In case you haven't heard...

I'M PREGNANT!

I am 18 weeks along, and the due date is November 27th. We look forward to finding out whether Joel will have a brother or sister sometime in the next few weeks...we'll keep you posted!

Happy Birthday Joel

We started the day in the way that my Birthdays started growing up - with a crown, breakfast on special dishes and an audience of stuffed animals.

Then we headed to the beach before it got too hot...it was supposed to be in the 90's and humid that day...it was still pretty hot in the morning, but the lake was really cold, so it was fun!

After nap and lunch, he got his next presents, which were the pool and the bike...it was too hot to ride the bike that day, but we had fun splashing in the pool for a while.

The day ended with blowing out his candle and eating an ice cream sandwich (non-dairy, of course). He was exhausted from all the activity, but I think he had a really fun Birthday and we had fun celebrating with him! The only thing that would have made it better would have been to be with family and friends, too! (Thanks, Lars and Katie, for coming for dinner and dessert...he loved it!)

Discovering Bubbles...

I don't know why we never gave Joel Bubble Baths before, but we just started and now every bath has to be a bubble bath (I guess we're making up for lost time!). Joel is having fun experimenting with all the things he can do with bubbles!

Big Boy Bed!

When we got back from our trip we set up Joel's new bed...he LOVES it. He has been in it for three weeks now and has yet to get out when he shouldn't. He has fallen out a couple of times, but that doesn't seem to bother him much! :)

Giving it a try...

And on to Reno...

The weather was considerably better in Reno, and we had lots of fun hiking and spending time with Greg's parents. Matt and his wife Nikki were also there for half of the week, and brother Jeff and his family for one night. Greg and Joel with his parents by the Truckee River in downtown Reno.

Joel got to fly his first kite on this warm breezy day...he LOVED it!

Greg, Matt (twin brother) and Joel watching the kite...

This is the view from the Nealons house...the hills are full of wildlife and great for hiking!

Trip To Portland

Right after Spring semester ended we took off for a two week trip to visit family...we felt like tourists driving up the Columbia Gorge and visiting waterfalls and such. Here are a couple of pictures from the Portland leg of our trip.

We spent a lot of time in the car and Joel was such a trooper! Here we are on the way to Multnomah Falls...

It was rainy and gray the WHOLE time we were in Oregon, but the gorge is breathtaking in any weather. It was so nice to be surrounded by green and fresh air again (no offense to Chicagoans).

Whoa, that's one big waterfall!

We got caught in a downpour coming down from the falls, so took refuge in this tunnel.

Jen and Joel enjoying the view at crown point with Jen's Dad and stepmom .