Our trip to Cali

We just got back from our first out of state trip with little man to California.  About a month ago, our close friends Chris and Hannah Koch experienced one of the most devastating things a couple can experience...the loss of their unborn child late into their pregnancy.  Precious George Joseph Koch was born sleeping, and is in the arms of Jesus right now. God gives, God takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord... Jake and I have sat back and watched this couple and their families praise God through this hard time and I can tell you pretty confidently, I don't think that I would be able to handle it as beautifully as they have.  I admire them so much, and to everyone around them, there is no doubt their faith is placed in Christ.

I felt the Lord telling us that we needed to pay them a visit. I will admit I was very hesitant to take Landry and originally planned to visit by myself just because I wanted to be sensitive to the situation, but Hannah insisted I bring him, and so we began making plans.  Unfortunately, we weren't able to make it to the funeral, but they had the service recorded and we got to watch it while we were visiting, and it was beautiful, heartbreaking, and pointed to Christ throughout.


Day 1
Here we are at the airport, Landry's first time flying.. He did awesome on the flights!

When we got to San Jose, we rented a car and drove 2 hours to Dos Palos where Chris, Hannah, and Hannah's family were and we got to eat a wonderful meal of Tri-Tip!!!

Day 2

we got to go swimming in Hannah's grandma's pool... We had a blast just relaxing that day with them.

 Jake went with Chris later that day to "help" him coach his water polo practice and me and Landry went with Hannah to run a few errands. We all joined up together with Hannah's family and got to enjoy a fabulous dinner, and then went with Chris and Hannah to their bible study group they are a part of.

Day 3

We went to Fresno for my birthday to spend the last day together having a great time! We went to the zoo!  Here are some photos from our adventures there.

Elephants! 

Giraffes

Love Chris' face here...creepin on the birds!

the birds

Kanga!

This sign cracked me up... the proper ways to feed sharks and stingrays, for those without common sense! 

The guys feeding sharks and stingrays...they really are 2 peas in a pod

Landry woke up in time to see the last couple of exhibits... 

the gang. Love them all!

We then forced the guys to take us shopping ;) and when we got home, we enjoyed some homemade chicken fried steaks and visiting with everyone, exchanging hilarious family stories :)

Day 4
we woke up very early to head home :(.... we had a great trip.  traveled all day and Landry did great again on the flight home.. Here is a pic from the airport on the way home. Sweet boy checking out the airplanes!

It was wonderful seeing our friends, even though the circumstances were not the greatest. I don't have many friends that I have remained extremely close with over the years so I treasure those friendships. Hannah and I have been friends since we met at Hidden Falls Ranch my freshman year in college around 8 years ago and God continues to grow and bless our friendship.

Nana and Poppy's House

Almost a year ago, we got to know a couple in our church that have become family to us.  Gabi is a wonderful cook (from Louisiana, so everything has a wonderful Cajun twist to it), and Don is retired from NBC where he won an emmy for his production of the olympics (he's a genius!).  We have grown to love and cherish our regular Saturday night meals at their house.  Naturally, they embraced Landry since they have seen him grow weekly from the time I was about 4 months pregnant. One day, they declared names for themselves for Landry to call them and that was it....they were officially another loving set of "grandparents."  Nana and Poppy! Landry loves them already, he gets the royal treatment there of course and we look forward to many more memories with them.  Here are some recent photos taken at their house.

Loving Nana and Poppy's tempurpedic mattress. 

Whoa.

Nana helping me walk!

crashed out on their couch wrapped in my cozy blanket they got me

chillin on the front porch, Nana thinks I'm big stuff!

Family Visit

Last weekend Grahamy, Grandad, Uncle Matt, and Grannie Annie came to visit. It was fun to get to see them again.  We dressed Landry in an outfit that Grandad bought for him (a pirate tuxedo onesie and peace sign beanie) Grandad discovered that Landry likes peek-a-boo and Grahamy laid on the floor and played with Landry.  

Smiling at Grandad

Landry and Ben

Since before Landry was born, we made friends with another couple that found out they were pregnant the same day we did! Bryan is the methodist church youth pastor, so him and Jake have a lot in common, so by default, me and Miranda had a lot in common.  It was so refreshing to share my pregnancy with someone that also shared a similar lifestyle (newlyweds, first babies, minister's wives)....We were due 2 weeks apart, and Ben arrived literally almost to the day 2 weeks before Landry.  Since their arrivals, we have really enjoyed getting out of the house together, sharing boy clothes, and getting the boys together.  It does wonders for the soul for 2 mommies to get together and laugh, share our fears and worries, and also encourage each other.  I am so thankful for the Rogers and I hope that Landry and Ben will become great buddies :) Here are some pictures from our latest get together!

Ben: "What do you do for attention? This fake coughing thing isn't working as well anymore."
Landry: "Dude...All I do is pretend to cry and I get picked up"

Little Buddies

I'm there for you pal!

Aren't we cute!

3 months old!

Little man is 3 months old and I just cannot believe how fast the time is flying by.  Here are some things we have learned about our ever changing precious little boy over the past month and new milestones.

1. He has started laughing... not quite a full belly busting laugh, but small giggles here and there. Today he laughed in his sleep (not quite sure what he was dreaming about, but it must have been hilarious) It melts my heart, I can't wait for the full out laughter!

2. He is absolutely fascinated with the television...already...if there is a tv in the room, he WILL find it, and gets quite fussy when you try to turn him away from it. yikes!

3. Being naked is his favorite thing. I might have a little exhibitionist on my hands.

4. He is soooo strong, and keeps pulling himself up and forward whenever he is laying back.  Won't be long until he is sitting up unsupported.

5. He has discovered his thumb.  I was determined that he would be a "paci boy" because I know you can't throw the thumb out like you can a paci, but he is determined to suck on one (or both) thumbs.  This is one of many lessons I will learn that your child doesn't always cooperate with the plans you have for them.

Here are the 3 month growth pictures.  I posed him with his little sock monkey this month that he was posed with during some of his newborn pictures.  I am going to do every 3 months with the monkey so we will have newborn, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year to compare his growth against the monkey!

Such a big guy!

mmmm...sock monkey.  

I've gotten so much bigger!

Playing Peek-A-Boo

Here are some photos I snapped the other day of Landry in his bumbo chair and us showing him peek-a-boo! He seemed so surprised everytime we pulled the blanket off his face.

Sitting in his bumbo chair so big! He loves it!

Here we go!

Peek A Boo!!

The look of surprise to see us!

Big grins! 

Gosh he's so cute!

He's definitely a keeper.