Laney - 18 Months

Little Miss Laney, you are 18 months old today.  Your sassy, spunky personality shines more and more every day!  Our baby is turning into a little girl right before our eyes and not sure we are ready for that.

You are our princess who wants what you want and will let everyone around you know.  If you go to your Dad, you usually get it too.  You are starting to figure that one out.  You love to cuddle at bedtime with your blankie and paci.  Yes, we still have a pacifier.  We are working on that one and only use it at bedtime and sometimes in a car.  I thought about trying to break the habit a week ago and then thought with the crazy we are about to go through with moving maybe a comfort for her was not worth taking this moment.  (Mommy gave in, I know.)

Laney, you love your sleep still.  You just recently have started just one nap a day.  Some days you still get two depending on when you wake up.  You will let us know when you are tired and grab your blanket and bring it to us.

Food is a favorite of yours.  You will go in spurts about what you will and won't eat, but will ask for more of anything you like from the meal.  You always have found our pantry and will open and find your own food frequently.  You usually go for a piece of bread or tortilla, probably because they are located at your level.  We have had to start locking the pantry doors to keep you out of everything.  If anyone around you is eating you want o join in or have them share with you.  Same thing with drinks, you always seem to find my cup of water and claim it as your own.

You are our least vocal child when it comes to actual words anyway.  This is probably because someone else is always talking or just gets what you want without you needing to ask.  You are just starting to use words.  Your most common words are please, mom, and dad.  The other words are harder to understand but becoming more common.  She understands directions and words well though which helps.

You are our little girl, but you don't like to be left out with the boy stuff. You find dirt to dig in everywhere and prefer to be outside. You LOVE to wrestle with Dad and the boys.  You are going to be one tough little girl.  You are constantly picking at your brothers and seeing their reactions.  It is funny now, because we have realized you know what your doing and just like their attention.  You are catching on to things way to quickly in this department.

Laney you are our little sweetheart.  You are adored by us all and such a special little girl.  We love you so much!

Easter

Easter actually ran together with Erin and Luke's spring break this year.  We headed back to Great Bend/Claflin for the week to celebrate and then try to prepare for the move.  We got to do a lot of celebrating with family and enjoyed getting to catch up with everyone.  Once again, listening to Luke talk about Easter and what he is learning at school is one of my favorite things.  He asks great questions and wants to understand more.  You can just see the little wheels turning in Lawson and Luke's heads.  We are so thankful for the sacrifice that Jesus went through for us and the many blessings we have.

We joined in on the Claflin Easter egg hunt at the park.  They do a great job and the kids got more candy than we can eat.  The boys both filled their buckets.  Laney inspected each piece she picked up and didn't know why we couldn't just stop and eat it at that moment.

On Saturday we went to Larned to celebrate my Grandpa Bill's 80th birthday.  We had a great time with everyone.  The kids got to do another egg hunt, bounce house, and dig in the huge sand pile.  They even had some clay shooting set up for the adults to do.  It was fun to watch and just spend time together.

I couldn't get all the kids in one shot.  There was a car in my way to back up anymore.  We have quite the crew of littles now.  We have added one more little boy since this and have 5 more babies on the way.

 Easter Sunday Family Picture

Lawson at 3 and a 1/2

Mr. Lawson how special you are to us.  You have a personality all your own and it is starting to show more and more.  I feel you are going to be our ornery one, which I say you get from your dad.  You have a smile and a laugh that can brighten anyone's day.  That little chuckle never gets old.

As a brother you are the typical middle child.  You want to do whatever Luke does and exactly like him.  You copy anything he says or does, which he just embraces the power of.  You are very easy going when it comes to Luke and go along with whatever he says.  With Laney you have become such a good big brother.  You want to always take care of her and look out for her.  Watching the two of you interact is so much fun.  You two love to wrestle and mess with each other and both just laugh at the other.  You have already started talking about taking care of the new baby as well and are very concerned with not hurting the baby in my tummy.  You are such a sweet heart.

Lawson, you are our rough and tough little man.  From the second Erin walks in the door to the time you go to bed you are ready to wrestle and tackle.  He can't get near the floor without you jumping on him or tackling him at the ankles.  You refuse to back down and will play this way for hours if we let you.  Erin just loves your toughness and can hardly ever refuse a wrestling match with you.

I am very anxious for you to start school in the fall.  I think it will be very good for you with the social interaction.  I am very unsure where you are with your numbers and letters.  Whenever we try to work with you, you get very put off and don't want to play.  When you do, I think you just like to mess with us on your answers so we will drop it.  We try not to push to much, but the teacher in me is very curious how this will go.  You are very excited about school though and talk about it frequently.  Again probably because it is something big brother does so you are ready for it.  :)

Although you are more stubborn than I wish sometimes, I know that is a part of what makes you you.  You bring such a special part to our little family and we wouldn't want it any other way.  Just know that we love you with all our hearts.

Lawson's Trip to the Dentist

Lawson had his first visit to the dentist recently.  I wasn't sure how this was going to go.  Luke had gone the week before and told him about the treasure box you get to dig through if your good, so he was excited about that and wanted to do good.  To my surprise the little man jumped up in the chair and let them do whatever they needed.  He wasn't fazed by any of it!  So proud of him, and a good check up as well :)

That big smile just ready to go!

I love how he crosses his ankles.  He has always sat like that.  (Yes they have a tv to help during the check up)

All Kinds of Crazy

I'm not real sure where to even begin, but we have had quite a month.  Erin has accepted a new job as the Great Bend Panthers Head Football Coach, and we couldn't be more excited!  I am so proud of him and know that he will do great.  I love watching his dreams come true.  The kids are excited to be PANTHERS!

We have started the chaos of selling and buying a house.  Hopefully that goes smoothly and quickly, fingers crossed.  Then we will get packed up and head West.  We hate leaving the friends and family behind here, but the kids are pumped about being close to their grandparents and friends back that way.

We have also made this other big announcement.....

So many changes coming for our family.  Let the crazy begin!!