Sweet Friends



Mother's Day

I know every second time mom wonders how they could possibly love another child as much as they love their first.  I'd be lying if I said this thought hasn't crossed my mind.  However, I am confident that when I hold my second baby boy I will experience the same love that I have for Luke.  My mother-in-law said it best when she said the love multiplies not divides.  I'm going to trust in all of the moms who have gone before me on this one but until then I am basking in the love that comes from being this little man's momma!  The only greater role assigned to me by our loving Father is being wife to his sweet daddy.  Luke Michael Irons, your momma loves you to the moon and back.

It's ANOTHER boy!

We found out last week that "the sequel" (how Derek refers to our unborn child) is another boy!  The best news we received is that he is growing and developing perfectly.  What a relief to see the little squirt moving all around and to know at this point everything checks out.  I tried to scan in our ultrasound pictures but after two failed attempts I figured I would come back to that another day.  He was very clearly a little boy and he was sucking his little thumb.  My mom reminded me that I was born sucking my thumb so it looks like he might take after me in that.  He measured exactly a week ahead of my due date just like his big brother.  Hopefully he will decide to be born on that day as well which would be September 27th.  His head wasn't quite as big as Luke's was at this point but he weighs a meaty 14 ounces (avg is 11 ounces).  I love him so much already!

We have narrowed the names down to three so hopefully we will have one picked out soon.  We are just thrilled to be having another little boy.  I'm especially excited that he and Luke will only be 23 months apart and hopefully the best of friends.

18 Months

Luke turned 18 months old on Easter Sunday.  He is full of life and has so much energy.  I spend most of my days trying to keep up with the little rascal and wouldn't trade it for anything.  He has started talking a little bit more.  The words we hear most often are daddy, bye, ball, uh-oh, eat, please, more, milk, and shoe.  Notice "momma" is not on that list.  He knows who momma is but he has only said it a handful of times.  He enjoys playing with play dough, watching Handy Manny, playing in his water table outside and puzzles.  He is currently obsessed with saying "bye" as he opens and closes doors.  One of his favorite games is to climb in and out of his daddy's shirt while Derek lies on the floor.  He has learned to eat with a fork and he loves to be a big boy and do it himself.  He has started taking showers and he loves to play with all the bottles and cups in the shower.  He has learned what the red button on my key less entry does and will set off my car alarm and go flying through the house with the keys.  He is very strong willed or maybe this is just normal for an 18 month old but he has really started to assert his will.  Although strong willed, he is the sweetest most loving little boy and has a smile that will melt even a strangers heart. 


  



Easter Weekend

I'm going to try and play catch-up this week.  Life has slowed down a bit since baseball season ended and I've been using all of my free time to enjoy my wonderful husband and sweet little boy.  Baseball season ended the Friday before Easter and Derek's parents came into town.  We all took Luke to our church's Easter egg hunt on Saturday morning.  Luke had a blast hunting eggs.  It was as if somebody explained the concept to him beforehand.  Once they released the children, Luke ran around and collected as many eggs as possible.  Derek followed behind with the basket and Luke would pick up the eggs and throw them in as quickly as possible.  If Derek got too far behind him he would throw the eggs into the nearest basket.  It was as if he was in a race. 

We had Sunday lunch with the Carson's and Aaron's.  I didn't get a picture before church and Luke fell asleep on the way home from lunch so I have no Easter pictures, sad!  It was a wonderful and beautiful weekend celebrating our Risen Savior!!

Hunting eggs under bushes

Luke with The Lane children

Papa and Grana

He was in need of a nap at this point

Still a Hot Mess

I love my daddy

Or as Luke pronounces it "haddy."  Either way you say it this kid thinks his daddy hung the moon.  I would have to agree with him.  Wherever daddy goes little Luke follows. 

Helping him change the batteries in his aquarium

Reading him a bedtime story

Watching a softball game




Bed Head

 

Wearing daddy's shoes

Bad Weather and Roseola

Did ya'll have bad weather this week?  Monday night around 10:30 we had a bad storm come through Troy.  The thunder that initially woke us up was very close and very loud.  It was so loud that it caused some of Luke's toys to sing.  It was a strange thing waking up to the thunder and then hearing Luke's toys sing through his monitor.  Of course Luke didn't budge and as soon as Derek calmed me down he was back to snoring.  I saw that the Severe Thunderstorm Warning didn't expire until 11 so I knew I wasn't going back to sleep so I got up and wandered around the house for 30 minutes until the weather calmed down.   

A week ago Sunday Luke came down with a 104 temp with no other symptoms.  I called his pediatrician and he diagnosed him over the phone with Roseola.  Basically he had a fever for five days (with no other symptoms) and then when it broke last Thursday he broke out in a rash all over his body.  He's been sleeping a lot this week and I'm guessing he's playing catch-up. 

We've been so busy with baseball season.  I realized the other day that I don't have any pictures from games even though the majority of our time is spent at the field.  I guess the thought of packing one more thing in my bag when we head to a game seems overwhelming.  I am going to take some pictures today to post.  Luke loves going to games and can always find a friend to play with. 

One last thing.  I took these pictures after nap time one day last week to showcase his wild hair.  He was being so darn cute that I just kept clicking....no doubt he is a ham.



14 Weeks

I have done a pitiful job of posting about my pregnancy and our new little addition.  Today I'm 14 weeks pregnant.  According to the Baby Center the baby is the size of a shrimp.  I am showing much faster this time.  I think I looked like this at about 20 weeks with Luke.  This pregnancy has been very similar to my first.  I am nauseous most days and have very little energy to do much of anything.  I also have similar cravings: cheese, cheese, and more cheese.  At my last appointment Dr. Connor picked up a heartbeat of 155.  I have looked everywhere to see what Luke's heartbeat was this early and I didn't write it down (darn it!).  I think it was in the 150s but I'm not certain.  People often ask me what I think the gender is but I really have no idea.  I really had a preference with Luke but not so much with this one.  To be honest, having a little girl scares me just a little bit.  But then I see things like this doll and think of all of the fun things that come with having little girls.  We shall see!  We should be able to find out the gender at our May appointment and I anxiously await that day. 

My next appointment is next Monday and since it is Derek's spring break he will get to come with me!  We continue to pray for a healthy baby and are anxious to meet our next little blessing.

17 Months

I absolutely can not believe that Luke is almost 1 1/2!  And clearly I'm biased but he is the sweetest little boy in the entire world.  He keeps me laughing and it is my joy to spend each day with him.  I love watching him learn new things and grow each day.  A couple of memories of Luke at this age:

- He is very affectionate and loves giving kisses and love (hugs).
- When I rock him before his nap I whisper to him that I love him and he whispers back to me with a smile. 
- He is a social butterfly and loves to go "bye-bye".  I think he gets cabin fever quickly like his Momma!
- He is extremely independent and wants to do everything by himself and just like Derek and I are doing it.
- He isn't much on TV but the other day Tennis was on and he watched it for 15 minutes. 
- He is fascinated by ice.  He loves to hold it, play in it, eat it.
- He is also fascinated with shoes.  "Shoe" is one of his few words.  Particularly his swimming shoes which he brings to me each morning to put on him.  He also loves to bring Derek and I our shoes to put on.
- He loves baseball.  He drags his baseball bat all over the house.
- He loves the ballpark.  Considering we spend a lot of time there this is a great thing. 
- He also loves his naps.  When I ask him if he needs a nap he runs into his room and points to the sound machine and then stands by his crib. 
- He is SO ticklish.  You can just pretend like you are going to tickle him and he giggles.  You don't even have to touch him.
- The youth minister at our church taught him to head butt and each time he sees Chris he gives him a head butt. 

I really can not believe that the Lord chose Derek and I to be this little man's parents.  He is the most precious thing and I am constantly amazed at his sweetness and intelligence.  He is going to be an awesome big brother just like his daddy!

Sesame Street and milk, does life get any better?

He loves to play with ice

A litle too big to be in the baby swing

Loves his bath!

Eating lunch

Time to go outside and play

rocking baby William

Playing with my iPhone in baby William's bed

Each night Derek reads Luke a Bible story.  One day he got very quiet in his room and this is what I found.