So Really... Where have we been?

My goodness! I can't believe so much time has passed since my last post. I think this was the longest lull since I created the blog! I hope I didn't loose all my followers! Obviously, we have been busy. I guess far too busy for the blogging world. Since the last time I wrote we have been to Iowa and school has started for me!

Iowa

We had such a nice time in Iowa. It was our version of a family vacation! We spent four days and we wanted to stay for more! Saturday, the women (Mom, Laura, Brooke, Mckenna, and I) went to the Farmer's Market downtown Des Moines. I love the Farmer's market! We are not fresh produce people, although I would like to be, so I don't go for the produce! I love the sights, smells and sounds of the Farmer's Market. I brought my camera to take some pictures but it was SO busy and I didn't get a chance to document our visit! After the Farmer's Market we all headed out to the Lake. Mckenna did some swimming in the purple pool Papa Ken bought for her (and Brooke) and some napping. The rest of the time was spent soaking up some rays, visiting the beach and boating! Here are some pictures to highlight the weekend.

Swimming in the pool! 

Auntie Lala and Cousin Brooke

It was a scorcher and Mckenna did a little hanging out in the diaper!

Swinging with Papa Ken and Grandma Neanie

Tasting Grass

Climbing Hills with Papa Ken

Riding in the boat!

 Playing in the sand!

I seriously took over 100 pictures that weekend! I couldn't believe it when I was downloading them onto the computer! Needless to say I could have posted a TON more but I am sure I have lost your interest already! :)

School is good! Mckenna is still adjusting to Mommy going to work. Most mornings I have to carry her around the house because she won't let me put her down before it is time to go! We have established a morning routine that I cherish everyday! I wake Matt and Mckenna up. I get Mckenna dressed. We hang out and read books or pack lunches until daddy is ready. When Matt is ready to go I walk them out to the car and strap Mckenna in then I give smooches to both and they are on their way!

One last family picture to wrap this LONG post up!

Ok... Maybe one more!

Love from the Lucas's!

Remodel in the Lucas House

I am in love with....

Mckenna, of course! 

But really, we had a little remodel go on in our living room last week and I am in love with it! Here are a couple of pictures of it in progress...

And this is how it looks now....

It looks so nice! It really brightens up the room. I also rearranged the furniture this weekend and it looks like a whole new living room! I am in LOVE! 

Not much to report about this weekend. Saturday we did multiple things around the house and Sunday Matt went to a Cardinals game. Mckenna is sprouting her second bottom tooth and is investigating everything around her. It is so much fun to watch her learn how to do things. Tonight Matt and I were eating at the table and she was walking around playing. She figured out that if she went over the bottom rung of the front of the chair she could get to the middle. Once she got to the middle of the chair she figured out she had to go under the rung on the other side to get out. HOW SMART. Maybe my description doesn't really do this ingenious trick justice but we were both very surprised to see her get out without crying for help! Well, that is all for tonight. I had a workshop today and my brain is mush. I will leave you with a couple of pictures of Mckenna in her favorite spot, in front of the NEW window! 

And yes, for all of you worry warts, Mckenna is only on the window sill with adult supervision. She can't get up there on her own! :) I know you all too well! 

Love from the Lucas's!

10 Months!

I know she is a bit cross-eyed but I couldn't get her to give me a good smile!

Happy 10 month birthday to my little girl! I can't believe that it has been 10 months already. When I said something to Matt today he said "a year ago today, even though we were 2 months away from having her, I was so anxious to have her." and I agree! Many times when I think about Mckenna I think about the time we have had her to hold, hug, and kiss. I forget about the time when she was in my tummy! I actually think this time last year I was putting things away from the wonderful shower Charlene and Kelly had for me! :)

Well, in 10 months Mckenna has learned to... roll, crawl, climb, bend over, squat down, wave, clap, say 'dada' and 'mama' and 'hi', play with toys, play with the puppies, get almost anything she wants from her daddy, tell me in her own way when she is hungry or tired... oh and so much more... I know I am missing a ton of things! I really have no clue how much she weighs or how much taller she has gotten. I do know she is still wearing 6-9 months and 9 months clothing. She does wear 12 month p.j's because she is getting longer. Now that she is walking almost 100% of the time I can dress her up in her cute dresses and I.love.it!!!!! Her hair is growing so much. It is nice and filled in and is creeping down her neck! (see the picture below!)

We are so proud of everything she can do! As always we are saying "we love this stage", so I guess that tells us that we are LOVING parenthood!

Love from the Lucas's!

A Weekend Apart

Last weekend Matt and I packed up and went to Kansas City. Matt was an usher in a college friend's wedding. We stayed downtown Kansas City and enjoyed the West Port area as well as the Power and Lights district. The wedding was beautiful and we had a lot of fun.

 

While we were gone Mckenna stayed with Grandpa and Grandma Lucas. They had a very eventful weekend. Grocery shopping, garage sales, and Incredible Pizza with Aunt Kelly and her boyfriend Brian. Mckenna had a good time and she has been sleeping A LOT to recover from the busy weekend. 

Just Call Me a Toddler!

Well, it is official, Mckenna is a walker. Does that make her a toddler? She doesn't spend her time crawling around anymore, she walks!

Mckenna is also into EVERYTHING! The drawers, the refrigerator anything she can get to! I know, this is all part of walking. I don't really find it a burden (yet), I really think it is cute! So here are a few things she has been up to! 

She is also starting to climb. A trick she picked up from her friend Addison a couple of weekends ago.

She did some light reading with Dillan this week. Five Little Monkeys Jumpin on the Bed!

 And some hanging out with Daddy!

 Mckenna has one tooth! It is her front, bottom right! I think she is working on the front, left tooth now because as I type this I can hear the little squeak of her chewing on something! :) We are still having so much fun at home together. I have three more weeks left until school starts again. :( I am thinking I am going to have some Mommy withdrawal when I have to go back!

Love from the Lucas's!

Mckenna Walks!!!

Mckenna has been taking baby steeps for about a week, mostly walking from the chair to the couch. She would take steps mainly when we were not around. Matt says it is because she doesn't trust that we will stay stationary. Tonight we were hanging outside with Matt's family and she stood up and started waking!!! Enjoy the video!  

Summer FUN!

I have been LOVING my time off with Mckenna. We have been having so, so, so much fun. I don't even want to think about going back to school. So here are the highlights from this week...

Toys, Toys, Toys... This is what our house looks like from 6:30 A.M. to 7:30 P.M.

Books, Mckenna will show you all the uses for a book or two...

Mckenna uses them to slide on...

And to chew on...

And I promise we read them too! :)

T.P, Yes I am talking about toilet paper! Mckenna discovered what the toilet paper roll does! 

Fun with Dillan... Dillan and Mckenna had a good time with these recycled frozen yogurt tubs!

Some more visitors in the Lou! Angela, Jeremy and Addison came down for the weekend. We went to the zoo, out for pizza and swam in our backyard pool on Saturday. Sunday morning Angela was nice and got up with Mckenna and let me sleep in! Oh, it was so nice. Mckenna and I had so much fun with them!

I think I have covered it all! I can't believe how much we can do in a week! I have taken 209 pictures in July already! :)

Have a great week! 

Love from the Lucas's!