Lots of visitors & time with Pop Pop

Luci with the handsome Atkins boys, Justin & Alex

This weekend we were blessed with a visit (albeit short) from the Atkins Family. We caught up with them while they were on their way to Raleigh from Seattle. Nigel flies for Continental as well, so a stop through Houston is always required. How lucky for us!

Luci & Aunt Baylee...Baylee arrived Sunday night and stays until Friday. Luci warmed up to her very quickly & the week is going by too fast!!

Luci has been spending lots of quality one-on-one time with her Pop Pop this week while Baylee & I hit the town. We went to Bikram Yoga yesterday & got our butts kicked by the workout & the heat, and then hit the mall last night for a bit of shopping. The morning went pretty well for father & daughter, but last night was a different story. I fed Luci before I left, but didn't get any burps out of her...she was sleeping soundly so I thought it was safe to leave. I was wrong! She woke up 30 minutes later and proceeded to scream for two hours despite Clay's every attempt to soothe her. By the time I got home she was finally worn out and went back to sleep. Thankfully this hasn't deterred Pop Pop...he's still willing to go one-on-one tomorrow morning so Baylee and I can hit Bikram Yoga again before the Thanksgiving indulgences!

Squeals...

Miss Luci has learned to squeal! The last month or so she spent most of her days moaning...quite loudly and with a pretty gruff, deep pitch for such a little girl. She didn't seem unhappy during the moaning, but it gave me mommy anxiety because it just isn't possible to sound happy during a moan. Thankfully, over the last couple of days she has developed quite a squeal of delight and spends much of her day going from a high pitched squeal to a low crackle/gurgle almost, and then back to the high pitched squeal. She was making so much delightful racket this morning when I put her down for a nap that I decided I MUST buy a camcorder soon so that I can record such moments.

She also LOVES to look at herself in the mirror. After every nap we visit our reflections...she smiles & flirts with herself, and then bashfully buries her head in our chests....and then does it all over again! She is SUCH a funny girl!

We've been blessed with lots of visitors lately...our friends Liz, Jen & Paul came to visit last weekend. Luci was pretty well behaved...she saved all of her typical sleepy time antics for Monday night after everyone (including her Pop Pop) had gone. Jen & Paul got to attend Miss Clara's 2nd birthday party with us and meet lots of our Texas friends. Liz came in just for a night before meeting up with her family downtown on Friday. Sadly it was not quite enough time for Luci to feel snuggly with her...but I promise no babies were harmed in the taking of this photo. Liz was very capable of soothing our Luci, just not at the exact moment I snapped the photo!

Aunt Baylee arrives on Sunday for Thanksgiving & we can't wait to see her!! I'm very excited about trying out some new Rachael Ray recipes...and a Pumpkin Gooey Cake recipe by Paula Deen!

In other news, Amanda and I are starting Bikram Yoga next week. It involves 26 postures in a heated room for 90 minutes. I practiced this type of yoga when I lived in DC for just a few months, but really enjoyed it. I've noticed a build up in my aggression level lately, and since I no longer have work* to use as a release (my nickname in a previous life was 'battleaxe') I need to figure out what to do with that energy. I have an almost endless patience with Miss Luci, but I find myself losing my cool at the most random times...like at the Marshall's fitting room clerk when she insists on touching the hanger of each item while she counts it, or at Clay when I chomp on a bite of shell in my eggs that he so kindly prepared for me. I've been doing lots of walking, but it just isn't enough I guess. So...I have convinced myself that this will cure all that ails me, both mentally and physically...and that somehow this mind/body alone time will make me a happier individual, wife & mommy. If only it were that easy, right? We shall see...

*I have finally sorted out my work situation...I'll be returning to 5/3rd Bank, working from home an average of 10 hours a week starting in December. I'll be working on special projects that I can do independently at any time of the day or week, and even change the amount of time I spend from one week to another. It is such a great & flexible opportunity that I just have to give it a try. We'll see how it goes!

Happy Birthday to the love of my life...

and Happy Anniversary!



My handsome husband and Luci's pop pop (a nickname I've started for some reason) turns 38 today. Happy Birthday my love.


These few days of November are big ones for us...last year on 11/10 we found out Miss Luci was coming, the 11th is Clay's birthday, and the 12th is our anniversary! How blessed we are!

Luci's first play date!!

Luci has a friend...her name is Rachel. I met Rachel's mom (Christina) at pre-natal fitness classes at the YMCA, and then we saw each other at 'Breastfeeding Basics' at the hospital, and then again at our baptismal classes at our church! Rachel was born 3 1/2 weeks before Luci so while the differences in their development are noticeable at this point, I imagine soon we'll be running after both of them in the many parks here!

Rachel is showing Luci all about feet! Luci still hasn't found hers!
Luci is sharing her paci...if you look closely you can see it in Rachel's right hand!
Love those baby thighs!! Why are rolls only cute on babies?!?!?

Go Bears!!**

**and Go Colts when they aren't playing the Bears!! These photos are for Grandma & Grandpa Pierse. The game wasn't on TV down here, but we put her in the gear anyway!!
Propped up in the corner of the sofa so she can sit up! The girl can't wait until she can sit up on her own!

We had a pretty quiet weekend around here & Luci seems to have managed all right with the change in time. On Sunday we hit the Cottage Green (our hood) Fall Festival...it was awake time but Luci fell asleep right away! She's officially using the stroller now without the car seat part. She loves to look out & see the world instead of just her boring old mom!

Happy Birthday Aunt Brooke!!

Luci's Aunt Brooke turns 28 today!! Happy Birthday Aunt Brooke! I'd say she was OLD if I hadn't just turned 30! Your gift is on the way, but is a bit late of course ;).
Here are a few photos just for kicks...

She makes the funniest faces when she's workin so hard...trying to get that froggie!
I think she's becoming our squirmy inchwormy! She can move her little bootie & legs but the head & chest is just to heavy!
Squirmy Inchwormy!
Her little custom baby booties are going to be too small very soon!
Wearing her little Milo & Tallulah shirt...

A few more photos...just for fun!

Uncle Ben...he even changed a diaper!!

Aunt Baylee...she may have changed a diaper too! She's coming back for 5 days over Thanksgiving...we are so excited to have her!
Doesn't she look like her papa??
She even got along with Grandpa Rosonke...and we all know that can be tough to do! ;)
In her little blue pj's...I always have to put pink or purple pants & socks on with the blue...just so she's got a bit of girly on her still :)

Happy Halloween from the squirmy wormy!

Blowin some raspberries for Halloween!!
We had to vent the costume :)
The girls in the 'hood...Baby Eleanor (hiding in her mom's Bjorn), Caroline, Margeaux, Clara & Miss Luci!
Our long squirmy getting ready to go!
Miss Clara, who was 'like a fairy princess', with our Squrimy Wormy before the first park gathering! Miss Luci's eyes are smilin and she's eating her costume!




Our Luci was a squirmy wormy for Halloween! I woke up very excited that it was going to be cool enough outside for Luci to wear her costume...only to go outside & realize that it was very warm and humid. I was bummed, but we did manage to get a few good shots in her costume before we took it off. We went to two gatherings in the park & had a great time seeing all of our little friends dressed up! Luci handed out candy this year & is looking forward to doing some trick or treating of her own next year!

Luci's Baptism Weekend

The Rosonke Family...Luci says come on Uncle Sunidh...hurry up & get on with it so you can be in our official family photos too!
The Pierse Family
Godmother Aunt Brooke & Godfather Uncle Keith

and Uncle Ben & Aunt Baylee...and finally...because Uncle Sunidh deserves an appearance on the blog...

This last weekend our Luci was baptized and we were VERY blessed with the arrival of almost all of the immediate/extended family for the event. All of Luci's grandparents, her Aunt Brooke & Uncle Sunidh, Uncle Ben & Aunt Baylee were here, as well as her Uncle Keith & Aunt Lee. We missed her Uncle Scott, Aunt Dana & Cousin Kylie! Luci is very blessed to have Aunt Brooke as her Godmother & Uncle Keith as her Godfather. Luci slept through almost the entire service and didn't even wake up as the water was poured on her head 3 times!

Everyone arrived on Friday and I think both Luci and I were very excited but a bit overwhelmed!! I have gotten very used to being Luci's primary care giver and it took both Luci & me a few days for me to learn to share....however by Sunday she (and I ;) would happily let anyone hold her. She did really well adapting to a house full of people who love her and this morning she kind of looked at me as if to say, "where did all of the fun people that love us go?" It was AMAZING to have everyone here & I'm not ashamed to admit there were a few tears shed after everyone had gone.

While the weekend was a bit crazy (I'm not great at cooking for 12), I've been doing some serious reflecting on childhood & family this week. I look back on my childhood so fondly now that it surprises me...growing up with Grandma & Grandpa Rosonke across the street & Grandma & Grandpa Halvorson just a few miles away was such a gift. I loved playing with my cousins all of the time and always having Grandmas & Grandpas around. I've not spent much time pondering my childhood over the years and now that I am, I'm just sort of amazed at all of the wonderful, warm fuzzy memories I have. Although I'll be the first to admit that I don't quite look back on adolescence & the teenage years with the same fondness...I just remember wanting to get the heck out of small town Iowa. And those years were fun too, but in a different way...those years were made special by all of my girlfriends. Childhood was made special by sisters & brother & cousins & grandparents. And now I'm longing for a similar childhood for Luci, although I know it is just not possible. Sure she'll have a sister &/or brother (God willing), but The Pierses aren't moving to New Hampton, and The Rosonkes aren't moving to Edinburgh, and this Pierse family isn't moving to either location. The chances of Brooke, Ben, Baylee & us living even within driving distance of one another is a long shot. So what can we do about this? Clay & I made a promise to each other that we'd take full advantage of the travel opportunities presented by his job. So while I might be a homebody, expect to see us hitting the road soon...

3 Months!

3 months...I'm a giant in my 9M pants and my 6-12M onesie!

My first time ever in a hood!! I smiled when the cool breeze blew across my face for the first time...move back up north mom & dad!!
3 months tummy time shot
3 months in the Bumbo!! Thanks for all of the heads up re: the Bumbo. We never leave her in it unattended, and certainly never put her in it on an elevated surface. We appreciate all of the concern!!

I'm behind on posts...

Here is one I started last week! It was called "New Toys"!

Well I finally understand how it can be SO easy & tempting to spoil your child with lots of toys. First of all, she's getting bored with the old ones. How do I know? Independent play was getting shorter & shorter...sitting and staring at the wall or looking at the duck just isn't keeping her occupied anymore. While I was getting my hair cut last week she had a blast playing with Clara's Felix the Firefly...per Amanda she was determined to get Mr. Felix up to her mouth. And I decided she might be tiring of the lovely bird, ladybug and duck which had been her whole toy world up until then. Well...I take that back. She also has cow & pig wrist rattles. But anyway, it made me realize she has very few toys. Given her constant desire to bring things up to her mouth with her new-found yet not 100% controlled hands, I decided it was time for some new motivation. She now owns a monkey with long legs for her to grab onto, and a monkey with big ears that have lots of rings & things to grab on. More to grab onto = easier trip to the mouth! She gets SO frustrated with her physical limitations...you can see and hear the frustration in her voice.

And to update...thanks to Aunt Brooke, Luci now has TONS of toys to keep her busy! She stares at her friend Mallory the Monkey for like 30 minutes!! Thanks Aunt Brooke!

From Frumpy to Fresh

Swinging that ladybug all over!
The furrowed brow...she doesn't love the camera. She really is a very smiley baby...I just never capture it on film!
Pondering her next move...
Going for the duck!
Here she's done with the duck & is about ready to cry...

Well today I'm sportin my new 'do...thus the title of this post...from frumpy to fresh. Sportin it at home for Luci only though, as we had near record temp's here today deep in the heart of Texas. Still in the mid 90's as we near the end of October...ick. I am in desperate need of a cool breeze! But, unlike my hair, I can't control the weather. So back to my hair. I chopped it all into a Katie Holmes-ish bob...and I love it!! Hopefully Clay will like it too...he's off acting as LCDR Pierse this week (soon to be just CDR Pierse ;) and won't be back until late Sunday. We miss him!!

Miss Luci hung out with our dear friends Amanda and Clara while I got my hair done yesterday...she did fine, but really made Amanda work for it. Sounds like the first hour she was pretty fussy & unhappy but then came around after a nap in Amanda's arms. Thanks again Amanda. For those of you who would like to check out the often talked about Lawrence Family here is their blog address: http://laurel-tree.blogspot.com/. Amanda was the original blogger...I'm just a copy cat!

Miss Luci is doing just fine at 12 weeks and 1 day. I wonder when I'll lose track of the weeks? She is getting SUPER strong, and for two days in a row now has kept her head level with her back while being pulled to the upright seated position. She's scootin all over the place on her back, but when on her tummy she still pretty content just to hang out. She spends much of her day batting at toys and picking them up, but only to drop them before they make it to her mouth. I have a feeling we'll be needing some mouth friendly toys very soon!