Glorious Day

So maybe you haven't heard but my Claire Bear NEVER naps. She gave these up around 21 months... Yes very early. Most kids will nap until they are 3 or 4. Hmmm lucky me. Usually she is fine, doesn't really need them. But today she woke up early (yesterday too) and was a BEAR. So I pretty much forced her to take a nap. After many tears (and the promise of a new toy when she woke) she went to sleep. It was so great. Like, she laid in her bed and took a nap. She didn't fall asleep on the floor, watching a movie, or in the car but in her bed. When I realized she wasn't making noise and she was asleep, I got real excited and started thinking about all the things I could get done. Then I thought to myself...go take a nap. No shame, I took a nap too. We all took a nap for almost 3 hours. It was so awesome! Here are some nap pictures :) BTW right when she woke up she asked for her new toy!

Firetrucks and Airplanes

We went to playgroup at the firestation today and she loved the firetrucks. She even made friends with a fireman. Nate was home today and is flying tonight. She found his headset and I told her it was for when daddy flies his airplane. So she went and got her airplane, put on the head set and "flew" her own plane.

Jacob is a month old

The little guy is a month old now and isn't really doing anything cool or funny. He is either sleeping or eatting...doesn't make for the best blogs. But you can see how sweet and inncoent he is :)

Everybody is gone...

but we are doing fine. Mom is holding her own in Houston. She has progressed from a walker to a wheelchair and gets a new cast tomorrow! Dad is still in the hospital recovering slowly. They are both learning to take it one day at a time :) J. and Lois are home as well after some airport issues that brought them back to us for an extra night! We didn't mind :) Here are some family pictures. Update on the Baby: Jacob had his last platelet count on Monday and everything looks great! Praise God!! We don't have to endure the heel prick and 10 minutes of hysterical screaming as they scrape his blood into a tube.

Jacob's New Room

These are for you dad







Finally we are finished with Jacob's room. Most of it was done before he was born, but we had to add a few finishing touches. The theme is puppy dogs and we having a hard time keeping the puppy dogs in the room. Claire steals them and they end up all over the house. I can't blame her, most of them were hers to begin with! Nate's parents are in town until Tuesday and then we will be on our own. Megan's mom made it back to Houston safely. Now, Megan's Dad is in the hospital for back surgery. Please keep praying for Megan's family!!!! The bad luck just won't end. Sorry the video is so fast but I guess there is a size limit on youtube and the last video i took was too long!

We are now on a first name basis

with Trident Medical Center. Between Megan, Jacob, and now Megan's MOM we should have bought stock. She fell on Friday and broke her ankle and had to have surgery!!! She came home from the hospital yesterday. What a week it has been here at the Howards. I brought the camera and got permission to blog about to incident. Feel better soon, Momma!

Trying out the new ride

We went for a walk the other day and loaded the kiddos in the double stroller. It wasn't as easy to steer but worked pretty good. We bought it from a friend and I had to call her to figure out how to open it!!! Complicated little piece of equipment.

More Jacob Pictures

Jacob is home!

Jacob chillin at the beach


Claire and Jacob bonding


Jacob and Daddy


Claire and Jacob in his crib after we brought him home


Nana and Jacob on the Beach


Jacob at his first doctor's appt


Hip Hip Hooray. We are so excited that he is home. We brought him home on Friday and have had to go to the lab every other day to get his platelets checked. His levels are holding steady so as of now he is doing good. He is sleeping great at night and eatting well too. We are enjoying having Nana here and Daddy home from work. Here are some recent pictures.

So, do they look alike?

This is Claire as a newborn...Look at those cheeks!




We think they do...Claire is into bringing Jacob things. The first day she brought him a paci and was so excited to put it in his mouth. Yesterday she brought him a duck rattle and was so excited to put it in his hand. Today she was just mad that she couldn't sit in mommy's lap. She will have to learn... We have a friend with a baby named Caroline that Claire went swimming with one day and for some reason she will not call Jacob anything but Caroline. She refuses to call him Jacob. It is pretty funny considering if we had a girl we would have named her Caroline :) Update on Jacob: His levels are still doing good and if everything goes okay tonight and tomorrow morning we might get to bring him home tomorrow! Hooray! Megan has been at the hospital for a week now and is READY to come HOME! So hopefully all goes well.

Jacob Thomas

Our little guy decided to make his arrival a little bit early:) I went to my normal doctor check-up and they noticed my amniotic fluid was low so they decided to admit me and I was in the hospital from Thursday until I was induced Monday, and he was born at 4:02 pm. He weighed 7 pounds and 5 ounces and was 18 inches long. Not sure why we have such short babies :) He is doing okay. I got discharged today but he will most likely have to stay until next week because of a blood platelet problem. He is fine, but they are sorting some stuff out. I still have a room up there so am not really home. My mom is here with Claire and Nate is back and forth like a crazy man! Here are some pictures for you to enjoy. More to come.

Claire's New Room

Well, before we can begin working on the new baby's room, we had to finish Claire's room. It has been done for quite a while except her little table and chairs that I just finished painting. The table is lime green and the chairs are a watermelon color. We are really happy with how her room turned out! She helped us paint and put all the stickers on the wall. She is so proud of them. She likes to say good morning and good night to all the creatures on her wall. The baby's room should be done soon so be on the lookout for a "virtual tour" when we get that done.

Not doing anything exciting...

We haven't done any really cool to blog about lately. Here are some silly pics of Claire doing normal everyday things. We finally let her fingerpaint...She didn't understand that she wasn't supposed to paint her body. But it was fun anyways. Her walking around in my shoes...she has gotten that one down. We don't let her go in the backyard without shoes and we have crocs by the door. So when we mention that she needs shoes she will just go put ours on and walk around. It works, right? Here she is taking a "nap" with Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Pluto. Also, playing with some costume jewelry. She loves loves loves necklaces and bracelets! Such a girly girl. Hope all is well with everyone. Only 1 more month for us until new baby comes. We are far behind on room and names but should get with the program shortly. Need some new belly pics too...

Disney

Hmmm. Where should we go today

Mommy and Claire In front of Cinderella's castle

You would think Disneyworld would have more than just goats at their petting zoo but Claire enjoyed brushing not just one but all the goats.

We ate lunch/dinner with the characters from Winnie the Pooh. Claire loved them!!! She wasn't scared at all

Daddy and Claire in Minnies house


Mommy and Claire waiting for the fireworks to start

Claire playing with her new Mickey toy

We went to Disney this past week and had so much fun. Yes, it was exhausting being pregnant at Disney but it was worth it to see the magic in Claire's eyes. I thought she would be too young but she had a ball. We are recovering at home now :) Her favorite activity was the fireworks show. She thought it was the coolest thing ever!