Cutie Pie Cousins

It has been so much fun getting to go through this phase of my life with my sister.  I love that Aubrey and Trace will be so close in age, and will have the good fortune of growing up together.  Thankfully, they have gotten to hang out a little this summer-- not enough, of course.  They really seem to enjoy each other's company.  It's a lot of fun to sit back and observe their little personalities and interactions!

Their first slumber party-- Trace 10 weeks; Aubrey 16 weeks

Trace was too cool for this photo shoot.

Aubrey girl surely seemed to enjoy it, though.  She was very smiley!

They are so sweet!  They hold hands and tell each other "secrets" all the time!

Trace 7 weeks; Aubrey 13 weeks- eating dinner at the Lodge

Precious babies- Trace 3 months; Aubrey 5 months

All Granna and Paw-Paw's grandbabies- Aubrey isn't excited to share the spotlight.

Just the silly boys!

They really do love each other!

They enjoy hanging out... can't you tell?

What an amazing 3 months it has been...

The last 3 months have been a complete whirlwind.  First, there was the overwhelming exhaustion. Then, the dread of going back to work and the adjustment of being a working momma.  And the last phase has been one of unspeakable joy as we have finally seemed to "settle in" to being parents and been blessed to sit back and watch this incredible little personality emerge!  His "fourth trimester" is officially over, and I am convinced that we have the happiest, sweetest-spirited boy in the whole world.  It is surreal.

This month, he lost a LOT of his hair, which (we jokingly admitted) makes him look even more like his daddy.  They even bald in the same pattern ;)

He also discovered his favorite toy, the rainforest exersaucer in phase 2 (thanks Aunt Sandy, George, Jason and Traci!).  He absolutely ADORES this toy.  Once upon a time, I didn't want to have anything "loud" like this in my house.  I am so glad that Sara K. convinced me that he would appreciate if I got over my aversion to brightly colored toys!

We decided to wait until next year to try fireworks. So this Fourth of July, we were pretty chill.  As in, we took a 3 hours nap all together after Daddy's triathlon.  Then, we had a low-key cookout with Granna and Paw Paw.  Aunt Sandy came over to see me too! 

He and Daddy are BIG buds this month.  They are mommy's super heroes... two peas in a pod.  I have been insanely jealous that daddy has gotten to stay home a lot with this little booger this summer.

Trace loves crowds of people and lots of things going on.  He tends to just chill, though.  He doesn't get loud or try to get attention (maybe it's because he usually gets a lot of it anyway without working too hard for it!) He just enjoys watching people.

When it's just a small crowd of his favorite people-- he is all smiles. 

Trace has enjoyed  bath time for a while now, but as it has become more of our routine... he cannot get enough of it.  He splashes around like crazy-- effectively soaking me and dad.  We are still bathing him in his whale bathtub in the sink.  Not sure how much longer that will get to last!  Daddy and I both do bath time, and it's the beginning of "Naked Spa Baby Time"-- which comes with it's own special song and dance (one of many new tunes around here).  He loves it! But it does make him sleepy.  Then, we move to the more solemn part of naked spa baby time-- the slow down, where we sing "Twinkle Twinkle" to our baby massage with lotion.  We put on our PJs and tell the room goodnight.  Then, we go to mom and dad's room (no judgement) and read our bedtime story and get our bedtime feeding all snuggled up to mama.  Then, we say our prayers (usually over a sleeping baby by this point) and put him to bed.  The sleep sheep plays us some soothing rain songs.  Usually, he goes to bed around 7:30-8, and he wakes up around 3:30, but goes right back down after he is fed til almost 6 usually.  I LOVE that we have finally gotten into a good nighttime routine.  It took a while, but he is doing really well with it.

These are some of my favorite photos leading up to 3 months....

Memorial Day photo shoot with his cousins-- he was just too cool.

He used to make that face all the time!!  So cute.

Our first Mother's Day

Very special day!! And maybe 1 of 3 times he has worn shoes!!

He has always loved his bed!

"What do you mean 'I'm out of milk?"

I am so thankful for this precious little boy.  Things just keep getting better and better!! During Trace's 3rd month (on July 1st), I was approved to move to a reduced workweek at my job.  I cannot tell you what a HUGE change it has made already.  I feel like I can be more productive at work because I am not feeling as guilty for being away from him.  Just getting to wake up with him 2 extra days a week has made an enormous difference in my attitude and mental state!  I am SO blessed and thankful!

Other than the fact that time is going by WAY too quickly for my liking... I couldn't ask for anything more.

3 weeks already?!

Trace (with mohawk) and his Daddy

My husband has a great appreciation of music, and he got me hooked on Wayne several years ago.  I CANNOT stop singing their song, "Slow Down" when I look at our little guy...  Especially the chorus...

Pull back the reins and slow this mother down, I'm falling off 

The faster you move the closer to the end And there's a lot that I haven't done

 
 (because let's be honest... those are really the only words I know anyway. Generally speaking, unless I have sung it on stage at some point in my life.. I probably make up the rest of the lyrics!)


Has it seriously been 3 weeks since my life completely changed forever?!  I can't believe how fast time has flown!

3 quick observations from the first 3 weeks from this sleep-deprived first-timer:


First of all... just want to say THANK YOU to our amazing friends and family!  We have an incredible support system.  I do know how good we've got it. I can't thank you enough for bringing food, calling/texting to check up on us... and most importantly... praying for us in the past few weeks.  My mom has been an absolute God-send in every way..especially coming over to watch Trace and let me sleep a little during the day.  God has been SO good to us!  We are blessed to have each one of you in our lives... thank you for investing in us and showing us God's love!

Trace loves his Granna

2nd- I'm convinced that babies only poop in clean diapers :) And the importance of pee-pee teepees cannot be overstated!  I have been peed on countless times... once in my mouth. All of this could have been prevented if I didn't get cocky and think I could make it quick enough to not need the teepee.   Just use it.  Regardless.  Trust me!


3rd- Life really does change in an instant. Priorities shift.  Entire lifestyles re-focus.  It is unbelievable and indescribable. No matter how frequently you hear this mantra, you really won't understand it until you experience it.

I'm  also writing to share some pictures.  I'm in LOVE with all of the photos that Amber Stricklin took when he was 10 days old.  He has already changed so much.  I hope you enjoy the photos of my handsome little stud muffin (who kind of favors a wrinkly old man).

We have a happy, healthy 3 week old.  He is eating ALL the time-- very hungry, growing boy!  He also sleeps a lot-- as long as someone is holding him ;)...which truthfully, I'm more than happy to oblige. He is a very "active" sleeper-- imagine that, he is my child, after all!  We think he might be dealing with some reflux issues-- a lot of grunting and gagging... poor baby.  Even with the pain he seems to be dealing with-- He is SO snuggly and sweet-- such a good baby, who rarely cries. He is sort of getting over the extreme nocturnal nature he was displaying for the past few weeks. (Praise Jesus!) He is dealing with some baby acne right now, sadly, but apparently that just means his liver is working well... and the breast milk is too!  He already holds his head WAY up for long periods of time, and the little stinker rolls over to his side just about any chance he gets-- he's NOT a fan of laying on his back.

Trace Parker's first Easter- 3 weeks/2 days

Time is going by WAAAY too fast for this momma. He is already too long for some of his newborn clothes, and his face is starting to fill out a little, along with his belly.  He's still got some skinny arms and bird legs, though (which puts him in a very awkward sizing stage!) :) Your prayers are appreciated as I have to leave this munchkin to go back to work in just 3 short weeks :*(  I am not sure how that's even possible at the moment, and my heart is breaking just thinking about it!

Week 1

Week 2

Thanks again for all of your love and support! 

Something in the water

It has been so much fun being pregnant with several of my friends and my sister! What a blessing to share this exciting time in our lives together... to have someone to celebrate and commiserate with! S My sister and Candice were originally 6 weeks ahead of us on due dates.  Amberly is 6 weeks behind me, and Jenna is 10 weeks behind me.  Erin is about 20 weeks behind me.  And we have recently found out that Anna and Cate are pregnant too!  So yes... I am pretty much surrounded by pregnant people.  There is something in the water!

It's also made for some really fun photos like our Christmas maternity sister photo shoot.  We had planned to get some pictures made from a professional photographer before Sissy was put on bed rest.  We weren't able to get our official photo shoot done, but we had a pretty good fill in with my mom... too bad we were really rushed that day!

I am up for opening this gift early like Sissy did, by the way.  It's only fair, after all :)

Loved these adorable PJs

Our traditional "Sissy Hug" picture was a little more difficult this year with Trace and Aubrey wanting in on the action.

Here we are at Candice's Shower

Easton is ready to meet his little buddy, Trace!

Amberly and Jenna helped host my friends shower!

We added one belly to the bunch at Amberly's shower!

Can't wait for all these babies to get to know each other!

 I'm so excited that Trace Parker will have friends to grow up with.  If they turn out to be half as good of friends as these girls have been to me... he will be one very lucky boy!

My precious baby niece

Aubrey Faith Ladner graced the world with her presence on January 15th at 4:53 p.m. I am so grateful that I was able to be in the delivery room. It was an amazing experience to be able to watch her take her first breath.  There really aren't words to describe that miracle!I feel more prepared for labor now,and even more anxious to meet our little man.  Hopefully, ours will go just as smoothly!

Sissy finally got her girl!  My sister is SUCH a girl mom, and she desperately wanted to have a baby girl!  We are all so excited that Aubrey Faith has arrived safe and sound, and she is just beautiful.  These pictures don't really do her justice.

If you want to learn more about her arrival, or see more photos for that matter-- check out my sister's blog.

I've kidded my sister that I have about 300 pictures of Andrew from weeks 1-3, but I basically have had to scavenge these few from her blog!  I guess it's a 2nd child thing... or maybe she's busy being a mom to 2 kiddos now, and can't send as many pictures.  Either way... the following adorable pictures are not in any sort of order.  They are just some of my faves from the beautiful Aubrey Faith.

I could just eat those cheeks!!

Obviously, I love this one.  In case you are wondering... I'm the "Auntie" :)

 Here's a picture of her door hangers I made for the hospital.  I love making cute little girl stuff.  So fun for our little princess!

 This is our first picture together.  The first time I got to hold her, Trace was so excited! I think he knew it was his big cousin, and he was kicking like crazy... effectively giving Aubrey a baby back massage!

 This might be my favorite photo ever taken.  It's so precious!  Her newborn pictures were all pretty terrific, but this one takes the cake.

 My sister married into a VERY big Disney family.  This little Minnie is just adorable!

 That was the bonnet my sister and I wore home from the hospital. 

 Such a little angel baby!

 LOVE!

 My sister was so concerned about her baby acne, that's why she says there aren't many pictures from these weeks. I think she's ridiculous.  Nothing could take away the cuteness of this child!  Baby acne is just a sign of great breast milk and effective hormones :)  I love her little first Valentine's Day outfit.

 War Eagle, Baby Girl!

Such a sweet shot with her awesome big brother! It's hard to imagine loving anybody more than I love these two kiddos.