Crazy Times....

Wow...things have been crazy lately, and I have fallen so far behind. In the last 3 months we have had a sweet baby boy, we have packed our house and moved and Chad had emergency back surgery! Let me just say I do not recommend moving with a 2 month old and especially one that prefers to be held! It has truly been crazy around our house and I am exhausted, but even through it all we see God's hand in everything that has gone on. God has truly blessed our lives with 2 beautiful kids and wonderful family and friends! I am so looking forward to Christmas and celebrating our Savior's birthday. My sweet friend Leslie had an Advent party and when I left her house I walked away with 24 amazing ornaments made by 24 amazing women and a devotional book. We started our devotions on December 1st and each night we have a new ornament to go with our devotion. We have the sweetest time each night during our devotion talking the true meaning of Christmas. Taegan can't wait each night to see what the ornament will be...we are looking forward to making this a tradition each year!

2 Months

I cannot believe how fast the time is going! Our sweet boy is already 2 months old...he is actually 3 months now, but I am a little behind! He is the most precious thing! I don't get a lot done during the day because he LOVES to be held! I know this will soon be over and I will miss the days that he wants to be held and cuddled. Taegan adores him and loves to help...most of the time! Luke is such a sweet blessing and we are so proud to have him as part of our family!

At his 2 month check-up he weighed 10pds 8oz and was 22 3/4" long.

We moved...

It has been a crazy few months! Right before school started we looked at a house...that wasn't for sale...and LOVED it! The man that owned it had thought about selling at times but really loved it too so just wasn't sure he wanted to, but knew it was really too big just for him. We talked with him and let him know that if he ever decided to sale to please call us. It really wasn't great timing for us because I was 8 months pregnant when we looked at it so we were okay with it being a while. We kept in touch with him and he wanted us to call when the baby was born so...Chad called him when Luke was 4 days old to let him know about the baby...at that time he said funny you called me today because I am going to look at a house tomorrow and I think it is the one. Wow...we were so excited but also a little overwhelmed. He called the next day to let us know he was ready to sell if we were ready to buy and of course we said yes! So I started to pack...not so easy with a baby that likes to be held all of the time...but it got done. Chad's mom came and stayed with me for a week to help with Luke and then my parents came the week of the move to help too...not sure what I would have done without them! So...we are now in a house we LOVE with our precious baby that still LOVES to be held with lots of boxes that will one day get unpacked!

My Halloween Treats!

50's Day!

Taegan's school had "50's Day" in October and she loved it! She had a poodle skirt to wear and she was counting the days to get to wear it!

Our Sweet Ballerina

Taegan started ballet and tap class last Monday. She has asked on and off to take ballet and this year really wanted to do it! We thought with the baby coming this would be something good for her to do and something just for her. Last Monday was her first class and she LOVED it! She looked so sweet in her dance attire and was so excited when I picked her up. I think it is going to be a great year for our little ballerina!

One Month....already?!?

I am very behind these days on blogging...I can't imagine why?!? On October 9th Luke was 1 month old. I can't believe it!! It has gone by so fast, and we have been enjoying him so much. I LOVE my snuggle time with him, and Taegan LOVES him...especially when he isn't crying! I am relearning what it is like to have a baby in the house again...I have to say it is very different when you have another sweet thing to care for too! I am finding myself to be very lazy because all I want to do is hold him! At 1 month he...weighed 7 pounds 7 ounces...is wearing newborn diapers and clothes...getting up every 3 hours to eat at night...and LOVES to be held!! We adore him and it is hard to imagine, even after only a month, what it was like before he was with us!

Some first and last pictures...

One last picture before heading to hospital. Taegan was so excited when we woke her up and told her that it was time to have the baby!


Introducing...Luke Nickel born at 7:01am on Friday, September 9, 2011...weighing in at 7 pounds 2 ounces and 20 1/4 inches long...He is perfect!!


Big Sister Taegan finding out she has a brother...her response was "See...I told you so!"...she had been telling us all along that we needed a brother! She adores him!!

Lots has happened since school started...

First, I will say Taegan is LOVING school..which is no surprise! She couldn't wait for it to start and looks forward to going everyday! Since she has started school I have been busy trying to get everything in order for the baby picking up last minute things and stocking up on daily groceries so I wouldn't get caught with an empty pantry and nothing for Tae's lunches. I have had weekly appointments since school started and everything has been looking good. Baby is growing beautifully and my doctor has been very pleased with what she is seeing. She has told me all along that I can electively induce at 39 weeks and that she wouldn't let me go over 40 weeks. So...my appointment on September 7th was a big one because we were going to set a date for baby! Chad was really hoping she would let us go in the next day on the 8th because we had some good friends going in to be induced that day but I wasn't 39 weeks yet so she didn't even consider it...which didn't really surprise me! So we set September 13th to be the day and we were to be at the hospital at 5:00am. With a date on the calendar everyone had been called and we had a plan! Well as most of us know when it comes to baby's they sometimes have their own plan! At 12:45am on Friday morning my water broke. I thought my heart was going to pound out of my chest when I realized what was going on! I wasn't having contractions so we took our time getting things together and making sure this was the real deal...after all if I was going to wake Tae up and take her to someones house at this time of night I wanted to make sure it was for real...after many more gushes of water I was sure. So...here is a timeline of our events...

12:46 am Friday, September 9th....my water breaks!

1:15 am...we wake Taegan up and get her things together...she woke up very excited!

1:30am...Taegan gets dropped off at our precious friends, Joe and Cat's

1:45am...we are headed to the hospital and grandparents are called

2:15am...we are checking in the ER

3:00am...we are settled in and the contractions start

3:45am...dilated to almost 4 and requested an epidural

4:05am...epidural is going in

4:30am...epidural is complete and relief has hit!...dilated to a 5 and the nurse says she will be back in 2 hours

6:20am...I call for the nurse...fully dilated and time to call the doctor

6:45am...my doctor arrives

7:01am...Baby is born!!

It was a very calm night that Chad and I enjoyed together welcoming our sweet baby boy into the world! Yes...I said boy! I think we were both shocked and still are after 9 days!

First Day of First Grade!

Finally the day has arrived!! Taegan has been counting the days for school to start. She LOVED school last year and this year is starting out with the same LOVE! I cannot believe my baby is in first grade...the time has gone by so fast!! She could not wait to get there this morning...she was begging us to leave the house!

Taegan ready for a new year!


Tae and Mommy!


Tae and Daddy!


Taegan and Mrs. Davis....I know they are going to have a GREAT year!!

Sassy Saturday

Saturday was our last day to sleep in and just have a lazy day at home before school starts tomorrow. Taegan enjoyed her day very much and came downstairs like this....

Oh how I LOVE this little girl full of sass!

36 weeks and counting...

One last night away...

Chad had been needing to go to Dallas for quite sometime to look at something so last Friday night we decided go over to Dallas one last time before school starts. We didn't have any major plans but just to relax! We left early to beat the afternoon traffic so when we got to the hotel we all veged and watched a movie. A little later we walked across from our hotel and ate dinner and then headed back so Taegan could swim. It was a nice relaxing night with no plans and no where we had to be! The next day we enjoyed breakfast at the hotel where Taegan got to dress up her pancakes at the pancake station...I think she enjoyed decorating them more then eating them! After breakfast we relaxed a little more in the room before heading out to do one of Tae's favorite things...SHOP!! I tell you she can shop and would have gone all day if her mommy could have...I was worn out by the end of the day!

Our Little Painter...

A few weeks ago my parents came up and spent the week with us. They worked all week long getting the baby's room done. They worked so hard I don't know how it would have gotten done with out them! Taegan LOVED having them with us and wanted to be a part of getting the the room done as well so when painting day arrived she went to work! She was a great help and is very excited about the room being done...well almost done it will get its finishing touches when baby arrives and we know to go boy or girl!

Baby is growing and growing

Baby is doing great! Taegan is so excited and has decided that we need to have a brother because we already have a sister. We will see what happens! We are having ultrasounds every four weeks through this pregnancy due to my pregnancy with Taegan. It is so fun to get see our sweet little one so often! The doctor is very pleased with baby's growth so far and says he/she is just right. This picture is from our 29 week ultrasound.

A week away....

Back in July we took a little family trip to a little cabin on the river. We enjoyed some time together just relaxing and being together. We would go out in the evenings and fish and just walk around and explore. It was so nice just to be together and not have any major plans. Taegan is growing up so fast and with the baby coming it was just what we all needed!







Oh how I LOVE this girl!!

A night away...

The day after Taegan finished school was Chad's birthday so we thought it would be fun to get away and celebrate his birthday and the end of a great school year! So Saturday afternoon we headed to the Ranger's game where we enjoyed very nice weather and Taegan's first "ballgame hotdog"! She has decided hot dogs aren't so bad and she couldn't wait to get one at the game!





After the game we headed to the hotel. The next morning we enjoyed a lazy morning before heading out to lunch and then for a little bowling. Taegan had never been bowling but loves to bowl on the Wii so we thought it would be fun. Taegan wasn't feeling great but she was a trooper and enjoyed the day!

Last day of Kindergarten...

I cannot believe how fast this school year went by and that we now have a first grader! Taegan had a great year with a teacher that she adores and made some very special new friends! Taegan's class had a beach party on the last day of school and the kids had a blast! They were so excited when they came into the room and it was party time with beach towels, sand buckets full of goodies and ice cream sundaes!

First day of Kindergarten...


last day of Kindergarten!


Beach Party!


Taegan and Mrs. Winkler...Taegan LOVES her!


Our official first grader!

Field Day

Taegan had field day several weeks ago and it was a morning full of fun! Chad and I went to watch and it was so fun walking from activity to activity with her class watching all of the kids have such a good time!

Girl's Night!

Friday night Daddy went to the basketball game so Tae and I headed out for a girl's night! She got some gift cards for her birthday so I took her to spend one of them and then we headed to get get our fingers and toes done! She was so cute sitting in that big chair just taking everything in around her! We had a great time and I look forward to many more girl's night with my sweet girl!

Just getting started....


the end result...zebra fingers and toes...with some sparkle of course!!

Tae's Tea Party!

There is a little pink boutique in town and Taegan had her mind set on having her birthday party there. They do precious dress-up tea parties and there was no way we were going to change her mind! She was so excited about her party and couldn't wait for it to start! When the time came we couldn't get there fast enough for her! It was so much fun!! When all the girls arrived the fun began...they had their hair and make-up done, made a craft, dressed-up in dresses and hats, had tea in fancy tea cups, enjoyed some cupcakes and then had a dance party! All the girls looked like they were having so much fun! I have to say I enjoyed it too...I got to stand back, watch and enjoy while some one else did all of the entertaining! Daddy was a trooper too as he hung out with us...a pink boutique is not exactly where a daddy wants to spend his Saturday afternoon, but he would do anything for his sweet girl! It was a fun day of celebrating with our sweet girl!

Mommy and the Birthday girl!!


Getting glamorous...the more sparkle the better!


Dance party!


Sweet Birthday Girl!


All of the Princess Guests!


Taegan said it was the BEST day ever!!

Taegan turned 6!!

I can't believe that my baby is 6!! On April 29th we celebrated with our sweet girl!! Taegan was home sick on her birthday so we did lots of extra celebrating! She opened gifts throughout the day and then that night we enjoyed a nice dinner outside followed by some yummy cake!





God truly blessed us when he gave us our sweet Taegan Faith! She is such a precious gift that we have tremendously enjoyed over the past 6 years! She keeps us laughing and always keeps us on our toes, and she is as sweet and sassy as they come! I can't wait to see what our future holds with our sweet girl!

Easter Fun!

Taegan enjoyed an Easter egg hunt at school the Thursday before Easter. The kids had so much fun gathering the eggs and then sharing and exchanging them afterwards.

Taegan checking out all of her goodies!


Taegan and her sweet friend Kenzie!


Taegan and Abby!


On the Saturday before Easter we headed to Chad's sisters for some good food, egg coloring and egg hunting! Taegan always has so much fun when she gets to spend time with her cousin Emma!

Tae and Emma coloring eggs!


Tae decided to be Snow White while hunting eggs!


Taegan and her sweet Daddy after the hunt!


I did not take any pictures on Easter day...not sure what happened! We started our morning out by checking out what the Easter Bunny left while we were sleeping! Taegan had a basket full of goodies! We then headed to church to celebrate our risen Savior! It was a wonderful service enjoyed by all! After church we headed to the club for a nice brunch and of course ate way too much! With full bellies we headed home for a nice quiet afternoon nap!