EmElinE.

To say this little one is anything less than perfect, would be an out right lie. okay, so she does cry every now and then. but seriously.... we are in love with her.
she eats well. she loves watching lucas- or any one that is moving. she is scooting her way across rooms. she is sitting up for minutes at a time. cries when she falls over :(. she loves to sleep. she loves eating toys. she plays cars with lucas. she has the cutest frowny smile of any frowny smiler i know. she has the chunkiest thighs of any baby or woman i know;). she has her daddy wrapped around her little finger. she is wrapped around her daddy's finger as well. she squawks and squeals when she's overtired and thinks something is funny. she pants like a puppy dog when excited about something. she is such a sweet heart. she is our little angel, for sure.

nap hair.

There are two very cool things i look forward to every morning. First, being: Lucas' two hour nap he usually takes for two hours:) Second, his hair configuration that his nap positioning molds.

a random 19 month update.

Here he is pointing to his sister's eye... because he is smart. This Lucas of ours is getting so grown up, so fast. He can point to and say almost all parts of his body. He climbs on to anything he should or shouldn't. Starting to resist bath time, throw things, like hard. He loves his sister, but sometimes throws things at her when he's jealous of the attention she's getting (that doesn't go well afterward btw). He likes putting her binky in her mouth when she's crying. When she's cooing or squealing- he'll put his face right up to hers and say in the softest, sweetest, most interested voice, "Hi". When she's laying down on her mat, he'll lay next to her, belly down, and put an arm over her waist and just hold her and lay there.
Lucas has started into the "no" phase. I never realized before this phase of his, how often I ask him questions through out the day.
ie: Okay Lucas, wanna go see the horsy's? no. Clearly, he wants to go see the horsy's- he just loves saying "no", more. So much independence he must feel. He always says it so casually and sweet, too. Like, in passing - no.
He loves hearing airplanes, choo choo trains, tractors, big trucks and motorcycles. My favorite word he says is "cookie" because he just says it so dern cute, like coo-tie, in a really desperate voice, like he'll be heart broken forever if he doesn't get one. He is a ridiculously fast (and cute) runner- like quite possibly faster than me. He is a smart little booger, of course, I think that. He has a shape puzzle and an animal puzzle that he can put together all on his own. He is very spatial. He can get down and get jiggy, too. He loves em a good beat. He's just recently been getting his arms involved, rather than just his legs. It is stinking cute. I'd have to say he dances the best to "Bubbly Toes" by Jack Johnson. He loves animals and can point to 30 or more when you say their name or the sounds they make. He loves making the horsey "neigh" sound. He also loves keys and buttons. If there is a lock to be opened- he's your man. Or a button to push, he will push it so passionately and sincerely...because there are many buttons he is not allowed to push. This boy does not take a button pushing for granted. One of my favorite times with Lucas, is dinner time. He will sit in his high chair and fold his arms, until you notice him, and say the prayer. Then during dinner- he opens up and converses with you in his language that only he understands, with the occasional understandable word. It's mostly him gesturing, smiling, talking with his mouth full, pretending his food is some mode of transportation, and relating that to you in some way. Like you know what he's talking about. One of those- have to be there.
He and Emmie are rock stars of company under 2 years old while running errands. They both do pretty well in their car seats and in stores. Pretty much every day, I ask myself, "how the heck did I luck out twice?" Both babies are good! They have their moments, naturally. But really, they are so portable...and I love it. Lucas does need him a nap, though, or else...
So anyway. I am really loving this mom business. It is amazing, to say the least, to witness these little souls transform and evolve from wittle sweet babies into little people. The whole concept of "growth" really blows my mind. It's too late for me to get all philosophical, but I want to. But I know how stupid I'll sound if I try to expound on my "post 8 o clock" thoughts and rationale, so 'll resist. Suffice it to say. I love my sweet little hearts.

we are family.

Oh heavens. We have not run short in the "family" department lately. We've been so lucky to be around both our sides of the family this summer. Here are just some pics. of the last few weeks.
Paigey, my little sis. has come to stay with us for a couple more months and Holly, my littlest sis. is going to school up here now... so yes. we've partied every night all night since they've been here. My parents and Dallin came for the blessing, so cool. And of course Lacey was here with her boys last month! I've been so spoiled ;) I could totally get used to it.
Then we recently had a camping family reunion on Steve's side this last week. Our first camping trip of the summer- it's about time! It was so much fun watching Lucas with his many adoring cousins. Good food and good fun. It was a good trip and the babies were very good (aside from the sleeping).
Then our little Steve and Crystal family is just sweet. Lucas calls Emeline, "memah" now. He wraps his little arms around her and gives her these sweet little hugs and occasionally, lays a slobbery wet one on her face. She likes watching him, too. She's started to laugh and has been smiling and trying to talk. Lots of coos and "KKkkkkkk" sounds. I'm convinced she is the as close to "perfect" as a baby can be. I can't get enough of her. We love each other.

the bird, the saloon and the doggie.

I haven't been able to do much in the way of "art" lately. Thought I'd take a minute to post the little projects I have been able to do in the last year. Wish I had more stuff to post. The "Utah" drawing picture took a while, like maybe a year to complete... holy cow! Just here a little and there a little. Just an "I felt like it" kinda drawing. The doggie was a quick one I did over Christmas for my sistah's good friend. Then the bird. The bird was a spur of the moment deal. I needed to cover up the holes in our wall. We'd be having a few people over for Emeline's blessing and I needed to dress the naked wall space. The blank canvas in our garage seemed like it needed some doin' up. I saw a pic that inspired me in google images and i "flew" with it ;) Surprisingly it only took a couple of hours to do. Not normal! I'm happy about our little feathery addition hanging in our Living room. I miss having the time to do stuff like this every day! I'm an appreciator of spare time now, to the utmost degree. I love having some time to do "my things".