A few video updates...

Here are two recent videos I took of the kids... they capture each kiddo's personality lately. Love it...

Lucas has been REALLY into bands for awhile now... especially if they're in a parade. Here he is trying out all kinds of instruments.

Sophie on the other hand, has been making all kinds of noises lately, too.

My buddy...

Lately I've been laying Sophie down in Lucas' bed while we sing our bedtime songs together. Sophie doesn't seem to mind a bit, and Lucas loves it! He even asked if she could stay a while.

Seriously?!?!

I asked a simple request ("smile!")... and this is what I got in return?

New jammies...

Do you like my new jammies??? Fitting, hah?

We're not in Indiana anymore...

It's hard to believe that we're actually in Indiana and having this absolutely beautiful weather- this time of the year. Today...our windows are wide open and the breeze is blowing through. It's been sunny and in the 60s for over a week now... and we're taking full advantage of it. The boys have been out raking and cleaning out gutters and we've had many bike rides and basketball games as well. We're trying to take it all in before the weather changes on us.

My Brown-Eyed Girl

My Christmas wish list...

Yup...the first day of November... we received the Toys-R-Us toy catalog... and boy did Lucas have a blast looking through it. The cool thing is, he's not at the point where he says, "Oooh, I want that! I want that!!" Instead, he just points out all the things he recongizes or is interested in.

(Yes, he's on the counter-- not sure why I gave in to that request.)

Sophie's 3 month update...

This past Saturday, Sophie turned 3 months old!! Here's what she's been up to...

Things she's really into these days:

• Sleeping! She typically sleeps from about 10:00-10:00ish...with one feeding around 7 am. What a girl! Now, since she's started sleeping so much at night, her naps during the day have drastically decreased...which is fine. She's very alert while she's awake and likes to see what's going on around her.
• Holding her head up! We've starting using the Bumbo with her just for small amounts of time. She likes it probably because it's a whole new viewpoint on life. She's not too thrilled with playing on her tummy but we're working on that.
• Her bouncy seat! Yes, it's still her favorite place to perch. She takes most of her naps in it and hangs out in it while we eat our meals. She also enjoys laying flat on the floor on her blanket, but that's a danger zone when Lucas is playing around her. :)
• Eating! As you can see by her size, she loves to eat. During the day I nurse her about every 3-3 1/2 hours.
• Smiling! This is the cutest thing to watch- if you can get her to smile real big she wrinkles up her nose!! I love it when this happens!!
• Cooing! Sophie has really started to enjoy this whole new form of communication. She makes the cutest noises when you sit real close to her face. It's as if you're having a conversation back and forth with her. She looks intently in your eyes while she talks to you... it melts my heart every time.
• Ceiling fans! Still, her very best friend.

Things she's just not that into:

• Being forced to stay up past her bedtime. I learned this when flying home from Seattle and our flight was delayed until 11:30 at night. She wasn't a happy camper. Poor girl...
• Bottles!! Ugh. This is still a major struggle. I wish I knew the trick to get her to take one.

Lucas' 3 year update...

I'm running a bit behind with this post...but oh well...

Here's the latest on Lucas-- who just turned 3 on October 16th... Things he's really into these days:
Where do I begin... tractors, construction trucks, any musical instrument, Curious George, Clifford, football, coaching football, referees, basketball, throwing rocks, painting/coloring (he's just getting into this lately), Imagination Movers, playing on the computer, Peep and Quack, firemen/fire trucks, big bass drums, watching marching bands, singing (he LOVES the Popcorn Song from school), Little People, suckers, books (especially his parade books and Bible stories)

Things he's just not that into:
Thankfully, this list is short... milk, loud noises, Sophie crying (which doesn't happen that often), people who touch his fireman boots, Scary Halloween costumes, seeing people get hurt (he's really sensitive about this), sleeping in past 7

The day-to-day:
Lucas continues to go to TOTS on Tues./Thurs. while I'm still at home on maternity leave. This will only last, though, until I return to work after Thanksgiving (sniff...sniff...). He LOVES going to school and talks about his friends and teachers. I'm so thankful he enjoys school so much. Every other day, he's up and around I'd say at 6:30ish. We're lucky if he sleeps until 7. We're currently trying to train him to stay in his room and play until 7:00 (we put a sticky note over all the other numbers on his clock and taught him what a 7 looks like... it's working, sorta). He's really starting to pretend-play a lot- especially with his firestation toys, construction trucks, and Little People. I love hanging out in the distance and just watching his imagination run wild. He also is really good at playing with other little kids, whether it's in church, at school, or during a playdate. He likes to share his toys (so far... we'll see when Sophie starts to crawl!) which is amazing to me at this age that he's so willing to.

Here's a biggie! Lucas is pretty much potty trained completely. He's not quite ready to get up in the middle of the night/naptime to take care of business, but we're not complaining. While I was in Seattle with Sophie last weekend, Lucas and Daddy worked on the whole potty-training thing and when we got home... he was pretty much a pro at it. WOOHOO!!! Good job, Daddy! He even will come and tell us when he has to go... and the crazy thing is, he's starting to just head to the bathroom on his own and go by himself. So excited about this!!!

Personality:
Lucas loves to laugh and have fun. He's happy when he wakes up until when he goes to bed at night. He's trying to do EVERYTHING by himself these days, so little tasks like getting ready for church seem to take longer now than ever before-- but it's okay. We're all learning some patience. He's still learning how to be gentle with Sophie- this comes and goes. It's just so hard for a little boy who's filled with so much energy!!! Other words to describe Lucas: caring, polite (this kiddo knows his manners!), creative, sometimes fearless, energetic, and loving.

Some of the "stats":

• Weight at last Dr. appt (10/21)- 26 lbs. (still a little guy...but he sure makes up for it in personality!!)
• Diaper size- NONE! We're through with that!! Sorry Costco-- I know you're disappointed.
• Clothes size- 2T, some 3T shirts
• Shoes- 8
  **One final thought-- as I read through this post, I realize I may be bragging a bit about my son- but this is my blog...so I'm allowed to. You see, he's our first child-- and we hardly knew a thing about raising a child when we got started-- it's only by the grace of God (and some advice from our parents!) that he's turned out to be such an amazing, lovable little boy. God has blessed us over and abundantly with this little guy. We're so proud of him and the little man he's turning into. I love you, sweet pea!!

Holloween 2009

It was a coooolllldddd Halloween night so we didn't stay out as long as we did last year... but we still had fun!!!