Our little Sparkler!

Well, Miss Lucia Angelina arrived at 10:05 July 4th! She's happy and healthy and curious about her new world! I had been having contractions for about 2 weeks and then on the 4th I decided maybe I should go in and get checked. Our doctor was on call all day at the hospital so he said to come in and we would see if I had made any progress. I was definately in labor and he said we could either go home...and come back in whenever things progressed more or just see what happened at the hospital. So, we got checked around 12:30 in the afternoon and then just waited for things to happen. The Dr. broke my water around 2:00 and Charlie and I walked the halls to try to encourage more contractions. Since my contractions had not been consistant or strong enough over the last two weeks, and fluid didn't come out when he broke my water, he decided to give me some patocin(sp) and then things really started happening. My cousins Kathy and Dorie and my wonderful friend Brenda were there to help support Charlie because I didn't have an epidural again so things were starting to get rough!

Around 9:30 I was dialated to a 4/5 100% efaced and we just worked through the contractions....I am not going to lie....I begged everyone for an epidural! Then, at 10:00 I yelled that I had to push...and she was born at 10:05! She weighed in at 7lbs 3ounces and was 20 inches long.

She's such a delight and Nico is an awesome big brother! Our house feels full of excitement and love and we are so happy to have her home! We didn't stay in the hospital very long at all due to some insurance issues and we actually brought her home when she was only 15 hours old.

The pictures are all out of order so I am sorry. Welcome home our sweet angel....you have no idea how much you are loved!

Nico checking out his new sister with Daddy1

Sweet little Lucia!

Lucia meeting her cousin Laiq and Auntie Amber

for the first time

Elaine, my doctor's 4 year old came to visit

Cool dudes the day before she was born!

My little Lulu

Team Keri

The best husband in the world!

Before the pain!

Happy times!

Waiting.....

Yes, we are awaiting Miss Lucia's arrival! Her due date isn't until July 7th but things have been progressing. I have had contractions for about a 2 weeks and very consistent contractions for a week. I am dialated to a 2+ and 60% efaced but I really think little miss lu lu hears her wild brother and wants to stay put! We have had a great time getting ready to welcome you Lucia. Your dad organized and fixed your room...and if you ask Nico where his baby sister is he will come over and hug my big belly! The doctor thinks you might arrive this weekend so we have been staying close to home and waiting to see what clues you are going to give us!

I know things will be hectic for awhile but we are so looking forward to having 2 kids and a home filled with love, chaos and laughter! Nico can't wait to meet you and he really can't wait until you are big enough so that the two of you can cause a lot of mischief! Okay little girl..I am going to go to bed and we will see what happens tomorrow.

Nico..

Celebrating Family!

Memorial day weekend, Charlie's sister and her family visited from California! It was such an awesome time because they had their daughter Avery two weeks before Nico was born so this was a really big event for us to meet our neice and for Nico to meet his cousin!

We had a great weekend celebrating with Charlie's brother and sister that live here...good bbq and cheap entertainment with the kids! We loved having the kids together. Nico was in heaven and thought that it was super with all the girls! It meant the world to us that Chris and Tara would make the trip out here to be with family. It was a wonderful weekend and we are so grateful for the time together.

Sweet Avery having fun in the living room!

Kat, Briah and Nico just taking a break

Avery meets Uncle Ed for the first time!

Our trip to the zoo! Nico's first time and his first time

in his wagon! They were hilarious...they loved pulling each other's

hats off!

The gang!

Two little munchkins!

Tara is due in September and I felt like I was due that day!

Briah and Grace eating bbq

Avery loved discovering new things!

I am not sure what happened but this picture reposted! OOPS!

Happy Father's Day

Today I celebrate my amazing husband. Watching him be a dad has opened up a new well of love I didn't know existed! He is so extremely patient and loving with Nico. I can see so clearly that the time they spend together impacts Nico and has shaped him into this little mini Charlie. One of my favorite things is to watch Charlie spend time with Nico at his little Elmo work bench (which Charlie scored at a garage sale!) and how happy Nico is when he is with his dad.

We all have different definitons of what a father is. Our own experiences have so much weight on our perspectives about what we expect and how we would like to be loved or see our children loved by their fathers. It is such an enormous job as is being a mom. I find it so amusing though, that the time Charlie spends with Nico seems to be so much more impactful than all the time I spend with him. Nico just seems to want to absorb and breathe everything Charlie says and does.

Charlie, you truly are an outstanding father. All of your kind and gentle ways are so clearly imprinted in Nico and I am grateful for that. Waiting for our little Lucy to arrive has been really exciting and thank you for setting up her room and for everything you do to make the lives of your children richer. You are one in a milion. I am so thankful for all the prayers my Nana and mom said so that we could find each other. Thank you for being a wonderful father, a loving husband and my best friend. Happy Father's Day!

Hanging out with dad and taking a rest

Nico is helping his dad draw up the plans for his little play area

in the backyard!

I made a chocolate cake and let him lick the spoon....

he really thought it was the best ever!

Working at the tool bench together!

Growing, growing, growing

Everyday I am amazed at the little boy that is front of me. He has grown so much in this first year and now it seems like everyday he grows by leaps and bound. I continue to enjoy my journey on the parenthood path. Charlie and I reflect daily on how different our lives are now that we are parents. We used to try to picture what our life was going to be like with kids and it seemed so unreal. Parenthood brings something new everyday. Now, we are trying to put our arms around what it is goint to be like to have 2 little people running around our house!

Today, I was going down the stairs with Mr. Independant and of course, he likes to be a big boy and go down the stairs by himself. Well, I looked back and caught him trying to walk forwards down the stairs! He is seriously not afraid of anything! He made it down about 3 stairs and then started to wobble...he then grabbed onto the railing and collected himself and then tried again. My heart probably skipped about 10 beats! No one ever tells you that after kids turn 1, it is a whole different ball game! Determined, tantrums, sneaking things they know they shouldn't have......it's like a switch turns on and all of a sudden you have a different child!

Nico is really starting to understand the world around him.....and let's just say he is really figuring out what he wants! We love our playdates with our friends and we have been spending more time with Charlie's sister Kat and her family. Nico LOVES his cousins Grace and Briah and is a complete ham when we get together.

Uncle Ed and Nico on his birthday

Nico in his first pair of shorts...it was a really warm day
and he just looked like so darn cute!

Being a peanut in the kitchen with me!

Starting his day with his buddy Gus!

Nico's 1st Birthday!!!

Nico turned 1 on March 29th! I am so sad that this post is so late! It is really mind boggling that in one year of life, you have grown and learned so much! We went to Monkey Bizness on Sunday and LOVED watching you explore and try new things. You are not afraid of anything little buddy! I went down the big slide with you and you thought it was great! We celebrated with friends and family and it was a really special day! We thought you would plow into your cake but you took your time and enjoyed little bites! Nanna came down the Friday before and played with you all afternoon. Nana and Papa came over after Monkey Bizness and we put together some of your toys with Aunt Kathy and Aunt Dorie and then on Monday we spent the day together and Nana and Papa came over.

Nico, you have shown your dad and I a new side of life. Laughing with you is pure joy and seeing you discover new things everyday is so much fun. You are such a little love bug. You bring sunshine with you everywhere you go. You start each day off with a smile and you are such a happy little guy! Daddy and I feel truly blessed to be your parents. This year has been so full of happiness for all of us and you are so much fun. I can't believe you are one already! Happy Birthday little man! You are so loved!