Noah having tummy time.

Gabe and Daddy go for a swim.

Okoboji Fun.

Okoboji fun and enjoyable week for all. Gabe was in his glory playing with Ela and Addy. He got the play at the beach, swim in the pool, play with all Grandma's toys she brought, have smores and ice cream, go on boat rides, eat at restaurants, and so many more fun things. It was fun to be with family in a relaxed atmosphere with no real agenda. Noah was great and must have went through a growth spurt as he was wanting to eat a lot :) On Saturday night we got some bad weather and had to take cover in the deep of the hotel near bedtime which scared Gabe some.
Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for all the fun, and the Bjorks too.

The Jones Cousins go for a train ride.
All the Jones Grandkids and their Mommys, Noah is asleep in the stroller :)
Gabe & Daddy go for a carousel ride.
Gabe and his favorite green fish.

Okoboji

Playing in the sand.
Waiting for the ferriswheel, or as Gabe called it "wheelbarrow."












Driving the boats at Arnold's Park.














Addy and Gabe talking up some trouble.

Okoboji

Okoboji

Ela and Gabe check out the beach

Noah enjoys the beach towel

Gabe and Grandpa go for a swim

Noah gives a sweet smile.

Newsflash: We have a smiler!

Smiles
Half smile

Smiles for Daddy.

Peek-a-boo Gabe.

Look how long Noah is.

Noah started smiling a little bit today. They are few and far between, but he can do it now socially. So cute. He had his 1 month pictures today. I can't believe he is one month old today. It seems like yesterday we took him home.

Our boys

Gabe, ear tubes and all fixed up.
My boys!

Nana and her boys.

Noah taking a little nap. He has lost his hair on the top. :(

Nana and Noah having a chat. It doesnt' look like he likes what she has to say.

Gabriel had a successful ear tube placement on Monday. We hope this will be his last set needed as the surgeon said by age 3-4 the ear canal is more vertical than horizontal fixing the problem :) Gabe did great and was his normal self by the car ride home. We were SO THANKFUL that Nana could come and watch Noah during Gabe's surgery. There were no worries on Mommy and Daddy's minds about Noah's care during that time. Now Nana was the first one to give Noah a bottle and did so only getting one outfit wet. She was still in her PJs when we got home at lunchtime - she had forgotten the work of a newborn. Noah was glad to remind her.

Gabe has taken to waking up early - too early in the mornings. On Tuesday it was 5:10am! We put a super dark sheet over his blinds and he slept in until 8am today. It is like a dungeon in his room now. Hope that works.

On Monday morning (on our way to surgery) the Jeep wouldn't start. With my Dad's help via phone, we were able to diagnose the problem and Bart was able to fix it himself. Yay. Thanks Dad.

We pray for safe travels for the Bjorks on their journey to Iowa starting tomorrow. We also pray for continued healing for my Dad (Papa) on his cancer, and the side-effects from chemo.

Nana to the rescue.

The garden is growing, ever so slowly.

Gabe getting all wet.

Mommy and Noah in the Moby wrap.

Do you see the green salsa pepper growing??

Gabe gets a drink from the beach ball sprinkler.

Gabe with a little "spider" He calls all bugs spiders.

Gabe and Noah checking each other out.

One of the flowers in my garden.

I just wanted to post of how blessed we are.
We got the details of Gabriel's ear tube surgery today as it is scheduled for Monday. It isn't until 10:45am and we have to be at the hospital 90 minutes prior to that time. This is a different procedure than the last time he had tubes as we were home and back by 8:00am (granted this was over 1 1/2 years ago). We thought we could bring Noah with us as we know Gabriel is going to be a handful when they take him from us for the surgery and we need to support each other. Noah can't be at the hospital and be quiet in the recovery room for 2+ hours. We didn't want to send just one parent with Gabe and one to stay home with Noah as I know I cannot handle Gabriel crying and screaming as they take him from us (in addition to being crabby because he cannot eat or drink that morning at all).

Our good friends have just had a baby themselves and our other good friends have young kiddos too. With no family here we are stuck. But Nana Jan is coming to the rescue on Sunday afternoon to be here. Thank you Nana/Mom. You are the greatest! Thank God for her.

Also, with the Bjork family moving here next week we won't have these problems again hopefully since family will be close. Not that we don't want or need Nana because we do! Just thankful that we can have a super back-up too.

Onto a lighter note, Gabe has enjoyed the outdoors all week. See the new photos of our big boy and our outdoor garden!

Noah chatting with Mommy @ 3 weeks old.

Summer is here!

Noah all fluffy after his bath, some of his hair on the top has started to thin :(
In the bath.

Probably looking at big brother Gabriel.

Noah has tummy time before bedtime.

Gabe in his beloved firefigher hat. Thanks Nana.

It is all fun at our house lately. Bart has been done with school since last week so it has been quality time at the Jones household.

Noah had his first well baby check up on Tuesday (3 weeks old) and he weighed 8lbs (25th %), 22" (90th %), and is head is 14" (25th %). So yes he has been growing like a weed as just over 2 weeks ago he was 6lbs 5oz when we left the hospital and 20 1/2" long. We also transitioned him to his crib in his own room and that has gone well so far. He had his first "full immersion" tub bath last night as his umbilical cord has fallen off and his little boy wound is healed too. He didn't like this much but tolerated it for us.

Gabriel had his pre-operative physical for his 2nd set of ear tubes. He is 30 1/2 lbs and 35 1/2" tall. All is set for his surgery on Monday. He is starting to become a little bit jealous of Noah and the attention he gets so we are prepared for some more aggression. He has thrown a train at Noah and tried to kick him. We hope to keep him busy enough this summer and with enough attention for the transition to go as smoothly as possible. He definitely loves Noah a lot though and loves to lay next to him on the floor and "chat."

Grandma was here to play on Monday before her flight to Virginia to bring the Bjorks to Iowa. They will be moving close to us (Clive/Waukee area) and Gabe can hardly wait for his 2 cousins Ela and Addyson to come play more often. We are all excited and can't wait for their arrival.

Halling Family in Iowa

We were so blessed to have Nana Jan here for an entire week to help with Noah and Gabriel.

It was so much fun to have her here to play with Gabe while I fed Noah or to hold Noah while I played with Gabe. We were spoiled. Papa was able to join us for the weekend and Kristen and John too. We enjoyed time outside almost all weekend and Gabe discovered the joy of our little kiddie pool at the bottom of his playground in the backyard. Noah continues to be a good baby so far and sleeps 4+ hours at night. This has allowed us to feel semi-normal.

Bart finishes out this week for school and then is ALL done for the summer. Gabe is at daycare today for some socialization and I am home with Noah. Wednesday and Friday will be the real test of my mommy skills as I will have both boys to care for by myself.

Happy Memorial Day and happy June!