Potty Time!

1st Poop on the Potty!

We are SO proud of Ben...on vacation he decided he didn't want to poop in his bathing suit so he decided to start going on the potty! By the time we got home we were able to put him in big boy underwear and now we are going on 2 weeks! HOORAY :) He has only had about 2 pee accidents and those were during day 2 or 3 in underwear and it was more of a matter of starting to pee and then telling me, but since then (knock on wood) we have been free and clear...he tells me when he needs to go and he gets very excited about wearing underwear! It is so crazy how it all works out...we never felt the need to push it and he just decided on his own he was ready! I am preparing myself for possible regression after little brother comes but at the same time he is the one who wanted to do it so I think we should be okay. We have a trip to Chuck E Cheese's planned for this Sunday to celebrate what a big boy he is...Ben is so excited :)

South Carolina Vacation

Hilton Head Island

This year we decided to head back to Hilton Head Island, SC for another family vacation. The last time we went Ben was 8 months old and we had a good time then, so we knew that now at 2 1/2 yrs old he would have a blast. We went back with Jeff, Jess and their boys, Michael and Andrew again too. The vacation was exactly what we thought it would be. The boys had a blast playing together and the beach in HHI is so much fun for kids. The tide pools are great for kids to sit and play in and to of course make mud pies. This year we went about a month earlier then the last time (due to baby #2 due date) we were there and the weather was not as warm as last time but it was still in the upper 70's to low 80's the whole time. You could tell the biggest difference in the temp. of the ocean and pools...however it didn't seem to bother any of the kids...just the parents :)

The "Tree house" we stayed in at Sea Pine Plantation
The boys during our first stop at Salty Dog
Checking out the tug boat at the marina

This is what you get with "Fake Superman Ice Cream"
Our little Pirate!
Family Beach Pic

The Boys and their volcano

The waves taking out the volcano

Michael and Ben making mud pies :)

We had such a great time, we are already looking forward to making it back there again in a couple of years. The biggest change next time will be that instead of 3 boys there will be 5 boys...my oh my!

Isle of Palms

We decided that we just weren't quite ready to go home after a week in SC so we called Greg's parents who were driving down for their 2 week vacation after tax season and asked if they would mind some company for a couple of days...surprisingly they allowed it and we extended our vacation until the following Tuesday! Hooray...Thanks Mom and Dad A :) We had such a great time in IOP it is a quick drive across the bridge from Charleston, SC and the place they stay has a great pool right on the ocean, so you have the best of both worlds.

Ben eating his LARGE sucker

Playing in dad's shoes by the kiddie pool

Jumping the waves with G'pa Milt and Dad

Dad, Ben, Gma Becky, and Gpa Milt in the pool

We were sad to leave SC, but we were all ready to be home sleeping in our own beds. Ben was a great traveller for us both there and back and on the way home we left at 5am and only stopped 2 times...so we are definitely grateful that Ben was such a trooper for 13 1/2 hrs :) We love being in the south and can't wait to plan our next family vacation...however next time our family of 3 will be a family of 4...we can't wait!

34 weeks

Last Monday we finally took another pregnancy picture to show the growth of our new little guy. I am definitely popping out the front but still feeling pretty good. Just like Ben this little one gets the hiccups on a regular basis...pretty much every evening around 9-10 he starts with them and they last for about 10 minutes. He is also just as much of a mover as Ben was...sometimes my stomach looks quite "alien-ish". Doctors appointments have been going well and I am on the right track at this point still. After this Thursday I start with appointments once a week and I get another ultrasound to estimate weight and position. The countdown is definitely on and we are getting quite excited...even though we have a lot to do still. Once the nursery is completed we will post pictures of that too :)