Getting big!!!

Well, it's safe to say our little guy is growing up!  He went on his first stroller ride sans carseat and he did so well, no slumping or head bobbing =]  He is such a big boy!  Even all of the physical therapists at Aunt Sarah's clinic said what great head control he has!  We are so proud.

Alex has also been laughing and squealing!  It is seriously adorable =]  But most of the time, things are only funny once, so we are always trying to come up with new things to get a little giggle!  

He just figured out the other day that he can move himself around in his crib.  Every morning we go in and find him in a different position than we left him in!  He even got himself rolled over onto his side!  Time to set one arm free of the swaddle blanket =]

I did not put him in here like this...

Mommy and Alex got new shoes this weekend!  I was so excited to get my new running shoes!  None of my shoes fit anymore after being pregnant, I grew a whole shoe size, so running was not particularly comfortable.  I'm loving the neon aspect of my new shoes =]  Grandma Cardy was spoiling Alex rotten and got him some new Sperry's to match daddy and 3 new outfits =]  Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!  Aunt Shalyn is helping make Alex the best dressed baby too!  She got him the most adorable froggy sunhat to match his cousin Oliver!

Mommy's new shoes--------------Alex's new shoes-----------------Alex's new hat!

Getting some snuggles with daddy =]

Seriously adorable shot that Aunt Sarah got!

This week we are heading over to Illinois!  John is going to Chicago for convention and Alex and I are going to visit my friend Jamie!  Then on Saturday Alex and I head to Chicago for a few days with daddy!  We are super excited =]  I will try to actually take some pics of us on vacation so I can post them!

Some pictures of Alex from our friend and awesome photographer, Mallory Chrisman =]  These are from early in June, he looks different already!  Check out her work! http://mallorychrisman.wix.com/photographer

Michigan Weekend!

Happy birthday, John!  We celebrated John's 25th birthday last week =]  Welcome to the quarter century club, hunny! =]  Alex even pick out daddy's favorite outfit for his birthday!

Happy birthday, dad!

Well, my best friend is finally married!  I can hardly believe it.  We had such a fun weekend and I am so glad she allowed us to be part of the big day!  Thanks to my awesome husband for taking care of the little guy for all the time I spent getting wedding ready with Kate and the rest of the bridesmaids =]  It was so much fun getting my nails and hair done!  I haven't been that dolled up in a while!

Rehearsal!

Setting up the reception!

Hair- check!

Nails - Check!

Party time!

The wedding ceremony was really beautiful but poor John (& Alex) missed the whole thing because Alex decided he wasn't ready to see his Auntie Kate get married and cried the whole time!    Luckily he had a nice long rest with grandma, grandpa, Aunt Sarah and Uncle Jose before the reception.  John was able to come with me on the party bus that took the wedding party all around Rockford.  It was so much fun being able to hang out with our friends for a little while =]  Congratulations to Sean and Katie!!  We love you!!

Married!!!

While we were in Michigan, we stayed with our friends Phil and Cassie in their new, beautiful home!  It was so great seeing them and being able to spend time with them while we were in town.  Alex always loves visiting because he gets so much love from the two of them!  We even got to take a walk on the beach of Lake Michigan, one of my favorite things to do!

On Sunday, we found out that we are getting another nephew!  Sarah and Jose's gender reveal party was so much fun and we were so excited to see the blue frosting in the middle of the cake =]  Now I can really get to crafting and planning the baby shower!

It's a BOY!

Alex and Jose guessed right!

And just because he's so stinking cute =]

Crazy July!

Wow!  I have been slacking!  The weeks feel like they are flying by this summer.  I can't believe it is already the middle of July!

John is full throttle into his marathon training.  Today he has 11 miles scheduled!  I start my half marathon training on Tuesday with 3 miles.  Only three months until our race filled month of October =] This past week I made us a place to hold our running bibs and medals using my awesome Cricut (thanks mom and dad!).  We are starting a running wall in what will be Alex's playroom!  Here is the finished product =]

I've got the crochet bug again (and hat models =P).  I have started working on new hats for my Etsy shop!  I will be opening it back up this fall after I get some inventory built up!  Hooray!

Alex the Dino, Oliver the Monkey and Alex the Monster!

Alex is growing like a weed and becoming more and more talkative by the day!  He loves to be a part of our conversations =]  He is starting to get restless with the fact that he can't move around or sit up yet.  Only a few more months until he reaches those milestones, but I'm not sure I'm ready for my baby to grow up so fast! He has started to grab at anything that gets too close to his little hands (and proceeds to put it in his mouth).  He laughs and smiles all the time now =]  We are constantly trying to find new ways to get a little giggle out of him.  Tummy time is becoming a major challenge as he can now roll himself from his tummy to his back!  It is a constant battle between mommy and baby getting him to stay on his belly!

3 months old already!!!

Our little ham =]

He is sleeping through the night most days of the week!  It has been so nice being able to have a full night's sleep =]  On the occasion that he does wake me up, it wipes me out!  Just in case I was starting to forget what it was like to have a newborn, he reminds me =]  He is also sleeping full time in his own room now!  I love seeing his smiling face every morning when we go to get him!  It is one of the greatest feelings =]

For the Fourth of July we went on a mini-vacation first to the Reineke Family Cottage on Lake Erie then up to Michigan.  It was a lot of travel for our little family but we made it through!  It was so great seeing so many of our family and friends =]  John and I even had our first night out without Alex!  My mom and dad babysat while we went out with Sarah and Jose for a couple of hours.  He did wonderful for them and was fast asleep by the time we got home.

Us on the Fourth!  Alex wasn't sure about the flash =]

The dogs were wiped out!

It was my best friend, Kate's bachelorette party last weekend as well.  This was my first night out while John was in charge =]  He had Alex for 4 1/2 hours and did awesome!  I had such a good time out with my girlfriends, I definitely needed a night out.

Bridesmaids with the beautiful bride (white shirt)!!!

Love her =]

Last Sunday we went to the beach in Muskegon with our friends Phil and Cassie.  It was a beautiful day and Alex got to walk out to his first lighthouse point.  I was obviously a nervous wreck the whole time, holding onto the stroller as John pushed so it didn't wander off the edge.  I can't say I wasn't getting teased by everyone, but what can I say??

Muskegon

Out for ice cream with Phil and Cassie!

This week we leave Thursday to head back up the west side of Michigan for Kate and Sean's wedding weekend!!!  I am so excited to see my best friend get married!!!

On Sunday, we get to find out if we are getting a niece or nephew from Sarah and Jose!  My money is on a niece =]

And just because...

I love snuggles with daddy!

Our little traveler!