More To Lovelace

Leah is 4 months old! :)

2012-01-29T21:33:00.012-06:00

Well, my baby girl is 4 months old! We are so blessed to have a precious [based on the novel "Push" by sapphire -aaron] little girl. She is so different than Drew was, but too sweet! She is a social butterfly (not sure where she gets that ;) She is such a happy baby and enjoys being held and talked to. She started rolling over today which is so fun! Andrew enjoyed celebrating by trying to wrestle her. :) Leah, you are such a joy and your dad, brother, and I can not wait to see how special and sweet God has made you! I thank God for my precious healthy children!

Happy 4 months old precious girl!

Hanging with my hero, DADDY!

HELLO! Love her pokey ears. :)

This picture is one of the top pictures of Leah and Drew. They both look goofy and hilarious. I am sure this is the first of many to come.

Sweet girl!

Here you go sissy! He LOVES Leah and is so gentle and sweet with her. (most of the time)

This is Leah sleeping in the swing. Both Andrew and Leah have taken to the blankets Mawmaw and Pawpaw made (their great grandparents) Neither one will sleep without it. Just today she was trying to take a nap and kept fussing. (we tried everything) Aaron then got her "night night", she wrapped her fingers in the yarn and fell right to sleep. So sweet! :)

Here is Leah rolling over and Drew trying to help her celebrate by wrestling:

Last semester!

2012-01-15T18:09:00.003-06:00

Here we go!!! Aaron's last semester of law school has begun and we are sooo excited!!! I went back to work and am enjoying it. It is hard leaving the kids, but everything has worked out so well! Andrew goes to daycare and Leah goes to a family friend, Dena, 2 days a week! Then they are home with Aaron 3 days a week. It is wonderful they do not and have not ever been in daycare full time. (not that that is bad, it just doesnt work for our family) We have been adjusting to a family of 4 and could not be happier or more thankful!!! We have 2 healthy children that are very sweet.
Andrew is continuing his impressive speech, he loves to talk! He also loves to sing! He knows: Twinkle Twinkle, BIBLE, Elmo's world theme song, Jingle Bells, Away in a Manger, and many others. Dont know where he gets that from ;) He is also learning to play well with others and taking care of his sissy is a top priority. :0)

Leah is loving to smile and is such a happy baby! She has recently started laughing which is precious! She loves to chew on her hands and bat at her toys. She hasnt rolled over yet, but I know it wont be long!

Here are a few pics of us lately...

Christmas pictures!!!

2011-12-19T15:48:00.007-06:00

We love both sides of our family and had fantastic pictures taken this year! Here they are! Love you all! :)

My side! :)

Just the girls... 3 generations!

SO SWEET! My babies!

Our family... We are so blessed!!!

My bro in law, sis in law, and niece :)

cousins!

Aaron's side

Andrew Asa

Samantha Abigail

Andrew and Leah fun!

2011-12-15T22:12:00.003-06:00

Silly babies... silly expressions. My kids never have a blank stare, they are VERY expressive! You never wonder what they are thinking! :)

Another picture mommy?

HE is so helpful... helps with trash, feeding the dogs, giving sissy her paci!

Sweet fun with Eliana!

Enjoy these videos...

Charlie and Andrew splashing like crazy!

Leah smiling and Andrew dancing!

Aaron and Andrew playing pirate ship!

I am blessed beyond belief! I am so thankful for my family and friends!

Leah is 2 months!

2011-11-29T22:54:00.004-06:00

Our sweet girl is growing like a weed! In the last month she has gained 2 lbs, 11 oz and grew 1 and 1/2 inches. She is in the 50% in both height and weight. She is such a sweet ans spunky girl already! She knows what she wants and will let everyone know. She loves to be held, but also likes her time to wiggle on the floor. :)

A few more things she is doing:
-smiling more
-cooing like crazy
-hitting her toys in the bouncy chair (a few times)
-holding her head up like a champ
-sucking on her hand
-looking at her hands

She really is such a gift and we cherish her so much! Dressing her is fun because of the accessories. :)

Safe in daddy's arms. :)

Beautiful and such an amazing gift. Lord, please protect and lead her to You always...

Happy :)

Talking...

Over it.

New Heisman Sleeping Position

Sleeping next to daddy. :)

Sweet of Grams, Drew, and Leah

2011-11-18T22:13:00.004-06:00

I just want to say, I love my family!!! Thanksgiving is around the corner and I am so thankful for all of our friends and family who love and support us! Aaron and I are so blessed with moms and dads who will come over last minute to babysit and spend time with our kids! We have never paid a babysitter, amazing!

Anywho, Andrew is such a sweet Big Brother! Anytime Leah is fussy, he is the first one by her side, putting her paci back in, getting her a bow (which he thinks she needs :), or blanket. Every time he does not know where sissy is, he asks, "Where did sissy go". He loves his sister and I pray he will look out for her like he already is! He melts our heart with how much compassion and love he is already showing her. He is a bit jealous, but it is more directed at Aaron and I.

More new things Drew has learned:
-he can sing many songs
-he can count to 14
-he knows his colors! (i didnt think he knew them, but tested him and he got them right!)
-asks to play with friends (specifically: Charlie, Shiloh, Levi, Bailey, Marley, Sedona, Rylie, and Luke) I love that he remembers his friends names! :)
-tells us what he wants to eat (his favorites are: bean burritos, ravioli, noodles, pears, carrots, and chicken sticks)
-can step up and down stairs, climbing to the top and slide down the slide all by himself
-makes friends at the park (he made a new friend Mary when we went to the park) He says, "come on guys, no running (i think he hears this at daycare)"
-he asks for help when he needs it
I am sure he is doing other things, but dont remember. (probably because I tired from getting up with little Leah)

Leah's new things...
-smiling more often
-cooing
-rolling to her side
-holding her head up like a champ
-grabbing things (my hair, blankets, and her elephant)
-tracking us

We are so blessed with sweet children! I am so thankful for them! Here are a few pictures from our photo session and a few random snapshots.

My mom came over so we could go watch our friends play and they had a fun time takng pictures! So cute! :)

As my friend Susan says, "surrender to the sleep God"

Leah looks terrified... hilarious. If only see knew what is to come with an older brother. :)

A few from our newborn session... love my family!

Leah's first church service! :)

2011-11-07T08:26:00.003-06:00

Leah went to church for the first time Sunday, November 6th, 2011! We all got up and showered and then took a few pictures! We did not put her in the nursery yet. I think we will wait another month or 2. For service our church has a family room where you can go, which is great! The Smith's hung out with us in there which was fun. They have twin girls, McKenzie and McKinley, who are 3 weeks older than Leah. Hopefully they will become friends! :) Here are a few pictures from the day...

What? I know I'm cute!
Love her outfit! Leggings... I think so! :)

She is already a pro at knowing what to do! haha!

Sesame Street 2nd Birthday Party!

2011-11-05T16:06:00.009-05:00

Today we celebrated Andrew's 2nd birthday with our friends and family! It was a wonderful time of fellowship and celebration! Andrew has brought us so much JOY and we are so thankful to God for him! It was great to see all of Drew's friends come and play. They had fun running around, blowing bubbles, eating, and riding on all the fun toys he has. We love hanging out with all of our family and friends! Andrew was given such great gifts and I know he will use them all! He kept wanting to open every one as we unwrapped them. :) Too sweet! Here a few pictures from the day! :)

Decorations!!!
Really cute cupcakes :) Becca did a great job! :)

Our Sweet Family and Friends! :)

Singing Happy Birthday! :)

Riley riding!

Playing!

Andrew's buddy, Charlie, having fun! :)

Precious Blue Eyed Boy!

Opening presents! I dont think many people love him ;)

It was a great morning and Drew had a blast! Thank you family and friends for coming! We love y'all! :)

Leah's 1 month and Halloween!

2011-10-30T11:22:00.008-05:00

We have had a wonderful time being mommy and daddy to 2 kiddos! We are so blessed to have pretty easy going babies. :) Over the past few weeks, Andrew is really becoming a sweet sweet brother. When Leah is crying, he runs over to where she is and gives her anything he think will make her happy: paci, blanket, bow, ect. He is really doing a great job and we are proud how he is handling the change of sharing mommy and daddy. :) Leah is now 1 month old, yikes! It seems like yesterday I was feeling her in my belly. Every time I look at her I am reminded at God's grace which is such an amazing feeling. She will always remind me that God is COMPLETELY trustworthy. She went to the doctor and did great! She is 25% in weight (8.1 lbs), 50% in height (21 in), and she is barely on the chart for her head (I have a small head, so the doctor said not to worry (which I tend to do, but I am choosing to trust God instead) :) Hear are a few pictures of her. :)
Sweet smile!

Mommy and Me!

First bath! Blow it up is what Andrew says because she always has her hands in a fist. :)

Brother loves giving me kisses! :)

A few of our handsome baby boy! Love those blue eyes! :)

Andrew's 3rd Halloween and Leah's 1st! Andrew went as Buzz Lightyear and Leah wore an adorable Halloween tutu! :) We had a great time celebrating at our church carnival and trick or treating with Bowen's. Here are a few pics from all of our Halloween festivities.

Our pumpkins! aTm for Aaron and I, a butterfly for Leah, and super grover for Andrew! This is a tradition I want to do every year! :)

Best Buddies! Buzz and Woody! So cute! They had a great time trick or treating for the first time. Drew would not let me help him carry his bucket. I guess he knew there were yummy treats inside. :)

These are precious pictures because they are of Andrew and Aaron and then Leah and Aaron. I do believe they look alike! :) What an amazing daddy he is to our babies! They do not know how blessed they are. :)

My Boys Birthdays!!!

2011-10-16T12:14:00.006-05:00

Time flies when you feel so blessed!!! My sweet baby boy is 2!!! He is growing and learning everyday. At his 2 year appointment, he was over 50% in weight and 40% in height. You would never know he was in the Nicu. :) A few things he loves to do these days are:

-play with his sesame street characters
-shoot and dunk the ball with daddy
-swing outside
-play on the playground (climbing and going down the slide)
-boss mommy and daddy around (saying, "come on daddy, come on mommy, sit down)
-read! read! read!

Some new things he likes to say:
-No! (to everything, no matter if it is something he wants to do)
-where did ___ go?
-he asks for friends to play (especially Charlie)
-hi sissy (in a high pitched voice)
-dont cry sissy, its ok sissy
-love you sissy :)
-watch football?

He definitely has an opinion about most things and is not afraid to express it. We want him to tell us what he wants and would rather this, then him be frustrated with not being able to. He still has a calm demeanor and has since the day he was born. He loves to be around people, but also likes to step back and observe everything going on around him. Andrew is absolutely a gift, who taught me to trust completely in our God's plan. Happy Birthday sweet boy!!! Your dad and I can't wait to walk through life with you!

Happy Birthday to my hubby too! I love you and am so thankful to have such a wonderful man to build a life with.

For their birthdays, we went to the Owens Farm Pumpkin Patch. We rode on the hayride, fed the goats, and picked out a pumpkins. It was great to be outside and enjoy our sweet family of 4! Here are some pictures from the day...

Here is a video of Aaron and Andrew feeding the goats. :)

Welcome to the World Leah Kathryn!

2011-10-04T16:56:00.006-05:00

We are so excited and proud to announce our daughter, LEAH KATHRYN LOVELACE, who arrived on September 26th, 2011 at 12:45pm! She is healthy and doing great! We can not begin to express how thankful we are to be able to stay in the hospital for 3 days and leave with a sweet baby girl! The pregnancy was not easy, but God constantly reminded me to be thankful because he was protecting her. He gave me such comfort that goes beyond my own power! I just want to cry when thinking about how blessed we are. Here are a few pictures from the hospital and when we got home. :)

Last day to be pregnant! :)

Safe in daddy's arms. :)

Our family of 4!

Momma's girl :)

great grandparents!

Papa

Aaron took Drew to church on Sunday and purposefully dressed them alike. My boys make me so happy! Who wouldn't want to wake up to this? :)

Andrew is slowly warming up to Leah. He calls her sissy and baby. He doesnt quite understand the relationship, but knows there is a baby. He is very sweet at giving her blankets and pacifiers. The next picture shows him giving her diapers (after every one he put on her swing, he would say, shoo poops :) He also gave her the Count. You must understand, this is Andrew's favorite character, so it was a big deal. As time passes, I know he will grow to love and protect her. :)

23 months and 38 weeks prego!

2011-09-18T08:09:00.009-05:00

Wow! I can not believe how much God has blessed us! I am so excited to meet little Leah next Monday (if she doesnt arrived sooner) I just feel so thankful that God has kept her in and safe for 38 precious weeks! I may be huge and extremely uncomfortable, but that is nothing compared to how my heart felt when Drew was in the Nicu. Not to say that we will not have things happen along the way, but now I trust God with my whole heart and know, no matter what, He is faithful! What a gift to feel so free, which I have had the joy of feeling during this pregnancy! :) Here I am at 38 weeks and yes, people stare... I know they are thinking they should get me a chair or something.

Also, yesterday was my last day at work and these were a few comments the kids said:

-your belly is getting really big
-are they going to cut your stomach open? (i told him no, didnt feel that would have been appropriate)
-good luck!
-when will you be skinny again? (i said after Christmas, fingers crossed :)
-a baby is a big responsibility, but i think you can do it
-i love you , Mrs. Lovelace (happy heart)

Ah, the sweet and innocent children I love teaching! By the way, I teach with some amazing women and am so thankful!

Ok, now Drewber time! He is so much fun and is definitely forming his own opinion about everything! He wants to decide when, where, and how he does everything...so he likes to tell us, come on mommy and daddy, up! (grabbing our hand), No mommy, no daddy. We are obviously trying to change these little 2 year oldish habits into asking instead of telling mommy and daddy what to do. :) He will get there, just takes time. :) He is so smart and his vocabulary is huge! He talks in sentences at times and can recite many songs. He has given us so much joy and we are bursting with pride at how sweet and smart he is. We are thankful to God for allowing us to have Andrew! Aaron and I were looking through old pictures of Andrew on our phone and I wanted to post the best ones... so here they are. Isnt he adorable? I cant help but smile at each one. :)

2 weekends ago we all sported out Aggie gear to community group! Gig Em Aggies! :) Soon Leah will have hers on too! :)

Last years...

This years...

And last, but not least, a picture of Drew sitting on the window sill, behind the curtain, reading! This is every 1st grade teachers dream. :) I love that he loves books! :)

22 months

2011-08-26T20:38:00.005-05:00

Our Handsome Andrew!!! :) I wonder if Leah will have those big blue eyes...

I am late on posting about Andrew, but better late then never...
He is our sweet little man who talks like crazy!! Some things he is saying or singing are:
-his abcs
-counting to 13
-going through 2 abc books and names all the pictures (even butter and nutmeg, it is a cookie monster cooking book)
-saying bless you, thank you, and your welcome
-patty cake
-screaming a lot (which is not encouraged :)
-telling us what he wants to eat or wants (including brushing his teeth)
-naming all characters on Elmo and Mickey Mouse
-repeating everything we say...:)

He is an absolute joy and we look back to his birth and realize Jesus was holding him in his arms the entire time! God just wanted to teach mommy to trust, no matter what. I tear up every time I think about Andrew and how great he is doing and praise God for it!

This is Drew getting ready for baby sister... rocking the baby, and giving her a kiss. Just so you know (and so Aaron doesn't give me a disapproving look) this will be Leah's doll, not Andrew's, he found it in her room

Baby #2- Leah Kathryn Lovelace is getting ready for her debut by making me extremely uncomfortable, but I am thankful nonetheless. I am so excited to meet her, but also pray she stays in at least 2 more weeks. Prayers are always welcomed :)(Drew arrived at 35 weeks 4 days, which is next Thursday, so I'm just holding out hope we can pass that mile stone!) Everything looks great, she is just low, low, low. But, her room is ready! Wanted something different, purple and green! Check out the pics below...

I also want to give a shout out to my amazing husband who has done so much around the house this week...
-put up laundry
-unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher
-picked up the living room
-went grocery shopping
-picked up my prescription
-cooked 2 nights
-and played with Drew so I can lay down when I get home

I am so thankful for Aaron Lovelace!!! I love you!

Holding On and Being Thankful!

2011-07-28T12:32:00.003-05:00

Well, since I hit my 31st week of pregnancy I have become anxious about going into preterm labor, but God has been so gracious in reminding me that I have so much else to focus on. Basically, all the blessings he has given me. So, I am writing them down, so I can look back and be reminded.

Things I am thankful for...

-My husband who has been working so hard at his internship (he is really enjoying it) :)
-How helpful Aaron is when I cant do normal things I use to be able to do before I got this belly. :)
-Before Andrew goes to bed he tells us, good night, sweet dreams, love you.
-Andrew is healthy and talking up a storm
-Andrew is in daycare only 2 days a week and Aaron stays home with him the other 3 during the school year
-God is continuing to bless us with community and growing friendships
-my pregnancy has gone well so far
-we are having a GIRL! :)
-friends have blessed us with clothes, bouncer, ect. for our little Leah! (Thank you Reci, Sami, Jackie, and Nikki) :)
-I have a job that I love and a partner that is amazing
-my maternity subs have been worked out
-I have an OBGYN that takes great care of me and I have so much confidence in
-We have 2 sets of grandparents that love Andrew and soon to be Leah soooo much!
-God has provided for us financially when big deductibles came up (Drew's tubes, pregnancy, my car)
-We have crate trained dogs that are easy, Lola and Leeroy
-God is continuing to teach me how to rely on him, even when situations are out of my control. It is not easy at times, but I know my family and friends have seen progress which so encouraging.

A couple of my sweet maternity pics :)

21 months and 10 weeks to go!

2011-07-16T20:37:00.004-05:00

Andrew is absolutely the light of our lives! He makes us smile and laugh everyday. Aaron and I swap stories all day long of the new and funny things he does.

Story 1: We were driving in the car and I was saying, Leah and sister, just to get him use to the names. I asked him to say sister and he said, "cock a doodle doo" He thought I was saying rooster. So funny!

Story 2: We were walking through target and I sneezed and Drew said, God bless you mommy. Aaron and I looked at each other and just couldn't stop kissing him because he has such a sweet heart.

Everyday is a challenge teaching a toddler (can I get an amen from my friends who have kids) because you want to make sure what you are doing as a consequence, they understand. So our biggest trial at the moment is hitting. When he doesnt get his was, watch out, he will hit you. So, we tried spanking, but I have decided spanking for hitting just doesn't make sense. Why would I tell him no and then do the same thing back? Time out is what we are doing now and he does not like it. He is getting better, but I know it will take consistency and time. He always apologizes with, a sweet rub where he hit you, a hug, and saying, "sorry mama or sorry dada" I am glad he feels remorse, this does make me feel like he is "getting it" to a certain extent.

Aaron and I are really trying to soak up this sweet time before our family transitions to having Leah and going back to work and school. We know it will be challenging, but also realize there is light at the end of the tunnel and God won't give us anything we can't handle. But, if you don't hear from us after Leah is born, don't worry, we are just CRAZY busy. :)

As for my pregnancy...
I havent talked much about it, not sure why, but I feel God has really been close through the whole thing. With Drew, I really felt like he was MY baby and I wasn't going to let anything happen to him. Well, of course, God had a different plan. He was born 5 weeks early and had an 11 day stay in the Nicu. This was NOT suppose to happen! God really taught me to lean on him, trust, and BELIEVE that he has a perfect plan for our family. He changed me through having Drew, not just because I became a mommy, but because he taught me, that in any situation, I CAN trust Him! (this did not come quickly, but through a long process and I'm not done working on it and probably will never be) With this pregnancy, God has been constantly reminding me that I am not in control and that HE will knit Leah together as He sees fit. From first finding out I was pregnant, I leaned on him because of what He taught me with Drew. Don't get me wrong, I do have moments when I wonder if I will make it full term, but after I think about it, I realize, I can't do anything to stop it, so why worry? Leah has been growing and doing well and so have I! Thank you Lord! Prayers certainly don't hurt, so please pray that I do make it full term and Leah is healthy. Thanks!
Here is a picture to prove how we have been growing, not my momma, Leah and I. My mom always looks fabulous! :) We were in California celebrating my cousin Diana's wedding. What a beautiful day!

Summer fun... cheesing with mommy, mowing with daddy and blowing bubbles!

Here are a couple of videos... one is of Daddy and Andrew "jumping" and the other of Drew riding his four-wheeler all by himself- Thanks Great Pawpaw!

Brownie Batter and Big Boy Bed!

2011-06-18T22:03:00.003-05:00

Today was the day I thought, why not? So Andrew has had a big day of firsts. Well, maybe Drew doesn't really know, but mommy and daddy do!

Andrew ate brownie batter for the first time and of course, LOVED IT! I sat him on the counter and he "helped" mix the brownies and then I dipped the spoon in and gave it to him to eat. After he tasted it, he tried to dip the spoon back in. I didn't let him because he had plenty on the spoon he had not licked yet. So here are a few pics of him having his first brownie batter. :) He says, "Mmmm".

The biggest first today is definitely sleeping in his new "big" boy bed. This makes me have many emotions all at once. I am excited, nervous, sad, and happy. I am excited for him because he is becoming more independent. I am nervous because I want him to feel comfortable and adjust well to the change. I am sad because moving him to a big boy bed makes me feel like he is growing up way to fast. I am happy because the adjustment will enable us to begin Leah's room. (not that in anyway, she takes his place.)

So... this is what happened. I laid down with him and he rolled over and didn't move as I left the room, so I thought. I went into the kitchen because I was finishing up some cupcakes. Aaron came to the kitchen and said Drew was playing with the door knob. Then, Aaron went in and laid down with him. He didn't hear and peep after that. So, I went in (tried to walk in) and check on him, but there was something keeping me from opening the door. Yes, you guessed it, Andrew. He had brought his bear and night night (blanket) with him to the door and feel asleep in front of it. I had to roll him over to get the door wide enough for me and my belly to squeeze through. I picked him up and placed him back in the bed. Needless to say, we set up the video monitor for our piece of mind a few minutes later. :)

Here are a few pics of what happened...

This is where I first found him asleep :(

After I placed him in the bed.

Now, what I will be checking to see all night...the life of a mom and I would not trade any of it.

19, 20, and 21 months...

2011-06-13T16:54:00.006-05:00

Wow, it has been too long! Can you tell I have been pregnant, finished the school year, and are cleaning and switch rooms around in our house? Our sweet boy is growing up which is great, but I know it will go even faster when our sweet Leah Kathryn arrives. So...I am trying to cherish all the sweet hugs, kisses, and time together this summer. I am loving staying at home with Andrew! :)

Drew is talking up a storm and learning more every day. He is becoming so independent, which I love, but he also has his way of doing things. He is such a sweet boy and is learning to share and be kind to friends. :) He is doing so much better using a fork and spoon too. Everyday, he learns and repeats words. This makes me so happy.

Drew is going to be moving! We finished his "big" boy room and about to try him sleeping in there soon. Leah will take his nursery. Pictures to come. :) Drew's room is done in sports and Leah's is purple and green with a few flowers and butterflies. :)

Our big helper...who loves to feed the dogs and help Daddy. :)

Ready for church and go play with his friends...especially Shiloh.

Reading is his favorite thing to do. He will come up to Aaron or I, plop in our lap with a book and say, "read". He must have the book read 2 times before he goes anywhere. :)

Just hanging out with momma.

Wearing his new hat from Boston. He is the cutest kid I ever saw. :)

This is Andrew and Charlie splashing in the water table. So fun!

Andrew really wants to see Papa and knows he comes through the front door. I recorded his pleading to see him. :) And yes, we took him to see Papa right after. :)

Trying on momma's sunglasses. :)

We will be dedicating Andrew this Sunday and are so excited to share this special time with our family and friends. I will post soon after that to show pictures of our handsome boy. :)

17 and 18 months with a blessing on the side!

2011-03-20T22:00:00.012-05:00

Our little man is getting sooo big! He is so much fun, but becoming quite challenging when it comes to discipline. I wish I could find the answer, but I know if we are consistent, it will pay off, even though it is tough at times. Aaron is such a fantastic daddy to Drew! They have the best time together and Andrew just adores him. :) Nothing better than seeing your husband and baby have such a strong bond.

Andrew is blazing the trails when it comes to language, he will repeat just about anything. He has learned new color words... blue, red, green, and yellow (my favorite b/c he says it lellow with his tongue hanging out) He has also learned eat, Cha Cha (Charlie), Lola, Gaga, outside, Oscar (the grouch), help, truck, swing, Mickey, Goofy, and tiger. I am sure there is more, but just cant remember them off the top of my head. He really is a sweet boy, but can get VERY offended (and hits) when someone takes something he wants or is playing with. (He are working on this too) :)

In the 17th month we went to the zoo with my parents and Drew had a great time! His favorite animal to see was a duck. Too cute! :) Drew also had an adventure of his own staying with my mom and dad for two nights. He did not want to leave. We got to go to Fredricksburg for 2 days which was fantastic!

THE ZOO!

LOL :)

Haha!!!

Month 18 has become crazy! Aaron is studying for finals and I am counting down the days until I get to spend every day with Andrew. Also, Aaron got an internship and we are so excited and thankful to God for this blessing! We also have another blessing coming our way...
What? I have to share?

Oh, I get it, I will have someone I can beat up on and steal pizza from... I'm in!

You guessed it, we are having another baby! I am 4 months and he/she (we think boy) is due October 2nd! It happened a little sooner than we thought, but are thrilled! Our lives will become even crazier, but we know more blessed! THANK YOU LORD!
More pictures of of Drew! He loves being outside!

Being silly!

Having his first of many beaters. :)

Fun with mom!

16 months!

2011-02-15T21:19:00.004-06:00

Drew is growing and talking and such a happy boy (for the most part :)! We are enjoying this stage of learning soooo much! It is just incredible to watch them learn something new every day! He just amazes me! The other day I showed him something purple and said, "purple" to him. Then, a few seconds later, he said it! :) He was so proud of himself. Some of the things Drew has been into lately is: bath time, hanging out with Pawpaw(whom he asks for often), dancing, playing my old recorder (hilarious and a video to come), going outside, petting and playing with the dogs, and reading. We are so blessed to have such a sweet little boy in our lives and give glory to God for how He knit him together.

Bath time is his favorite lately... enjoy! :)

Sledding on our driveway...

2011-02-02T16:29:00.005-06:00

Well, I am not looking forward to making up these snow days, but on the bright side we have hung out, gone sledding, and snuggled a lot! So fun! Here are pictures... ENJOY!

Andrew enoying us all being bucket heads!

And "sledding"...

15 months!

2011-01-17T10:13:00.003-06:00

The best thing about being a parent is seeing them learn new things. It is amazing to watch them go from laying there and needing you for everything to them being able to help with changing clothes, getting toys, and telling you what they want. Drew has learned so much since 14 months! He is just a sponge and repeats a lot of what we say. New words are: dance, turtle, cracker (tatter), sheep, baby, bubble, big bird, elmo, play, paci, shoe, night night(which is his blanket), nose, hat, and bath. Crazy! Lately he has been very attached to mommy because Aaron stays home with him 3 days a week, so when I get home, Drew is always saying Mama mamamama and under my feet non stop. I cant say I really mind. I miss him while I am gone. Other fun things that he has learned are: when I sing row row row your boat, he will say, row row row and give a big grin. :) Also, if he sees you wearing socks, watch out because he will come and tickle your toes. Too sweet! He thinks it is funny!
Drew has his 15 month well visit and it went great! He is in the 50% for height and 30% for weight. He is just perfect! God has really taught me to depend on him with Drew's life and it is only getting easier because, lets face it, God is all we can rely on with children!

Another situation God took total control of was Drew's childcare. It was costing us almost $800 per month for him to go 5 days a week, so Aaron looked into only going to school Mondays and Wednesdays and it worked out! So now, Drew is going 2 days a week and the cost is almost cut in half! What a wonderful blessing!

Here are a couple of pictures and a video! Enjoy!

Daddy taking Drew for a wagon ride! :)

Holidays!

2011-01-02T19:39:00.003-06:00

We have so much to be thankful for!
1. Jesus who has covered my sin and given me the security of eternal life.
2. Precious healthy son
3. Wonderful family and friends

We have definitely enjoyed our time off as a family. We have gotten to play with Drew so much and it has been so great! He is so interactive and talking. His new game is to tickle our feet. Too funny! I pray that our 2011 is filled with showing Gods love through any circumstance and I pray that we will lean on Him through it all. This is just a quick blog, so I can post some sweet pictures taken at Thanksgiving and Christmas. :)

14 months!

2010-12-16T08:46:00.010-06:00

Well our little man is walking and has been for about a month. He definitely has the bumps and bruises to prove it. It is so fun to see him discovering all the new things he can with walking. He loves his swing and slide. He can climb into the little house all by himself! He has become quite opinionated about what he wants to do and have. He still drinks a bottle in the morning and night and is demanding in getting it. One thing he loves is books! He will find a book, hold it up and crawl in your lap. He insists on turn the pages and reading it at least 2 times. :) Mommy loves this! He is saying many new words: duck, whoa, tree, and hat. He loves to point to our Christmas tree and say tree. He is growing, changing, and learning SO MUCH!

Andrew,
Your daddy and I love you so much and feel like we were blessed with the best gift from our Sweet Heavenly Father. We love watching you grow and change and learn new things. We cant wait to see what God has in store for your life. We pray that the Lord uses you for his purpose and fills your life with peace and happiness.
We love you!

Here are a few pictures we have taken over the last 4-6 weeks.

Not so happy Andrew. lol. :)

Hello? Are you there?

Lola, I will share everything with you...

I love the basket game! My mommy and daddy push me back and forth in the laundry basket. :)

What? What did I do? :)

Christmas Card. :)

2010-11-27T19:31:00.001-06:00

Picture Tree Christmas

Get custom photo Christmas cards online at Shutterfly.com.

View the entire collection of cards.

13 months!

2010-11-17T21:28:00.003-06:00

It is so hard to even type 13 months! Yikes! Our sweet sweet baby boy is talking up a storm! He says dog, ball, mama, dada, baba, uh oh, no, boom (Aaron taught him that one)and just gibberish. He also knows where his head, ears, belly, and tongue are, as well as giving hi fives. He is really close to walking and it is hilarious to watch him with the walker that he rolls around the house. :) He is really coming out of his shell by interacting so much more and having an opinion about what he does. He is understanding that he can affect the world around him and get what he wants. He even knows how to let the dogs out of their crate, which he finds really fun. Here are a couple of videos. One is of Aaron and Drew enjoying each others company and the other is Drew talking. So thankful to my God for giving me more than any girl could dream of and that is a wonderful husband and a happy sweet baby boy.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2010-10-31T20:39:00.004-05:00

This is officially Drew's 2nd Halloween, but last year he was only a few days out of the Nicu. This year we had a lot of fun dressing him up and showing him off. He is too cute! We also continued the pumpkin carving that Aaron and I have done since we have been married (last year we had someone more important to tend to) :) Here are a few pictures of our pumpkins and us as the Incredibles. Isnt Drew absolutely adorable as Jack Jack?

Andrew's 1!

2010-10-17T16:07:00.013-05:00

Andrew,
Just a year ago we were praying for your safe release from the Nicu. You fought so hard and we have been blessed beyond belief by your sweet life. In the past year, you have grown and learned so much! It has been pure joy seeing you meet every milestone with ease and build sweet relationships with me and your daddy. We love you so much and can not believe you will be walking soon, you are saying words, and figuring out toys all by yourself. We want to thank and give praise to our amazing God for staying with us through all of the trials and drawing us closer to Him. Now, we can look back and can see that the beginning of your life is only a small part of the amazing life to come. We love you and will pray for you always. The joy you have brought us is unsurpassed by anything else in our lives!
-Love, Daddy and Mommy

Here are some pictures and fun events we have had in the past month or so. :)
BIG BOY! SO HANDSOME!

My boys on their actual birthday!

Andrew's first birthday!

Boating on Pawpaw's new toy! I even got in the water!

Listen to me say some words! I am all BOY!!!

10 and 11 months!

2010-09-15T20:42:00.004-05:00

I CANNOT BELIEVE MONTHS 10 AND 11 HAVE FLOWN BY! Andrew, we are so blessed to have such a happy baby boy in our lives. We cherish the time we spend with you daily. Every day we become more and more attached to you and see what a miracle you are to be here on this earth and to be doing so well. Some of the things you are doing is: crawling like a mad man, pulling up on everything, walking along the couch and table, pulling yourself up on the futon and then standing up (you do this super fast too), saying ball, baba(bottle), and bog(dog). Some of the things you enjoy to do are: watching and petting the dogs while their outside or in their crate, throwing the ball and then crawling to get it, talking, clapping, slicking your tongue out (when we say, "wheres your tongue), and you love to get and give kisses. We love you sweet boy and cant imagine our lives without you. We pray that you come to know the Lord and lean on Him throughout your life.

Love, Mom and Dad

Now, onto things we have been doing in the past few months....

Having our picture taken (thanks Ashlee Dawn Photography!)

Drew got really cute A&M shoes from Pops and loves wearing maroon! The shoes say A&M on top and have a bugle imprinted on the bottom. He wore them and loved them. Thanks Pops!

A few things we all enjoy doing throughout the day...
-Reading

-Hanging out in our PJs, loving on each other

-Playing silly games

And for the one Andrew will hate me for, he likes to watch the dogs play...naked... and then pee on the floor and couch (he was not diapered b/c he had a horrible diaper rash from having a virus. But, it led to a great picture. hehe. (Please excuse the dirty glass door, not worth cleaning b/c the dogs jump on it as soon as it is)

This is Drew being entertained by the dogs!! Too funny.

Andrew or Jack Jack?

2010-09-09T22:22:00.006-05:00

Well, after a long time of not blogging, I am finally getting around to doing it. I will blog about Drew's 10th and 11th months, but this is just a quick blog about something we find hilarious. A long time ago, when Drew was about 4 or 5 months, Aaron mentioned that he thought Drew looked like the baby Jack Jack off the movie, The Incredibles. We laughed and then compared pictures of Drew and Jack Jack. It really is true... big blue eyes, hair growing mostly on top, little pokey ears, little nose, and a big sweet smile. I was going to blog about it a long time ago, but got busy and forgot, but tonight was reminded by one of my first graders. My school had a PTA meeting and all of the teachers had to go, plus my students were performing. I took Drew with me because Aaron had school. We were all back stage and one of my students looked at me, pointed at Drew, and said, "He looks like the baby off the Incredibles movie, Jack Jack. I then laughed and here I am writing this blog. Look for yourself, what do you think? Needless to say, I think Jack Jack is the cutest baby in any movie I have seen. ;)

9 months old!!!

2010-07-15T11:10:00.002-05:00

Andrew Asa Lovelace,
You are absolutely the sweetest baby! You have enriched our lives, as well as, your grandparents, and friends. Every person you see, you make smile. You have learned so much in the past month! You are pushing yourself to seated, crawling, and pulling up on whatever you can grab (which has led to many falls). Your daddy and I never knew you would bring such fun and happiness into our lives. We cant quite figure out whos personality you have because there are moments that you are very excitable and talkative (like Mommy) and others where you are a quiet observer (like Daddy). Either way, we love you and are so excited to see everything the Lord has in store for you.

The first one is Drew pull up. :)

The second is Aaron catching Drew finding and playing with an electrical cord. (He loves those things) Doesnt he look like he is knows he shouldnt be?

Drew is on the move...crawling!!!

2010-07-10T13:24:00.002-05:00

We are so excited (and nervous) that Drew is crawling!!! He was always getting what he wanted by rolling, but I guess it wasnt enough to catch the dogs. He started sitting himself up a while ago, but when he really got interested in the dogs, he started rocking on his hands and knees. It is really neat to see them grow and change. I feel like it was yesterday we were bringing Drew home and now he is almost 9 months and crawling. Where has the time gone? I love my little family and thank God for a healthy sweet baby boy! Plus, Drew is very blessed to have a daddy that loves and plays with him so much!

Check out the video of Drew crawling. :)

Great Pictures!

2010-07-07T14:26:00.002-05:00

I saw this photographer on facebook and loved how her pictures captured real life. Check her out! I hope we can capture our family with her too!

http://www.ashleedawnphotography.com/

Born in the USA!

2010-07-04T21:21:00.003-05:00

We are so blessed to live a nation that is free! I am so thankful for the men and women who fought and are fighting for it, including my dad (Vietnam, 3 bronze stars, oh yeah!) father and law (retired) and both my grandpas in WWII. Lord I am also reminded of the freedom we have to choose You and am so thankful for Your eternal gift of life!

2010-06-28T20:37:00.002-05:00

Well, the days are over that we can just leave Drew in a room to just go grab something. But, it is so fun to see him learning new things and being so proud of himself. Recently he has learned to sit up from laying on his belly, and pull with his arms to get on his knees. He goes wherever he wants to, by rolling, army crawl, or pushing himself up to sitting. Everytime he sits up, he has to look at each person in the room, just to make sure they saw it and are happy about it too. :) Here is a video of him waking up from his morning nap and then pushing himself up to sitting. Enjoy!

My Daddy Rocks!

2010-06-20T11:50:00.002-05:00

Happy 1st Father's Day Daddy! We love you and could not ask for a better husband or daddy! :)

8 months old!

2010-06-15T20:40:00.012-05:00

Andrew Asa, you are 8 months old and doing great! We are so happy watching you grow and develop and you have really grown. In the Nicu, your Grams and Pawpaw gave you a bear and this is what you looked like with it then...

and now...

You are learning so many new things and becoming very aware of everything and everyone. Just today, I was giving you a bath and you dropped your rubber duckies on the outside of the tub, then you knew they were there, leaned over, looked at them, grabbed onto the side and held yourself up to reach them. You grabbed one and felt so proud of yourself. I was amazed and are every time you learn or show us something new. Your daddy and I are so proud to be your parents and hope that, with God's help, we will show you His everlasting love. You are the sweetest baby and definately have your daddy's temperament, calm, cool, and collected. :)
Here is a pic of you pulling yourself up in the bath (dad sort of got it)...

Here are some sweet pics of you swimming the other day for the first time with your friend Charlie. You loved the water and had a great time putting your head into it. Your daddy and I love you so much and are greatful to God that he would give us such a precious gift!
Checking it out...

I like it...

Sticking his head in the water, trying to get a drink...

Sweet Boy...

Kickin' in the floaty...

Oh no, we have to leave?...

Its a party and I have a big pooper!

2010-06-08T20:19:00.006-05:00

Well, I normally dont blog this much, but today we had a poop extravaganza! Andrew was playing on the floor and I thought, oh Drew is stinky, I better change him. So... I walked over and thought oh he pooped out, no big deal. But, it was! I opened his outfit and pulled it off, only to find a diaper load of poop outside the diaper! Yuck! It was all over and reached all the way up to his shoulder blades. Although, Drew was as happy as lark, as usual. So, I got him naked and plopped him into tub and turned the water on, not realizing it is on shower mode. I am startled and wet and Drew got scared and started crying. I couldnt pick him up b/c he was covered in poop, so I decided to hose him off and fill the bathtub up again, so everyone could calm down and relax (including myself). Here are a couple pics of the whole thing! :) Dont scroll if you cant handle poop. :)

And a HAPPY BABY AFTER ALL THAT! I LOVE SEEING HIM GROW AND LEARN NEW THINGS!

Drew has learned how to pick up the ball and put it into the giraffe and I finally got it on video today. He always studies things and then somehow figures it out. He has a really smart daddy, so he must take after him! :)

Boot, Scoot, and Boogie!

2010-06-05T22:29:00.005-05:00

Well our little guy is scooting and starting to push off with his legs! He gets frustrated when he cant get to what he wants (I dont know where he gets that from):) But, I know it will just get easier with practice. Before we know it, we will be chasing his all over. He is also drooling like crazy and wants everything to be in his mouth. So... maybe he is teething. I guess he'll get teeth eventually. :)

Here is video of him scooting! He loves cups, red or blue are his favorite!

Oh and we took Drew to "swim" for the first time with our sweet friends, The Bowens. Charlie and Andrew looked too cute in their swim trunks and hats. As soon as we set Drew in the water he started splashing, kicking, and playing. Drew loved it! He tried to drink the water, but dunked his head in the water shooting up. It was so much fun and we got great pics (well Trey did, thanks!), but left them, so I guess they will be on Drew's 8th month post. Yikes, did I just type 8? Wow, time is disappearing! I am so happy to soak up as much lovins as I can over the summer! It is going to be awesome!!!

Here are some really adorable pics of Drew in his dada's tie. :)

Happy 7 months Drew!

2010-05-15T21:48:00.002-05:00

Well, baby boy, you sure are wonderful! You really make us laugh more than we ever have. (Not to say that we didnt laugh before, but there is something about watching your own baby that makes the soul smile) Andrew, at seven months you are sitting up all by yourself and playing with your toys, you have no fear when it some to falling over. You will arch back and take a fall backward and reach as far as you can and fall forward. No matter what you are determined to get what you want. You are also getting much more vocal about what you are happy about and not so happy about. The only fruit you really love is pears, just like your daddy. You seem to like things that arent so sweet. You like veggies a lot more, some of your favs are: peas, squash, and sweet potato. You HATED mom's homemade baby food, so I guess the store brand will do just fine. One thing that we think is super cute is you grab your feet constantly and one thing you just did today was discover your wee wee. In the bathtub, you discovered it. Your daddy said you were thinking, " whoa, and I thought my feet were cool" Too funny. :) I thank the Lord for giving such a precious gift to us. I pray you come to know your Maker and have the confidence to live your life for Him. We LOVE you so much sugar (that is my nickname b/c he weighed as much as one bag of sugar)!

This is what happens when I am with daddy....

2010-05-13T20:34:00.003-05:00

I am messy and extremely happy!!!

This how Drew sleeps... SO SWEET!

God will hold me...

2010-05-09T21:05:00.002-05:00

This Mothers Day was wonderful! I have such a sweet son that the Lord has given me and that is enough. I have to say, on this Mothers day the Lord continues to remind me that Andrew is NOT mine, he is HIS. Ever since Drew was born I have worried about this and about that and really it has stolen some of my joy of being a mother. The devil will take what he knows you are weak at and consistently try and put it in the forefront for you to focus on. Dont get me wrong, we had many things that were scary when Drew was born, but since being home from the NICU, he has done awesome. (He is now 25-50% in weight and 50-75% in height, he looks huge now, considering he weighed 5.3 and was 18 1/2 inches long) I often wonder why I worry, and I am sure this is a mom thing, but I am trying to really let it go. The Lord's will is done for Aaron, Drew, and my life, so why not just be happy. So, from now on, I will pray when the devil makes me worried and try my best to cherish every moment with Andrew. Lord I pray for all mommas out there that you take the fear and control that we have and show us the sheer joy our children can and do bring us. Thank you so much for Andrew and Aaron!!!

Here is a video that brings me a lot of joy just watching it! Drew loves people and laughs so hard sometimes. It is awesome to be a momma to such a happy baby. :)

HAPPY 6 MONTH!

2010-04-15T16:45:00.005-05:00

Since the day you were born...

we were so happy you were ours. Now, Andrew, you are 6 months old and we have enjoyed watching you grow and develop your sweet personality. You are so happy and show us God's love all the time. Since last month, you have learned to roll and get to something you want, play with all your toys, and really love to laugh with your daddy. You are the most precious gift we could ever receive. Your daddy and I could not have imagined how much pure joy you bring us!

Looking at the grass and feeling it for the first time... I am sure he is thinking... this is very interesting, I wish I could put it into my mouth. :)

Andrew's First Easter!

2010-04-04T19:34:00.006-05:00

Thank you Jesus for promising to take me to paradise if I just believe in You. This concept I dont think I will ever fully grasp, but I do know that entrusting my life to you has given me security and confidence. I pray that my son will come to know and believe in you and fully understand the meaning of your birth, death, and resurrection.

Here is handsome Andrew in his first Easter outfit. :) Super sweet!

Here is another picture that I love! Aaron loves to make Drew laugh and Drew is totally in love with his daddy! :)

Bouncin' Baby Boy

2010-03-31T21:48:00.002-05:00

Drew is becoming more and more active everyday. He loves to bounce!!! He is also sitting up and playing with toys for a few seconds by himself. Before we know it he will be on the move and getting into everything. I am sure many moms would say Amen to that. Here is the little man bouncing it up and having a blast! ENJOY! :)

Kiss Me, I'm Irish!

2010-03-17T11:00:00.002-05:00

Here is Drew in his cute outfit Aaron's parents bought him! Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy 5 months Andrew Asa!

2010-03-15T11:06:00.005-05:00

Happy 5 months Andrew Asa!!!
To this day you have brought so much joy to your daddy and I! Every smile we are thankful for and we love to watch you learn new things! In your 5 months, you have learned to smile, scream, coo, eat with a spoon, grab your toys, laugh, hold your bottle, and roll over. These are the big ones off the top of my head, but I am sure there are more. You have also grown so much! You started out just as big as a bag of sugar, 5lbs, 3oz and now you are over 25in. and weight a little over 15lbs! The doctor says you are going faster than other babies your age. He says you will be caught up by 1. We love you so much and can not wait to see you grow and learn. We pray for you every day that you will grow to be strong in the Lord and become confident in his perfect plan for your life!

Here is how Mommy and Drew's day has gone do far. :)
Today started off great! Got up at 5:30 and 8:45 to feed Drew. After the 8:45 feeding I played with Andrew and then he sat and watched Baby Einstein while I did a few things around the house. One of those things was checking the laundry and guess what I smelled, mint! Oh no, Gum! This was my first horrible thought. So, I began looking at every piece of laundry searching for the gum, but didnt find any. Once I got to the bottom of the dryer, I saw it: Burts Bees Lip Balm! Oops, I missed it in one of my pants pockets. I pulled it out and opened it which promptly poured out a stream of hot liquid. At first I was mad, but then I thought, it could be Gum! So the clothes continue to dry and we will just smell slightly minty for a week or so. I would rather smell a little minty than spend even more time on laundry. This spring Break is going to be spent with my little man and with Aaron when he is done with his huge paper. :) PS-Please dont sniff us if you see us. :)

After the dryer debacle, Drew was getting sleepy, so I laid him down in his crib for a nap. He began crying and I could tell, if I just let him cry, he would eventually fall asleep. I let him cry for about 3 minutes and throughout the whole time, I kept telling myself, he has to learn to self soothe. But after 3 minutes, I caved. After all, I dont get to be at home with him during the day that often. But, on the up side, I only held him for about 2-3 minutes before he fell asleep, then I laid him down and rubbed his back. Something that help (I think) was the bear that makes womb noises. He is sound asleep in his crib and that is why I have time to write this. All in all, I feel it was a success b/c I did let him cry some and I think I will only get better at it. I must say it is hard letting them cry, but I know it is for the best. He is such an amazing gift and I just have to keep telling myself he will learn with time and it is mine and Aaron's job to teach him.

Well, I will see how tomorrow goes, may be better, may be worse. Either way I love my sweet Andrew and wouldnt trade a second of holding him.

Here is a picture for my dad, who got this cute onesie for Drew.

1st pj pics :)

2010-03-09T20:56:00.005-06:00

Here is Drew in his first pajamas. So cozy and tired. :)

Here is Drew and daddy watching sports. :)

Andrew Asa with his buddy Charlie William having tummy time. :)

Laughter is the best medicine. :)

2010-03-07T21:48:00.001-06:00

Andrew loves to be tickled and his laugh is so contagious! Aaron and I cant help but laugh when he does. :)
Check out Drew laughing!

Sacrifice

2010-02-20T15:52:00.003-06:00

Every time I think about Aaron and Andrew, I am overwhelmed with emotion and thankfulness. I look at them and think, "Why am I so blessed?" I have continued to think about this question and started to contemplate the sacrifice God made by giving up his son. I wonder... could I do that? I would like to think so, but I don't think I could stand back and watch my son be hung on a cross, mocked, and die, all for the sake of other people. Thinking about the sacrifice of giving up your son to save the sinful is beyond my understanding. I am overrun with how loving, faithful, and amazing our God is! I have always thought I understo0od what our God did for us with the sacrifice of His son, but now that I have one, I have a whole new appreciation. Lord, I am so thankful for my family and pray for those who do not know you, that they come to understand what You have done for them. Thank You for your Son, Jesus, and the unwavering love you have given to me.
-Love, Your Daughter

Our Valentine :)

2010-02-14T11:34:00.005-06:00

Andrew is our sweet representation of our love. Here are a couple pics of his first Valentines Day! Such a cute and happy boy!

2010-02-12T20:42:00.006-06:00

Andrew has had many firsts in the past few weeks, which is so fun for Aaron and I to watch! We would not have been surprised if he was a bit behind on his milestones because he was 5 weeks premature, but he is right on track, if not ahead! We took him to his 4 month checkup on Friday and he is really growing! He started off not on the growth chart, then he went to 3%, then 10%, and NOW he is in the 25%!!! Wahoo!!! We love watching him change and grow. We are so thankful to our sweet God for giving us the gift of parenthood! Here are some videos of his firsts!

Drew rolling over like a champ!

Drew chatting up mommy (not a first, but still the cutest baby!)

Drew holding his bottle...kinda

The Snow Family!

2010-02-12T11:14:00.008-06:00

Aaron and I built our little family out of snow when I got home from work yesterday! It was so much fun! Dont worry, we put Drew in his little chair in front of the double doors out to the backyard. We could see him and he loved how bright it was. :) When we took him out in the snow, he didnt like the actual snow falling on his face. Too cute! This morning, Aaron and I went and had a snowball fight. We each had our own strategies of hitting the other. Aaron would make actual snowballs and I would just pick up lightly packed clumps. I think mine worked better because it would fall apart as soon as it hit him. Although, I fell and he got me really good. I am so glad to be home, hanging with the hubby and our sweet son! Here are pics of our creations.

Daddy and Drew Day

2010-01-28T21:31:00.002-06:00

This is my (Aaron) inaugural blog. My day home with Drew was awesome, but the morning was definitely an experience. On Wednesday, our Contracts class was canceled so I had Drew for what I thought was going to be an extra hour in the morning. So I fed Drew at 9, and thats when things got interesting. He started spitting up EVERYTHING he just ate. That used to be pretty normal for him, but since he started on the rice cereal, its really kept the spitting up to a minimum. He doused his clothes and a burp rag and a bib. When I was changing him I noticed that he had nasty spit up all over the back of his hair, so I decided that I needed to give him a bath. I knew I would be late for class so I called Dena (Drew's sitter) and told her that I wouldn't be bringing Drew to her that day. When I was getting Drew ready for his bath, he had the biggest nastiest poop ever. It was thick stinky and disgusting. I think that's why he was spitting up, he was trying to push out the big one. So I got him wiped off and plunked him down into his nice warm whale bath tub I had all ready for him. Which he promptly pooped into. Alot. So I had to get him out, drain the tub, spray it out and refill it for him. The 2nd time he got in he had a blast, he was just as happy as he could be that he just had 2 big poops. Either way, he finally got clean and took a good nap after his bath. The rest of the day was awesome. We played and had tummy time and talked and laughed. I think we both enjoyed our day hanging out.

I actually ended up staying home with him on today, too. Dena's little girl was sick, so I emailed my assignment I had due to my professor and Daddy Drew Day 2.0 was on. Pretty much the same as the first, except without the morning spit up/poop adventure.

Being a Thankful Working Mommy

2010-01-24T15:04:00.005-06:00

Well, it has been 2 weeks since I went back to work and I have to say it is tough! I find myself frustrated a lot more because every second of every weekday I have something to do. Feed Andrew, cook dinner, prepare for school, eat, laundry, and the list goes on... But, even though our lives have changed, we wouldnt trade it. I have to constantly remind myself that God is in control and I have so much to be thankful for. These are the things I am thankful for and want to write them, so when I feel overwhelmed I can look back on them:

1. Jesus Christ who has saved me from myself

2. my husband, Aaron, who works so hard at being a dad, student, and a great supportive husband

3. my son, Andrew (i almost tear up because I know things could have turned out much worse and am so thankful to God that he is perfect, but just a little bit small which I know will even out by age 1)

4. my mom, dad, and brother (anytime I need something, they are right there to help, no matter what)

5. Aaron's parents, who constantly help us out with babysitting, diapers, and of course, cute clothes for Drew.

6. my job, wow, thank you Lord for this wonderful place you have put me! (I could not ask for a better partner teacher, who is so experienced and supportive)

7. my friends, who will talk to me whenever I need a listening ear, good or bad!

I am sure there are more, but these were the things that stood out. Now, I am going to feed Drew. :) Oh, one more thing I am thankful for: all the prayers for Drew, Aaron and I. :) Love you all!

Cereal!

2010-01-18T21:35:00.006-06:00

Well, Andrew is the sweetest, most content baby! He has been smiling, cooing, and kicking like crazy! But the baby boy just keeps spitting up! So we started cereal today to see if it will coat his stomach and help him keep his food down. We have done it 3 times and he has not projectile spit, so we are keeping our fingers crossed. Here is a picture of him eating! Like his cereal goatee?

Here is another adorable picture of Andrew being the naked cowboy! :)

Here is Andrew's first day of church. January 10, 2010. He was really good, except for grunting a lot. :) He was praying so hard. :)

And here is just a sweet picture of Drew one day when we were taking him out. :)

2010-01-03T15:36:00.002-06:00

This morning, Andrew was siting in his swing. I sat down on the floor and started talking to him. He began smiling and cooing. Sooo sweet. He is really becoming a smiley boy. :)

This was Andrew's first time in the crib. He still sleeps in the pack n play in our room, but I thought it would be fun to put him in the crib. He loved his car mobile! He could not take his eyes off of it. :) Thanks Grams and Pawpaw!

2010-01-02T11:02:00.004-06:00

Well, the holidays have been super busy! It started with all of my family coming in from many states, California, New Mexico, and Illinois! We all stayed at the Embassey Suites across from the Galleria starting on the 23rd. We just hung out, ate lots of yummy food, including all the candy that mom and I made, and of course the cousins went shopping. :) One of the best moments was going to Christmas Eve dinner where Santa made his appearance! All of my cousins are having babies too, so there were 8 kids under the age of nine! Needless to say, they were SUPER excited when Santa payed them a visit at dinner! Santa brought them all a gift. Andrew must have been a really good boy because he got a light up/talking cow. :) After my family left, we continued with Aaron's family with opening presents with my niece who loves to open presents! She was really funny because Jeremy (Aaron's brother) told her she couldnt open presents until she was done eating, which included a few more bites of this and a few more bites of that... She was suppose to eat a piece of ham, but didnt want it, so I put a piece of Mac and Cheese on the end trying to trick her. No such luck! She carefully pulled the noodle off the end of the fork, leaving the ham behind! What a smart and funny girl. :) I can not believe she is 2 1/2!
The festivities just keep going, some of our closest friends came to visit us, the Crosbys! It was wonderful getting to hang out with them and catch up like old times. :)

Andrew just keeps growing and is now smiling and cooing! Every time we change his diaper he finds this brown and tan dog sitting on the window seal. He really loves this dog because he smiles and talks to it which is soooo adorable. I always have the camera ready because I know he is going to smile. Here is a pic of him doing just that! :)

Andrew had many Christmas outfits, so here are a few pics. He is fitting into 0-3 month clothes, which is so much fun! Aaron and I just cant get enough of our sweet boy!

Such a Big Boy!

2009-12-12T22:47:00.003-06:00

Andrew is growing, growing, growing!!! We took him to the doctor and he weighs 9 pounds!

We went to our sunday school Christmas party and it was fun! It was hard leaving Drew, but he did great with Grams and Poppy. So, we had a white elephant gift exchange which was great, except for one of the gifts we received... a huge bean bag chair, courtesy of the Fants. The funniest part was getting it into our car. Aaron spend some time beating it into the trunk. :) We really dont know what to do with it, but we put it into the office for now. Lola loved it and now we call it her thrown. I doubt we will keep it because it is the size of Montana, but it will stay there till we find it a home.

2009-12-03T19:09:00.010-06:00

Last night was a big deal! Our friends, Lindz and Brett came over and we took Andrew out in public for the first time! We were nervous, but he only got fussy a couple of times and was quickly soothed with a binky (sp?) or mommy talking to him. I know many of yall are thinking its crazy we havent taken him out, but anyone who has had a baby in the Nicu knows that they make you paranoid. :) We felt ok taking him out because he is getting stronger and weighs 8 pounds! He gained a pound in a week! That is a lot. :) Before we went to Roadhouse, Lindz and Brett got to hold him. So sweet. Brett was a trooper and held him when he was hungry. :)

We just can not get enough of our sweet Andrew! We had our own photo shoot. :) He gave us some really funny pictures.

Go Cowboys!

2009-11-22T20:29:00.001-06:00

Today Andrew wore his first big boy outfit! He wore it to support the Cowboys! Check it out. :)

Showering Andrew!

2009-10-01T15:30:00.003-05:00

Andrew will be here in 45 days (hopefully)! Wahoo! Aaron and I are excited and can not wait to share our joy with our family and friends these next 3 weekends. We are having 3 showers and if you are coming we are super excited to see you!