Lewis at 3 months

Granted, Lewis is already 3 1/2 months old but I had some pictures professionally taken and wanted to showcase those on our blog. I met the photographer, Laura, at Brent's bike race. She too is a stay-at-home mom and does photography on the side. You can check out her site at www.lauramatoushphotography.com. Laura does a great job and is very reasonable.

Back to Lewis. He is such a determined little fellow. Already he holds his head up very well and really wants to sit. If he is laying back in the bouncy, he will lean forward and try to sit up! Lewis is still Mister Social. He loves to talk to anyone and will now outright laugh. His voice will take on a scolding tone if he is left alone too long or if he needs something. He is still my sturdy little man weighing in at 14 pounds. Gotta love the rolls everywhere!

Chillin' Out

The life of a baby is the life indeed. While Embrie was enjoying time in the little blow-up pool at Grandpa Bob and Grandma Sandy's, Lewis was enjoying a little cuddling.

Ride the "neigh"

The only store that Embrie will mention by name is HyVee. Why? There is a "neigh" just as you walk in the door. You know, the whole stick in a quarter and ride a little electronic horse while music plays. Except at HyVee, you don't stick in a quarter. You get a token from the clerk when you check out. Where were those perks when I was a kid? And other reasons to go to HyVee - the car carts (Embrie sits and drives the cart while I shop), a free cookie from the bakery, and a free slice of cheese from the deli. Again, where were these perks when I was little?!

Duck, Duck, Goose

Ever since playing Duck, Duck, Goose with family, Embrie has developed a love for the game and wants to play it at home. Now how does one play this with only 3 people, and one of them being an infant? Where there is a will there is a way! We have used stuffed animals, little people from her little people ark set.... Oh, and this has spread to not just at home. Once during a walk, she passed by some bushes in a yard and was going along saying, "Duck, duck, duck...." At a bonfire, she went around doing the same to the people sitting in their lawn chairs roasting marshmellows.

Photo Shoot

Entertaining a two year old can in and of itself be entertaining and this was one of those times. Embrie decided she wanted to take photos of her baby. So, she carefully placed her baby doll Maddie on the couch and wanted me to take pictures. Like any good photographer, she tried to get her subject to smile. She would stand back, squat on her haunches and say, "Cheesebooger, baby!" (Wonder where she has seen/heard that!) Then due to the wonders of digital photography, Embrie would say, "I see it," meaning she wanted to see the photos I had just taken. Well, one thing let to another and the few photos of Maddie the baby doll became a whole photo shoot.

Hands.....



Side view...


Feet....


Eyes... And all the while continuing to say, "Cheesebooger Baby!"

Just a side note: I took all the photos while nursing Lewis! It's amazing how a mom can multitask when needed.

Daddy go bikin'

In the last two summers, Brent has really taken to biking. His loves extends from commuting to work (a 50 minute trip one way - don't know how he does it!) to mountain biking. Early Saturday mornings often find him mountain biking with friends. Embrie's understanding of all this is simple, "Daddy go bikin' " For awhile, in fact, anytime she saw anyone on a bike when we were driving, she just assumed it was Brent and would yell, "Go Daddy!"

This summer he again participated in the NE Cornhusker State games. Of course, I gamely carted both kids there to cheer him on. The course was two laps. Embrie was heartbroken when Brent raced by and didn't stop.


With the other mothers and kids, we set up camp at the finish line. The weather was a little cool - perfect for a race and being outside. Embrie was distracted by the other kiddos and snacks. Lewis, well, he slept through the whole thing.

When Brent raced by to the finish, Embrie saw him ride by but didn't quite get out her cheer in time. That didn't stop her, she called out anyway, "Go, Daddy," and ran to meet him at the finish. Now, because I am the wife I can tell you he did great - earned the silver metal for his division!

Lewis is 2 months old

I have fallen in love with little boy plaid shorts. Maybe someday I'll get my "big boy" to wear them too! :)



My sweet baby Lewis is already two months old. Before he was born, I wondered if I could ever love another child as much as Embrie but that has proved to not be a problem! Lewis is wonderful! This month has been fun because his personality is really starting to show. He is very social and interactive. We already have little conversations. He will coo, lift his chin up and smile, and raise his eyebrows in response to someone talking to him. I love, love that about him. The doctor said he is very social for a child of his age. This friendliness is apparent at all times of day - even late at the night. He'll look at me and coo and smile with no regard to the fact it is 12:00 a.m. Apparently his father was the same way as a baby!

And growing. Yes, he is growing like a weed! At his appointment today he was 12 lb 14 oz (75%) and 24 1/2 inches long (90%). This is quite a change for us as Embrie still hangs out at the 20% weight wise. Lewis has all these little rolls and dimples on his arms and thighs. He is my strong little man!

Unfortunately, we found out he too is sensitive to soy and milk so I am back on the same crazy strict diet that I was with Embrie. It will all be worth it in the end as he will feel better.

First Official Family Vacation

We had our first official family vacation. Yeah! With a 2 year old and 2 month old we opted to go simple this time. In fact, you might call it more of a "stacation" because we didn't go far! It all started out with Brent and I going on a date night. Embrie was quite heart-broken about this. "I go on date too!" almost convinced us. Thanks Shay and Megan for watching the kids. The next day we spent just hanging out in Lincoln. Brent needed to get in another practice run for the Cornhusker State Games so we all went to Branched Oak Lake. While Embrie, Lewis and I ate snacks and went for a walk looking for all the dogs in the campground, "My Daddy go bikin' ". We went out for supper again. As I tried to entertain Embrie and keep her in the booth and Brent fed Lewis a bottle while trying to eat, we both agreed that this was a completely different atmosphere to our calm, relaxing date the night previous. But, of course, we wouldn't change it for anything. The next day we headed to Omaha. Embrie has never stayed in a hotel (well, never that she would remember anyway) so we decided to capitalize on that. When we arrived Embrie wouldn't walk through the door to our room! We both had to go in and then Brent carried her in. Soon she warmed up to the place and was eating a snack and bouncing on the bed. Another first was swimming in the hotel pool. This she immediately loved and would have stayed in longer if the water and room wouldn't have been so cold. Lewis slept the whole time. Brent went to the Rice Bowl (a favorite hole in the wall Chinese restaurant of ours) and brought supper to the hotel. While he was gone, Embrie was facinated by the phone and pretended she was calling Brent. Part of the conversation was, "I wuv you Daddy." Eating supper in the room was another hit for Embrie. The rest of the evening was spent watching Tinker Bell and more bouncing on the bed. Lewis slept the whole time. Embrie had a double bed all to herself. I didn't know how that would go. Lewis was on the floor inbetween the two beds. For awhile, Embrie thought it was neat too look down at Lewis and say hi, say hi to us, and adjust her covers. Finally she fell asleep on her own. This time Lewis didn't sleep! He wanted to stay up late and get up often. :) The next day we went to the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo. The weather was perfect in the 70's with little humidity. Embrie loved the zoo and we stayed there from 11:00-4:30. When looking at the animals, she was mostly very observant and quiet, trying to take it all in. She did talk about the beavers "beavers all gone" and the random bunny we saw "bunny hop away". Lewis basically slept the whole time. :) Of course, Embrie fell right asleep in the car. The final day of vacation, Brent took Embrie on a breakfast date, we all went to the Sunken Gardens. Embrie was quite fasinated by the fish and Lewis slept the whole time. :) The Brent and I each took some time to ourselves. As I said to Brent, this will be the first of many family vacations.

Chocolate covered Embrie.... I mean strawberries

Whoever thought of making chocolate covered strawberries should receive a culinary award of some kind! I mean, how can you go wrong with combining those two yummy foods? Embrie would certainly agree. Together we made some for two BBQ's we attended. Embrie really didn't make any, but sampled quite a few. Of course, sprinkles were added for a final touch of yumminess. Lewis supervised the whole proceeding from his bouncy seat.

Pool time

Embrie had her first experience at a "big" pool when her cousins Miranda and Mikayla were in town. Her prior experience was the bathtub and the kiddie pool on the patio. After a short warming up period, she absolutely loved it and didn't want to leave. Here she is when she first walked in - surveying all the people.

My Little Lewis

Our last posting was in Jan. this year. It is now July. Oops. I would like to say that I will go back and fill in all the previous months but lets just be realistic. I do believe I will just start with what's happening now.

My little Lewis is not so little anymore! He is getting so big so fast. Last week I took him to Milkworks to weigh him. He tipped the scale at 10 lb 9 oz. Embrie didn't weigh that until mid July. He even has little rolls on his thighs. Love it! In the last 2 weeks he has become so much more interactive with smiles and cooing when I talk to him.

Big Sis

Embrie will become a "Big Sis" around May 23rd.