January Recap

I can’t believe how fast time is passing. How did my baby get to be 5-months-old?? It is so strange to think that a year ago I was still adjusting to the idea of carrying a child inside of me for 9 months and now I’m a full-blown diaper-changin, spit-up-catchin, breast feedin’ machine! Having a little boy has been so life-changing for me. I love every second that I have to spend with this little terror. He somehow manages to keep me busy all day and isn’t even mobile yet! We will definitely have our work cut out for us once this little man can move on his own…and I have a feeling that is not too far away for us. At Luke’s last appointment he was almost exactly 4 months old, he weighed 14 pounds 10 ounces and was 24 inches. He always cries when he gets the shots (and so does mommy) but he’s always fine a few minutes after as long has he gets his paci. We made quite a few big changes the last few weeks: we started solids, moved to the crib, and stopped the swaddling all within 3 days. He must have been ready to kick his old man and mama to the road because he has slept like a champ ever since getting his own room. It is so nice to have my bedroom back and to be able to have him sleeping (almost) through the night but I do miss my cuddle time with the baby before dad came to bed. Luke will usually go to bed around 9pm, wake up to eat around 5am, and then go back to sleep until 8:30ish. I feel like a new woman! Even when I’m sleepy in the morning, when I hear him on the monitor, I basically run to the nursery to get him out of bed because I LOVE how cute and excited he is to see me every morning. He is the light of my whole day.

Anyway, enough with the mush rambling. You all are here for the pictures anyway so here you go. I will try not to overload you with cuteness (but don’t say I didn’t warn you)…

By the way, I LOVE LOVE LOVE my IPhone. How did I ever live without one?

Luke gets a few ounces of freshly squeezed juice every day in his sippy cup…he put the least amount of effort as possible into holding it himself: 1 finger.

Grandma teaches Luke valuable lessons while mom is at work. This day: a rowdy round of UNO.

Sometimes we hang out in our jammies all day…even when there is laundry that needs to be put away.

When you wake up in the middle of the night and see this…

It’s a little easier to leave Luke to go to work when I know that his Grandmas and Aunts will take lots of cute pictures of him while I’m gone.

Luke surprised his Grandma Liz on her birthday by wearing a “Happy Birthday Grandma” shirt that his mom made.

Such a handsome little man.

Okay, okay…this is the last one.

Until next time…

Kylee and Luke

Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving. Good food, good company, good newspaper ads… This year we also had especially great weather. Who could ask for more?

We started out the morning with out annual Turkey Trot. Some of us did better than others and some of us will use the “I just had a baby” excuse for at least another year.

We were so glad to have Liz join us this year!

 

We love Thanksgiving at the Autry’s. I was proud of the warm cheesy bacon dip in a bread bowl that I made.

 

James loves hanging out with his baby boy.

Missing Sara, Nick, and Allison.

 

Proud Grandma and Grandpa. I had nothing to do with Luke’s shirt. He picked it out himself.

I am so grateful for so many things this year. I am grateful that I was able to become pregnant and that I had a healthy 9 months that resulted in a beautiful baby boy. I’m grateful for a handsome husband who has become a wonderful father and who is my best friend. I am grateful for my parents whom I love very, very much; I have no doubt that they both would do anything for my siblings and I. I’m grateful for my in-laws who have been a life-saver in me transitioning back to work and who are so generous and supportive of my little family.I am thankful for the rest of my in-law family and for my step-family. How lucky am I to not only have 1 family, but 3 families! I am thankful for my job, my co-workers and all of the opportunities that my education has brought me. I’m thankful for my 3 sisters and 4 brothers- Canden and Travis are an essential part of our family and I would not be the person I am today without the other 4. Finally, I’m grateful for my Heavenly Father who has blessed me so, so much.

Happy (belated) Thanksgiving!

Not Camera Shy

Growing up, there was always a camera in my face. I have my entire life documented by home videos and photo albums. I always hated it. Now, I couldn’t be more grateful. As siblings, one of our favorite things to do when we get together is look through photo albums and watch those home movies. I hope to provide those same memories for my children. Consequently, that means constantly having the camera out and Luke having to put up with me. He’ll get used to it.

 

I’m also grateful that my mom and sisters have such great cameras and are talented photographers. I know that no big moment will go unphotographed, wherever we may be.

Look at these chunky legs! Sorry babe, you inherited those from your mama.

 

I just never get bored taking pictures of him.

My baby is getting big way too fast. I know that he’s only 11 weeks old but…he’s already 11 weeks old! Also, I’m obsessed with this picture.

I like to make noises that make his eyes do this.

Aunt Courtney took this one. So precious.

 

I’m excited to show this little guy what Thanksgiving is all about. Even though Luke can’t eat solids yet, I plan on making up for it and eating enough for the both of us.

A Day in the Life

This picture cracks me up. Luke was not in the mood for mom to insist on him wearing a bunny hat. He reminds me of Ralphie in his pink bunny pajamas on A Christmas Story. I just couldn’t help it, he looks so cute!

We got to go visit with Jess and Luke and I got to meet little Scarlett! I’ve been friends with Jessica for about 20 years now and it is so fun to be able to watch our little families grow.

Luke was unsure of what to think.

…especially when Scarlett tried to cuddle. We’re going to have to keep our eyes on these two.

After a long day, Luke needed to sit back and relax with his binky and a nap. Doesn’t he look like the most grown-up 2-month-old that you’ve ever seen?

First snow! I loved bundling this little man up and taking him out into the wintery wonderland that arrived this weekend.

So glad to be able to spend every day with this little guy!

2 Months

2 months! Here are some cute pictures from October:

First shots. I think I took it harder than Luke did.

Loves bath time!

We went to see daddy at school and campus was very cold- I wanted badly to climb in the stroller and cuddle with this little bug. Doesn’t he look so warm and comfy?

My dad lives in New York so we had to send our love via pictures and email for his birthday. This one is cute because I got a smile.

This one is cute because you can see the pot belly on my chubby wubby baby.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Halloween

Luke’s first Halloween was especially uneventful. After attempting a grocery trip this morning and having my 2 month old scream his way through every aisle at Wal-Mart, I decided we were probably going to be home-ridden for the rest of the day. So we made chocolate covered Oreo mummies…

and then we were about out of things to do and had a long time until Daddy got home…. so, we pulled out the camera:

and hey, who can resist this cute face in his Halloween shirt?

and then Mommy got in on the action:

and then we used the self-timer:

and then Daddy got home so we could surprise Grandma Liz with our costumes:

Cutest tiger and tiger bum tail, ever

 

Trick-or-Treat!