tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30238044639751911472024-02-08T04:59:53.450-08:00Walls WorldThe life and times of Kevin, Andrea, and Luke Walls!Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768816749324328450noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023804463975191147.post-46727522052551194352011-07-28T11:01:00.000-07:002011-07-28T11:01:22.792-07:00Adding on to the house by two feet!I've been meaning to blog about our upcoming addition to our family for a while now, but time is just flying by! I feel like just yesterday I found out about the baby and now suddenly I am 19 weeks! We are so very excited about our new addition this December. So I'll start from the beginning:<br />
<br />
We have been talking about adding baby #2 for a while now, and we decided to start trying after my marathon in March. Little did we know that one month and one day after the marathon, I'd be staring at this:<br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view&current=6cd82d0a.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/6cd82d0a.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
I went into the bedroom and told Kevin "It was Positive", and he said "Aww, man!". We knew that getting pregnant on the first try meant that the baby would be due right around Christmas- and neither of us wanted the baby to share a birthday with Christmas! Plus having a baby by the end of the year is kind of scary! But nonetheless we were excited. I think I felt the same way that I did when I found out we were expecting Luke- shock and surprise!<br />
<br />
I went and got an ultrasound a few weeks later and got to see our little baby's heart beating away...but other than that it looked like a little blob! We found out at this ultrasound that the baby would be due on December 20th, only 5 days before Christmas!<br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view&current=9b811336.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/9b811336.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
<br />
We waited a little while to tell our family and friends! We told Kevin's family by wrapping up some Christmas themed newborn outfits and giving them to his mom as birthday presents (that we took back!). I thought they'd be expecting an announcement so we were trying to catch them off guard. What fun! We told my parents by putting Luke in a "big brother" t-shirt and just letting him "tell" the news. That was also really fun! Here's a picture of Luke in his big brother shirt!<br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view&current=e14c0bfa.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/e14c0bfa.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
<br />
Now things have been floating along smoothly as we are nearing the halfway point. I have had some nausea this time, which I didn't have with Luke. But it wasn't too bad, but Zofran was my friend!! I've also had headaches but I had them with Luke so I was not surprised to be experiencing those. I've been feeling the baby move for a few weeks now but in the past few days it's gotten a lot more consistent! That is my absolute favorite part of pregnancy. This baby seems very active compared to Luke, I hope that trend continues! <br />
<br />
We go for our big ultrasound in a week, and I'm very excited. However, we won't be finding out if baby W is a he or she! At least I hope we don't accidentally find out!! We have already bought fabric to make some adorable gender neutral bedding and have a great neutral nursery planned. Everything else can be bought after baby comes! <br />
<br />
Please keep us in your prayers especially with the ultrasound coming up! We are praying for everything to look just the way it should and that baby W is nice and healthy!!Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768816749324328450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023804463975191147.post-89733998825050415392011-03-07T11:06:00.000-08:002011-03-07T11:17:08.898-08:00My first race report!After a long winter of training, I now can call myself a marathoner!! Yesterday was the Little Rock Marathon, and it was awesome! I am so excited to get to write a race report, I hope you enjoy reading it!<br />
<br />
Our journey to the race started a little later than we had originally expected. We went to a birthday party on Saturday and then had to run home and get our things together, and after a few "oh no, I forgot to get something" moments, we were finally on the road. Luckily Kevin's cousin had generously offered to go pick up my packet for me so I didn't have the added stress of trying to make it into Little Rock in time to pick up my packet before the expo closed. That made the trip over nice and relaxing!<br />
<br />
We got into Little Rock and drove downtown to check out where we needed to go the following morning. Neither Kevin nor I had ever been to downtown LR before, and we thought it looked pretty cool! It was very easy to find the race area, so I felt pretty comfortable about the next morning. We got some pasta for dinner at a small Italian restaurant (after seeing the HUGE crowd at Olive Garden) and I headed to bed.<br />
<br />
Getting to the race the next morning was very uneventful, which I was thankful for. I got there in plenty of time to walk around and check out the starting area, warm up a little bit, and visit the porta potty. It was around 32 degrees, but I knew it was going to warm up so I didn't want to overdress- I definitely had to keep moving to stay warm! <br />
<br />
We started right at 8am to the song "Ballroom Blitz"- a pretty good starting song- definitely got me ready to run! I had my iPod but I didn't want to wear it at the start, I wanted to absorb the experience of the crowds cheering and the bands we ran by. I had it mostly as a backup in case I got bored or needed some extra motivation!<br />
<br />
When I was planning the race I knew I would try and run with a pace group. I didn't want to go out too fast and since I was all alone I wanted to have someone to chat with and try to keep up with. I just wasn't sure if I should run with the 4:30 or the 4:45 pace group- I ended up going with the 4:45 after deciding that I wanted to run the race a little slower and just enjoy it! I also left my Garmin at home- I didn't want to be constantly looking at my watch or worrying about my time. It was so much more relaxing that way. I found the 4:45 pacers pretty quick. I ended up following a guy named Reid for the first little bit- he was really fun! He was probably yelling for the crowd more than the crowd was yelling for us! He'd say "We run for cheers!" or "We run for Cowbell!" or whatever else he could think of. I knew if I stuck with him I'd enjoy the race!<br />
<br />
Miles 1-10 were pretty smooth- we winded through North Little Rock and back into Downtown. I was pretty impressed with downtown Little Rock. There was great crowd support and I felt really good. I talked with random people here and there and was having a great time. The half marathoners and the full marathoners were still together at this point, so there were a lot of people around. <br />
<br />
I ended up ahead of my pacer Reid at mile 10 and never got behind him again for the rest of the race. It was nice knowing he was back there though and that I was on track to meet my goal of 4:45. <br />
<br />
We got to the split where the half marathoners would head to the finish while the marathoners would keep going at mile 11. This was the part that I had been so nervous about- would I be able to keep going? Luckily when I got there I felt that there was no way I could go to the finish now- I was just getting started! I felt great! So crazy that I used to be so ready to be done by that point!<br />
<br />
After we split off we headed to what people called the "hilly" part of the race. I was nervous because I had not even checked out these hills before- I had no clue how big they were! They really weren't that bad though and were offset by a really pretty neighborhood. Miles 13-16 were rolling hills followed by a huge downhill at mile 17. That was actually harder than going uphill! I still felt great though and was excited at mile 17 to know I had only 9 miles left- single digits!<br />
<br />
Miles 18-23 were very flat but were challenging because that part of the race was so boring! It was an out and back through a park. The interesting part was seeing the people who were ahead of me- I could see people that were an hour ahead of me. I was inspired by the fact that they were almost finished with the race and I knew that I would soon be where they were. <br />
<br />
Around mile 19 I had the first time where I didn't feel good- I started feeling a little dizzy and sick. The sun had come out and I think I just got hot. My legs and my feet were feeling fine, I didn't feel tired, but I got a little worried at that point! It lasted for about a mile and then we hit a turnaround and were greeted with a nice headwind. Normally I'd hate running into the wind but it made me feel so much better! <br />
<br />
Before I knew it I was out of the dreaded out and back portion of the race with only 3 miles left to go. At this point I knew I was going to finish strong- and I knew that I was still on target to meet my goal of 4:45 because both of the pacers were behind me! I saw mile 23 and I thought to myself "How many times have I run 3 miles? I can do this!". <br />
<br />
During the race I had been walking through the water stops but at about mile 24 I found it just hurt more to walk than it did to run. So I decided I was done with water stops! Around mile 25 there was a huge hill ahead and I was so nervous! I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to run up the hill but I knew walking it would hurt worse! So this lady and I took off up the hill together. We ran the whole way encouraging each other and congratulated each other at the top. It was definitely a highlight of the race! <br />
<br />
After the hill it was all downhill to the finish. And nothing can compare to that feeling of running through the finish chute and across the finish line. Little Rock boasts having one of the largest finisher's medals and they weren't kidding! I knew I had to finish just to get that huge medal! A guy put it around my neck and it felt so heavy, but I was so proud! As I walked down the finisher's area I spotted Kevin and Luke and I was so happy to see them. Luke greeted me with a "Hi Mama" and it just melted my heart. Seeing them made it all so worth it! <br />
<br />
I had signed up for Marathon Tracks on Facebook and email so my friends could keep up with me during the race. I mostly wanted Kevin to get updates so he'd have a better idea of when to pick me up! I didn't know it was going to post to my facebook a million times that day but that's OK. What was nice about that was shortly after I finished Kevin got an email letting him know I finished and I got my official time: 4:43:12- right under my goal time! I was so excited!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view&current=cdd06401.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/cdd06401.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view&current=7a2919aa.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/7a2919aa.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
<br />
My first marathon experience is something I will never forget! I honestly can't think of one thing I would do differently. I enjoyed every bit of it and I felt great the whole time. I am pretty sore today but not regretting running it at all! I can't wait to do another one. <br />
<br />
Aside from finishing, this was the highlight of my day! Sporting my finisher shirt while my little man slept in my arms...he hadn't done this in forever and it was so sweet! <br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view&current=d8e87df5.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/d8e87df5.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768816749324328450noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023804463975191147.post-86009847365077801782011-02-19T19:23:00.000-08:002011-02-19T19:23:26.589-08:00Running, Running, and a bit more RunningI have wanted to run a marathon for a long time! Ever since I saw my good friends Carla and Amanda run one in fact. They ran the 2003 Country Music Marathon after training together for months. I spent their entire race traveling from point to point, ready to cheer them on! I think i got to see them run by 6 times and it was so exciting. My love of running was born that day!<br />
<br />
Now 8 years later I am finally getting around to doing that marathon. Since seeing them run that day in 2003, I have been doing 5k's, 10k's and half marathons, but I am just now making the leap to full marathon. I think the sheer amount of time it takes to train for one has been my main roadblock up until now. That and the idea of covering 26.2 miles just didn't seem fun! But as I run longer and longer distances I am finding out that it's just getting more fun! I love how it feels to be 12 miles into a long run and feel just as good as when i started. <br />
<br />
My main motivation to run in the past has been races. I just love the excitement of attaching my number to the front of my shirt, attaching my timing clip, and waiting for the start in a crowd of people. At the bigger races, there are people on the sides cheering for the runners and you feel like they are cheering for you! I love the feeling of turning a corner and seeing the finish line ahead and sprinting for the finish. Crossing that line is a feeling like no other. I can only imagine what it will feel like to cross the finish line of the marathon. I am so excited I can hardly stand it!<br />
<br />
A lot of the half marathons I have done in the past are paired with a full marathon. At some point those full marathoners have to split off from the half marathoners. In the races I have done that has been around mile 11 or 12, where the half marathoners have only one or two miles left to go. I have watched the marathoners go past that split off point thinking those people were crazy, wondering who would want to keep on going when they could be done if they just went with the half marathoners! Now I get it! Those crazy marathoners have done the training and probably actually feel like they're just getting started at the same point the half marathoners are ready to be done. I can't believe in just two weeks I'm going to be one of those crazies that doesn't take the split off and keeps trudging forward with 15 miles to go. <br />
<br />
I can't wait until race day!Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768816749324328450noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023804463975191147.post-6047137631080139972011-02-19T18:56:00.000-08:002011-02-19T18:56:06.183-08:00StaycationLast week Kevin, Luke and I enjoyed an amazing week! Kevin was on vacation and I took last weekend off...and we did absolutely nothing! Well, that's not completely true but for the most part we stayed at home and enjoyed some quality family time. It was so nice to just be at home! I even let the housework slide a little bit :)<br />
<br />
Our weekend could have been a little better but Kevin was sick with a nasty cold. The weather was beautiful and I really wanted to get out to the dog park or something but settled for just playing in the yard a lot with Luke. He loves going "outsiiide, outsiiide" and he says it in such a cute way that it just makes you want to get your shoes on and take him out. This spring we are planning to do a flower bed in the backyard and I can't wait to make it look all pretty.<br />
<br />
Saturday night Becca and I went out for a girl's night. It was so nice to sit around and chat with a dear friend- I have missed getting to do that! We talked for 3 hours, mostly about our kids! <br />
<br />
Monday was my big 20 mile training run for the marathon, which is in 2 weeks!! I can honestly say I felt great until about mile 16, and then I was feeling more of an "are we done yet?" kind of feeling. But the last half mile I was able to pick up the pace and finish strong, so I was proud. I rewarded myself with an ice bath afterwards, and boy did that hurt! After a few minutes though my body went numb and I really felt like it paid off the next day. I had no soreness and felt pretty good! <br />
<br />
Tuesday we took advantage of the wonderful weather and took Luke to the zoo. Kevin hadn't been there in a while and he was impressed with how much Luke gets into the zoo. He loves naming the animals and telling us what sounds they make. We also let him walk most of the visit, which was a first. He was exhausted when we got home and took a 3 1/2 hour nap! <br />
<br />
Thursday we went to the Children's museum. As we pulled up we noticed several school buses parked to the side- and got a little worried! There was a HUGE school group there, and the place was loud and crowded. But Luke is a tough little guy and didn't seem too bothered by all the kids going wild all around him! I did have a "momma bear" moment when this kid wanted to sit on him because he was sitting where she wanted to be. But he never seemed to notice. I just love taking him to the Children's Museum though. I just let him roam free and I just follow him and let him do his own thing. <br />
<br />
We had such a great week, I was so sad to return to work Friday. One of the bonuses of the week was that Luke got to spend tons of time with Kevin and you could tell he had become a bit more attached to him! There were times he preferred Kevin over me, which I actually thought was pretty cool. I wish we could both be home all the time!Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768816749324328450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023804463975191147.post-61667839853289348942011-02-06T23:00:00.000-08:002011-02-06T23:00:23.379-08:00It has been brought to my attention......that I have not updated my blog in 4 months! So to appease the masses (of one), I am updating! As much as I love reading other people's blogs you'd think I'd do better with mine!<br />
<br />
Life at our house hasn't changed much in the last 4 months. Luke is still the center of attention and the topic of most of my conversations! He is 19 months which is a really interesting age. It is amazing to see how fast he is learning. He learns new words so fast and I am constantly surprised at his comprehension when I talk to him! I sometimes test him by asking him to do new things just to see if he knows what I'm talking about. I was floored the first time I asked him to throw something in the trash and he did it- and was so proud of himself! He has this fish puzzle that has 10 different colored fish and can name them all! That doesn't always translate to him knowing his colors away from the puzzle but it's a start!<br />
<br />
Luke had his 18 month appointment a few weeks ago and he was a whopping 20 pounds 8 oz and 31.5 inches long. That's less than 3rd percentile for weight and 20th percentile for height. He's just now getting into 18 month clothes! He is a very active little man though. We constantly comment on how he never stops moving!!<br />
<br />
Look how grown up he is :)<br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view&current=e5597400.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/e5597400.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
<br />
Last November a friend from work and I did a half marathon and it got me motivated to train for my first full marathon. For the past two months I have been running and running and running! The best part is that I am really enjoying it! I have been doing long runs while Luke is at Mother's Day Out and have made it up to 18 miles at once. I never thought I could enjoy running 18 miles, but I really do! The race is one month from yesterday. I am nervous and excited already!<br />
<br />
I sometimes take Luke with me on my shorter runs, sometimes even when it is cold. He really likes it, but mostly because I have an Elmo movie and a Thomas movie on my Iphone and he gets to watch while I run. He got a snowsuit for Christmas so he won't get too cold.<br />
<br />
Here's a pic (not the best quality) of his running gear!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view&current=7a49372d.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/7a49372d.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
<br />
Kevin is doing well, just plugging along in his residency program. He is now officially over halfway done (2.5 years into a 5 year program). I am really proud of him and how hard he works. Next week he gets to take a well earned vacation week, and we don't plan on doing anything exciting! I am taking the weekend off as well and can't wait to just be at home together and enjoy being a family. <br />
<br />
Well I hope that's enough to satisfy those that have been anxiously awaiting a new post!<br />
<br />
Here's some parting pictures of Luke from the other day when we went shopping:<br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view&current=cb2e8185.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/cb2e8185.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
He had a blast playing on this little ride on toy!<br />
<br />
And here's after I took him off of it!<br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view&current=eb391bbb.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/eb391bbb.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
<br />
Ah, the joys of a toddler!!!Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768816749324328450noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023804463975191147.post-37920816297901547932010-10-04T12:29:00.000-07:002010-10-04T12:29:39.889-07:00Camping TripOk, I know I'm a total slacker on blogging! I'm going to try to do better!! Last week Kevin was on a well-earned vacation and we decided to take Luke on his very first camping trip! We didn't have really high expectations but I really thought Luke would have a good time. And he ended up having a GREAT time! We went to Lake Ouachita State Park in Arkansas, which is near Hot Springs. Here's a little summary of our trip!<br />
<br />
We got there at 11 on Tuesday morning after spending the night in Little Rock. We had bought a new tent and were excited to get it put up. We tried it at our house first and after a little trial and error, we found the tent very easy to set up. We got it up in about 20 minutes while Luke played around the campsite. He was really good about staying right around us. Here's a picture of our new tent!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/Camping%20Trip%202010/?action=view¤t=CampingTripSeptember2010082.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/Camping%20Trip%202010/CampingTripSeptember2010082.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
<br />
The tent is really cool, it has 2 rooms but the best part is the "screened in porch" area. We loved sitting in there and being protected from the bugs, especially at night when we had our lantern on. Luke really liked the tent as well.<br />
<br />
Here's the view from our campsite!<br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/Camping%20Trip%202010/?action=view¤t=CampingTripSeptember2010088.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/Camping%20Trip%202010/CampingTripSeptember2010088.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
<br />
We spent the first afternoon just hanging around, reading, and playing. We also checked out the playground at the campground, which was very nice. After a fun afternoon we started cooking dinner. We had Polish sausage and corn on the cob. There was a "burn ban" so we had to use the grill. We were pretty disappointed but it was probably for the best because we didn't have to worry about Luke trying to get into the campfire! <br />
<br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/Camping%20Trip%202010/?action=view¤t=CampingTripSeptember2010097.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/Camping%20Trip%202010/CampingTripSeptember2010097.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> As you can tell, Luke really liked the ketchup!<br />
<br />
We then got showers and put Luke to bed. I was pleasantly surprised because he actually went to bed just as well as he does at home! After he went to bed we read some more and then made smores (my favorite!). <br />
<br />
We woke up the next morning and I was surprised to see that Luke slept until 7, which is a bit early for him but he wasn't up with the sun like I expected! We ate breakfast and then got back in the tent under the covers because it was cold!! I was glad I had a sweatshirt! It warmed up quickly and we took Luke to play in the sand and at the playground that morning.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/Camping%20Trip%202010/?action=view¤t=CampingTripSeptember2010118.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/Camping%20Trip%202010/CampingTripSeptember2010118.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/Camping%20Trip%202010/?action=view¤t=CampingTripSeptember2010128.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/Camping%20Trip%202010/CampingTripSeptember2010128.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
<br />
We came back and had lunch and then spent more time playing at the campsite. We bought Luke a new toy lawn mower for the trip and it was put to good use. He also just spent a lot of time walking around and looking at everything. Later that afternoon we drove into Hot Springs and drove around. We ate dinner at Cracker Barrel (roughing it, right?) and Luke at more than I have ever seen him eat in his life. Apparently he really likes Cracker Barrel! We headed back to the tent and put him to bed which was just as easy as the night before!<br />
<br />
The next morning we got up at 7:45 and just hung around some more. Around 10 we started packing up and had everything loaded up within an hour or so. It's amazing what you have to take even for a short camping trip! I couldn't have been more pleased with how everything went. I think we have more camping trips in our future!<br />
<br />
Here's a picture from our last morning!<br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/Camping%20Trip%202010/?action=view¤t=CampingTripSeptember2010157.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/Camping%20Trip%202010/CampingTripSeptember2010157.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768816749324328450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023804463975191147.post-34693139185896261102010-07-02T20:54:00.000-07:002010-07-02T20:54:50.886-07:00Catching up!The last few weeks have been some of the most exciting weeks we've had here in a while. My little man, the love of my life, turned 1 on June 22nd! It was an extra special day because Luke and I share our birthday! I just can't believe that it has already been a year!<br />
<br />
The week before the big day Luke decided that crawling no longer suited him, and he's now a full time walker! It still surprises me to see him walk around a corner. He's so small that he looks so funny walking around! Of course knowing how to walk has led to him wanting to walk all the time, he gets annoyed when we try and carry him around, especially at church! He also wants to walk all over our back yard! My mom and I celebrated by taking him to the mall to get "big boy" shoes (his birthday present from my mom), and we got some very cute stride rite shoes. He was just starting to grow out of his size 2's so he got size 3's and even a pair of 4's that looked small. I'm glad he was able to wear the bigger size because they don't really make many good sturdy walking shoes in size 2! <br />
<br />
Last Saturday we celebrated the big birthday with a party with family and close friends. It was really fun! Luke was cranky right before people were supposed to come over so we got him to take a nap, which surprisingly he went down well and was able to rest up for his guests! When we brought him downstairs he seemed a bit overwhelmed by all the people but he warmed up pretty well. We had hamburgers and hotdogs as well as the standard cookout sides. Kevin did a great job with the burgers! After we had lunch we opened presents, or should I say that I opened presents while Luke played! He wanted to play with the toys and not give them up to see what was in the next package. So I got to do all the opening. He got some great toys, his favorite being his very own remote and toy cell phone. He also got some cute clothes and a backpack with his name on it! His big presents were a Pottery Barn Anywhere chair from us, a Cozy Coupe car from Kevin's parents, and a wagon from my dad. We have already been on several wagon rides and I have pushed the car around the house numerous times. <br />
<br />
After the presents we had cake, and I must say I was kind of dissapointed that he didn't dive into the cake. He mostly just licked the icing. But you could tell he thought the icing was pretty tasty. The cakes were done by Stephanie Price, and they were yummy! We had an elephant for the adults and a lion for Luke (I forgot to mention we had a jungle theme). After the cake we all just hung out and watched the US Soccer game (what a bummer!).<br />
<br />
My mom stayed for the week after the party which was so fun! It was the first time she's stayed with us that I haven't just had a baby or was having surgery. We just had the opportunity to hang out together and have fun. We went shopping and went to the zoo, but also just spent a lot of time at my house just enjoying playing with Luke! I was sad to see her go home today.<br />
<br />
So since turning 1, my little man has become quite the little toddler. Not just in walking, but he's also becoming more opinionated and independent. He loves to go outside and it's a big ordeal if he doesn't get to go outside when he wants to! He has also really started pointing to what he wants and he keeps pointing until you get it right. He doesn't have many words but he walks around babbling all the time. He can point to his ears, belly, toes, nose (although he prefers to point to my nose), flowers, the dogs, dada, and nana. He occasionally points to me when asked "where's Mamma?" He also just started saying "nanana". I think that's because Nana was here this week!<br />
<br />
We stopped nursing the week before his birthday, and I am proud to say we made it a year and never had to buy any formula. He transitioned fully to whole milk the other day and he's doing great with it. We are struggling with getting him to drink milk from anything other than a bottle though. Right now he will drink sips here and there from a sippy or a straw cup but won't take in a whole lot that way. This week I've been giving him a sippy in the morning and afternoon, and a bottle at nap and bedtime. He takes a whole lot more from the bottle than the sippy. I figure we'll keep this routine up a little longer.<br />
<br />
Well if you've made it to the end of this I'm impressed! I don't have a lot of time to write so I end up writing one big novel in one sitting!!Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768816749324328450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023804463975191147.post-28332871135418959302010-05-21T13:13:00.000-07:002010-05-21T13:18:55.839-07:00A day in the life of an 11 month old!One of the message boards I read was having its members do a "Day in the life" posting, and I thought it looked fun!! So if you're wondering what life is like with an 11 month old, here's a day in the life of Luke!<br />
<br />
Our day started around 8:45, when my little man woke up! He usually sleeps all night but occasionally wakes up needing a little mommy snuggle time, which happened at 12:30 that night. A couple of minutes of rocking and he was back to bed :) When he wakes up he's all smiles!<br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view¤t=AdayinthelifeofLuke002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/AdayinthelifeofLuke002.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
<br />
Then it was time to get a diaper change and get dressed!<br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view¤t=AdayinthelifeofLuke003.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/AdayinthelifeofLuke003.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
<br />
After that he nursed and then we fed the dogs and had play time! It was also time for me to eat breakfast! <br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view¤t=AdayinthelifeofLuke004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/AdayinthelifeofLuke004.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
<br />
After some play time, it was time for breakfast! He ate cheerios with milk, like a big kid, and loved it!<br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view¤t=AdayinthelifeofLuke006.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/AdayinthelifeofLuke006.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
<br />
After breakfast it was time to play some more! We usually play downstairs and he roams all over! Luke loves his Stride-to-ride lion walker! <br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view¤t=AdayinthelifeofLuke012.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/AdayinthelifeofLuke012.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
<br />
Then it was time to load up and head to the park to go running! <br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view¤t=AdayinthelifeofLuke016.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/AdayinthelifeofLuke016.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
<br />
We made it to the park and I opened the back of the car, only to find that I had forgotten the jogging stroller! I swear it was the first time I have done this! So back home we go (luckily it is only a 5 minute drive home!). We ran around the neighborhood instead.<br />
Here's Luke ready to go on the run!<br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view¤t=AdayinthelifeofLuke019.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/AdayinthelifeofLuke019.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
<br />
And here's Luke after the run...<br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view¤t=AdayinthelifeofLuke020.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/AdayinthelifeofLuke020.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
<br />
We came inside and then it was shower time for mommy and Baby Einstein watching time for Luke!<br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view¤t=AdayinthelifeofLuke023.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/AdayinthelifeofLuke023.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view¤t=AdayinthelifeofLuke025.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/AdayinthelifeofLuke025.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
Luke loves Baby Einstein!<br />
<br />
Then it was lunch time! Today was yogurt and bananas!<br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view¤t=AdayinthelifeofLuke027.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/AdayinthelifeofLuke027.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
<br />
Then we played some more and attempted reading time...it's not always easy to get him to stay still long enough to look at anything! This was one of those times.<br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view¤t=AdayinthelifeofLuke031.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/AdayinthelifeofLuke031.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
<br />
Before nap time I folded laundry and Luke wanted to help...make it more difficult that is! He likes to rearrange the baskets and undo the folding!<br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view¤t=AdayinthelifeofLuke035.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/AdayinthelifeofLuke035.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
<br />
Next it was time for a nap! He nursed then fell asleep a couple of minutes after being laid down. We are in a transition time between 1 and 2 naps. Some days he gets 2, especially if he wakes up early. Other days it's just one. I counted the nap in the stroller as his first nap, and this was his second. He went down right at 3pm.<br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view¤t=AdayinthelifeofLuke040.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/AdayinthelifeofLuke040.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
I love video monitors! I don't know what I would do without mine!<br />
<br />
He slept until 5:20 and then woke up ready to play some more, so we headed outside! <br />
<br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view¤t=AdayinthelifeofLuke043.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/AdayinthelifeofLuke043.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
He does such a funny crawl when he doesn't want his knees to touch! <a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view¤t=AdayinthelifeofLuke048.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/AdayinthelifeofLuke048.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
<br />
After some play time, it was time for dinner, and little man was hungry! The menu for tonight was grilled cheese, his favorite! In this picture he was yelling because I was waiting for it to cool and he was hungry!! <br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view¤t=AdayinthelifeofLuke055.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/AdayinthelifeofLuke055.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
<br />
After dinner came bath time. Sometimes bath time is fun and sometimes it's not! He doesn't always love it- in fact he hates having his hair washed! Today was a good time, he was splashing and playing and having a blast!<br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view¤t=AdayinthelifeofLuke058.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/AdayinthelifeofLuke058.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view¤t=AdayinthelifeofLuke057.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/AdayinthelifeofLuke057.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
<br />
The next part of our bedtime routine is reading time! He loves his animal book so we always do that one, plus one or two others. I love it when Kevin reads to him because his "commentary" on the animals is funny. Plus I think Luke likes listening to him more!! Here's Luke ready to read!<br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view¤t=AdayinthelifeofLuke061.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/AdayinthelifeofLuke061.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
<br />
And finally bedtime! After nursing, rocking, and a lullaby (I Will by the Beatles), we lay him down and say goodnight! He plays anywhere from 10-30 minutes and goes to sleep on his own. This night it was about 30 minutes :), he fell asleep by around 8:30.<br />
<a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view¤t=AdayinthelifeofLuke062-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/AdayinthelifeofLuke062-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <br />
<br />
And that was our day! It isn't very exciting but I love it anyway!Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768816749324328450noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023804463975191147.post-84096547912252335162010-05-16T22:57:00.000-07:002010-05-16T23:06:10.657-07:00More recent picturesJust wanted to put in more pictures of my favorite subject!<br /><br /><a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view¤t=ed32cc6a-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/ed32cc6a-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />This is from about 3 weeks ago, at my Mom's house. Luke was exploring the flower pot and then decided to climb in, and of course eat the dirt!<br /><br /><a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view¤t=0dd5cf47-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/0dd5cf47-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />Luke at the zoo, I love this picture. This is about a month ago.<br /><br /><a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view¤t=bb1fecba-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/bb1fecba-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />Not a great picture, but it's the most recent one I have right now. He loves to rearrange the tupperware cabinet!Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768816749324328450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023804463975191147.post-88195388820135463282010-05-16T21:10:00.001-07:002010-05-16T22:55:28.471-07:00WorkingWell I don't have a whole lot going on right now, and I consider that a good thing. I am in the midst of 3 shifts at work (which seems like a lot when you are used to working only 2!). I love my job and feel blessed to be able to work only on the weekends and spend the whole week home with Luke. I consider myself to be a full-time mom and a part time nurse! It's really the best of both worlds. The only thing is that I really miss Luke when I am at work, even though he's sound asleep while I am here! I am lucky to have people that can watch him and dote on him as much as I do, as well as a great husband who takes over my role while I am working or sleeping on the weekends. <br /><br />For those that don't work nights, my schedule sounds pretty crazy! I wake up whenever my sweet little alarm clock gets up on Friday mornings, and we do our normal daily routine until I leave for work Friday nights. I work until 7am on Saturdays then I come home about the time Luke is getting up for the day. If Kevin is going to be watching him I try and be good to him and let him sleep until 9 or so before I go to bed....so I am basically up for 26 hours. Then I sleep as long as I can, then get up and have a little play time before heading back in to work on Saturday night. I work until 7am Sunday and then rush home and have about 10 minutes to get ready for church (and yes, I do shower!) and then we go to church. Recently we have been staying for class as well. We get home from church about 11 and then I go to sleep for a few hours. So all in all, I don't sleep much on the weekends! But during the week I get to make up for it! This crazy schedule is worth it to be able to stay at home all week and still earn as much (or more) as I did before. <br /><br />One day I hope to become a stay at home mom, but it feels wierd to imagine not working anymore. Working allows me to feel like I am using my critical thinking skills and gives me an opportunity to get to talk to some adults for a while! When I started working I had these ideas for what I want to achieve in my nursing career, and for the most part those things havnen't changed. I just feel like the amount of time I have to do those things is shorter than originally expected. I honestly thought that staying at home would have no appeal to me when I first started working! But I do cherish every week I get to stay home and be with Luke, so I know that it's what I really want to do in the end. Just a few more years of this crazy schedule to go!Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768816749324328450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023804463975191147.post-63506469297984545232010-05-01T23:01:00.000-07:002010-05-12T15:23:17.096-07:00Growth and DevelopementIt's amazing when you think about how much children change in such a short period of time. From 2-6 months there was so much development in Luke's little life! I think one of the most exciting things was when he realized he had hands and those hands would work for him to grab things. I was at my dad's house the first time I noticed him using them. He was laying on the bed propped up on a pillow and I was laying there chatting with him (a pretty one-sided conversation!), and he reached up and grabbed the sleeve of my shirt! Once he realized he could grab things it wasn't long until he was playing with toys! Then the real fun began!<br /><br /><a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view¤t=Luke019-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/Luke019-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view¤t=Luke2months016-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/Luke2months016-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Luke started sitting up and rolling over at 4.5 months and suddenly this little thing that just laid there and looked around seemed to come to life! Before he started rolling over I remember worrying about how much "tummy time" he was getting, and I worried he wasn't doing enough! He hated it and cried every time I laid him on his little mat! Of course everything was fine though and he developed right on schedule if not early! I learned a great lesson in this: to stop worrying and just let him develop on his own!<br /><br /><a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view¤t=Luke4Months010-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/Luke4Months010-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />From sitting up and rolling over, true mobility wasn't that far away. He started crawling, pulling up, and got his first tooth all in the same weekend, at 6 months old. The first week he was mobile I was exhausted! I had wanted him to be mobile so badly, and I was told "Don't wish him to be mobile, it's a lot more work!" and that is sooo true! The first time I had to get him out of the dog bowl I knew we were in trouble (he has since broken that dog bowl!)! Now it's hard to keep him out of everything! The other day he crawled under the baby gate so he could go up the stairs- our bonus for having such a small baby!<br /><br /><a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view¤t=Luke6-9Months032-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/Luke6-9Months032-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Now we are progressing towards walking, which I am actually pretty excited about- I'm not sure what other trouble he can get into but I'm sure he'll find something! Right now he can really move when holding on to his stride to ride lion, of course until he runs into the wall and then he gets mad because he can't go anymore! He can stand by himself for a few seconds and takes a few steps when we stand him up in between us. It's really more of a controlled fall than anything though.<br />There are so many changes that take place in the first year- just going from helpless newborn to walking toddler alone is amazing! I look at Luke now and I can't believe he is the same baby we brought home 10 months ago. What's also amazing is looking at older kids and imagining him talking and learning (as if he's not learning now!)! There is still so much ahead, but I'm trying to savor every little stage and every new thing he's learned!Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768816749324328450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023804463975191147.post-67000027110433216132010-04-30T20:20:00.001-07:002010-05-01T23:01:20.228-07:00Well, you gotta start somewhere....I have decided to start a blog, because I love reading all my friend's (and random people I don't even know) blogs and I have wanted to do one for a long time. I felt like one should be started at some point in time, like a baby's birth or some momentus occasion, but right now we don't have anything that significant going on. So instead I will just update on our lives as they are right now!<br /><br />Our life as we knew it changed 10 months, one week, and one day ago on June 22, 2009. That was the day our son Luke was born into our lives. He was born into our hearts 10 months prior as we found out we were expecting him. What a joy he is. Being a mom is a joy I couldn't have imagined before he came. I never knew that I could be so content spending the day at home with my little man, or could get so excited over even the smallest little thing he accomplishes. It's definitely not always easy and I sometimes count the minutes until Kevin comes home in the afternoon so I can have a "break" but the hard times are quickly forgotten with one sweet little smile or cuddle.<br /><br />Over the next few posts I'll recap the past 10 months of our lives, starting now with Luke as a newborn.<br />Luke was born at 2:24pm, after a very easy labor and delivery. Really it was a very easy pregnancy over all. I felt great the whole time. He's only a few minutes old here.<br /><br /><p><a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view&current=BabyLuke012-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/BabyLuke012-1.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><p>Luke's official newborn picture</p><br /><p><a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view&current=f94730b9-c665-4a59-9113-27948a10-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/f94730b9-c665-4a59-9113-27948a10-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><br /><p>The first month or so was a huge adjustment for us. It was so diffferent to have this little guy controlling what seemed like every bit of my life! He was nursing every 2 hours and sometimes I felt so tied down! If I only knew then how I'd wish I could just sit around and hold my baby all day now!! Some days I feel like I chase him around all day!</p><br /><p>This is one of my favorite pictures, he was only a few days old here.</p><br /><p><a href="http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/?action=view&current=Luke028-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/luckylucyrn/Luke028-1.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p>Our little bundle of joy started out small at 5 lbs 11 oz and has stayed pretty small. He left the hospital at 5lbs 4oz, so the first two weeks I worried every time I fed him, afraid he wouldn't gain enough weight. At his 2 week checkup he was 6lbs 4oz, and I relaxed a bit. He has since gained weight steadily, but has remained small. The other day he was 16lbs 2oz, which if you think about it, is almost triple his birth weight, so that's actually pretty normal. </p><p>Luke just continues to grow and amaze us every day. The newborn stage was often hard, but looking back on it, I miss it. I feel like I spent too much time saying, "I wish he was older so he'd start playing/interacting/etc" instead of enjoying that wonderful time. I hope that next time I have a child (we want to have a few!) I will enjoy each step, including this demanding newborn time, more.<br /><br /></p>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768816749324328450noreply@blogger.com0