Vacation Wrap Up!

Vacation is starting to seem like a distant memory, so I figured I'd better wrap up the vacation talk before it leaves my mind completely....plus, there's more to update on like our move, Charlotte turning 8 months, MJ starting back to preschool, and mama struggling to keep up with ALL of it!

So, in no particular order, here's some favorite highlights from our wonderful time spend in St. Louis:

 We wrapped up some time at our hotel by Mema and Papa swimming.  This is when MJ discovered that swimming is pretty darn fun!  He started off clinging on to someone for dear life and being a bit whiney.  It didn't take long at all and he was then doing this!  He loved to jump in over and over and over to Mema!  This was the beginning of MJ's love for swimming on our trip. 

Sweet little Charlotte was one tired baby once we made it to Gigi and PopPop's.  She began sleeping on her belly on this trip and would completely konk out!  She started off sleeping in our room in the pack n play, but then we moved it to a spare bedroom and we all slept even better.  She did a good job adjusting to sleeping there!  She is proving to be like her brother in that she won't fall asleep in a stroller or in someone's arms, but put in her in her bed and she's out.  She even got some spoiling on the times when she was challenging to put to sleep, and Gigi was more than happy to rock her...

Gigi must have "the touch" because I don't think Charlotte has fallen asleep like this for me since she was a very tiny baby. 

We'd been in St. Louis only a few days when MJ got his worst "boo boo" yet.  We'd met up with the Grover Family for some playtime at an indoor play center.  When we were leaving, MJ and their little one held hands and started to take off running, but quickly got tangled up and fell.  I didn't see it happen exactly, but I heard MJ's head hit the ground and it was quite hard.  He was pretty upset by it all.  He typically hops up, maybe gets a little cuddle or kiss, and then is right back to playing, but that was definitely not the case this time.  It was obvious that it hurt him and he had a pretty good scratch on his head and cheek.  My mom had actually met us at the play center to pick up the kiddos and take them home for the evening while Mat and I were planning to enjoy a date night.  After some calming and consoling, we thought MJ would be okay and we sent him and Charlee on their way with Gigi.  Unfortunately, we soon learned that MJ was vomiting and falling asleep on the way home, so our date night quickly got nixed and we rushed home to see our boy!  We were so worried about him the whole way home, fearing he had a concussion and thinking we'd be making our first ER trip with him.  Luckily though, he was feeling better, and acting completely fine, even asking for lots of snacks.  After talking to our pediatrician, and a nurse friend, and keeping a close eye on him for awhile, we decided not to take him to the ER.  We kept him up late and then woke him up every few hours to make sure he was doing okay.  By the next morning, we was good as new, with the exception of looking rather battered.  Definitely his first big scare he's given us since birth!

We got to gather at Grandma and Grandpa Immekus' house so they could love on the grandbabies, and Aunt Kris (lover of babies) could meet Charlotte for the first time.  We missed out on seeing them at Easter, so they were the only ones who hadn't got to meet her yet.  MJ loved playing with cousin Samantha!  Can you believe she was the flower girl in our wedding?!?  She wasn't much bigger than MJ at the time and now look at her...soooo beautiful and a sophomore in high school!  She was wonderful with MJ!  If we were in St. Louis, I'd snatch her up as a babysitter any day!

 

 

We visited the Museum of Transportation with my parents.  Right up MJ's alley...nothing but cars and trains!  He was in heaven and didn't even seem to notice the fact that it was 150 degrees!!!  No, seriously there were heat warnings and they closed the place at 1 due to the heat.  I think it was in the low 100's, and of course the majority of stuff you do is outside or in unairconditioned buildings, but we still had a great time!  He loved riding on the train with Gigi and PopPop!  Then, we we walked around and looked at several cars, trucks, and trains.  Then, we had booked an hour play time at their Imagination Station, so he went in there with Gigi and PopPop and was able to play with trains, do an art project, etc.  It's definitely a place we'll be going back to.  Thanks, Groupon for the great deal!  ;) 

 

 



 

 

Of course there was some play time with Grandma and Grandpa Keyes, too!  Grandma made us a wonderful lunch and we were able to visit with them and have them interact with the kids for awhile.  Grandpa Keyes is always sure to have funny little rhymes and what not to do with MJ, and MJ just eats it up!  It usually takes MJ about 2 minutes to warm up to it, and then he asks for more and more the whole time.  It's so cute and a memory I know we'll treasure as he grows older. 

 

 

Just shortly after this, MJ gave us another scare.  Not sure exactly what happened, but somehow as he as rolling around on the floor he cut his head on something...the corner of the chair we think.  Nobody realized he was even hurt until he sat up and there was LOTS of blood dripping down his head!  It was a pretty decent cut, but looked worse than it really was I think.  I thought for sure when I first saw him sit up, it was time for stitches, but it stopped bleeding pretty quickly.  I thought he was bound and determined to visit the ER on this trip, sheesh!! 

 

I was able to get together with all my girlfriends in St. Louis on this trip, which is quite a treat!  I had time with Meg, Mindy, and Stephanie each individually.  Stephanie and I were able to meet up with the little ones.  Since Bennett and Charlotte are just four days apart, it's so neat and special to see them together. We did a little shopping at a Just Between Friends Sale with the babies and then went to lunch, where we also met MJ and my mom who had been seeing a movie.  It will be so special to see our little ones growing up alongside one another!! 

 

 It's not often while in St. Louis that we even have any down time to think about doing something as a family, but this trip was a great balance of time with family, time with friends, and even time on our own.  On one of those days, Mat and I took the kids to the St. Louis Science Center.  We each have memories of going here as kids ourselves, but the last time we'd been together was actually when we were dating, shortly after they'd fixed it up and opened the "new" Science Center.  This place is just awesome, and did I mention free? 

 They have a room for little ones, that does cost a small fee, where you can go in and play for 45 minute increments.  It was amazing!!  Of course MJ was in heaven when he discovered a train table.  We had to encourage him to branch out and try a couple other activities, too.  There were even lots of options for Charlotte to play with, too. 

 One of MJ's fave spots of the whole Science Center was the glass overpass/bridge where you can look at cars.  I remember this overpass as a kid myself, but never did I imagine I'd one day be snapping a pic of my car-loving three year old! 

Always the sign of a great day-knocked out kiddies!  We had such a wonderful time together that day, and it was great to have an indoor activity to do since it was another hot summer day of 100+ temps!

 

 

MJ loved visiting Gigi and Pop Pop's pool!  He gained so much independence in the water during this trip and was swimming around on his own, with the help of his Puddle Jumper!  He also loved playing in the sprinkler in Gigi and PopPop's backyard. 

 

Eventhough it was a month early, I was lucky enough to be able to celebrate my mom's 60th birthday with her.  I planned a surprise luncheon at Hendell's Market for her with some of her closest friends.  She was truly surprised!  It was such a special afternoon spent with some wonderful ladies and celebrating my amazing mom.  Given that she's been through cancer twice, celebrating a healthy mom during this milestone year seemed like quite a HUGE reason to celebrate and be thankful!

The kids also were able to see both grandpas on my side.  It makes me so happy to see them able to love and play with Mat's two grandma's and yet sad that they'll never know my grandmas.  Luckily their grandpas also enjoy loving on them!  We were able to go to Grandpa Fay's for lunch on one of the last days of our trip. 

All in all, this was such a great trip to St. Louis.  We were there long enough to truly enjoy our time and see everyone without it feeling too rushed or overwhelming.  MJ has reached an age where we can get by without a nap a bit more easily and Charlotte can still nap on the go pretty easily, so the day to day running seemed a bit easier this time.  We're so thankful for our many friends and family who make the time to see us and work around our schedule when we come to town.  Dubuque is becoming more and more where we see our family being for the long term, but St. Louis still always feels like "home".