A week without Daddy

This past week (Sunday-Friday) Mike went with the youth group to summer camp down in Florida. It's the 1st time we've really been apart as a family since Lexi was born. My mom was able to come stay with us while he was away. It was so much fun for her to have time w/Lexi and not have to share her. I'm so happy that both of the grandma's have been able to do this now & hopefully it will continue!! We had lots of fun with grandma, but it was VERY good to have Daddy back home on Friday! Lexi was a very happy little girl that evening!!

In Daddy's office the Sunday he was getting ready to leave. She was happy cuz it was her lunch time. :)

Lexi is looking into a mirror in these next 2 pictures. She absolutely loves looking at this other baby in the mirror. Too funny!

1st day with Grandma! I didn't take very many pictures, but just know Lexi didn't go without love while dad was gone.

Lexi got to meet more new people! This is her cousin Luke. He is around a month or 6 weeks older than Lexi.

I was hoping when she saw him sit up it would make her want to as well. Not so much. I guess that only worked the 1st time, w/Madison. Luke is moving around like crazy. He must have really liked Lexi, because he was trying to eat her toes at one point. :) I wish we lived closer so we could get them together more!

Lexi's hair has been growing a lot. While Daddy was gone we realized it was long enough to put a bow in. Pretty exciting stuff! I never realized a little piece or ribbon could make her look any cuter than she already does, but wow. She is such a little doll.

Daddy got home just in time for the 4th of July! We were able to spend the afternoon/evening with our friends, Brian & Cristy Tice. In about 6 more weeks, Lexi will have a new friend!! We are so excited to meet Brian & Cristy's little girl!

Pretty baby girl!

She loves her daddy so much!!

Next Friday, Lexi & I are going to Iowa for two weeks while Daddy goes on a missions trip to Bonaire. It's going to be very difficult to be away from him that long. Please pray for our little family as we deal w/being apart for so long. It's pretty hard on the mom to see her baby girl looking around for daddy and not be able to explain why he is gone. We are thrilled Mike is able to go on this trip & use his gifts to serve the Lord. We'll just miss him an awful lot while he is gone!

Sitting Up!?!?!!

Little Miss Lexi is at it again. The past week or so we've been working with her, trying to get her to sit-up. I was figuring this would be a nice, long process. Well, turns out that it might not be. Tonight was Family Night at church. (side note- it was BLAZING hot. Lexi was pretty good and didn't fuss too much. The things we put here through...) Anyways- Mike decided to sit her down by her friend Madison. Madison is a few months older than Lexi and was sitting down eating her crackers. Well, we fully expected Lexi to fall right on over, but she didn't. She sat there with Madison for a couple minutes. Mike & I were pretty shocked. Maybe she was trying to fit in or felt some peer pressure, who knows. :) Either way- she did it. I guess we'll see how things go from here. I'm not getting my hopes up too high, but you just never know... right??!?

Big Girl!!!

Father's Day & Squash

Two very big things have occured in our home recently. The 1st was Mike's 1st father's day. We had a weekend celebration, since daddy has to be at church early on Sunday mornings. Lexi couldn't wait to give daddy her present, so she gave it to him on Friday when he got home from work. It's a little poster of pictures of her & dad.

My present to Mike was going to a movie on Saturday. We haven't been to a movie theatre since the day before Lexi was born. Mark & Cindy came & babysat and we saw Up in 3-D. It was a great movie!

Daddy & Lexi on Father's Day

The second big thing around here... Lexi has started on baby food!! The 1st food she ate was squash. She loves it! The 1st time, we got a couple funny faces. It only took a few bites for her to get into it. Then she couldn't get it in her mouth fast enough.

What??? I'm done??? Please give me more!

We just tried green beans for the 1st time today. Her 1st face was hilarious, but she really loved them. I think she liked it more than squash. We are figuring out that our daughter loves to eat. Period. HA! I hope that it stays that way and we don't have to fight her to eat in the future.

Cute Sleeping Baby

These are just a couple pictures from today. Last week Lexi started rolling over in bed, back to tummy. And now she really enjoys sleeping on her tummy. The 1st night she did, Mike & I were a littler nervous. I was reassured by our doctor's nurse that if she can roll over, she has enough strength to keep her head from being buried in the bed. It's one of the cutest things to walk in and see!

She has also started eating baby food! We started squash on Saturday. Pictures of that will be coming soon!

Iowa, Iowa, Iowa

Lexi has made her second trip to Iowa. Once again, she did amazing on the flight there & back. The flight to Kansas City was pretty awful. I actually felt sick when we got off the plane, so I can't imagine how she must have felt. She is a trooper! Mike's parents picked us up at the airport and we headed straight to some cabins at Lake Rathbun. It was us, Jeremy & Christie & the kids & Papa & Grandma. It was lots of fun!

Just resting after a big day of traveling

Grandma Nean w/her grandkids!

Maddie, Parker & Lexi

On Friday, Lexi went swimming for the 1st time! Ok, maybe not "swimming", but she did get her feet wet. She looked super cute in her swimsuit!!

Heading over to the pool.

Not too sure what to make of the water. She never cried, but never really smiled either.

We'll try again when she understands what's going on.

Drying off/snuggling with Grandma.

On Saturday we spent the day w/my family. I think Lexi is starting to remember both of her grandparents now. She gave both of them great reactions when she saw them! Here she is w/Papa Steve.

She got to play w/all of her cousins!

She also got lots of kisses from all her couins. Probably the most from Natalie though. She sure does love Lexi. It's so sweet!!!

And she sure is cute! :)

Cereal time!

The reason for this trip was the 50th wedding anniversary party for Mike's grandparents. 50 years... that is incredible!! I cannot wait to say I have been married to Mike for that many years! Of course, we didn't get our camera out at the party. :( Lexi looked beautiful in her dress though. And she did awesome at the party. She is slowly getting better in settings like that.

Here is one of the last pictures from our trip. It was Sunday night... and no, Parker isn't making her cry. She was already not happy when we sat her down. Oh well... we tried.

So there is that trip. Lexi & I will be going back to Iowa for two weeks in July. Mike will be going on his missions trip to Bonaire and I didn't really feel like being alone for two weeks. It will be so much fun to be able to spend more time w/family & not feel so rushed! We can't wait!!

May/June

Lexi LOVES to chew on just about anything these days. It's kinda cute & kinda gross. Her socks are usually soaking wet. Who knows... teeth may be in our future.

So flexible

Singing with Daddy!

Not sure why, but I love pictures of Lexi during bath time.

Just taking it easy.