Spring has sprung

These little yellow flowers are the first of many popping up in our front yard.  Last fall when we moved in we cleared out all of the weeds, overgrown shrubs, and pretty much created an empty canvas.  Our painting is in progress and it brings me much joy!

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood

Gwendolyn's first birthday party!

Cousins!

Scott's cousin, Randy and his family (Julie, Zachary, Cole, Brandt) made their way from Iowa to Minnesota for a little weekend getaway.  We got to be their first stop.  Thanks for coming you guys and hope you had a fantastic weekend! 

Two of my favorite people in the whole wide world

Chase on the Lake

Outta my way...I'm going to Grandma and Grandpa's.

Are we there yet?

Bliss.

View from our balcony.

Nathan and Jacob were well behaved and slept well for Grandma and Grandpa while Scott and I ate, drank, slept, went to the spa, watched TV, and slept some more.  It was awesome!  If you are looking for a great place to stay I highly recommend it. 

No sleep till Walker!

"Mom.  Mom.  Open your eyes.  I am talking to you."

"I told you.  You should have ordered a teething necklace like Gwen has."

"I mean really.  Try to think about this from my perspective.  You may be tired.  But I am tired AND my teeth hurt.  Suck it up mom.  This won't last forever."

"HAHA!  And look at these chompers!"

Nathan is not sleeping well.  Therefore, mom is not sleeping well.  Dad is not sleeping well.  (Although, he does have this uncanny ability to literally fall asleep within 3 seconds of laying his head on the pillow).  Teeth coming in, stuffiness, and being 9 months old (yesterday!) = a shortage of good sleep.  It's a phase though.  Eventually my second child will sleep through the night.  You want to know the best part about the whole thing?  Other than being tired (and admittedly) a bit cranky.  I am okay with it!  Want to know why?  Because I have done this before!  I am so thankful for wisdom.  At the ripe old age of 34 I consider myself more wise than when I was 30.  When Jacob was a baby I honestly thought I had created (or not created) some habits that would prevent him from sleeping through the night.  Ever.  Silly me.  We read a lot of books when Jacob was a baby.  Sleep techniques, things you should and / or should not do according to some sleep experts, etc.  I haven't read much (other than attempting my book club monthly pick) this time around.  I should probably brush up.  I may very well be creating (or not creating) habits for Nathan but I am too tired to try to figure them out.   I know that he will sleep.  Eventually.  This is definitely a second child, isn't it? 

I bet you were wondering about the title of this post.  We're not actually going to Brooklyn, but heading north this weekend to a little town called Walker.  Scott and I will get to sleep at this place for two nights in a row with no interruptions.  (Oh please, please don't let there be any jack hammers, barking dogs, or annoying HVAC systems.)   I am so excited.  Someday I will be writing about how excited I am to be heading to a beach in the Caribbean but for now, this is my paradise.  Mom, after reading this post are you sure you still want to have over night duty?  :)

Happy Thursday friends.