Our last month as a family of 4

Well, we will be a family of 5 very soon, and I think we all knew it this month...even the boys seemed to be aware that a change was coming soon. They were just a little bit more emotional and clingy this month, and we tried to give them some extra attention and have some "last time for awhile" moments with them too, before the baby arrives.

This is Drew 'using the force' against me

Drew was certainly more emotional this month it seemed...or maybe Mommy was and Drew's 'normal' was just more than Mommy could handle this month - hard to know for sure! He continues to regularly refuse a quiet time, insisting on "being wherever you are", giving us little to no break. The kid loves attention and needs lots of loving, there's no doubt about that, and he's always been that way really.

Drew has been consumed with super heroes, Star Wars, Legos and video games and any combination of those is really how he spends his playtime and what he talks about. He and Daddy certainly have alot to talk about these days!

Drew has been learning to read digital clocks more this month, and getting better, though the concept of time is still quite abstract to him it seems. He talks alot about whether or not things are fair or not fair. And is also set on blaming others for his actions, mostly when something goes wrong or he gets upset...another hard concept to rationalize apparently!

Drew had an eventful month with a change in schools. He had his last 2 weeks at Sonshine and really enjoyed his time with his friends. He even had 2 fun field trips - Chuck E Cheese and to the circus! Daddy was able to join Drew and his class to the circus and they had a great time! I'm glad one of us was there to see Drew's reaction to his first circus...he really liked the person that shot out of the canon of course, and the elephants and motorcycles. He started at Redeemer Lutheran School in Benbrook mid-month in their Pre-K class and was SO excited! He did great transitioning and had little to no fear, which really surprised Mommy, but so happy about that! Grandma teaches Kindergarten at Redeemer and is able to bring Drew home after school, giving them some special time together most days, and giving Mommy and Daddy a huge help! His main complaint is that he has to go to school on days that Noah stays home with Mommy. That has taken a little bit more time to get used to and be ok with the situation. He is doing great in the class and we are continuing to work on reading skills at home, and he is really thriving! He's exhausted at the end of the day and usually crashes quite quickly at bedtime!

We've spent quite a bit of time outside, whether playing in the yard or the pool. The weather has been quite hot at times, but otherwise, a pretty mild summer really, much to Matthew's dismay! The pool water stayed on the cool side, so Mommy didn't get in much this summer, but the boys certainly enjoyed it, and Mommy enjoyed watching them, or taking a break to herself! We enjoyed the park, playing chase, and playing with frisbees outside.

Grandpa and Nana came for a visit near the beginning of the month and the boys had a blast playing with them as always. They discovered a new game with Grandpa that they now beg to play with him...he throws their parachute men high up in the air and the boys race to catch them...they played it forever! So long that Grandpa's shoulder hurt the next day! But they had fun in the pool as well and playing games and with toys...just good times!

Cousin Taron got married this month to Kirby - WOOHOO!!! And Drew was the ring bearer, along with cousin Luke. They were so handsome and adorable in their suits, looking all grown up! And Drew was so excited about the whole ordeal, it was just great! He did a great job getting ready, listening and doing just what he needed. He had a huge smile for all the pictures, and loved hanging out with Luke so much that weekend. He was quite hilarious to watch during the ceremony...having a hard time standing still, looking all around, spinning, whispering to Luke...it was adorable! What a fun experience!

We had several family movie nights this month, which the boys love. And Drew had a 'sleepover' with Mommy one night and then another night we had another sleepover where Drew was with Daddy and Noah was with Mommy (Noah's first sleepover!). It was great to spend some special time with the boys. We were also able to go out to dinner a few times as well as have some friends over to swim and have dinner this month, which was also very nice! Again, we know it may be awhile before we feel up to that again once Kate arrives, so glad we finally had the chance to have some of those fun times we had planned on doing all summer, but just didn't happen with everything else that happened this summer!

Noah continues to play with all the toys Drew loves to play with, so superheroes and Legos are a huge part of his day. He also still really likes cars, and tends to play with the castle toys and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle toys a little more as well. He can really play for quite awhile by himself at times, quite amazingly! He loves to line things up, or sort them, or tell stories about them...and he just entertains himself so well! Oh, and how he loves to play Tickle Monster and be chased! That game will never lose its' favor apparently! He does still like to play with trains and puzzles as well.

Noah moved up to the 3 year old class at school and started wearing underwear to school this month (despite Mommy and Daddy's hesitation). He does ok...lots of accidents still, which frustrates Mommy...doing laundry every day he comes home from school is NOT a highlight! But he's getting it a little more, but it is such a slow process! At times it seems to be quite the power struggle, which we try to avoid as much as possible. Other times, he's just too busy playing, and other times, well, he just doesn't initiate making his way to the bathroom. He can tell you all about what he's suppose to do, but unless we take him, it doesn't happen...sigh. We know it will come at some point, but until then, lots of cleaning and laundry!

Noah has become quite the trouble maker at bedtime and is now the child that just won't go to sleep. Funny how they completely switched there...Noah used to drop off to sleep so well at bedtime and it took Drew hours to fall asleep. Now Drew is asleep almost immediately most nights and Noah is getting out of bed, coming up with excuses for us to come see him in the room, peeling the super hero stickers off the wall, playing with just about anything to avoid going to go to sleep! He's ironically been seemingly very tired too (lots of skipped naps, where he just refuses to sleep) and has had some HUGE tantrums at bedtime lately, but still so much energy!

He continues to ask what people's names are lots of places we go...asking strangers who they are and what their name is...so funny that he does that!

Mommy and Noah enjoyed our days at home just one on one this month once Drew started going to school at Redeemer. It was so nice to have just a little bit of time just the two of us!