Laney 6 months

Half way there!  I can't believe how old this little girl is already.  She is just a bundle of joy and smiles.

About Laney:

• She is wearing 3-6 month clothes and size 2 diapers
• Laney has started holding her own bottle as well.
• We are doing a little formula and breast feeding.  I always struggle keeping up around the 5 month mark, but am doing what I can.  She eats 5 oz or 6 oz bottles now.  She gets very excited when she sees them.  She does go longer stretches between them though, sometimes 4 or 5 hours.
• Sleep is going well.  She has starting sleeping through the night more.  I wouldn't say completely yet though.  Every now and then she still wakes up.  She has started rolling to her side and belly to sleep which is new.  She goes to bed earlier now as well.  About 7:30 or 8 she just wears out and starts rubbing her eyes and crying to be cuddled and put to sleep.
• Her smile still lights up her face and anyone around her.  She is such a happy baby.  People are always asking if she ever cries.
• Laney has made progress with her sitting.  We try to put some older toys in front of her now, and she will sit and play.  She loves all of the lights and sounds they make.
• This little lady has popped her 2 bottom teeth out this month.  I couldn't believe it.  She drools so much with them.
• Laney likes to be a part of the action especially when food is involved.  If we try to eat dinner without her she will cry until she gets her way :)  She tries to grab at any food or dish in front of her.  Makes eating with her a fun task.  I think we will start trying the baby food when school is out.
• Luke and Lawson still adore her.  They don't like when she goes to bed before them because they don't get to give hugs and kisses with the rest of the family.  We have them do it before she goes to bed, but its just not the same thing.  Some nights they even sneak in here room to tell her good night before they jump in bed.  I love that they find it so important to include her.
• We have started spending more time outside and she enjoys the fresh air and watching all the activities going on around her.

MoMs' Day

It was just days before I was about to have Laney and Garth Brooks came out with a new song.  He was performing it for Good Morning America.  I didn't watch the show, but of course everyone was talking about it and posting everywhere.  I still didn't take the time to listen until I got a text from my brother.  He sent it out to our mom and my sisters.  I took the time to listen and of course began to cry.  Getting ready to give  birth to my child  put all sorts of thoughts through my head, but also just thinking about my own mother and her devotion to us through the years.  The line, "whose only goal in life is to make sure you are alright" is such a true statement of a mother's constant worry and struggle to do all she can for her children and family.  Its something I didn't truly understand until I became a mother myself.

I just want to thank my mother and mother-in-law for all they have done for me and my family.    Being a mother is something so special and such a blessing.  I thank God for the opportunity everyday.  Looking at my children brings such a smile to my face and joy to my heart.

Here are the lyrics for those of you that have not heard the song.  :)

"Mom"

A little baby told God, "Hey, I'm kinda scared
Don't really know if I want to go down there
From here it looks like a little blue ball
That's a great big place and I'm so small"

"Why can't I just stay here with you
Did I make you mad, don't you want me to?"
God said, "Oh, child, of course I do
But there's somebody special waiting for you"

[Chorus:]
So, hush now baby don't you cry
'Cause there's someone down there waiting
Whose only goal in fife
Is makin' sure you're always gonna be alright
A loving angel, tender, tough and strong
It's almost time to go and meet your mom

You'll never have a better friend
Or a warmer touch to tuck you in
She'll kiss your bruises, your bumps and scrapes
And anytime you hurt, her heart's gonna break

[Chorus]

Now, when she's talking to you
Make sure you listen close
'Cause she's gonna teach you everything
You'll ever need to know
Like how to mind your manners
To love end laugh and dream
And she'll put you on the path
That'll bring you back to Me

So, hush now little baby don't you cry
'Cause there's someone down there waiting
Whose only goal in life
Is making sure you're always gonna be alright
A loving angel, tender, tough and strong
Come on child
It's time to meet your mom

Taking on Tiling

So we have been looking at our carpet for almost 2 years now knowing it needs to be replaced.  Actually we made the comment when looking to buy the house.  It was a "must".  Well now 2 years later we have actually shopped around and decided to do it.  The boys don't realize this all means no more breakfast in the living room or juice leaving the kitchen.

Before we got the carpet done though we had two areas we wanted to update.  The laundry room was half carpet and half linoleum.  We decided to lay tile there and then replace the entry way tile to match.  Erin has always wanted to learn how to tile so we figured no better time than the present.  He jumped right in and figured it all out.  It looks great and Mr. Handy Man is just adding more things to his resume.

Laundry Room

 Entry Way

He had some extra help on tearing out the old tile.  Luke was actually surprising good at getting the tiles pulled up.  Lawson just enjoyed breaking them into pieces with a hammer and throwing them in the trash.