Spring!

Happy Spring! With the warmer weather and growing plants we have spent most weekends outside working. Two weekends ago Matt and his dad put up a shed in our backyard. It was quite the project and didn't go up as quickly as they anticipated it would but their hard work paid off.  It looks very nice in the corner where grass won't grow! You will have to take my word for it though because I still haven't taken a picture of it complete!

Since Mckenna wanted to be outside so badly and she was pestering the boys, Charlene decided to take her to play at her house. Before they left they planted a few flowers in my hanging pots though. Notice they are using a kitchen spoon... I couldn't find the hand spade in Matt's super clean garage, so we improvised! :)

Kelly came home that weekend also and we celebrated her birthday. We went out for dinner and then had ice cream cake at home. Mckenna couldn't wait for the cake, she walked around saying "cake" over and over again! She couldn't resist the temptation any more and stuck her finger in the icing while we were trying to get her to take a picture with Aunt Kelly!

Last weekend was pretty low key. Matt and Mckenna helped his parents move some things out of Grandma Tremmel's condo and I had my hair done! Sunday Matt helped his dad put up a shed in his backyard. Mckenna and I registered at Babies 'R' Us, shopped a little and napped a little! It was a much needed slow down.

Last night we took Mckenna to see the Easter Bunny. She did ok at first, petting the bunny's ear and saying hi. As soon as I tried to put her on his lap she got scared. So, I sat her on my lap and leaned way out of the picture. You can see that she is very unsure of the situation!

We will be in Iowa this weekend for Brooke's 1st Birthday and Easter!

Love from the Lucas Family!

Changes

The weather is changing. I don't think we have a high below the 60's in the forecast for the next 10 days! This is something to celebrate. This means Kenna can get "outsi" at least once a day! This time of year is hard to dress her for, it is almost like she needs one outfit for the morning and one for the afternoon. Saturday and Sunday we spent the majority of the day outside. Kenna and Mom, or I shall say Mom, picked up the gumballs in the back yard while Matt and I cleaned the garage out and Dad tore trim off the walls and painted. Sunday while Dad and Matt were putting up trim in the house we were outside enjoying the sunshine and the water table. Kenna had a great time playing will all of her outside toys!

Sitting with her puppy while Nini watches over!

Lovin' the water table!

Bawoon...

So happy for good weather!

Our home is changing! We are so lucky to have such great parents! They are helping us improve our home even more. This weekend the kitchen and living room were on the to-do list. There is still some work to be done, since we are getting new carpet at some point and time. But for now, what is done is beautiful! I can't believe how much a couple coats of paint and new trim can change the looks! Dad put in an incredible amount of work this weekend and we are so happy with the results!

BEFORE

Hard at work taking down the hardware and trim!

Thinking about paining...

AFTER

The new trim!

My beautiful kitchen!

The new paint!

The sports we watch around the house have changed, it's Cardinals season! Although, the Cards aren't looking good so far this year we are still rooting them on! I think baseball has been on the TV the last 8 days! We had John and Charlene over for the opening day. We had fun despite their loss. 

Mckenna is changing every day! She is beginning to understand when she has to go potty. She will come to us and tell us "potty" as she is pulling up on her shirt. We don't deny her the chance to try, although most the time she doesn't go. She has gone pee-pee on the potty twice and last night she went poop! We are not pushing her, just encouraging her. I wasn't expecting this until the end of the summer but she has expressed the interest so I guess we will go with it!

Another, big change and a sad one too. Grandma Tremmel passed away on Monday. She has been battling various things and has been in the hospital for the last 3 weeks or so. She will really be missed, as many of you know she attended all of our special events and Mckenna got to see her almost every week. Here are some precious moments with Grandma Tremmel...

Just a few days old with Great Grandma Tremmel

Christmas with Great Grandma Tremmel and Matt

This is definitely a season of change. Love from the Lucas family!

Spring Break and 18 Month Check Up

Mckenna and I had a great Spring Break. We spent the first half of break in Iowa and the second half at home. It was so nice to spend an extended amount of time with everyone! Sadly I didn't get my camera out once but Mom and Laura got some pretty good pictures of Brooke and Mckenna. I will have to get them from Mom to share. Mckenna and Brooke got in a lot of playing time. They are so fun to watch! Mckenna taught Brooke how to climb up the stairs (sorry Laura and Chris). Their other favorite game was peek-a-boo standing behind the doll house.

When we returned home Mckenna and I did some spring cleaning and closet rearranging. Ok, Ok I did the work Mckenna just looked for things to get in to! The weather sadly turned from 70-80 degree days to cold just as we returned, so we didn't get much time to go "outsi". This broke Mckenna's heart, she LOVES to play outside! Saturday John and Charlene dropped off a new toy... a water table. Mckenna was so excited to play with it but sadly it looked like this...
So we let her play with the water table in the house! She LOVED it! I don't know if it was because of the water or if it was because she got to run around the house in her diaper but she was so happy!

Later in the afternoon John and Charlene came back over for some "snow b'que" as Matt called it. While he did the grilling Mckenna, Grandma and Grandpa did the playing... in the snow that is!

Daddy did get in on some of the snowball making action!

Making a mini-snowman with Grandma

Eating the snow... her favorite thing to do!

Mckenna had her 18 month check up on Tuesday. She is 19lbs 14oz, in the 5th percentile for weight and 32 inches tall, the 75th percentile for height. She had to bring her baby in the stroller to the appointment and the Dr. had to check the baby too! Mckenna didn't cry the entire time she was in the room this time and even nervously wanted a hug from Dr. Dorfman. I think this made Dr. Dorfman really happy, I was so proud of her! Mckenna has many words at this point, sometime I need to really sit down and try to figure out how many words she really has. She can count to five along with us, not independently, but I think we are close! Yesterday she surprised Grandma Charlene by coming to her and saying "potty", insisting she sit on the potty. She didn't go, but I guess this is one step in the right direction. I have a couple of cute pictures from the doctor's office.... enjoy!

Pointing to the blue butterfly on the wall!

Touching the doctor's tools.

"Cheess" one of Mckenna's newest words!

Well, I think that sums it all up! Mom and Dad will be in town this weekend to help with some MORE home improvements! I will have pictures on Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday... or when I get to it next week!

LOVE from the Lucas Family!

It Has Been Too Long!

So, I still haven't posted the results of our ultrasound. It is not because we aren't excited, it is because life seems to go at a faster pace when you have a toddler! Well, I would like to introduce baby BOY Lucas to the blog.

This little boy is just like his big sister, he didn't want to show us his face! Every time Katie tried to get a picture of his face he put his arm right over it! The good news it that he looks great! He is a mover, didn't stop moving the whole ultrasound. He has every part he is supposed to have and his heart looks to be beating strongly! Matt and I can't get over how truly blessed we are to have a little girl and a little boy! Come on July!

We had a nice weekend last weekend. Unlike the weekend before, yeah, the one where we were supposed to go to the Alumni Games. Mckenna had a fever all weekend and I stayed home with her while Matt went to the games. He had a great time, and scored two goals!

Friday night we did some family shopping and grilled when we got home. Mckenna was so excited to spend some time "outsi"! Matt's Grandma Tremmel is in the hospital so we visited her Saturday morning after The Little Gym. Mckenna and I did some shopping after her long afternoon nap. Sunday was Nate-Nate's birthday. His birthday was at McDonald's so it was Mckenna's first time. She really enjoyed playing in the play place and her "sigh" chicken nuggets. All in all it was a good weekend!

I love this girl!

Grandma say "look at the fishes" and Mckenna says "what's that", to the lock on the cabinet

Thanks to Aunt Kelly for braving the play place with Mckenna! :)

Again, thank you Aunt Kelly! High up in the play place!

Mckenna I head to Iowa tomorrow for the first half of our Spring Break! We are looking forward to the trip but will miss the heck out of Daddy!

Love from the Lucas family!

We Love the Little Gym!!

For the past three weeks Mckenna and I have been attending The Little Gym. The Little Gym is a curriculum based gymnastics class that is intended for parent and child. They reinforce developmental milestones while the little ones have fun! The first week we went Mckenna spent most of her time soaking in the routine and the layout. By the fourth time (we went twice this week to make up for missing this Saturday) she knows the routine and is excited to get her bells in the beginning and end of class, she loves "play time" where they climb, swing and tumble on the equipment, and she is beginning to show off her exquisite vocabulary, saying "bubble" during bubble time and "OH NO" when the instructor forgot something. I love this time I have with Mckenna, it is a time when she can just be a kid and the word "no" is rarely used because everything is for her to use! Matt took a few "outside the window" shots last Saturday. (Don't pay any attention to me in any of the pictures!)

"Tickle the sky, tickle your toes, tuck your head and ROLL!"

Walking the balance beam!

Using the "cheese mat" to do a backwards roll

About to swing upside down on the rings

New "skill" for the week: a handstand on the bars

Sunday a terrible thunderstorm ripped through town and took my school's power with it. We herded the kids in the High School Gym on Monday for 3.5 hours and then sent them home. Tuesday the power was still out so we didn't have school. What a bonus day it was, the weather was beautiful, Mckenna and I went to The Little Gym for a make-up class, and went to the park when Matt got home! The extra bonus is that we don't have to make the day up!!!

I am going to leave you with a cute picture of Mckenna trying to ward off Daddy's prickly kisses! I can't say I blame her! :) The beard gets shaved after Matt shaves some ridiculous mustache for the Alumni Games at Mount Mercy this weekend!

Love from the Lucas Family!
P.S. We find out the sex of baby #2 on MONDAY!!!! That is if we don't have any shyness!

Beautiful Weather and Visits from Iowa!

We have had two very nice weekends here. Two weeks ago Mom and Dad came down to redo my kitchen back splash and counters. Dad painted the back splash on Friday night and Saturday morning. Saturday afternoon we went downtown to the Boat Show. Mckenna had, had enough with holding her down so we ate Olive Garden at the Lucas house! Sunday was the big day, Dad and Matt installed the new counter tops and the new sink! While they were working Mom, Mckenna and I went for a nice long walk, as the weather was beautiful. When we returned Mckenna played outside, stomping in the mud and eating the disgusting snow and ice. Oh, and she tried to help Papa and Matt too! Dad and Matt finished the counters around 6, we enjoyed pizza and the company of Matt's parents and the weekend was over. Just like that, in a flash! The kitchen looks so good, I still take two looks when I walk in the door!

Tasting the snow!

"Helping Papa and Daddy"

Sitting on a paint can, holding "baby" and watching Daddy and Papa!

Last weekend we had another dose of Iowa. Uncle Chris, Auntie "Ala" and Brooke came down for a visit! We had so much fun watching the girls "play" together. They would play next to each other but not really with each other. Mckenna has renamed Auntie Lala to "Ala"! :) Saturday night the adults got out of the house and went to the Mouse Races at John's Carpenter's Union. It was a lot of fun. Laura was the only lucky one. Winning 70% of the time, all the time! (That was her montra for the night) Sunday we had to say good-bye but not before we ate our traditional Stefanina's pizza.

"Playing together"

Silly Cousins!

Hugs!

After The Meade Family left on Sunday we spent some time outside. It was at least 70 degrees and we took advantage of it! Our original plan was to go to the park but it changed when Matt suggested we put up the play house. Matt and I cleaned off the deck and put the house together while Mckenna played on the slide. Once we got it together Mckenna had a ball playing with her doll, some rocks and the house. (Thanks Dad for bringing the house to us! It was totally worth it!)

Dropping a rock through the hole...

and looking to see where the rock went!

I couldn't end this extremely long post without sharing some of Mckenna's favorite words these days... "apple", "papa", "nieni"(Nini), "ryee"(Rylie), "outsi"(outside), "ala"(LaLa), "nigh, nigh(night, night)", "chareen" (Charlene) and "I Lo..."(I love...you). We truly love this little girl to pieces no matter how many times she tells us "no"  and throws temper tantrums because she doesn't get what she wants. We love hearing the new words she picks up everyday and fully enjoy every moment we have her all to ourselves!

Love from the Lucas Family!

MORE Snow in the Lou!

Well, it has been a icy, snowy week in St. Louis. We were all home Tuesday and Wednesday and today it is just Mckenna and me! We had some good times being stuck in the house together. Not much really to report but I thought I would share a video of Mckenna with you. I took the video this morning right after we woke up. You can tell that Mommy isn't thinking too clearly and Mckenna still has a case of bedhead! She isn't really a performer but she did pretty well this morning. I couldn't get her to address Patches or "moo" or say bye-bye but I think it still shows you some of her tricks, mainly eating with a spoon! After video taping her I let her watch, when I asked her to tell me what a cow says on the video she made the "moo" sound. Funny girl, like I said, not a performer!

Enjoy!


Love from the Lucas Family!