Fourth of July Fun!

We spent Fourth of July down the street with some neighbors and had a wonderful day!  The weather was nice and the kids played all afternoon!  Even the adults got into the fun!  Blake was a trooper and slept in the shade all afternoon. 

 

Tyler in the big blow-up ball.

Sprinklers were a hit!

 

Blake and his party mode...sleep!

Tyler and his new friend Olivia!

Slip and Slide - on a sled?

Neighbor Casey takes a turn...

As does neighbor Nick!

My two boys!

Excursions Galore!

It is amazing how different getting out of the house with a baby is when #1) it's your second, and #2) it's not winter and 10 feet of snow outside!  The first Friday we made it to the doctor's office, adding a stop at Kohl's and a book store.  Thanks Grandma Denise for helping!  We also went to Jethro's with Aunt Carrie and Uncle Josh. 

 

The following week (at just over 1 week old), we decided to try an I-Cubs game.  Most would think we are nuts - but it was a gorgeous night and they were playing the Cardinal's minor league team.  Andrew took Tyler to the splash pad there, and he came back soaked!  Poor guy watched the rest of the game in wet shorts and used Blake's blanket to keep warm!  Blake slept the entire game until the last inning we were there, and then woke up to say good bye to everyone with wide eyes.  Here are a few pics:

 

 

 

That Friday the weather was still perfect, so we took Tyler to the casino to watch the horse races.  What kid doesn't think horses are fun, right?  Again, probably think we're nuts and we probably got lots of glares.  But, yet again, Blake slept in his car seat most of the night and woke up in time to watch one race and drive home.  Tyler had a blast.  We let him pick a horse for the first race, and he wanted "Green horse, #5."  So, Andrew put $5 on him (he had horrible odds!!), and what do you know - winner winner!!!  The kid won like $65!  So, we let him pick horses the rest of the night.  We ended up ahead for the night, including some food and popcorn (Ty's request).  Andrew took Tyler next to the track for most races and said he was totally getting into it, yelling for his horse to win along with everyone else.  It was a lot of fun and great family night. 

Ty and his winnings!

Tyler loves to use the camera to take pictures - and this one actually turned out pretty good! 

What horse races?  I'm tired....

The winning ticket!

Visitors...

We have had many wonderful visitors and want to thank everyone.  Here are a few of the family visitors we have had.

 

Blake, Aunt Inky, and Tyler.

Thanks again Mom for coming up and helping me take the boys to the doctor, cleaning a bit, and helping me clean up Blake after he made quite a few messes! 

Uncle Josh

 

Aunt Carrie

Blake's first week...

We spent Sunday evening through Tuesday at the hospital and had some visitors, including big brother Tyler (& Uncle Kyle) Monday evening for awhile.  Here are a few pictures of the first week...

 

Blake & daddy

Uncle Kyle, Blake, & big bro Tyler

Blake ready to go home!

Traditional going home picture - Mom, Blake, and Dad

Big bro Tyler checking out Blake on his first night home.

Daddy, Tyler, and Blake

Blake & Tyler and the cookies sent by my Wells Fargo office. 

Blake Allan Newman

Introducing Blake Allan Newman!  Born Sunday, June 23rd at 2:10 PM.  Weighed 8 lbs, 8 oz and was 19 1/2 inches long! 

 

Short story:  Started feeling contractions around 7-7:30.  Tyler informed us he needed to speak to the doctor on the phone because today the baby needed to come out, and that it was 8:00 and time to go to the doctor because he had already went to the bathroom.  Mind you - we have said NOTHING to him.  :)  Timing of contractions not too consistent (15 minutes to 5 minutes).  After John & Julie arrived for their visit and realized they were not only visiting Tyler for the day, we left for the hospital around 10:30 AM, and after that it's history! 

 

We were blessed that all four grandparents, Kyle, and Tyler were able to visit right after we got to our room Sunday afternoon.  Thanks all for visiting, and for everyone who has called, emailed, etc. 

 

Mom and Blake right after he was born.

Mom, Blake, & Dad

Papa Knute & Blake

Grandma Julie & Blake

Papa John & Blake

Grandma Denise & Blake

Uncle Kyle (aka - best babysitter!) and Blake

Most important - Big Brother Tyler and Blake

Blake posing for some pictures at the hospital.

Family Visit

May also marks the month my sister Val and her family move to San Jose, CA!  Since we couldn't leave the DM area to visit them, Val, Emma, Chase, Carrie, Josh, and Mom visited us!  We had a great time despite all the rain that kept us cooped up in the house.  We celebrated Grandma's birthday and just enjoyed time together that we may not get for awhile.  :(

 

The kids making mini-pizza's.  Great idea Andrew!

Kids helping Grandma celebrate with an ice cream cake (good idea Carrie!!!).  As for the 'Nice Buns' caption - ask Josh!

The boys racing cars through the tunnel!

Breakfast...not sure about the reason for the sunglasses though.

Cousins chilling watching cartoons...with Spidey!

Mother's Day & Big Bro time

May turned out to be an interesting month.  First was Mother's Day, and Tyler and Dad took me out for breakfast, planted some plants in our porch barrel, and then brought me flowers!  Two days later, I was put on a semi-bed rest at 34 weeks.  Dad and Tyler were troopers taking care of me and luckily I was able to work from home and not take PTO.  Thankfully, they let me up and going after only 2 weeks.  We found some time throughout the month to do some fun things with Tyler before he is no longer an only child!  This included tickets to see Sesame Street Live - Elmo at the arena, a visit to a fire station, and lots of baseball playing outside!     

 

Dad & Ty planting the barrel.

Looks like a true farmer, doesn't he?

Flowers from my little boy!

Hanging with Uncle Kyle at Elmo!

This was his face the entire 1st half - just stared in a trance, singing just a bit!

 

Sitting in an ambulance, taking it all in!

We missed getting to see inside the fire truck due to a fire call, but even better, we got a free (fitted!) bike helmet and got to play on the outside of another one. 

Finally got to get out the new baseball tee we got from the Hensley's for Christmas (thank you!).  Here Dad is showing Tyler (decked out in both Yankees & Cardinals, we know!) how to hit off the tee. 

He figured it out quickly!

Tyler got to take a "Big Brother" class where he learned about safe toys for babies, the importance of washing hands, and got a tour of the hospital.  Oddly enough, they showed an empty delivery room (I think the family rooms were all full!) and it was actually the very room Tyler had been born in!  Above, he was chosen in the class to try on the full operating garb!