{So Much Change, So Many Blessings}

Sorry for the lack of posts lately! Seems like we have been really busy doing a lot of nothing, and being hot while we do it! :) This is really late, but Nate is walking, took his first steps back on May 4. For a week or so he would take a couple steps when pushed to do so, but wasn't really interested. Finally about 3 weeks ago he just took off and decided he was ready. He still likes to hold a finger (he's a BIT of a hold-me baby in general anyway), but he can certainly do it on his own. He is still wobbly. Something very innocent and fresh about a wobbly baby walking toward you.

Nate doesn't really have any words to speak of, but he can get his point across! He grunts and reaches for whatever he wants. He LOVES to go outside and screams and cries and throws a fit like no other if Luke goes outside for a minute without him. And Luke doesn't like to go without him, he always opens the door and says, "come on, brudder." Nate loves the water - bathtime, sprinkler, baby pool or the local lake.

The boys are sweet little friends, they love to chase each other, Nate just giggles and jumps into my arms.

Luke is a chatter box, sometimes he just goes on little rants and we understand little to nothing of what he is saying, but he really thinks he's telling us a story. For the most part he talks pretty well and is putting sentences together.

We have been spending a lot of time at the local DNR where they have a nice lake with a sand beach. The boys love it, especially Nate. He likes to sit just barely in the water and play in the sand. Luke likes to go out where it's deeper and "swim" on his belly. Or he likes to start on the sand and run into the water and belly flop.

It has been SOOOOO hot. Heat index over 100 pretty consistently. We have had my Mom here for the last 3 weeks, which has been great. The boys love her and fight for her attention constantly. She has been a great help for me, and it is so great to see my boys get such special time with her and bond with her.

We have added a new member to the family...a used Honda Odyssey! We have been looking for a couple months and FINALLY found the right deal at the right time. I picked it up today and LOVE it! Glad the car search is over - it was stressing me out! The best part is Joe was talking to his college friend, Paul, explaining we were buying a Honda Odyssey. To which Paul replied, "is that the 2 seater or the 4 seater?" Joe says, "uh, it's the 8 seater mini-van." Oh, to be childless and oblivious again...nahhhh - not for all the gold in China!

Time is going quickly, can't believe Nate will be 1 on Monday...