I know,

I'm biased. But, I think these pictures my friend Krista took (same talented chica that made that cool shower cake) of my kids turned out pretty cute! She got so many great shots. Hopefully one day I'll be able to be a pro at taking pictures like her!
Some of Ella's pics... mostly nudies, but we took a bunch with her in her blessing dress, too. (by the way, this little cutie is 4 weeks old today!!)

A few she got of Luke...

So, this last one I'm putting on here... I think he looks super old and big-kiddish. Kind of sad that when we do his hair he doesn't look like a baby at all anymore. We'll have to compare it one day to his 2nd grade school picture. Haha

Oh, and to say something on sort-of a different topic, I loved President Monson's talk on Sunday morning. He said, "If you are still in the process of raising children beware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly-cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear - all too soon. And that you will, to your surprise, miss them - profoundly." It's hard to imagine missing all the laundry piling up in our laundry room right now... and the huge mess in the living room! But, I'm sure one day I will. I love having these two little cuties around.

Love Creek

We went to Love Creek Apple Orchard on Saturday with friends and family, just like we did last year! It's always a great way to start October. Pumpkins, hay mazes, scarecrows, lots of tasty apple and pumpkin treats... so fun. Luke was excited to go on tractor rides (well, technically they are just hay rides behind a tractor, but that seemed to satisfy his tractor craze) and to hang out with his buddies. He and Lily had a blast running all over the place. It was Ella's first big day out, and she slept great through most of the festivities in her sling (which by the way, we are super excited that she will hang out in there... Luke always hated being stuck in things like that!)
We took a million pictures. Here are a few. Oh, and I really should have gotten a pic of all the adults together. Seems like we always just think to take pictures of the kids!
the fam...
Mr. tractor driver/ apple orchard tour guide... (zzzzz....)

Jake was thrilled to learn about apples... ;)

Mr. Luke on the tractor ride...

Luke and Lily were connected at the hip the whole time. Goofy cousins...

Cheese!

Yum! Pumpkin muffins.

Who knew so many kids would have so much fun playing on a big stump!??

The kids were playing on a swing display... they were for sale, and not supposed to be played on. (or the lady giving us crusty looks from behind a sales booth gave the impression that you should not swing on them. haha) These two had fun though :)

Drum Roll...

We just found out where Jake will be stationed next year... Nellis AFB in Las Vegas! It was our first choice for Jake's AEGD location so we're excited to get it! It's nice finally knowing where we'll be (and that it's a place we want to go! :) So weird thinking Jake will be graduating and we'll be moving at the end of this school year... time flies!

So, we've survived

a full week without extra help. I was scared last week for my mom to leave since she did so much while she was here, but so far we've made it. :)

My babies...

Everyone seems to be asking how Luke is doing with Ella around. I think this video clip shows his attitude toward the whole thing pretty well. Haha. He loves her... wants to kiss, touch, tickle, and hold her, and tries to help me do everything. BUT, he gets this crazy look in his eye sometimes and he'll hold his fist in her face like he wants to hit her (thank heaven he restrains himself) and is always in her space... wanting to touch her and rest his head on her... stuff like that. Pretty typical of a toddler I guess. I don't leave them unsupervised in the same room yet. Hopefully one day... :). I thought he would be a lot worse when we brought her home from the hospital... scream his jealous scream like he would in nursery when I would hold other kids. At least he doesn't do that when I hold her!

Like how Luke calls her Halle Ella Callie? At least he doesn't ask after he says all three names "what one?" anymore. He overheard a few too many baby name discussions before she was born, and has been calling her all three of those names since she came home from the hospital. Lately he says just Ella about half of the time though, so there is some improvement! Seems like Luke is in at least a small part of most pictures of Ella so far. If we're paying any attention to her, he wants to be there too!

Wide awake! (her brother probably took the bow out of her hair)
What a helper
We try on dresses and ridiculous hair accessories when Luke is taking his nap. Shh... don't tell him he's missing out on anything ;)

One week old!

This past week has gone by so fast! I'm loving every minute of this new little baby stage. It feels like I'm playing house. Ella is such an easy-going baby so far...I'm hoping she stays this way :) (Hopefully I'm not jinxing myself saying that!) I'm sure that once my mom has to go home the reality of having two kids to watch will set in, but for now it's just fun.
Just a few pics from the past week...

Luke loves his sister... still adjusting to sharing our time with her, but he's doing much better then I thought he would.

Ella hanging out on grandma's lap... she sleeps so much we don't have very many pics with her eyes open but here's one!

Luke was running through the house in his new Halloween undies grandma got for him... too funny! He loves them! haha.

To make a long story short...

We finally decided.
Baby's name is
ella morgan

She's Here!

Our new little princess!
Born 9/9/08
7 lbs 9 oz
20 1/2 inches long

more pictures and her name coming soon! :)

my little cutie

So, I fell asleep after lunch today watching Blues Clues with Luke. I woke up to him sitting on me and saying "I love you mama" over and over again. Cutie. He had never said that to me before. I'll take that as a wake up call anytime! :)

Countdown...

*Car seat cleaned and ready to go: check.
*Hospital pre-registration: check.
*Teeny tiny diapers, wipes, and other baby hygiene things: check.
*Clean house: check.
*Take El Ed 340 final: check.
*A few baby clothes washed and ready to be worn: check. (can't wash them all... what if the ultrasound tech was wrong and this baby is not really a baby girl after all?! haha. Always a thought...)
*Make some bows and headbands to make baby look like a baby girl (If she's bald, at least she will have a bow): check.
*Do a last round of grocery shopping: on today's agenda
My doc is inducing me on the 9th at 6 AM if our little cutie isn't here by then! So, less then a week to go! I've been having some contractions, so who knows... maybe she will be here sooner. Now if we could just decide on a name!

Random August Events...

Since it's almost September, I thought I'd upload some pics of a couple fun things we've done this month. First up... there's been a lot of cousin lovin' going on! Haha. Luke loves his cousins, and since Kristen is nice enough to babysit him while I go to my Dr. appointments, he gets to see them quite a bit lately and can't get enough!
Luke and Gunnar. They give hugs when they see each other. So cute.
Busy boys...

Lily's birthday was this past week so we went to Chuckie Cheese for her party. Cute 4 year old! Happy Birthday Lily! and, Happy Birthday to Kristen who had a birthday yesterday!

Luke has been quite the helper lately... always helping dad mow the grass and "helping" me in the kitchen or with laundry. Has to play a part in everything or he gets pretty ticked.

We went to Austin for our friend Kip's birthday party and hit the outlet mall on the way home last weekend. Fun day!

Luke couldn't get enough of Ryan and Jake squirting him with the squirt gun...

Cuties in the pool...

friends...

hanging out!

Jake and his buddies in a hot b-ball game :)

The Ferguson's have a tractor so Luke was in heaven. He kept telling me he had to "fix it" so he could ride it. Tractors are one of his favorite things lately. When we get bored sometimes we go for car rides to look for tractors. Luckily there are always a bunch within minutes of our house!