Preschool Graduate

My little man is now a Preschool graduate! Holy moly - where did the time go? He makes me a super-proud mama and I just don't know where I would be right now without that little boy. There have been times in his little life that he was all I had and I was all he knew. This bond will never be broken...if I'm sure of anything in my life that is the truth I hold on to. He looked super sweet in his red cap & gown...and acted incredibly grown up as he led the pledge of alligence and sang songs on stage with his classmates. Here is a short clip of the program:

Max has some really close friends from his class...and this is him with his buddy, Aiden.


There is no doubt in my mind that Max is ready to kindergarten in August...the amount of progress he has made in the last few months of Preschool is really amazing! At the program they recited their ABC's, counted by 5's and 10's, said the days of the week and months of the year, and even memorized a few nursery rhymes.

When we got home, Max had a graduation present waiting for him - and he was so very excited about it!!! A NEW BIKE - without training wheels:) Of course we had to try it out right away!

Baseball season

Max's baseball season is in full swing - we usually have 2 -3 games each week and I somehow got roped into keeping the book! It's been busy, but an easy-going type of busy which I love. Most of my evenings as a child were spent at the ball park in Odon, and getting back into that routine has been relaxing. Here are a few photos of my little man playing ball:

My "little" cousin Jessica had a sweet baby girl last week, her name is Dailee Jo Echavarria. We love her so much already and I just think she is the most precious little thing! We visited her in the hospital, but Max didn't get to meet her until yesterday, when we took them supper. He was so very excited and couldn't wait to hold her - I think he was practicing for his baby sister who is due in just 3 short months! I think baby Swartzentruber and Dailee Jo will be the best of friends and I can't wait to watch them grow up together!

Yesterday morning my cousin Chas's little man had his first communion, so we went to church with them and helped the family celebrate afterwards with lunch & cake:) He is such a big boy and growing up too fast...what a sweetheart! We just found out that Chas is expecting - so this already large family will be growing even larger!! We are very excited!

Later this week Max has his Odon Christian Church Preschool graduation - so be sure to check back later in the week for lots of pictures in his cap and gown:)

Odds and Ends

Just had some random things I wanted to record here on the blog - not much has been going on with us. Max has started pee-wee baseball practice and is really into it this year. Tee-ball last year was a little slow for him, but getting to hit off the pitching machine is so much more fun for him:) Gabe (along with his brother and his dad) are helping coach this year and everything is going really well...two practices down, and another one tonight:)

Last weekend a wonderful family friend came to visit with her two little boys, who are 4 and 5 years old. Max was in heaven having other little boys to play with! Here is a picture of all 3 boys sitting on top of my Grandma Raber's freezer (where there are still some of her yummy goodies she used to make frozen away for us to enjoy later)...

And here is a great picture that my Aunt Gina snapped of me and Grandpa Raber:

A few days ago my brother Clay (Max's "Uncle Faye) played basketball against the Harlem Wizards at the Washington gym. We had a good time sitting with my cousin Chas and her family, and I even managed to get a picture of Max and Clay - these two are the best of buddies!
Ya know how they say that children are almost honest to a fault...well, Max was brutally honest with me one day this week! ha ha! We were in the kitchen and I turned around to get something out of the fridge, when Max says from behind me "Mom, your butt is getting pretty BIG!" Oh my goodness...well, gee, thanks Max. Just what I needed to hear...he's such a stinker! Speaking of the joys of pregnancy...my ankles have already started swelling - I'm afraid I'm in for a long summer! August just can't get here fast enough:)

Our little weekend away...

This past weekend we took a little Spring Break trip to Indy, where we stayed at the Holiday Inn at the Pyramids (which has the waterpark inside). It was nice just to get away...just me, Gabe, and Max - and spoil Max a little since I feel like he's been a little abandoned thru my whole pregnancy because of me being so sick and such. So we let Max make most of the decisions...what to do each day, where to eat, etc. We ended up spending time each day at the waterpark, eating pizza and drinking pop alot, visiting the children's museum, watching two movies on a big screen at the hotel with free popcorn, and just playing at the arcade MULTIPLE times:)

We had such a great time, but I was so busy enjoying myself that I didn't take many pictures. I

did get a few that were cute, Max is in the navy blue/orange swim trunks:

I also haven't shared on here that last Wednesday we found out our little Swartzentruber baby is a GIRL! Max was hoping for a sister, so I was glad his wish came true:) We are so filled with joy about this little girl - we have been discussing names, looking at baby bedding, and my mom has been buying out all the pink outfits in any store within 30 miles:) Ha ha - we cannot wait to meet this sweet little one. I really think Max will be such an amazing big brother - can't wait to see him in action!

Speaking of Max - he informed me that although he wore his earplugs each day at the waterpark, he managed to get some water in his ears and now has a major ear infection. We are heading to the ear specialist tomorrow afternoon to see what can be done. He has had so much trouble with his ears - two sets of tubes and now holes in each ear drum (I think from the tubes falling out and the ear drum tissue not growing back together??). I just hate to see him suffer thru all these ear aches...it really is miserable for him! I'm sure the Dr. will get him all fixed up tomorrow and he will be back to his little happy self soon!

Childhood friends...

Max has been going to the same babysitter since he was 3 months old. Now he is 5 and heading to kindergarten in August...but I hope he will always remember the friendships established at such an early age. Trinia Knepp is his babysitter - and I can't say enough about her and the way she has helped raise my little man. As a working mom, I have constantly worried about not being there for Max day in and day out, but I can honestly say Trinia has treated Max as one of her own. Max has found many, many friends at Trinia's. I have tried to get pictures here and there to share with him when he gets older, like one I snapped of him and a buddy Emma dressed as a little Amish couple (I didn't even recognize him when I got to Trinia's to pick him up)! The other day I happened to have my camera when I stopped to pick Max up, and all the kids were playing outside. I couldn't resist taking some snapshots for Max to look at when he gets older - because him and his friends will all be going to different schools in different towns. I hope they will reconnect one day and remember the "good old times." These kids are all so sweet and I know Max will really miss them when school starts!

Max, Landon, & Lydia in the sandbox

Max and best buddy Landon

Max and Lydia

Sweet Grant

I haven't shared any photos of our dog, Susie, since we got her several months ago. She has gone from little puppy to pretty huge in just a couple of months - her and Max are big buddies and will probably run around together all summer long!

I snapped this picture of Susie and our home as we were on a walk a couple of nights ago:) The weather change has made all the difference for me - I actually feel well enough to not be as whiny and even get my camera out and enjoy life a little:) By the way, one week from today we find out whether this little Swartzentruber baby is a boy or a girl - can't wait!!

Weekend Getaway

It's so nice to get away sometimes - and this past weekend we headed to Greenwood/Southport in order to cheer on our ND Cougars! We went ahead up on Friday night to spend the night at a hotel, eat out at Joe's Crab Shack, and swim in the indoor pool:) My parents and my in-laws came along too, so we had a big family weekend which was so much fun!

On Saturday we all headed to the mall, where I got my needed shopping fix:) Then we went to the game and cheered on the Cougars! Even though we ended up losing, we still had such a great time and it was so nice to "get away" for a short weekend trip!

Now it's Monday and back to reality...but if I survive this week, next week is Spring Break:)!!

Kindergarten

Tomorrow afternoon I will be walking into North Daviess Elementary School to sign my little man up for kindergarten. I really can't believe the time is already here - it can't be that the little tiny bundle I held in my arms 5 years ago is independent, strong, spunky, and ready for school. He already loves preschool and I'm not too worried about him transitioning into kindergarten, because he seems to really enjoy the school atmosphere and learning in general. Mommy will be much more upset about sending him then he will be about going. This weekend we are traveling to Southport to cheer on the Cougars in semi-state! Max is really excited about our Friday night stay in a hotel (where he will be able to swim)! It should be fun - I'm sure I will come home with lots of pictures to share.

One struggle we are having right now is keeping Max in his own bed at night. We have always kinda struggled with this, but it's gotten worse. Max has suddenly become extremely afraid of coyotes - which we can sometimes hear howling at night. He has heard Gabe talk about them, and then he also heard some at Nana and Papa's one night. He does go to sleep in his own bed as long as I'm laying down with him, but wakes up each night at around midnight and comes to our bed. When he climbs into our bed he wakes me and asks me questions, like "Can the coyotes get in our house, Mom?" or "Can the coyotes see in the windows?" Now he is terrified of the window in his room, so I promised to get him a curtain as soon as I go to Walmart next. If he just came in our bed and slept soundly - it would be no big deal. But he tosses, turns, kicks, etc.! This kid is a moving-machine while he sleeps! So in turn - Gabe and I get NO sleep:( O well, I keep telling myself that it won't last forever - soon Max will be 'too cool' to sleep with his mom and won't want to have anything to do with me. Right now I just need to cherish the cuddle time I can still steal with him:)

The pregnancy is going well right now - I am 18 weeks and feeling alot better than before. I won't say the sickness has completely gone away - but I am definantely improved. Although the Dr. says I still have not gained any weight, there is a definate 'baby bump' now and I'm feeling more hungry than before. The last few weeks I have been on a slushie kick - so everytime I pass a gas station or Dairy Queen I MUST stop and get a red slushie. Wierd - but it just seems to hit the spot:) Only two weeks until we find out if this Swartzentruber baby will be a boy or a girl - I'm excited to finally know and begin talking about names and buying pink or blue baby stuff!