::dreams::

My sweet baby girl, you've just fallen asleep in my arms.  I could watch you sleep for hours. So peaceful. Your little expressions make me wonder what you are dreaming of.  The curl of your lips to smile, the twitch in your eye, the way your hands lay so gracefully on your little chest...rising...falling...

I know what I dream for you... I want you to be a wonderfully confident, intelligent, funny, responsible young woman. I don't know what success will look like for you, but I want you to follow your heart and have passion for life. I want you to be proud of what you accomplish.  I want you to learn life lessons that will benefit you, even if a few of those lessons mean heartache.  I want you to find the love of your life to sweep you off your feet.  I want you to know the joy and unconditional love of being a mom.  I want you to have amazing friends who will always love you, support you and ground you.  I want you to never, ever question how much your dad and I love you.

I sit here holding you, wishing I could cuddle you forever.  I will protect you from everything I can: will love you forever and always.  I pray that my dreams for you come true.
 
Good night, my sweet baby.

- fail -

I failed at a lesson in independence for Lucas. 

We were at church - Brent was song leader and I was in the pew with Lucas and Hannah.  It was time to leave our pew and walk to the altar for communion, but Lucas was engrossed in his coloring.  I tugged on his hand and he told me he wanted to color.  I told him that Hannah and I would be right back.  I again asked him to come with and he insisted he stay and color.  Our church would definitely not be considered huge but every five steps or so I would turn around and see the top of his head.  I was rounding the corner to return to our pew when I heard this awful, terrified, sad cry.  Guess who it was?  I rushed back to the pew and scooped up Lucas with one arm (Hannah was in the other).  I began whispering I'm sorry.  Mommy didn't leave you.  You wanted to color.  I told you I'd be right back.  I'm sorry.  This was no silent cry.  Everyone around us kept giving the sympathetic look like, poor Lucas. 

I must admit that I thought it was a tiny bit funny, after all he DID tell me he wanted to stay and color.

From Brent's post at the front of the church I could see him giving me the look of why did you do that?!?! 

I learned the lesson that Lucas is not ready to be left by himself in the church pew.

Uncle Brian gives a bath

Last week, Uncle Brian came over for dinner.  By walking through the door to our house he is obligated to wrestle with Lucas, as well as play the role of bucking bronco.  These are unspoken rules.  When I announced it was bath time on this particular night, Lucas wanted Uncle Brian to give him his bath.  Knowing this was new territory for Brian, I asked him if he wanted to.  He kindly agreed. 

I ran the bath water and got Lucas in the tub.  He was excited to show Uncle Brian all of his bath toys.  From the living room I heard a few "how do I do that?" from Brian.  When it was time to stop playing and wash, I heard Brian tell Lucas that he has to get clean so the girls don't think he is stinky.  {very valuable advice!} I also heard Lucas singing a rendition of "Shake My Body" (which I haven't heard during bath time before). 

Uncle Brian is a good sport!

beach babe

We aren't going to the beach, or even the pool, anytime soon.  However, it is fun to think about the summer sunshine ahead of us, so we had a little swimsuit photo shoot. 

This one came in the mail last week and then a few days later...

Aunt Jen gave Hannah this suit. 

Lots of cuteness!!

Random phone pictures

Some random and ::blurry:: phone pictures...

New I-State sweatshirt and cheer leading outfit from Erin. 

 The construction engineer.

The horrid first set of shots (2 month).  See the big tear?

Cute and content. 

The farmer figurines were hauling corn.

Hannah likes her swing.

Lucas' favorite pajamas - Buzz Lightyear!

Lucas is home!

Lucas returned from his trip to Chicago.  He had a great time, despite getting a little car sick on the way there.  What a fun experience for Lucas to have with Grandpa & Grandma!

Photos sent to my phone:

Getting ready to leave Papa & Nama's house really early on Saturday morning. 

Grilling burgers with Uncle Brad.

At the park by Brad & Michelle's house. 

Climbing the big wall!

Sleeping in with Piggy and Sammy.

{It's a good thing Piggy and Sammy went with -- before bed Saturday night, Lucas was a little homesick, so it was good to have his cuddly friends with him.}

Miss Hannah thought the house was really quiet on Saturday and napped most of the day away. 

packed up

Someone in our house is on a trip this weekend...

Any guesses who?

Lucas went with Papa Steve and Nama Connie to Chicago to visit Uncle Brad and Aunt Michelle.  When we asked him if he wanted to go there was no hesitation, he was very excited.  We weren't sure if he would go through with it when it was only him going... not Hannah, daddy or mommy.  We packed his Chicago hat, Sammy and Piggy. 

It is funny how different our house seems with one family member missing.  I'm glad he is having fun with and making memories with Papa and Nama, but I sure miss that little boy!  I'm looking forward to hugs and kisses when he gets home. 

kiddos

good reports

Good reports in the last couple of weeks...

• Hannah started daycare when I returned (part-time) to work.  Her teachers think she is a happy baby and she is napping great! 
• I returned to work three days a week for the month of March and the adjustment back is going fine.  The days leading up to my return and the morning of were pretty tough on me, but once we got into the routine, everything is going well.  I enjoy my job, so I am blessed.  (Last September, my boss offered me the opportunity to return to work 80% time when I returned from maternity leave, so I am looking forward to a four day work week and three days with my kiddos starting in April). 
• Lucas has been checking on Hannah at 'school' and thinks she is going good.
• Hannah had her two month check up and is growing like a weed!  She weighed 11 pounds, 8 ounces and is 23 inches long.  Both of those stats are around 65th percentile.  She also got three shots and an oral vaccine.  The oral was a piece of cake, the shots - well, not so much.  Lucas gave Hannah kisses on her band-aids. 

::newborn Hannah::

We had newborn photos taken of Hannah when she was just eleven days old.  Brent's cousin, Andrea, is a photographer and we put her talents to use for an amazing photo session.  Thank you, Andrea!

These photos make my heart swoon - she has already changed so much!  Of course, I cried the first time I saw the photos, so precious!  You can see more Hannah photos on Andrea's website, Yarrow Photography.  We are looking forward to capturing how Hannah grows and changes.

Lettuce

Lettuce - the green, leafy stuff that grows in a garden - I was never a fan of it. We didn't have lettuce salads on the "menu" growing up. If we went to a restaurant that offered a salad with a meal, I opted for cottage cheese or something of the like. On a salad bar, I skipped the first half containing lettuce, dressings, etc. and went for fruit, pickled beets and cottage cheese. 

I remember an internship experience I had in college that I went to a nice restaurant who served a salad. I didn't want to draw attention to me having a 'special' order, so I managed a few bites and stirred it around the bowl. 

I just never saw the point in it; it seemed like a filler. 

Then, I met Brent. 

And somewhere in the last ten years, I turned over a new leaf (ha! ha!) and love a good salad.  You will most likely find lettuce in my refrigerator on any given day. 

There is another salad eater at our house, too.  Lucas loves lettuce and in the last year, we've come to learn that if Brent and I have salad, Lucas MUST have some on his plate, too.  With a big dollop of ranch dressing and croutons. 

Lucas finished his lettuce and most of his pizza...

then he reached over to my plate and helped himself. 

My favorite place for salad?  That Place - they use Fritos instead of croutons.