it makes doing anything out of the house pretty miserable.  

Gruene, TX

We have our escape spot and it is Gruene, TX.  http://www.gruenetexas.com/  We really aren't big shoppers or interested in buying the homemade jams and other items found here but we still love going.  I think maybe it is because it is one of the first places we went on an adventure as just a family of 3 when we moved to Texas.  This was a big change after living so close to family and spending every weekend visiting with them.  So, since it was the third weekend of the month it was Gruene Market Days.  This means that lots of vendors come selling their homemade/handmade items.  Gruene also has a general store, a pottery store, fudgery, antiques, and many other places to look around.  There are apparently many good restaurants in Gruene but we only know of one, The Gristmill.  This restaurant is on the river and was converted into a restaurant originally it was an 1870s cotton gin.  http://www.gristmillrestaurant.com/  The food is always delicious and even though it was very hot we had a really nice time.  We prefer to go in the cooler months but with Rachel here we thought we should show her our spot before she leaves.

 Rockin' the double BOB

 Joshua kept closing and opening the massive sun shade on this stroller.

 Both boys done with the stroller...

8 weeks old

8 weeks old today!  He has been smiling for a couple of days now but we finally managed to capture it today!  We pinch ourselves regularly to remind ourselves this is real and he is really ours.  (I can't wait for October 1st when we are able to finalize the adoption.)  

He has started trying to talk to us a little and that just makes us all beyond happy!  Nathan sits there and the three of us are all gathered around trying to get him to talk and smile.  All 3 of us (Joshua included) using that goofy sing-song voice you use only when talking to babies.  

Then the yawn that says okay enough of this photo shoot.  

Dad and Son Date

Matt and Joshua went to see the movie Planes.  Joshua had been watching the trailer for the movie on youtube.  He couldn't wait!  We knew it would be a hit because he loves the movie, Cars.  He also is seriously obsessed and in love with airplanes.  This was Joshua's first movie in the theater.  He was thrilled and for weeks we have been counting down on his calendar.  They had a great time and hope this is the first of many one-on-one dates.  Since the movie, Joshua has become Dusty, the main character, and flies wherever he goes.  

Dates

                                                         

While Rachel is here we are determined to go on as many dates as possible!  We went to the Boardwalk on Bulverde to check out the food truck scene.  It was a lot of fun but definitely super hot!  This will be a spot to return in the fall.  

We have done some solo shopping to some of my favorite stores like 

We have also been able to go to the San Antonio Temple.   It is definitely a refuge from the world.  I love being able to go here and feel closer to my Heavenly Father and do that with your husband by your side is just perfect.  

 

Unfortunately, Matt is on 2 weeks of night shift and has been on weekend calls so we won't be able to go quite as much as we should with a live-in babysitter but it has still been amazing.  We also have had some nice home dates while Rachel has babysat for others to make money or gone out with some of her new friends in San Antonio.