The Cuzzies!

Sophie

What a cutie :)

Chocolate girl

Grandma love

a few more...

Charis, Lulu, and Sophie with matching bows. :)

The Bean

Sophie Girl

Blowing bubbles in the pool!

Pinkies

Dancin Cuzzies

Charis jumping off the diving board (she started doing this for the first time!)

Auntie Suz, Vivianna, and Louella

    Well, since Joel is now in Canada for the week, Lyla and I got a special visit from some very sweet girls. My friend Susan (aka Auntie Suz) and her two girls Vivianna (5) and Louella (3) drove all the way from Becker, MN to visit. Vivianna and Louella have been wanting to meet Lyla since the day she was born, and they say prayers for "baby Lyla" every night. I think Jesus has a tender spot in his heart for children and listens extra special to their innocent prayers. Thank you Vivianna and Louella--your prayers are being heard!

    Despite the hot and humid weather, we managed to have lots of fun. Susan is like a sister to me and she is such a blessing to have around. Lyla Jane had so much fun and was so easy-going during all the hubbub, but was exhausted by the end of the visit! 

Enjoy the pics and video of our precious girls.

The Girls :)

Pool time fun!

Lyla really liked the water and was kind of mesmerized by it.  She's just chillin in this pic. :)

Lyla and Vivianna

Soon to come . . . lots of pics and videos of Lyla with her cousins!!!

Funny Bunny

Here's the funny bunny making zerberts. :)

This is my friend's little guy, Lyndon, with Lyla.  He's such a handsome little sweetheart!  He posed so nicely for the pics. :)

Papa and the Bean

My dad has been here for the past week--working hard and playing hard. In fact, he's fishing with Joel right now! He's enjoyed some time with Lyla and also did another "project" for us--he tiled our shower/tub surround. What a blessing to have such a loving and talented dad. :) Enjoy the pics!

Lyla in Papa's fishing cap--he sure can get her to smile!

Having fun with Papa

Our blue-eyed girl (with fuzzy hair!) :)

The Shower!

This is the amazing work that my dad did this past week on our shower - he is so talented. And we are SO glad to be rid of the avocado green shower. I could kick myself for forgetting to take "before" pics. 

Anyway, thanks Dad!!!!

My Adorable Nieces

I got to download some photos from my dad's camera and of course he had some pics of my nieces on there--they live in Arizona too. I had to post a few pics of them because they are coming to visit soon and I love them soooo much! Can't wait to see them and can't wait for Lyla to meet her cousins!

Charis (she's 5) and Sophie (she's 2) at the beach

The dollies  :)

Papa and Sophie after her bath

Charis, Sophie, and Grandma

Update

Well, Lyla Jane had 2 doctor's appointments this past week and this is the full report:

• She is now 12 lbs 9 oz and 25 inches long!
• Dr. Jedele was pleased with the progress she has made in her strength.
• There was some concern that her hips weren't abducting fully, but after an x-ray and appt with the orthopaedic doc, it's confirmed that her hips are totally normal!
• Concerning her eye-crossing, the pediatric opthalmologist still doesn't think it's enough of a concern (since it is so intermittent) to do anything about it.  She'll be re-checked in December when she's a year old.
• Her muscles still have low tone--she is a bit behind with her gross motor skills, and more behind with her fine motor skills.  The OT and PT have given us several things to work on with her.  Please pray that these skills will develop.
• We had doubts about getting the kidney function tests done on her, and had actually cancelled them, but we decided to reschedule them.  They are checking for reflux of her urine from her bladder back to her kidneys.  If this is occurring, it could cause permanent damage to her kidneys, so we'd want to intervene as soon as possible.  These tests will be done on June 24th so please pray that all goes well.

All in all, she is doing just great and is as fun and sweet as ever.  We thank the Lord for every accomplishment she has!  More pics and videos to come . . . Papa is on his way here right now!  He'll be here for the week.  Yay!

6 Months Old!

Our Lyla Jane turned 6 months old on May 28th!  

We give all the thanks and praise to the Lord for bringing our amazing little girl to this milestone.  Here are a few of the newer things she's been doing--

• She is starting to eat rice cereal--she's not too sure if she likes it, but she's definitely getting better and better at swallowing it. :)  
• She's fascinated with her tongue and loves to stick it out and make silly noises with it.
• She likes having play time on her back or tummy where no one is holding her--sometimes she just likes to have her space!
• She is starting to reach for toys and grasp them.
• She is becoming much more aware of her environment and what is going on around her--she still loves to look at faces too.
• She's getting sensitive to loud noises and sometimes gets upset if something is too loud.
• She is starting to be amused by Lulu. :)
• We have discovered that Lyla is ticklish--she turned all red and giggled the other day as I tickled her! 
• She still hasn't rolled from her back to her tummy, but she is soooo close! 

Here's the birthday girl!

We had a little celebration for her. :)

Lyla's first icecream.  

Not only did Lyla have a birthday party, she also went fishing for the first time on her 6 month birthday.  

 She was a little sleepy, but she experienced her first bass--oh my!

I thought this was cute--a daddy fishing :)  Joel was so excited to have Lyla along.

Daddy and his girl

Lyla and some lilacs!

"God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; He does great things beyond our understanding."   Job 37:5

Auntie Bryana put this verse in the birthday card she gave to Lyla--it rings so true at this special time and always.

A few things to pray for:

• Please pray for Lyla's muscle strength and tone--she really isn't very close to sitting up yet.
• Please pray that Joel & I make wise decisions in Lyla's care.
• Please pray that her eye-crossing will be able to be corrected.
• And just in general for her health, growth, and mental development.

And, as always, we are so thankful for you and for your prayers.  It is such a blessing to have so many loving friends and family.  Lyla, Joel, and I send our love your way. 

Video Fun!

Lyla's first time in the pool!

She sure likes Daddy's whiskers :)

Fun Around Home

Here's the silly little girl--she discovered her tongue again!  (Please excuse that the video is sideways for the first couple seconds--that's my excellent videography).  :)

I don't claim to have any real photography skills or expertise, but I do like to take pictures of flowers.  Here are a few of the flowers in bloom around our house.  Spring time is so beautiful!

Irises

Columbine

My favorite--Azalea

Somebody's talkin up a storm!

When I was weed-whacking yesterday this baby squirrel ran right up to me.  He is too young to have fear of people yet.  I made a little buddy--he was too cute. :)  

When I was going to go back to bed the other morning after Lyla's early morning feeding, this is exactly how I found Lulu.  I'm pretty sure she thinks she's a little person.

A Very Special Day

Well, this last Sunday was a very special day--a blessing and a day to remember.  Not only was it Mother's Day (my first Mother's Day!), but it was also the day of Lyla's dedication at church.  I put the video of the entire dedication on here for those of you who want to see it.  It's about 12 minutes long.  Lyla was an absolute doll during the whole thing.  I thought she would sleep through it because she was very sleepy right before we went up to the front of the church.  But as soon as we got up there and she saw all the faces, she perked up.  And during the prayer when the family gathered around her, she thought it was just the funniest thing.  She was talking and squawking throughout that whole final prayer and even for about 15 minutes after we went back to our seats!  She knew something special was going on. If you watch the video you can tell when she talks because we all look at each other and kind of giggle when she does it.  All in all it was a wonderful experience and we will always treasure it in our hearts.  More importantly, we will pray for the wisdom and strength to live by the commitments we made that day to raise Lyla in a home centered on Jesus. 

"These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."  Deuteronomy 6:6-7

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. " Proverbs 22:6   

Lyla really liked my Mother's Day rose. :)

This is the gift that Joel gave me for Mother's Day--the stones are Citrine, Lyla's birth stone, and they are heart-shaped.  What a very thoughtful gift from a very wonderful husband.

My little angel

Joel's Mama

Jenny's Mama

Both amazing mothers and grandmothers--we love you soooo much!

Just a word on motherhood--

Becoming a mother is probably the most profound and life-changing thing that has ever happened to me (other than excepting Jesus into my heart).  What a blessing it is.  Motherhood is a whole new world that I never knew existed until I entered it.  Even if someone had tried to explain it to me before and describe how amazing it is, I could have never comprehended it until I became a mom.  I thank the Lord that He allowed me to be a mother.  He created the love between Lyla and I, and I can now understand how His design is perfect.  Wow.

Engaged!

This past Saturday Joel's brother Joshua and his girlfriend Bryana got engaged! We're so excited to have Bryana as a part of the fam. :) We love Auntie Bryana! These are some pics taken right after it happened---

What a cute couple 

And what a rock!

Congratulations you two--we love you!