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grace sufficient for the day

As many of you know, this spring has been pretty rough for my mom.  As a daughter, it has been really hard seeing her....well, not feeling like herself.  Those of you who know my mom know that she runs circles around all of us.  She has a spunky, live each day to the fullest personality.

At the beginning of June, we finally got an answer to why she has been feeling so awful.  My mom was diagnosed with myelofibrosis.  Myelofibrosis is a bone marrow disorder.  It is when the marrow is replaced by scar tissue and the only treatment is with a successful stem cell transplant.  Sometimes I have a hard time wrapping my brain around what is happening and what this coming year will hold for our family.  It is overwhelming and terrifying knowing that I have no control over this situation but, we know that HE has a plan and we are faithfully praying for His guidance and peace.

I have created a blog that we will be updating to keep family and friends informed......you will find it on my blog list "grace sufficient for the day..."

Will you join us in prayer?  Please pray that we find a stem cell match for my mom.  Please pray that we will make the most of each day and be mindful of His grace.

If you know me, you know I always have a camera :)  Here are a few pics from our trip to U of M last week to meet with mom's new transplant doctor.  I can't remember the last time the 6 of us were together....it was a good day to be surrounded by my parents and sisters.  I love them all so very much.

16 Months!

You are 16 months Luci Belle!  Please, let the time slow down and let summer be slow and sweet.

• You weigh around 22ish pounds and I just switched you to size 4 diapers
• You wear size 12-18 month clothes and size 4 shoes
• Your hair is getting long (in the back) not the front :)  You may need a trip to the salon at the end of the summer so we don't sport a mullet for too long
• You still take 2, 2 hour naps every day.  You really love your bed and will wave and tell us "nigh nigh" or "bye bye" when we leave the room
• When you are awake you are constantly on the go.  You are into everything.
• I never thought I would have a child that made going out to eat less than desirable.  Well...you make going out to eat a touch challenging :)  Take out for this family!
• You are showing so much affection towards us.  A kiss on the shoulder, a hug and pat on the back.  You even say i love you which sounds like "i uv ew" all drawn out but we know it's what you mean.
• You do things you are not supposed to and you know you aren't supposed to be doing them...
• throwing food on the floor when you eat
• pulling flowers out of my pots
• picking Peyton up by the neck
• biting cords or my cell phone
• You love to be outside 
• You love to take your puppy on walks
• You try to walk down the stairs going forward and when you climb up them you use your feet, not your knees
• I weaned you from breastfeeding, tear ;(  and we are working on weaning you from your bottle.  Right now we are down to just one before bed.
• You are obsessed with you blankies, you call them "blank".  Your thumb pops in you mouth the moment you get one in your hand.  Other than that you do not suck your thumb if you don't have your blank.
• You have started choosing stuffed animals or dolls to bring to bed with you
• You are fearless and love the pool and parks
• You are easily startled at loud noises or odd sounds and come running for me when you hear them
•  You are saying words without be prompted.  Last week I was baking cookies and when your daddy brought you down the stairs you said, "cookies...mooore...peeese" with your infamous finger point and head tilt.
• You adore your cousins and try to get in on the action.  You light up when you see other kids and babies (and dogs of course)
• Your four molars are completely through and in addition to your two bottom teeth, 2 more have come through.  6 on the bottom and 6 on the top!
• You love to play chase and be chased.  You love to play peek a boo.  You love to dance to music and when a good song comes on in the car you throw your arms up and do a shimmy.
• This month ended Gaga watching you during the day while I work.  You messed up their routine, they miss you.
• You love to eat with a fork and drink from a straw
• When you want something you say "huh, huh".  We are working on lots of words.
• You are so spunky and have many facial expressions :)

this is your heal stretch :)

15 Months!

Well hello bloggers and blog readers :)   I have been MIA for a while but for good reason.  Just spending my time with this cutie pictured below.  Lots of updates to come because summertime is so very near!!  Yahoo!  Can't wait!!
Another fun month as come and gone.  I love how my heart is so full and it just keeps filling up as the months go by...exploding I tell ya!  This little stinker has been a hoot lately.  She is a go getter and a sassy one at that.  I kinda feel like the "real" parenting has started.  Like dealing with fits and such :)  teehee.

So.....here is your update miss Luci Lu!

• You weigh just over 20 pounds, size 3 diapers, 12-18 month clothes
• You learn new words every day and repeat everything we ask you to say.  You are starting to put some words together...hi papa, oh peypey.  You gaga taught you to say elephant this week...so funny!
• You are able to follow directions, "Luci, grab a book", "Be soft with Peyton", "Hop in your car"  It really amazes me what you are able to do. 
• You are doing amazing on the potty!  You pee 98% of the time when we sit you on it.  You have even started grabbing your diaper when you are wet.  I think I am going to try cloth diapers this summer.  You obviously don't understand the concept of not going in your diaper but you sure know what to do when the diaper is off. 
• You are a climber!  Evidence below.  Chairs, dressers, stools...anything you can hike your legs up on! 
• You are so social.  You make friends wherever we go.  I love taking you to the store because you make so many people smile with your sweet "hiii".
• You have also mastered the stink eye...not my favorite :)
• You LOVE babies, you LOVE dogs, you LOVE ducks, you LOVE books, you LOVE to dance!!
• Going outside if your favorite.  You love to take Peyton for a walk and look so proud as you walk him down the street holding his leash.
• The fits have begun.  I thought these weren't supposed to start until 2 or at least 18 months!  You are strong willed and do not seem to be sensitive to "no".  You will throw yourself on the ground and scream...yes, scream.  You are testing the limits that is for sure.
• You love to give me butterfly and Eskimo kisses.
• You love to wrestle with your daddy and blow raspberries.
• You still take 2 naps a day about 2 hours in lengths, sometimes longer and sleep from 8pm-6:30am.
• You cut three molars this month.
• We eliminated the night time nurse this month and are just nursing when you wake up.
• You will eat everything and have been enjoying the occasional Captain Sundae stop.
• You have gotten really good at kicking your soccer balls and you still love to twirl and do somersaults.

You are so much fun, Luciana.  Your papa and I adore you and are so excited for this summer.  I envision bike rides, the beach, the pool, the farmer's market, the library, concerts in the park, the zoo and Piatt in our immediate future.  Love it!

Florida

SB 12 was wonderful!  It was so nice to get away with the family and soak in some much needed sun.  Last year our girl was just 6 weeks old! 

Looking back at last year...such a peanut.

13 months is much different than 6 weeks!

the many faces of LuLu

Luci, can you be a silly baby?

Luci, how is a baby surprised?

Luci, how does a baby cry?

Luci, can you show me happy?

13 and 14 Months!

Oh my little one...how you are changing!  These past two months have been SO.MUCH.FUN!  You are so silly and spunky and sweet :)  Your giggle is contagious!  Nothing is better than being your mama.

Let me try to sum up the past few months for memory sake.

• You are a little squirt.  You weigh about 20 pounds and are still in size 3 diapers and wear mostly 12 month clothes.
• You are a little chatter box and will repeat words we ask you.  Some words you say often are...
• mama (or mimi - this is new) papa/dada, pop, gaga, peypey, hot, hat, out, men (amen), nighnigh, blank (blanket), baba (bottle), beybey (baby)
• You love books and have become a little obsessed.  When I ask you to grab a book to read you know just what to do.  Flip books are even more fun for you.
• You are able to do things I ask you...pet Peyton, go upstairs, grab a diaper.
• We were doing really well using the potty.  You were going once or even twice a day.  Well....not so much lately.  You are not as interested and you would rather sit on the potty then stand up and pee on the floor.  hmm...we'll keep working on it.
• If something is off limits you will shake your head no.  You are a stinker though and try to push the limits.
• You also like to shake your head yes, a lot :)
• You have become a confident walker and are beginning to pick up speed.
• Lately, you are trying to "jump".
• You are SO very social.  You make friends wherever we go.  You say hiii to strangers and can spot a baby like nobody's business.
• If you hear a baby when we are out and about you always do a sympathy cry and will search until you spot it.
• You love your baby dolls but have also found interest in playing with your balls.
• You love playing with Peyton and when we are in the yard you like to hold his leash.
• You can get down the stairs now which is helpful.
• When the weather got nice and we started going outside you were terrified of the grass and mulch.  It took about two days of tears before you would walk on it without freaking out.
• Surprisingly, you LOVED the beach and ocean.  You were not scared one bit.  In fact, you would run into the ocean until the waves splashed on you.
• You love the park and get so excited to go down the slide.
• You are a great sleeper.  You are still taking 2, 2 hour naps a day and sleep for around 10 hours at night. 
• During the past two months we have worked down to nursing 2 times a day, morning and night.  I'm not gonna lie, it's going to be a very sad day for mama when I have to stop :(
• You take a bottle during the day...you love it.  I know I am supposed to take the bottle away at 1 but you love it so much.  I guess we'll just work on that come June :)
• You eat everything and will try anything.  I am thankful you are such a good eater. 
• You love to wrestle and kiss on us before bed.  You can go from super calm to crazy hyper in a matter of seconds.
• You are really into making faces.  You can be sad, surprised, happy and silly.  You like to show your emotions.  You also are a pro at giving the stink eye.
• You still have four teeth on top and two on the bottom.  Your top molar is starting to pop through. 

I am so excited for spring and even more for summer!  Love you sweet girl.