Lily Kate at 7 Months

What an amazing and wonderful 7 months it has been! Lily is seriously the happiest baby ever and, although it took a few months to get some things worked out with her, she has been such a joy. Lily Kate smiles and laughs and plays all of the time! She loves to play with Cole and tries to get to all of his toys all of the time. Lily has started army crawling around when she really wants something (which is usually one of Cole's toys). She gets up on all 4's but hasn't crawled that way just yet. That girl can still roll around like crazy and makes her way throughout the house like that if we aren't careful. She has her bottom 2 teeth and is working on a few more. Lily Kate takes 2 naps a day and sleeps (knock on wood) from 7-7 at night. She puts herself to sleep and actually seems to prefer it that way. So totally different from her big brother! Lily is taking 4 6 oz bottles a day and eats 3 meals. She loves to eat! Lily Kate definitely shows preference to homemade baby food, which she gets 99% of the time. She will tolerate store bought food but makes sure you know she is not happy about it. She babbles "Da Da" when she wakes up and goes to sleep but she doesn't really say it to Rhonald yet. Cole is trying so hard to teach her to say his name first! One awesome thing is that we have (knock on wood again) been able to wean Lily off of her Prevacid (her medicine for reflux) and she is doing great. It has only been 6 days so our fingers are still crossed on that one. She loves to be outside and watch all of the sites around her. She gives the best hugs and is starting to slobber on our cheeks when she is super happy...giving kisses and making messes! We just love her too pieces and she compliments our family in every way possible. I don't know what we would do without her!

Happy Mother's Day

"Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body."

---Elizabeth Stone

A Letter To Cole

Dear Cole,

I usually only write a letter to you on a special occasion but tonight I just couldn't help myself. You really have started to amaze us lately. Cole, you are one of the most tender hearted and pure people that I know. You love so deeply that it brings tears to my eyes and I pray that you always have that trait. God has blessed you with the most amazing laugh and the best imagination. You are always full of new games to play and new characters to pretend to be. You find such joy out of learning new things. Right now you are obsessed with Dinos and want us to tell you every fact that we can find. You are curious about everything! Cole you love to help everyone - especially Daddy and myself. You are an excellent big brother. No one can make Lily Kate smile like you can. You care for her so deeply and I am so very thankful that you have one another. Daddy and I say all of the time that we wish we were more like you. You love God and pray and sing all day long. You actually remind us to pray about things when we forget. You are so honest in your beliefs. There have been several nights before bed that you pray for your friends without being reminded and every time it blows my mind - you are only 3 years old! Cole, I feel so blessed to have been chosen to be your mom. Watching you grow up has been such a joy and such an honor. I love that I am able to stay home with you guys and share in everything that you do. That has been the best gift your daddy has ever given to me (to all of us really). I cannot believe how fast you are growing up and changing. I pray that you always know how much I adore you Cole Bug!

Thomas and Friends Live!

Cole doing his "peep peep"

Saying "Hi" to our church buddies, Connor and Dylan

We have been looking forward to tonight for several months now. Tonight was Cole's night - a special night we have planned to spend with just him. I ordered tickets to Thomas Live a long time ago and decided to leave Lily Kate at home (not a fun place for a 6 month old). Our babysitter arrived right after nap time so Rhonald, Cole and I could head out on the town. We had a yummy pizza dinner before the show (Cole's choice) and after the show we enjoyed some even yummier frozen yogurt with some friends from church who just happened to be sitting right by us. The actual Thomas show was very fun. Cole had a total blast singing along and getting involved with the story. He was a little worried at intermission that the show was over and he did not know what happened to the engines. Once he got over that it was all fun again! It was really crazy how many people we knew there...church friends, school friends....I guess everyone we know has a 2-5 year old little boy. Cole has never been to anything like this before (he hasn't even been to a movie yet) so we were not sure how he would do but it was great - he loved every second of it. And he really loved having some one on one time with mom and dad. When we got home he asked Sara, our babysitter, how Lily had done without him and then told her the entire Thomas story! We all had such a great time, although it did feel strange to not have our Lily Kate with us. I hope we continue to have these one on one night with each of our our kiddos as they grow up - it was a night none of us will forget for a long time!

Random Cuteness

This is what I saw when I got out of the shower one morning last week. Cole was reading Lily Kate a Thomas book. We have read it so many times that he basically knew it by heart!

Our first trip to the park for this spring/summer. Both kids (and their mommy) had a blast being out and about! There is something about being outside that is just plain good for the soul.

Touch A Truck 2011

Touch A Truck-an event that screams little boy! Last year was our first experience with Touch A Truck Day, a day where a local convention center fills the parking lot with every kind of truck and emergency vehicle and kids get to climb in them and play in them. This year it was FREEZING on Touch A Truck day so I stayed home with Lily and Rhonald headed out to see some trucks with Cole. Cole and Rhonald had so much fun and even got to meet up with Cole's buddy, Jackson, and his daddy, Ryan. From what I have heard both boys had a fabulous time despite the weather. Cole said his favorite trucks were the concrete mixer and the mail truck. There were bouncy houses and cotton candy and he even got to sit in a race care! Cole has been talking about his experience ever since Saturday. I am so glad that he was able to go and spend some great time with his daddy and his friend. Whoever thought of doing this is a total rock star in my book - Cole will be thinking about his day for months!

Silly Willy

Cole looks forward to Tuesday mornings every week because, since he was born basically, that is the morning we have set aside to play with the Thompsons and the Seusys. I love the morning too because I get to catch up with their mommy's! Kellie, Marla and I used to work together at Mercy and have known each other for about 6 years now. These kiddos have grown up together and have loved each other from the start! I can't wait for Lily to be big enough to join in on the fun. We are so blessed to have so many good friends with kids the same age as ours. I love, love, love watching all of them grow up!