Happy Birthday Mike!

Mike turned 31 today! Michael and I wanted to make it a very special day for him so we...

Picked up a canvas, some paint and some supplies. Michael worked for a good hour painting with sponges, foil, plastic bags, brushes, car wheels, newspaper, forks, a whisk and a toothbrush. (Yes I was totally copying that episode of Jon and Kate Plus Eight).
Here is the final product. Mike said that it was the perfect gift (I think he may have even had tears in his eyes). Its going above our mantel in the T.V. room.

Then we made him his favorite dinner. Tortellini with Tomato Cream Sauce (recipe from Pasta and Company) and green beans.

Dinner was followed by delicious cupcakes from Metro Market.

Yum!

We hope you had a great birthday Mike. We love you!!!

Loving the Weather!

Michael and I headed to the park yesterday afternoon for the first time since last summer! It was funny, as soon as we got there he went looking for poop in all the same places he saw it last time he was there. This kid has a memory like an elephant!

Puzzles, Pajamas and Projects

Michael has reached the magical age where he is super into projects, which I love. His favorites are coloring, painting, play dough, and putting stickers on paper. He can seriously sit for an entire hour quietly working on a project. He has also become addicted to pajamas. I'm not exaggerating, I'm thinking about calling A&E and getting him on Intervention. He wears them 24/7. He even insists on wearing them under his clothes when he leaves the house and as soon as he gets home he strips is clothes off. He really needs to get over this before summer because it would be strange to see a kid walking around with pajamas under his shorts.

Michael concentrating on another new love, puzzles.
Quietly painting away.

This kid can put stickers on paper like its nobody's business:) He has gone through 3 LARGE sticker books in just a few weeks!

Morning in Olympia

Mike had to get fitted for a tux in Olympia last Saturday, so Michael and I went along for the ride. We decided to take Michael to the Capital while we were down there to let him run around and burn off some energy.

He loved all the the grass to run around on and spent a long time collecting sticks.
We got there just as the Capital was opening.

Michael loved all of the steps and the tall ceilings.

He did such a good job being quiet and respectful while we looked around.

After the capital we headed to Anthony's.

Then looked for some ducks and fish before we headed back home. Such a fun day!

Scarlet Fever, Seriously

If you have been wondering why we have been MIA its because Michael came down with a case of Scarlet fever, that's right...the thing that one of the little women in Little Women died from. I didn't even realize that Scarlet fever still existed, but apparently it does and its not as bad as it used to be. It all started out one Wednesday when I noticed Michael was itching his hands. Trying not to be a hypochondriac like usual, I contributed it to dry skin. By Friday, his hands broke out in a rash. Still not trying to jump to conclusions, I thought it was a reaction to some Clorox wipes that I was letting him wash a table with. Therefor Mike and I naively treated the rash with cortisone cream until Tuesday (yes I'm a horrible mother) when I noticed the rash was spreading. We then took Michael to the doctor where they informed us it was a symptom of Strep Throat. Say What? I thought that Strep Throat caused a fever and a horrible sore throat, which Michael never had. Well apparently Michael didn't let on that he was in any pain because the Strep test came back positive and I felt like the worst person in the world that I didn't take him in sooner (in my defense though, this all took place over the Marin Luther King Jr. Holiday). That night I Googled "rash with Strep Throat." It was then that I discovered if a rash shows up with Strep it is called Scarlet Fever! I have definitely learned my lesson to take Michael to the doctor if something is off and feel lucky that it didn't turn into anything more serious!

Belated Birthday Pics/Michael's New Ride

I completely forgot to post pictures of Michael's actual birthday...

He couldn't wait to come downstairs to see his present.
This is the reaction that we were hoping for.

He tried to ride it around the house.

But then he realized it was too hard on the carpet without shoes.

Later that night we met Mike at my parents house. We forgot to get Michael a helmet, so Mike saved the day and picked one up that afternoon.

We all headed down to Michael's favorite restaurant (The Spar) for dinner.

Michael loved being surrounded by all of his favorite people.

P.S. Michael wont ride his new bike, he still prefers his trike for some strange reason. Hopefully he will realize how cool his new ride is before it is too small.

Thanks...

Thank you for all of the great name suggestions. Mike and I talked about it last night and actually came up with a name. We are keeping it a secret though until the baby comes because everyone always has an opinion:)

Oh and don't worry, its not Jackson!

Question

We are throwing around names here in the Welch household and one of them was Jackson. Do you think that it would be weird if we had a Michael and a Jackson, like people would make fun of them and call them Michael Jackson? Just wondering.

Oh and if you have any good name suggestions we are taking them. Mike prefers the longer ones that can be shortened later in life and I prefer the short ones (Jack, Jake, Sam, Liam to name a few). This name thing is hard because we know so many little boys out there that have taken all of the good names!:)

Wondering

Now that we know that we are having another boy, I help but wonder if the new little guy is going to look like Michael. I feel like there are some similarities in their ultrasounds, but you never know:) Oh and we still need a name...

Top 10 Reasons Im Excited to Have All Boys

Since we announced that we were having a boy yesterday people keep on asking both Mike and myself if I'm upset, which I think is such an odd question. We are both thrilled to be given a chance to bring another life into this world and ecstatic that yesterday's ultrasound revealed that I was carrying a HEALTHY baby, which is all that really matters. To tell you the truth I could care less if we had 10 boys, as long as each and everyone of them was happy and healthy. Oh and by the way, my eggs aren't dried up people...there may be a few good ones left in a couple of years, and by that time maybe Mike's sperm will slow down and maybe, just possibly we will have a girl...but if not and we do by chance have another boy I will be excited for the following reasons...

10. I think that elastic headbands on baby girls with no hair are creepy.
9. The Tux Shop is a whole lot easier and cheaper than shopping for a prom dress.
8. Ever heard of a Mamma's Boy?
7. I don't know how to do hair. (Have you ever noticed that I have had the same hairstyle since high school)?
6. Pink nursery's give me an upset stomach. So do pink toys.
5. Did I mention we have 6 large bins of boys clothes in the upstair's closet?
4. I will be the only one with out of control female hormones in this house.
3. I have already learned the names of all the characters in Cars.
2. Boys can pee anywhere.
1. Its called 2 rehearsal dinners b*#%$!!!

Its a...

BOY

As Sue Ann puts it...100% BOY
We are so excited that we are having another boy! Most importantly he appears to be healthy and developing normally for this stage in the game. Now we just need to agree on a name!

Michael's 3rd Birthday Party

We had a house full of family and friends to help up celebrate Michael's 3rd birthday. Thank you to everyone who came and made it a great night!