Congratulations Marathoners!

Congratulations to my older brother Jim, who ran the Country Music 1/2 marathon on Saturday. He finished in 2 hours flat. Great job Jim!

Also Congrats to some guys (and girl) in our Sunday School class who ran the full marathon. Wes, Michael, Mary and David. Good job guys!

Sunday Playtime

Sunday when we got home from church Luke and Paul were playing in the floor. Luke makes new noises everyday. He has started squealing when he is excited and babbling all the time. It seems as though he is more talkative at home than anywhere else. The whole time we were at the Troutt's Friday night he never babbled. So, here is a little video to show how happy he is!

Back to Work

Thursday was my first day back at work. I was sad to leave Luke but since he had been going to daycare all week I was a little better prepared. My first day back went well, it was as though I never left. It was nice to see everyone and try to get back in the groove of things. Luke is doing great at daycare. He seems so happy when I pick him up in the afternoons. It has been great to spend the weekend with him and I am already looking forward to Wednesday when I am off.

Friday night we went to the Troutt's for supper. Jim, Claudia and Lauren were there. Congrats to Jim on running the Country Music Half Marathon on Saturday!

Luke's Bike

In an earlier blog Kelly told you about Luke's new bike. Well we tried to get a picture of him on the bike, which was pretty difficult like any other picture with him. Here is what we got:

It's Softball Time...

This is Paul's third year to play on the church softball team. He loves it! They play doubleheaders every Tuesday at Two Rivers Park. Luke and I went to see him play tonight. He was so good and loved being outside. Miss Miranda and Miss Allison held him for awhile. He loves the attention. Unfortunately they lost both games. But in their defense they were playing last year's league champions. we plan to go to most of the games.

Daycare Monday

Well the day I had been dreading for almost 16 weeks came yesterday. It was Luke's first day to start daycare. Although Paul and I couldn't be happier with where he is staying it is still hard. He is going to Goodlettsville Church of the Nazarene which is about 3 minutes from our house. Paul said a prayer for the three of us which made he and I cry before we even left the house. We both went to drop him off his first day. We both cried again when we left him. I am sure he was thinking what is wrong with these crazy people. I made myself do some errands and not go back to get him until noon. Today I made it a little longer and picked him up at 2. I return to work Thursday so tomorrow I am going to leave him a full day. He seems to be doing great and really happy. He has babbled to me the whole way home both afternoons. That is really reassuring.

Just a Swinging....

Paul and I are constantly trying to find new ways to entertain Luke. He has seemed to tire of his Einstein lately so we got out a new toy for him. He is really too little for the jump n' go so we use it as a swing. He really seemed to like it. He would laugh and smile when I pushed him back and forth. Maybe this will keep him happy for awhile...

Pizzarama!

The Walker's - Mike, Michelle and Ashley

The Wickwire's and Bradley's

My sweet friend Katie.
Luke had fallen asleep by this point!

Saturday night our Sunday School class got together for a pizzarama. Just a cool way of saying we all met at a pizza place in Donelson and hung out for a while. Over the past year our class has had a population boom! There were 51 people there including all the kids. The youngest one was only a week old! Since there are so many children now it has really changed the dynamics of our class and what we do for "fun" now. We used to meet at 6:30 or so and linger until well in to the night. This past Saturday we met at 5 and everyone started heading out before 7! Just another way having children changes everything. We had a great time of fun and fellowship. I went to Tech with Mike and was so surprised when I saw him at church a couple of years ago. Small world. Now we are both parents. How things change...

Pictures and a Surprise!

Luke was somewhat cooperative for the first picture

Luke being not so cooperative!

Luke's cool new ride!

Thursday morning started off busy with a trip to the portrait studio for Luke's three month pictures. I tried to so hard to get his schedule where he would be awake, well fed and happy when we got there. I kept his bib on him until the last minute to prevent any mishaps. As soon as it came off he spit up all over his outfit. Luckily he was wearing light blue so it shouldn't show. He did really well for most of the session but he wouldn't smile for the camera. The photographer said he was too serious. I think he just didn't feel like smiling at her! Yesterday afternoon I tried to snap some pictures of him in his John Deere shirt but I guess he was over the picture taking for the day!

Last night when Nana and Grandpa came to keep the little guy they brought a surprise for him. Grandpa had worked a long time to get the little bike that all the Troutt boys rode back in top condition for Luke. We know it will be a while before he can ride it but it will be so neat for him to ride the same bike that Daddy did.

New Face

In the past couple of days Luke has started making this new face. He tucks his lower lip in and keeps it there forever. It is pretty cute. Luke has been battling the sniffles this week and was up and down last night. He seemed to start feeling better this afternoon so hopefully he is over it now. We are going to have his 3 month pictures made in the morning at Reflections By Tanya.
I hope he is feeling well enough to smile for the camera! Tomorrow night we are going out to eat with our friends Angela and Jamie at Rosepepper's. Nana and Grandpa are going to keep Luke for us.

Weekend Recap

Dressed up for a night out!

We had a wonderful weekend just hanging out. Paul had to work really late Thursday night so he tried to play catch up with Luke. He is doing so many different things now! After he rolled over Tuesday morning we couldn't get him to do it again. He did it twice Saturday afternoon while Paul was outside and when he ran in to see him do it he wouldn't! So, he finally got to see him roll over yesterday morning and he got it on video! I will try to figure out how to post videos soon. Saturday night Paul and I attended Barge's annual employee appreciation dinner. It began with a reception at Schermerhorn Symphony Center. From there we walked across the street for dinner at the Hilton. It was fun to get dressed up and got out for the evening. My mom kept Luke and apparently he missed us because he never really settled down and had just woken up (again) when we got home. Luckily he went to sleep pretty quickly and slept until 6 Sunday morning.

We went to Sunday School and Worship yesterday while Luke stayed in the nursery. The workers said he had done great and they had just been commenting on what a good baby he was when he started to cry right before we picked him up. We spent the rest of the day napping, watching the Masters and doing errands.

Walking and Rolling

This morning we had another first in the Troutt house. I put Luke down on his tummy to do some tummy time. To my surprise he rolled over! To make sure I wasn't imagining it I put him back on his tummy and he rolled over again. I immediately called Paul and the first thing he said was "did you get it on video?" Well, of course I didn't. I will be armed and ready with the camera the next time!

Later that morning we went to Greenbrier to walk with Cynthia. This was the first time that we have walked since Sophia was born. Bella is so proud of her little sister. All the kids did great. Luke was fighting a nap so he was a little fussy but he really loves being outside. We hope to continue to walk after I go back to work but it will be a challenge getting all 4 kids and the two moms schedules to line up. Hopefully it will work out.

Weekend Wrap-Up

We had a great weekend at the lake. It finally warmed up right before we left! I think Andrew and I both agree this should be a birthday tradition. Thanks Mom! We have already started talking about where we will go next year. Luke did great on the way home. He was a little fussy starting out but he fell asleep quickly and slept the whole way home! Paul took advantage of the rest of the afternoon by seeding and fertilizing the yard. Yeah! Spring is here...

Family photo op!

A good end to a great weekend

Proud Aunt and Uncle

More Weekend Pictures

Here are several more pictures from our fun family weekend at the Lake!

Luke looked lost on our King bed!

We had a beautiful view of the lake. It was so peaceful there.

Luke was more interested in looking out the window than what Uncle Andrew was reading.

Luke really didn't like having his hood up on his gown but it was too cute not to take a picture.

Luke and Dad taking a nap!

My little camo man...

Cody's Cabin

Well, this is definitely my idea of roughing it! We are in the middle of nowhere in northern Alabama but our cabin has Wi-fi. The cabin is named after the owner's golden retriever. The owners of this cabin also own a B&B in New Orleans. Paul and I lucked out and were given the master suite which has an amazing walk in shower and claw foot tub. The weather is not great, cool and damp so we haven't been outside much. It is supposed to be 77 and sunny tomorrow so we might hang around a while before we leave. Luke is having a blast! It didn't take him long to get adjusted to his new surroundings. He also slept great last night to our relief. Paul and Andrew have been playing the Wii while Mom, Mandi and I scrapbook. Luke has been napping most of the afternoon. Paul and I are in charge of supper tonight so we are grilling pork tenderloin which should be yummy! Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!

Rain, Rain Go Away

If you are like me it feels like it has been raining forever! I know I shouldn't complain because we had such a bad drought last year and the rain is good. We are leaving in just a little while on our first road trip with Luke so we just want good traveling weather. We are meeting my mom, brother and sister-in-law at Smith Lake in Alabama. We rented a house and just plan to hang out, play games and relax. We hope Luke enjoys it!

Three Months....

Luke turned 3 months old today! As I have said many times, it is amazing how fast the time flies. Paul and I often talk about how much having Luke has changed our lives. We feel we have learned some valuable lessons during the first three months of parenthood but we know there are many, many more lessons to be learned. Below is our "Top 10 Things We Have Learned Since Becoming Parents."

1. It doesn't matter what anyone tells you about being a parent you will not truly understand it until you experience it for yourself.
2. Baby boys have great range.
3. Babies can go from 0-60 in less than 3 seconds.
4. You can read as many books as you want but what parenting comes down to is what you and your spouse are comfortable with.
   
5. You can never hug, kiss or tell your child you love them enough.
6. You love them even when they have pooped and peed on you just as you are getting ready to put a new diaper on.
7. You don't mind the fact that you are still in your pj's at 5 pm.
   
8. The smell of spit up isn't so bad after all.
   
9. Sleep is overrated.
10. Treasure the time you have with your infant; they do not stay that way long enough.
    

Sunday First

This morning we had another first with Luke. We have taken him to church a few times but he has always gone to our class with us. Today he went to the nursery! It was the first time anyone outside of family has kept him. I was a little nervous and teared up. I am such a softie! Luckily another couple in our class, Ben and Amy, came in right behind us with their daughter Avery. So, Luke and Avery went to their class for the first time together. We picked him up after Sunday School, probably more for me than for Luke. The teachers said he did great. I know I am going to have to get used to leaving him. Pretty soon I will be leaving him at day care everyday. As much as I missed the little guy it was so great to be back with our friends in class. On the 5th Sunday we always have dedicated prayer time instead of a lesson. It was a great day to go back!

Luke loves to sleep the only problem is he must not like the prospect of going to sleep. Lately he has been fighting his naps even though it is so obvious that he is exhausted. This afternoon he was doing just that when I started bouncing him up and down while he was crying and then leaned him against me. He just conked out! It was so funny. He did not look comfortable at all to me so Paul took this picture. We put him in his swing for the rest of his nap.

Saturday Social

Saturday night we went to a Sunday School care group social at our friends Mike and Michelle's. Our Sunday School class is pretty large so we are broken in to smaller care groups. We get together several times a year. We made personal pizzas and played games. It was fun because most of the time we don't get to hang out with everyone's kids. Luke wasn't the youngest one there. Aiden is only 5 weeks old. He was so cute.

Fun Friday, Part II

Luke helped us get dinner ready!

We couldn't get Luke to stop looking at Emma
long enough to smile at the camera.

Luke was taking it all in and catching up on "girl talk."

Emma got to break in Luke's high chair. We don't think he minded one bit.

We had our friends Cam and Christina and Katherine and Emma over for dinner. Rico was out of town on business so he couldn't join us. We missed him! We tried to get the MacLean's to bring their boys but they say they are "too wild". I guess we will find out about wild boys soon enough! We grilled burgers and had hoped to be outside more but since the weather didn't cooperate we were stuck indoors but we all had a great time. Emma is such a big girl now. She is walking and in to everything! It is hard to believe how fast they grow. Luke was great and loved all the attention! We know he and Emma will be playmates for years to come!