Tuesday, December 30, 2014

2014...deckerville recap!!

2014....WAS THEE FASTEST YEAR OF MY LIFE!!! and you know why....TIME FLIES WHEN YOU'RE  HAVING FUN!! That is the truest statement!! Here is a little recap of our year! 

JANUARY-
We were anxiously awaiting the arrival of our third son. I was dilated a 3-4 most of the month so we didn't go far! I also turned 30(yikes!!) and Lane was 3 and Luke was 1 and it was a fun indoor snowy month preparing for our little ones arrival! And our new dance studio opened so that was fun teaching in a new building!! Here are a few pics from that month! 

NEW YEARS EVE 2013 (Went to Pizza Hut and stayed home!)

My 30th Birthday! 

36 weeks pregnant!!! 
Heading out to dinner for my 30th Birthday date! 

Indoor fun! 

Outdoor fun


Oh and Lanes first dentist appointment 
No cavities and such a good boy! 


FEBRUARY-
What a great month!! 
Luke turned 2 Feb 14, 2014 and we celebrated a week early since the baby was due so close to his birthday! 
And we welcomed Lyric Matthew into the world on Feb 18, 2014! (I was 41 weeks pregnant, over due and had to be induced!) so many great pics from that month but here is just a few! 

Luke's second Birthday!! (He looks a little grumpy here but he really wasn't! Lol! This is just the only one of all 4 of us! We had a great Thomas the train party for him!)
Man he sure has grown up and knows so much more at almost three!! 

He got chonies for his birthday and here he is tryin them on!! (He didn't get potty trained until he was 2 1/2 and now at almost three is such a good potty boy with the exception of liking his privacy while going number 2 and currently still prefers to do that is his pull up during naps or bed most days! It will inevitably work itself out though!!:)


We then got the devestating news that my cousins daughter has leukemia. So the boys and I made these to send them to her in the hospital along with some other valentines day crafts! Lleylie is doing good!! She is so beautiful and is actually in Disney world right now on a make a wish trip with her mom and sister! God is good and is faithful! He is Immanuel and HE IS WITH THEM! Lleylie's mom Teresa is one tough momma and often posts about God's provision through it all on Facebook and I know she is reaching so many turning Lleylie's trial into a testimony! I often think of my battle with Luke when I heard later that "the blessing is IN the battle because you recognize God and all His marvelous way, more than any good time ever could have shown you!!!" Praying for Lleylie all the time!! 


On Valentines Day (Luke's actual birthday) we celebrated by having our traditional heart shaped pancakes for breakfast and then going to the discovery center (only 10 mins from the hospital just incase) and out for pizza! It was a great day! 

AND THEN FINNAALLYYY....at 41 weeks pregnant and dilated and thinned out for weeks...I ended up being induced on Tuesday Febuary 18th! 
Here is our last family of 4 picture the night before!! 

Heading out the door after lunch time and laying our other two boys down for naps! (The timing was very nice and convient I must say!! However I would still rather go into labor on my own;)


Before...as parents of two little boys ages 3 & 2


AFTER! Parents of THREE little boys!!! (It was a good delivery and went very fast at the end!) 

Lyric Matthew Decker was born on Tuesday Febuary 18, 2014 
7lbs 15oz 20 1/2 
HE WAS PRECIOUS!! Three kids in less than four years and not one second was any less amazing than becoming parents the first time! We were both filled with tears of joy! He was beautiful, breath taking, and so full of life! For those first few seconds I literally feel like my heart is laying on the outside of my chest beating so loud and hard racing with excitement!! I kept asking Matt how is head looked of course due to our past experience (even. Though. It. Was. Well. In. My. Soul. I just needed my super strong husband to keep saying to me he is perfect and nodding his gorgeous daddy grin at me from across the room as he watched him get cleaned up!!) 
Unfortunately...Lyric swallowed some of my amniotic fluid and got wet lung. He had to have chest X-rays that night and be on an IV antibiotic until Friday to make sure he stayed clear from metabolizing pneumonia or something in his lungs while that fluid was getting out of there. He grunted when he breathed and was on a NICU bed for over 12 hours! After Lots of prayers and his first breast feeding session he never grunted again! GOD IS GOOD!! HE IS ALWAYS there for us! If we ever have another baby I think we will go into the room and say ok devil  whatever you may be thinking about throwing our way...we WILL be overcomers by Gods grace and we will STILL come through it all perfectly! The way HE intended!! 


So finally after some quiet time alone and resting time that Lyric needed...our little boys (and then after...everyone else too) got to meet our precious boy! 


We were not surprised by big brother Lanes reaction! We knew he would be IN LOVE!!! 

We were also not surprised by big brother Luke's reaction! He kissed him without being told which was so sweet and said awe and then after LOTS of mommy hugs...was running that joint!! Lol

Our "Party of Five" and let me tell you...every day has been a party ever since! And we LOVE it that way! Sure parties are loud, a lot to prepare for, a lot to clean up after, and sometimes exhausting, but when the sun has set and the party for the day is over...we always think...that was FUN!! Let's do it again and again and again!! Parties are fun and larger crowds are not for everyone and that is ohhkkayy!!! I appriciate the calm before and after the storm now more than ever! But I must say...Matt and I talk about it often and we KNOW THAT WE KNOW THAT WE KNOW we were meant for this life and this loving, fun, and ridiculously loud family with these amazing, very close in age, rough, tough, rambunctious, little boys!! 

I could not be more grateful for My hubby! He is BEYOND amazing!!!! He loves his boys and me like nobody could ever describe! While I was in the hospital he handled everything so well!! (And at 3 and just 2...they defiantly needed assistance in everything at that point and it takes a lot to multitask all of that!) He never ceases to amaze me!! He is a breath of fresh air everytime I'm around him! And bringing yet another little boy into the world...he was outstanding during the whole pregnancy, during labor and delivery and after!! I just love him so very much!! 
Proud daddy!!! 

We have SO MANY pictures but here is a few of my favorite from the beginning!! 
The boys were AMAZING at Lyrics arrival! Both sooo happy and never once showed jealousy or acted upset! Nothing but love for Lyric! (If anything...a little extra love at first!!;) 
Our perfect boy! Slept in our room (until 9 months old!! Now the big two share a room and Lyric has his own room!!) 
Having my ritual "read and feed" with Luke and Lyric! 

He was so good at holding his new baby brother and such a willing helper!! Lyric loved his snuggles from Lane while I got breakfast and stuff ready each morning!

His first bath! A few tears and then loved every second after!! 

2 weeks old...first time in God's house! He was (and still is) a great sleeping boy during church! 

MARCH-
Was a good month...adjusting was easier than I expected but being prepared was more crucial than ever! (And my husband always says I'm over prepared welllll this was a whole new level!) not only was I exclusively breastfeeding, I was also trying to pump when I could for bottles if and when need be and so that adds extra needed moments, but I knew if the dishwasher wasn't unloaded before bed, the boys sippy cups weren't already poured and ready, fruit wasn't cut up and put into cups in the fridge etc...etc...that we may not survive! Well ok we would survive but it was way easier through out the day if things were ready!! The big two LOVE to go outside so that was starting as the snow melted and of course just like Luke did...Lyric LOVED the baby back bjorn so walks were great! 

My favorite picture of that month!! 
 I love them all so much!! 
Lyrics first St. Patricks Day! 

We also took all three of the to build a bear that month for the first time! Luke made a puppy 
And Lane made a rabbit





APRIL-
 Well the boys had a great time hunting Easter eggs, playing outiside, and Lane turned FOUR YEARS OLD!! We are constantly (and always have been) blown away by how smart this child is!! He is so driven, advanced, and QUICK to learn a new task!! His daddy has always said Lane is going to be a light in the darkness in this world...and well as much as I am fighting the thought of him being out and about in the "world" (because I want my precious glowing son to not be tampered with) Matt is SOOO right! He is going to do great things for God's glory!! 

He LOVES to learn bible verses! Here is our little spin on 
James 1:19 "Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry" 
Lane and Luke and Lyrics lesson...
"Be a good listener, wait to talk, don't be grumpy and throw fits" 



We celebrated with a great family party at our house with tacos, cookie cake, icecream and lots of out door playing!! 



Family Easter egg hunting!! (Lyric was behind the blanket!) 


Sweet boys!! 

Swinging with daddy (kind of!;) 
 
MAY-
Matt turned 30!!! Lyric got dedicated at church, we celebrated Mother's Day, Lukie fell and got stitches(as he was buckled into his booster seat he pushed his feet off the table and his chair fell back and he hit his ear on the island behind him and split it in half...it was tramatic to say the least and even though I can't be with them all every single second I was actually right next to him and the other two were sleeping, my sister answered her phone right away, Matt made it to the ER right before he had to have the stitches etc...so all of that worked out in our favor and as AWFUL as it was during the process...Luke was quite a trooper before and after the stitches!) Here are a few pictures from the month! 


Matt's cake from baked by liz said "happy 29th and 12 months birthday!:)"
The boys and I bought him an acoustic guitar and that night I took him out to eat and he got a new tattoo!!! 
It was our first time away from Lyric and we were home early! (I think by 9:00 but it was totally a great time and was so nice to get to dote on my sweet hubby!!) 


Lyric's baby dedication at church with his God parents Aunt Katie and Uncle Rick!

So sweet in hims little outfit!! 

His beautiful cake! We celebrated by going out to eat with all of our family at candlelight after church! 


The boys at the annual firemans breakfast!! 

OUCH!!! Our poor sweet Lukie boy!!! 


They make Mother's Day so special!! 
Post nap snuggles! A daily special time! 

JUNE-
We went to the annual Union Pacific train days and had a blast!! It is so much fun and mainly because our boys are literally in heaven the entire time!! We also made a HUGE change in our lives and decided to leave our church and start attending a church in Morrison. It was a hard decision to make because we knew we would grately miss the people in that church and attending with our family....but it has been a great move for us and the boys and we know attending locally and at Crossroads church is exactly where God wants us to be!! The first month of summer was so fun and we spent almost every meal and all day every day outside and of course we celebrated Father's Day with the best daddy three little boys could ask for!! And lastly Luke had his 2 year post surgery check up with his plastic surgeons and once again God has blessed is with a PERFECT report!! We are sooooo grateful and give HIM ALL THE GLORY!! 
Riding the train at the Union Pacific train days! 
Matts last Sunday playing at Oneighty church. 


Sweet summer boys!! 

Father's Day 2014!! This daddy has one main goal(above all the other fun sports and father/son activities that I know he is looking forward too)  and that is to turn these three into God fearing, world changing, strong Christian men and I am blessed to be on this journey with him!! 



At University of Chicago Medicine after Luke's annual plastic surgeon appointment! Perfect, beautiful, smart, healthy, whole, and strong boy!! He is such a character and so much fun! He is independent and strong willed to do it his way (and sometimes the hard way like his momma did) but he is also sooo laid back like his daddy! And he loves like no other! Hugs, kisses, snuggles, touch, words of affirmation, you name it...he loves it and loves to give it! 

JULY- 
We of course celebrated the 4th (no fire works yet though...still too little to stay up that late!) They enjoyed swimming though of course and Lyric LOVED his first time in the pool and Lane AND Luke were swimming with their life jackets but no help from others! Summer 2015 should be a good one!! (As long as I find the perfect baby toy that our almost 18 month old at the time won't flip out of!) 
Lane also went to bible school for his first time! My mom and dad were his teachers actually because their church did preschool so that helped leaving him there! HE LOVED IT SOOOO much and still can't wait to go back! 






We LOVE summer!!! Especially Zinnens pool!! 


Dropping Lane off bible school!! (Yes I cried my eyes out leaving him that first night! His face was so excited and a little unsure and It was the first time I had ever left him anywhere like that!!) 


Singing at the program the last night!! (He loves singing, doing motions, and even praising God without being told too!! My little Christian soldier!)


Baby's first 4th of July!!! 

AUGUST-
Was a month of hot fun! We enjoyed soaking up every moment with Lane before he started his first year at the Christian preschool, we enjoyed the county fair, and lots of walks!! 

Hot summer babies!! 


Luke got potty trained!! And like most boys he loved being outside in the dirt with just his chonnies on and so did big bro! 



Family fun-day at Rockwood park! 


One of the many indoor breastfeeding sessions I had to take for Lyric...worth every second! It's not for everyone...and I started supplementing formula at 6 months for Lane and Luke had formula at 5 months and you would think with two busy toddlers I would have given Lyric formula by now but for some reason it just seems even easier...he is almost 11 months old currently and has never had anything but breastmilk and we just started introducing a little whole milk!  It's a personal "proud" that I feel! I'm not in need of a pat on the back from anyone but I have to say...I'm proud with as busy as I am most days that I was able to do it this long! I've loved it!! 


Love their summer kissed skin! 


Seeing the rabbits at the county fair! 

Taking a break on one of our MANY walks!! 

SEPTEMBER- "The life changing month!" 
This I knew would instantly bring tears (good and sad) to my eyes just blogging about it!! Lane started preschool! And even though we KNEW he would love it and he was SO excited...we knew we would be starting a new chapter as a family that would forever be life changing...and that's being parents of kids in school!! We have loved every second of raising Lane (and the other two) these 4 years! Even trying moments were a blessing! It is just amazing not having to answer to someone else and care solely for him in the way we prefer every single second of the day! We had our great routine, our craft days, music time, snack time, etc etc etc...and having to be on a school schedule (nothing bad about it) was going to change everything! Just a new way of doing our life and even though there is something exciting about it...it was almost like saying goodbye to those little years with Lane.... And needless to say we were sobbing messes! Not sure which parent cried harder...but don't worry...we are ok and are so happy for him and SO SO SO proud of him!! 

The day before school started Lane and I had a mommy/son date eating ice cream, throwing rocks in the lake at the park, and just talking about school!! 

Then...we decided to cut his hair...BEFORE 

AFTER!!! (This is when the tears began...he looked sooo grown up! And the tears didn't quit for a couple days! Lol)

Ready to go!! September 2, 2014

My husband and his "mini me" GORGEOUS GUYS! 

My little mister 


Our family...Luke asked often that 2 hours where he was! Bible school was the first time Luke was home without Lane!



This is us letting Lane ride his bike after school that day! (The kid loves to ride his bike....sure is scary for mommy to watch when he was first doing it alone!!) 


Here is Lyric obsessed with his fingers!!! A constant hand in mouth baby! (He got his first two teeth on Septemeber 29 so I can see why all the nawing was necessary) 

Lots of fun picnics after school! 


Mommy and Daddy got a MUCH needed date night that month too! We went to candlelight in Clinton and sat out by the river...can you tell we were excited!!:))


Taking Lane to school


The weather started to turn and we got to break out the footie pjs that month a few times and the boys were so cute and cozy in them! 


Here we are at paint the town!! A fun yearly tradition that we love doing!! Morrison is a great city to close down the main streets and let all the people paint the streets and windows on the businesses!!! Lane tried to paint a little masterpiece...and Luke...well he painted his feet as soon as we opened the paint! He thinks the world is his canvas and will paint anything but usually it's always himself first! Lol!

Sweet bedtime snuggles in mommy and daddy's bed are the best!! 


OCTOBER- 
The weather was great for October (except on the very last day...it was freezing on Halloween!!) We spent lots of time outside! The boys LOVED the leaves! Especially Lyric! That kid laughed his head off when you would throw them up in the air!! We had another accident with good ole Lukie boy....he slipped trying to get out of the tub...and of course he didn't stand up and try to get out of  tub until daddy turned around to get the towels so he ended up hitting his face on the edge of the tub and knocked his tooth back! Luckily it didn't turn a goofy color and wasn't loose! Lots of blood but he did GREAT at the dentist the next day! Sat so good even with his sore mouth! We have been praying and believeing that his tooth would start to move forward and come into alignment with the other ones and it looks AWESOME! It was pushed back for quite a while but now you can barely even tell!! So very thankful! Matt got asked to play for a special Friday nights service  for our church band and he did awesome!! Lane and I had a little date going to watch him in Freeport! I was so proud of my hubby!  We enjoyed going to pumpkin patches and ate waaayy too many apple cider donuts! For Halloween we wanted to do something that was "3" so we chose the 3 blind mice (that is a terrible song/nursery rhyme by the way!) but the jist of it was cute! I used a grey shirt and sweat pants that they already had and bought headbands, ribbon, felt and paper to make the ears and we paints their little noses!  I'm so glad we didn't buy the actual costumes and made them because it was FREEZING! We went to three houses total and the combination of the headbands plus the sunglasses was too much pinching behind their little ears and once we added the sunglasses they were all sobbing! 

Rocking their "October shirts!"

One of my favorite pictures of Lyric this far!! Love my precious one with hims little hood up!! (Ok well I LOVE hoods in general! I ALWAYS pull my boys hoods up...it's just sweet how it surrounds their little faces! They are so use to it that recently luke was laying in his bed for nap pulling his up asking for help when the shirt didn't even have a hood! Ha!) 
Dirty, dirty, dirty boys! Loves the outdoors!! 

Heading to French creek park! They have the best bike path and play equipment! 

Lyric started crawling a little hear and there this month and playing ball! (He learn so big and peak a boo around 6 1/2 - 7 months! And started baby oatmeal at 5 1/2 months and I homemade his baby food and he started eating that at 6 months!) 

Our family at selmis pumpkin patch 2014

Bro's!!! 

Mommy and daddy on our "day date" that month! 

Playing in the leaves immediately after school was a must every. Single. Day! 

Eating lunch outside while we still can!

Daddy playing during praise and worship in Freeport! 

Luke after his tooth got knocked back! Poor buddy!! (Maybe I should have saved these pictures for the end...like bloopers?!)


I decided to cut my hair off short the day before Halloween! So glad I did! A much needed and refreshing change! 


Brrrrr!! Freezing on Halloween!! 


One of our three blind mice 
Who did not like the "blind mice" concept!

NOVEMBER- 
We enjoyed the last few times outside without snow and our first time in the snow!! Lyric was a Mobil baby going so fast crawling all around and we had fun preparing for the holidays, celebrating thanksgiving, going to the festival of trees, decorating and doing some family traditions! 

Luke and Lyric while Lane was at school! 

Mommy and Lukies special time! 

Loving the swing at the park! 

Luke LOVES the bible! He always wants his daddy's by our bed and especially loves the little bibles! One day I found him on our bathroom floor in his underwear eating a bag of Fritos from of the counter and pretending to read the bible! Such a character!! 

Lyric eating banana bread! He got his top two teeth and shortly after his two next to the top two giving him 6 teeth by Christmas!! 



I found this great idea online to make your own mugs! Just plain mugs and a sharpie and you bake them on the oven to get it to stay so the boys and I made hot cocoa mugs for the season and they got A LOT of use! They love hot chocolate!! 

Enjoying the first snowfall!! 

Matt got new glasses and looks so cute!! He also worked a weekend outage that month in Wisconsin! I am so grateful for his hard work ethic and it was a nice little extra for Christmas shopping!! 

Here we are headed out on our Christmas shopping date that month to tr quad cities! We had SOOO much fun!! 
It's always a great time with him but this was one of the best dates that year! 

Daddy and Lyric snuggling before bed! 

Here I am soaking up this precious sleeping baby!! 

Lyric in his Thanksgiving day shirt "I'm stuffed" 


The five of is on Thanksgiving day! 

The boys had their first experience with an elf the day after thanksgiving! Alvin was a good elf always doing good fun stuff! 


The boys loved decorating for Christmas!! Each year keeps getting more and more magical around the holidays!! 
Luke also started sleeping in Lane's room in his big boy bed! They sure were excited to share a room! It was honestly a mad house for hours!! We currently are putting Luke to Bed now first around 730ish and Lane to bed about an hour later to avoid the chaos that was happening every night for hours before they would fall asleep! Now it is going GREAT! And Lyric stopped sleeping in the crib in our room and now sleeps in the nursery and was sleeping through the night finally at 9 months!(most nights!!) 

Here is me and the boys at the festival of trees! This is Lane's 5th year going! Love this tradition!! 

DECEMBER 
Probably one of the most magical and fun months of the year. The boys are just SOOO into the holidays, baby Jesus, lights, trees, cookie making, etc etc etc!! We had such a fun year this year! They woke up early every day at first because they were excited to see if their tree was still in the living room! Haha! Lane had a program at school and was so amazing! We were so proud of him! He sang great and he was one of the three boys that got to say something into the microphone! "LET'S GO TO BETHLAHEM"  the sweetest little proclamation ever coming from the sound of that mic! He was just the best! And their school also had a float in the morrisom Christmas walk parade and him and daddy road on it!! He was beaming to be in a parade!  He also had a Christmas program at church singing songs and doing lots of motions and was so good!! Big month of Lane! He had lots of songs to remember and didn't forget a word! He has a great memory! We looked at lights A LOT! We did lots of our regular traditions...Santa came and visited all the decker cousins at Rick and Katie's,  grandpa and grandma took us out for pizza and to see the lights at eagle point park, we made lots of Christmas cookies and goodies, and of course Christmas crafts!! 


The boys "sitting" with Santa! 

Lane and Daddy riding on the float in the parade!! Pure excitement!! 

Taking a bath in the middle of the day when it's too cold to play outside!! 

Lyric turned 10 months old and had a great appointment at the doctor! Right on track and is in the 75 percentile for his weight and was passed the 95 percentile for his height!! 
Getting so big, pulling himself up & standing all the time! Only walking with help though!;)

Santas little helper!! 

Indoor Saturday fort building with mommy while daddy was working overtime! 

Playing in our toy room in the basement!! SOOO thankful for that extra space during the cold months! They love it down there! 

We went to a Christmas party with all of my MOPS friends! It was a blast!!!
Lane and Luke with their nativity scene crafts we did! 
Lane at his school program! So big! Our favorite picture was the one of him praying with his head down nice and tight! So sweet little Jesus boy! 

Lane Singing on stage at Crossroads church for our Christmas program! 

The boys seeing Santa at Eagle point lodge with mommy, daddy, and grandpa and grandma wolf! 
Matching Christmas PJ's! 

Our family in Christmas Eve morning! 

Ready for church on Christmas Eve!! They look so cute in their ties and bow tye! 

Daddy playing in the band on Christmas Eve church service! 
Mommy and Lane excited on Christmas Eve!! 


Christmas morning!!! 
Happy Birthday Jesus!! 
The boys got a lot of great toys and books and games but their favorite was their dicast Lionel steam train!! 
Baby's first Christmas!! 


Our Christmas card 2014!! 

A huge thanks to all our family for being such an awesome part of our lives! It takes a lot to raise kids and we are so thankful for the help, babysitters when need be, encouragement, love, support, and friendship and comradery that comes with having a family and all it's ups and downs! We love you all soooo much! The boys all love you too!!! 

So now it's 2015! We are excited for what the year will bring! Lane will be starting kindergarden this year! Luke has given up the binky!!!(well except in his bed of course;) and is doing great in his big boy bed sharing a room with brother!(now to get number 2 down this year wil be great!!) and Lyric...well he is working on walking and turning one next month! We are looking forward to a new fun year and holding on to all the moments that seem to fly by!! My hubs is doing great at his job and his great hobby of playing the guitar! Expanding his pedal board and well his whole collection and improving is always on his to do list! And as for me...I am working on reading and filling myself up with the resources I need to be the best mommy to these little boys that I can be! I know as the wife and mother of the home I am the thermostat and my mood sets the tempature for the rest of the house! So I am working on being calm, cool, collected, not unglued, complex...not complicated, and the refreshing breath of air for all of these guys that i have been so incredibly blessed with!! So my goal for 2015 Matthew 6:33 to SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM (because I know everything else after that will work out!!) 


Monday, November 10, 2014

Seasons

Whoa buddy....July 20th was my last time in blog land...ouch!! How will I ever update all that has been done since then?!?! I won't....so I'm not even going to try! I do however like to come back here from time to time to record some tid bits of our life because I know this is going to be a great testimony to look back on someday and I don't want it to lapse completely. Like many things in life I am sure there will be a season where I blog regularly and a season where I blog hardly at all or just from time to time. Right now I am defiantly in a season of not blogging and mainly because I  can't find don't really make the time. Prioritizing has become a HUGE shift in my heart lately (well I shouldn't say lately....it's actually been for a while now that I look back on it) but I have really been focused on it lately. I am sure that the big push was the fact that Lane started Preschool this year in Septemember. That was by far one of the hardest days and biggest changes in parenthood yet (ya ya I know we are in for soooo much more...but for us this is our BIGGEST at the current time...and tomorrow will worry about itself.) I am not going to lie, it was tear after tear after tear for both me and my hubby. I who had been crying for basically the entire summer over not going to be having him home with me all day everyday, thought there was no was I'd be a mess on the day of because I felt like I had just possibly cried every tear imaginable...but I was wrong...I was still a mess. My hubby...who is now so sensitive since he became a dad....cried when we cut his hair short the night before...and when we left his preschool we even had to take a walk around the block for him to be able to get it together before going home to meet our other two kiddos who were being watched by our sister in law. It was needless to say a super proud, and hard moment for us both. I don't really need to go into detail why...I know all parents miss their kids when they start school and yet are so excited to see them strive and hit their milestones along the way. It is a bittersweet moment...because they are excited and you are too yet you know this is a HUGE turning point in your life. There is so much responsiblity now with having to go to school and being on time, picking them up, endulging in those moments before, and after, getting every fed, presentable, etc...all at a time frame. It's a huge change for this play at home momma. You see...I think most people can contest that I could never be labled as lazy...so I hope that sentence isn't putting me in that catagory. It's not that the getting out of the house on time, and the to do's of starting the day is because I want to sit in our pj's all day at watch t.v. because that certainly isn't nor has it ever been the case. But I am, like I said, a "play at home" mom. I like to have fun with breakfast and what I make them..."teddy bear toast"....
I like to do crafts at 830 am and take baths at 9:00 because we are so messy. I enjoy spending time snuggling and doing fun flashcard apps on the ipad or watching diesel trains drive by with Lane before everyone else gets up. I like the routine of the little learning and schooling I have been instilling in him for the past 4 years and having to find a new way to implement it and add a new structure was just hard to adjust too. And THEE absolute biggest adjustment for me....is not having him here(insert current water works right now). I LOVE having him here...and so does Luke and so does Lyric. I have a non stop pit in my stomach from the minute I drop him off until the minute I pick  him up. I don't however sit around and cry each time(I swallow the lump in my throat and move on because that is what a good mommy to her other two should do) and I prioritize my time with Luke! and the reason I say Luke is because Lyric takes his morning nap right when we get home from dropping Lane and school and wakes up shortly before we go get him. It really has been AMAZING to have that time with Luke and I cherish it so much and I know if Lane were home it would be harder to get that special time with him so for that I am thankful! Luke is DEFIANTLY in the "teachable twos" stage right now. Lane was and is beyond a rule follower...that is just how it's always been...and his love language is words of affirmation...so most of the time(and I mean almost everytiime...like 98% of the time) when Lane was two he did the right thing, or what I asked, and if he didn't it just took some quiet close talking and encouraging and he would feel better, make it right, and remember for next time. Luke however...I hate to admit it but well....it's my blog so I better at least be real with myself...he is a rule breaker! lol! AND......so was I (that was harder to admit I think lol) maybe it's a second child thing...or maybe not. But Luke sure likes to do what he shouldn't, go the fastest, climb the highest, and try every dangerous thing possible! BUT he loves like no other. Even though he is rougher than I'd prefer (and trust me we do discipline that....nothing makes me more frusterated than when a kid shoves, pushes, or gets aggressive out of anger) but he is such a love...he snuggles, hugs, kisses, and loves on people so much. His love language is also without a doubt just like his mommas...he likes physical touch! He takes a little extra paietence sometimes but man do our hearts connect. He has a wild, silly, hyper, fun side that I too have and when those are in line there is no where else I'd want to be on those two hours of our time. (the opposite of that those is quite the opposite and in those times I will manage my blessing and move on:) I have learned by having a strong willed 2nd child to NEVER roll my eyes at another child or parent again(honestly I never did in the first place...I'm just not a judgemental mommy....I'm sure not perfect but I understand either are other moms and kids so when things arise I just try to look the other way!) If someone at walmart see's my 2 1/2 year old with a binky in one hand and a sucker in the other hand at 9:00 am and rolls their eyes...it doesn't bother me. Is it the best choice...nope it sure isn't...but it must have been needed because I am not a mommy that is constantly like that so when I am I rest that it is ok. When someone that is related to us rolls their eyes when my 2 1/2 year old isn't listening or melting down over something....that however IS hard to shake. It's really hard! I feel like our family (and well all of us who claim we are Christians) should strive to see the best in people. Even if a kid is not having their best moment....could we just try to take a second to try to see them for the good that they are and let the bad moment pass. I am learning every day, every family get together, every mommy group, every church nursery/prek experience, every moment as a parent how I don't want to be. I don't want any of my fellow family members, or friends...to ever feel like "Laurel wouldn't approve" I mean...obviously I wouldn't approve of something ie...abuse, neglect, etc...duh! But as far as the rest of being a parent goes it is my goal that my husband and I are nothing but a supportive parents to however you handle your situation, a supportive aunt and uncle to our niece and nephews melt downs or bad moods, supportive care takers in where we choose to serve, supportive to our friends and their way of parenting...basically just  never judgemental. I think we all have super proud moments we want to share about our kids, and super bad moments we never want others to see...but in REALITY....people aren't always going to see those awesome moments and others WILL see the meltdowns of all meltdowns...but I will not look or judge. I will look away at the hard moments and applaud the successes of those children. I wish people would do that for Luke....and every 2 year old out there. I wish people wouldn't judge how cute a child is or how they don't talk as well, dress as well, or if they have a bottle when they are 3. Being a parent is hard enough and nobody needs to feel the eye rolls or catch that look you shoot each other. I am vowing to never be that mom and I thank God for the opportunity to get to mold these little beings he has intrusted me with!! With His help I will do my best and always pray for strength for each day.
END RANT
(that was not my intention to go into in this post but I just couldn't stop tying)
So back to what I was saying....our newest thing is Lane is in pre K Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 9-11 and he does love it. And of course the teachers LOVE him!!! We are soooooo proud of him and the awesome reports we have been getting! He loves to read site words(which they don't do at school but I have been working with him for a few months now and the kid is literally a reading machine!!) I am now even more concious of my time with Lane and Luke and as a mommy in general because school days just fly by! Luke is great...potty trained for number 1 but number 2 is a daily battle of him doing that in the privacy of his nap time in his bed! LOL! Does it frusterate me?? Yep...sure does. But he will grow out of it and eventually be ok with going on the potty...which he has gone number 2 on the potty...I guess his routine is just to do it then in his pull up...and eventually we will get through it. He is so sweet and becoming even easier to deal with when strong willed moments arise and I'm so thankful for that!
and LYRIC IS ALMOST 9 MONTHS OLD!!!!! He is soooo close to crawling...well he does crawl backwards, and scoots,and rocks, and takes a stride and plops down, and rolls everywhere! He is basically on the move but not fully yet and that is ok with me!! He is soooo extremely sweet and smitten over looking right at daddy and saying dada(momma is on it's way in JESUS NAME!!! lol) He wakes up about once a night still. He is still exclusivly breastfed (my other two were on formula at this point) but Lyric is doing great with breastfeeding still so we are going to stick with until he has whole milk at 1! I am still making my own baby food and he is a great table eater already! Likes soups, little pieces of breads and muffins, and even tried a little cheese today! He has two teeth on the bottom and is on the brink of having 4 on the top come through!! He is growing WAYYY to fast and we are SOOOOOO in love with him! Having a baby makes even hard moments good! Who doesn't love having a happy, smiley, chubby little giggling baby around all the time?!?!? It's just the best!!!
My hubby is AMAZING....I love him more every single day...which seems impossible but it is so true! He amazes me each day with his walk with the Lord. He is such a talented guitar player, a super hard worker who is always working for overtime to try to make extra for the holidays ahead etc...He is a great daddy who loves the boys so fun like, is stern when they need it, and soft when I've had a hard day...he is just the best and I could NOT be more proud to be his wife!!
We are looking forward to the holidays this month and next and we are so enjoying the loud, messy, crazy, silly, tiring, fun, AWESOME season of life we are in!!! It's a busy season with three little ones...but not too busy....not like we go here there and every where and never enjoy life busy...just the right amount of busy-ness of playing, raising toddlers and babies that is the perfect ammount of busy-ness for us and we are deep into enjoying every moment as they fly by!!

Sunday, July 20, 2014

My 5....

Here is a little update on our little "party of 5"
(is that getting over played?? not sure I have even used it on the blog yet so I'll go ahead and stick with it for now:) Remember that show....Bailey? Claudia?...that's all I got right now!
Anyways....I'll start with #1
My hubby is amazing as always! Not a whole lot "new" in his life besides playing in a new band for the new church we have been attending. Of course I think he has done AWESOME but seriously you guys he is just great! He adapted so quickly, has not played one song that he has played before and is doing a good job practicing with them and at home. I could not be more proud of him serving in the music minsitry and I am SO so glad to be married to a man who is musically inclined! I love that it is apart of our family and I hope and pray at least one of our boys plays the guitar!! He also went to a great worship experience with the pastor of our church and another couple and he really enjoyed it! He said I would have loved it! I got invited to go with but with still breastfeeding Lyric I did not have enough milk pumped to leave him for that many hours so I had to pass. I guess that will be a good leading point into #2...
Me...I'm doing great! Still exclussivly nursing Lyric and it's going great but I don't really ever take the time to pump bottles for him. I do pump everyday (ok wait most days) but I ususally use those few ounces at supper time to mix the breastmilk with the rice cereral he's been eating at supper now. I mainly focus on pumping if we have somewhere to go that I know I will need a bottle or if I am going to be leaving him....which I haven't since our date back in May!!! Which we are sooooo in need of a date night! And we have 2 scheduled whoooo hooo!!! One will be for just a couple hours out for tacos with a couple from our church here in town at our country club and the other one is a wedding here in town and I am looking forward to both! I LOVE time with just my hubby and even though we definatly get a couple hours at night alone it's just nice to get out and be focused on each other...not laundry, packing his lunch, cleaning up toys, showering, getting the coffee pot ready....etc etc etc....
I am excited to start dance next month! I will only be teaching 2 hours (possibly three depending on how combining my two oldest pointe classes goes) this year! Lane is going to take tumbling there on Wednesdays too! I am so so SO excited for him to do that! I think it will be fun for him and it's only 30 minutes! Id like to put him in the boys hip hop class BUT he says he doesn't want to when I ask him and he defiantly is NOT my lil singer and dancer....LUKE IS!!!
#3 Lane starts preschool next month and my heart ACHES....literally ACHES when I think of dropping him off somewhere that isn't one of our families houses. I have never done that before...he hasn't ever been to anyones house or any establishment without one of us unless it was his immediate family. I KNOW he will be safe, and that he will LOVE school....just a huge stepping stone for this momma! Three days a week(two hours each day) sounds like A LOT to me(to others...maybe that is not the case...but to each their own...for me that is a long time) I am going to miss him soooo soooo sooo much!!!! I think it is going to be very hard for Luke to not have him home and to not get to go in with him. Might be a few two year old melt downs as we try to leave him:)
Besides school....Lane has been playing baseball in our back yard REALLY well! That kid can HIT!! We are soo proud of him! He also swam(doggie paddled) the last time we went swimming and we were super proud of him considering last year he wanted to be held the whole time and this summer he is swimming the entire length of the pool! He is getting very daring in his words and tries to say what we say to him during discipline towards Luke or even to us sometimes. The funniest thing ever is the other day I open the fridge and the tub of vanilla yogurt fell out of the fridge and fell on to the floor and the lid popped off and it spilled everywhere...and semi calmly I said "bummer" and he says "mom are you gonna melt down?" LOL I totes played it cool and was all "no no way buddy" lol!! It's just funny because if he spills his bowl of crackers or his long length of train cars he is trying to carries unhooks I'll say "Lane...don't melt down it's fine" ha! He is a character let me tell ya! He too is loving our new church and is doing great with all the memory verses! Today he said "mom God made me to OBEY!" which the total God thing about that was....his bible verse from this week that I taught them was Eph 6:2 Honor your mother and father ....well when he asked what honor meant I talked about respecting and obeying what we say etc so he would say Obey your mom and dad...well well then Sunday it was about Obeying! Thank you big guy:) Lane is an AMAZING big brother...always looking out for Lukie, giving Lyric his binky etc....He has such a serving, helping, and loving heart at 4 and I am just SO BLESSED to call him mine! I could not be more proud...my heart explodes for that little boy(all of them)!!!
#4 Luke LOOKS SOOOO BIG!! I mean seriously every.single.time. I look at him I'm like "he is so big"! He just seems so grown up(which I guess being 2 1/2 next month is pretty grown up!) He just has a bigger kid apperance lately and OF COURSE it's bitter sweet! lol! He is sleeping back in his own room because bless his heart he just wasn't ready to share a room! He did great sleeping all night in a big boy bed in Lanes room(once he stayed in his bed) but getting him to stay in his bed was such a challenge. It took a thousand different ways of trying it, it took sticking to the same way, it took multiple ways of disciplining and he STILL would NOT stay in his bed! He is one determinded little guy! So after threating we'd take him out and put him in his old crib(aka Lyrics new bed) we had to stick with it....and when we did it was right to sleep for him...almost like he was home! We were exhausted from discipling them and bedtime had become awful and stressful when it use to be cuddly, giggly, and fun. So....instead of crushing their little spirits anymore....we decided that 2 just may be too young for our Luke to share a room...so back he is in his own room and he is doing great like usual and so is Lane. Easy peasy to put to bed, happy, fun, and just as it should be! Luke is such a lover he litterally LOVES to love on you! (He gets that from his momma!:) And he said a few weeks ago WITHOUT me saying anything "I love you SO MUCH Momma" He always says love you momma at bed(only calls me momma if he says love you with it...otherwise it's mommy...I find that so endearing:) but for some reason one night he said the SO MUCH all on his own and I couldn't even hold back the happy tears! IT WAS AH-MAY-ZING!! He also loves to play with my hair and even wants my hair down if it's in a messy bun at bed time so he can stroke his lil fingers through it...a pony tail is acceptable:) He's just so affectionate when he isn't running and I love it so much! He has the biggest lips, the tightest hugs, and the sweetest litte touch! Love him so!!
#5 Lyric is 5 MONTHS OLD!
Him a sweet big boy weighing 17lbs! The doctor said he was so proud of his strength and ability to sit up already! He exclussivly drinks breastmilk and I haven't even offered him formula yet, breastfeeding him is super easy, he does great, I love that bonding time with him and clearly I am making enough for the little chunker:) He nurses 6-8 times a day and that is with his middle of the night feeding too! Oh and btw....he has a crib in our room. SOOOO not ideal but for now everyone is getting sleep and hopefully soon we can try two sharing and Lyric in his own nursery. Matt said we should make our master bedroom down in the basement toy room since there is a 3/4 bath and everything down there but I am just no sure about the whole sleeping downstairs and our boys being on the main level without us? So we will just wait for now:) He had rice cereal 2 weeks ago starting at supper to try to get him use to eat off a spoon and his first bite was LEGIT! Like he had been doing it for years lol!! On the day he turned 5 months we gave him a few bites of my grandma's homemade applesauce...he wasn't sure what to think of it but did swallow all the bites. I homemade all of Lukes baby food and I hope to do that for Lyric too but with 3 I am not going to put too much pressure on myself...if he has gerber once and a while so be it:) Lane had all store bought baby food and Luke had none...why??? No clue! Ok I shouldn't say that but really I tried to make Lanes only owning a blender and it was hard, didn't puree right etc so I gave up. Well my mom bought me the baby bullet at a garage sale when I was pregnant with Luke and I tried it and it was awesome....never looked back I was a pureeing maching and I have to say he ate table food and had a great taste for eating anything and everything very early and still does! He is a great eater who isn't picky in the slightest! So I would like to do it for Lyric but like I said I may but some to have on stock incase I don't have any pre-made(with Luke I had tons frozen before he even ate off a spoon) I have none so far...I better get on that! (tomorrow!!!)
Lyric is SO SO SO HAPPY and such a smiley loving little boy...he is thee perfect size right now and is the perfect baby and addition to our family!! He is sooo loved by us 4!!!
Well that is it for now! Glad I got a little update on here....in the busyness of life I don't want to forget to record how wonderful everyone is! I am blessed beyond messure!!

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Hard times...


When we go trough trouble in our lives...it's SOOO HARD to look away from them. Taking your focus off you and your personal situation is NOT easy! Especially today in our society it sure isn't easy at all. It's all about what I can get, do, have, and prepare for myself. There definatly are awesome people, places, etc...that are more for others than themselves but wouldn't you say that majority is a little selfish!?! I am not being judgemental(ok I guess call me what you want maybe I  am judging society a little...but please let me include myself). I too am guilty of focusing on ME and what I need and what I have. That is why when someone is going through some sort of trial isn't it easy to focus on themselves, the issues, the need, what they have etc?! Well sure it is...something's are worthy of that and can swallow you up if you let them. And there is no diluting that some situations in life are visible ones....so how do we take our eyes off of the situation when everytime we look we can see the situation in front of us?!?! It's very hard to experience Gods peace when you aren't letting it flow to you (by stressing, thinking, TALKING(come on folks...can I get "heard that") and so on and so on! Trust me when someone is having an issue that's all they talk about (some bottle it in and some talk and talk and talk and talk about their drama!) well let me tell you...I've been there! How can I over come something if I don't stop thinking about it, looking at it, talking about it, reading about it ??? It's never going to go away when you are feeding your problems with fear...worry...dread...etc! It takes OBEDIANCE!! You don't eat 21 meals on Sunday morning for the whole week do you?! Nope little by little you feed yourself to survive and be healthy! Well little by little(ESPECIALLY while going through a season in life) you need to feed yourself the word of God! We live in a microwave society of want it and want it now! So of course we want to "let it go" right now....but surrendering for me is a constant thing! Not because I don't believe it when I say "I'm letting it go" but because I am Human!!! Because my flesh, society, visible situations all make whatever I am goin through so revelent that it is hard to not go back to noticing the situation at hand or doing a little dwelling! TO KEEP THE PEACE....I HAVE TO KEEP PRAISING! Did you hear that...let me try again TO KEEP THE PEACE.... I HAVE TO KEEP PRAISING! In the midst of a storm you have to praise him like the last time He brought you through saying "surely Lord you are good you took care of this, and that, and this, and that! I remember when this happened in my favor...thank you God that happened and that you got is through that one time!" Look....you're already looking at what HE HAS DONE not at what needs to be done! Already there is a peace like whew we made it! Before you even have a problem God has the plan of deliverance! Again that sounds good now but let it sound good over and over and over! In and out of you through out your storm! Acting as if you aren't going through one when you are! Taking your eye off of what YOU need and putting them on what HE has done(and what He will do again!) That's the beauty of it peeps...God is not a one stop shop...He is a NEVER ending supply of blessings!(even when it doesn't feel like it....even when you are like "really God why me" (been there)) HE IS! Let's thank Him for what He has done and let the whole world know when this storm is over that HE once again brought you through!! 

1 Chronicles 16:8 NLT

"Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done."