A special moment......

I happened to be eavesdropping on a conversation Drew was having with Griffin this past week. He asked Griffin what he wanted to do when he grew up. I was curious as to what funny occupation he would name. Surprisingly, it didn't take long for him to simply say "work". I'm pretty sure my Republican (capital R for emphasis) husband was smiling ear to ear. But after another pause, Griffin added "and hunt". 

I've never seen Drew cry, but I was sure I was about to witness it at that moment! He couldn't have been more proud!!

We'll never forget that. Ha ha!

Baby Brother's 3D Ultrasound

Today was our 3D ultrasound for baby boy #2. I was considering not doing it until I imagined him asking one day why Griffin was special enough to get a CD/DVD and he wasn't. I'm trying really hard to give him the same treatment, although I hear it's natural for most children after your first to not get as many pictures, videos, etc. I may have set the bar too high. Ha!

Baby brother was very uncooperative but after walking in the parking lot, drinking Sunny D, flipping from back to side, and a lot of pushing around by the ultrasound tech........we finally got a few pictures in the last 5 minutes of an hour's worth of trying. His hands and a foot were in his face pretty much the whole time. I appreciate the reassurance of knowing he's doing fine in there. Also, the confirmation that he is definitely a he. 

We also got to see him yawn several times....here's a real creepy open-mouth shot in 2D:

35 Months Old

We love summer. Griffin has been rocking a farmer's tan for at least a month now. He's very much a water bug and is more than ready to do his fair share of swimming. I think Mrs. Donna from daycare is going to give him swimming lessons in July. She's been the city pool manager for as long as I can remember. 

Griffin's also aware that his birthday is coming up very soon. He knows he'll be 3 (and that he's currently 2) and when you ask him what he wants, his reply has consistently been "candles". I'll be sure to get him 3 individuals rather than the number. 

In the past month we have been to Branson, St. Louis, the animal shelter for a visit, a wedding, a roping, a graduation party and we've also spent 2 separate weeks without Drew while he went to New Mexico on business. I don't see any slowing down until after baby brother makes his debut. 

Weekend in St. Louis

We planned an overnight trip to St. Louis to get out of town and enjoy some time together, just the 3 of us. Also, Griffin had been asking repeatedly to go to a Cardinals game.....which now he realizes it's not just a quick trip to town that can be accomplished any time he wants.

The weather was beautiful on Saturday and we enjoyed a lap around the zoo before the game. It was fun to see Griffin's excitement when he saw animals that we look at/talk about in his Ranger Rick Jr.  magazine that he gets. A nice day makes for a packed zoo, so pictures aren’t that great. We ran out of time and did not get Griffin on the train but promised to do that first thing on our next trip.

click here and scroll down to see Griffin at this statue
last time we went

this is what the lion was doing

the best part of the St. Louis zoo is the hippo area

this one decided to get in and swim along the glass like they do

here he comes! Griffin was trying to step back

there he goes!

I think this is the elephant that was a baby last time we went

new baby

We took a few minutes to freshen up and change at the hotel, then headed over to the game that evening. Our good friends Josh & Nicole met us there since they had come to town to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Griffin eagerly looked for Fred Bird (the Cardinals mascot) every chance he got and had no trouble staying pretty happy for all 9 innings.

We also had tickets for the game on Sunday afternoon. It was pretty special because a co-worker of mine was there to throw out the first pitch and we got to witness it! Jeff is our Operations Manager and four years after being told he was as good as dead, he is a cancer survivor and one of the most positive and inspirational people you’ll ever meet. (Read his blog here.) Since Drew was heading out for a business trip Monday morning, we had planned on heading home fairly early in order for him to get ready to leave again. I think it was during the 3^rd inning that we made our way out and got on the road. 

free balloons and face (arm) painting in the hotel lobby

had to get Fred Bird of course

there's Jeff and his wife in the white jerseys

worn out! he slept the whole way home

We are looking forward to our next game in July. It is scheduled to be a Run the Bases game for kids, so stay tuned for pics of Drew and Griffin scoring 2 for the home team.

Silver Dollar City 2014

Drew is not a huge fan of Silver Dollar City, or being packed into places with a lot of people......so he was pleased to hear that Shiloh, Griffin, and I were taking our Grandma Delores to the park this past weekend. She had not been there since my mom was a baby and they were just traveling through the Ozarks, "camping every other night in a tent". We rented an Electronic Convenience Vehicle (she took a little convincing of this) for Granny and it turned out to be a good thing for her and our personal entertainment all day. We all had a good time. 

waiting is the worst part!

butterflies are right beside the frogs

Griffin was tall enough for Shiloh's favorite ride.....and I was shocked
that he was excited to give it a try

so far, so good

hard to see, but Grandma Delores, Shiloh, and Griffin took
the teacups for a spin

waiting for the train

Griffin wasn't so sure about his first time on the flooded mine shaft ride

Shiloh wasn't messing around

see the targets?

who cares about a picture, is it over? 

a shot of her in action

 

hold an umbrella AND maneuver #29....pure talent