Cousin Charles Comes Over

Cousin Charles and Aunt Amy came over for a visit. We always enjoy their visits. Aunt Amy got to hold Lena Kate and she loves this:) Charles wanted to sit too. It is a good thing we got a big rocking chair. Charles is developing quite the personality and has new words every day. He now calls our Missy by her name, but rather than an "M" he says "P". I can't help but giggle.

Playing "Where's Charles?" over the arm of the chair.

THERE HE IS!

I told Charles after he smiled with his hands all in his mouth like the first pic to put his hands down and smile and this is what he did! So cute. It is exactly what I told him to do.

My friend Rachel said that if you stick you tongue out at babies Lena Kate's age they will start playing with their tongue and mimic you. It worked. Here is what she did. She was liking that game. Momma did it and looked silly, so she did it and looked adorable. I love her expressive eyebrows.

Lena is getting stronger and holding her head up more everyday, she's also awake much of the day.

More smiles..she is a happy girl this morning, maybe because Daddy didn't have to go to work today. She definitely has my dimples, yea! Can you see them in this first pic? Her hair has thinned out on the side so it now looks like she has a flat top in this first pic. I also like how when you look at her face straight on the part of her little ears you see is the tops like in the last pic. Obviously, I really enjoy just taking her in everyday.

We are trying to give her a bottle every other day. For the last 2 days she was not having it from me. I but the bottle up to her mouth and she just bawled. Last night we were trying when Lane got home. I was getting frustrated...as was she. I gave her to Lane and the bottle. She fussed for a little bit then took the bottle just fine. It takes her awhile to finish it, but she usually does. I guess when she is in my arms she wants it straight from the source. Daddy has a permanent job every other day now. Thanks Lane! Mommy needed to be rescued.

LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST:

Lena slept from 10 pm until 3am - 5 hours straight. That is a first. She even slept for a few more hours after her 3 am snack! Good girl, Lena Kate. We would love you even if you didn't sleep a wink, you are such a sweet angel baby, but a little sleep is always good for Mommy and Daddy.

Play Date

Today Lena Kate had our first playdate. Rachel came over and brought sweet little David. We had great conversation-Rachel and I did anyway! It was nice to compare stories since they are only 2 days apart. It was such a pretty day we went for a long walk around the neighborhood. It was a trip down memory lane for Rachel since she grew up just a few streets down from our house. The babies were so cute. When one cried the other one would start to fuss too. It was like they were sympathizing or didn't like the other getting upset. We've already set another time to meet again next week. It was so much more fun than going to work-we both agreed.

Here is a pic of the babes together. Lena Kate was sacked out most of the time! Notice that I think LK will have to wear more sunscreen than David.

Random shots of LK last night.

List for today: Things I'm afraid of:

1. The dark...especially if I'm home alone. I'm afraid I'll wake up to someone standing over me or being in my house that doesn't belong.

2. Something happening to my perfect little family - both husband and child as well as extended family

3. Not being a good Christian

4. Hurting other people's feelings

5. Fire- I love to stand/sit next to one to get warm, but have always been afraid of hot ovens or my house catching fire in the middle of the night

6. Being overweight -I don't even like my baby bulge, hopefully I'll be getting rid of that soon. I'm walking now, but will be jogging again in a few weeks. Dr said wait two more weeks last week. Right now I still feel my incision/ab muscle would from my c-sec just walking, so I'm going to take it slow on the running. I plan to run in the Beach to Bay Relay with Monica on May 19th which is 4.4 miles, so I have a good goal as far as being back in shape. I'm not used to having restrictions on being able to workout.

7. Not being able to provide for my family if needed

8. Disappointing others especially my husband and child

9. Missing deadlines

10. Not being healthy

Ok, that's it for today.

Favorites

Just a list of a few of my current favorite things:

Favorite Songs: Amazing Grace, Jesus Loves Me, and You are My Sunshine, Kum ba yah (sp?), Hush Little Baby...and all Christmas hymns-I know the words and can sing (well sorta) them to Lena Kate. She doesn't know it isn't Christmas time anymore and why can't we sing about Jesus' birth year-round? She is probably the only person that likes my singing...and that won't last forever

Favorite Sound: Lena smacking. I never thought smacking would be a favorite. I guess things do change.

Favorite Sights: Those little eyes smiling at me. The smiles with her mouth are coming more and more these days, but her eyes smiled at me well before her mouth did.

Lane smiling down at Lena and LK smiling back at him. He always seem;s to get a smile when he gets home and comes straight over to visit with her. He seems to be smiling alot more these days...I wonder why?


Favorite Smell: My baby after a bath

Favorite times of day: First thing in the morning laying in bed with my baby and when I hear the garage door open when Lane gets home at night.

Favorite hobbies: snapping pics. I just wish I could freeze time but also know that there are more new experiences with each day to come.


Picking out what LK will wear each day even if we are just hanging out at home with Missy


Reading blogs. It is like a short story whenever I need one. I never know what I'm going to learn each day. I am so inspired by some of the stories of others that I've never even met. I'm constantly reminded that I am blessed.

I guess you see the theme here. Lena Kate was about 3 days old when Roni texted me and asked if I could imagine life without her. Having 3 children she knew just what question to ask. This question becomes more and more meaningful as each day passes and I can't imagine life without her and life prior to her seems so very far away. Her innocence and total dependence gives me such a feeling of worth that I've never before experienced in such a way. I'll try my best to never take this for granted and be the best mother I possibly can. I know I have a wonderful example in my own mother to look up to and turn to when times are tough.

I think I'll continue daily..or on days when there isn't much new to share..to share lists like this. Tomorrow I think I'll list some of the blessings I'm thankful for. I don't think there will be enough time in the day so I'll give the abbreviated version for sure.

Here is a picture of Lena Kate in her boxing gloves. I love these mitts. They keep her hands warm and keep her from scratching her face. She doesn't seem to mind them, but I feel kind of guilty keeping her hands from her. She likes to eat them on occassion. So....get your dukes up, she's ready.



Also here is a pic where she is practicing holding her head up...she doesn't quite have it down yet, so Momma was helping. She is getting pretty good though :) I must brag a little.





Smiles everywhere. She starts with a grin and ends with her mouth open wide.



Yes, those are socks...she was helping me fold laundry






Innocence at its best.




She's ready for Easter in her bunny suit




Poor Baby-she gets this pouty face right before she cries. It is so cute you can't help but smile...that is as long as she quits fussing as soon as you put the camera down and pay attention to her! Lane calls it the Pawpaw scrunchy face.

Photo Tag

I got my first blog tag - how exciting...I need to get more friends blogging so I'll have someone to tag! THanks Roni, we love ya!

I was #3...so does that mean the 3rd pic in my 3rd folder? If so, here goes. I'm going with my loose interpretation of the game. I have pics in lots of folders so here is the 3rd pic in the 3rd folder since I've had my new camera. They are in order based on the date.

Mommy wanted to take pretty pink pictures.....Lena Kate wanted to do nothing of the sort!

I don't know how to do all the fancy stuff yet, so I just posted the pic.

Now for my tagging.

#1. Carlynn - a lifetime friend with a precious daughter CAmeron. We have sooo many pics of Carlynn and her brother Clay and Gus and I growing up. It was tons of fun. I sure miss those simple childhood times every now and then. I hope that my kids get to grow up in the country some day soon.

#2. Kathy Blacksher -another lifelong friend and cousin. Kathy has 2 cute girls that I've recently enjoyed getting to see pics of via her blog.

#3. Rachel - I met Rachel working at Tetco. She is a sweetheart and had a baby boy 2 days before Lena Kate was born. David is sweet, so I need to see more pics Rachel! We hope to get together for our first playdate soon.

Ok, that is all the tagging for me.

Ranch Trip

We had such a fun and busy week. On Wednesday afternoon Lena Kate took her first trip to the ranch! We wish Daddy could've gone too, but we took lots of pics for him.


Before we could go Charles decided he didn't want to share his Mimi. Jealous? Maybe a little.

We got her bathed....

We put on a special outfit.....

And who did we meet upon arrival - GRANNY BROWN- I've never seen her sleep like this before! Granny is good at rocking.

We had lots of Mimi and Papa time as well as Lena Kate's first ride in the pasture. It was a wonderful trip! Lena Kate got to meet so many special people - Mrs. Barbie, Greer Char, Mr. and Mrs. Edge, and Ms. Betty.

Checkin Lena Kate's college fund. She has a new baby.


Betty gave LK a tip on hiccups. Get a red thread wet, ball it up, and stick it to her forhead - who knew? Also, check out my belly hanging out!


Swingin with Mimi - ahh country life is wonderful.

Papa time! Papa had a long day...they were playing...then it progressed to snoozing.

Night #2

Papa made me smile! She sure likes the guys-uh oh.

Greer Char came to see me!

On Saturday morning we headed back for SA. LK slept the whole time - thank goodness. We then went to Fredericksburg for Aunt Nancy's shower. We met several of Nancy's friends and had a wonderful time. Lena Kate even got to see her Leelee and Great Kelly - this is what she has decided she needs to be called. Hey we think she's great, so why now?

Then we proceeded to downtown San Antonio for some bachelorette celebrations and dinner. Nancy has wonderful friends and we had a great time. I hope she partied until the wee hours of the morning. Lena Kate and I had to head home-she had enough party for one day. Today is just relaxing in our jammies day!

What are you still looking at? hehe

1 Month old!

All I can say is that time flies when you are having fun. The last month has been filled with so many joyous and blessed memories. I know someday I'll look back and long for the days when Lena was just a few weeks old. Thank you God for blessing my family with such a healthy, happy, beautiful little girl. We love her with all our hearts and can't wait to raise her according to your teachings.

I'm updating tonight since we plan to have a busy day tomorrow. We've had a very nice weekend and a great visit with Lena Kate's Great Aunt Kelly and Great Mimi. They made a special trip down to visit us. After a nice lunch we came back to the house and had a wonderful time visiting and oogling the precious one...I wonder who that was? Little hint-it wasn't Lane. They are coming back again in the morning to get their fill of LK before they have to return to San Angelo. We look forward to the morning visit and appreciate their trip:)

We have a busy week planned and may not get to a daily blog so here are a few pics to keep you content.

Great Aunt Kelley

Great Mimi

Oh to be this relaxed!

Just love this one-hello bright eyes.