Jackie's Class

When I was about 6 weeks pregnant, I went to lunch with a close friend and told her the good news.  Her response?  You need to call Jackie and get on her list IMMEDIATELY!  One might think this list has something to do with pregnancy, or learning about having a baby.  But no, this is a mommy and me class that we wouldn't start until my baby (which was currently the size of a sesame seed) was three months old.  Such is the life of an LA mom.  So I made the call, got on the "list" and told Alex to put her number in his phone.  Because within a week of the baby being born Jackie was going to call us and confirm a spot, and if we missed the call or didn't return it fast enough we would lose our spot and it would go to one of the hundreds of moms on her waiting list.  This is the premiere mommy and me class of LA, and I wasn't going to miss that call!  All jokes aside, it turned out to be a wonderful experience for me and Baby Adam.  From 3months old to 17months old, once a week we went to class with 10 other moms and their babies.  All the babies were born within the same month, so when someone was going through feeding problems, first teeth, first time eating real food, first tantrums, the rest of the moms were going through it too.  Jackie would chat for about 45 minutes about a specific topic (she has a background in early childhood development) while the babies played, then we would all sing songs.  I can honestly say I learned something helpful each week.  If nothing else, it was just great to hear other people going through similar issues and having someone tell us what to do.  I didn't always listen to her advice, but often I did and I'm sure I will for many years to come.  Last week, Adam graduated.  It was so adorable.  All these little babies all grown up, toddling to the front of the room in their "gowns," accepting their certificates, and sliding down the slide with 20 parents taking photos and videos with tears in their eyes. 

Sugar High

Last weekend we made homemade cinnamon rolls as a little breakfast treat (ok you caught me, they were Trader Joes from a can - but I did bake them).  Babers shared one with me.  This is the result.  Prior to this video he had been running laps back and forth down the hallway for about 5 minutes.

4th of July 2012

Small town parades, burgers and brats, Dairy Queen, swimming in duck lake, tons and tons of cousins to play with - 4th of July in Mankato is always a good time!  With the heat index right around 115 degrees all week, we were pretty much at the lake every moment we could be.  Even the babers learned to have fun in the water!  His little voice is learning more words, he woke up each morning ready to play and asked for Papa and Yaya (Amelia).  Amelia went tubing for the first time and LOVED it!  She showed Adam how to do it, he maybe kind of liked it.  Tony and Briana got engaged, and we were so excited to share in another Duck Lake celebration!

Milly's first tubing!  Look at how excited she is!

Getting sprayed with the hose and loving the cold water.  Who is this baby?

more!  more!

Can you tell they are related?

even mama is in the lake!

Yaya trying to share her sweet corn, Babers not into vegetables at the moment

awwww hi papa

on the dock with lukie

DQ!!

fun in the sand box

swimming with yo yo

At the parade in the 100 degree heat!

not so patiently waiting for it to start

Milly's favorite part - candy, Babers favorite part - trucks

Nana and Papa

Babers Walking

15 Month Check Up

Apparently the average 1 year old gains 4 pounds between the ages of 1 and 2.  Baby Adam has gained 3 pounds in the first 3 months.  He's a big boy!!

Stats:
33 1/4 inches
28 lbs 7 oz

we love dr. peter.  baby adam isn't quite sure yet.

Memorial Day Mankato

There's no better way to kick off the summer than a weekend or two at Duck Lake.  So Adam and I took off for a couple weeks.  Alex surprised us by flying out for Memorial weekend, we were so glad he got to be there too.  Since school was still in session, we stayed for a few days at Alicia, Matt and Amelia's house.  They're getting ready to move so I was happy to spend some time at their house before they pack up.  Milly and Adam had so much fun together.  By the end of the week they were like an old married couple.  They would get annoyed with each other, but also didn't want to be anywhere without the other.  Amelia can't quite say "adam," it comes out more like "amma."  Her little voice calling his name is quite possibly the cutest thing ever.  She would usually wake up first, then come to the top of the stairs and start calling his name to see if he was awake yet.  After a few days we all went down to Kato to stay at Nana and Papa's.  We spent most of the day outside, when it wasn't thunderstorming, and baby Adam would happily walk up and down the driveway for hours pushing his walker dump truck.  Milly would run circles around him, play in the sprinkler, and look for mischief.  Memorial Day weekend we all headed out to the lake with the rest of the Haefner clan.  Adam thought it was the perfect weekend to snooze away.  Amelia would swim and swim and swim.  That girl had such a blast being at the lake with all the cousins.  She jumps into the lake with such an excited squeal, you'd think she was a five year old.  She is so brave!  Babers...not so much.  He did finally brave the baby pool, at the end of the day after it baked in the sun to a nice and comfortable 82 degrees.  We grilled some great food (and by "we" I mean papa), took the boat out and played some cards.  It was the perfect Duck Lake weekend.

forced fun in the pool

having the time of her life

uncle eric

Milly loves swimming with the girlies!

gorgeous thunderstorm rainbow

throw that one papa!

memorial day outfits

he was in heaven!

uncle al

plotting to take over the haefner house

snuggles with auntie.  this was most likely followed by "little blue truck" or "goodnight goodnight construction site"

Their first carnival ride!  Awesome little Kato carnival

Such a big kid!

Milly checking out the carnival

he loves this walker!

fun in the puddles

Mar and Ginz Wedding

Right after we moved in to our new house (literally two days later), Alex and I left the baby in great hands and went to our friends' wedding in Mexico.  Mimi and Grandad stayed with Adam and they had a wonderful weekend together in the new house.  But not as wonderful as the weekend as we had!  The wedding was stunning, the resort was incredible, and we had so much fun with all of our friends.  We need more Riviera Mayas in our life!

The Beloved Hotel

Parents night out

Amazing spot to get married

fun crew