January Adventures

We've been trying to keep busy this month, counting down the days until spring arrives and we can spend our days in the sunshine.  Any day we can find that it isn't totally freezing and snowy Jack insists that we go outside and swing until his lips turn blue, which usually doesn't take very long, but he sure enjoys it while it lasts.

We went to Hogel Zoo...

...and got to see the animals up very close and personal. It's amazing how much more active the animals all are when it's cold vs the summertime. 



That's one friendly gorilla

A week or two ago Jack, Hardy and I went to Discovery Gateway Children's Museum together.  It was our first time going there and it was so much fun. We will definitely go again. So many fun things to do.

Last week we went to the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point with several of Jack's buddies in the neighborhood. They had a marvelous time together.



Jack wanted to climb the fence to "ride" the shark. I said "no."





Jenna, Dominic, Jack and Caroline



We have been very brave this winter and I haven't quarantined Jack at all. I take him everywhere including the store, nursery, and even McDonald's playland a few times, none of which I have done the past 2 years.  He has weathered this winter marvelously so far with only a small cold and 1 ear infection. Granted, it's not over yet, and I'm still very careful if someone nearby starts coughing up a lung, and we sanitize as soon as we are through with anything, but it is so nice to not feel like we're living in a bubble and just be normal. Plus, I figure if he's going to start school next year he better build up some immunity.

Yes, I did just say he's going to be starting school next year. Preschool. Can my baby really be old enough for that?  Crazy. I've debated for a while since he is right on the cut off as he turns 3 in August and we've always talked about holding him back so he's the biggest in his grade rather than the smallest, but I've just decided that I think he is going to love it, so why not?  He already knows all his letters, the sounds they make, words that start with each letter, and he can pick out the first letter of most words you say to him. He counts everything and finds shapes everywhere we go. A whole class where he can play with letters and numbers will be heaven for him.   My neighbor also suggested that he will probably really love having something for himself after the baby arrives and I will enjoy having a few hours each week with just the baby. A very compelling argument.  Yep, we're all signed up and doing preschool next year. I can't wait.