Have a Holly Jolly Christmas!!!!

Here is Luke next to the snowman (women) they built together today. I say (women) also because it kinda looks like it is wearing a dress. The snow was really powdery so they just managed to push it all into a pile and then Joe using a spray bottle with water made the head. It turned out pretty cute and Luke had a blast playing in the snow!!!

Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas!!! Hope it's a day full of peace and joy surrounded by loved ones!!!!

Growing too fast...

Well Drew is officially out of his bassinet. Here are a few pictures of him taking his last nap in it. Was kinda sad taking down the bassinet and putting it away. The last 3 months have gone by so fast.

But it is pretty exciting that he has his new crib and I just love it. We got it from Wal Mart.com and I think it is super cute. We used a hand me down crib for Luke, so it is nice to have something new and that we picked out to fit our taste.
He is still sleeping our room though. Don't think I am ready to let him be room mates with his big brother yet. I like having him close.

Here he is enjoying his new crib and sleeping soundly. I was looking back at Luke's pictures and I didn't have any of him sleeping in his crib until he was like one year old. I was wondering why and then I remembered he hardly ever slept in his crib...he was not a good sleeper. So thankful that "so far" Drew is a great sleeper!!!!

An Early Merry Christmas!!!

Here is the picture we are using for our christmas cards this year!!! Just wanted to share!!

2 Months

So, Drew is 2 months old today and doing GREAT!!! As you can see he is really smiling now. He is a happy baby and start to make lots of fun noises. He is sleeping great at night (hope I am not jinxing myself by saying that...hehe.) Luke is still loving being a big brother and he is really sweet to him and talks to him when he is crying and tries to calm him down. It is really cute. All is well here, just enjoying our little family and looking forward to the holidays!!!

Halloween 2008

Here are a few pictures from Halloween 2008. We did our 3rd year of trick-or-treating with my good friend Janaun and her kids. It was was her son Jonathan and Drew's first Halloween!!!

Luke, my big blue M&M

Drew just hanging out!!!

Walking around the down town businesses

Luke and Autumn

My red and blue M&M's

Luke sitting by the door waiting for all the trick-or-treaters to come.

It was a fun day. The weather was great. We went to a costume contest in the morning and got to see all the neat costumes. Then we trick-or-treated at the local down town businesses. When we got home, later that afternoon I took Luke and Drew to a few of our neighbors houses. Then Luke stood guard by the door all night watching for all the kids to come and give them candy.

Pumpkin Patch

Hokie Pokie

Check out this video: Luke singing




Here is Luke singing the Hokie Pokie. I think it is pretty funny. He is learning so many fun songs at preschool. I find myself walking around the house singing them. They are quite catchy songs.

Ignore my husband in the background...he is playing his video game...hehe.

*make sure you turn off the music on my playlist first (all the way at the bottom of the page).

Well can't get video to work on my blog, but if you click on the link about the video that say "luke singing" you should be able to see it.

7 years!!!

Well, Joe and I celebrated our 7th anniversary on the 22nd. It was a really nice day and this year we really felt like we had something to celebrate. We actually got to go out for dinner and a movie while my mom watched both Luke and Drew. I pumped a bottle in case Drew got hungry and it gave us a few hours out of the house. It was a little strange to be away from both of them, but also nice to spend some time together. We had a nice dinner and then went to a movie (which was not a good movie at all) But it was still a nice night out, and both the boys did well with Grandma at home.

Pics of Drew & Lily's headstone

He loves to sleep with his arms above his head...it is so sweet!!
Luke enjoying being a big brother!!!
Drew-6 days old

Well hadn't got a chance to put up a picture of Lily's headstone yet. Was going to get on here and write a little something on her birthday, but just didn't feel up to it.

The last year has been a roller coaster of all different emotions, and with the birth of Drew it is all bitter sweet. We are so thankful for him and enjoying every moment with him, but my heart still breaks and yearns for Lily. Especially now realizing all that I missed out on with her. Her birthday was a hard day...thinking about all the what if's and could have beens and also reliving that day one year ago.

Drew is already 2 weeks old today..I can't believe it. It has been flying by, and makes me sad. With Luke I was always looking forward to the next stage in his life, seeing him do the next big thing. But now I want to soak in each day and realize that they are only this little for such a short time. I guess after you have had one already and you see how fast they have grown you realize that it goes by way to fast. He is changing alot and it has been fun to see the differences in personality with Luke and Drew as babies. Even though as much as I think they look alike at times and there is a lot of stuff that reminds me of Luke as a baby..they are so different too.

My mom has been here now for almost a month and she is leaving in a week. It is going to be hard to see her leave. I love having her here and so does Luke of course. She has been such a great help. We have a good routine down and I guess I will have to adjust to a new one after she leaves. But she might be back in November for a few days and then in December for Luke's birthday, so that will be nice. Especially since she no longer has email so I won't be able to send her updated picture of Drew and I am not so good about printing them out and sending them by snail mail :-)

Well hope everyone is doing well...hope to post again soon!!!

Drew Alan

DREW ALAN

September 10, 2008

3:48pm

8lbs 3oz, 20in

We are so thankful to have our little blessing finally here.

Last post till baby.....probably.

So thought I would get one last post in before baby comes. I am not due for two weeks but since I only post about once a month I doubt I will post again before the baby gets here.

~

So lots going on here lately. One major thing is Luke has started pre-school. He went one day last week and then had a full week this week. Monday-Thursday. He goes in the morning from 7:45 till 11:30. That seems early for pre-school uh? I don't even think elementary and other schools start till like 8:30. Anyways...no more sleeping in for me, which I guess I need to get used to since you never get to sleep in with a new baby in the house.

~

So Luke is really liking school so far. It has been quite an adjustment...probably more for me though. I went with him the first day and watched and helped out in the classroom. Was nice to see what they are going to be doing everyday. This week they started the normal routine and Luke has been riding the bus every morning. They have a few bus stop locations around town and one of them happens to be a half a block from my front door. It is super convenient. It will be really nice when the baby comes...alot easier than driving him to school and walking him to his classroom to sign him in. Anyways...wasn't sure how he would do going off on his own for the first time without mommy and going on the big school bus. A new venture for both of us. He did great though and he loves the bus. It was a little weird for me the first day, especially walking back home and having the whole morning to myself. I didn't cry, but it was kinda sad. It is really the first time I have been away from Luke besides the occasional nights out here and there. The house felt pretty lonely. Also made me think of Lily and what it would be like around here right now if she was here. Having a little (almost) one year old running around. Would have been some good quality time for us. But I am excited that I will have that with the new baby.

~

So, Luke has officially started the new journey and stage of his life into schooling. It is sad to think that never will he be home with me again all day and just hanging out and spending time together. He will be going to school now until he graduates and leaves the house. That is so weird to think about. Thank goodness for it only being a half day right now and for summers too.

First morning of school
Walking up to his classroom
Playtime
Lunchtime
2nd day of school
waiting for the bus
Getting on the bus...he did so good!!!!

So here is a new pic of me at 37 weeks. I am will be 38 weeks tomorrow so only 2 more weeks to go. I am at the point now where it is so close yet so far away. I am definitely more anxious this time around to get it over with. I know I have two weeks left, but something tells me I might not make it that far. But I could be totally wrong. I usually go over a few days. I just know that I have been way more tired this round and I guess I am just hoping it is soon.

~

My mom is on her way here!!!! She is driving from Washington and will be here tonight!!! I am so excited. After she gets here I will be officially ready to have this baby. Besides not looking forward to labor, but that is a given. Lord-willing I will have a fast labor. So remember me in your prayers...I am definitely feeling the fear double this time and feeling like such a wimp when think about labor pains....yuck.

Guess I should post too about the other new addition to our family....This is Pebble. Our little dwarf hamster. We got him a few weeks ago, cause Joe decided that Luke needed a pet. He is cute and a lot of fun to watch run around his cage. But you have to stay up late or get up early if you want to see him in action. He pretty much only comes out at night.

Well hope all is well with everyone in the blogging world.

My New CAR!!!!!, Company, Quilt, More Company, And Prego Pic

Well things have been pretty busy around here, but am going to catch up on all that has been going on. It has been nice staying so busy, the last month or so has really flown by.

Joe and I have lived in Colorado now for just about 4 years. It will be 4 years in September. And the whole time we have lived here we have just had one vehicle. So I have pretty much been without a car for 4 years. Joe did have a few jobs where he would carpool so I did have his truck once in awhile. Well I am excited to say I finally have a car of my own. We have worked really hard this year to pay off some debt and lower our overhead in order to afford to get me a car. It is so nice. I think we got a really good deal on a really good car. I really prayed that the Lord would provide us a good car that we could afford. It was definitely needful with the new baby coming and Luke getting older. I want to start getting him into some activities and hopefully put him in pre-school this fall.

So here it is, a picture of my new car!!!!!
Also this month my good friend Heidi came out to visit me from Washington. It was so great to see her. She was here for about 5 day. W mainly just hung out around the house and talked and went for walks every night.
The weekend she was here we took her to Telluride, which is about an hour from our house. It is kinda a little tourist town. It was a beautiful day with beautiful scenery.
A sweet picture of Joe and Luke
Telluride, CO
Thought I would share this too, a picture of a quilt I made for a friend of mine who just had a little girl. I think it turned out really good. It was a lot of fun making it.

So at the beginning of the month we also had more company. Our friends Rob and Cherisse and there little girl Jenna came out to Colorado for a wedding, so we got to see them. The last time we saw them was when Luke was 4 months old. It was great to see them again and spend a few hours with them.
Rob, Cherisse, and Jenna

Well here is a 30 week prego pic of me. I am actually 32 weeks now!!!! Only 8 weeks to go!!! Guess I should have Joe take another pic. I am feeling pretty good. I am feeling big and starting to get uncomfortable. Strangers always ask me "Oh when are you due?" I say September and they give me this look with wide eyes and say "OH really" I just smile and say yup, but inside I am thinking "thanks alot, do I really look that big?" Oh well I guess I am just to that point where I am going to be big from here on out.

My mom will be here in about 6 weeks, so I can't wait for that and then will only have to wait 2 more weeks for baby. So just starting to get things ready around the house and try to enjoy the rest of the summer!!!

Things I've been wanting to post about...

So have been wanting to post again for awhile and finally am. This is definitely a multi-subject post..hehe.

Here are a few pics of the flowers that Joe got me for mother's day. I know it was over two weeks ago, but still wanted to post some pics. They are beautiful white lilies. I just love them. They smell soooo good, and they last a long time. I actually still have three flowers on my kitchen table right now.
Here are a few pics of Luke's room. We just got him a new bed. He was still in his toddler bed and barely fit. I really wanted him to have more play space in his room. It was pretty crowded cause he had his bed and then we had a futon for company. We really wanted to get a trundle bed so we could have a twin bed for Luke and then when we have company we can pull out the trundle and pop it up to make a king size bed. I looked for months for a trundle bed. They are very expensive new, so I was checking local classified ads and Craig's list for a used one. I finally found one and it was just what we were looking for and a great deal. It came with the day bed, trundle and the two mattresses all for $100.00. I was very excited and we found it at the perfect time, the same weekend we had a yard sale and sold the futon to make room for the new bed. Luke was really excited too. He loves his new bed and has adjusted well. He hasn't even fell off once yet. He has so much more space in his room with just the day bed and a few toy boxes. One side of his room is completely empty for play space. And we have already used the trundle a couple of time for company!!!
Here is the bed with the trundle under it.
Can you tell he likes it?
I like to hang out in his room alot now too and just lounge around on his bed.
Ok, so finally here is a prego picture of me. I am 24 weeks and 3 days. I am feeling good, but starting to feel big already. Only 3 1/2 months to go!!!
Here are some picture from the cemetery in Pateros. It was sad being so far away and not being able to go visit Lily over the last 9 months and on the holidays like mother's day and memorial day. But we have lots of family that has gone up to see her and bring her flowers so that has been nice.
Flowers from Joe's parents and sister. They are very pretty.
Here is her temporary headstone. My mom made it and I think it looks really sweet. We have the new one on order and I can't wait to get it put in, in a few weeks. I will post another picture when we do.
Well I guess that is all for now.