Play Date Morning!

Ethan & I met our friends, Heather & Braden and Angie & Noah for a play date this morning.  We started out at the playground in front of the zoo for some climbing, swinging and sliding.  They when the zoo opened we were the first in line to get in.  The boys had a great time running everywhere and seeing all the animals, not to mention a carousel and a train ride. 

3 Buddies!  Noah, Braden and Ethan

Ethan and Noah on the Carousel

Riding the Elephant

Petting Zoo Fun.  Noah wasn't too into the goats.

After we finished at the zoo, we topped the morning off with some MickeyD's Happy Meals and some time in the play place. 

This was the best photo I could get during lunchtime

Ethan and Braden checking out the new McDonald's play place.

Meeting the Newest Mehrle!

My cousin, Libby, had baby girl #2, Katie Sue last Wednesday so we headed down to St. Louis last night to meet her and see the rest of the Mehrle family.  My parents happened to be in Fairview Heights around the time we were coming through so we met them for dinner. 
Ethan and Pop had a great time...

Straw Paper Mustaches

After dinner we moved on to our hotel where Ethan was pretty excited about sleeping in another 'big boy bed'.  I can't believe how great he did!  He just climbed in and that was it until this morning. 

Ready for bed time!

Then, this morning we got to meet Katie Sue.  She was born last Wed. August 10 and is beautiful!  She has a full head of dark hair with some blonde highlights, every girls dream! 

So sweet!

Ethan was quite taken with Katie and kept rubbing her blanket.

Sleeping the day away

Ethan and Haley playing together very nicely!

It was a great weekend and we are so glad we were able to see sweet baby Katie (and her family).  It makes it so much more 'real' for us too!

30 Weeks

Yesterday marked 30 weeks of pregnancy for baby girl!  I can't believe there are only 10 weeks left.  We are soooo excited, but also a little stressed thinking of all the things between now and October 28 that will (and need to) happen!  Like packing up our entire house and moving!  I also need to get working on that crib bedding I mentioned a few posts back.  Anyway, here we are...growing and growing!

30 Weeks

I also had a doctor's appointment yesterday.  Apparently baby girl is sitting with her head in my ribs and her feet kicking me in the bladder...not the correct position.  The doctor didn't seem too concerned since there is plenty of time for her to flip.  I'm also still measuring smaller (yay!) at 26 weeks.  We have our next and last ultrasound a week from Tuesday and I can't wait to see her again!  I'll be sure to update after my ultrasound!

Birthday Party!

Yesterday we helped celebrate with Ethan's friend, Noah.  He turned 2 and had a great pool party.  Ethan and Noah go to the same sitters and we go to church with Noah and his family.  It was a good time with great friends.

Jared swimming with Braden and Ethan

Noah, the Birthday Boy!

Ethan and Braden enjoying some yummy cake

3- 2year olds!  Braden, Noah and Ethan

Abby & Alex Visit AND The State Fair

We've had a fun and busy weekend around here.  On Thursday evening, my mom and Abby came up.  Mom stayed for dinner and a tour of our new house and then headed home and Abby stayed a couple days. 

Ethan and Grandma

Friday, we pretty much just hung around the house.

Playing a little baseball and golf...





And a little swinging...



Then, Abby killed a ginormous bee/wasp...(it was pretty comical)

What a fun day, with a sweet boy!

Then on Saturday, we headed over to Springfield to the Illinois State Fair.  The weather was really nice, so we spent the morning looking at the animals, checking out the sights and deciding what to eat for lunch!  Ethan had a great time and liked the goats the most, I think. 

Hanging with the goats in his pig hat.  He kept saying 'I like these goats!'

The newlyweds in the goat barn.

Feeding the sheep

The 3.5 of us in front of the butter cow

The infamous Butter Cow.  Yes, it's carved completely out of butter!

Exciting News!

So...I didn't post anything earlier about us putting our house on the market because it just happened last week and things have been pretty crazy.  Anyway, we have been browsing the house listings for a while now and found one we really liked.  So, we thought we would see how our house did and put it on the market last Wednesday.  Fast-forward a week...and we have an offer on our house and have put an offer in on another house!  I currently have mixed emotions about all this, but we can blame that on the pregnancy.  I'm really excited about our new house but also I'm really going to miss being here.  Anyway, I 'stole' a few pictures from the website where our house is listed since they are better than any I could take.
Here is our first house (*tear*):

And here is our new house:
(These are also from the listing online, I'll post more when we actually move in)

Our tentative closing date is September 23, which also happens to be Abby's 22nd Birthday.  I think she will get to spend her birthday with us!

Fun with Grandma and Evening in the Park

Grandma Karen came up today to spend the morning with us.  Our weather was absolutely beautiful!  We decided to head to the good 'ole Decatur Zoo.  Ethan loves to look at the animals and loves riding the train even more. 

Petting the baby goat with Grandma

Waiting on the train to come

Ethan's 'Cheese' face...

Again, with the weather being so nice, we headed to the park for a picnic dinner and some fun on the playground. 

"Who's that guy?"

Daddy and Ethan

He is hanging from one of those sprial things you are supposed to climb up...he kept saying 'Watch this!' and would kick his legs like crazy. 

28 Weeks and Big Boy Bed!

This has been a mile-stone kind of weekend around here.  First, on Friday, I entered my 3rd trimester of Baby Girl's pregnancy.  It seems a little crazy that in just 12 short weeks (or less) we will have a daughter!  All is going well and I'm feeling really good.  My mom and I will be making bedding for her crib and nursery...I guess we should be getting on that!  I'll be sure to post some pictures of our progress, when there is some.  Here we are at 28 weeks (and 2 days).

And on Saturday morning, we decided to convert Ethan's bed into a toddler bed.  We plan on using his crib for the baby and thought it would be a good idea to give him some time to get used to his 'freedom' before a real change sets in.  After he figured out what we meant by 'big boy bed' he was sooooo excited! 


Just after Daddy finished putting it together!



Wanting to climb in all by himself

First night/morning and he didn't even fall out!

Bedtime Stories

Tonight Ethan wanted to read his Bible all by himself.  He was so cute getting all situated and ready to read.  I snapped a quick couple pictures.

Family Fun!

Weddings always bring a lot of family, so we took advantage and had a family brunch on Sunday.  The food was great and the entertainment (all the kids) were hilarious!  It's always fun to get together and see all the little ones playing...or fighting. 

Food!

All the little (and not so little) ones
Haley, Finley, Tyler, Markey, Callum, Paige, Josiah
Scout, Caleb, Ethan, Hazel

...And more little ones are about to come! 

Libby: Due in 1 week!, Me: Due Oct. 28, Kendra: Due Nov. 15ish?

 Stephen, our resident photographer caught these pictures earlier in the week and I had to share them.  Ethan is exactly 4 months older than Scout.  They get along...most of the time.  But remember, they're 2!