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.