Gone are the days...Hot Showers.

I shower with quite an audience these days. That might seem weird to people - but it's just my reality. On this particular day, all three of them were sitting outside the shower. Nolan loves to be entertained by his siblings and they do a good job keeping him happy. Please notice the "toys" Nolan is playing with... Nothing says "I'm a third child" more than being handed a plastic hanger and a nasal aspirator for "toys."

Nolan actually prefers being IN the shower. Huge fan. Now that he can sit up - I set him on the floor and he plays (again, nasal aspirator & a bracelet). He doesn't seem to mind the water running over his face.

As you can imagine - any day when I can shower alone, with HOT water - is a luxury. That being said, I do love clean babies!

Dinos in AA

One of the things we love about Northville, is how close we are to Ann Arbor. As everyone knows, we fell hard for Bloomington back in the day...so AA is as close as we can get to feeling like we're in Btown - but with less Hoosier Hysteria and more "maize & blue." It's still a college town and we love visiting.

U of M has a free Museum of Natural History. We have been wanting to visit - so we packed everyone up on Saturday afternoon and walked around. We saw a lot of fun things!

Josie wanted to see if she could open her mouth as wide as this prehistoric sea creature. Nope.

And Jack stood up as tall as he could next to a giant dino leg.

This 26ft canoe had to be lifted by a crane and through a window - so it could be on display. We thought it might be a fun addition to the lake house.

The museum building itself was gorgeous! Tons of marble and intricate detail.

Before we left I had Josie stand next to the Earth and I asked her where she wanted to go. "I want to go everywhere!" she told me. For some reason I feel like I will be hearing the words "study abroad" in my future...

Christian's ROAK Celebration

During the Month of April - we will be celebrating the life of a baby boy gone too soon. My friend, Erin, lost her sweet Christian four years ago on April 26th. At the time, I was a mommy to a one year old Jack and my heart broke into a million pieces for her and her family.

When Erin decided that the best way to honor Christian was to do a ROAK celebration of his life...I was SO excited to participate. Bringing JOY to others is something I really want my kids to know and to do...not because I tell them to, but because it's just what good people do. So we use the month of April to celebrate Christian and to bring JOY to others. (sidetone: we like to bring joy throughout the year, too - we just make a conscious effort in April to do so in Christian's honor)

If you would like to join in ROAK fun - you can go HERE and join the event. We really hope you do!!

THIS is Erin's post about the event.
And THIS is Christian's story.

Pink Eye

You know what happens when you're the third child and your mom drags you around all over Metro Detroit? You end up with pink eye. Poor Noley. He was diagnosed on Saturday...

And despite our best efforts to keep Jack and Josie away - it seems that pink eye wins. Jack has it...Josie was on the fence. Oh and I have it. I also have some other wonderful illness that has left me feeling like poo. We're a mess this week. Check back next week when we are healthy again.

Also - the picture above show J & J playing with the neighbor kids. I seriously love them. They are WAY older than my two...and they play so well with them. It's adorable.

March Madness

Last Friday we were all decked out in our Hoosier spirit. Then the game happened and we were all reaching for our Detroit Tigers baseball gear. Seriously. Awful. Moving on...baseball season.

If you want to know who Nolan and I are cheering for now...

We won't actually speak of it...because when we show our support for a team - they implode.

7 Months Today

Dear Nolan -
You are 7 months old today! The other day, I caught a glimpse of a family picture from 2012...taken long before we knew we'd be a family of 5. {Sorry I haven't added you to the picture frames, I promise I will - maybe even before you turn 1} Anyway - I couldn't believe there was a time in my life...as a mommy...when you weren't there. In 7 fast months, you've made our family feel so complete and I'll probably have a REALLY hard time remembering my life pre-Nolan.

You can sit up now - which means you take baths with Jack & Josie. They are your favorite people, after me. And while we are talking about your love obsession with your momma...you should know that I have broken EVERY rule in my Mom Book for you. Just let the record show, you...the baby...broke the rules VERY early.

You don't have any teeth yet. You don't crawl, but you still manage to move around by rolling and turning. You are starting to enjoy some solid(ish) foods, especially fruits. Your eyes are well on their way to being brown and your hair will most likely be a gorgeous shade of auburn. You have your own look and I love it. Overall, you're a happy baby, as long as you have your momma nearby.

Happy 7 months!
I love you,
Mom

Maple Syrup Tour

On Sunday afternoon Tyson had some work to do, so I loaded up my crew and headed off to the local farm for a maple syrup tour. We took a wagon ride out to the woods and the farmer taught us all about harvesting sap to make syrup.

Nolan, again, was along for the ride.

But these two enjoyed tromping through the woods. See the milk jugs hanging from the trees? They are collecting sap.

Nolan wasn't impressed with the lesson. He decided he needed to nap.

Before we left - this turkey provided us with some quality entertainment. He was pretty vocal with his "gobble gobble" and Jack was LOVING it!

And then Josie fell in love with the horses. She said she wants one. We will let her ask her "papas" (grandpas) for one.

A Collection of Selfies

Jack thinks he's hilarious. Sometimes I open my photos on my phone and find a collection (30-40) of these. And then I wonder why I run out of storage.

Big Boy Bath

A few nights ago, while Jack was at soccer practice - I decided to see how Josie and Nolan would do in the bathtub together. Nolan was in HEAVEN. Perhaps being born in a tub has impacted his feeling toward water. He's always been a big fan. I even take him in the shower with me when I'm in a pinch and he LOVES it. Face under the water and everything. Crazy kid.

Josie was actually super helpful and made sure to teach him how to play with all the best toys.

Here is a video of him enjoying the tub:

Spring?

It is starting to feel like...and smell like...and taste like Spring around here! It's been in the 50's lately...which I know is "cold" for anyone south of Kentucky, but that's 50-60 degrees warmer than what we've had lately. Perspective, people.

We celebrated some warm weather with a visit to our local ice cream shop. We totally ruined our dinner in the name of Spring. Whatever.

 We also broke out the bikes and took a walk/bike ride. In the picture above you can see that we still have some snow...and that a lot of it is melting quickly. That flowing river is usually a dry ditch.

So - suck it up Floridians! We don't want to hear about how COLD it is when it's 52! It feels great. Get outside, even if you have to wear a dino hat and a sweatshirt (Nolan).

Nothing but Noley

Nolan is creeping up on 7 months and just in case I miss it (which is completely possible) - here is some info about him:
He is becoming more aware of the 4-legged family members and he's a BIG fan. Luckily, the feeling is mutual. We lucked out with Coop & Tuck...and their love for our kids.

Nolan spends a lot of time attached to me. Like, a ridiculous amount of time. But I'm totally fine with it. Until...

Okay - some days I'm totally over it. But mainly only when I have a LONG list of things to do and a baby who doesn't think I need to do any of it. On this particular day we engaged in "Look Out the Window" time. Fifteen minutes of entertainment. I'll take it.

Oh and then this happened. I was working and he was jumping. I heard him get fussy and then silence. Everyone please notice the hand chub. There is more on his feet and it's amazing.

Today he had to go to the doctor (wheezy cough) and she was checking him over. She got a really serious tone and said, "Nolan, how long have you been missing your neck?" Answer: since he was a few weeks old.

Grandma Shirlee

Grandma Shirlee has been here visiting us. She brought warm - snow melting - weather with her from Florida! We've had fun dragging her all over Northville! Hope she finds her way north again soon! We love you, Grandma!

Sick...or not

Last Wednesday I kept Jack home from school because he was sick. Or at least I thought he was sick. I kept suggesting that he "relax" and "watch a movie" - he agreed to the movie part, but this is what I found him doing:

 Exercising.

Pretty sure those are sick & tired eyes. He's on the mend, but still fighting a little cough. Thankful we've been pretty healthy...knock on wood.

We Aren't Always (or ever) Early for School...

But when we are - we take a selfie in the parking lot. And YES - Jack insisted on wearing a tie...the kind with the elastic band. Classy.

Happy Hide & Seek

I was playing hide and seek with Noley one night after dinner. He thought it was the best. Happy Friday!

The Next Taylor

The other day, while I was nursing Nolan, Josie decided to put on a little concert for me to enjoy. I had a few favorite parts...the way she holds the guitar, the dance moves, the lyrics.

When people see us together they always say, "WOW! She's a miniature version of you!" Well, I think we can safely say that along with the blue eyes, she also inherited my singing ability.

{If you are in a public place or a cubicle...watch at your own risk}

Dear World, you're welcome.

Happy birthday today to my Grandma Peg (Grandma Gigi). We love you and are sending HUGE hugs from Michigan! XOXO

Nothing but Noley

He's vocal. He almost always gets what he wants, when he wants it. He is happy. Always very happy. He loves to move and when he actually learns how to move (for real) I am in DEEP trouble. He loves pulling hair - check his hands, always a clump of hair in there. He loves people...but he especially loves Jack and Josie. He won't sleep willingly without his mom...and I'm okay with it. Because I know he's my baby. This is it. I'm savoring.

From Instagram

Josie has an obsession with setting up picnics...all over my house, all the time. This particular one came on Saturday at 8am. Seriously though - there is plastic food everywhere.

On Sunday Tyson brought home donuts for us. Josie ate hers - per usual, top only. When she left the table I noticed SOMEONE had his eye on the remains. He knows a good thing when he sees it.

Dinosaurs in the D

On Saturday we took a family excursion into the city for a Dinosaur "show." Jack is really into dinosaurs. He might look scared in this picture, but don't be fooled. That's an excited face.

 This is a creepy face. A creepy caveman to be exact.

Nolan's first selfie with Joe Louis. (there will probably be more)

After our adventure with the dinosaurs and cavemen - we hopped on the People Mover for a trip around the city. Nolan was along for the ride. Literally.

Jack and Josie loved looking out the windows. They both yelled out things they saw - "Look a taxi!" And then "Hey, I know that place (Comerica Park)." Oh and Josie licked the window...because that's a completely normal thing to do. We came home with three EXTREMELY tired kids and TWO worn out parents.