Happy 3 Months Lucas!

This is a little late, but happy 3 months Lucas! We love you so very much. Here is what you've been up to this month:
You weigh 17.5 lbs and are 25.5 inches long. You are in 9 month clothing
You are still nursing every 2-3 hours (about 8 times a day) and still take a long nap when big brother naps (mama loves this) you usually nap from about 1-4/5pm and then take a couple shorter naps in the morning and have just started going down earlier for bed around 7 when Caleb goes to bed.
You usually take a long sleep stretch at night from about 9-3 (but have been waking up in the night more the past week, growth spurt?)
You seriously love your hands. You get upset if we give you the bink before you are ready for it. You really don't like the pacifier at all unless you are about to go to sleep. This makes us very happy! I'm so glad you can entertain yourself with your hands and your toes ;) You stare at and wiggle your toes for quite awhile. Sometimes when I am nursing you, you jam your first into your mouth. You are so determined with those little hands. You have just started putting both hands into your mouth.
You drool. All the time! Guess we have ourselves another drooler...better prepare for a wet couple of years.
You love to give us smiles and coos. You light up when Caleb talks to you, and you talk right back. You have a had a couple conversations with big brother and it just cracks us up!
You watch and smile and coo if we put a toy above your head and although you hold onto some of your toys if they are within your reach, I don't think it is intentional yet. I think it is happening accidentally right now if the toy is close enough for you to hold onto it.
We love you so much Lucas. You are so content and laid back. Such a peaceful little guy. You bring us so much joy and sunshine! Our little ray of hope.

watching your hand and trying to put it into your mouth

wiggling your toes and watching them move


mama was trying to get you to smile, but every time the camera is out you just give me a wide eyed stare! 


We love you so much Lucas Gregory!

Our week in Oregon for Thanksgiving 2011

We had a wonderful trip up to Oregon for Thanksgiving. These are some of my favorite pics from our trip.

The Boys with their Great Grandma and Grandpa Steinkamp

Lots of hugs with cousins

The boys with their Great Grandma and Grandpa Giles

This one is one of my favorites. Totally worth the rainy 2 hr drive. Completely Priceless.

Caleb and Lucas, you bring us so much joy and happiness.

Don't ya just love the family portraits. We'll look back and laugh years from now as we remember  our 2011 Thanksgiving :) Love how Caleb is holding Lucas' hand.
                                   
                           This picture is another favorite. Totally priceless. Lucas giving Grandma smiles.
                           
                                             Lucas met his Godparents for the first time.

Lucas and his Godmother, Mary. (I love this one too! So sweet)

The cousins coloring.

                                                 How Grandpa and Lucas spent Thanksgiving

Looking back, I won't remember every minute of our 24 hour round trip drive with a toddler and infant, but I will remember those quiet moments in the car while both boys slept and I had alone time with my hubby and we held hands and smiled, because for the moment, everything was calm. I'll look back and probably laugh at the crazy times in the car when both boys were fussing and Dave didn't feel good and I was tired and all we wanted was to arrive! The lack of sleep due to a toddler who doesn't sleep well while traveling was hard, but worth it the moment Lucas met his Great Grandparents for the very first time. The stressful times where all I wanted was my own bed and not a fussy toddler at 3am? Worth it for the giggles and happy sounds I heard from the kitchen one morning while Caleb baked with Grandma and Daddy. It was worth the massive amounts of laundry, and packing, and cleaning before and after the trip because I got to watch Lucas snoozing on Grandpa all day on Thanksgiving. Yes, there are always moments when we travel that cause stress, but they are all worth it. Caleb had such a great time with Grandma and Grandpa all week. Hanging out, playing, acting silly, discovering new toys (toys his Daddy played with when he was a little boy), and it always makes me a little sad that we don't live closer to family. Caleb had so much fun with his cousins and as I watched them together I smiled and wished he was able to see them more and play with them more than just a few times a year. I'm glad we make the effort to be there with our family in Oregon for holidays, for camping trips, and for special family events.  All the stressful, happy, crazy, sad, fun, and wonderful moments are what make family. And I am so thankful for family.

Deliberate Parenting

This is a special post today. In honor of Thanksgiving and all I have to be grateful for, I'd like to share a friend's blog. I have the privilege of knowing her and her two daughters and I have learned so many wonderful things from her. Through her quiet actions, she has given me courage to stand strong in my own beliefs even if they go against society's norm. I am grateful for her friendship and for the many friendships I have in my life. She has a wonderful blog and asked me to guest blog in it. I was touched! I have linked to her blog below and there you will find some wonderful thoughts on parenting as well as my guest post on swaddling.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends!
Enjoy! http://www.deliberateparenting.net/

Happy Friday

Yes, I know it is Tuesday but I never got to do my happy Friday post! Packing, cleaning, tending the babes, repeat...all day. And then driving to Oregon for a week of fun with family. So I will have plenty of pics of our trip coming soon :)

A not so happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to my wonderful hubs :)

                                     you continue to amaze me, everyday. i'll love you always.

Dave, you are such an amazing husband and father. We are so blessed to have you in our lives.

Unfortunately, this is probably not going to go down as the best birthday in history. Caleb woke up last night with a fever, and it is lingering. He is all out of sorts. Seems to be viral since the Dr. checked his ears and throat this morning. Not sure what it is, and just hoping whatever it is, it doesn't spread to Lucas. What a bummer birthday present right? We'll make it up to you though Dave! All my wonderful birthday plans went right to the dust this am when Caleb refused to let go of my leg....a fancy dinner, nice dessert, yummy breakfast....eh. not so much. We love you still.

a busy bee

trying so hard to do two things at once.

I don't know why, but the leg lifts are just cracking me up!

Life these days

(This is a video of Lucas sleeping, I know kinda strange! But I just get so sentimental over his little sleep noises. I want to look back and remember those sweet baby sounds he makes.)

                                                Lucas likes to hold his hands while he sleeps.

Caleb likes to be squished right in my arm. Sometimes, many, many times a day. (Sometimes I don't mind so much, and then the other times...well. Personal space is a word he doesn't understand yet...)

I'm thinking the teeth have something to do with all this extra comfort he is needing right now...(at least I hope...hand in his mouth, another clue)

 Auntie Jenny took guitar lessons and had a child sized guitar. Wish we still had it! Caleb loves playing the guitar with dad.

Lucas' new trick....lifting up the legs (and sometimes letting out some toots)

Who knew paper ads could be so entertaining to a two year old. So much to see, and say, on each page!

They really do love each other I tell ya!

As for Dave and I, this time of year gets a little stressful for Dave at work. Reviews, projects, end of the year crunch time. But you'd never know. Somehow he always has it all together. I am the one with all the lose screws :) As for me, I've really been enjoying my new bible study group I joined a few weeks ago. I haven't had something faith filled other than Sunday at church (and getting much out of that with two little boys is difficult these days) since I did my year of service. It is something I look forward to each week and feel so refreshed and renewed from. I'm so grateful for Dave's support in this. He watches the boys and encourages me to go (even gets excited for me, kinda sweet). It is so nice to have something to look forward to and to have a faith filled support group. While I am so thankful for the MOMS Club and that area of support with the boys, I am realizing how much I missed having a faith filled support group to learn and grow with. I feel so blessed to know and be a part of both groups of amazing women outside my Lil family of boys (whom I so adore and am so blessed with)  I'm probably going back to work after the holidays, just a few hours a week again. And I'm looking forward to that too (kinda). I have mixed feelings, but for now I am content with my Tuesday night bible study group :) What a great group of faith filled women I have met!

Forever Brothers

"I hold him" Caleb says. So I oblige....Lucas usually doesn't mind, and it seriously makes Caleb so happy to hold his little brother.

                                                                    kisses for "Lu"

I have no idea where this pose came from

some smiles from Lucas

I must say, what a pair.

Love these two

Tummy Time

Lucas Loves

his hands. Really and truly. And I just love watching him love on his hands. He is so persistent and determined to get those fingers in his mouth. I love how simple it is for him to be entertained at this age. Trying to fit a fist in his mouth keeps him occupied for a long time.

                   I love this picture. Eye on the prize.

Little Moments...

Make up my day.
Little moments, such as these...
"Hi Mommy!" As I open Caleb's door to greet him in the morning. His little self clutching elmo against his chest between his left arm.
Smiles and coos first thing when Lucas wakes up as I change his diaper. Such a happy little guy. I feel so privileged to be their mama.

A quiet morning in our pjs playing in the bedroom; reading books, singing songs, tummy time, and sweet baby cuddles. Caleb singing to Lucas. So happy to have him near. He really can't get enough of his little brother. Watching them together, Caleb giving Lucas kisses and reading him stories. I feel so blessed to be part of their day.

Crisp early morning walks in the sunshine. Caleb happily munching on a snack. Lucas snoozing away under a blanket. Feet pounding the pavement. Feeling inspired to jog. I feel so peaceful in the early morning hours with my boys.

The front door unlocking. "Hi Daddy" as our hero walks through the door for lunch. Caleb singing at the table. Lucas nursing in my arms. Sometimes there are lunch time melt downs, other times there are not. I feel so grateful to share this mid day meal with my husband, who comes home just to help out and spend a little extra time with his family.

Changing of diapers and clothes, nap time books. Kisses and cuddles. Soft lullaby music as I rock Lucas in my arms and listen to Caleb jabbering himself to sleep. A quiet moment in my day. One of my favorite times. A quiet few hours in our day. Both boys asleep, sometimes me too :) I feel so thankful for this quiet rest time.

The sun is sending soft glows in the windows, Caleb wakes up. Lucas still purrs and hmms in his room. Caleb's favorite afternoon activity on these cooler fall days when we can't walk our bare feet in the backyard dirt is coloring at the kitchen table while I cook dinner. Fall vegetables simmer and stir. Pumpkin spice candle, lingers from my quiet afternoon burning session while the boys slept. I feel so happy watching Caleb color, checking every now and then on Lucas and listening to his sleep purrs and hmms. The house warming with the sweet scent of dinner on the stove.

Daddy's home. Family time, or some 'me' time. Depending on the day. Maybe a run with the setting sun, sometimes a family walk. Skype session with family while I finish dinner or run to the store or library. I feel so blessed to be married to such a devoted husband, who gives constantly and senses when I need some 'me time' and gives it to me happily. Sometimes making dinner with both boys while I slip out the front door into the crisp air and my feet hit the pavement for some silent reflective time. Solitude is serenity and I don't take it for granted these days.

Dinner as a family, Bath time for the boys, stories and snuggles. Caleb holding Lucas' hands while we say his bedtime prayers. Kisses for "Lu Lu" and "Jesus (Jesuth"). Hugs for mama and tickles from Daddy. Turn out the light, close the door. Now some time for Dave with Lucas, and time with my hubby. The sky is dark. We relax on the couch. I feel content, sitting next to my hubby, holding his hand as we watch a movie or show or read a book.

Nursing, rocking, holding and cherishing my sweet Lucas as I hold him in my arms. Warm and cozy on a cold night. I feel so peaceful; holding his small body in my arms. Listening to his sleep sighs, holding his fingers in mine. These days, these moments I know; they pass too quickly. I'll try not to rush them. To hold on and remember. There are so many rushed moments, so many moments I wish would end quickly. Both boys crying at the same time, Caleb amid a temper tantrum, again. Laundry that never ceases to end, dishes to do, dinner to make. It is so easy to get lost in the doing of the day. So on these slower, colder, days. I hope I can slow down a little more. Hold on a little longer. And Cherish not only the sweet and quiet, the happy and joyful moments, but to not mind the moments that cause me to take deeper breathes and to learn more patience. Yes, these days pass much too quickly.

                                                              

I am in love

I'd like to start out by saying "I am in love" Truly I am.

A friend gave me this magazine and I've been inspired! So far, since Saturday, we've tried out a recipe from her magazine each night, and let me tell ya! Delish and so simple. I cut out all the recipes that looked good for the week and taped them to my recipe cards. Then Dave and Caleb went grocery shopping for our dinner items, and so starting this weekend I knew what we'd be having all week which takes off the pressure and gives us something to look forward to! Saturday was tomato/didilini soup with celery, carrots and onions; Sunday was steak sandwiches stuffed with bell pepper and a potato apple salad on the side; Monday was a curry chickpea and spinach veggie dish; and yesterday was pork chops with apples and squash. I feel like excitement has come to our dinner table! I know it sounds kind of silly to say how excited we are about this, but I just lost the motivation and creativity with our meals. I'm just so happy to have new meals to try out! Chicken with some sort of pasta roni or rice a roni or potatoes and some sort of frozen veggie was just getting so boring! With a capital B! We're eating fresh veggies that are in season, we're having different types of meat almost every night or some sort of veggie dish, and the best part is that the recipes are so simple and cheap and I don't have to rack my brain trying to come up with something to cook, or ask hubs what he's in the mood for (or what he wants to cook. lol). I've never found great recipes in magazines before, I've always looked but they are either too complicated or way too time consuming. I also hate to cook so this is a big deal. A really big deal! (Ok, so I still don't love to cook, hubs has made two of the meals already this week! We also both admit that not only does he enjoy cooking more, he actually is a much better cook!) But anyway, A year's worth of subscription is $12. Crazy! (That's a dollar an issue, just to be clear)
Have I mentioned?  I am in love!!!

My two little love bugs

Do they come much sweeter? I know I am pretty bias, but these two are so sweet together. Caleb, you are such a devoted big brother! You love holding Lucas, giving him kisses, singing to him, having him sit next to you while you eat, reading to Lucas, and doing tummy time with him. You are quite the loving big brother. Lucas, you don't mind at all when Caleb holds you, gives you kisses, and you love watching Caleb play. You watch your big brother and smile and coo at him. I love you two so much! My sweet boys.