Happy 30th to Erin!

Yesterday we got to celebrate a special guy.  The kids were so excited for cupcakes and loved picking out a present for Daddy.  I have tried more and more to step back and let the kids (Luke) get things they want rather than pick it out and say its from them.  I did have to suggest we keep thinking when the first idea was a bathroom sink (???).  The second idea was a new shirt though, much better.  Erin and I are planning on going to Nashville in March to celebrate us turning 30 together so we aren't doing big gifts.  I tried to just focus on doing little things for him throughout the week.

I am so thankful that I have this guy to go through our journey with.  He takes care of us and is always doing what he can to keep us all happy and safe.  He is great at keeping me sane as well.  Erin is accomplished a lot in his first 30 years, and I look forward to all that is yet to come.

Happy 30th Birthday Erin!

Rolling Already

Laney has already reached her second big milestone.  She started smiling at about 5 weeks, and now at 10 weeks she rolled over!  I was one surprised mom ma.  We were just working on some tummy time when next thing I know she rolled.  I quickly tried to get my video camera ready and caught her third roll on film.

Luke 4 1/2

When I was talking with Erin about needing to write this post we both went into shock that we are 6 months from having a 5 year old.  You would think after being parents for almost 5 years we would have this parenting thing figured out :)  Luke is a special little man that has such a bright smile.  He is growing up so fast and changing more into a little boy.

• No official height and weight, but his pants are getting shorter on him and is a skinny little boy.  Still very solid but losing more of the toddler chubbiness.
• He wears both 4T and 5T in clothing
• Luke is loving preschool.  We always like to hear the stories he has from school and enjoy asking him questions about his morning.  He gets so excited to go see his teacher.
• He has a great imagination!  He plays pretend with things all the time and Erin and I are always getting in trouble for not understanding what is going on when we play with him.
• Luke is very structured in his play.  He really likes to re-enact things from shows or movies.  He will use quotes while he plays.  Something he does not get from me; I can't remember a movie quote to save my life.
• Toy wise he is very into dinosaurs, planes, ninja turtles and dragons right now.
• Lawson and Luke play together all the time.  Luke still knows how to manipulate things/Lawson to do what he wants.  Lawson has started to put up a little more of a fight though which has made things interesting in our house.
• Luke has become very interested in coloring, drawing, and writing his name.  School has made us more interested in these.
• Luke still loves puzzles or problem solving activities.  He likes to do hidden picture games and trying to figure out how things go together.

• Luke is still very active.  He loves to race and run.
• He has gotten much more competitive and wanting to win.
• He has gotten a lot better at his bike (still using training wheels).
• The boys both LOVE to play tackle and wrestle with Erin.  It wears me out just watching.
• Luke is not real interested when we try to do much of an organized sport yet, but will jump in every now and then.  
• He likes to play on the play house, swing, and climb trees outside.

Luke is still my Mr. Sensitive.  He is such a sweet little guy.  I'm not sure it will ever get old when he tells me I'm his best Mom ever.  I know I'm his only Mom, but it still makes me smile every time.  He is  a great big brother and always protecting both Lawson and Laney.  He likes to tell us what Laney is thinking by talking in a baby voice and telling us what she wants.  He is a huge help to me as well.  He is always getting us stuff or helping pick things up.  It is nice that he has gotten more independent getting himself ready/dressed.

Luke is such a precious little boy.  I would love to keep him little forever, but we are excited to see how he will continue to grow and change.

Laney 2 Months

Laney is 2 months old today!  To no surprise, time is flying by and we can't slow it down.  She doesn't look like a newborn anymore and is filling out more and more daily.  It is crazy how two months have gone so fast, but yet it seems like she has been a part of our family forever.

2 month pics:

Update:

• Is weighing 10 lbs. 7 oz. (44%) and measuring 23 in. long (88%)
• Laney is such a happy and content baby.  She just sits/lays and watches everything going on around her, which I am sure is very entertaining.
• Her personality is coming out more and more each day.
• We can get her to smile a lot.  She has been smiling since about 5 weeks.
• We get a few coos and giggles every now and then.
• Luke and Lawson still adore her.  They now try to make her smile all the time.
• They try to play with her and give her toys, but it usually just ends up them trying out all of her new Christmas toys.  She doesn't seem to mind :)
• Wearing 0-3 month clothes and 1 diapers.
• Laney eats every 3-4 hours and is still just drinking breast milk.  She drinks 4 oz. if in a bottle.
• Sleeping at night has been going very well.  She will get a 5 hour stretch most nights, which I greatly appreciate.
• She loves her pacifier and will suck on her fists if we don't give it to her soon enough.
• Laney still loves her baths.
• Has had a little bit of bowel movement issues, but hoping it keeps getting better.
• Laney hates tummy time and doesn't last very long.  We are hoping to work on that.
• Poor little girl has already had two colds, but has done very well with them.  
• We have avoiding going outside much with the bitter cold and have enjoyed just snuggling in the warm house.
• Laney got her shots today.  Even after 3 kids it still breaks my heart to seem them in pain.
• We did quite a bit of traveling with the holidays and she did great!  She usually slept the whole time which made it very easy.
• We still get that she looks like both Erin and me.  It just depends on the day.
• Still has her dark hair.  Erin thinks it is starting to thin out a bit.  I like to think her head is just growing so it looks thinner :)

More pictures of the month:

Laney's Baptism

While we were doing all of the Christmas celebrations back in Kansas, Erin and I decided to throw in another celebration of bringing Laney into the Catholic Church.  We were able to get permission from our church here to allow us to baptize her back with our family present.  We got to have her Godmothers there, one visiting from California and one just 2 weeks from having her own little princess.  It worked out very well, and Laney loved the warm water on her head.  Thank you to those that were able to be a part of it all.  We pray that God will be with us as we teach Laney about him and continue to raise her with his help.

**FUN FACT:  Laney wore a family gown that was worn by my mom, her sisters, me and my sisters, all the girl cousins, and my niece Keeley.**

2014

2014 is in the books and 2015 has arrived.  It was a great year with so many wonderful memories made.  The biggest thing would be the arrival of Miss Laney with our family growing to five.  To take a little trip through the year, I again am going to share some of our memories through pictures of the year.

January:

 February:

Our first E.R. trip when Lawson got his finger smashed in a door jam.

March:

April:

May:

June:

Luke's first swimming lessons.

Lawson had to have hernia surgery.

July:

Disney vacation

August:

Josh and Elisha's wedding

September:

October:

Blue October -  ALDS

November: 

December: