Happy Birthday Sean!

birthday cake from "Yummy's Bakery"

Daddy's birthday gift

Maui Jim Sunglasses

We had so much fun celebrating Sean's 34th birthday yesterday! This birthday was much more special for Sean being able to have Luke to celebrate with us. We started the day with blueberry pancakes for breakfast, then Sean opened a few gifts before he had to run off to a meeting. I brought lunch home for Sean & Ms. Judi and we had some yummy cake! Last night, we went out to dinner at Konomi with three other couples. It was a great night, good friends, great conversation, a few sake bombs, and lots of delicious food! I love celebrating family birthdays and making it so special! I know Sean enjoyed his birthday more than ever! This weekend he is playing poker with a bunch of college buddies in Dubuque, my parents are coming down to celebrate a little and watch Luke while we go out with some more friends Saturday night! I am hopeful there is a glitch in the radar and the snow forecasted doesn't actually hit. We got a tease this week with some great Spring temperatures and I am looking forward to it more than ever!

visiting the Darnell's

Last weekend we took a road trip to Gibson City, IL (between Champaign & Bloomington) to visit our great friends Jeremy, Kim, & Baby Girl Darnell (Dee & Lucy too)! We had a great weekend visiting, catching up, and Kim & I enjoyed a morning at the spa! It is always so great to see the Darnell's and we are so excited for them, they will be welcoming their Baby Girl in June! I think they enjoyed meeting Luke and spending the weekend with him!

Jeremy & Kim's 1st time meeting Luke

"Welcome Luke"
Kim made this for Luke-so stinkin' cute

Kim enjoying some playtime with Luke

Playtime

Notice litte Lucy right front and center

These doggies have NO idea what is about to happen when Baby D arrives

"The Boyz"
Pretty sure they are checking out NCAA standings

wishing & hoping for the Illini to get into the tournament

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Luke enjoying his 1st St. Patrick's day!

Sweetness

Gunner's in the spirit

Luke & Daddy

Ms. Judi brought Luke this hat for St. Patty's day

Mommy & Luke on St. Patrick's day 2010

While St. Patrick's day has never been a holiday that I have celebrated much, given my 100% German heritage, we certainly enjoy every holiday a little more with our little Luke, and this is Sean's favorite non-Christian holiday. Last night Luke & I met my friend Carly, her two girls, and my brother Mitch at the Wig & Pen for pizza and a beer! Sean had a work function, but was able to enjoy a Guinness or two!

Kalamazoo pictures

So, it's been awhile since I have found a spare minute to blog...sorry! We have had a great couple of weeks visiting dear friends! Two weekends ago we made the trek back to Kalamazoo to visit many wonderful friends! See the pictures below. I am so sad I didn't get any pictures with our neighbor kids...the Eliuk's! We went out to dinner Saturday night with Brett & Carrie, (the neighbor friends from across the street), and then stopped by on Sunday for a visit with the kiddos but didn't have my camera:( In addition to these photos, we had a nice visit with the Adloffs, Babin's, and Tworks...I just failed to have my camera..boo-hoo! It was so great seeing everyone!

Our first stop: The Jankovic's

Ryan & Erin just welcomed their son Brayden and we are so fortunate to meet him only 5 days old. Boy, did he seem little compared to our little Luke. It was so great seeing them and catching up...we really miss them! We did a lot with Ryan & Erin, they were the first people we met and went out with when we first moved to Kalamazoo. Brayden is an absolute doll and looks a lot like his mama!

Erin & Brayden

Can you believe she just had a baby?

Erin looks great and little Brayden is a doll.

It was so weird holding him, he is so tiny! I miss that stage already!!!

Off to the Rozewicz's

Mike, Deb, & Melina (& Luna too) were kind enough to let us stay with them for the weekend, we had so much fun hanging out and catching up...and sharing a FEW laughs!

Here we are with Melina and Deb!

One of many pictures of Luke & Melina! They are 6 months apart and don't know it yet...but their parents are setting up an arranged marriage!

Look at that face...so innocent!

Daddy & Luke

"mini me"

(although people are starting to share that Luke is looking a tad bit like his mama)

holding hands...ooooooh

Luke grabbing his feet...pretty common sight these days. Usually at least one foot is in his mouth

So excited to see each other again!

So precious! Melina turns "1" on March 17th

Little St. Patty's girl!

6 months old

Luke is 6 months old

03/04/10

We had a little fun this afternoon taking Luke's "Bryan Bear" monthly picture...all he wanted to do was grab, wrestle, and eat his bear!

6 months

This is what happens every time I change Luke's diaper!
He is squirmy, kicking, and rolling all over the place.
I turn my head to grab a diaper and he is gone!
He loves to be naked and someday he will be very upset with me for posting his bare bottom!

Six months ago today we welcomed Luke Michael and we couldn't have imagined just how much joy and fun this little guy would bring to our lives. Luke has developed quite the feisty personality with a lot of spunk! We have to take toys away from him almost everyday because he gets so mad if he can't fit them into his mouth "just right"! I am in awe that our little boy is 6 months old today, he is 1/2 way to his first birthday...time PLEASE slow down. When Luke is on his belly he is kicking, squirming, and moving all over...I am not ready for my little baby to be mobile anytime soon!

Luke at 6 months what are you up to????

-you are wearing 6-9 month clothing and some 3 month

-we stopped swaddling you at night, you adjusted well

-you are still going to bed around 7:00pm

-the last week you have started waking at 4am crying out of hunger (we are hoping its a growth spurt)

-you started getting rice cereal 3 times a day

-we introduced Sweet Potatoes to you three days ago and you LOVE them, you get them for lunch with your cereal

-you are getting milk five times a day (6-7 oz)

-mommy is still nursing you

-you are rolling all over, tummy to back, back to tummy

-you have a very high pitched scream

-when I get ready to nurse you, you get really excited and have this real soft high pitch whimper

-you love to blow bubbles

-you are discovering your tongue

-you are grabbing EVERYTHING...you love mommy's long hair

-you recognize mommy and daddy's voices very well, you turn when you hear us

-you love to look at yourself in the mirror, you find yourself very funny

-you jump all the time

-you love playing "Super Luke"

-you just started taking two long naps, two hours morning afternoon...that is very new!

-you have started to turn your rainforest music on & off in your crib

-we are working on sitting up, pretty soon!

Luke, you are one special little boy, loved my so many, and melt your mommy and daddy's hearts! Are world has such a different meaning with you in our lives!

half birthday

Tonight we celebrated Luke's 1/2 birthday!!! Luke will be 6 months old tomorrow so Uncle Mitch came over for dinner and chocolate birthday cake with raspberry filling!

Happy 1/2 Birthday to our Sweet Little Luke 03.04.10

"Thanks Uncle Mitch for celebrating my 1/2 birthday with me!"

Sweet Boy...Sweet Potatoes

We have had some fun introducing Luke's vegetables! Luke will be six months old on Thursday and we introduced Sweet Potatoes to him on Monday. He wasn't sure what to think at first, but as you can see...I think he likes them!!!

We have been going through a transition period, and what I mean by transition period, I mean NO SCHEDULE!!!!! Luke has decided to completely boycott any schedule we have had over the past several months! He did have five off days while he was at Gramma and Grampa's house, but he has decided that 4:00 a.m. is his new wake up time and naps are not needed!!!!!!! Mama not happy! Ms. Judi said today's nap were getting by better end of day, he took a two hour nap so he was happy for mommy and daddy tonight. Let's just keep our fingers crossed that we get a good night sleep. Luke has had a lot of changes the past couple of weeks, he is sleeping without his swaddle, has started to roll to his tummy in his sleep, rice cereal three times a day, and veggies for lunch. With all this change...he is one happy little boy! We are enjoying every second with him, he is learning new things everyday and it is so fun to watch his development.

Mommy & Luke

Daddy and Luke enjoying a Sunday afternoon

This is for the Darnell's! They gave Luke some Illini clothing so we figured we would support Illini basketball being Iowa is having a "down year"!

Nora telling Luke a story! We got a surprise visit from my dear friend Molly, her husband Jarrod, and their daughter Nora. Unfortunately Molly's dad passed away last week and they were back visiting. Please keep Molly & her family in your thoughts in prayers in the lonely, quiet days, weeks, & months ahead. We love you!!

Luke & Daddy playing

I love my cereal!