The Bostrom Family

Is there anything better than a lazy summer day? Well how about a lazy, cool, and rainy day? Today Max and I celebrated PJ Day. We stayed in our PJs all day. We sat on the couch, watching movies, and eating popcicles. It has been so nice and relaxing. I need to stay off my feet as much as possible right now so a PJ day was very appropriate.

Well she did it again! My grandmother made two of the cutest Hawaiian shirts for the boys. I can't wait to see them in these festive shirts. She is going to try to make Jeff one that matches if she can find a pattern (how cute would that be?!). We are so blessed to have her! She use to make cloths for my sister and I all the time when we were younger. It is exciting that she gets to make cloths for our boys too!

We decided to go for a walk this evening and get some fresh air. After the rain cleared out our evening was so beautiful! We stopped and talked to our neighbors for a while and her son told us that he and our other neighbor were about to do "extreme". It wasn't long until we found out what "extreme" is. Jacob (1st grader) and Isabella (3rd grader) rode their bikes through, ran through, laid in, stuck their faces in a ditch full of muddy water from the days rain. Max horse laughed the whole time we stood out their and watched them. I just know they were giving Max ideas for the future fun with Cooper. Needless-to-say it was a fun and entertaining evening walk. We can't wait to watch our boys play outside together.

What's the latest in the Bostrom house? Well, the cold that Max had last week traveled to his CC over the weekend and to his very own daddy today. Jeff woke up at about 3am and told me he was freezing cold. (Our house was a little over 70 because I had the windows open all day yesterday letting the warm air rush in.) Anyway, he was burning up as he still while he tries to res t on the couch in our wonderful den. We will be so happy when all these colds are over with. I'm glad the weather is changing, but we all seem to get sick this time of the year. Max is so thoughtful! He watch me put a cool cloth on Jeffrey's head and when it would fall off Max Man came to the rescue. He wanted to help take care of his daddy. What a wonderful son!

We had such a perfect Sunday as a family! Sleeping in is going to be a novalty very soon, so we enjoyed it. We did have to skip church because Max still has a runny nose and we didn't think any of his friends wanted a fever this week. After lunch we went to a park and walked around in the beautiful sunshine. We took the double stroller and Max kept putting his sippy cup in Cooper's seat...we wondered if he would try to put his cup on Cooper after he is born. When we got home-that is when the real fun started! Jeffrey set up our new tent and we played in it for 2 to 3 hours. I'm not really sure how long because we didn't even wear a watch Sunday. Max is going to love camping! He kept "running" as fast as he could right into the side of the tent because he knew he would bounce off of it. Max didn't have any toys in the tent, but he didn't seem to need them. He just crawled and walked and tried to climb all over that tent. I don't think we

So we had a yard sale on Saturday. We had some fun and made some cash...is there a better combination? Dad and Joanna even came over and brought their junk to sale and their 3 dogs (not to sale). Max had a great time exploring through the boxes of "treasures". When we woke up to set the sale up, it was 29 degrees, but by the end of the day it had warmed up to the mid 60s! It turned out to be a beautiful day for a yard sale. (Dad made a great video of the day and I will try to get it posted soon.)

I have taken a lot more pictures that I have shared with you and I thought I would take the time to let you take a gander. Max helped me make a loaf of bread. This is him washing the dishes for me. Dad always told me that he and mom had kids so th at we would wash the dishes...maybe he was right. Yes, Max Man is a natural camper! Of course this tent is in the house, but he sure is enjoying it. Here he is helping Jeff put our new bed together. What a good helper! A fun ev ening picnic...yes with the dogs!

There is nothing sweeter than your little boy falling asleep on you when you rock him! Max hasn't felt too well today. In fact he has a fever of 102.1 degrees at this moment. The only time he lets me rock him to sleep is when he doesn't feel well. True-I don't want him to be sick, but when he is at least he wants me to comfort him. Feel better soon little man.

Today Max had a real treat! CC came and played with him all morning until his morning nap... and she gets to come tomorrow and play again too! They crawled on the floor, played with cars, read books, but the best part was discovering a box to crawl through. (What was I doing? Napping...hey it's the doctor's orders.) CC said that Max had the best time crawling through that box and I think that CC had a great time too! Not only did she take care of Max, but she also made sure that I stayed on the couch (not as much fun as it sounds), washed our dishes, picked up toys, and made us dinner! Wow! I think CC stands for Wonder Woman...you know if you turn the "C" on it's back and add a stick in the middle it will make a "W". I know you agree.

Jeff and I are wondering what is the age of d iminishing returns with kids. Meaning at what point do kids stop increasing in the fun factor. Our guess right now is around 5th grade or so...definitely by middle school! Please post your answers and/or comments. Note: This picture IS NOT A RESENT SNAPSHOT. It was taken last May during our trip to Florida. What a cool dude he is.

So today I woke up and just didn't feel right, but I'm pregnant so I never really feel right. By lunch time I started having contractions and by 1pm they were every 2 to 5 minutes apart (too close for comfort)! Thankfully Max was napping at this time so I could put my feet up and chug some water in hopes that they would stop. Anyway, Jeff came and got me and we went to the doctors and my dad met us at the hospital to play with Max. (Dad said that Max flirted with all the ladies...I'm not ready for that.) They hooked me up to this machine to detect Cooper's heart beat and my contractions. We got to listen to Cooper for a good half hour...he sounded so cute! The doc. decided to give me a shot...or to have the nurse give it to me (docs always get out of the mean part of the job). The shot helped stop my contractions from coming so quickly and regularly. He said that Cooper sounds great and healthy and that I need to rest for a few days. Darn, so I guess I can

Farewell dear pop-up, you will be missed. We had so many wonderful times with you. Your scent was always a comfort to us after a stressfull week at work. Your roof kept us mostly dry in rainy times in the woods. Your stove gave us gormet spegettii and who could forget the hot chocolate every night. We played hours of card games sitting at your table (which I won most of...don't tell Jeff). Your beds gave us and many guests a soft but supported place to lay our heads and the electricity that ran though you was much appreciated when we needed to run the heater. We spent what felt like decades outside your door relaxing by a warm fire; a fire that gave us smores and biscuts on a stick and coutless other campfire goodies. We could say so many more amazing things that you gave us, but like the "Giving Tree" the last thing you gave us was yourself. We sold you, I'm sorry, but you gave us your all and it will not be forgotten when we celebrate in the mall!

So we had another doc. appointment for mommy and baby Cooper and the appointment was scheduled for 9:15. We didn't see the doc. until 10:15 for no more than 5 MINUTES! When it was all said and done, we were there for an hour and a half! Max did great for the first 30 min., but after that it is all down hill. I think before my next appointment I am going to call and see if my doc. is running on schedule or an hour behind to see if they will let me delay coming for Max and Jeff's sake. Poor Jeff is going to have to work really late tonight to make up for that hour and a half. On a positive note: I am very thankful that we have a doctor, we can afford to pay for the appointments, that Jeff can take off work to help me entertain Max, and most of all that Cooper is very happy and healthy inside me. I'm sorry, I just had to vent for a minute...I hope you don't mind.

I have to brag because I have such a talented Grandmother. My Grandma made Max and Cooper matching outfits and they are so cute! She sent me a picture of them last night and I can't wait to see them on our boys. You know, I think Jeff and I are actually going to have another boy soon. (It is becoming more of reality with each night as I try to roll out of bed and head for the bathroom.)

This past Saturday we had a picnic dinner in our backyard with my parents and sister...and Gilligan and Mary Anne. It was such a fun time together. The weather was so perfect...good thing the bugs didn't realize that and join us! Jeff made his famous hamburgers, I made italian cheese bread for buns, and Joanna made two different types of mexican dips. As Jim says, we were all "fat, dumb, and happy" after all the food was eaten, but our fun had not ended. Jeff built us a wonderful fire to enjoy under the stars. Gosh it made us want to go camping, but it won't be long until it is warm enough!

This past Thursday Jeff surprised Max with new "ish"! (Hopefully these will make it longer than the last few did.) Sense our last disaster wit h "ish", Jeff decided to buy the cheep $0.12 gold fish and they are so wonderful! These gold fish are so active and fun to watch. Max is so fasinated by the little orange and red th ings swimming in that glass box, but I'm sure you can tell that Jeffrey had an even better time showing Max the fish.

Max is so unexpected! When I think he will sleep, he is wide awake. When I know he will love it, he hates it. When I think he will jump right off the chair, he grabs a book off the table and actually starts to "read" it! I promise that I did not pose him for these pictures. I put him in the red recliner and he relaxed with a good book full of pictures of other babies. There is always a surprise in this Bostrom house!

Donuts just make everything better...especially when you are tired at the end of a day.

Yesterday Max and I hosted our first play date with the "Hip Mom's" play group. It was to celebrate Dr. Seuss' Birthday! We had 8 moms and 9 kids come and play with us. It was a normal playdate where the moms got to socialize and the toddlers played their hearts out. I made some goodies for everyone to enjoy and I gave one cookie to Max before everyone arrived...well you can see what happened...too cute! Max was very excited to see all his friends in his house, although at first he was a bit overwelmed. He was excited to show off his found art of walking to all his friends! Yes you read right, this past Friday Max began to walk more than crawl and now he hardly crawls at all! He is very proud and much more confident in his new skill. I can't believe how independent he is becoming, yet such a cuddler (I just love that!).

We had a great weekend...we didn't do much, but we did relax and mess around town. We went to the outlet malls in the Gatlinburg area and found the perfect tent to accommodate our growing family (meaning 2 pack-n-plays plus an air mattress for mom and dad). We are already so excited about camping this summer! When we got back home we ordered a very "healthy" pizza and Jeff and Max played the Wii. That game is getting a lot of use. We just enjoyed being together this weekend...the best kind!