The Merrick Family has grown

Thursday, August 11, 2011

4 years of wedded bliss

Today we celebrate four years of marriage and we look forward to celebrating many many more! It has been an amazing four year journey with my best friend, the man I love more than words can say. We have endured so much together and with each step have grown stronger and stronger. We are so thankful for all that we have been blessed to share together. Looking back on four years ago, our beautiful wedding day (thanks to my parents for the wonderful party and my mom for all her planning), I can't help but smile at how perfect our day was, but how could it not be when I was marrying the man of my dreams, who I would spend countless hours talking with, and most importantly laughing with. He makes me laugh everyday, and brings so much balance to my "serious" life! I put serious in quotes because Sean helps keep me grounded and that life is all about having fun and enjoying each day, not to be so serious. For those that know me well, know that Sean has a hard task at hand! But he tolerates me and most importantly makes me a better person. At our wedding reception while Sean thanked our guests, he made the comment "together we make each other better people". Amen to that! Thank you Sean for always loving me even when I make it challenging! I love you forever and always!

The beginning...

Our engagement

Our wedding, August 11, 2007

You always put a smile on my face:)

"I do"

Ordinary, no
Really don't think so
Not a love this true
Common destiny
We were meant to be
Me and you

Like a perfect scene
From a movie screen
We're a dream come true
Suited perfectly
For eternity
Me and you

Everyday, I need you even more
And the nighttime too
There's no way I could ever let you go
Even if I wanted to

Everyday I live
Try my best to give
All I have to you
Thank the stars above
That we share this love
Me and you

Everyday, I need you even more
And the nighttime too
There's no way I could ever let you go
Even if I wanted to

Ordinary, no
Really don't think so
Just a precious few
Ever make it last
Get as lucky as
Me and you
Me and you

Happy Anniversary Babe! Love you forever and always!

Monday, August 8, 2011

Random

We had a very productive weekend getting loose ends tied up around the house. I've been wanting to get our two guest bedrooms decorated for many months, well since we moved in! Why is it that I always wait...thankfully my mom is so kind and helpful, she came down Friday and painted my old bedroom set black for me. Ive been wanting to paint it for years, and it is finally done!! I am so bummed I didn't take before and after pictures because it truly looks amazing! Even Sean commented on it! So the basement guest room Is done...black furniture with white bedding and a few red accents to bring in the red basement furniture. I am still up in the air about our upstairs bedroom, but for now its decorated with our old master bedding, brown with blue accents. The baby's room is as ready as it's going to be...we aren't doing much until after the arrival. The room is painted sweet apple green, kind of a lime green color, with zebra accents. We will use the same crib bedding we had for Luke and just add accents depending on if our sweet baby is a boy or girl. I feel pretty good about our preparation, but I know there is always plenty to do. I had an appointment last week, she felt like baby's head was down, but she couldn't confirm so I have an ultrasound this week to do a growth check and check position. Last Monday she said I was measuring a week ahead, so we will see how big this little one is. I've still been having lots of Braxton hicks and some painful contractions, but not nearly what I experienced with the back contractions before. Sleep...what sleep? I'm getting about 2 hour spurts of sleep a night, often waking from pure discomfort or I need to make a trip to the bathroom. I m so missing sleeping on my stomach. I find myself checking email, blogs, and Facebook at all hours of the night. Some of my co workers have to think I'm crazy when they get an email from me at 3 a.m! I may revert to sleeping on the couch pretty soon so Sean can at least get some sleep. I swear every time I roll, and I mean literally, roll...out of bed, he wakes and asks if everything is ok! We still would love for baby to hang out for a few more weeks, but I would be lying if I didn't say I am very anxious for this little one to arrive. Tonight some girlfriends arranged to take me out to get a pedicure and for frozen yogurt...I love how friends just know what you need at just the right time. I'm really looking forward to some girl time, getting toes painted, and of course indulging in some frozen yogurt from a new local shop that just opened up. This week also marks Sean and my anniversary week! This Thursday we will celebrate four wonderful years of marriage!!! I can't post an entry without a funny Luke story. Every morning when Luke wakes up it goes a liitle like this...we hear the rustling in the monitor, the a soft "mama", pause...then with each word it gets louder and louder "mama, mom, mommee, mommeeeeee, MOM!" And each morning we laugh, as it never gets old! When we get up to his room he is standing, waiting impatiently, and says "HI!" then hands us his monkey, mickey mouse, pillow, blanket, and snuggles (his little lovey). Once we get him out, he then throws everything back in one by one. This little guy makes us laugh so much, it's so wonderful to start each day with a laugh even if its 545a.m on a Saturday! I

Thursday, August 4, 2011

23 months

Today Luke is 23 months old...that last "4th of the month" we celebrate before the BIG 2!!! It's been awhile since I have given a monthly update and wanted to share some of the latest and greatest in the life of 23 month old Luke Michael Merrick! The past couple of months we feel Luke has really grown into a little boy rather than our baby. Which is quite fitting as we anticpate the arrival of a new little baby. Last night when I was putting him to bed I was holding him like a little baby and singing "rock a baby" and he shook his head "no". I asked him if he was my baby and he said "No, mama!". I then asked him if he was a big boy and he replied "yep"! We have greatly enjoyed watching Luke learn and develop so much, and in the same sentence I write that it is all bittersweet. We love watching him grow, mimic us, learn new things, etc, but yet I want him to stay little forever. Lately, our dinner time has become "Luke's comedy show"! We have decided that Luke will be the class clown because he loves to make people laugh, then he laughs harder, and so on and so forth. He is quite the story teller at the dinner table, using lots of hand gestures, followed by a knee slap. If you looked in on our family dinner time you would find all three of us sitting around the table laughing for no reason other than just to laugh. I can't think of a better way to start our evening together as a family. In years to come, I am hopeful that we can always find this time to sit down for dinner together as a family.
So here is what Luke is up to these days:
-wearing all 2T clothes
-size 7-8 shoe (he has big feet just like his Einck Uncles)
-goes to bed around 7:30-8:00 each night and wakes anytime between 6-7 a.m.
-completely gave up morning nap about a month ago, now napping from 12:30/1:00-3:00 p.m.
-Loves Pizza and Pancakes, his two favorite foods, any and all fruit
-has a sippy cup of milk each morning right when he wakes and watches an episode of Curious George or Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, then he is ready to eat his pancakes and fruit
-loves going to Tumble Tots at our gym on Tuesday and Thursday mornings
-still goes to Ms. A's once a week and will start two days in September
-Expansive vocabulary including: Naun (aka daddy), Nunner or Nun (Gunner), milk, duce (juice, aka water because we don't give him juice), nack (snack), help, peas (Please), Bop (Grandpa), Nana, Pancake, melonmelon (Watermelon), nanana (banana), side (outside), boss (cow), duck, brmm, brmm (car), nigh nigh, B (Backyardigans), buck, baball (baseball) and the list goes on and on and on
-loves playing with ALL the neighbor kids of any ages
-wearing size 5 diapers and a night time diaper for major soaking (has gone on the big boy potty both potty and poop a few times)
-loves to crawl up on his sink to wash his hands and brush his teeth
-loves to watch Backyardigans before books and bedtime
-has recently enjoyed watching Toy Story 3, his first full movie watched on the iPad
-took his first plane ride to Seattle for Uncle Nate's wedding
-loves to play games on mommy & daddy's iPads
-would spend the entire day outside playing if we would let him
-loves Gunner more than we ever could have imagined
-has really started telling us "yep" & "no" when he does and does not want things
-is sitting better in time outs
-Luke will get a real sad look on his face and say sorry when he knows he hurt someones feelings or did something to get in trouble
-you are a very good helper around the house
-counts, 1-2-3
Luke, we loved you before you born and we love you more with each day. You bring so much joy and love to our lives. We love all your everyday surprises and laughter that fills our home. Love, mommy & daddy

Luke at 23 months

Today was the first mild days we have had in a long time, so as we were heading out the door at 7:30 to play outside you saw our camera and said "cheese". I asked you if you wanted your picture taken, you said "yep" then went and sat down by my flower pots!

Luke has been such a good helper watering my plants all summer long

loves playing with the water

All smiles eating pancakes this morning

This little guy can put away the pancakes like you wouldn't believe

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Nate & Debbie's wedding

We enjoyed a great five days in Seattle last week for the beautiful wedding celebration of my older brother, Nate and his wife Debbie. We could not have asked for more perfect weather, amazing people, and quite honestly one of the most beautiful wedding celebrations ever! Below are a ton of pictures to capture the highlights of our trip. Overall, it was just an amazing time spent with our family, meeting Debbie's extended family, seeing where Nate and Debbie live, touring Seattle, and just really enjoying the entirety of the trip as we all prepared to celebrate the marriage of my brother and Debbie. We couldn't be more happy for the two of them and are overjoyed to have Debbie joining our family! We are so proud of them both and can't wait to celebrate their wedding reception back in Iowa in a few short weeks!

Friday we spent the day touring a few of Seattle's highlights: Space Needle, Pike's Market, and a tour of the city by land and water!

Luke hanging out with Bop and Nana on the lawn in front of the space needle while we waited for the rest of our group. It was such a gorgeous day, we just hung out and enjoyed the weather, especially since we escaped 100 degree temps back in the Midwest!

Luke wrestling Uncle Nate!

Luke and Daddy on the Duck tour of Seattle

The Bride & Groom and the rest of the crew! Nate arranged for our group of 30 to take a tour of the city by land and water Friday morning, it was a great way to see and learn about the highlights of Seattle.

Luke and Bop out for a morning walk! My parents rented a home for our immediate family up in the mountains for a few days leading up to the wedding. It was great to all be under one roof and enjoy that time together. I am not sure the rest of our family enjoyed Luke's 530 a.m wake up call...especially Nate on the morning of his wedding...sorry Nate!

The most gorgeous view for the most beautiful wedding. This was taken from the spot of the wedding

It was an absolute breathtaking view of the city landscape. This is where Nate and Debbie had their first date, The Golf Club at Newcastle

Sweet Little Luke got tons of attention, it took him a solid week of withdrawal from it all

Being goofy, actually he was saying "cheese"

Luke and Bop watching Toy Story 3 at the rehearsal (the IPAD with movies was our lifesaver)

At the rehearsal Saturday morning

The bridesmaids

The Groomsmen

Nate ushering my parents in

Debbie with her parents

Time for some fun...Saturday between the rehearsal that morning and the dinner, we enjoyed some time at the house. Luke had so much fun with everyone!

There was a chipping green, how fitting for our family, so Dad and Nate were practicing their game. Notice the trash barrel??? Well, of course our family had to turn it into a competition so we had a point system of hitting the barrel, getting the golf ball in the barrel, hitting the flag or hole in one. Even though I didn't fare so well, it was still fun!