Big Accomplishment

Scroll down to May 8th to hear of Traeger's latest accomplishment. I started a post about this on May 8th and published today so that is why it is all the way down there. Check it out!

Jackson Lucas!

We are excited to announce that in about 19 weeks we will be meeting our new NEPHEW, Jackson Lucas! John and Nicole have two girls and will be entering into the world of boys now! Can't wait to meet the little guy!

Another transition!

Take note that our Traeger is sleeping peacefully and WITHOUT his pacifier! Since turning 2 we thought it was time to say "bye, bye" to the pacifier. The transition to saying "bye, bye" to the pacifier has not been as torturous as we anticipated. We cut the tip on Wednesday morning around 9. At first he didn't think it was too funny that it didn't work anymore. He cried for about 30 seconds and then decided it wasn't all that bad, it just didn't work. We laid him down for his nap around 12:30 and he cried for about 30 minutes as he intermittantly repeated, "mine pacifier mommy." After about 15 minutes of crying, I went in to assure him that indeed it was his pacifier but now he is a big boy and that everything will be ok. He woke up from his nap a little out of sorts and was upset that his pacifier wasn't working. Once he settled down he didn't ask for it again. That night I laid him down for bed and he didn't shed a tear. He didn't wake up at all during the night looking for his pacifier. In the morning he woke up and when Luke opened the door Traeger handed him the pacifier. He has made it through another nap time and bedtime without any tears or fits. We are trying to play up the big boy thing. So far so good.

Waiting patiently!

Thanks Auntie Nicole for sharing your bumbo chair. Even Traeger is getting some good use out of it :O)

Playing together!

We were all hanging out in the kitchen and before we knew it Traeger had crawled under the playmat and was laying next to Ataly. He managed to get under there without laying on her and hurting her. I love when he chooses to love on his sister without our prompting.

Notice the left edge of the playmat is a little raised and Traeger is gently showing Ataly the duck.

Now notice the playmat and how far off the ground it is. I think he wanted to show Ataly how the bird and duck can "fly" :O) He was just kicking the side pole and was having a blast with his sister.

Happy 2nd birthday Traeger!

On Tuesday we celebrated Traeger's 2nd birthday! We have been so blessed by an incredibly fun, joyful, smart, active, and loving son! It's hard to believe that just 2 years ago, we welcomed him into this world. Not much time had passed after he was born that he stopped breathing. We are so thankful that God spared his life and has allowed us to celebrate 2 years with him. Traeger has brought us so much joy. We took time yesterday to have fun celebrating Traeger's life. During the day I had a funeral to attend and Luke worked, so at night to celebrate we went to the Medford High School baseball playoff game. Traeger thought it was pretty neat to see the big boys playing ball! Then we went to a park to play and then we went home and had a little birthday brownie, sang Happy Birthday and prayed over him! Daily we feel blessed by Traeger and trust God with his life. Our prayer is that he will come to know Jesus and do amazing things with his life to honor God!

Traeger having fun running around and watching the baseball game.

Ataly having fun on her big brother's birthday!

Traeger having a blast at the park!

Ataly didn't seem to mind too much that she didn't get any brownie :O)

Traeger loving on his sister in between taking bites of his yummy brownie!

Several people called to sing Happy Birthday, here he was taking it all in!

The birthday boy!

Happy 50th!

Happy 50th Anniversary Nanny and Buddy!

To celebrate Nanny and Buddy's anniversary, they rented 2 beautiful cabins at the Dells. The whole family was able to go at some point or another. Everyone else was there Saturday-Monday. We were the late arrival on Sunday afternoon because of graduation and Luke can only miss 2 Sundays a year. A great time was had by all and special memories were made!

Ataly meeting her great grand parents for the 1st time.

The older cousins heading off to the water park.

Nana made time to cuddle with Miss. Ataly!

Ataly and Grandpa having a little heart to heart conversation!

another cousin pic.

Traeger thought it was pretty cool to ride on Grandpa Tim's motorcycle.

The Hatfield family with Nanny and Buddy

We are so grateful for Nanny and Buddy's faithfulness and amazing example of love to us!

Hatfield family photoshoot!

We were at Kyle's graduation party and Luke found this beautiful little pond behind their house. I thought this would be a great place to take a few family photos and since Casey was there it worked out perfectly.

Auntie Casey!

Auntie Casey came to visit this past weekend. Thanks for taking the time to come visit us, hang out, chat and play with the kiddos! We stayed up way too late both nights trying to beat Luke at Nertz but to no avail. Maybe next time?! At least we had fun trying.

Reading stories with Traeger.

Auntie Casey with the kiddos! Traeger is sharing a dandelion with his sister. How sweet!

Casey is such a dear friend. Whenever we are together I am reminded of the reasons why we have been friends for over 13 years or if you count since kindergarten, 23 years. I love and appreicate how we can finish each other's sentences, laugh about how stupid we were in high school, share memories of our college days, laugh until we pee our pants, accept each other just the way we are (and we have a lot of dirt on each other) and ultimately share the common bond of Christ. I am blessed to have you as my friend.

Graduation!

On Friday, our seniors graduated and are excited to be moving onto bigger and better things. Luke was able to get in on a picture with a few of the seniors. We're grateful for the time we have been able to spend with them and for the opportunities to share Christ's love.

Family time!

Luke has been pretty busy with work and has been gone a lot. Friday evening we took some time in between his regular work day and graduation to spend time as a family.

Traeger and Luke walking to find Daddy's ball in the sand trap.

Traeger taking a practice swing on the greens.

Traeger, Ataly and me enjoying the beautiful evening together as a family and cheering on Daddy as he golfed 9 holes. It was so beautiful that night. I loved every minute of being outside and being with my family.

Hanging out with the girls!

Once a month I try getting together with Brianna and Katie (girls from our church) for a bible study or just hang out time. I picked the girls up from school on Thursday and we got a chance to hang out and celebrate Katie's birthday!

Feet

I know this is kind of a wierd picture to post but I love hands and feet pictures.

This is Luke and Traeger's feet together while they were reading a story together.

2 months old

Ataly 2 months old --------------------Traeger 2 months old

height: 24 inches (93 %)
weight: 12 lbs. 12 oz. (87 %)
head: 41 cm (91 %)

Our sweet girl is 2 months old. We have grown to love her smiles, coos and giggles. She has been sleeping through the night since 3 weeks old. Her baby einstein playmat is a favorite. She spends way more time in her bouncy seat than we would like but she is the 2nd child and well that's just the way it is! We need to work on more tummy time. She loves to suck on her right hand and follow her brother around the room with her eyes. Before we know it she will be running around with him. Fun times to come!

"Up Daddy"

Traeger has been enjoying being up on Daddy's shoulders when we go for walks. This is a new joy. For a while he didn't want anything to do with being so high.

First Tea Party!

The women's ministry at our church hosted a Ladies Tea for their annual Mother/Daughter social. It was the first tea party for both Ataly and I. What a special honor it was to take my daughter.

Gotta love the smiles!

Feeling better!

It's been an interesting week in the Hatfield household. Traeger started the week off being sick and Luke and I finished the week being sick. We caught the nasty 24 bug and aren't interested in it visiting us again anytime soon. You know how when you're sick all you want to do is NOTHING. Well having two kids and one of those who nurses, you just don't have that luxury! Not even 24 hours later, I was trying to keep up with our kids, while Luke was keeping up with the youth at a Senior High Lock-In. Oh the joys of life.

Happy Mother's Day to me!

The morning of Mother's Day we woke up at 7:00 like normal , or so we thought, to Traeger calling out for us to come get him out of his room. Luke got up and went in to get him and quickly rushed him to the bathroom because he was dry- heaving. That isn't a typical morning nor was the rest of the day. By the time we called it a night Traeger threw up a total of 4 times. He "chose" good locations twice and the other two placements were less than ideal. Once on Luke and the other on carpet. And carpet just has a way of keeping the smell regardless of how well it has been cleaned-so that's what I was smelling all day. And since it was Sunday, Luke was off to work in the morning and back to work in the evening. Despite all the drama that unfolded, it actually was a good Mother's Day. I just needed to change my perspective and expectations. I took much enjoyment out of the cuddling with Traeger because he wasn't feeling well. It was sweet to sit home and do nothing but watch movies, cuddle and stay in our jammies all day. I appreciated the beautiful and lovely smelling flowers, yummy mike n ikes and circus peanuts and encouraging card Luke gave to me. If there was any day I needed encouragement, it was that day. I squeezed a nap in between Luke being at church and having to go back for Youth group. God has blessed me tremendously with two beautiful and healthy children (except for the occasional bug) I am blessed to be a mother! Some days are just little harder than others.

The three of us cuddling in bed.

interaction

While I was blogging, Traeger was playing and Ataly was sitting in her seat in the living room. I peeked around the corner from the computer chair and saw this interaction between Ataly and Traeger. It was priceless to me. Traeger and Ataly were giggling with each other. Can you see the sweet smile Ataly's sharing with her brother. I know it's probably one of those, "You have be there moments" but wanted to share anyway.

Celebrate good times!

On Friday we traveled home for Kieran's 3rd birthday party, to celebrate mother's day and for mom and dad's 33rd wedding anniversary. We're so grateful we have so much to celebrate!

Auntie Cori enjoying a little girl time!

All the cousins hanging out together. What fun they will have together through the years!

Happy 33rd wedding anniversary Mom and Dad. You two are such a testimony of God and what He can do. Thanks for being open and honest with us and for showing us that with God all things are possible. Because of your example we know that marriage takes work and doesn't just happen on it's own and is worth every bit of it!

On Saturday morning I got my haircut while Luke and Traeger went to Gideon's first baseball game of the season. Then we all met up for lunch at a park before we headed home.

Happy Mother's Day!

A shout out to my mother for being an amazing woman of God and mother. Kudos to you for always being there for us and for all the times you sacrificed yourself so that it would help us out! You are an incredible example of a loving, encouraging, real, and supportive mom. You have always gone above and beyond the call of duty and didn't demand anything in return and for that I thank you. I appreciate the sacrifices and love you poured out onto me way more. Now that I have children of my own I "get it." Sorry it's taken me so long to appreciate all you have done and understand what being a mom really is like. I thank God for you every day! You're Awesome!

You're unconditional love for the kids is amazing to watch! For them, I say thank you!

I admire how you always will give of yourself even if it's not what YOU want to do for the other person's joy!

Out to lunch with mom, Cori, Traeger, Ataly (and Luke in the mirror taking the picture)

A shout out to Laura for being an incredible mother to her son, me and grandmother to our children. I appreciate what an amazing job you did raising your son to be a loving husband and compassionate man of God. Thank you for taking me in as your own from the beginning, for your unconditional love, for being a fantastic example of loving others before yourself. I appreciate that I don't have the in-law horror stories! God has blessed us by giving us you as our mother!

A SHOUT OUT TO EVERY OTHER MOM I KNOW. In some way or another you have blessed me by walking before me or alongside me and showing me how things are done. I'm grateful I have so many amazing woman to look up to and walk the journey together with.