More Pics

The wagon was loaded down with riders on this day.

Claire is really into "snuggling" with Lauren lately.  Lauren loves it too (although you can't tell from this picture, ha!).  Everytime we put Lauren in Claire's lap, she'll smile really big and lean in to give Claire a kiss.  Melts our hearts!

Lauren started eating solid foods!  This is her first taste!

Happy girl after eating some cereal.

Daddy with his baby girl!

Celebrating Daddy's birthday.

Despite the fact that Lauren was in a Cowboys onesie, her Aunt Christine was still all smiles when holding her.  What a good sport she is.  I wonder if we'll all be able to watch a Cowboys/Redskins game in the same room this Fall?  Hmm, we shall see.

It seems as though over the last few weeks she's developed so much. 

Nana and Grandpa came to visit from Texas!  Too bad this is the only pic that I got while they were here!

Claire's hair is long enough for braids now!  When did she get so big?  It happened right before my very eyes!

Wow, I love her!

 

6 Months Old!

Lauren is 6 months old!!!!  She has truly been such a joy to have in our family.  Here are some 6 month stats:

*17 lbs 1 oz
*1 Tooth!!  It popped up yesterday on her 6 month birthday!  I saw it trying to break through on Sunday night but I finally felt it on Monday. 
*Still taking 3 naps a day most days.  Every once in a while, she'll stretch her naps and sleep longer, therefore only taking 2 naps...but for the most part she's still taking that 3rd catnap in the late afternoon.
*Sleeping approx 11-12 hours at night.  Unfortunately, since she's not rolling over a whole lot still..she's not waking up happy most mornings.  However, when she rolls over when she wakes, she is perfectly content. 
*Eats A LOT!  Nurses 4-5 times a day and eats approx 10-12 oz of solids a day (I make my own baby food so this is an estimate)!  Despite how much she's eating, she still weighs about the same that Claire did at this same age...in fact, she weighs a little less than Claire did.
*New foods are rice cereal, bananas, squash (she LOVES squash!!) and prunes.  I've known this since she was a newborn, but this girl has PROVEN to me this month that she LOVES to eat!  Ha!  As soon as she was able to get over her tongue thrust reflex, she's opened her mouth like a baby bird for food.
*Developmentally, she's still only rolling from front to back, but not back to front.  No crawling either.  But, she's sitting very well with support.  I'm still not worried though, she's proven to us that she'll move when she wants.  She absolutely looooves the bouncy seat!  She will kick and bounce over and over again.  Her legs are strong, she just doesn't feel the need to roll.

Happy Easter!



When you have been at church all morning and you have a hungry and tired 5 month old and 24 month old, then you get a dog's tushy in your Family Easter pictures.  Oh, well...it's given us a bunch of good laughs and it didn't stop me from printing a pic and putting it on my mantle.  :)




Again, with the dog.  Claire and Lauren with Grandma and Granddaddy.




Probably the best picture of the day.  They were waiting patiently for all of us to get ready for pictures.





This year, Nana sent some super cute buckets and plastic eggs for Claire and Lauren, from Texas.  She had a blast "finding" the eggs that we "hid" for her.  It was a new game to her.



We had such a blessed Easter this year.  Claire was old enough to "talk" to us about the real meaning of the day.  Nana sent lots of goodies from Texas including matching dresses for the girls.  (Oh, how I am soooo into matching clothes for my girls...who am I???  HA!!).  My heart was full of joy at church as I was able to truly reflect on my relationship with God and celebrate that Jesus is still Alive!!  Have you ever heard about how you can have a personal relationship with God?  This is why we joyfully celebrate Easter and why it's more than a time for us to put on pretty dresses and eat a great meal with family:

*God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life.
"I came so that they might have life and have it abundantly" John 10:10

*Man is sinful and seperated from God.  Therefore we cannot know and experience God's love and plan for our lives.
"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23

*Jesus is God's only provision for our sin.  Through HIM, we can know and experience God's plan for our life.
"God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

*We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God's plan for us. 
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him." Revelation 3:20

Years ago, both Bradley and I made our individual decisions to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus.  And we pray that our girls will someday as well.  Have you?