Christmas Card Bloopers

I totally dropped the ball on getting proper Christmas card pictures this year. No big deal, I can take them myself, I reasoned. I mean, I just needed one good pic, so how hard could it be, right?

Wrong.

Getting a 5-month old baby who has recently discovered the wonder that is his feet to sit still for a picture was nearly impossible. I did my best, but came away with more bloopers than good pics.

It could be cute, save for the spit up on his chin. Sigh.

mad at duck.

Giving duck a good pat on the head

Hey, that's my hat!

Check out my feet, mom

Ducks are delicious

So done with this photo shoot

Needless to say, next year I will be paying the big bucks to get proper pictures taken:)

Anyway, I hope your Christmas was full of fun with family and friends, yummy food, and joy and laughter.

Working Mother Baggage

That title is not metaphorical. It takes a small army and a whole lot of juggling to get us out the door in the morning.

This is a typical day's worth of stuff needed to get me to work and Lucas to the sitters. The blanket is hiding his diaper bag and my purse.

The biceps on my left arm are getting so ripped.

Cheers to Friendships Well Worn-In

One of the greatest gifts my parents gave me was the gift of life-long friendships. 

They were part of a church community where everyone was having kids at the same time, so I've grown up with the same group of friends since we were born.

Lucas, Caitlyn, and Orion

I've gone through everything with these girls. from playpen days to learning to walk and talk. from going to school for the first time, playing "house" in the pasture, and long Wildcat Lake summers. through first boyfriends and awkward middle school years, to teenage angst and finding ourselves. to losing part of ourselves with the loss of Chase and regaining new love and life in our husbands and children. 

I feel so blessed to have known these friends since birth and was absolutely thrilled to introduce them to the newest gift in my life.

My oldest and dearest friend, Sarah, and my sisters threw me a "Meet Baby Lucas" party and invited all of these life-long friends and our moms -- 30+ years of friendships in that room!

The theme was a toy shower, and Lucas got lots of fun new toys to play with as he grows. 

Sarah got me a charm bracelet too, and each person would select a charm to add to the bracelet and, with it, give a wish for Lucas and or advice to me. It was such a fun idea, and I will forever treasure the bracelet and the kind words.

The shower was lovely, but the most beautiful part of it for me was to look around and just feel so blessed to be part of such a great legacy of love and friendship.

Thanksgiving Craziness

For Thanksgiving this year, we headed to Topsail Beach with my family. We've outgrown my parents house at this point, so every other year, we rent a huge house at the beach and all pile in for a week of togetherness.

The week was full of game-playing, drinking, eating, chatting, pool, hot-tub-sitting, star-gazing, napping, beach-playing, fun, fun, fun.

My favorite part was doing a treasure hunt for the kids -- we buried a box of treasure and set up a bunch of clues on the beach that they had to follow to find the X marking their treasure. A "map" in a washed-up wine bottle helped them see where to go. It was such a blast to see them figure out the hint and go running down the beach for their next checkpoint. I'll definitely tuck that idea away for when Lucas is a bit older.



Lucas couldn't get enough of his cousins, and they couldn't get enough of him. Excited for him to grow up with that crazy gang.


Anyway, a few pics from our week of fun:

Eliana playing in the sand

Lucas' first time seeing the ocean.

sisters

Uncle Nate's self portrait

He LOVED his sunglasses and laughed so hard when we first put them on. what a stud

My two loves

Loves his MawMaw

Bocce

Snoozing. He slept like this a lot that week.

Sleepy Time

Josh and I spend a stupid amount of time watching Lucas do . . . well, nothing really. and we videotape it for your pleasure.

Behold, the amazing sleeping baby.

You're welcome:)

Anatomy of a Roll

Lucas has started rolling . . . selectively. He doesn't do it on command or even very often, but every once in a while, he rolls.

and here's what it looks like.

we start here and then we get some momentum,

 put our shoulder into it (but notice the amazing eye contact),

 and MAGIC!

 So proud of myself, Mommy!

But

sometimes I wish you'd stop making me do these tricks.

Kicking Ass and Taking Names

my little baby ninja

First Shots

Lucas had his two-month appointment on Thursday. He weighed in at a whopping 13 lbs and he was 21 inches in length.

He behaved splendidly throughout his whole appointment, not even crying when they stripped him naked to measure him. He just sat in Josh’s lap and looked at the doctor the whole time. It was adorable.

The doctor was super impressed with his sleeping habits (he had slept from 8 to 5 the night before), and we felt like were at least doing some things right. He fell asleep between the doctor leaving the room and the nurse coming in to give him his shots.

Oh, those shots. I sat where I couldn’t see the needles and cried a little. He gave out a pitiful wail and cried his little “this hurts” cry for about two minutes. I hadn’t heard that cry yet, and it’s definitely my least favorite cry of his. But, after those couple of minutes, he just fell right back to sleep. We congratulated ourselves on being awesome parents because clearly he behaved so well because of all of our diligent care and discipline. Clearly.

Right after the shots and right before the screaming commenced

He did fine until he woke up from his nap. And then we realized that our baby does not, in fact, walk on water. I was working from home and Josh was at his brothers helping to paint when I called him frantically to come home and hold Lucas. The poor little guy just screamed and screamed for almost two hours. I tried to nurse him and he’d nurse and then just stop and cry and cry. Heart-breaking. Josh took him outside and carried him around but nothing really helped.

We finally got wise to the fact that he could probably just use some Tylenol. Which he did. And then proceeded to go back to sleep and be his adorable good baby self. whew.

Shots suck. I think next time he has them, I will just have to schedule a very important meeting that I can’t possibly get out of :) and let Josh handle them on his own.

Newborn Photos

My friend Amaree came and took a few pics of Lucas a couple weeks after he was born. He looks so different now, I can hardly believe it, but I figured I would share a few of my favorites.

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Happy Birthday, daddy! I love you and I love being your kid.

I can't wait to grow up with you as my dad --

We are going to laugh (and I'll think all your jokes are funny),

cheer on the Wolfpack,

make mommy nervous,

and dress up in funny costumes you make (Halloween will definitely be my favorite holiday:).

I'm excited for you to teach me sports and can't wait to beat you at basketball. It will probably be when I am seven because I'm awesome like that.

I can't wait to be just like you when I grow up. I love you and I'm glad you're my dad.

* Josh's birthday was a few weeks ago, and Lucas and I made the above slideshow for his b-day card.