What makes you smile...

This morning on the way to school Tae and I were listening to the radio and they were asking what made you smile. They were playing back some of the responses that people had called in so afterwards I asked Tae..."What makes you smile...". Her first response was "when we don't have to walk at recess", her class had a hard day yesterday so they had to do some walking before playing, but then she said "Luke's laugh!". She just melted my heart with that response! She is so precious and adores her little brother! I think if he could talk his answer would have been my sister. His sweet little face just lights up when she comes in the room! I am so thankful for my sweet babies...they make my heart smile!!

7 months!

April 9th...I can't imagine life with out this sweet boy!

Easter 2012...

My sweet blessings....





I thank God everyday for choosing me to be these two sweet babies mommy! They are my greatest adventure!

6 months!

On March 9th Luke was 6 months old! He is so precious and has the bluest eyes! Tae LOVES him so much...I am pretty sure she is still happy to have him around!

At his 6 month check-up he weighed 16pds and was 27" long! He is growing like a weed! It is so bittersweet to watch him grow...on one hand I want him to slow down but on the other hand every stage is so fun! Thank You God for this precious boy!

5 months

On February 9th Luke was 5 months old! He is growing so fast and changing everyday! His sister still adores him!!

4 months

On January 9th our precious Luke was 4 months old! Time is going so fast!

At his 4 month check-up he weighed 13pds 2.5oz and was 25" long!

3 months!

On December 9th our sweet boy was 3 months old!

Christmas....finally!

Ok...I am only 4 months behind but better late than never! We had several "firsts" this year for Christmas...it was our sweet boy's first Christmas and we spent Christmas at home. We discovered on our Thanksgiving travels that Luke did not care for the car very much so we decided then that we would not be doing any traveling at Christmas. It turns out that we wouldn't have been able to travel anyway because Chad had unexpected back surgery 2 weeks before Christmas. We had lots of visitors and really enjoyed just being home and being together. Christmas morning we went to church and then came home and had a nice lunch and just relaxed while Tae played with all of her new stuff. I think that might have been the beginning of some new Christmas traditions for us!


My sweet blessings!

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...