LUCAS | 17 MONTHS + EASTER

Our boy is 17 months old. I feel like I can't even look too far ahead with him, because I know his second birthday will be too close for comfort. He is growing up so fast. We won't get any stats on him until his 18 month appointment, but I'm quite sure he has surpassed the 30lb mark. We have affectionately started calling him "Bashy"-- short for "Basher"... It fits his personality quite nicely.

We had a pretty lazy Easter around here. They got to enjoy their baskets, and we all enjoyed our time together. Weekends have been so busy lately, so it was nice to have a day just to reflect on the meaning of Easter and all of our blessings. We also attempted a photo session, since it has been awhile... the cooperation we had is pretty evident in these shots. The only ones I didn't post are the ones of Lucas screaming and hitting at Brynn for hugging him too tight. Can't you feel the love?

the crooner || this boy could not be more like his daddy. he is constantly singing... if he hears a song, he tries to sing it. lately, he has the all of the faces to go along with it. below, you see "the crooner" look, which I've been trying to get on camera for weeks! I can't even handle those brows...

 blowing kisses to grammy and grandma janet!

our dancing beauty || Ballet is going well so far. She has two productions this year; a small one in April, and they are also doing Alice in Wonderland in June. I'm still trying to figure out what to expect for their big production, and I'm just praying that she has a great experience. :)

She will begin swimming lessons for the first time next week, and she is registered for VPK at her current preschool for this coming Fall. So, this girl has a lot going on lately! She is still the best big sister-- so selfless and helpful to her little brother. Her daddy and I are so proud of the sweet, extremely bright, and caring lady that she is becoming.

LUCAS UPDATES || Not much has really changed in the way of his eating and sleeping habits, so I will just update the milestones that I can manage to remember.

He now has 9 teeth, all but one of his molars. The last molar and his canines are well on their way, so things have been fairly traumatic around here lately. Lots of pain and suffering.

He still isn't saying many words. He likes to mimic the sounds, but he isn't saying the actual words yet. We have been working on animal names and sounds, because he really enjoys it.

His favorite book is Little Blue Truck, which he is constantly reading. Favorite shows are Little Einsteins and Handy Manny (he watches TV in the car due to his motion sickness issues, since he is still rear-facing in his car seat). He loves to try and put on his own shoes. He will only eat when he has utensils- if he doesn't have them, he will "ask" for them, and by "ask", I mean grunt... He adores watching the planes fly over our house. He could sit out there all day and watch them fly by. He is getting really big into dump trucks, which I'm sure is just a gateway drug to the lot of the construction equipment phase. He loves to "count" to five with his sister... He pretty much does anything and everything that she does or wants him to do. He has figured out how to tackle her, and they both think it's hilarious for her to run from him and for him to tackle her like a linebacker! Yet another thing he gets from his daddy. :)
When I asked Allen what he wanted to remember about Lucas at this age, he said his "kick hugs"-- which I will admit are one of my favorite things too.

Happy 17 Months, Bashy!

We love you so much, sweet boy.

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LUCAS | 17 MONTHS + EASTER

Easter | 2014

It's Spring again in Florida-- and everywhere else for that matter. Not that the weather makes any type of grand gesture of kindness like our experiences in the Midwest., but the weather is definitely warming up-- by Florida standards anyway.
On a side note, I could definitely get used to Florida winters. Perfection!

It's almost Easter time. And right now, I'm loving the age difference in our two little munchkins... A year of firsts for Lucas, and for Brynn, a whole new enthusiasm and thrill for each magical holiday.

A little voice just keeps reminding me that this is only the beginning of our adventure as parents with these two babes. The holidays are definitely one of the major perks to that job. With that being said, I couldn't resist grabbing His and Hers bunny ears in the dollar section at Target a few days ago, mostly with this little scene in mind. 

I hope you all have a very happy Easter! We are heading to Indiana for a few days to celebrate Lucas' baptism with our family over Easter weekend. His sweet little romper arrived in the mail yesterday, and I am so excited for him to wear it. :) 

xoxo

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Easter | 2014

Our First Florida Easter

Our very first Easter in Florida was pretty uneventful... 

Mostly due to this plague of morning all-day sickness that has set in and threatens to never ease-up.

Ugh. I'll take a second trimester to-go, please.

We had planned to possibly attend Mass, then maybe drive to the beach and enjoy some family time together, but (a few dry-heaves later) I was definitely not feeling up for any of that. :(

So, we watched Mass on TV (thank goodness for modern technology), and enjoyed some family time around the house... And we tested out the community playground and pool later on in the afternoon.

B was so excited when she woke up and discovered that the Easter bunny had come!

And Daddy and I were even more excited the night before, when we were explaining to her
that the Easter bunny was going to come while she was sleeping.

We watched with amusement as she let that really sink in for the first time... 

Her face lit up with the enthusiasm we have been waiting to see

since the day we became parents. :)

 We definitely wanted to make this holiday special for her, since it is her last
"gift-giving" holiday as an only child...

 ... of course, we had to remind her when she came out of her room in the morning

that there has been a "visitor"...

When she finally realized what was going on, she immediately yelled out, "Yea! Chockate!"

Lol. Never mind that giant red kitchen or anything else in her Easter basket ;)

Candy ranks above all. She is truly her mother's daughter.

 ... and this is what happens these days when you ask B to go put on her shoes. ;)

high heels and bedhead. fabulous.

Due to the fact that the sprinklers had soaked the lawn,
we made sure the Easter bunny knew to hide all of the eggs on the lanai...
Especially given her wardrobe choice, it turned out to be a great decision!

I hope you all had a happy Easter morning!
xoxo

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Our First Florida Easter

Egg-straviganza!

B had the opportunity to participate in another egg hunt this weekend... This one went much better than the last! The best part was watching how much FUN she was having! She has grown up so much in these last few months :(

 Speaking of growing up... Miss Arianna was able to attend her very first egg hunt this year as well! {It was just right down the street from her house ;)}

Isn't she beautiful? :) Auntie Em might be a little biased, though.

 B had so much fun running around before the egg hunt started... She was excited to meet some new faces, and show off her egg-hunting basket :)

 Waiting with Uncle Andrew and Arianna

 B knew just what to do this time around... And she was so great about sharing! :)

 Miss Arianna picked up a single pink egg... ;) We all can't wait to see her running around next Easter!

 This big girl loves to hunt eggs!! :)

 Taste-testing and re-hydrating... A toddler's work is never done!

She attempted to open each egg before she even put it in her basket {I have no idea where she even learned to open them up... The only eggs she has hunted have been empty}, but after the hunt was over, it was her mission to get them open! Mommy wasn't going to let her eat most of her newly-found candy, but that didn't stop her from taste-testing it through the wrapper!

I hope you all had a very blessed Easter weekend!

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Egg-straviganza!

Easter Blessings

As we have been experiencing the more contemporary pleasures of Easter season with Brynn-- all of the egg-hunting, the candy, the family gatherings, and whatnot... I really wanted to post about the reality of the blessings of Easter. So much pain, suffering, compromising of morals, and anger has brought us to this day of celebration. And what an enormous blessing it is to look past all of that, and actually feel the LOVE of God through it all.

Just attempting to picture the amount of suffering and feelings of betrayal that Jesus felt while on the cross, as he begged for God to save him from his physical and emotional pain... It is truly unbearable to imagine. But he knew that he was doing it all for us. That. Is. Love.

Lately, I have been trying to imagine that pain... And then I try to imagine that feeling of when GOD rose him from the dead. Can you even imagine that feeling?

I'm sure it was nothing short of amazing.

"The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay." 

I recently wrote a note to a very dear friend of mine who has been going through a very difficult time... I wrote to her that I know the pain that she has been experiencing, and I know what it's like to feel hopeless, helpless, and completely alone-- even when you're surrounded by a million people.

I wrote to her that I know what it's like to feel broken, and not know how to put it all back together... I never, ever, ever in my life thought I was capable of experiencing that feeling. I thought I was too strong and completely indestructible to even imagine feeling that way. But there I was... Feeling it, living it, breathing it-- and begging and pleading to find a way to escape it!

This is when I really found GOD.

It truly was incredible to actually feel Him in my heart when I needed Him the most.
 This is something that I celebrate every day now.

I have always been a faithful person... I was always so "strong" too. Afraid to show weakness. Afraid to let anyone get me down... Always ready for a challenge! I definitely got a reality check last year...

  Our gracious LORD came into my life, and He saved me from myself... Just as he did on Easter.

{Of course, I must throw out credit to B and Allen in all of this too.}

No therapy. No medication. Just His love... And a whole lot of prayer.

"I can do all things through Him who gives me strength" Philippians 4:13

Now, I realize that it's not worth it to hold anger in your heart... I choose not to rush to judge others... I know that forgiveness is everything... and that His love is what saves us all!

{Casting Crowns: Glorious Day}

May the cross always be a sign of life and hope,
and a reminder of everlasting love.

{Jeremy Camp: This Man}

easter blessings to you all!

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Easter Blessings