Happy Birthday Laiken!

Today is my sister's birthday!

Laiken and I are 3 1/2 years apart. I always wanted to be just like her!

She is beautiful and kind and always tries to do the right thing. As little girls we would play Barbie's and School and House together. I was always envious of the way she dressed and did her hair. Many a fellow had a crush on her, and yet Laiken always stayed grounded and humble. I loved asking her for advice, and I was always excited when she took me to High School games with her when she was a Student Body Officer. 

While in our teen years it always seemed like we were in different worlds for awhile. As soon as I started Junior High, she was in High School. When I was in High school, she was in College. My first semester of College was her last, and it was fun to take a class together. We would often have lunch together afterwards and I cherished that time with my sister. 

It has been so fun since we have married and had our sons, because our worlds were finally on the same page. Our relationship has strengthened and we have had more opportunities to lean on one another as we go through similar experiences. She is still one of my favorite people to ask advice and I am always so impressed with the creative and smart mama, wife, and homemaker that she is. She has always had a knack with children, and her son is very lucky boy to have such a purposeful and thoughtful mother. 

I love my sister very much and am so grateful that I have always had her example to look up to! Happy birthday Laik, I love you! I hope it's a wonderful day! 

I'm laughing at this picture of our chubby pregnant selves eating ice cream. :) 

Henry's 11 Month Update

Wow- time moves so quickly. :) 

Henry Joseph is 11 months old, and he is such a fun little boy!
 

He is certainly a mover these days. He is always so so busy. He will occasionally sit still while playing with certain toys, but typically he is all over the place- especially when I'm hoping he'll stay in one spot (like at church etc.) He just has so much to learn about and explore these days. 

He is getting better and better at walking. We still take tumbles every few steps most of the time, but every once and awhile he''ll walk across the entire room and sit down all on his own. I just can't believe how big he's getting. 

I have so many pictures of him standing like this by the window- it's one of his favorite places to hang out! 

He has 5 teeth and they are adorable. I love his little toothy grin. So far he has done really well at not biting me while nursing- thank goodness! 

I am still nursing him twice a day, and I really love it. He is a quick little guy now, and a "long" nursing session is about 2-3 minutes.  (remember when he used to take an hour and a half in those first months?! because I sure do. :) ) If I had known how easy nursing would become later on when I was struggling those first few months, I think it would have been a little easier to push through, although I know it's different for everybody. Now that we have our system down, I really want to keep nursing him even past his year mark. I kind of wish I could just solely nurse him instead of feeding him solids because it's much quicker and CLEANER. :) But I guess these babies have to grow up and eat big boy food too. :) 

He is slowly starting to eat more foods besides baby foods, but he is definitely still a lover of purees. I think he really loves the texture. One day we will be able to leave those behind, but for now they are our best food friends. :) 

He has a funny little personality and makes some pretty great facial expressions at times. 

(Click on the pictures below to see all 4 of them.) 

I can't get over what a little sweetheart he is. We joke that his defense mechanism is cuddling, because he just curls up in people's arms when he doesn't know what else to do. He's a mover and a shaker, but he loves being held and can be very content on someones lap. 

Henry Joseph you are an absolute joy. It's been almost a year and I STILL can't believe he belongs to Kyler and I. :) 

(click on the picture below to see all of them.)