The Cunninghams

Snow Day!

2012-02-24T06:39:00.001-08:00

Do you know what's better than having a snow day as a kid? Having a snow day as an adult!!

Last night we set aside the butterfly jammies and brought out the HoHo jammies. It worked people!! Yes, this mama is going to teach her girl to put a spoon under her pillow, flush ice cubes down the toilet and wear her jammies inside out! I am loving our snow day together. Lots of extra snuggle time, pancakes, books and dolls. Even a little blogging for mom :)

Enjoy this winter wonderland!

2.8.12

2012-02-13T18:07:00.000-08:00

Looking back at last year and the anticipation of your arrival makes me smile. We weren't quite sure what to expect but it sure was better than anything we could have hoped for.

2.7.11 at 11p.m. on our way to the hospital

last pic of just the 2 of us :)

last belly pic before your arrival

love at first sight

can you see our pure excitement and mama's double chins?!

melt my heart

dream come true

Luci,
These are such special memories that I will cherish forever. The last couple of days have been very bittersweet for me. I am forever grateful that you are happy and healthy and ONE but, I am not sure how we got here so quickly?! I don't think I can count the number of times I tell you that I love you or the number of kisses I place on your sweet face. You truly are an answer to prayer and we pray that we will raise you to love your God, to be kind, generous, adventurous and to stand for what you believe in. You have taught me so much about myself and have brought so much JOY to my heart. Love to you forever and ever and ever.
xoxo,
Mama

Here is a look at what we did on your actual birthday...

we started the day out playing and playing some more

you love your new duck...you bark at it :)

one of your favorite baby books. it was mine as a little girl.

helping me make breakfast

pancakes and strawberries. yum. unfortunately, you learned to put the candle out with your fingers.

your new scrunched up face while eating

loving your party balloons

balloons are so funny

out for your birthday lunch with auntie kate and cousin thijs

you love your mama and your gaga

looking sooo big on the step

walking and having a snack at the same time

sharing with peyton

off to the toy store. look what you gravitated to.

you love babies

playing in the tree house with daddy

cruising in your coupe. this is going to be a new favorite!

more cake

you love cake

you can slow down miss, we won't take it away from you!

Happy 12 Month, Luciana Elisabeth

2012-02-11T10:02:00.000-08:00

You are ONE little girl! It has been one whole year since our lives have become more full of love, laughter and pure fun. You are becoming more independent and are learning new tricks each day. We had a great month...you were healthy and happy and full of spunk, just how we like it!

As usual, your monthly recap....

I took you to the doctor for a diaper rash and was surprised when you only weighed about 18 1/2 pounds. I thought you would be bigger at one.
You still wear some 9 month clothing but are mostly in 12-18 months
You wear size 3 diapers
You are such a good sleeper and we are so thankful for that. Most nights you sleep around 10 hours
You are still taking 2, 2 hour naps and I am hopeful that routine will continue
I love my morning routine with you. Waking you up in the morning is something I look forward to each day. You hop right up and give me your sweet little smile....ready to start the day.
Your are addicted to your blankie. I made the mistake of taking it out of your crib to wash it during the night and you woke up and could not fall back to sleep. No other blanket will do the trick.
You still suck your thumb and if you see your blankie your thumb pops right in your mouth
Nursing is still going well and I am certain you will have to wean yourself because I am not ready to stop
I introduced vitamin D milk this month and you're not quite sure what to think of it. Sometimes you spit it out other times you will drink it
At one year you say, "mama, papa, hat, hot (those two sound the same), yes" (with prompts), you bark like Peyton and shake your head no when you are done eating
You are a dancer. It doesn't matter where we are or what we are doing...if you hear music you are swaying to the beat.
You have a toy keyboard with microphone and you have learned to "sing" into it...it's precious.
You can walk! You don't do it all the time but you know how to. You cruise between furniture and along the wall. (2.10.12 you really took off walking!)
You love to look at books. Your favorite books are the touch and feel books and any book with baby faces
You love to play with Peyton. You like to lay in his bed with him and give him treats after he goes outside. You are especially fond of his dog food and water bowl. Tug of war is a common activity.
You like to scrunch your face up like a bunny
You have 4 teeth on top and 2 on the bottom. Your front two teeth have quite the gap and I think it's adorable.
You love all table food!
You are so sweet to your dolls. You pat their backs and give them kisses.
Recently you have begun patting our backs when we pick you up. I love this.
You know how to wave bye-bye, give hugs and kisses and talk on the telephone
You get so upset if we take the phone away from you. Why is this?
You can be pretty clingy at times and like to be on my hip in the evenings
You whine if you get frustrated or if someone tells you "no". My mom said that she's pretty sure if you could talk, you would be talking back. With that being said, I look forward to you learning words so you can express yourself appropriately :)
You are so social. If we are in a store you like to chat it up with the people around you, especially other kids.
Your voice is so feminine. Your jibber jabber is precious.
You still love swimming and have practiced going under. You can even hold yourself up along the side of the pool. Bath time is becoming such a fun play time activity.
You are really playing with your toys. It is so much fun to sit and observe you.
You can point to other people's noses and like to do "so big"
You are finally getting better at night time when we change you. Not as many tears.
Peek a boo is the best game in your book. We play it all.the.time.
Your first time sledding this winter you were not a fan...maybe next year
You love to climb the stairs and pull yourself up onto objects, i.e. the entertainment center
When you ride in the car you like to look at your touch and feel doggie book and hold your stuffed dog that looks like Peyton
You are really into emptying everything. You like to empty kitchen drawers, my cabinet in the bathroom, folded laundry, Peyton's food.
You are especially into unrolling the toilet paper and eating it :)

Bring on your new year!!! We love you Lu girl! xoxo.

I Love Luci

2012-02-06T18:21:00.000-08:00

Our sweet baby girl is going to be ONE in a day! I remember her birth day like it was yesterday and I get emotional just thinking about how amazing our first year of parenthood has been.

Lu Belle, you are our sunshine.

We celebrated your first year of life with an "I Love Luci" party this weekend.

A "few" pics from the party....

Happy 11 Month, Luciana Elisabeth

2012-01-10T18:19:00.000-08:00

Month 10 was oh so good to us! Every day just gets better and better. Chad and I are always telling each other how lucky we are. We are so lucky. So happy.

Here are your stats from month 10 spunky girl...

You are right around 18.5 and 19 pounds
You are in size 3 diapers
You are wearing 9 month and 12-18 month clothing
You are such a good little sleeper and have done really well this month. We are on a break from teeth.
You still take 2, 2 hour naps during the day
You have to have your soft blankie and your thumb when you sleep.
We are still nursing exclusively when I am home. At the first of the year you went 3 days wanting nothing to do with me : ( aka - you were bitting me and doing everything you could to get away from me! We stuck with it though and we are back on track. I know that you are going to have to break ties with the nursing thing because I could keep going :) I am savoring every last second of "our time" together
You are a mad woman when crawling and can get up a flight of stairs in a nano second. You think this is a very fun game of chase.
The last week of month 10 you took more interest in walking. You take anywhere from 3-7 steps on your own. It is so stinking cute!
You dance and you dance and you dance. Any time you hear music your head starts to nod and if you're standing your legs begin some crazy plies.
You started really saying mama over Christmas break. Love.
When you say papa, you say it in a whisper. In the morning when I finish feeding you the first thing you say is "papa". You love your daddy.
You have started making the home alone face. Your facial expressions crack us up.
You will not take food off of a spoon. I would say that you are pretty much on all table food. Good thing you are a great little eater. It is fun having you try new foods and love them.
You learned to drink from a straw
You have 5 teeth and your second fang has popped through
You LOVE your baby dolls and can kiss, hug and pat their backs
You like playing with all of your new toys you received at Christmas
You still throw fits when we change your diaper, put clothes on and need to put you in your carseat. You have an attitude. Is this normal at 1?!
You celebrated your first Christmas and it was perfect
You went to your first basketball game and couldn't take your eyes off of Eli
We spent our first night away from you for your dad's 30th birthday. You had fun with Gaga, Pop and your cousins.
You spend New Years in Chicago with your buddy Wes
You started swim lessons and are having a blast in the water. We are learning to blow bubbles and not drink the pool :)

I am now in full party planning mode :) We can't wait to celebrate your 1st year. To say it has gone by quickly would be an understatement. Love you Lu!

Rewind

2011-12-22T06:51:00.000-08:00

What we've been up to....

sharing snacks with Peyton

falling asleep in the highchair

celebrating Thanksgiving in Ft. Wayne

working on finishing the basement bedroom and bathroom

decorating for Christmas

celebrating Gaga's birthday

celebrating Thanksgiving

loving Gaga and Aunt Sarah's Thanksgiving food

climbing the stairs over and over and over

extra cuddling after being sick

more Christmas decorating

sweet smiles :)

santa parade

playing with glittery trees for a sweet girl's room

visiting friends before little ruby makes her appearance (we are still patiently waiting by the way. hoping she comes today!)

hanging out with these rockstar 6th graders

and beautiful friends

small group playdate! lots of kiddos!

Santa Baby

2011-12-21T11:22:00.000-08:00

I was giddy as a little girl to take Lu to meet Santa. I don't know....there's just something about taking a baby to sit on Santa's lap and everything is so special this time of year being first time parents :) For some reason I thought she would do just fine but that is not how it went down. It was the cry heard round Holland :) Made for some funny pictures though.

Round 2 at the mall with my students. Same thing :)

Every Christmas we take our students to the mall to do some Christmas shopping and to see a movie. I am so thankful for my great group of students and staff that I get to work with. I love it that Luci will grow up and be comfortable around individuals with disabilities. Who knows, maybe she will want to be a special educator too. Below is our social worker Lisa and her little guy Traverse. How great it is that our kiddos can spend the day with us?! Fun memories.

After the mall we headed to papa's office to celebrate his 30th!

Here we are all dressed up for Chad's work party. Little Lu got to spend the evening with her Uncle Dave, Aunt Kate and the boys. She had so much fun playing with them.

Happy 10 Month, Luciana Elisabeth

2011-12-21T07:32:00.000-08:00

Oh Lulu, you are such a joy! How can it be that you are 10 months old?! You are a little spitfire and such a cuddle bug. Your personality makes us laugh and I am most certain that once you begin talking our days will be filled with laughter. We love you to pieces little one!

Here we go with your 9 month stats...

Pretty sure you are at or just under 18 pounds
You are in size 3 diapers
You are wearing 9 month and 12 month clothes and size 3 shoes
Your hair has really started to thicken up in the back (still not a lot in the front). You have some curl in the back and I love that.
For the most part you sleep so well at night. Your teeth are coming in so that makes you a little more uncomfortable at times.
You still take 2, 2 hour naps during the day. You have to have your pink blankie and your pink bunny when you sleep. You pull your blanket over your face and stick in your thumb and you are out for the count :)
We are still nursing and you take a bottle well for Gaga and Lindsey while I'm working
You crawl like a crazy woman and nothing stops you from where you want to go
You are learning what "no touch" means and what it it means to be "soft"
You love the Christmas decorations and all of the pretties at Grandma's house
You dance ALL THE TIME. I love it that you can get your groove on and I can't wait to get you into a dance class!
You love to clap for others and for yourself
Wheels On The Bus and If You're Happy and You Know It are still your faves
You have a new found love for pop up books. You know how to turn pages in a book and love to flip up the flaps. (You clap for yourself every time)
You sign "all done" at meal times
You love to feed yourself. You eat most everything that we eat.
I was hoping that last month was the only month you were going to get sick but that was not the case. I got the stomach flu the week of Thanksgiving and two days later you got it too. You threw up for 5 hours straight and we ended up in the ER for your daddy. He had to get hooked up to IVs and they gave you some meds to help calm your stomach down. You were a charmer in the ER. At 3 a.m. you were chatting it up with the nurses and doctors. Mama was so tired and you just wanted to socialize.
Your fang came in this month and your top two teeth made an appearance as well. Goodbye gummy smile!
You wave "bye bye" and can say it too
You say "papa", "mama" and "peypey" (Peyton)
You mimic Peyton's barking and it sounds like "ah ah"
You don't like to be left alone in a room
You love to play with your toys and look at your books and have fallen into your toy bin because you are so determined to get the toys you want out
You LOVE your baby dolls and like to give them kisses
You can make a car noise when you play with your trucks
You fly up the stairs now and are working on going down on your tummy
You like to watch your Praise Baby dvd
You still love bath time and have begun sticking your face in the water
You still hate getting dressed and it is SO hard to change your diaper. You do not like being slowed down.
You love other kids and have especially loved all the Christmas cards coming in the mail. You talk to and kiss the pictures
You are able to stand alone for small amounts of time will walk behind your toys and around the furniture.
You celebrated your first Thanksgiving and we are loving doing all sorts of Christmas things with you

Happy 10 Months, Luci Belle
xoxo

well hello again

2011-12-01T19:05:00.000-08:00

I have a few minutes tonight and thought a quick update was a good way to spend my time :) All is well in the Cunningham household. After a oh-so-horrible battle with the stomach flu we are healthy and good to go! Bring on DECEMBER!

Lu Belle is on the move and at such a fun stage. She loves to explore and is full of giggles and smiles. Her favorite thing to do is take a bath. She makes a beeline for the tub whenever she can.

This smile is pure joy I tell ya!

Nom-Nom yummy tub!

Hello there blue eyes :)

When Lulu gets really excited she loves to do a "run crawl". The girl can move.

She thinks it's pretty fun to give her pup a bath too.

Here are a few pics from her 9 month check up.

This picture cracks me up. The little miss feels so violated.

Nothing daddy can't fix :)

My cousin Austin came to Holland a few weeks back. He leaves for his Marine training right before Christmas. We are so proud of him and will be praying for him as he begins his new journey.

We got together with my Hope SPED friends a few weeks back. This is the only picture of Alden and Luci smiling (a nice game of peekaboo did the trick). Lu was a little too aggressive for A, he spent most of the night in tears. Lu growls and A wasn't a fan. Sorry bud, we'll work on it!

That's all for now...TGIF!

Happy 9 Month, Luciana Elisabeth

2011-11-15T17:18:00.000-08:00

Ok....seriously? How is our baby girl 9 months old? I know I said last month that Lulu was everywhere, but she is EVERYWHERE now! The little miss is into everything and baby proofing has taken on a whole new meaning. Her eighth month of life has been fabulous, just as every other month.

I told my mom the other day that I wasn't ready for Luci to turn 1. It's hard to believe that February is right around the corner. Our lives are so much more full of joy now that she's here. My mom reminded me that we didn't have Luci to have a baby. We had Luci to raise a child. She is so right. Having Luci has been the biggest blessing to us. I get up every day looking forward to being her mom.

I think parenthood suits us well. Chad and I are a great team and we are working hard at balancing life one day at a time. We love spending time as a family of three and get kinda lonely for Lu when she goes to bed. Most nights you will find us watching videos on our phones that we have taken during the day. Yep, we're hooked.

The last month has been so fun little lady. You are our sunshine. Here are some highlights from your eighth month of life.

We took you in for your 9 month appointment (November 9) and you weigh 17 pounds 9 ounces (25%)
You are 27.5 inches tall (50%)
Your dome is 45.5 (79%) Big? Maybe? We like to think you're gonna be a smart one :)
You are in size 3 diapers
You are wearing 6-9 month clothes
I got your first clip in your hair sans headband (and it stayed in)!
Your schedule is still the same. Up at 6ish, down from 8ish-10ish, down again from 1ish-3ish and down for the night around 8ish. Lots of ishes :)
We continue to be an awesome nursing team and I am a pro at pumping while at work. (I keep my frozen stash in my classroom freezer and was asked by a student why I had so many vanilla frosties ; )
Your favorite toys are everything and anything that isn't a toy. You love Peyton's food and water bowl, stairs, cords, outlets, door stoppers, shoes, toilets, toilet paper, computers, plants, cupboards and especially any hair that you find on the floor.
You love to look out all the windows that are exactly your height
You started dancing this month and will bounce to every song you hear
You clap whenever we sing to you or whenever you hear music
You are a shouter. Always yelling.
We are working on saying/signing "all done" after meals because screaming isn't fit for restaurants
You love to toss your sippy cup when you are done drinking (working on that one too)
You are eating mostly all table food at this point. You love yogurt, cottage cheese and anything you can feed yourself.
You got sick for the first time this month and it was horrible! It started with lots of sneezing and a runny nose, followed by congestion, a high fever for several days and ending in a body rash. Turns out you had roseola. You are about as pathetic as your daddy when you get sick. Praying for good health this winter.
Your two bottom teeth are fully through and your "fang" is poking through. You must know that Breaking Dawn is coming out this month.
You are putting lots of sounds together, baba, dada, mama, gaga...
When you play, you talk to yourself and it's like you are squawking...it's the cutest little sound.
Your favorite books are the ones with baby faces
You can do the motions to Wheels on the Bus (the go round and round part)
You clap your hands to When You're Happy and You Know It
You know how to wave hello and goodbye
Getting dressed and changing your diaper is a challenge. Your sassyness gets in the way.
Peyton is your bff. Your favorite game is tug of war with him.
Your crib is lowered now and when we go to get you out of it Peyton follows and puts his paws up so he can kiss you through the railing
You were the cutest little duck for Halloween
Bath time is your favorite time of day. You get SOO excited when I start running your water.
You know how to climb the stairs (a backspot is most definitely needed)
You are walking behind your walking toy! Oh boy!

Quack Quack

2011-11-02T14:11:00.000-07:00

We had such a fun day dressing up our little duck on Halloween. She loved feeling her costume and licking her pumpkin :)

On Halloween, my mom brought Lu to school. The kids loved seeing her.

My amazing coworkers...Lisa with Traverse and Bobbie with Parker (and another little guy on the way). So thankful for their friendship and support in the classroom.

Visiting Papa at work

We trick-or-treated with Liam and Thijs....both Spiderman :)

Kate watched Lulu on Tuesday. Do you see what I see?

Her very first tat! (Captain America!)

Happy 8 Month, Luciana Elisabeth

2011-10-23T17:03:00.000-07:00

Girlfriend is 8 months old and is loving life exploring everything around her.

You are pure joy little lady and make every day so special for me and your dad. Here is what you were up to last month :)

You weigh 17 pounds
You are wearing 6 to 9 month clothing
You are in size 3 diapers
You are still doing awesome on your schedule...taking two naps a day :)
You love feeding yourself
We are still doing awesome in the nursing department...I love this special time with you
You crawl and climb everywhere! The stairs are your new challenge and new bruises appear a little too often.
You can go from crawling to sitting up
You love to go to the front door and look out the window
Your favorite position is standing up....you will stand for up to 30 minutes before your little legs start swaying
This month you officially became a thumb sucker and we think it's so stinkin' cute. Not sure we will say this when you are 5 :)
You can give zurberts and kisses
You said mama and dada for the first time this month
You are always saying baba
You chat and love to yell
Your two bottom teeth popped through this month at the same time
You are so observant and love to play with other children
You are learning to clap and wave goodbye
We lowered your crib this month
You love Peyton and he is everywhere you are
You started to get really interested in all of your toys this month and love the baby doll with hair at Gaga's house
You are very opinionated and will tell us when you are not happy
You are SO MUCH FUN and have the best personality!

This time last year we were praying for your sweet little heart and boy does it feel good to have you here and healthy. I know I say this often but you are such a gift Lu. Love you more than words. XOXO.

Post Family Farm

2011-10-13T13:07:00.000-07:00

I just had to post a few pics of the little miss at Post Family Farm.

So behind on my blogging so I'll catch up when I can!

Happy Fall!

20 Years

2011-09-21T18:39:00.000-07:00

On Sunday we celebrated the Fertility Center's 20th anniversary. Doctor Dodds and Young threw a huge party for all of the patients, past and present. It was a very special occasion and was pretty cool to be surrounded by hundreds of families who have gone through the heartache of infertility and now have precious children. I kept thinking how extremely rewarding it must have been for Dodds and Young as they greeted hundreds upon hundreds of couples. I feel so blessed to be a part of a clinic that cares so deeply about each of its patients.

We were able to write in a scrapbook for Dodds and Young. No words could ever express how thankful we are to them and their dedicated staff.

Remember what Luci does when she encounters strangers? Especially men? I felt so bad!! Not a very nice way to say thank you missy! LOL.

We were cracking up....she needed time to check him out :)

I love how she was touching his face...so sweet :)

SuPeR WeS!

2011-09-18T18:27:00.000-07:00

We traveled to Chicago on Saturday to celebrate a very special little boy.

Wesley is ONE!!

Bain and Laura threw their little man a very special super birthday because that's just what he is...SUPER WES!

It was so wonderful to be surrounded by all of their friends and family who were prayer warriors for Wes when he was born at 28 weeks.

Wesley and Lulu reminisced about their fun times in Colorado.

Wes did a super job with his smash cake! It was adorable!

Luciana loved hanging out with her buddy and had fun playing with all of his toys too!

We love you Wes and are so thankful that we were able to celebrate your special day with you!

weekends...

2011-09-18T17:38:00.000-07:00

Weekends are made for going to the farmer's market...

and getting pretty flowers...

and getting serenaded by a street performer (who knew that he knew Lu's favorite song was wheels on the bus?!)

and helping dad tear down trees....

I love my father and I know he loves his chainsaw :) Now let me explain...these trees were put up for my high school open house and they have gotten a little too big for my mom's pretty view. So, down they must go.

Chadly gets called over for operations such as this. Dad lassoed those trees, took his chain saw and C pulled and ran. I know why my mom went to the gym. Lu and I watched and I had my cell handy in case I needed to call 911. My father scares me sometimes!

Dad, that ladder was not secure...just sayin'.

But, you did a great job and yes, they fell just like you said they would.

Weekends are also good for High School football. It was Alumni night at HC so we made our way back to my old coaching stomping ground. Luci could have watched the girls chant for hours.

Big bows are made for nights like this.

An entire team just for your babe. Maybe you will be walking these halls someday? Maybe you will be cheering! ha! Grandma Peggy...gonna coach Lulu's team?

Happy 7 Month, Luciana Elisabeth

2011-09-18T17:09:00.000-07:00

Here we are again...giving another month update for Miss Luci Lu. Luci has changed so much developmentally this month. Right before she turned six months she learned to sit up on her own and in four short weeks she is now crawling! Chad and I are amazed by how quickly she is learning new things. It is so much fun to watch her attempt and conquer each new skill. She is a very persistent and feisty little thing and we love it.

Life has been busy and has seen some changes for our family of three this month. I am back to work in the classroom full time and Chad has begun an eighteen month MBA program. We are all on the go all day long and at at times I feel like I forget to breathe but, more than ever before, we are slowing down and cherishing every single second when we are together. Evenings, weekends and the time between are that much more precious.

I have to give a shout out here to my amazing mom. Seriously, she is the best. She is with Lu the majority of the time I am at school and it has made our big transition extremely smooth. I can already see a special relationship forming between Grammy and Grandaughter and it makes this Mama really happy.

So, sweet Luciana, you are an absolute doll and have had another fun filled month. Here is your SEVEN month snapshot....

You weigh 17 pounds
You are wearing 6 month and 9 month clothes and size 2 or 3 shoes
You are in size 3 diapers
Your schedule is going really well with me back to work. It looks like this....

We wake you up at 6:30 (you pop up on all fours and give us a huge gummy grin) you nurse and we play. Breakfast is around 8 and you are down for your morning nap by 8:30. You eat again at 10 and 12 and typically take a 2 1/2 hour afternoon nap. Once you are up from your nap you eat and are up for the rest of the day. You are nursing every three hours in the afternoon evening. We typically put you to bed by 8 and you are sleeping through the night.

You love most food and all meals are a production as you "Mmm" with every bite.
A day before you turned 6 months you were sitting up independently
A day before you turned 7 months you were crawling
You can stand unsupported for small amounts of time
You get to anything and everything you want
If we have all sorts of toys out for you to play with you always go for Peyton's bones...gross!
You do not take a passy anymore. We don't even attempt to give it to you.
You sleep on your belly
You take naps with your bunny blanket
Your favorite toys this month are your Sophie, Leap Frog activity center, Elmo jiggle ball and any baby doll
You still do not have any teeth and we don't feel any coming through
When I nurse you you play with my face, hair and jewelery. You also have become very distracted while nursing :)
You are CONSTANTLY pulling out my hair....and it hurts, ha!
You love being around other children
You giggle when we tickle you and it is music to our ears
You are afraid of strangers, especially men. You will bawl if someone you don't know takes you from us
You love tubby time and I love tubby time with you
The baby bjorn was a favorite this month for any small outing
You've been to the park almost every day and love to swing
You can give kisses

Another amazing month with our daughter. We love you Luci Elisabeth.

Labor Day Weekend...playing catch up

2011-09-10T10:26:00.000-07:00

We had an awesome Labor Day weekend relaxing at the lake. One final hurrah before the new school year began. It was low key and just what we wanted. Luci got lots of love from Pop and Grandma and we loved getting away with nothing to do but hang with our sweetie.

A quick pit stop on the way to get some Wendy's and change the girl into her jammies.

We have learned to try and travel during her sleep times. Makes it easier for everyone :)

Lulu's crib is at the foot of our bed. What could be better than waking up to this?!

good morning happy girl!

Mom got a new toy delivered while we were there. The Ranger is awesome and will be a fun ride for all the grand kids next summer. I envision lots of outings discovering new trails, trips to Superior and berry picking. Luci got to test it out for her cousins and she loved it.

Always something for the big guy to tear down!

I can't believe Chad has been coming up for nine years and has never been to the Soo Locks! Here they are hun! ha!

Who can resist some fudge? Not us :)

We tried out a new hole in the wall drive-in with awesome burgers. We'll go back :)

Mom and the Mule...it holds a very special place in all of our hearts. The Mule was Grandpa Philburns toy for bating his black bear. The Mule got lots of love in the woods at Piatt. So many good memories.

These pictures are from 2004 out at Grandpas property. Look at how little the Reed kids are?! Grandpa loved showing us around his woods.

Grandpa and Jen. I believe on this occasion Grandpa took down a wasp nest with his bare hands. We miss you Grandpa.

Luci got a lot stronger this weekend and continued to work on her crawling, flipping and standing :)

Family ride in the rain.

So long for now Piatt Lake. See ya next summer!

2011-08-30T18:03:00.000-07:00

Hey blogger friends, Luci here...taking over for mom tonight. Look what I've been up to....

I know, pretty cool right?! Mom and dad go crazy for me so I keep doing it over and over. It can be kinda tiring though. So tiring that I have been sleeping through the night. Mom and dad must love that too because when I wake up they slobber me with kisses and tell me what a good girl I am :)

Every night this week mom and dad have taken me to the park so I can swing. I love to swing.

I love to watch dad swing.

Peyton loves to swing too.

Let's see...what else?

Oh yeah, my mom went back to work this week. Here we are in the morning before her first day back.

She's having a hard time being away from me (because I'm just so much fun) but I tell her I'm ok and that I'm having lots of fun with Grandma and Miss Lindsey.

It just means she gets to give me extra kisses when she comes home for the day...and I like my mommy's kisses!

Thursday Night Street Performers

2011-08-26T06:33:00.000-07:00

Every Thursday night during the summer there are street performers in Holland. From belly dancers to acrobats there is plenty to see! Last night was the final Thursday night of the summer : ( Just another reminder fall is coming!

Gaga Peggy with Ella and Grey

Luci loved all the music!

She also loves jewelry :)

captivated by the magician

the breakdancers....another crowd favorite

Luci and her food

2011-08-26T06:17:00.000-07:00

Luci is doing such a good job when it comes to eating solids. She loves most of the food we offer her and eats all of her meals saying "Mmmmm" the entire time. (She gets this from her grandma!) She loves to hold her spoon and sippy cup and feed herself. I am having lots of fun buying fresh veggies and fruit and making them for my girl.

Lu's personality comes out at meal times....she cracks us up. We are learning that she is feisty and independent. Two good qualities if you ask me :) I always wondered when the "discipline" would begin with a baby....(I say discipline very loosely). I think it's starting now :)

Right now Lulu is loving....
rice cereal and oatmeal mixed with fruit, prunes, pears, peaches, avocado, carrots, green beans, peas and sweet potatoes.

I think she could live on avocado...she LOVES it!

beach days

2011-08-19T05:54:00.000-07:00

one of the reasons we love living where we do is beccause of the beach. it has been so much fun heading out to the big lake this summer with lulu. we know this awesome weather is short lived so we are taking it in while we can.

this picture was taken right after she was pooped on by a bird....woke her right up from her nap

Here's to a few more weeks of summer living. Soak it up while you can!

6 Month Physical

2011-08-17T12:42:00.000-07:00

We took Lu to her 6th month check up this afternoon. She was such a hoot with the doctor and nurses...babbling/squealing up a storm. We were pretty much shouting to the doctor because she was talking so loud! Girl cracks me up.

if i could bottle her up i would

25 3/4 inches (50%)

15 pounds 10 1/2 ounces (50%)

before...

and after

You are just perfect Miss Luci Elisabeth.

Piatt Lake

2011-08-17T06:38:00.000-07:00

Girlfriend and I had another great week up at the cottage. Here is our week in pictures....

first time in the cottage high chair

luci spent many a meal being cheered on by her cousins

i think grey and luci will have a very special relationship :)

lunch on the deck

i believe this is "the wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish"

ella loves holding her baby cousin

for those of you familiar with the lake....these are the kids "houses"

go glad we got to see annie and emmie for a few days
(notice the soon to be 6th grader braces...looking so old!)

the girls

cousin shot...missing eli (who was at tennis camp and will be entering HIGH SCHOOL)

sweet beach baby

liam loves his cousin...xoxo

grandma and her girl

thijs the fish

oh grey, you are too precious. love the cheese face.

jackson and luciana (2 months apart)
wes and i are 6 weeks apart

girl knows how to chill

sitting up like a champ

such a happy girl

got to see pop for a few days
she already loves the pop "growl"

we also learned that lulu loves to dance

we will be dancing a lot now

Happy 6 Month, Luciana Elisabeth

2011-08-15T11:49:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness....Our baby is 6 months old!!!

Tonight we talked about how incredibly FUN and how extremely fast these past 6 months have gone by with Luciana in our lives. We have enjoyed every.single.second with our little Luci :) Becoming parents has brought a new and exciting perspective to our daily lives. Life is just so much more precious as a family of three. Not a day goes by that we don't thank God for giving her to us. Life is really good.

Ok, here is Lulu's six month snapshot....

We guess that you weigh around 16 or 17 pounds. We take you to your 6 month appointment on Wednesday so we will find out for sure.
You wear 6 month and a few 9 month clothes
You are in size 2 or 3 diapers
You nurse every three hours and towards the end of the month had cereal and green beans for the first time. You are loving food and know exactly what to do!
We worked on the bottle at the end of this month as well and learned that you have a mind of your own (which is good little lady :)

You threw your first fit and screamed for 3 hours after we attempted to give you a bottle
It took 3 days of screaming, throwing your head back and attaching yourself to my shirt before you realized the bottle wasn't going to hurt you
You are now taking one bottle a day and there are less tears

It has taken 6 months but I can now say that you are on a schedule! I go back to work this month so we want ~~you~~ me to have a smooth transition ;)

You typically go to bed between 8 and 9, wake up at 6:30, nap from 8:30-10 and 12:30-3 (you usually sneak in a little evening nap still) :)

You have not been sleeping through the night consistently this month. Sometimes you make it until morning and other times you wake up once or twice.
You have become so strong this month. You love to roll and play on you belly.
You love trying to get Peyton
A couple of days before your 6 month birthday you learned to sit up on your own. You are such a big girl now!
You take your passy when you go down for your naps but you don't use it any other time during the day
This month your favorite toys have been your exersaucer, sophie, mirrors, crinkle square and all of your stuffed animals
You still do not have any teeth
Your giggle is so stinkin' cute
You take water out of your sippy cup
You love to grab our faces and give us wet kisses. We melt every time.
You love to chat with me during the day but when there is a lot going on around you you prefer to observe
You went on your second plane trip to Colorado this month when we vacationed with the Rumohr family
You went to your first wedding and were on the dance floor until 11, hehe!
You love your baths and have begun splashing when you are in the tub
You have started to reach for us
You love the front carrier. As long as you are with us you are as happy as a clam.
Seriously girl....you are just so precious and we can't wait to enjoy the rest of your first year with many firsts with you!

All of our love, XOXO
Mommy and Daddy

2011-08-01T12:47:00.000-07:00

We introduced Luciana to rice cereal yesterday and she loved it! Something tells me we will have a good little eater on our hands. So thankful for our healthy baby girl!

Colorado

2011-08-01T07:11:00.000-07:00

We're back...and it has been a busy day. A day filled with laundry, yard work, grocery shopping, extra time loving on our girl, cuddling the pup and getting reacquainted with home.

It feels good though. It feels good to have had eight days with my hubby and little one. I love our family and any time I get to spend with them is cherished. We had a blast with our friends. It was a really good vaca...so thankful we were able to get away and just be. This family needs that.
Before we get back into the grind we must remember all the fun that we had. Well, the fun officially began after Chad got over his altitude sickness :) Not fun for Chad or the rest of us in the mini van waiting for the pukes to subside.

Bain, Laura and Wesley, thank you so much for inviting us out west. We are so thankful for your friendship and the memories from this trip will provided lots of laughter for the future.
So...we took around 500 pictures over the week. Here are just a "few" ;)

little lady on her 2nd flight

so excited to be reunited again

baby love

thrilled about our mini van

the seating situation for the week....by the way, LOVE the van :)

waiting for her daddy to feel better

one of many wrestling matches

first hike

agness vaille falls

adorable onsies laura made the kids

attempted baby pic

buena vista

trail west pool

breckenridge pizzeria

loving the mum mum

gondola ride

the wagon loop trail

happy to be done with a long hike

lunch in salida

on our way to aspen

jkb ranch

buena vista music festival

the head shake....thank you sarah ray!

playing at trail west

had to get a chapel pic....just in case

2011-07-21T10:54:00.000-07:00

My girl and I had a fabulous Wednesday spent at the lake with the Gazan ladies and Mr. A. The weather has been oh so HOT so the breeze on the big lake felt so nice!

We just had to take some pictures of the kiddos....we think they turned out pretty cute :) Nice work Jacki!

Thanks for a great afternoon!

p.s. - I think Alden and Luci should have more play dates because the little Miss slept past 10 today! Whoa!

Weekend Wedding

2011-07-20T07:51:00.000-07:00

We had such a great time celebrating the marriage of Marissa and Austin over the weekend. It was a beautiful ceremony that emphasized the beautiful design God intends for our marriages. We had such a nice time catching up with all of the Kentucky cousins! Can I just say what a wonderful family we have?! I so wished we lived closer....we do not see them near enough.

A few pictures from the reception.

2011-07-15T11:56:00.000-07:00

Chad returned home in the wee hours of July 5th while Lu and I stayed a few more days to soak in cottage life.

Happy 5 Month, Luciana Elisabeth

2011-07-15T07:40:00.000-07:00

Every month seems to go so quickly and this month was no different. We are soaking up every minute with Luci and just can't get enough! Summers are much better with you in our family little love.

Here is what LC has been up to this month....

We think you weigh around 14 to 15 pounds
You are wearing all 3-6 and 6 month clothing
You are in size 2 diapers
You nurse every 3 hours during the day

I have not made it a priority to give you bottles every day so when we try to give you one you won't take it. We will work on it next month I guess :)

You did not sleep through the night this month. It started after your 4 month vaccinations. You had a slight fever so I nursed you when you woke that first night and the pattern continued, and continued and continued....
On a typical night you are sleeping by 8 or 9, wake up two to three times, nurse around 6 and go back to sleep until 8.
You roll everywhere in your crib. You like to fall asleep on your side but are sleeping on your belly now.
You are still taking a short morning nap and a longer afternoon nap. Sometimes you like to sneak an evening snooze in there (we try to not let this happen because we want you to sleep through the night :)
This month you decided to love your passy
We have noticed a real change in how you interact with your toys this month...you play with them!

You love your baby dolls and other stuffed animals
You love your books
You love anything that will go in your mouth
You know how to make all the music play in your exersaucer
You have learned to pull hard enough to take the animals off your play mat

You have learned to put the passy in and out of your mouth. You have not mastered this skill at night.
You are still drooling like a St. Bernard, but have no teeth yet
You can gorilla sit for a few seconds before you fall over
You pull your knees under your body when you are on your belly
You started really laughing this month. We have found your tickle spots!
You grab our faces and pull us toward you for wet kisses...we LOVE this!
You are really interested in grabbing our cups or anything else that is in our hands
You are interested in grabbing Peyton and it's easy because he doesn't let you out of his sight
You still love to talk and jabber all day long with me. You are such good company.
You went "camping" for the first time this month
You have spent lots of time at the pool and love the water
You went to the cottage for the first time this month
You celebrated your first 4th of July
I can't believe how blessed we are to have you! We love you so much!

Piatt Lake - The 4th of July

2011-07-13T12:32:00.000-07:00

It feels like summer has officially started when we drive over Mighty Mac......LOVE it! We had an awesome time at the lake. The weather was perfect and we enjoyed quality time with family and friends. Can't ask for much more :)

Lu liked driving over the bridge too. Mommy told her all about her adventure on the bridge way back when :)

Luci let us know that her drive time is 4 hours TOPS. Little lady likes to hold my hand ;)

The one picture that I think Luciana looks like me as a baby...and her face is half covered up :)

Peyton tried to entertain his sis. No worries...he is yawning.

Oh dear, love those cheeks

Our annual picture with the bears in front of the Trout Lake bar.

Did you notice? Yea, looks like someone had a little fun after a few drinks :)

Luci loved waking up to play with Grammy and the cousins.

First dip in Piatt lake. (Chad apparently just made a touchdown.)

Fish Fry!

Piatt Lake 4 wheeler parade. Chad decorated the Mule and had some awesome tunes to celebrate our freedom.

Adult rocking horse...yes, please.

Wynn and Bonnie. Wynn married us 5 years ago!

Girl knows her dad is hilarious.

Luci gets a turn in the crib her aunts, mama and cousins all slept in.

Excited for the boat parade.

Oh yea, Pop is funny too!

Fireworks in Paradise

Best fireworks show this side of Paradise.

God Bless the USA

Pokagon

2011-06-30T05:36:00.000-07:00

We traveled to Pokagon State Park last weekend to celebrate Bill turning the big 6 - 0. It was Lulu's first camping experience....well, "camping" = "staying at the Inn" :) We played games, ate campfire food and enjoyed the lake. Luci was a sweet bebe as always and had fun seeing the Indiana crew. Happy Birthday, Bill!

Dad's Day

2011-06-22T07:28:00.000-07:00

I love my husband and seeing him as a father has made my love for him grow even more. He is devoted to his daughter and she lights up around him...it makes my heart smile. Luci is so lucky to have you as a daddy, Chad. We love you so very much. Happy first Father's Day! xoxo.

Sunday morning....giving papa his gift :)

It was a wonderful Sunday....we started our day with a run before church and then headed out to eat with my parents and the Herweyers. Have I mentioned that I just love summer?!

I am so thankful for my dad. He is our mentor and our friend. He is so generous and giving of his time to us. He loves his girls and is a fun loving and doting pop. We love you, Dad!

Hello Summer!

2011-06-16T19:23:00.000-07:00

We started summer off right last weekend. Friends, babies and the beach....can't get a whole lot better than that :) Back in March we dreamed of warmer weather and while last weekend was still on the chilly side, it didn't stop us from enjoying our friends, our babies and the beach. Thank you Jacki and Brandon for opening up your cottage to us. We had a blast!

hmmm....realizing how difficult it is to take pictures of 3 babies

Wes was getting hungry

Alden didn't think he was an appropriate snack

Happy 4 Month, Luciana Elisabeth

2011-06-16T05:44:00.000-07:00

It was one year ago this month that we found out we were pregnant with our sweet baby and now she is 4 months old! That's just plain AWESOME!

Here is what Lu girl has been up to this month.....

You weigh 13 pounds 13 ounces (50th %) and are 25 inches long (75th%)
You are wearing a few 3 month clothes but mostly fit into 6 month clothing
You are still in size 2 diapers
You are nursing so well...you eat every 3 hours during the day (sometimes more). I went back to work this month and your grandma brought you to school every day so that I could nurse you on my lunch. Your grandma is awesome!
You are sleeping through the night. You typically go to bed at 9 and wake up around 6:30.
We moved you to your room this month and you are doing so well in your crib. You definitely needed more sleeping space.
We stopped swaddling you this month and you did just fine
You are such a good little sleeper. You take a early morning, afternoon and evening nap. (Sometimes you sneak an extra one in there). You can fall asleep anywhere so that makes it easy to take you places.
You love books and are very interested in looking at the pictures
You love it when I sing to you. Wheels on the Bus is still the top of your playlist.
You have a love/hate relationship with your passy. It changes day to day. Some days you need it other days you think we are torchering you with it.
You have your hands in your mouth all.of.the.time
Your hard work twisting side to side has paid off because you are now rolling back to belly and belly to back
You are really into standing....goodbye baby cradling.
When you get tired you rub your eyes and put your bunny blanket over your face. It's precious.
You totally know your mom and dad and we are soaking it up :) You have really started turning your head towards us when you hear our voices.
You like to play "super baby" and drop loads of droll on our face
You are a fan of mommy and me yoga and pilates. (Thanks for the fun gift Kendra)
Bath time is still a daily favorite and the crying when you get out is a little more under control
You babble and coo a lot and you are now growling. Yes, growling. Cracks us up every time.
You still love to take walks and be on your play mat
You have become very interested in all of your toys. You love to hold them tight and put them in your mouth.
You notice yourself in the mirror and we think you like what you see, we sure do!
You grab and hold on to your toys and my hair. You have started swatting at Peyton when he is near you (which is all of the time).
You are able to spend longer amounts of time in your exersaucer and bumbo
You went in the pool for the first time this month and cried when we took you out
You are a very easy baby but when you want something you tend to be very dramatic. It's like you have never had a meal.
Your personality is showing more and more every day
We adore you and are so excited to spend the summer with you!

Memorial Weekend and Play Time

2011-06-15T07:30:00.000-07:00

After my first week back at work it was pure joy to have a three day weekend! We (Chad) accomplished lots around the house, enjoyed the weather and played with our sweetie. She is just so much fun!

Sometimes play time is just easier when he goes in the box :)

I know you love her, but sometimes you just have to let her be.

LOVES to stand like a big girl!

She loves her baby and her pup loves her.

She is a fan of her Sophie too.

First run with Luci in the jogger.

Memorial Day parade

Lunch by the lake

She's rolling!

Lu has been doing a lot of this lately :)

She likes to practice walking too (notice Peyton cheering her on :)

May Birthdays

2011-06-15T06:51:00.000-07:00

Luci is taking a really good nap...that's why the pictures keep coming :)

My birthday was back in May and Chad, Lu and my parents made sure to make it special. Chad and Luci sent flowers to school and gifted me with a new ipod. It was a beautiful day so we went out to a new favorite restaurant of ours. It was a perfect way to end the day.

The best birthday gift is in my lap :)

Peyton turned 4 in May as well. No, we have not forgotten about our adorable pup. We went for a walk to Captain Sundae to spoil him just a little.

Luci's first trip to Captain Sundae!

Lu and the birthday boy

Happy Birthday Peyton!

Tip Toe Through The Tulips

2011-06-15T06:27:00.000-07:00

We lived it up this year during Tulip Time. If you know anything about Holland during Tulip Time you know that the carnies come to town, vendors line the streets, tourists take pictures of children in their dutch costumes, kids get out of school and the traffic is horrible! It really was fun to see everyone after a long and cold winter.

Mom kept the kids after Lulu's baptism and we scrubbed the streets. This was my first time partaking in this annual tradition and I do have to admit it was fun! (Not sure if I wore my costume correctly, oh well.) It was SOOO hot during the parade. One kid was left standing by the time we made it down 8th street and that kid happened to be 11. You were awesome Annie!

My little hot box.

Our scrubbing crew!

1 kid down....6 to go :)

Luciana's Baptism and Mother's Day

2011-06-15T05:47:00.000-07:00

Hello there blogger land, it's so good to see you again :) I went back to finish off the school year so keeping up the blog was the last task on my to-do list :) Now that it's officially summer vacation it's my goal to keep the blog updated. I love having this online journal to look back on. I'll do my best to highlight recent happenings in our household.

We dedicated our sweet girl to the Lord on her 3 month birthday, May 8th. It also happened to be Mother's Day. It was a very special day for our family.

Luci was super sweet...she did great!

Steve is a part of our life group and is one of our pastors.
Our life group was a huge source of support during our journey of infertility.

After church we had the family back to my parent's house for lunch.
We are so thankful our family could be a part of this special occasion for Luciana.

We thank God daily for the people He has placed in Luci's life.

Sorry love, you'll have to wait another 6 months before you can have your cake.

Our little charmer

So thankful to be a mom! You are such a gift, Luci!

Parenting Luci is a huge responsibility and we feel so grateful that God has entrusted her to us.

We love you so much Luci and pray for wisdom as we raise you.

Happy Mother's Day to my mom and sisters! I am so happy I can be on the "motherhood" journey with my beautiful sisters. Watching them in action has helped me navigate being a mom to Lu.

I am so incredibly lucky to have my mom as my friend and my mentor. She has shaped me into the woman I am today, I love you!

Tulip Time 5K and Kid's Fun Run

2011-05-16T11:23:00.001-07:00

The fam started off Tulip Time with the annual 5k and Kid's Run. Mom once again placed #1 in her age division a second year in a row! You go girl!! Ella and Liam proved to be fine little runners themselves and Lu was a great cheerleader from her red buggy :)

Happy 3 Month, Luciana Elisabeth

2011-05-15T15:00:00.000-07:00

This has been such a fun month with Luci Elisabeth. She does new things every day and keeps us smiling and laughing along the way!! She has blossomed from a newborn to a baby....where has the time gone?! She is such a joy and we just can't get enough of our sweet girl.

Here is a glimpse of what Lu has been up to this month...

We are guessing that you weigh around 13 pounds. We go to the doctor next month.

Your 3 month clothes are getting a little snug...sniff, sniff. You are starting to wear 3-6 month clothes now.

You are in size 2 diapers.

You are still nursing exclusively and nursing really well. You nurse every 3 hours during the day like clock work.

You sleep about 7 hours from your last feeding until you wake up in the morning. I nurse you once more and you go back down for another hour or so.

You take a bottle from your daddy at your evening feeding (usually 4 ounces).

Papa reads to you every night before bed.

You sleep in your cradle in our room. You still sleep swaddled with your hands above your head. You are really rocking the cradle though (the bolts came loose)...it might be time to move you to your crib :)

You take your naps during the day in your crib.

You love your passy and have started chewing on your hands.

Tummy time is going ok. Every time you are on your belly you seem to spit up. No rolling over yet but you twist from side to side like a crazy woman.

You love your play mat and bat at the animals hanging from above.

You are still a fan of the swing.

You love going for walks.

You think you are pretty cool sitting in your bumbo.

You have started grabbing my hair and I find it in your little fists. You also collect lint in between your fingers and toes :)

You LOVE your baths but are a hot mess when we take you out....we have to work on this :)

You started talking up a storm at 11 weeks. You always say "gll, goo, ma".

Your dad and I think you can wave hello :)

You LOVE it when I sing to you. Your favorite songs right now are Wheels on the Bus, Head Shoulders Knees and Toes, Jesus Loves Me and When You're Happy and You Know It.

I took you to your first story time at the library and you loved it (yes, you were the youngest baby there). You cooed during the singing and fell asleep when the librarian began reading.

You had your first party in Fort Wayne and got lots of fun summer toys.

Your eyes are big and blue and your hair is still light with a tint of strawberry (just like when your mommy was a baby)

You celebrated your first Easter.

You met Dr. Dodds

We dedicated you to the Lord on your 3 month birthday (it was also Mother's Day).

We love you more and more with each passing day if that's even possible.

2011-05-14T05:51:00.000-07:00

We had such a WONDERFUL week!!! My first mother's day, Luci's baptism, Tulip Time....so many pictures and no camera cord. It's somewhere in this house but I just can't find it :( So, we are off to Best Buy later today to pick up another!

1 year

2011-05-11T06:18:00.000-07:00

1 year ago we received the news that our first fresh IVF cycle did not take....we were crushed, our arms were empty. 1 year later I am headed down to Tulip Time to march in the parade with my baby girl...my heart and my arms full.

1 year ago today my friend delivered her precious baby boy at 28 weeks...he was 2 pounds. 1 year later Jonah is a beautiful and oh so healthy 18 pound miracle.

A lot can change in a year and for that I am thankful.

Today is a good day : )

Goooooo ELI!

2011-05-05T09:40:00.000-07:00

Kate and I packed up the kids and headed over to SA to watch Eli's 8th grade track meet. It was so much fun to watch E in action. He is a great athlete and I loved seeing him in his element, the boy has mad skills :) Still can't believe he will be in high school next year...what the heck?!?!

The cousins had a blast seeing each other and did a great job cheering on Eli while playing in the dirt :) Luci did a fabulous job snoozing so I could enjoy Eli, thanks girl!

Beach Baby

2011-05-04T20:19:00.001-07:00

We traveled down to Indiana to celebrate our sweet Luci. Thank you for a fun shower Sherry and Kendra! Little Lu is all set when it comes to summer activities!

Isn't her ice cream dress a hoot?! (her dad picked it out!!)

Alden

2011-05-04T20:11:00.000-07:00

Little Alden Marcus joined the Deiter family on Saturday and we are thrilled that he is here. Congratulations Brandon and Jacki...he is quite the stud already. Luciana is thrilled to have so many friends and I am loving being a first time mom with my friends.

Was it really only 11 weeks ago that she was that small? Oy!!