Happy 4th of July

Today Ben, Lainey and I went to the Pagosa Springs 4th of July Parade and Carnival (Mom and Dad took Matt to the airport). After watching the parade for a little bit, Lainey took her first pony ride (assisted by Ben, of course). In the first 10 pictures or so, she wore the exact same expression. It took her awhile to warm up to the ponies. But then she decided that they were okay, and that she liked them. The biggest hit of the day, however (according to Lainey), were the millions of dogs we saw at the parade. They were everywhere!

(The ride was stopped at this point - so no, she wasn't riding around without an adult supervising!)

soooffft pony
*We are still working with Lainey on how to pat animals gently. She likes to pat (pound) animals a little harshly. This horse was a good sport.

Happy 4th of July!

I'm just including this picture of a valley near my parents' house. It's so pretty and peaceful!! The lot where this photo was taken from hasn't been developed yet, but I'll be sad when it is.

Pagosa, days 3 & 4

Yesterday, my dad, brother and I took a beautiful hike. The pictures - as usual - nowhere near capture the beauty of the scenery, but you can at least get the idea.

Dad and Matt enjoying lunch - we literally sat on the top of this little peak and were able to enjoy a nearly 360 degree view of mountains around us. It was incredible!

another view from our lunch spot

We could see the Wolf Creek Ski Area from where we had lunch - you can see the green slopes in the distance. There's actually a hike that we went on two summers ago that leads us around those slopes.

Matt and Dad, again, on the trail that goes through the rock skree. It was a little steep here. We saw two deer frolicking down below us at this point on the trail.

Back at the house - Lainey making an absolute mess at dinner.

on our nightly walk down my parents' street

Lainey (and Lucy) running to give Ben a hug

playing rocks (#1 FAVORITE game in Colorado)

Remembering a sweet boy

Some of y'all may remember a post I published last January about a sweet little boy named Nash. Well, today is the one-year anniversary of his passing. I just ask that today you keep this sweet family near your hearts and in your prayers. And yes, you might need a tissue for this post. I did!

In loving memory of Nash Adam Sievers,

January 15, 2008 - July 1, 2008

God saw you getting tired,
and a cure was not to be.

So He put His arms around you

and whispered,

"Come with Me."

With tearful eyes we

watched you slowly fade away.

Although we loved you dearly,

we would not make you stay.

A golden heart stopped beating,

your hard-working

hands put to rest,

God broke our hears

to prove to us

He only takes the best.

*Allen Family Funeral Options, Plano, TX

Whenever I read this, I cry. No matter what I'm doing or how much in a hurry I may be. I keep this poem, that's written on a card from Nash's funeral, in the top drawer of my nightstand. My jaw even gets tingly and my eyes sting when I think of it sometimes, like if I'm driving in a car or taking a walk.

This poem gives me perspective. It helps me remember that it's the people in my house that matter, not the messy floors or cluttered countertops. It helps me remember that holding a child's hand or getting a little hug is one of the most simple, pure, and beautiful things in life and should never be taken for granted. It helps me remember that people, and not things, are what matter the most in this world. It helps me remember that each life is a gift, one that is precious and fragile and vulnerable.

My throat aches and my stomach turns when I read this poem because it makes me so sad for my friends Tracy and Brad who miss their son so much. Nash was given a short five months on this earth, but in that time he clearly affected the lives of so many people. Today, I ask you to please keep this family close to your heart and pray for their comfort, strength, and peace. To Tracy and Brad, please know that Nash's little spirit lives on and continues to move and inspire people to do one of the most powerful things that we, as humans, can do. He inspires us to love.

Pagosa, day 2

Yep, that's my bellybutton.

picking out a hike to go on...

wishing she could climb on the ATV all by herself

our hike today (she was not thrilled - tired baby - and I was a little tired myself)

big girl in the rocking chair

Totally attached to this compass. I hope it still works after we leave.

Pretty Colorado

After a bit of a bumpy plane ride with our 14-month-old, Ben and I safely made it to beautiful Colorado with a little wiggly Lainey in tow. We are so happy to be here! It's just so relaxing and the weather's wonderful and we are just enjoying being around each other. Matt is here for the week; he leaves Saturday. My mom and dad arrived last Saturday and they won't be leaving for a few months. We arrived Sunday and will leave in a couple of weeks. We're planning on soaking up every second of this weather because we know it'll be H-O-T when we get home. Lainey has adjusted quite well to mountain life; she LOVES running up and down my parents' driveway and the gravel roads surrounding their house. She has probably held and coveted about 100 rocks thus far, and she and Sofi and Lucy are fast friends. She is also quite entertained by all the horses and cows around us. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to get close enough for her to see them face to face, but nonetheless - the child loves looking at them through the windows of the car. Lainey does miss Reagan, however. Reagan is being boarded (tear) for the first time but she's with an incredible lady who is taking wonderful care of her, I'm sure. I didn't get any pictures today of Lainey (as a forewarning - this kid is a MESS every single day, so all the pictures will show that, I'm sure) but I did take some of the flowers outside of my parents' house. It is so green and colorful here!! Truly gorgeous. More people pictures to come, I promise!

I don't know what this flower is called but it's so pretty! You can't tell from the picture, but the leaves are lime green and the flowers are a bright purple.

14 months old!!

Lainey Cathryn is 14 months old (well, she was on Wednesday!)!! There's not much that's really changed from my 13-month post. She's still not saying too much - just "hi" and "da" and "dahdeee" (maybe Daddy?) and she'll try to blow bubbles when she sees a container of them and so that turns into a "bbbbbbmmmm" sound and when she sees a balloon sometimes she gets out that first syllable of "balloon". She says a lot of sounds, but we really don't know what they mean!! Lots of "ish" "glatch" "gladdalatch" "ditz" and "datch" and who knows what else.

Here are a few of our favorite and funny things that Lainey does...

1. She runs everywhere on her toes. I don't think the girl knows how to walk.

2. She climbs every chair she sees. And when she's standing on the chair, she's SO proud.

3. She laughs when others laugh (this is my favorite). If she sees us laughing, she joins right in even though she probably doesn't have a clue as to what we're giggling about.

4. She eats a LOT. She really likes most things, so I'm so grateful for that. She even ate artichokes and the artichoke dip the other night at dinner!

5. She's a good napper and a good sleeper at night and still completely attached to her pacifier and sleepsack during that time.

6. She would happily eat paper all day long if given the chance. Toilet paper is a favorite, and the list just follows after that: pages in books, the books themselves, post-it notes (which, of course, I have posted all over the house), tissue paper, you name it.

This child is a complete joy. Even though I feel as though I'm chasing a puppy around sometimes.

I'm including little video of her on her 14-month birthday. :)

And yes, you heard correctly... little Lainey will be a big sister next February. My due date is February 12th! We feel blessed beyond words, and are so excited to meet this little boy/girl. :) And yes, after I turned off the video, she did try to eat that picture of her little baby sister or brother. ;)

Swimming!

Each week, Maddie, Kelley (and Kelley's sweet mom who helps with her twins!) and I have been trying to get the kids together to swim at Keegan's Mamie's house. She has a beautiful backyard and pool, and we all just enjoy watching the kids interact with each other. Thank you, Mamie, for letting us come swim!! Usually we swim for a bit, then we get out to have a snack and a quick drink. It turns into one big free-for-all because the kids go after each other's snacks and drinks and we end up finding smooshed and soggy goldfish around the pool because inevitably, the goldfish go "swimming" out of their containers several hundred times. My sweet angel is really good at letting her fish "swim".

Attempt #1 (Gage, Ainsley, Lainey, Keegan)

Attempt #2: Yay Ainsley! She's posed nicely for both pictures!

Attempt #3: Thanks, Keegan! Little ham. :) This picture makes me laugh out loud because the others look a little annoyed that he's cooperating!

probably watching Keegan

Keegan, hoping we'll ignore him as he goes for the watering can (hidden behind the yellow flowers).

Hmmm, Ainsley's distracted. Wonder if she'd notice if I went for her fish...

What happened to your fish, Lainey? And I know that's not your cup. :)

My Gym

Every week we go to our My Gym class on Wednesdays. Lainey LOVES it so - she is particularly fascinated with the ball pit, but she happily participates in all the other activities. It's neat to see her do something different each week - each week she seems to be a bit braver and will do something new. We have a cute class with fun instructors (one whose sister-in-law and brother went to Austin College and were there at the same time I was!?) and it's a fun place to play. Here are a few pictures of Lainey playing there this morning.

I think she was thinking about napping in here today. Totally relaxed. Well, except for that small foot sticking out. :) Keep an eye on that yellow ball in her right hand...

Notice she still has the yellow ball in her hand.

Walking up and down the steps and yes, the ball is in her right hand.

Trampoline time with the yellow ball. Still in her right hand.

Ever since we started at My Gym (in May) the girl has loved holding onto the plastic balls. We laugh at how she refuses to let go of them - usually she has one in each hand. She'll try to clap, climb, slide, crawl, balance, and basically do everything possible while holding onto them. It's funny, and it's kinda become "her thing" that she is attached to at the gym. Sort of like a blankie...well, a very, very germy and publicly-adored blankie.

Milestones

Rolling over? Yay!

Sitting up? Way to go!

Crawling? Good job Baby!

Walking? Aww, so big! Wonderful!!

Putting Mom's shoes back where they belong? Oh my gosh!!!! I'm so proud of you! Go Lainey! Thank you!!! :)

Lainey loves my red shoes. Each time she goes into my closet, she grabs my red shoes. Today I told her to put my shoes away, and this is how I found one of the red shoes (the other was still in her hand). Go Lainey! It's the little things in life, right? :) 

Look what I can do, Mom!

Lately Lainey has been eager to climb on things. I will say that she's pretty cautious, however, and generally wants help down from the things she climbs onto. For now, anyway. :) She will either sit down and try to scoot off or she'll just hold out her hand for me to help her. She discovered that she could turn over the laundry baskets today and had a grand time seeing what exactly is on top of the bathroom counter and night stands. She looks so happy and proud when she's standing on top of the object she's not really supposed to be standing on top of, like she's completely in awe of her new vantage point. 

Summer days

It's so hot! But, if you know me, you know that I love being outside, especially if it's a pretty day. So I lather up the baby with sunscreen and put some on myself as well and we head outside - to either play in the yard, swim in our little tiny blow-up pool, or take a short walk in the wagon. Lainey really could stay outside all day long as long as she has something to drink. :) A couple of days ago Keegan came over to swim and the kid LOVES the pool. I hope he encourages Lainey to love it a little bit more than she currently does. We love having you home, Keegan!

_______

Today we played with Gage and Ainsley and Keegan in our backyard. Four babies, ages 13 months to 20 months. It was so fun watching them all play together. They reminded me of puppies! One would find something new to play with and the rest would join him or her and we'd watch the kids pile on top of each other and fight for turns with the toy. So funny. They are all learning to share and take turns. :)

Keegan, wishing there was water in the pool.

so thoughtful

seriously, not wanting to get out of the pool

Sweet Ainsely, laughing and swinging - notice she only has one shoe on. I think Lainey stole her other one (you know her love of Crocs).

Keegan, Gage (Ainsley's twin), and Lainey

Oooh! A Croc!

all four (and Maddie!)

oh, hello Reagan

Lainey looks like she's paddling a boat. Where are y'all headed, kids?