2011

I'll admit - I'm a little sad to see 2011 end. 2011 was a year of wonderful blessings, new beginnings and it was just an all around fantastic year for our family. Like all years, there were moments of sadness, anxiety, frustration and worry, but the Lord did immeasurably more for us than we ever could have imagined.

On January 10th, we were told we were having a little girl (boy, was that doctor wrong!). The next day, January 11th at 1:11pm, we welcomed our precious niece Madison Claire into this world. Immediately after her birth, we almost lost my sister due to complications. She spent 4 or so hours in surgery while the doctors worked furiously to save her life and her uterus, while we spent those 4 hours on our knees in prayer, begging God for her life. She made it out of surgery and spent the next few days in ICU, but recovered so quickly! On Friday the 14th, Jon was laid off from his job and being 12 weeks pregnant, I spent the next few days sobbing, wondering how we would make it through! It's so true that when something like that happens, something MUCH better always comes along.

In February, we were told we were really having a boy, and after a couple of days in shock, we hit the road running, prepping our home and our lives for the arrival of Luke.

Fast forward to April, and Jon began a new job as a Sr. Manager for a consulting firm here in Dallas. He went from traveling weekly to never having to travel at all. Such a great blessing right before the birth of our son! I also found out I had gestational diabetes, which is never fun, but after a couple of days of crying somewhat non-stop, it became an easy thing to manage and live with. And it had an upside - I was able to get an induction before my due date!

May and June brought 4 baby showers! It was so fun to be able to celebrate with friends and family and we got lots of great things for Luke.

On July 19th, Luke Holland was born via c-section. He immediately changed our lives and we are so incredibly thankful to be his parents. The first 2 weeks were extremely tough on me, with the recovery and baby blues, but we all survived and got into a routine that works for our family (again, the biggest thank you goes to Moms on Call!). Sleepless nights very quickly turned to full nights of sleep for both us and Luke, and he has been the most easy-going baby.

September was full of weddings of dear friends and lots of Longhorn football. While 2011 may not have been the best year for our Horns, we are ever thankful to be part of the Texas family. Our blood is burnt orange!

In November, we celebrated Thanksgiving in Austin, and truly, we have too many blessings this year to count. We have our health, a happy son who loves life, good jobs with great bosses, a beautiful home in a neighborhood we love, precious friends and a large loving family, a wonderful church home, our salvation - the list goes on and on. Luke and I like to sing the song - Count Your Blessings, Name Them One By One - Count Your MANY Blessings and See What God Has Done!

We spent December traveling our great state celebrating Christmas with both sides of the the family, our friends and Jon's coworkers.

As the year winds down, we've spent the day outdoors with Luke, letting him swing in his new swing and just enjoying the sunshine before the winter gets bad here. We're reflecting on how far we've come this year and looking forward to where we'll go next year. 2011 was a fantastic year for us, and we look forward to all the new year has to bring. Happy New Year!

Luke: 5 Months!

My sweet, sweet Luke! You are 5 months old and time is flying by. This month, you have shown us so much more of your personality, and I am absolutely in love. You are the funniest, sweetest, cutest little thing and mommy and daddy simply can't get enough of you!


You don't go the doctor for a well checkup this month, but you've been seeing Dr. McClard quite often for ear infections. You are so happy all the time that mommy can tell when you just aren't yourself and want to cuddle and sleep at odd times. Unofficially, you're measuring in at 18 lbs, 10 oz. I'm not sure of height or head this month!


You have moved up to a size 3 diaper and wear 3-6, 6 month and quite a bit of your 6-9 month clothing. We have been putting you in Christmas outfits almost daily, but you have so many cute clothes that it's so fun to dress you each day. You're getting more and more clothes from your family and friends this Christmas season too, so you have no shortage of things to wear.


You now eat 7 oz. of Similac Advance every 4 hours, and then 8 oz. at bedtime. We have not started rice cereal, but we'll probably do so in early January. Dr. McClard says you are doing just fine and growing big and strong on just formula, so for now that's all we are giving you. I have a feeling you're going to LOVE food!


You are sleeping so well! We put you on a new bedtime routine at a much earlier time and it's working wonders. You get in the bathtub at 7pm each night, play and splash around for a little while, and then pajamas and an 8 oz. bottle. Daddy rocks you until you are sleepy but happy and down you go (around 7:30pm). You sleep through the night until about 6:30 or 7 each morning. The only nights you wake up are when we travel, but we're working hard to get you adjusted to that as well.


This month you discovered tons of new tricks. You can roll over both ways, but really only love to be on your back. If we put you on your tummy, you're on your back in 2 seconds. You can also sit up for a few seconds at a time. You are so strong and so determined to sit up, so we try to let you as much as we can! You discovered your thumb and love chewing on that and your hand. You also discovered your toes and are working very hard to get those up to your mouth as well. It's funny and gross all at the same time! You still love your exersaucer, your bumbo and just playing on the floor. You got a new toy puppy that sings and dances and you adore it. It's your favorite thing.


You still love to go to school. You are happiest in the mornings and you just smile and giggle when I tell you it's time for school. You love your teachers and are busy making friends. It is such a joy to come and pick you up at school and see you smiling and laughing. I have a sneaking suspicion you are one of the favorites!


This past month, you've done a lot of fun things. You went to Austin for Thanksgiving at Uncle Mark and Aunt Jenn's house. You refused to take a nap because you didn't want to miss a second of the action. There was just so much going on. Mommy gave you a small taste of mashed potatoes, and you were a fan. In early December, you went to Brunch with Santa at the country club. You sat on Santa's lap and did so good, and then mommy and daddy got to eat lots of yummy food and listen to a wonderful pianist. Next year, I'm sure you'll love it even more.


You went to visit Nana and Papa in Sugar Land for the Nash family Christmas. You did so wonderful and did so well getting passed around to all your great aunts and uncles. You and Maddie Claire dressed up in matching gingerman/girl outfits to go see Santa again, but the line was just too long. You sure did look adorable though!


This past weekend, you went to celebrate Christmas with the Wallace/Dorsey side of the family.
You had so much fun and got lots of neat presents. You also got to see Pappy and KerrBear and you smiled and laughed and were so sweet the entire time you were at their house. You are so very blessed to have a wonderful family who loves you so much!


Luke, this is the best Christmas I've ever had because you're here to celebrate with. You are such a delight and the biggest blessing in my life. Your daddy and I love spending all of our time with you and you are absolutely the light of our lives. We are excited for 2012 and all the fun next year will bring as you grow and change. We love you, sweet boy!

Luke: 4 Months

Luke, Today you are 4 months old! I can't believe how much time flies and how much you are doing these days. We love you to pieces and just get so excited every time you discover something new or do something you haven't done before. Each moment with you is just so, so precious to us.


Your 4 month doctor's appointment isn't until the 22nd, but we went a couple of weeks ago for a checkup on your ear infection and you weighed 16 pounds, 12 ounces, were a little over 25 inches long and your head measured in at 17 inches. Today, we went for your cold/fever and you were 17 pounds, 11 ounces (with your onesie and diaper on)! You continue to be at the top of the growth charts. We just love your chubby cheeks and big, strong, chubby legs!


You are still in size 2 diapers and wear 3-6 and 6 month clothing. With the crazy up and down temperatures here in Dallas this past month, you have gotten a lot of use out of both your long and short sleeve shirts. I still continue to pack away so much each month - we're going to need a bigger storage unit soon!


You have graduated from your bassinet/nap nanny to your crib. Just like Moms on Call said it would, it took you 3 nights to get fully adjusted, but now you're doing so well and sleeping through the night again. Sometimes you'll cry for your paci, but as soon as I put it back in, you're back to sleep in less than 2 seconds. Your bedtime routine is still the same - bath, pjs, bottle and then bed. You are usually fast asleep by 9 each night and sleep until 6 or 7 in the morning. Some days, mommy has to wake you up for school. Your teachers say you LOVE to sleep and you take awesome naps at school.


You are still developing at rapid pace. You don't love to roll over, but we're working on that. You love to sit in your bumbo seat and stare out at the world. You grab and reach very well, and your favorite thing to grab is still mama's hair. You LOVE Sophie and just giggle when she squeaks. You love to chew on her too, but she's a good sport ;)! You've found your voice and you just love to talk. and talk. and talk. You smile and laugh all the time and you only cry when you are very tired these days. You're still trying to hold your bottle, but you're not quite there yet. I suspect this time next month, we'll be talking about how you're rolling all over the place and holding that bottle.


You love to go to school. Your teachers are the sweetest people and their faces light up when you get to school each morning. You love them too, and laugh and talk to them each morning when you get there. So far, you haven't cried once when I've left you. It makes me so happy to know that you are happy and being well cared for during the day. God really blessed us with such a good school and loving teachers and for that we are very thankful!


This month, you got to do lots of fun things. You watched lots of Rangers baseball this month, and cheered on your Rangers during the World Series. You also love to cheer on your Horns! When we put football on the TV or we go to a restaurant where they have sports on, you are absolutely fixated on that. There's something about football that you absolutely love, and I know Daddy is thrilled about that!


You were the hit of mommy and daddy's annual pumpkin carving party. All of our friends love you and you got passed around a lot. You even passed out on Melissa; you got very tired from all of the attention.


You dressed up as a lobster for Halloween and helped mommy pass out candy. Mommy dressed up as a chef, and we got a few pictures before you had a slight meltdown and the costume came off.


Earlier this month, you and daddy took your very first trip without mommy. I'll be honest - I cried big tears when you pulled out of the driveway, and although I had a busy weekend, I thought about you all the time and missed you every second you were gone. I know Grandma and all of your cousins had a great time seeing you, though!


You also got to go to Nana and Papa's house for Nana's birthday. You had such a good time playing and cuddling and helping Nana celebrate. She was so excited to show you and MC off at her church, and you were so good in their nursery. This month was jam packed for you, and I know next month will be even busier.


Luke, each day with you is such a gift. You are our biggest blessing and I can't imagine my life without you. You fill my heart with such joy and I am so thankful to God that He gave me you! The other day, Daddy came home late and you were already asleep. He went in to check on you, and as he was leaving the room, I heard him say "I love that little guy so much!" It was the sweetest thing, and I know it's so true. We love you more than life itself. I can't wait to watch you experience your first Thanksgiving this month and then watch you discover the lights and sounds of Christmas. This year, I am most thankful for you!

Luke: 3 Months!

Lukester, You are 3 months old today! It's crazy how fast you are growing and changing. We love watching you learn new things every day!

You don't go to the doctor this month, so these stats are unofficial, but we think they are pretty accurate. Today, you weighed 16.2 lbs. and you were 24.25 inches long. Your head measured 16.5 inches. You are our big boy!



You just moved up to a size 2 diaper (although we probably should have done that a couple of weeks ago!). You wear mostly 3-6 month stuff, but you can still fit into a few of your 3 month things. It's crazy how fast you go through clothes - but it gives mommy more excuses to shop!


You are still sleeping really well. You don't like sleeping in your crib as much as you do your nap nanny, so that's been a bit of a struggle. But, I know we'll get there soon enough. Your typical bedtime is right between 8:30-8:45 and you sleep until between 6 and 7 each morning. There have been a couple of nights where you haven't wanted to sleep much, but those days are few and far between. We are happy parents!


You are developing just as you should, if not a little faster! This month, you rolled over a couple of times, you began to sit in your bumbo unassisted and you love to sit up in mommy and daddy's bed while leaning against the pillows. You are grabbing and reaching for things now and you especially love to pull mommy's hair. It hurts! You hold your hands together and put them in your mouth, and you are trying so hard to hold your bottle. You smile and laugh and coo and talk all the time! When we are in the car, you'll have an entire conversation with yourself and it makes me and daddy laugh so hard.



You're going to school now all day Monday through Friday. Mommy was so sad the first day and cried big, ugly tears all day, but you're doing so well. You like going and are so happy in the mornings when we sing "Rise and Shine" and the school songs. You sleep well, eat well, and have even done art work at school. You've had picture day and next week is the fall festival. We love your sweet teachers and they love you!



You've done lots of fun things this month. Your best friend Brooks was born on the 24th and you got to meet him shortly thereafter. Y'all are 10 weeks apart and I know you are going to be such great friends like we are with his parents. I can't wait until y'all are in the same class in school starting in January; it's going to be so much fun watching you grow up together!


We also went to the Dallas Arboretum to see the big pumpkin patches with Nana and Papa and took lots of pictures. It was so pretty and you loved it - but you didn't like the hay one bit!


This past weekend, you were dedicated at church. It was such a special day and you did so well (you cried until we walked in and then you were an angel and so still and sweet). We were so excited to be able to dedicate you to the Lord and promise to raise you in a Christian home where our first priority will be to teach you about Christ and his love for you. We can't wait for the day when you accept Jesus as your Lord, but until that day comes, we will continue to pray for you and help you learn about Jesus and how important it is to know Him! After your dedication, those who were able to make it to Dallas for the service (Aunt Emily, Uncle Adam, MC, Nana, Papa, Grandma, Pappy and Julianne) went to Cantina Laredo for brunch. You were worn out and took a great nap that afternoon.





Luke, we are so proud of you and all that you are learning and doing these days. You are such a gift from God, and we love you to pieces. Keep growing, buddy, but don't do it too fast! We're enjoying every single moment of being your parents!

Happy Fall, Y'all!

Luke: Two Months

Luke, you were two months old yesterday. Time is flying by! You have changed so much over the last month and it's so fun to watch you grow and change and watch your little personality come to life!


This post is a day late, but I waited until we got your stats from your doctor's appointment today. You weigh 14.2 lbs. (95th percentile), you were 23.25 inches long (5oth percentile - although I think you are longer because your little legs were bent when she measured), and your head is 16 inches around (75th percentile). You also had your 2 month shots today - a day mommy has dreaded since you were born. You cried for about 30 seconds and then fell asleep. Such a little champ!


You are wearing 0-3 month and 3 month clothes and some 3-6 month clothes. You are growing so fast and most of your 0-3 onesies are getting tough to button. You've completely outgrown all your 3 month Carter's clothes! Nana and I went Christmas shopping last weekend and bought 9 and 12 month clothing - makes me sad to see you growing so fast, but also super excited for what's to come.


You are such a good sleeper and I love to brag on you when people ask how you sleep. You still follow the Moms on Call/Baby Wise schedule and take a bath between 8:30 and 9 each night, directly followed by a bottle and bedtime. You sleep until around 6am, take a 5 oz. bottle and then go back to sleep until 8:30 or 9am. Sometimes you'll get fussy at around 3, but all you really want is your paci and you're good to go for another 3 hours. We are so blessed to have such a good sleeper!


You are doing better at eat, play, sleep now. You wake up more each day and after you are fed and changed, you love to sit in your bouncy and talk to me or giggle and laugh. You'll play and talk for about an hour or so and then you usually take a good nap until the next feeding. Sometimes you will stay awake all day (mostly on the weekends), but we try our hardest to keep you on the eat, play, sleep schedule.


You still eat 5 oz. every 3 hours. Sometimes you'll get fussy in between those feedings and we'll give you a Similac 2 oz. bottle to tide you over. That generally seems to do the trick. You are still on Similac Advanced and it works well for you. We still put a little mylicon in the bottle and you're usually quite happy after your bottle.


You are so strong and can hold your head up like such a big boy. I can carry you around and you support your neck completely on your own. You only bobble now once in a while. We sat you in your bumbo last weekend and you didn't quite know what to think of it. You did really well and mommy only had to help support you for a second or two.


You have quite the personality. You are really ticklish under your chin and will just laugh and laugh at Daddy and I when we rub under your chin. You love to talk and babble and some of your "words" sound a lot like "daddy" and "no". We laugh because although that's probably not what you are saying, it happens to sound like that at the most perfect times.


You don't really cry unless you are hungry or very tired. You love to cuddle and you must have your paci when you are tired; the paci is so soothing to you. You also still sleep with the white noise every night and you also love to listen to Baby Einstein radio on Mommy's iPhone.


You went to the church nursery for the first time this month. You did so good and the nursery workers didn't want you to leave. It makes me so happy to see you happy and doing well at church. You are being dedicated next month, and I'm excited to watch you grow up in church, learning all about Jesus and learning to trust Him and love Him.


You are quite the social butterfly. This past month, you went to Houston for the first time to meet your great grandpa and all of Mommy's family. A week later, you went to Austin to meet both sets of your great grandparents and some of Daddy's family. You had such a fun play date with Taryn while Mommy and Daddy went out for some wedding festivities, and then you got to go to Caroline and Ben's rehearsal dinner (until Nana and Papa came to get you so you wouldn't have to sit through dinner!). Everyone loved your little Ralph Lauren outfit and RL loafers that Caroline gave you. Last night, you went out for Richard's birthday party at TABC and met a lot of mommy's friends. During dinner, you experienced your first big rainfall (Dallas is in the middle of a severe draught!). Even sitting outside under the patio where it was quite noisy, windy and wet, you were so good and didn't make a peep the whole time.


This month, you also watched the first of many, many Longhorn football games with Daddy. You already have so many burnt orange outfits and you love to cheer on the Horns. We are teaching you very early to be loyal to UT. We're not shy about the fact that we are grooming you to become a Longhorn, and we're already looking forward to our first Parents Weekend in 2028 :)


You also went to your very first Rangers game with your Pappy and his friends (your cousin Mallory's friend Flat Stanley came too)! It was really fun, but we couldn't stay past the 5th inning because it got chilly and very windy and mommy didn't want you to get sick. We covered you up with blankets, and when you got bored, you went to sleep and were so good. You are always so good when we take you out; it's been easy to go lots of fun places with you.


This month, your Nana and Papa came to visit you and watch you for a weekend while we went to parties for Caroline and Ben. You love your grandparents so much and everytime I say that Nana and Papa are coming, you get a huge grin on your face. They always spoil you, and Papa and you have a special bond. I think it's because you are his first grandson and he now has someone to teach to play golf! No more shopping with the girls!


You start school this week, and Mommy is so sad to go back to work. I know you'll do great and make lots of friends. I know it will be tougher on me than on you.



Lukester, Mommy and Daddy love you so very much. You bring so much joy to our lives and we can't imagine our lives without you now. You are the most special little boy and everyone who meets you loves you. Although our lives have changed drastically since July 19th, it's been for the best and I wouldn't have it any other way. You are our sweet, sweet angel baby.