Three!

I can't believe Jacob is already three years old!  Well, we've been celebrating his birthday for over a month now, so I guess I should say that I couldn't believe he was still two years old yesterday!  He's been acting three for a long time now.  He's SO helpful and does a lot of things by himself now...getting his toothbrush ready, picking out his own clothes, buckling his own seatbelt, getting himself juice (and something juice for his little brother).  He can help set the table, too!  It's nice to have some help around the house now that he's getting older.  He can even vacuum! 

I'm going to need all that help in four 1/2 months when the baby comes, so I'm REALLY happy that he's going to be almost three and a half and will be able to help me with his 18 month old brother!

Anyway, here's a big about Jacob (in his own words--some of these answers I'm not so sure about)

Favorite drink: soda
Favorite food: fries
Favorite TV show: Scooby Doo
Favorite color: purple  (normally it's blue--he could mean red)
Best friend: Simon de Jong (although I really think it's his cousin Matijs)
Favorite thing to do outside: playing outside with Johnny
Favorite animal: cow
Favorite place to go:  my house

That's about all I can get out of him right now.  Here's a few pictures of our day so far.  Later we plan on making his birthday cake (while Johnny is sleeping), and later we are going to the pet store so he can pick out a new fish!

We went to Winchell's Donuts for breakfast--first time here in Salinas and Jacob and John's first time ever! 

Then we went to the park! 

(Jacob got himself dressed today including the hat!)

 

Big Shoes to Fill!

John has some pretty big shoes to fill...as a BIG BROTHER!  Yes, we are expecting a third kid early January (depending on when they'll schedule my C-section).  

I am currently 16 weeks pregnant (almost 4 months for those of you not used to calculating in weeks), and things appear to be going well.  I do enjoy being pregnant and don't really get sick, but I'm glad that the tiredness and fatigue of the first trimester are over!

When the baby comes, John will be almost 18 months and Jacob will be 3 and 4 1/2 months!  I'm going to be pretty busy, but Jacob is SUCH a big help already, and John is usually pretty happy (except when he's teething!).  

Party!

Last Saturday we had a party for both boys' birthdays. (Jacob's birthday is August 22, but I didn't feel like having a separate party.)  It was just for the Zylstra family.  (We'll do one with my family when my sister Deb and her kids are here from Idaho.)

Anyway, here are the pictures!

John enjoying the wrapping paper...and the blanket Beppe made for him! 

the older boys helped John open his present! 

cutest swim shorts ever! 

John's new bike from Pake and Beppe

Jacob was excited to get a couple of presents, too! 

T-ball set from Uncle Phil and Auntie Rosaline

singing to John--Tijs got to blow out his candle! 

Jacob blew out his own in one blow! 

messy boy--Jacob picked out chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and sprinkles.  He also helped me make the cake!  

silly face

John was pretty happy with the cake! 

 

One Year Old!

John turned one on July 7.  Yes, I realize that today is July 17.  We've been pretty busy lately.  More about that to come.  Anyway, he went to the doctor last Wednesday, so I have his new stats:

Height: 31 inches
Weight: 24 lbs, 7 oz.

New  Skills: Standing by himself for seconds at a time, walking along furniture, waving goodbye, saying "FFF" for fish, pointing, saying "uh" for uh-oh, using a sippy cup.  I think it will be another week or two before he's brave enough to walk by himself.  He will take three to five steps, though, when he really wants to get between two places.

Teeth: 7 to 10.  I say that because the front four are all the way in, and three of the other front ones are very visible.  I also felt three molars poking through, but they haven't completely broken through yet.  He's been pretty crabby lately, which is like a personality change for him.  He's usually so happy and smiley.

Well, here's the good part--some pictures and videos.

John (Gulliver) in the land of the Lilliputians

He's learned to be a very fast crawler in order to keep up with his big brother! 

He's already started climbing things...Uh, oh!  I'm going to be in big trouble in a few months! 

11 1/2 months already!

Johnny loves to help me put clothes in the dryer...well, he probably just likes playing with the dryer door.  I can't believe how big he is getting.  A couple more weeks, and he'll be ONE!

Johnny is also crawling ALL over the place...which I prefer because otherwise he's pulling up on my legs and wanting to be picked up.  He's getting pretty fast!

Brother Love

First time we tried this, it worked!  I'm really starting to work with Johnny on walking.  I don't think he'll be walking by his first birthday, but we'll see! 

 Snack time in the family room!

Normal Day Life (In Videos)

I thought I'd upload some current videos of the kids...

Johnny is learning what "NO!" means...well, I'm trying to teach him!

Sometimes this is what I do when I need a break...both are entertained for at least ten minutes...

Johnny keeps working on learning the walk...with anything he can find that will move on the floor!

Jacob is learning to play baseball...and to wear underwear.  He's now potty trained (with the occasional accident, of course!)