Summer Fun

It is officially summer and I am loving it. Summer has always been my favorite season of the year. Give me hot weather and flip flops any day and I am a happy girl. I'm guessing it may have something to do with growing up on the beach in Florida.

Everyone warned me, "you will hate being pregnant in the summer". And surprisingly, I don't hate it at all. It's actually been super nice to have the option to throw on sun dresses and put on sandals. As opposed to trying to squeeze my over weight body into pants and my swollen feet into closed toed shoes. The clothing dilemma hasn't been much of a "dilemma" at all this pregnancy. And let me tell you, it was more than a "dilemma" with Jack's pregnancy.

I will admit that the heat can be uncomfortable at times. But, hey, just being pregnant to me is totally uncomfortable. Might as well be doing it nice weather.

Plus, it's been pretty easy to keep Jack entertained the past month or so. (Keep in mind, I didn't say pretty easy to keep him behaving!) We have filled our days with backyard play dates, swimming at the club, a trip to Florida this past weekend, and the zoo. Yes, Jack's second home is the zoo. A couple hours checking out animals in the sun equals a mighty fine nap!

Today we enjoyed a fabulous day poolside. Cristina, Sophia, and baby Alexandra hosted a pool play date in their backyard. Just say "Sophia's house" and I can get Jack to do anything. It's the best bribe I have to date! He is absolutely in love with his best pal, Sophia. We packed lunches and joined the other 12 kids and their Mommies for lots of wet entertainment. And guess who Jack was attached to the whole play date?...you guessed it, the hostess herself, Sophia.

Sharing a poolside snack with Sophia. I think Sophia might be the only other toddler Jack will share with and that's not even guaranteed.

Look at Miller sneak in on the action.

Mommies and kiddos enjoying the sun and water...I'm sure they love me for these bathing suit shots--even though they all look fabulous!.

There is no other place Jack would rather be than swimming with Sophia in the "baby pool". Okay, actually it's the hot tub without the heat, but Jack thinks it serves nicely as a kiddie pool. Whatever makes him happy!

Happy Birthday Meg

Splish, Splash! Splish Splash!

What a Blast We Had at Meg's 3rd Birthday Bash!

Thanks for letting us celebrate with you Meg! We hope #3 is the best year yet!

Do you think I put enough sunscreen on the poor boy?

The birthday girl and her princess cake.

Mmmmm...this was, of course, Jack's favorite part of the celebration.

It looks like Meg enjoyed it too!

Splashing was Jack's specialty at the party. Every pool party needs at least one.

All bundled up in his "Mi-ee Mous" towel and ready to go home. Jack loves Mickey Mouse these days and all because of this towel. He's never even seen him on t.v. or anywhere else for that matter!

To My Dear Family

I'm just coming off of a long visit by some of my family. And in the sensitive, emotional state of pregnancy, I realized just how much I love them. I always love them...but, this time when they left, well, it was just different. So here are some 'Thank Yous' to my family and I hope that they each know there is a giant 'I Love & I Miss you" behind each one.

*Thank you for the endless hours of entertaining Jack...i.e. book reading marathons, play dates in the playroom, trips to the zoo, backyard fun, and so much more.

*Thank you for not only putting up with my pregnant,overtired, hungry, emotional self, but embracing it and not making me feel 'crazy'.

*Thank you for letting me eat dinner without being the one to cut up food, correct Jack's behavior, and clean messy fingers and cheeks.

*Thank you for letting me sleep in and putting Jack to bed at night.

*Thank you for making my kitchen look like a lot of happy hungry people live here.

*Thank you for our first outdoor dinner of the season.

*Thank you for the crazy chaos that makes us a family. It wouldn't be the same without it.

*Thank you for letting me be the one who lives in the middle of everyone. We love filling our house!

Look what Grandma brought me..a pirate book!

Jack enjoyed teaching Grandma how to use the frisbee.

Now it's GG's turn to read to Jack.

We visited The World of Coke and Jack actually enjoyed checking out the memorabilia or maybe it was that smoothie that Grandma bought him that kept him at bay.

Family pic with the Coke Bear. Notice how the boys stayed out of this one.

Jack sporting his 4D glasses before we entered the movie.

Just waiting for our turn to enter the theatre.

Jack would take story time anywhere he could get it...inside or outside!

Grandma must be an enchanting reader, she had a full audience.

Joel cooked our first outdoor meal on Daddy's' new Father's Day gift.

Now it's Aunt Scrub's turn to read. Jack made his rounds before and after dinner.

Happy Birthday To Nate...& Me

Saturday was spent celebrating birthdays! Not only was it my, ugh...32nd birthday, but also Jack's buddy Nate's 2nd Birthday party.

The morning started with sleeping in. Have I ever mentioned that is my FAVORITE present? But, once I got up it was full force action around here. I think Jack had been waiting for my shut eye to be over, because as soon as my feet hit the bedroom floor, I heard him barreling up the stairs chanting "Mommy pwesent". He arrived at the door with Daddy and my gifts in hand. Not a bad way to wake up, huh? So after Jack opened my gifts, I had a new I-Pod and a beautiful new charm for my Tiffany's bracelet that Daddy got me for Christmas this past year. And my wonderful hubby had already downloaded my fave music on the I-Pod for me, so sweet!

After my Birthday celebration on the bedroom floor it was time to get dressed and head out the door for Nate's "Fire Truck" themed party. Jack was a bit confused...was it Mommy's birthday or Nate's birthday? And why couldn't it be Jack's birthday too? The whole way there he talked about parties, and cake, and sang me Happy Birthday on repeat...gotta admit--I loved it!

Once we arrived, Jack had a blast scoping out Nate's toys, playing in his backyard and checking out the real life fire truck that came to the party! So cool! However, I think his favorite part was the cake. He must have asked me 100x about the cake. Hence, it was my bribe to "play nice", which worked part of the time. And once he got it, well let's just say, all was well!

We came home for great naps and topped off our evening with a Hibachi Birthday dinner. With no family in town and no available sitter, we opted for a nice family friendly dinner. Jack loved it and I even received a Japanese rendition of "Happy Birthday". Who could ask for more?

Look Mommy a REAL fire truck!

Yes, Jack actually posed in front of the fire truck...for about .5 seconds.

Another shock of the day...Jack wanted to wear his fire man's hat. This is coming from a toddler who has been 'anti-hat' since Halloween 08.

A birthday picture with Mommy (32) and Jack (2). And meanwhile, Jack is thinking, "do I have to?"

Nate, the Great Birthday Boy! He was wearing the most precious appliqued fire truck shirt, but of course, you can't see it. His Mommy says, 'he is obsessed with fire trucks!'

Finally, my little bribed Jack gets his cake. And what does he do? Why, lick off the icing and leave the cake, naturally!

The Graduate

He did it! After 10 long weeks of swim lessons and 1 failed attempt to "test out", our Jack is officially a swimmer. He and I both endured a large commitment to accomplish this, but we are so proud. The first 4 weeks were filled with tears and persistent "I don't want to" 's. Almost enough to make me call it quits, until I would be reminded of the end reward by witnessing a fellow swimmer graduate.

The next 4 weeks still included some heavy whining, but lots of progress. And by week 8, well, Jack was a swimmer. That was until test out time. At that point he had to wear summer clothes while the instructor simulated a scene of him "falling in". She literally tossed Jack in as if he had fallen. He did great! He came back up from under the water into his back float and after a moment of regaining his composure Jack swam to the stairs. The problem came with the winter clothes. Besides the fact that when soaking wet they weighed a ton, Jack's biggest issue was clothes don't belong in the pool. Especially a jacket and tennis shoes. Anxiety set in before he even began the test out. Needless to say, he panicked once in the water, tugged at his jacket, pulled on his pants, and wailed. He did not float. All his skills went down the drain, so to speak.

So weeks eight through ten were spent building confidence again and talking the clothes thing up. We called it "silly", I reminded him it was "just one time", and we watched other kids do it. Finally at the close of week ten, confident that he had the skills, we gave the test out another shot. And well, let's just say Jack , was able to save himself and make it to the side of the pool for his trophy! He didn't like it, but he did it!

Since then he has showed me his trophy daily. Just to hear me say "you did it", "you can swim and float"! He gets that proud grin on his face from ear to ear and then quickly reminds me "no swim today". Which means...'no lesson today, okay Mommy?' As for the club pool, we practice for a few minutes every time we go, sometimes VERY reluctantly on Jack's part and then he hits the baby pool. It's his comfort zone and being a boy of caution, he feels right at home. Regardless of if Jack wants to swim in the big pool or not, at least Clay and I comfortably feel that he can swim and could save himself if something ever were to happen.

It sure is good to be a "Graduate"!

Jack in his "float" in the middle of the pool.

Flipping over to swim--he knows he is close to the stairs. (at this point he has done the "swim float swim" sequence about 2x to get to his destination)

He made it! Ahhh...boy does he loves the feel of safety.

A Pretty Hello from...

Baby Girl Cibula

**if they got it right...I'm still in shock & a bit skeptical, but oh so excited**

It's A...

You didn't think I was going to give it away that easily, did you? So instead, here are a few clues. Let me know your guess and I'll let you know the answer soon! Pink or blue?--read the clues!

1. I am still out numbered at the Cibula household, don't forget about Cosby--he's part of the family too!


2. I was super nauseated at the beginning of this pregnancy.


3. My skin is horrible.


4. I crave eggs, fruit, and peanut butter.


5. Grandma's know best.


6. I have a lot to do.


7. This baby has a first name, but we are still working on the middle name.


8. Take Clay to Vegas if you want the odds in your favor.


9. This doesn't necessarily mean that we are done--we are taking it one baby at a time.


10. The ultrasound appointment was very eventful--it took FOREVER to find the gender.


11. I have to shave my legs everyday with this pregnancy which I am not use to.


12. The majority of my friends have at least one of these.


13. Clay and I both feel some new added pressure.


14. I'm gaining weight exactly like I did with Jack, however I think my rear might be even a bit bigger this time.


15. Jack and my Mom both got their wish.


16. We are already in love with this baby!