Little Lucy Lu

Max = 6 Months!

noreply@blogger.com (Bec@littlelucylu) — Fri, 24 May 2013 05:17:00 +0000

We celebrated half-a-year last week!!

SIX whole months with this perfect little man.

Already.

Six months is about the time you start wondering how you can possibly continue to breathe if they don't stop growing up so fast. You wonder if your heart might shatter into a million pieces if one more person comments on how big he is getting.

(And by you, I mean I . . . although, I think I'm probably in the majority here.)

However, six months is also about the time your baby really starts getting FUN, and therefore . . . it somehow makes it okay that they're growing up.

Lots of new and exciting things this month! (and yes, exciting is pretty much a relative term here: )~

Eating solids is probably the most exciting "accomplishment" this month (and he's just started really getting the whole eating thing down this past week).

It may seem late for solids to some people, but he's whooped his sister in the "eating solids race", for sure!

She wasn't eating any solids (not for lack of trying on my part!) until she was 7 1/2 months! And even then, it wasn't much.

So far, I haven't really found anything Max won't eat (he's had apples, pears, peaches, green beans, peas, sweet potatoes, squash, and mangos). He scarfs down the sweet potatoes and pears at lighting speed though! Those two definitely seem to be his favorites! :-)

He spends most of his time rolling back and forth on the floor or bouncing, bouncing, bouncing in his jumperoo.

Oh, and chewing . . . on EVERYTHING.

So far, still no teeth though! (I'm betting it'll be this month!)

He has got to be one of the HAPPIEST, most laid-back, easy-going babies I've ever seen.

I truly thought Lucy was the easiest baby on earth . . . until Max came along.

From airplane rides, to Disneyland, to sitting through sister's dance classes and swim lessons, to church, to (way too many) shopping trips at the mall . . . he just goes with the flow, hangs out in his stroller, sleeps when he's tired, etc.

Piece of cake!

The one exception is his sleeping (at night). Though he still ranges from 8-10 hours a night, it's closer to 8 hours than 10 hours more nights than not . . . and getting up at 4:00 in the morning does get old after six months of doing it every night. But it could be soooo much worse, I know. And really, getting up for 10 minutes to give him a few ounces of milk and put him right back in his crib (where he sleeps until around 8:00) is not the end of the world. Especially because he is a fantastic napper, too . . . he takes two big (2-3 hour) naps and another 1-hour nap every day.

So, it's not like he's sleep-deprived! : )~

And on the night (or sometimes two!) a week when he sleeps closer to 10 hours straight, I am thankful!

No signs of crawling yet. He is not a fan of being on his tummy for long (he just rolls over when I put him on his tummy!), so I'm not quite sure how he's ever going to get a feel for crawling, but he manages to scoot around on his back just fine, so I guess he gets where he needs to go! : )~

His favorite thing in the world is definitely his sister. He lights up from head to toe the second she looks at him. And he will laugh (almost uncontrollably) at the simplest things she does. It is so much fun to watch them!

Lucy got a kick out of this picture I put together last week . . .

And I just love seeing them at the same age, side-by-side, like this. Brings back all of the memories of Lucy being in this same fun and giggly stage.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the laundry basket photo this month:

Getting a little squishy in there, but he seemed to think it was fun! : )~

And this . . .

. . . makes me want to smile until my cheeks hurt. Or cry until I have no tears left. Or crawl into a corner, assume the fetal position, and wait for someone to hug me and tell me it's going to be okay.

Why??? WHY do they have to grow so fast?

I love this little guy so much.

Thankful doesn't begin to describe it.

It's so easy to forget what we had to go through to get him, but I never want to take the miracle that he is for granted.

We are so blessed!

Excited to see what month #7 has in store for us! :-)

Tiptoe Through the Tulips, 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Bec@littlelucylu) — Tue, 21 May 2013 05:02:00 +0000

Before posting Max's 6 month update tomorrow, I wanted to squeeze in a little Lucy!

This is the third year I have posted pictures from our trip to the tulip farm down the road. It's still hard for me to grasp that she's old enough to have three year's worth of photos from this annual outing, but ...!?? I guess it's reality!
(*Okay, just kidding .... I just went back and checked, and HERE is the 2011 post, but then I remembered - last year (2012), I was sooooo sick right around this time, so the photos didn't make it to the blog!)

Enjoy Lucy and the tulips .... two of my very favorite things! :-)

Lucy and her "best friend", Cam . . .

It's tough to be a farm girl . . .

Every girl needs a pink John Deere, dontcha think. . . ???

A ride around the tulip fields in the cow train . . .

So long, tulip farm! See you next year!

Mother's Day at the Zoo

noreply@blogger.com (Bec@littlelucylu) — Mon, 13 May 2013 04:40:00 +0000

I figure it's about time for a blog post.

I try.

It's Mother's Day, and I'm feeling so blessed and lucky today, so I just felt compelled to share. :-)

We spent most of our day at the zoo!

Maybe a non-traditional way to celebrate, but they put on an amazing brunch, so we started with that ... and then took a leisurely stroll around the rest of the zoo, too.
(And then Scott wished we could go BACK to the brunch buffet because he was hungry again! HA! : )~

It was delicious and fun, all wrapped into one! And perfect weather, to boot! (It's been pretty hot around the Pacific NW lately, so cloudy skies and 65* felt great!)

Oh! And my sis and bro-in-law are actually home now, too . . . so it was extra-special to have them join us!

Here is my mom ("Nana"), my sister and I, and the kidlets . . .
(oh, and pardon the cell phone pics . . . they are unusually poor quality today, and I'm not sure why!?)

I saw these shirts for Lucy and Max at Old Navy last week, and had to have 'em!

Perfect for celebrating Nana today!

Oh, Lucy and Nana . . .

They love each other. :-)

I'm quite certain Nana is Lucy's FAVORITE person.

I just L-O-V-E this next set of pictures.

They were watching the giraffes and didn't know I was behind them taking pictures (with my phone).

Soooooo sweet!

. . . Do you think she loves her Nana? Just a little bit . . . ?

I love the pictures because they show perfectly how those two are ALL the time.

And I LOVE how much Lucy loves her Nana. (She begs to spend the night with her pretty much every other night!)

And I try not to take it personally when Lucy tells me she wants to live at Nana's house. : )~

My mom was a GREAT mom . . . and she's an even better Nana.

My kids are so lucky to have her!

Max might not be able to say it yet . . .

But I know he LOVES HIS NANA, too!!!

(And yes, he's getting SOOOOOO big!)

This weekend, I've been thinking a lot about how thankful I am to be "Mama" to these two . . .

They have made me such a better person and have taught me so many things.

I don't know if I will ever stop being overwhelmed at the awesomeness of the miracle that they are.

I know there are tough moments and challenging days -- and being a mom is NOT easy.

But I hope I never, never, never take the gift of motherhood for granted.

I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world!

Max = 5 Months!

noreply@blogger.com (Bec@littlelucylu) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 03:25:00 +0000

I'm getting later and later every month, aren't I...?
Better 9 days late than never, I guess!?

Between the poor little guy being sick -- and then our trip to DISNEYLAND, it's been a little busy around here!

But sure enough, Max flew by the five month mark over a week ago! He is becoming less of a baby and more of a little man every week. {sniff, sniff!} : (

He's still cute though! : )~
(I know, I know ... I'm his Mama ... I have to say that!)
But it's true. :-)

And even better . . . he has a personality to match!
I'll do a Disneyland post soon, but this little guy flew to and from California, experienced his first HOT (over 80*) days, went on rides, sat through parades, loud shows/crowds, didn't get a decent nap in four days, and a whole lot more . . . and I can honestly say, he didn't even get fussy once.
Such a little trooper.

As far as his "stats" this month . . . five months is the first month that we don't have a doctor's appointment, so I don't have exact measurements for him this time! I'm guessing (if he has continued to grow at about the same pace), that he is around 17 pounds though. Give or take a pound! : )~

He's growing.
That's for sure.
Too fast.

Still sleeping about the same (although, unfortunately, most nights are closer to 8 hours now than 10 ... ugh! why are we going backwards???), and not too many other differences from last month, either.

He continues to find his voice more and more - and his new favorite thing is a very LOUD screech! I don't blame him, really . . . with his sister talking at him non-stop, he has to make a BIG noise to be heard!

He is rolling both ways now, still scooting all over the place (mostly on his back), and spinning in circles on his tummy.
We're most likely to find him on his back with his feet in his hands, rolling side-to-side like a little weeble-wobble. : )~
Oh! And the jumperoo! I forgot about that when I was updating the chalkboard. (darn!)
He is a jumping maniac now! I don't know if he loves the jumperoo quite as much his big sister did (she'd stay in that thing for HOURS!. . . although, I'm probably remembering when she was a bit older than this, anyway!), but for 20 or 30 minutes at a time, he has a great time bouncing and playing. :-)

I know these next few months will be filled with lots of big milestones and changes though . . . teeth coming in, eating solids, and crawling are all going to be happening before we know it. Ready or not!
(And I'm personally leaning more toward the NOT.)

And now, for your viewing enjoyment . . . (okay, probably just for my viewing enjoyment, really) . . . here are some more pics of my sweet lil' Max!

(He's even cute when he's not smiling!:-)

Annnnd, the five month laundry basket photo . . .

Definitely getting a little squishy in there now!

Here are the first five months:

Oh, how I wish I could go back to the beginning and do it all over already.

This mama is not ready for her baby to grow up anytime soon. : (

Stay tuned for a Disneyland post in the near future!

Bunny Eggs ... A Family Easter Tradition

noreply@blogger.com (Bec@littlelucylu) — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 00:35:00 +0000

Perhaps I should clarify . . . "Bunny Eggs ... MY Family Easter Tradition."

I posted this picture on Instagram and Facebook earlier ... and the response was so surprising, I decided a blog post was in order!

No one seems to know what bunny eggs are!??

(Isn't it funny how you just assume everyone shares the same traditions?)

Easter mornings in my childhood were just as much fun as Christmas mornings . . . my sister and I would wake up early, pester our parents until they got out of bed, grab our baskets, and head out the door in our pajamas.

We found the eggs that we had dyed the day before, but hidden along with those eggs were always the "mysterious" brown eggs, which my mom always said were bunny eggs!

We absolutely, 100% believed the Easter Bunny had laid those eggs . . . and we thought they were the COOLEST thing! Finding the bunny eggs was a BIG DEAL in our household.

So . . . now that I have a kiddo old enough for egg hunts on Easter morning, you better believe the bunny eggs are happening!

They are quite simple to make (and yes, I had to ask my mom what the secret was to making them brown!) -- just boil the eggs, as you usually would, but with onion skins in the water!

At the time I was making this batch of bunny eggs (and taking this picture with my phone), I had no idea I would be writing a blog post about it, so these pics are kind of pathetic . . . but you get the idea!

I don't know if we're the only family hunting for "bunny eggs" on Easter morning . . . and it might be a silly tradition, but it's certainly a special tradition to me, and I can only assume my kids will feel the same way!

Happy Easter to all of you, whatever your traditions may be!

He is Risen!

Baby Essentials & Favorites!

noreply@blogger.com (Bec@littlelucylu) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 11:05:00 +0000

Now that Max is 4 months old, I am finally getting around to showing you my baby "must haves" and favorite things!

**Notice I did not say anything about budget-friendly, most practical, or most popular ... these are simply MY favorite baby items! I know the graphic says 0-3 months .... but that's not to say these are ONLY used in those few months -- they're just the items I have loved the most SO FAR (and I'm sure I will continue enjoying most, if not all, of the products, for months to come!) This is not your typical list, but I like it -- and hope you will, too!**
Many of these items are fairly expensive -- and definitely not the "cheap" version ... but given this was my second go-round at the baby thing, I knew what I needed and what I did not need -- and therefore, saved money by not buying the non-essentials, but splurged on other things!

1. Aden + Anais swaddle blankets. These are HUGE, especially in comparison to the other swaddling blankets you'll find in a store. (My other favorites are the double-sided flannel ones made by my grandma!)

2. Aden + Anais "nibble" bibs. All of the Aden + Anais products are a muslin fabric, which doesn't seem so soft at first -- but after washing - are SO soft and absorbent. The more you wash these products, the softer they get!

3. Aden + Anais "dribble" burpy bibs. If I had to pick one ULTIMATE favorite A + A product, these would be it. They look like burp cloths, but are contoured to fit perfectly over your shoulder AND they have snaps, so they can be snapped right around baby's neck and used as a bib as well as a burp cloth! Brilliant! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these!!!

4. Little Giraffes blankets. Lucy and Max both have the "luxe" SUPER-soft blankies ... but I found this one - the Dolce Knit Blanket - this time around for Max, and I love it even more than the luxe blankets! It's not only soft, but stretchy, so it works perfectly for wrapping up your little bundle!

1. Fisher-Price Rock 'n Play. These are a new product since Lucy was a baby ... and I'm not sure how I lived without it last time! This is what Max slept in for the first three months - for naps and at night. It folds SO easily, so it was super-simple to transport from one room to another. Baby sleeping on an incline seemed to help him sleep better and longer and kept me from worrying so much about him choking!
2. BOB Revolution Stroller. A great stroller is a MUST. And if you are looking for JUST ONE stroller that will "do it all", I think the BOB Revolution is your best bet. Yes, it's a little on the big side for strolling through the mall - but it's totally workable. My runner friends all love it for running with their babes (I wouldn't know about that one!) ... and it is great on and off-road! There are also adapters for just about every brand of infant car seat, so you can snap your infant carrier right in when baby is still tiny!
**If you can afford an "off-road" stroller AND a "mall-type stroller" ... then I HIGHLY recommend the newest member of the Uppababy family -- the Cruz.

I seriously LOVE this stroller.

It's lightweight, extremely well-maneuvered, lays all the way flat to accommodate the smallest of babies, HUGE cargo basket (the biggest I've seen), and very easy to fold. I also have an adapter that allows me to snap Max's infant seat right in so I don't have to wake him up to put him in the stroller!

Yes, it's spendy.

But in my opinion, totally worth it ... and if you're like me and take excellent care of your baby gear, you will be able to turn around and sell it in a few years for 3/4 of what you paid, anyway!

(**The Cruz also has a scooter board that can be attached to the back for older siblings to ride along! FUN!)

3. Fisher-Price Swing. Both of my babies have LOVED their swings. This one is great because it can sway from side-to-side OR front-to-back. (Oddly, Lucy loved side-to-side and Max loves front-to-back!) It is Max's favorite sleeping spot (and was Lucy's, as well) - and though I try to only let him nap in it once a day, it is so nice to know he will have at least one nice, long nap a day - thanks to his swing!
4. Beco Butterfly. I know baby wearing is VERY popular these days ... and I can tell you, now that I have two kids, I am finding it much more necessary and helpful! I can put Lucy in the stroller (or the grocery cart) and wear Max ... or just use it for that fussy hour (right about the time I'm trying to make dinner every night). The Beco is very similar to the very popular Ergo - but I prefer the Beco because baby is easily moved from front to back (when they get old enough to be on the back, of course!). The Beco also comes in many more cute fabric options than the Ergo -- although I just have the chocolate one, pictured above.

1. Angel Dear Blankies. (Or lovies, as we call them.) These can be purchased separately - or in this awesome three-pack. Max lights up the second he sees his lovie ... and he sleeps with his face buried in it (and it's thin enough I don't need to worry about that!). He LOVES it! (FABULOUS gift, if you ask me!)
2. Romeo the Toad (by Lilliputiens). Kinda a silly "must have" maybe, but I L-O-V-E this toy! First of all, it is adorable. Second, it is very well-made and with high-quality materials. And finally ... Max totally digs it! The mirror was the first thing he loved ... now he loves all of the little creatures that hide inside Romeo's mouth. Again - it's not a cheap product. But it's several toys, wrapped into one - and personally, I'd rather have one QUALITY toy laying around my house than five or six cheap toys that aren't going to last long!
3. MAM glow-in-the-dark pacifiers. These things ROCK my SOCKS. The fact that I can walk into Max's dark room in the middle of the night when he's crying for his binkie .... and actually FIND it WITHOUT TURNING ON THE LIGHTS is GENIUS! (Okay, that's a lot of capitals, but seriously folks. So. Darn. Smart!)
4. Twilight Turtle (or Ladybug) by Cloud B - or the Dream Lites work, too! These things have been a total lifesaver for us. We started using Lucy's Ladybug when she was just days old. During night feedings, rather than turning on a light or lamp (and waking her up more than necessary), I would just turn on the stars! It gives just enough light to be able to see what you're doing - yet it's not too bright! And babies love to stare at those stars from the get-go! (At least mine did!) Lucy (4+ years later) still INSISTS on going to sleep under the stars. :-)

1. Baby Gap jammies. Why Gap? Well .... let me tell you.

And show you:

See that GOLD snap? (pardon my scary fingers)
On Gap's baby clothes . . . the very middle snap on the top and the bottom is GOLD. (The rest are silver.) And let's be honest, moms . . . how many times have you snapped those suckers up and ended up with an extra snap in the wrong spot!? Ugh! So frustrating!
With Gap's baby clothes, this problem is solved! Love it!
2. No Rinse Wash. Okay, call me lazy . . . but I just don't wanna give my baby a bath EVERY. SINGLE. NIGHT. And quite frankly, they say it's not great for their skin, anyway.
Especially in the first week or two - before the umbilical stump has fallen off and you can't submerge them in water, anyway - this No Rinse Wash is AWESOME.
It's just a bubbly foam that you rub on the skin, then wipe away with a dry towel! Easy-peasy. : )~
3. Robeez kick-proof socks. I know I'm brand-name dropping again, but ya gotta go with what works, people.
And Robeez socks STAY ON BABY FEET!!! It's a big deal. Trust me. I had at least a half-dozen other brands . . . they all fell off. Maybe it's me. But all I know is me, myself, and I like Robeez socks for baby feet!
4. Grass Drying Rack (and accessories) by Boon. These came about right after I had Lucy, so I missed out last time. (Not this time around!) I love it! It's kinda funky to see a patch of grass sitting on your counter, but it's just cute and unique, and I love how it holds bottles, bottle parts, pump parts, and anything else you need for baby. (*Note: It comes in two sizes. I got the smaller size and wish I'd gotten the larger size!)

And my final favorite baby item?
A GREAT diaper bag that you LOVE . . .

This is my diaper bag. The Organic Sashay Satchel in Daisy Dewdrops by Petunia Pickle Bottom.
Nope. Not cheap.
But you know what? I carry this thing around on my arm every. single. day.
It is not only functional -- with PLENTY of room for baby needs, snacks for Lucy, AND my wallet/keys/etc. -- but it's also fashionable and doesn't scream "DIAPER BAG!!!" It's just a cute bag.
I seriously love this thing. (AND I actually scored it on sale, so I paid around $90 ... worth every penny and more.)

Phew!
That was exhausting.
I know my list is a little different from the "norm" -- but I hope maybe you'll find one or two (or more!) things you like, too!
(*And if I know you - and you're expecting a baby - you can be expecting some of these things for your showers! ... you can still pretend to be surprised : )~

Which of YOUR favorite baby items did I leave off my list? :-)

Max = 4 Months!

noreply@blogger.com (Bec@littlelucylu) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:26:00 +0000

Baby brother is growing up!

(I keep telling him he can stop doing that any time now ... )

I even had to move his monthly picture out of the big chair in his room . . . because he and the chalkboard just don't both fit in there very well anymore! So ... to the floor we went. (That's a safer place for him these days, anyway!: )~

This month seemed to bring lots of new tricks for Max. :-)

His most exciting new trick is probably rolling . . . but Mama's favorite is giggling! :-)

Makes my heart melt!

He gained almost two pounds since last month! He seems SO big to me -- although, he's really only in the 50th percentile for weight, 65th percentile for height. So technically, I guess he's not really that big. Lucy was exactly 12 pounds and 24 inches at four months though, so Max is definitely much bigger than his sister was! (Probably why he feels HUGE to me!)

One of the other big differences between them is how AcTiVe this little bugger is! Everyone has told me their boys were much more active than their girls . . . now I understand!

Case in point: when buying for Max's nursery, I chose not to buy a crib bumper. Why? Because I took Lucy's off to wash it once -- and never put it back on the crib! She never got anywhere NEAR the rails of her crib! I would lay her down at night . . . and that's exactly where I would find her the next morning. No joke.

So . . . as far as I was concerned, why spend the extra $100+ dollars on an item I didn't even need???

Crib bumpers are a waste of money!

I stand corrected.

Max has certainly proved to me WHY they invented crib bumpers.

He is ALLLLL over the place.

(And yes, I paid a visit to Pottery Barn Kids yesterday, so his crib is now adequately bumpered. : )~

We love to watch him scoot and roll around on the floor . . . and big sister is finding him more and more fun to "play" with every day, too.

Just look at this cuteness!

He currently has his very first cold, so he's not super happy . . . but I did capture one little grin!

Hug the cow...

... or EAT the cow!

EVERYTHING is in his mouth these days. I keep expecting to see a tooth, but it seems like the "teething" process is often a long one! Lucy didn't get her first tooth until around 7 months, so if he follows in Sister's footsteps, we've got a ways to go!

The laundry basket is getting smaller, I think!? : )~

First 4 months!

Oh, how I love this little guy!

Yesterday was the anniversary of the day I discovered I was pregnant.

Biggest and BEST shock of my life!

God is so good . . . and miracles DO happen!

Keep up with me on Facebook or Instagram! Those seem to be the best places to find me these days! : )~

From Bi-Fold to Barn Doors - Max's Closet!

noreply@blogger.com (Bec@littlelucylu) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 12:52:00 +0000

I showed you Max's nursery way back HERE -- and I mentioned then there was one last project I was hoping to complete in the room.
Well, it's finally done!
The barn doors on the closet . . .

This is what Max's closet doors looked like before:

Boring ol' bi-fold doors.
Because of the vintage farm theme in his room, I knew from the get-go I wanted barn doors on the closet -- but we had a couple of obstacles.
First, the sliding track and hardware for a "barn door" is EXPENSIVE.
And second, even if we were prepared to fork over the money for it, there wasn't room to slide the doors completely open because of the placement of the closet (very close to the door!).

So . . . my next suggestion was to make barn doors that would swing open (into the room). But doors swinging into the room wasn't the best idea, either, as that would take up a lot of space (and the room isn't THAT big to begin with).

Finally, we decided on building bi-fold doors that - when closed - would look like barn doors!
Not my first choice . . . not my second choice . . . but the only choice that would actually WORK well in the room.
Gotta go with what works, peeps.

I'm very fortunate to have a carpenter for an uncle -- and after a quick explanation of what I wanted, he was able to bring my vision to reality. :-)

Here are the finished doors . . .

You can see, he added the thinner boards on top of the 2x4s to add the frame and X details . . .

We stained the doors with "Vintage Walnut" by Minwax . . .

Here is the end result:

(Because the doors are bi-fold, we had to place the handles closer to the middle than you would on a "regular" barn door.)

We just used the hinges from the old bi-fold doors . . . and yes, in a perfect world, I would have thought ahead and spray painted them black before attaching them. : )~

Oh well! You can only see the WHITE hinges when the doors are open . . . and I highly doubt Max will care, anyway! :-)

I think the barn doors just add a little more character to the room and helped to complete the overall farm theme!

I added the barn pics into the initial nursery reveal post, also . . . if you missed it and want to see the rest of his room, click HERE!

Bottom line: this is a very simple and affordable way to get the barn door look on a closet with existing bi-fold doors. (Simple, if you have some basic carpentry skills -- or a carpenter in the family, that is! :)~

I love Max's room! And I'm glad it's finally complete!
(Until I dream up another project . . . )
:-)

Lucy, via iPhone

noreply@blogger.com (Bec@littlelucylu) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 16:32:00 +0000

I have been so awful about posting Lucy pics here lately . . .

I'm feeling extra Lucy-lovie-dovie today because it was five years ago today that I discovered she was on the way!
How is that possible?
Wasn't I still in high school 5 years ago..?
No? That was 15+ years ago?
Dang.

Anyway.
I was looking through my iPhone photo roll the other day . . . and smiling. :-)

At her first rodeo . . .

Jamba Juice on her 2nd birthday . . .

Her first dentist appointment . . .

Helping Mama make cupcakes . . .

Snuggling with her favorites . . .

Caught white-handed in the pantry! (powdered sugar!) . . .

One sock on, one sock off, shoes on hands . . . ?

Princess Lucy . . .

Helping Mama clean stalls . . .

First day of dance class . . .

Looking through Mama's favorite (Pioneer Woman) cookbook . . .

Her favorite TV-watching spot -- the inverted bench lounge . . .

She's soooo fashionable . . . :-)

Riding with Collin . . .

Chillin' on the back deck . . .

Swimming at Eagle Crest . . .

So excited to be a big sister . . .

Playing with Mama's phone camera . . .

First trip to the aquarium . . .

Pretty proud of her very own Nordstrom shopping bag . . .

Playing in the sand at the beach . . .

Practicing for her wedding day . . .

I love my beautiful . . .

goofy . . .

entertaining . . .

joy-filled, precious girl . . .

Five years ago today was most definitely the beginning of the BEST days of my life . . . the days that included my Lucy girl!

Little did I know then just how much I would love her.

Max = 3 Months!

noreply@blogger.com (Bec@littlelucylu) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 23:47:00 +0000

My little miracle man hit the big 3 MONTH mark yesterday!

He is getting sweeter and more entertaining every day ... I could stare at his adorable smile and listen to his little voice "talking" to me all day long.
Oh right. I kinda do ...

Looking at these pictures, I realized, he really hasn't changed much since last month!
Thank GOODNESS every month he doesn't grow as much as he did from month #1 to month #2!
It's bad enough the way it is, after all!

Here's Max @ 3 months!
(He wasn't feeling so smiley today ... )

There's not a whole lot of new milestones this month ....

His most impressive talents these days are stuffing his fists in his mouth, blowing spit bubbles, and "running" while laying down! (Seriously, if he was upright, he'd be running laps around the house! His little feet and arms just go a mile a minute!:)~

He only gained a little over a pound this month, but he moved up 2% . . . to the 49th percentile. And he grew 3/4 of a inch in length, too ... he's right at the 50th percentile for height.

Finally captured ONE little smile on camera . . . .

..... annnnnnd, let's not forget the laundry basket photo.

Already getting a tad-bit squishy at the bottom of the basket ... no room for his legs!

Here are the first three months!

Even though he looks bigger last month, he's wearing the same jeans . . . and you can see they were rolled twice @ 2 months and only once this month -- (and actually, one leg wasn't even rolled because he was kicking like crazy and unrolled it!:)~

I love my little man!
I just wish he could stay like this forever -- there's nothing better than snuggling with your baby!
I'm off to do that now, in fact . . .
:-)

Newborn Photography: A Sneak Peek Behind the Scenes

noreply@blogger.com (Bec@littlelucylu) — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 22:19:00 +0000

That pretty well describes what I'm about to show you . . .
A look inside a newborn photo session.
The photo session that produced Max's newborn shots that I showed you yesterday. (Look HERE if you missed them!)

To back up a little ... when I contacted Lacey Meyers to inquire about her taking Max's newborn photos, I chose the "in HER home studio" option.
I didn't feel like my house had good enough lighting inside, nor any great backdrops or spaces that would be sufficient for a professional photo shoot!

Well . . . when Max was born a little ahead of schedule . . . and Lacey had out-of-town guests staying with her, she suggested we do the photo shoot in OUR house instead.

Ummmm . . . dang.
(That's what I thought about that.)

Not gonna lie, I was a little hesitant about how these pictures would turn out . . . but Lacey assured me that she does MOST of her newborn shoots this way . . . and that all she needed was a big window or sliding glass door and a warm house!

Well . . . I guess I could provide those things . . . so, I went with it.

Boy, was I ever pleasantly surprised when, not only did we end up with beautiful photos, but the entire process was SO easy and relaxed and enjoyable!

So, I thought I'd show you. :-)
Just in case you ever have a baby and want to try it out. :)~

First of all, Lacey brought EVERYTHING that was needed for the shoot. (You'll see what all that includes in the following pictures!)

She set it all up very quickly and got started within about ten minutes.

We used two places in our house ... downstairs in front of a big window and sliding glass door (okay, okay . . . so I guess maybe there is plenty of light in here).

And upstairs in Max's room. With her space heater, cranked up to about 90 degrees! (seriously!)

I didn't realize before that HEAT is a key factor in keeping those sleeping babes . . . ASLEEP!

And who knew a backdrop was as simple as a roll of paper on a stand -- or blankets clamped to a crib!?

The big, awesome beanbag (above) was also a MUST . . . it made the snuggle "nest" for Max in the shots like this . . .

And made a good resting spot for Lucy, while she watched patiently . . .

For the shots with the lights in the background . . .

Lacey and Scott strung up some white Christmas lights over the backdrop. :-)

You can see from these next photos just how much Lacey LOVES her job . . .

Lacey just has love in her eyes while she's "working" . . . and I had no doubt that Max was in capable and loving hands.

She did a great job of keeping Max sleepy and happy, too . . .

with his binkie. . .

his nice, warm blankie. . .

and very loud sssshhhing!

Max didn't seem to mind any of it a bit! He was the perfect little model. :-)

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, you can find Lacey's business page AND her awesome blog HERE. You can also find (and like!) Lacey's business facebook page HERE.

And most importantly, if you live in the area and are in search of a great newborn photographer . . . look no further! I can't imagine a better experience.

Thank you, Lacey! :-)
We will treasure these photos forever!

Max's Newborn Photos! {Lacey Meyers Photography}

noreply@blogger.com (Bec@littlelucylu) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 21:04:00 +0000

Yep, I realize he's over 10 weeks old already and I'm JUST getting around to posting his newborn pics (which were taken when he was exactly 1 WEEK OLD!).

Oh, well. We've long-ago established I can't manage two kids AND a blog lately.
Sheesh! Who do you think I am, anyway!? :)~

Anyway. The incredible Lacey Meyers of Lacey Meyers Photography took these (IN OUR HOUSE!) .. I'm going to post the details of that photo shoot and show you just how easy and relaxed this was for us tomorrow. (Or the next day .... or the next day:)~

I know many of you (Facebook fans) have already seen these first few . . . .

And now I'm going to go sob into my pillow because my baby is already two-and-a-half months old, and I can hardly stand it.
Just kidding.
What I AM going to do is feed him .... because he's waking up, and my 45 minutes of "me time" is about to end! :-)

You can find Lacey's wonderful blog HERE. You will not be disappointed. I promise.
And if you are local and having a baby anytime soon ... please keep Lacey in mind. (And come back here tomorrow so I can show you just how sweet our photo session was!)

Max = 2 Months!

noreply@blogger.com (Bec@littlelucylu) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 02:44:00 +0000

TWO MONTHS!
(I had to look at the calendar and make sure it was ACTUALLY two months.)

I know that every. single. month. I'm going to say ... "How is it possible that he can be so old already!?!"
I'll try not to say it every month.
But I know I will.

Here's the OFFICIAL 2 MONTH PHOTO ...

Just kidding.
There's THREE official 2 month photos. He's so dang cute, I couldn't pick just one.
In fact ... I couldn't pick just three, either.
Here's three more ... with his cow. :-)

And yes ... you're reading that correctly.
He now weights 12 POUNDS! TWELVE!
I went back and checked Lucy's baby book. She weighed 12 pounds at FOUR months. Lil' bro has got her beat by two months!

He was out of newborn-sized diapers about three weeks ago ... and frankly, he's gonna be out of size 1 diapers before I know it. In fact, maybe tomorrow. :)~
I had stocked up on diapers, based on a rough estimate of how many I used with Lucy .... yep, bought way too many size 1s!

And his newborn-sized clothes (which were put away already last month at this time) are about to get some company from his 0-3 month clothes. {sniff, sniff}
I'm just glad I didn't buy as many clothes with this kiddo! (probably because there just aren't as many options for boys ... at least, not CUTE options!)

Last month, Max's chalkboard said "LOVES to eat!"
This month? The first two weeks (including the notorious "six week growth spurt" -- he ate like a horse!) Now? ... not so much.
We aren't sure if he's got some reflux going on or what, but it is a chore to get more than 2 oz of milk down him at a time.
The ONLY time he is fussy is WHILE he is eating. (Isn't that a little backwards!??)

Consequently, whereas last month I talked about how nice it was that Max was only getting up once at night .... now, he's up at least twice most nights. (I know it's because he isn't filling his tummy up enough to last very long!)

{SIGH}

Oh, sleep ....
We'll know each other again someday.

Honestly though ... I don't mind it. I LOVE holding the little guy and snuggling with him ... I could pretty happily do it 24 hours a day... and during the daytime, there are often other things (like an energetic four-year-old) competing for my time. :-)

He's getting so much more interactive, too .... smiling, cooing, giggling, making faces, and sticking his hands in my mouth! :)~

He is such a cutie pie! Just like his big sis'. :-)

See?
Told ya'. :-)

Oh, and I didn't forget the laundry basket picture!
I'm two-for-two so far!

Here's month #2 ....

And months #1 AND #2 ....

As you can see ... he has grown ... A LOT!
I sure hope he slows down.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I made a note-to-self last month to work on my one-handed typing so that I can get more blog posts written .... yeah. Apparently, that didn't happen.

I'll keep working on it.

Hope you're all having a great January!

Christmas Season Recap 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Bec@littlelucylu) — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 23:20:00 +0000

*Disclaimer: If you're not a close friend or family member, you might wanna just skip over this post. Just lots and LOTS of pictures, pretty much!

I didn't want to let the year end without posting SOMETHING about our Christmas ... so, I decided to just put it ALL in one post.
Then again ... ALL of Christmas this year isn't much.
I was pathetic this year where Christmas spirit was concerned.
No, really .... pathetic.

The Christmas decorations in our house this year consisted of a tree and stockings. The end.
(This is quite different from my usually decked-out halls!)

Due to the whole new-baby-in-the-household thing, we didn't get to do as many Christmas activities as we usually would, either.
No Zoo Lights trip. (too cold for baby!)
No Christmas lights parade. (again, too cold for baby!)
No visit to the good ol' mall Santa. (too long to wait for baby!)
No Singing Christmas Tree performance. (can't be away from baby that long!)
etc.

We did make cookies, watch Christmas movies, find Jingle (our Elf on the Shelf) daily, and read lots of Christmas books though ... and Lucy and Daddy went to our local tree lighting (two of them, actually) - so she did get to visit Santa at those. :-)

All-in-all, it was still a great Christmas ... and I doubt Lucy even noticed the things we "missed" this year.

First things first ... the great Christmas tree hunt.
(Which this year, consisted of walking to Nana's backyard with Ryan, Sherry, and Cam ... and cutting down the first two trees we saw!:)~

Love this photo of the dads and kiddos ...

Making a gingerbread train with Nana ...

(Amazingly enough, they still had a few candies left to decorate with when Lucy was done!:)~

Here's the finished product ... and Jingle going for a ride! :)~

Making sugar cookies with Great Grandma....

Christmas Eve at Nana's .... Nana dressed Lucy up like an elf and had her pass out all the presents. I think Lucy had just about as much fun with that as she did opening her own presents!

The best presents of the night ... the gator! (Look out, world! Lucy's got wheels!:)~

And the new microphone.
Here's Lucy "rockin' out" with Aunt Steph.

Great Grandma with the two littlest, Emma and Max!

Christmas Eve in our living room. :-)

Christmas morning! ....

Daddy and Max ...

My BEST Christmas gifts .... :-)

This is pretty much what Max did ALL. DAY. LONG.
Apparently he was not too impressed with his first Christmas. :)~

Here's hoping your Christmas season was blessed and filled with lots of happy memory-making!

Be safe tonight ... and enjoy ringing in the New Year!

We will be celebrating over a delicious dinner at a fancy-schmancy restaurant with some of our favorite friends ... a New Year's Eve tradition!

And we'll probably be in bed by 10:00 p.m. We wouldn't want to get too wild and crazy. :)~

But don't worry .... I'm sure Max will see to it that I'm welcoming in the New Year - if not at midnight - then in the wee hours of the morning!

...And really, there's no one I'd rather be "celebrating" with than my little miracle man .... the very best surprise and blessing of 2012 for me, without a doubt!

Max = 1 Month!

noreply@blogger.com (Bec@littlelucylu) — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 02:01:00 +0000

How is that possible..?
Wasn't I just posting a photo of my 38-weeks-pregnant self in all its glory ...?
(Okay, okay ... it wasn't that glorious.)
But regardless, I don't understand how it's possible that my little guy has already been on the outside for a whole month!?!

I'm sure there's no way I've stared for hours on end at his chubby cheeks and perfect little nose for 30 days straight.
I'm sure there's no way I've spent 30 nights getting up to feed the little milk monster every few hours.

Wait ... yep, that must be it.
Lack of sleep.
And I'm therefore delusional and losing track of time.

I've gotta figure out a way to put a stop to that .... because if the rest of the months go by as quickly as this first month? I might lose my mind.
And gallons of tears.

P.S. I feel terrible about not posting more. But taking care of a baby again has taken some getting used to! ... not at all in a bad way, but just in a total re-vamp of the typical "schedule" around here, kind of way!

And throw the fact that Christmas is LESS THAN A WEEK AWAY (help me) in there, and .... well, I just don't have a lot of extra time.

Okay, yes I do.
But during that time, I'm holding my beautiful baby boy. :-)
And typing one-handed makes writing a (reasonably-sized) blog post a little difficult!

*Note to self: work on one-handed typing.

Now let's get to the good stuff!

Hi, Max :-)

I love this little guy!!!
He is so precious! (If you haven't met him, you're just gonna have to take my work for it.:)~

And he LOVES to eat. Wow, can he put the milk away!
(Lucy was not a big eater at all. She still isn't!) I think her little brother might pass her up on the ol' scale before long at this rate.

I'm only having to get up with him once at night (for the last two weeks now), so I really can't complain about being too sleep deprived, either. I can handle getting up once at night, no problem! Heck, I think I'm getting more sleep now than during my last couple of weeks of pregnancy! At least now I can actually sleep when I lay down -- instead of tossing and turning, trying to get comfortable all night!

Anyway .... all-in-all, things are going GREAT, and we are all madly in love with him. :-)

The laundry basket photo ....

I plan to take this same photo every month.
So don't let me forget, okay...?
I know it's gonna break my heart to look back at each month's photos next November 17th when Max is turning a year old, but I think it will be a fun keepsake, so I'm gonna give it a try!

By the way .... if someone doesn't come clean out Max's closet on occasion for me, he's going to have that outfit (and all of the others) still hanging around his closet when he's eighteen.
He's already growing out of his newborn-sized clothes, and it's killin' me!
(Am I the only crazy mama out there who is this emotional about this kind of stuff!?!)
Ugh.

Anyway ... hopefully, I will be back here soon.
I still have some BEAUTIFUL, GORGEOUS, AMAZING photos to show you from Max's newborn photo shoot.
(I posted a link to the photographer's blog a couple of weeks ago, so you may have seen some of them already!:)

Here's a little sneak peek ... and the photo on our Christmas card:

Another P.S. .... If you're accustomed to getting a Christmas card from us, and you haven't, it's because I ran out! More have been ordered, so be patient with me .... hopefully you'll get one by New Year's! :)~

Max's Birth Story

noreply@blogger.com (Bec@littlelucylu) — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 06:26:00 +0000

Room #17: where it all went down.
On the 17th of November, 2012.

But let's back up for a second first.
If you've been following along here, you know I had a false labor episode two weeks prior to this day. (I spent the day in the hospital, having contractions every 2 minutes -- before being sent home because I hadn't dilated more than a couple of centimeters all day.)
I left the hospital that day with the nurses suggesting that perhaps I should stay with relatives in town - or asking if we had an RV so that I could stay in the hospital parking lot!

And backing up even further ... you might want to read Lucy's Birth Story {HERE} first.
It'll give you a better idea of why I (and the nurses) were so concerned with being near the hospital!

(The short version is that I delivered Lucy exactly 20 minutes after arriving at the hospital.)

I was bound and determined to be at the hospital for HOURS before giving birth this time.
Mostly because I wanted drugs.
Lots of drugs.
An epidural, especially.
I had been dreaming about one of those since I was pregnant with Lucy.
It was my plan to walk into the hospital with a sign around my neck saying "I'd like an epidural NOW, please."
(And clearly, with the delivery happening 20 minutes after arrival, there was no time for THAT.)
Hmmph.

So ... getting back to Max's grand entry.
After the false labor episode, I continued having contractions sporadically for two weeks. They were never very strong. And seldom consistent.

I also had every pre-labor sign and symptom possible.
Mostly things involving the bathroom ... and frequent trips there, ETC.
(I'll leave the "ETC" up to your own imagination.)
But I'll tell you none of it was pretty.

On Saturday, November 17th, I woke up at 3:00 a.m. .... as I had pretty much every morning at 3:00 a.m. throughout my pregnancy - to use the bathroom.
At 4:00 a.m. - I was back in the bathroom.
Again, it was not pretty.
And again, I'll just leave it at that.
But let's just say ... I was pretty much POSITIVE Max would be on his way SOON.

I took a shower and tried to be patient.
I re-packed and loaded up the car.

By 9:00ish, I started having small contractions again. Not strong ones. And again - not very consistent.
But they were enough to keep me hopeful that Max would be arriving that day.
I went to my mom's house to pass the time (because Scott was at his brother's - nearby - making elk sausage from their recent hunting expedition ... and because my mom lives about four minutes from the hospital).

At about 4:00 p.m., I had a STRONG contraction.
And not just strong, but about three minutes long, too.
I decided if I had another contraction like that, we'd probably better go to the hospital.
I called Scott and told him to come get me.
About ten minutes later ... BAM. There was another one.

Scott arrived, and we headed to the hospital.
In the four minutes from my mom's house to the hospital, I had two more contractions.
Bad ones.

We arrived at the hospital around 4:45 p.m.

Thankfully, upon check-in, the nurses acted quickly (thanks to notes from my doctor about my extremely fast delivery last time), and within a few minutes I was in my hospital gown, discovering that I was already 7 cm dilated.

Dang.

Scott frantically started asking if I could get an epidural.
(While I sat there, shaking my head with the unfortunate realization that this wouldn't be possible. Again.)
Grrrrrr!

Why do I have to do this AGAIN!?!?!
That is what I kept asking.

As much as I desperately wanted another child ... doing so in the same fashion as the last time was NOT on my wish list.

In fact, it was more like on my top 3 list of things NEVER to do again.

They couldn't reach my doctor. (And even if they had, he wouldn't have been there in time.)
The on-call doctor they did get was WONDERFUL though, so that worked out.
She arrived about five minutes before I started pushing.
(Which also means she arrived about six minutes before Max was born. Maybe seven.)

Unlike Lucy, who came out with one (involuntary) push ... Max took about 2 1/2 pushes.
And boy did his two-inches-bigger-than-his-sister's-head HURT. Wow.
Kind of like the stitches that followed.

Max was born at 5:28 p.m., about 45 minutes after arriving at the hospital.

It was a cryfest from that moment. I was bawling. Scott was bawling.
I was thanking God over and over through my sobs.
Every detail of the last 3+ years of infertility struggles, early-pregnancy complications ... and all of the emotions associated with all of it just overwhelmed me ... and poured out of me.

Tears of pain.
Tears of relief.
Tears of indescribable, overflowing JOY.

And pretty much .... they haven't stopped since.

I could stare at this little guy (who is currently snuggled up on my chest) all day long.
Well, okay ... I kind of DO stare at him all day long. :-)

It is completely and utterly overwhelming to be holding this true miracle in my arms.
God is so good.
And gratefulness doesn't begin to describe what is in my heart.

And here are a few pictures.
I (obviously) was a little preoccupied, so I didn't take many pictures myself -- I think my sister took most of these!

Max Tucker

11/17/12, 5:28 p.m.

7 pounds, 7 ounces

20 inches long

14 inch head

Lucy, meeting her baby brother for the first time!

(Yes, she's wearing Hello Kitty on her head, courtesy of Aunt Steph.)

Daddy and Max!

Nana surprised Lucy with these twin baby dolls she had been begging for ... she named them "Lucy and Max". :-)

Nana and Max!

Lucy holding Max for the first time...

Meeting Aunt Steph ...

Family of four!

Nana, Lucy, Me, Max, and Aunt Steph

The next morning ....

All dressed and ready to go home!

THANK YOU again to all of you who follow along on Facebook and wished us well and congratulated us on Max's birth!
It is so special to know that there are so many of you who have been praying for this baby right along with us, from the very beginning!
We appreciate this more than you can imagine!

Psalm 23:5

noreply@blogger.com (Bec@littlelucylu) — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 15:58:00 +0000

"My cup runneth over .... "

Indeed.

For those of you who aren't fans of Little Lucy Lu on Facebook, and therefore missed the announcement a few days ago ...
Max Tucker arrived, safe and sound, on Saturday night at 5:28.

I honestly can't even TYPE the words to explain the thankfulness in my heart without crying.
I am so overwhelmed with joy, I don't even know where to begin.
My heart is so full, it feels like it may burst at any moment.
I don't think it gets any better than this.

I will post Max's birth story soon ... but I'm pretty busy staring at my new baby and trying to soak in every precious second.

But today, on Thanksgiving, I just have to say .... THANK YOU, LORD. For blessing me, much more than I deserve.

Christmas is Coming! ... Got Cards!?

noreply@blogger.com (Bec@littlelucylu) — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 01:11:00 +0000

I don't know about you, but time is FLYING by around here!
Thanksgiving is next week -- which means it's time to start thinking about Christmas cards!!!

Every year since Lucy has been born, I have used Tiny Prints for my photo Christmas cards.
I have absolutely LOVED them every year. .... So much so that I leave the cards out on display year-round! (Sorry if that makes me weird -- but they really are THAT beautiful.)
At least I think so.

This year's cards will be extra-special with our extra-special new addition (baby Max!) included ... so I've already been having fun browsing through the amazing choices over at Tiny Prints!
(Now if he'd just hurry up and get here so that I can get the Christmas cards ordered before New Year's, that'd be great!:)~

I picked out ten of my favorite Christmas cards from Tiny Prints to show you ....

LOVE the idea of having the "year in review" right on the Christmas card (rather than the three-page letter some people include! ... though I love those, too:)~

LOVE the chalkboard effect and simplicity of this one ...

LOVE the cards that double as ornaments! What grandparent wouldn't love to have these to hang on the tree for years to come!?

... You can even

This one reminds me of the one I chose for our family last year .... LOVE.

What do you think?

Got a favorite in my bunch!?

Oh ... and if you're looking for a place to get your Christmas cards this year ... head over to Tiny Prints! You will NOT be disappointed with their products OR their customer service!

They often have special promotions going on, too ... be sure to check them out HERE!

Happy Shopping! :-)

Baby Update: 38 Weeks!

noreply@blogger.com (Bec@littlelucylu) — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 13:10:00 +0000

38 weeks!?

I can't believe it.

I'm assuming (maybe dumbly) that this will be the very last baby update ... until there is actually a BABY!

Yikes!

I'm starting to get a little nervous, I'm not gonna lie ...

The whole idea of the birthing process again is a little scary.

I actually spent a day in the hospital about a week and a half ago.

I woke up in the middle of the night with horrible cramping, which turned into regular contractions.

We got up and headed to the hospital, got hooked up to the monitors, and discovered that I was contracting every 2-3 minutes.

I was 1 cm dilated when we arrived ... and 2 cm about an hour later. At that point I thought ... "This must be it!"... (and so did the nurses, I think!).

But -- six hours later, there was no more dilation, so they sent me home -- and the contractions stopped a few hours later.

False labor!

(Which was actually a good thing because I was only about 36 1/2 weeks at that point ... and they were really hoping Max would wait at least another week.)

Well ... the good news is ... he waited. He's still cookin' away in there!

I've had pretty much every pre-labor sign and symptom that I had before going into labor with Lucy ... but so far -- to no avail.

On the positive side -- because of the whole false labor episode -- my hospital bag, Lucy's overnight bag for Nana's house, and Max's diaper bag are now packed and ready to go ... and my car is now sporting TWO car seats. :)~

I think we are officially READY.

Well ... as ready as one can be for this whole ordeal. :-)

It's definitely a bit more complicated this time around, with a kiddo at home to worry about planning for, too!

So .... that's been all the "excitement" around here the past couple weeks.

I guess I better post a darn picture, too....

Do I look tired ....?

Because I was.

Some nights, I sleep GREAT.

Others?

Not at all.

This pic was after one of the latter.

I also keep going back and forth between "crazy-nesting mode" and having the energy level of a slug.

Pretty much on a daily basis.

I'm such a confused mess! :)~

However, other than some major hip pains here and there, I feel just great -- and am just trying to thoroughly enjoy my last days of pregnancy.

Some mornings (like this morning), I wake up so sad that the end is so near. :(

Heck, some mornings, I still have to pinch myself to even believe I'm pregnant! How have nine months gone by already!?

But .... on the other hand, I can't wait to snuggle this little guy!!! And I can't wait for Lucy to FINALLY meet this little brother she's been hugging and kissing and talking to (and wishing a Happy Thanksgiving to) for weeks and months! It is going to be such an AWESOME experience, I know!

Can't wait to be sharing some baby pics with you all!

SOON!!!

(Oh! And did you all see Max's nursery post!? Be sure to check it out if you missed it last week!:-)

You Know You're Nine Months Pregnant When ...

noreply@blogger.com (Bec@littlelucylu) — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 02:05:00 +0000

I'm part of the "November Birth Club" at BabyCenter.com ... and there was a recent post that made me chuckle!
"You know you're nine months pregnant when ...."

Of course, it got me to thinking about my own ways to finish that sentence!
So, purely for entertainment purposes ... here are some of mine AND some of my favorites from the other ladies in the November Birth Club! :)~

You know you're nine months pregnant when ....

... you cut in front of your three-year-old to use the public restroom.
... maternity shirts no longer cover your belly.
... you could trim your leg hair with scissors.
... you have to ask your kids to pick up after you because it's too hard to bend over.
... the only towels in the house that will fit around you are beach towels.
... you don't want to eat because you'd rather be able to breathe.
... you're hungry even though you just ate 20 minutes ago.
... you'd rather just sit on the toilet all day -- because you're going to have to pee as soon as you get up, anyway.
... you actually look forward to cervical exams. (Nothing like hearing the sweet words of dilation and effacement!)
... you eat mostly cold cereal and PB&J -- because they are easy and quick.
... you have to sit down to put on your underwear (or pants ... or socks ... or shoes).
... walking up the stairs sounds like the equivalent of running a marathon.
... you go to a restaurant and ask for a table (with movable chairs!) instead of a booth.
... getting up, showered, dressed and going to the grocery store is an ALLLLL DAY event.
... you ponder for five+ minutes whether getting up to get something is REALLY worth the effort.
... feeling "THIS CLOSE" to wetting your pants results in about five drops of urine once you make it to the toilet.
... you begin every phone call you make with "Don't worry, I'm not in labor!"
... your breathing starts to sound like Darth Vader anytime you do anything remotely physical.
... you look at your belly sideways in the mirror at least once a day to see if the baby has dropped.
... it's easier to use your belly as a table than an actual table.
... you get into bed at night -- and have to get up again to pee before you actually fall asleep.
... you no longer care if your water breaks in public.
... you seriously consider installing a tow rope next to your bed so you can get up on your own.
...your hubby gets about a quarter of the king-size bed -- the rest is belly and eight pillows.
... your belly is so big it makes your butt look small.
... it takes you five minutes to roll from your left side to your right side, all the while grunting like a pig.

Gotta love pregnant humor! (It's either laugh or cry, right?:)~
How about you ladies out there!? Got anything to add???

Max's Nursery: The Details.

noreply@blogger.com (Bec@littlelucylu) — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 18:58:00 +0000

I hope you saw Max's Nursery reveal the other day! If you missed it, please click HERE to check it out in much more detailed pictures!
(Thank you to you sweet folks who commented, complimented, and pinned! I really appreciate it!:-)

I know I gave most details in that post, but I thought I'd spell 'em out one more time, just in case you care. :)~

First thing first: the paint color.

Pickle by Sherwin Williams.

I went with a pretty bold color ... mostly because I felt like it was the best way to keep this space a baby/little boy's room, amongst all of the vintage decor that isn't typically associated with such a space.
Plus, with the vintage/farm thing I was going for -- I couldn't help but think of John Deere. (My hubs was happy about that -- he is a John Deere man, all the way :-).

#1 - Wooden "Chalkboard" Map, from World Market. (I got a GREAT deal on a sale day + a coupon ... paid about $40.00.)

#2 - I took an old barn wood frame, cut a piece of chipboard to fit, wrapped (and hot glued) a piece of burlap around it, and affixed a painted black "M" from the craft store - cost me about $3.00?

#3 - Vintage bronze horse, purchased at an antique store.

#4 - Small, natural-colored globe, also from World Market. (Also used a coupon, paid $15.00.)

#5 - Vintage cubby cabinet that came out of an old tool shed. Found at an antique store in Redmond, Oregon. I put on a coat of beeswax and added little alphabet decals below each cubby.

#6 - Old metal bucket, found at an antique store -- then I added the "TRASH" decal with stencils and black paint. Paid $5.00 for the bucket.

#1 - Awning we made from a simple wood frame -- and some rusty corrugated metal we found at a salvage yard. My handy hubby cut the metal with heavy-duty tin snips and screwed it to the frame. Then we simply screwed it to the wall above the window frame!

#2 - You Are My Sunshine print on a wooden block, purchased from Goodnight Room.

#3 - Natural Bamboo Roman Shades, from Home Depot - $70.00.

#4 - Custom made upholstered rocker by Best chairs , purchased from Goodnight Room, $529.00. (Yes, this is a splurge - but well worth it! It is SO comfy -- and will easily be usable in any other room in the house after being used in the nursery:-).

#5 (which you can't see well in this picture) - an old bushel basket, used for storing rolled up vintage quilts.

#6 - "MAX" faux metal letters, made for just a few bucks. You can find my tutorial HERE.

#7 - Old wooden ladder (from a junk pile), painted red and used to hang an old burlap sack. (I will use it to hang blankets and quilts, also.)

#8 - Old Radio Flyer wagon used to hold Max's little shoes, and an old wire basket full of worn baseballs - just for fun! :)~

#1 - Three custom made vintage farm prints (on wooden blocks), which I mounted on two old barn wood boards. (I'll show this project a little more in depth in the future.) The whole piece cost about $100.

#2 - Hudson crib by Babyletto, purchased from Goodnight Room, $399.00.

#3 - Super Star Scout (fawn stars) crib sheet by Aden & Anais, $29.95. (*Notice I have no other crib bedding -- bumper, skirt, etc. I had all of that hoopla in Lucy's nursery -- and found it pointless. Plus, I like the simplicity of just the sheet anyway ... and saved myself a whole lot of money because of it!:)~

#4 - "Cortland" Bronze lamp base, from Pottery Barn Kids ... and burlap shade from Target. (Mixing spendy and cheap helps keep the cost reasonable!:)~

#5 - Old table I found at a "junk sale" for $5.00 and painted.

#6 - Old bushel basket used to store stuffed animals.

#7 - Rusty old bed springs I found, spray painted (antique bronze), and am using with mini clothespins to display photos.

#8 - Vintage wire basket I painted red, then added a burlap sack for a liner - for dirty laundry!

I'm sure I'm probably forgetting something ... but of course, if you have any questions, just leave me a comment and ask! (If you are an anonymous commenter - or a noreplyblogger - please makes sure to leave your email so that I can reply to you!:-)

Max's {Vintage-Inspired Farm Nursery} Reveal!

noreply@blogger.com (Bec@littlelucylu) — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 12:22:00 +0000

Whew! This post has been a long-time-coming!
There is one major piece of the room that isn't finished yet ... but I'm not sure when it will get done, so I've decided just to save that to show you in the future (hopefully!).

The end of last week ended up being a little more eventful than planned ... I got to spend a day in the hospital, having contractions every 2-3 minutes. The contractions eventually stopped, and they sent me home (I was only 36 weeks, so we want lil' Max to bake a little longer!), but it definitely made me realize he could be here any time now!!!

(and that I better get these darn nursery photos posted!:)~

So ... on to the nursery pics.
Today, I'm just going to show you mostly "the big picture" ... then in the coming days, I'll have a "details post" ... and posts with more specifics on my "projects" in the room. If there is anything in particular about the room you want to know more about, please comment and ask so that I'm sure to address it!

Where to begin?
I guess with the 'BEFORE' picture.
This was the one room in our house that was essentially untouched.
There was NOTHING in this room, boring beige on the walls, etc.
Pretty much a blank slate!

And now for the 'AFTER' pictures...

(a whole-lot of them!)

(We turned the old, white, boring bi-fold closet doors into barn doors.)

The cubby I found in an antique store in Redmond, Oregon. It came out of an old tool shed!

A coat of wax, and it was good to go! Love the rustic quality it brings while being so functional at the same time! I've got toys, books, receiving blankets, burp cloths, and other essentials in each cubby.

As Max grows, it will probably be matchbox cars, legos, and action figures! :-)

LOVE the wooden chalkboard map -- got it for a GREAT price from World Market! The little globe I got there, too.

They are two of the few accessories in the room that are actually "new".

We made the rusted corrugated metal awning for over the window. LOVE LOVE LOVE it.

My faux metal letters I showed you in a tutorial back HERE...

An old Radio Flyer holds some itty-bitty shoes ... and an old metal egg basket holds some old worn baseballs.

The crib is the Hudson from Babyletto. (I purchased it from a local baby boutique called Goodnight Room -- one of my favorite stores. --I bought all of Lucy's nursery furniture there, too!).

Although the crib is intended to be very modern ... I like the simplicity. It has an almost-primitive feeling to me. And I love the grey color, too!

The art piece above the crib I made with some wooden western/vintage prints (that I custom designed at Goodnight Room) and some old barn wood. (more in a future post)

A "photo display" from some old bed springs (which I painted).

An old red wire basket with a burlap sack liner is perfect for dirty laundry!

An old bushel basket became the perfect bin for stuffed animals...

And another one for rolled up quilts.

I simply stenciled a dented, old galvanized bucket to make the trash can!

I purchased the "You Are My Sunshine" print (on a wooden block) from Goodnight Room.

And one of the toughest decisions (thanks to all who gave me your input!) -- the light fixture -- ended up being the Depot Ceiling Lamp from Pottery Barn Kids.

A rusted barbed-wire star hangs by the door.

Ahhhh!

I just love it.

One more look ....

Okay.

I'm done now.

I hope you kinda like it!

And I hope my little Max kinda likes it, too! :-)

*Linking up at the Power of Pinterest party!

My Ballerina Cowgirl

noreply@blogger.com (Bec@littlelucylu) — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 12:08:00 +0000

... Or cowgirl ballerina?
Either way, I love it.
And her.

You've seen a couple of shots from this day ... and here are the rest!
I love these because they are SO HER at this age and stage. :-)

So girly and such a princess ... yet so carefree and such an outdoor-lovin' girl, too.

Here's my big four-year-old!
The Ballerina Cowgirl.

This is the wallpaper on my computer ... best buddies.

Love it. :-)

Just try to tell me she's not cute ... :)~

(I mean, I know I'm a little biased, but c'mon!)

Giving Bubba a kiss through the fence ....

Three of my favorite things ... my little girl, my horse, and my dog. ;-)

THE BOOTS.

Yep, I'm making up for a lack of Lucy photos over the past several months!

That should be sufficient for a while.

Or at least, for today. :-)

Baby Update: 36 Weeks!

noreply@blogger.com (Bec@littlelucylu) — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 12:31:00 +0000

I'm throwing my usual "baby update format" out the window this week because ....
Well. Just because.

But here's your picture -- and PROOF -- that I'm now officially NINE MONTHS pregnant!!!
WOOT!

At the end of this week, lil' Max will be considered "full term". Such a huge relief to be at this point!!!
This past week or so, I've spent so much time thinking back to the beginning of this pregnancy.
The initial SHOCK. I repeat SHOCK -- that I was actually pregnant...
...after 9 months prior, when the fertility doctor told us he didn't have an explanation for how we already HAD a child (Lucy), and that we had about a one-in-a-million chance of having another without the most complex (and expensive!) form of IVF procedure (ICSI).
(And we gave up.)
And then the many complications and scary moments that accompanied those first few months.
Multiple trips to the hospital for emergency ultrasounds.
Blood tests ... and more blood tests.
Progesterone suppositories. TWICE A DAY.
Ugh!
Spotting, spotting, and more spotting.
Tears, tears, and more tears.
Meltdown after meltdown.
Being in constant fear.

In fact .... I realized about a week ago ... I had FINALLY stopped checking the tissue after using the bathroom with dread at what I might see.

Phew!
Deep breath.
This has been quite the journey.

Overwhelming - in both happy AND sad ways - to almost be at the end of my second miracle pregnancy.

Meanwhile .... Max is now the size of a bowling ball (and it kinda feels like I'm lugging around a bowling ball, too!:)~ He's been head-down for a while now, and his little bum seems to be a couple of inches lower the last few days ... (I don't find myself pushing it down out of my ribs anymore!:-)
I've been having a lot of cramping and contractions, and I'm anxious for my doctor's appointment on Friday to see if all of that has resulted in any dilating yet. (I dilated super-early with Lucy, too, so it wouldn't be very surprising - or alarming!:-)

The nursery is officially DONE (minus the last big project I keep mentioning). I've actually decided to give up on that project for now, so I WILL be posting his nursery pictures within the next week, I PROMISE.
Max's diaper bag is packed.
My hospital bag is half-packed.
I plan on installing the car seat this week.
It feels good to be almost-ready!

Now ... the question is ... will there be a 38-week update!?!
I would assume so, but I guess we never know!
Stay tuned ..... :-)

And also, stay tuned for the nursery reveal, Lucy's cowgirl birthday party pics, and a few other things!
(IF I can get myself motivated to post them all this week! Sure gonna try!:-)
See you soon!

Happy 4th Birthday, Lucy!

noreply@blogger.com (Bec@littlelucylu) — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 05:10:00 +0000

Well ... it's getting late, but I didn't want to let the night end without a quick post (for my own sake) recognizing the 4th birthday of my most favorite girl ... my little Lucy Lu!

I say this every year ... but I don't know where time has gone.
I remember 10/27/2008 at 6:20 a.m. as if it was 15 seconds ago.
The best moment of my whole life, by a long shot.

And the craziest part is .... little did I know then that I would love her MORE the next day .... and MORE the next day .... and MORE the next day (and you get the idea), which means that today -- 4 years later -- I love her 1,460 times more than I did then.

Though I don't know how you could possibly measure.

I love this little girl so much it's indescribable.
(I know every mom out there feels the same, and yet -- somehow -- I don't believe it.)
(Every mom probably feels that way, too.:)~

This fourth year with Lucy has been even better than the third (and the third was better than the second ... and the second was better than the first).
I guess because of the aforementioned loving her 1,460 times more today thing ....?
I really don't know.
But somehow, it just seems to get MORE fun and MORE special every year.

(And yes, it terrifies me that at some point, I fear this pattern will stop -- or reverse.)

Lucy is such a special girl. And not just to us, her parents -- but to most people who know her -- (and I believe ALL people who REALLY know her.)
She exudes joy and happiness. She is SO funny and entertaining. She is sweet and considerate.
(Most of the time.)

She loves to sing and dance. She loves to play dress up. She loves to "bake" in her kitchen. She loves to bake with ME in the (real) kitchen -- and especially with Nana in Nana's kitchen. She loves to be outside. She loves her animals (stuffed AND real:)~. She loves playing with her friends and going to church and being the center of attention.

I know this next year, that whole "being the center of attention thing" will come to an end. She'll have to share the spotlight a little bit with her new baby brother.
It makes me sad in ways, to think that next year - on her FIFTH birthday - my time with her will have been so much less, because it will have been shared.
(I know that sounds silly.)

I have SO LOVED spending every single day with JUST my little Lucy.
How blessed we have been to have these four whole years, JUST US.
Thinking back over the last three years, and the infertility struggles we have endured ... I am humbled to realize that God's plan was so much better. (Of course it was!)

Thank you, Lord! For this amazing miracle (that we didn't even KNOW was such a miracle to begin with!). And for four of the best, most special years imaginable.

If I could rewind backwards four years and do it all over again ... I would do it in a heartbeat.
So I could soak it all in even more....
My best four years.

I love you, Lucy. To the moon and back a million times ... and then some more.