Hanging with Daddy

Just hanging with my daddy at our favorite spot...The Mill. Mama gave me a full tummy and now Daddy gets to give me clean pants.

Mr. Smiles

We're all smiles now. Hope you're smiling back!!

yet another adventure

We have about 3/4 of our stuff in boxes. Truck comes on Friday to begin packing and then we are hopefully leaving monday. We are nervous, excited and sad all at once.

Our friends here in MA have been such a blessing in our lives and we will be sad to leave. However, moving home is exciting being close to our wonderful family and rekindling friendships. Evan is excited to be babysat by grandparents on a weekly basis and learn how to hunt and fish from daddy.

So....been good hangin' with ya or see you soon.

After 30 hours of contractions and two visits to the maternity ward we finally met our son Evan. Mommy, daddy and baby are now home: resting and dwelling on the miracle of life.

BABY LOVES THE RED SOX

Last week a good friend of mine emailed me with the news of ALCS tickets. Unfortunately, it was the game we lost 13-6 in the 11th inning meaning getting to bed around 2:45AM. But what a game.!..back to back homers by Manny and Mike was definately the highlight.

Watching the Red Sox crush the so called "Tribe" at the Fens tonight to tie the series was great. Our baby was moving like crazy as Schilling drove us to victory. Bring on Game 7 baby!

Rumor has it I may have the opportunity to go to a world Series game (b/c the BoSox will go!)...but you know I am staying home because I am going to be a daddy any day!

Tears at the Grocery Store

This is my first week to be at home while we wait for baby to come. It's been so great.

Wednesday I made a grocery list but was too tired to actually go to the store. So today was the day I would go to the store. All went well, I mosied up and down each isle in no rush. I finally had all the items crossed off my list and headed up to the check out counter. Much to my suprise the first register I pulled up to had only one person standing in line. It was an older gentleman who was questioning the price of one of his items. As I was emptying my cart the manager came over to help the checker. I was almost done emptying my cart when the manager looked at me (for the 4th time) and said, "Oh hun you know this lane just turned into an express 12 items or less right? It looks like you have more than 12 items." I just stood there and stared at her for a minute, looked up at the lane light to see the express lane-just-light up. At the moment the checker looked down at the belt and said, " ouhhhhh". That was it. So I started to de-load my items from the belt back into my cart to move to another lane. This is when the prego hormones kicked into HIGH gear...Instant tears start rolling down my face as I continue to remove my items. Now anyone who has gone grocery shopping with me knows I have a strategy in unloading my cart onto the belt. This drives my husband crazy!! I sort my groceries out as I place them on the belt-boxed foods, dairy, meat, vegies, cans all go on together so they are bagged correctly. As I was taking my items off the belt I was thinking about how nicely I had placed them in my cart from the beginning so it was easy to unload quickly. I just didn't care anymore and was throwing everything back into my cart and the tears just keep coming and coming. This is the moment I realized I am done. I am ready to just stay at home and wait for this baby to come. I am exhausted and just wanted to get home as quickly as possible. When I was walking out of the store I was greeted with a downpour of rain. I stood outside under the awning for a few minutes and decided I could care less I just wanted to get home. So I threw the groceries in the trunk and jumped in the car without being completely soaked.

I am so happy to be home. Eating some amazing Kraft Mac & Cheese and ready to curl up on the couch. This baby has mama's emotions all stirred up today. I can't wait to find out what happens when I actually hold it in my arms.

Happy Friday to you all!

Praise to God

"Let us always offer to God our sacrifice of praise." Hebrews 13:15


You are a great God.
Your character is holy.
Your truth is absolute.
Your strength is unending.
Your discipline is fair...
Your provisions are abundant for our needs.
Your light is adequate for our path.
Your grace is sufficient for our sins...
You are never early, never late...
You sent your Son in the fullness of time and will return at the consummation of time.
Your plan is perfect.
Bewildering. Puzzling. Troubling.
But perfect.


"He Reminded Us of You" Max Lucado

The best bread I've made this Fall Season!

I just made this bread over the weekend and it is awesome! I made a loaf and a pan of muffins instead of 2 loaves. You can substitute Allspice for the Mace(use 1/2 the amount of allspice), and I used butter instead of shortening (10 1/3 tbls. = 2/3 cup)-mainly because Travis refuses to have shortening in our house. I also used pecans instead of walnuts. Enjoy and let me know how you like it! It's a very fall festive bread! YUMMY.

APPLESAUCE - PUMPKIN BREAD

2/3 c. shortening 2 2/3 c. sugar 4 eggs 1 c. applesauce 1 c. mashed pumpkin 3 1/2 c. sifted flour 2 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1 1/2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 tsp. mace 1/2 tsp. nutmeg 2/3 c. apple juice 1 c. chopped walnuts Cream together shortening and sugar. Add eggs and beat. Stir in applesauce and pumpkin. Sift together flour, soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, mace and nutmeg. Add alternately with apple juice to pumpkin mixture. Stir in nuts. Turn batter into 2 greased 9 x 5 inch loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until bread tests done. Makes 2 loaves.

BABYMOON

We had to get away a few weeks ago while we still had the chance. It was kind of last minute which made it even more fun.

We had been planning for weeks that we should get away sometime but our weekends kept filling up. One Thursday night we were sitting on the couch thinking the only time we have to go anywhere is this weekend. So...I got online registered for a place in Portland Maine.

We left right after work the next day and did not look back. It was the most relaxing and enjoyable time that we have had together since our honeymoon.

You can check out our pics here.

Milestones

So many meaningful things happening lately: Red Sox win AL East (finally), I find a job back in Nebraska, and of course my wife is in the last month of her pregnancy.

I will start with the least but all so important red sox. Watching the Yankees lose in extra innings last night to the Orioles was a beautiful thing. Bring on the Angels!

If you have not heard,...yes it is official...bec and I will be moving back to the good life soon. Finding a job sealed the deal a few weeks ago. Now we spend our free time planning a baby + move...sounds impossible but by faith and prayers anything is possible.

My wife is still as beautiful as the day I married her. I tell her she is so cute with that "baby belly" but she doesn't believe me. She is doing so well. So far we have went to a breastfeeding and labor class. We are learning so much but am sure we will learn the most come October 23rd.

Keep an eye on our blog these next couple weeks...you never know what might be coming next. wink, wink.

34 Weeks!

We're at 34 weeks and growing strong! Yesterday we had our check up with Dr. McCrary and all is well. My weight, blood pressure are all great. Baby's heart-beat is 150 nice and strong. Dr.McCrary said we won't have a big baby, but it'll be a nice size. We have nothing to worry about. YeeHaw!

We signed up for 2 classes at the hospital. Sunday night we have a Breastfeeding class and next weekend we have a Prepared Childbirth class. We were lucky to get into the classes as they were filling up quickly and the next classes were closer and closer to our due date. It's amazing how time is flying by and how baby will be here very shortly. We still have some preparation to do and items to get so we're ready for that big day.

My husband took me on a shopping spree yesterday. How awesome is He? As the season is changing and the cool weather is here, we realized I didn't have any Fall clothes. I had 2 pairs of pants and 2 long sleeve shirts. None of my jackets fit around me any more. We hit up the GAP, Motherhood, and JCPenny. Now I should be set for the Fall. I can't explain how great it feels to wear jeans that actually fit! I am a now a Good Lookin Mama!

We also decided last night to take a spur of the moment Baby Moon to Portland, ME before we're no longer a family of 2 but of 3. We're staying at the Wild Iris Inn B&B (www.wildirisinn.com) tonight and will spend the day up there tomorrow. We'll be in the Lupine room which has a private bath en suite. The private bath will be great for my night time journeys to the toilet. Baby still likes to push against Mama's bladder-the lil' darlin. We'll post an update of our Baby Moon when we return. It's suppose to be a beautiful fall day!

Baby Shower - 9/8/2007

First off...Guys usually do not partake in baby shower festivities but in recent years for some reason this has become a trend. People I guess refer to them as " Jack and Jill" parties. So it was a little weird for all of the guys going in the first place but once we got there it was a lot of fun.

The theme of our shower was "Baby Olympics". We all got into teams and competed in various events. Becca, Amber (bec's sister), Jacob (bec's brother-in-law) and I's team was appropriately named "Babylicioius". However, our awesome name was not enough to lead us to victory. But we did have fun competing in various events including: diaper mystery (name the chewed/spit out candy bar in the diaper...very gross looking by the way), baby feud, and baby gift bingo. Our friend amy did a great job organizing everything. Thanks Amy!

Of course we racked up on baby gifts. Some of our favs included a car seat (+extra base for grandma/babysitter to put in car :) , and also a onesie (did I spell that right...i have a long way to go as a dad I think but i'm ready to learn) with a picture of bec and I on the front saying "This is Why I'm Hot". ..to funny, and also a great diaper bag in which the model is sporting for everyone at the party (see above picture) .

We are very blessed to have a family here in Boston. It was amazing sitting at our shower seeing all of our friends come together that we have grown to love over these past years. Thanks for the fun time guys.

Daddy News

This is a test...my first blog ever...can you see me? ok. I think this is working.

So you are probably dying to know how this daddy is doing throughout this pregnancy...yes I said it daddy...I still go through weeks and kind of forget that the day is fast approaching and then there are other weeks when I am like, "Holy Crap, I am going to be a dad!"

It has been so great watching Becca get more and more of a belly. My favorite is her belly button starting to poke out. I call it my "baby microphone"...you talk into it so the baby can hear you. My wife is the most amazing woman I know and am excited to experience the gift of life with her.

More to come...that is if all of this is posted and my time was not wasted.

Quote to ponder on...

"Man is moving to fast for a world that is round.He soon may catch himself in a rear end collision."
-Dr. Richard Swenson

Are you moving to fast? Why is it so hard for us to slow down our pace? Why is cutting corners so important? I think of all the things I miss when I'm on a speedy pace, and then how much I notice when I've slowed down. God created this world to be enjoyed. He wants us to enjoy our life with him beside us. I bet he wonders why we are so worried about getting things done quickly when he's the one who has created time.

Last week I had a work meeting at a coworkers house in South Dartmouth, MA which is at the start of Cape Cod. His house is in a private secured neighborhood which is surrounded by ocean. The strip of land all the houses are on has been owned by Jeffrey's wifes family for years and years. Almost everyone who has a house there is related to Sara in some way. All the houses are small, old, rustic and have such charm. You feel the pace of life slow down as you enter and the simplicity of everything is incredibly relaxing.
We had a meeting most of the day and then took a walk that afternoon. The sign above, Caution Children, were posted all along the rode. Doug thought it would be funny to take a pic of my belly out by the sign. He was right, I love this picture-we printed a 8 x 10 and have it on our fridge. Zoey-the friendly dog you see running towards me wanted in the pic as well. She walked along side us the entire time. I am 31 weeks (7mo) in this picture.

(Mom -the skirt pic is for you-I know you have many of them already...I've been wearing it alot! Nothing like a trip to Martha's Vineyard to get a colorful skirt.)

24 weeks prego

24 weeks prego
Originally uploaded by Lucas Joyful Pics

Here's our side view at 24 weeks. Baby is growing strong!

Preparing for another adventure life brings

24 wks
Originally uploaded by Lucas Joyful Pics

We are expecting Baby Lucas on October 23. What an adventure these past months have been. Pregnancy has been blissful. We are amazed how God created my body to grow and carry this lil'one-it is truly amazing!
We'll be posting more belly shots and keeping you updated with all things baby! Enjoy!

We're Joining the Blogging World

So after many months of wanting to start a blog, we've finally done it! Stay tuned for more posts as we teach ourselves about blogging.