Cousin love

Friday night big boy Bennett came to spend the night with us. Crystal got a night off and the boys played so well together it worked out great so were thinking of taking turns and making this a monthly event! They are both getting so big, its so fun to see them really interacting with each other! Bennett went right to sleep at our house in the pack and play, he really is such a good little boy.

Playing... and wondering how all of his toys ended up over at cousin Will's house. Thanks B!

Bath time!

Bennett: "What in the world! I never eat MY bath toys like that...weirdo"

Will: "you should, look it is so yummy and squishy!"
B: "No I have some serious drain research to do here"

Will: "But look, you put him in your mouth, crunch down, and then go splish splash like this!"
B: "Oooo that DOES look like fun, I need a duckie!" "Repeat I need a duckie"

Will: "Here you go Bennett, you try it too, and look at mom and dad they think were so funny doing this... my parents are easily entertained!"
B: "Ahhh Ok, is that why they're sitting there staring at us? I was starting to wonder..."

Will: "Yeah you did it!!! However now I need two duckies, give it back"

Reading to my boys...

This was the first time I experienced them playing like ...well BOYS! I had them on the couch to try and get a picture of their matching cowboy shirts and all the sudden they both started rolling, jumping and yippeekyoooing! Ha!

My two little cowboys!

7 months old

My big big boy is 7 months old...already! I went through as I uploaded these and started at the beginning and it made me tear up, how did it go so fast? It seems like yesterday he was that little newborn!
Okay we all know I could go on in sappy land forever, onto the stats!
6, 9, or 12 month clothing depending on the brand
Just started size 3 diapers
3 meals a day 4-5 bottles
2 teeth with more on the way
Bed 7:30 Wake 6 am 2-3 naps a day

He was obsessed with touching the stickers on his onesie, I hope he doesn't do this every month!

excited boy!

Hummm......

My smiley boy

Trying on our new tennies for the first time

LOVE this age, everything is the most interesting thing they've ever seen before!

My first Mothers Day

My first mothers day has came and went, I am not a big fan of making a big deal of these types of holidays. I feel that every time I get to do something special with Will or my mom it is a blessing not just on one day. But it was a gorgeous day in St Louis a perfect day just kinda happened!

Luke let me sleep in while he hung out with Will then when I was getting ready he gave me a card, he had told me that he was combining mothers day and my birthday so when I saw two scribbled "coupons" in my card I'm sure my face said it all...

I didn't say much but then he said Will had something for me, he was holding Will and he handed me a little pouch from my favorite jewelery company... a pair of earrings. Such a sweet gesture, but I right away wish instead of walking in a store and spending two minutes there I wish Luke would give things a little thought first.

I will not be keeping my mothers day gift, with the trip and Will's medical expenses not to mention the basement I do not need an extravagant gift. I wish I had something sentimental maybe a mug with Will's footprint on it or moms necklace and I've really had my eye on this handy little gem but cant bring myself to spend the money on it.

Any who, once again this mommy gets the shaft since she is being frugal and putting her family's needs before her own.... Did I mention to anyone that I got ONE birthday gift and it was from our babysitter?? ONE, from our babysitter that Ive known for less than 4 months... Thank you Jackie! :) I know I shouldn't complain... I know. But it is hard, I guess it is because we were out of town but even my family just forgot my birthday this year.
WHOA... OK enough venting about that... Onto mothers day!

We met my family for brunch, it was supposed to be a quick brunch but ended up taking forever. Will sat in a highchair for over two hours and was a perfect angel! I love that Will is such a good boy and even if we skip naps or just have him nap in the car all still works out! After brunch Luke, Will and I went to the zoo, it was packed but it was a good time! We were pooped so we went home, all caught a short cat nap and spent the evening together, I couldn't of asked for a more perfect first Mothers Day! Will and I looking at the elephants

Bennett feeding Will some puffs

My mom swooning over her adorable baby grandson William

New big boy tricks

Will is getting so good at feeding himself. Gerber Puffs aka baby crack, now allow us to finish a meal or sit for longer periods of time, great invention!

Why am I so sad about this? I know ALL kids and babies grow up too fast but I am really sad that Will is pulling up already, he JUST started crawling for crying out loud! He is pretty good standing too and knows when he is done to just plop back down on his cushioned booty... I really hope he holds out on walking for a bit longer I want to enjoy my baby snuggler for a bit longer please!

Pullllllling.....

UP!

He loves it and rarely sits to play anymore!

Standing outside of the exersaucer

ABC's of me

In an effort to procrastinate working on a dreary Monday.... here'a goes

A: Age~ 27
B: Bed Size~ King, and sometimes that's not big enough!
C: Chore you dislike~ All.... but especially mopping, I despise our house of wood floors
D: Dogs~ Boomer, 7 years old
E: Essential to start your day~ Will snuggles
F: Fave Color~ Pink and greens
G: Gold or Silver~ Mostly silver but I have been getting into david yurman pieces and begun trying to incorporate both into my "style"
H: Height~5'5
I: Instruments (s)~ None, I can play jingle bells on the piano but that's all I remember from when I was little
J:Job Title~ Account Manager
K: Kids~ William Lucas..... and Boomer Dog
L: Live~ In a suburb of St.Louis born and raised... wish I had the guts to relocate but not sure if we ever will
M: Mom's name~ Lora Leigh... yes like the song
N: Nicknames~ Ash, Splash, Ash Bash, Squeaker, Two, Goozer
O: Overnight hospital stays: Back in 06' for my shoulder surgery, and then in 10' when I gave birth to lil mr.
P: Pet peeves~ There are lots... forgetfulness and generic things are two that are high up on the list!
Q: Quote from a movie~ "Like a really thin pancake""
R: Righty of Lefty~ Right
S: Siblings~ One older sister
T: Time you wake up~ Between 5:45 and 6:15, weekdays AND weekends.
U: Underwear~ I love boyshorts!
V: Veggies you don't like~ Brussel sprouts
W: What makes you run late~ Not much, I am a punchual person, but unexpected diaper changes sometimes catch us off guard
X: Xrays~ Teeth, shoulder, arm, foot
Y: Yummy food you make~ I make some yummy meatballs, and a good hot corn dip, yum I'm getting hungry now!
Z: Zoo animal favorites~ Monkeys and gorillas!

A North Carolina Birthday!

Were back! We had a great time, the weather was fabulous, 75 and sunny... much better than all the rain we left behind in St. Louis!
Before we left Will finished his antibiotic and I took him to the doctor again just to get checked, his ears were good and she said his cough could last longer and it would go away. Will was great on the flight there, we met up with Jake, his fiance Ann, and Luke's mom who had already flown in a few days before us to meet the new in laws and discuss rehearsal dinner ideas.
The next day we headed to the beach, it was about a two hour drive from where Jake lives in Raleigh to get to Emerald Isle. The house was cozy and cute, and the beach was quiet and secluded! We relaxed, played with Will, ate out, watched royal wedding coverage, the boys golfed, and we all had a really good time!
On the flight coming home Will did not want the party to end, he fought us with going to sleep and made himself very overtired, for about 30 minutes we were "those" people... Thank goodness he finally fell asleep on his sweet Gigi's shoulder :)
While we were there Will's nose was running non stop, I have never seen so much snot in my life, it was A LOT! He was also coughing and 2 of the nights a fever came and spiked up, never a dull moment with this kid I tell ya!
We gave Advil, but by Monday I was a pretty worried mommy, I called the specialist that diagnosed his bacterial infection a while ago because I was sure that this is what that was turning into. Since we were coming back soon they wanted to see him so when we got back I spent three hours at the specialist with Will, we are not on more stronger antibiotics (which I am kinda annoyed his pedi didn't give us strong ones to begin with) But the new meds are causing a horrible case of the poops... which caused a horrible diaper rash. This kid cant win. I am VERY open to suggestions for diaper rash as this is something we have never dealt with before.
Ohh I forgot to mention we are teething again, I think some top teeth are right around the corner!
So it has been a trying week, but hopefully we are on the road to recovery! All in all it was a great little getaway and Jake really appreciated us coming to visit, we are the first visitors he has had come to see him and where he lives in North Carolina.... and we will be back! :)

The view from our beach house, it was so pretty!
Snoozing on the car ride to the beach, dreaming of all the fun to be had.

I love that Lambert, St. Louis's airport has rocking chairs!

Will loved the beach, sand, water, but one of his favorite things was the SHADOWS!!!!!

So excited to be at the beach together!

I love the wonder in this boys face

The restaurant we went to for my birthday did smores' for dessert, Yumm!

My happy little family on a morning beach walk

We went adventure seeking with Jake and Ann....we found lots of sand.

The boys trying to entertain Will with the birds, Will just wanted to look at his beautiful shadow :)

Luke, Kris, and Jake

Kris HATES getting her picture taken (I don't know why, I think she is so pretty, and that is why she is Gigi: Gorgeous Grandma!) it makes me happy we got her to pose... for ONE! :)

Will got a treat of some yummy fresh strawberries on the beach!

My tubby wubby bumpkin boy

Will loved playing in the sand, he kept scooping it up in his hands and when it would fall away he was just amazed!

My little boy with his feet in the ocean for the very first time, first of very many times!

Trying to pose.... ha!
Like my "mommy suit?"

Our favorite game!

check out my red back... nice huh?

First lemon, despite the picture he kinda liked it!

Our family beach photo