New Years

What are we doing New Years Eve???? You are looking at him....

Our miracle in 2009

We will be ringing in 2010 with our little guy! I felt really guilty getting a babysitter, as we have two wonderful girls here in town but know they have much more fun things planned that babysitting. Wow how our lives have changed, oh so wonderfully! 2009 has been one of the best years of lives and we can only look forward to all the milestones to be made in 2010. Luke has been such a wonderful blessing to Sean and I, along with all our family. As I type, Luke is enjoying his independent playtime in his jumparoo just jabbering away, adorable. Sean and I plan on having a pretty low-key evening. I made some chili today and we are going to watch a movie and drink wine...sounds pretty relaxing to me! Unfortunately I will not be eating any chili, apparently I made it super spicy. Mitch stopped by to visit Luke and had a bowl before he left and the sweat was rolling...I don't think Luke would appreciate me enjoying a bowl.

Happy New Year! We wish you joy, peace, and many memorable moments in 2010!

loving being lazy with Luke

It has been a great few days just hanging out with Luke and being lazy! We have "Luke's ciruit station" set up in our living room with all his new toys! We are still working on a "nap schedule", although he is napping so well, the times are just inconsistent, depending on what time he decides to start his day. This morning he surprised us both and slept until 7:30 a.m!!! YAY!
He has started to put everything in his mouth, his fist, my hair, my fingers, you name it...it goes to the mouth! You can hear him sucking on his fist from my a mile away. He started recognizing himself in the mirror a couple of weeks ago, but now he finds humor in himself! It is so cute, he will look at himself, laugh, and turn away then look back at himself and do it all over again...he is growing up right before my eyes!
On a different note...can you tell I am totally in love with this little boy! Sean and I will sit and just stare at him, reminding ourselves how blessed we are by our cute, sweet little Luke. Okay...on a different note...Santa brought me a Pilates reformer machine!!! I started doing Pilates last November at our Athletic Club in Kalamazoo (I miss Kalamazoo) and I absolutely fell in love with it. I continued doing it up until I was 15 weeks pregnant, I felt so good doing it. So I gave myself a jump start to "2010 get body back"! I started working out on my Pilates machine last night! I am loving it and made commitment to myself to do it at least 3 times a week. I was feeling very motivated and ordered a Kettle bell and videos, so my plan is to do those on my "off Pilates" days. I have always enjoyed working out and love how it makes me feel. I don't want to lose sight of that, however I have found it to be more challenging to find the time, so I am hoping that these two workouts will keep me feeling good and get me back into shape!

Wonderful Christmas

CHRISTMAS 2009

This little guy made our Christmas

Our family (minus Gunner-he isn't allowed in the house)

Daddy and Luke

Our family is growing...2009 we added Kate & Luke

all the guys

and the Gals...always outnumbered

Luke opening gifts from Grandpa & Grandma (one of many)

Luke with his uncle Bryan & Godmama Kate

with Grandpa & Grandma

with his Uncle Nate

Thanks Nate and Debbie for the adorable outfit, the cutest little boy on Christmas!

and with Uncle Mitch

Luke's stocking at Grandpa & Grandma's house

We had the most wonderful Christmas 2009! Having Luke around made the holiday so much more meaningful for not just Sean and I, but our family as well. We made the trek to Waukon Wednesday, because of the "threatening" winter storm. However, it never ended up being as bad as they anticipated in our part of the state. It gave us one extra day at my parents to hang out with everyone. We got back home last night, after a wonderful five days with family and lots of holiday cheer! Luke is going through withdrawal, Sean and I can't give him enough attention to make up for what he experienced the past few days. Grandpa and Grandma Einck just can't get enough, and his uncles & godmama...a whole nother story! Luke is very blessed!

Santa brought Luke this musical kick pad, he will lay on the floor and kick the pad for hours if we would let him. It plays music when he kicks, which makes him even more excited and he kicks harder and faster, absolutely hilarious! He is laughing more and more each day, grabbing and putting everything in his mouth, and smiling 24-7! I am taking this whole week off to spend at home with Luke and I LOVE it!

Our living room officially looks like a daycare center...our motivation to buy a house SOON! We are putting "find a house" on top of our list for 2010! I hope you all had a very blessed Christmas with your family.

lots of pictures

We are up at my parents to celebrate Christmas with the Eincks! We came up a day early because of the "Christmas 2009 winter storm" that was forecasted to hit. We got to the farm just in time. My older brother Nate flew in from California on Tuesday night, Mitch drove up after work last night (the roads were horrible for him), and Bryan & Kate are suppose to arrive Christmas day from Chicago. We are hopeful the weather will cooperate with their travels. We are having a great time hanging out!

Luke's first time seeing Santa. The expression on his face is priceless "who is this guy?"

All my boys!

Luke's first Christmas with his mommy & daddy (12.22.09)

Luke and Grandpa

Daddy being a bad influence

Luke is taking a good long look at Uncle Nate! This was his second time seeing him.

They had fun playing yesterday!

Uncle Mitch's turn to play!

All smiles:)

"I heart my uncle" San Fransisco!

We bought this onesie when Sean and I visiting Nate last May.

Can't get enough

I just can't get enough of this little guy!

We have been having so much fun with our little Luke! He has been smiling like crazy and has added the most adorable little laugh to that smile. Last night Luke and I were talking in the mirror and he kept laughing at himself, it was SO precious! He was cracking himself up!

Luke met his new babysitter, Ms. Judi! They had so much fun yesterday! He has been loving his jumparoo and is fascinated by all lights. I know it sounds horrible, but he loves to sit and stare at all the lights on the TV. He is so cute, he will sit in his little bumbo, chillaxin', watching tv with his daddy.

Last night we ventured out to the mall once again to buy Luke his "1st Christmas ornament". He was such a good boy and again, loved the lights and all the people. He is becoming quite the chatterbox and gets so excited when he talks.

Christmas has a whole new meaning to our family this year. We are reminded everyday what joy this little person brings to our lives and he gets so much excitement and happiness out of the little things in life...we need to remind ourselves of that as we can get so busy with our lives. Luke reminds us to slow down and enjoy all the "little things"!

Safe Travels!

Christmas with the Merrick Family

This weekend we celebrated Christmas with Sean's extended and immediate family in Pekin. We drove in Saturday for a nice afternoon visiting with all Sean's aunts, uncles, & cousins, along with his parents, and brother family. In addition, we celebrated the immediate family Christmas last evening, it was Luke and Connor's first Christmas. Our nephew Connor was born in February, so the he clearly had more fun opening presents than Luke did.
We are having a lazy Sunday watching "Hangover" and wrapping the final gifts for Christmas. This week we will travel up to my parents on Christmas Eve day for the weekend. My brother Nate is flying in from San Fransisco on Tuesday, and Bryan & Kate will join us from Chicago on Christmas Day. We are so thankful when everyone can get together to celebrate the holidays together! I am really looking forward to having a few days off to share with our family and spend this wonderful time with Luke. I am planning to take the week off between Christmas and New Years and am very much excited for that time off!

An attempt to take a family picture...

although Luke was not interested in looking at the camera

Merrick Family Christmas 2009

busy week

This week has been such a crazy busy week. I had to fly to California for a two day meeting, my first night away from Luke:( Thank goodness for my mom, she came to stay with Luke while I was gone, which made it easier, but it still wasn't easy! I feel like I hardly got anytime with my little guy this week, it just makes me sad thinking that the week went so fast, a week that I didn't get to hardly spend anytime. Time goes so fast, each week means so much! He was in such good hands, Uncle Mitch even came to play with him while Grandma was here babysitting. Luke is smiling a ton, and has starting laughing...it is hilarious! He makes me smile, he melts my heart! Unfortunately Sean was out of town most of the time too, so Grandma really got "Luke all to herself"!
I am certainly struggling right now with the time my work demands of me and leaving little time for my family. I am hopeful that with each day and each week I can manage my time more effectively to be a better wife and mother. I cherish every moment I have but some days there aren't enough hours in the day to enjoy it all!
This weekend we will be traveling to Pekin, IL to Sean's parents house for Christmas with the Merrick family! The start of Luke's first Christmas festivities...Christmas has a whole new meaning for our family this year. We have been blessed by the greatest gift of all!