January's Over! (almost)

Don't let my title fool you... January has been a perfectly fine month. Both my boys were happy and healthy and we were able to get out of the house and do lots of fun things. Win! But Dave traveled a lot for work this month. Like three weeks in a row. Yuck. I'm doing great, feeling great, and getting really good at doing both boys at once; however, I way prefer to have my wonderful hubby here to help out and deflect some of Levi's awesome toddler-ness and energy and give me some needed adult conversation. But, thankfully, January is (almost) over and with it goes the long weeks of semi-single-parenthood. Woo hoo!

Here's how we've been keeping busy...

We took the short drive to Atwater to visit with Grandma & Grandpa Lockridge and check out the animals at the Merced Zoo. Definitely worth the $3 entrance fee and a perfect quick afternoon excursion for Levi's attention span.

We celebrated Grammy Harden's b'day with a homemade turkey dinner and strawberry cake. I even broke out my china (possibly for the 1st time!).

I got to meet my bestie's brand new baby girl. I loved snuggling with her already and I told her she can have her pick of either of my boys!

We met up with the cousins at the Library for Story Time.
I tried to bring Levi all sorts of books about trains and cars and planes but he preferred this one.  :)

Goofball decided it was a good idea to take his nap in my tub.
It made me laugh and on those long daddy-less days that was important!

We took some good, long walks.
And I'm thinking I should get some bonus points for getting both boys looking at the camera. (Now if only Levi didn't have that silly pacifier!)

We blew bubbles!

Honorable mention to my sleepy baby. Seriously the most precious thing ever. And I totally do not take him or his amazing sleeping ability for granted. Last night he slept 11 hours. No joke. Love him!

Visited Grandpa and Uncle B's store. Levi loves the treadmill and can even walk for a couple minutes (ok, seconds?). We decided Caleb probably needed some exercise too so we stuck him up there.

And lots of cuddle time with Mommy!

Daddy's home!
Both boys were excited that Daddy came home on Sunday. Levi has barely left Dave's side since he walked in the door. Good thing Daddy missed him just as much!

So the Lockridges are all back under one roof and enjoying some much needed family time. Yay! Dave's job includes travel and we'll get used to it. This was just the first round of extended time away while I'm home with two boys. It all went swimmingly and made me so grateful to be here in our house with family and friends close by. Now we can look forward to February and some more fun family time!

3 Months

 Caleb David is 3 Months Old!

Weighing in on our home scale at 18.5 lbs. 

(Seriously. I'm curious to see how accurate this is when we go in to the Doctor next month.)

Caleb is a super happy, easy going baby. He is an awesome sleeper, a quick and efficient eater, and all around mellow guy. He is wearing mostly 3-6 month clothes and is transitioning into his 6-9 month stuff. He's definitely a BIG boy! He loves any smiles and attention you give him and coos and "talks" to anyone who will listen. He has a higher pitch voice then Levi did and I'll be interested to see if he keeps it or if it lowers to sound similar to Levi. He rolled over (from his front to his back) twice on Christmas Eve and has done it a handful of times since but he doesn't seems too interested in moving. He still likes his swaddle to sleep and he likes the pacifier too. We put him in the front pack facing out and loves getting to smile at people and see where he's going. He gets super excited when his big brother comes around and doesn't seem too fragile even when he gets pushed and poked a little more than gently. Caleb has been an awesome addition to our family and I can't wait to see in which ways he will follow in his big brother's footsteps and in which ways he'll be different. One thing is for sure: 3 months have flown by!

Enjoying his jumper!
He still mostly just sits and looks at the toys around him but he smiles a lot.

My happy boy!

Blue eyes :)

Plan for 2012

Hey friends! So I know I'm not original in picking the beginning of January to start some new things in my life, but it's such a perfect starting point so I'm jumping on the bandwagon. Here goes it:

Megan's New Years Resolutions:

ORGANIZE: When we moved into our house in June I was 5 months pregnant. On one hand I couldn't paint, lift, pack or do anything. On the other hand I couldn't paint, lift, pack or do anything! I felt so useless and so there were some things that just got put where they got put. Now 7 months later and there are still boxes in my guest room closet and my laundry room is a catchall for every random thing that comes in the house. It's time for things to have a place of their own and for those boxes to find a place in the trash!

GET OUT OF THE HOUSE: In the Southbay we were super involved in church. Over the years we did married couples Bible studies, women's/men's Bible studies, a Sunday school class and lots of activities with those people outside of church time. We've chosen a church here in town, attended a smattering of Sunday school classes (just enough to be blessed with some great meals after Caleb was born) but we haven't attended enough to really connect with anyone. It's past time. We need to get ourselves up a little earlier, out the door with two boys (hey both of our parents did it with 3 kids so we should be able to do, right?) and in the class with regularity. It's also time for me to really join a women's Bible study. I need that time in the Word, I need that time with other women and I think it's good for the boys to spend some time with other kids their age. And church is only one aspect of ways I need to get out of the house, I also need to find ways to learn and explore our area with my boys. There's free story time at the library, lots of parks to visit and lots of other mommies who are probably looking for things to do too... I have no excuses. 

READ MY BIBLE: This should be self explanatory, I just need to do it. Dave and I signed up for the You Version Bible chronological Bible plan and we're holding each other accountable. If I have time to read my emails and check my Facebook a thousand times a day then I definitely have time to read a few chapters. One added bonus is that it's already given Dave and me some great talking points about passages we've already read but obviously breezed through in the past.

GET IN SHAPE: I'm not alone in the weight-gain-after-marriage conundrum, but then add on two babies in two years and I'm not feeling great about the way I look. No more procrastinating, no more excuses (even though mine are doozies!), and no more getting down on myself. I'm a pretty smart girl, I've taken biology classes, I know how it works: I need to eat healthier and I need to exercise. I've technically lost my baby weight and the scale says I weight less than I have in a long time, but numbers aren't everything and the jiggly bits prove to be more convincing than the scale. Beyond getting healthier (and dare I hope skinnier?!) I have the perfect motivation in my brother's upcoming June wedding. I have a bridesmaid dress to fit in and lots of family pictures. I'd rather my adorable boys be the reason that people know I have two kids and not the pooch sticking out around my middle! So I found a great article in Women's Health about working myself up to running. It's a fairly straightforward plan involving run-a-minute/walk-a-minute exercise to loose weight and teach my body how to run. I can sheepishly admit that I don't think I've ever run a full mile. Growing up with childhood asthma (oooh hear the excuses inching back in?) I was never forced to and probably couldn't have complete one. I've obviously walked my fair share, but that is different then running. I'm ready to run. Anyone with me? One week in and I'm feeling good, albeit sore, but I'm sure my motivation will dip as Dave travels for work and the rainy season starts. I'd love some accountability with some other Modesto mommies. Anyone??? :)

So that's it folks. A couple weeks in and I've already checked off a few organizational projects, joined "Lose It!" on my phone, kept up to date with my Bible reading and exercised intentionally. Ask me how I'm doing, keep me accountable and, if you're up for it, JOIN ME! 

Little Boy Haircuts

One way to save money is when Daddy gives haircuts! Dave has done a couple of great ones and one so-so one (remember Levi's buzz cut this summer?) but our motto is: it's just hair and it always grows back. So this past Sunday we stripped the boys down to their diapers, sat them in the bumbo seat and cut some hairs!

We were surprised Levi still fit in the bumbo but it worked perfectly to have him a little contained. That and the lollipop!

Little guy's first official hair cut!
Daddy trimmed his sideburns and neck at 5 weeks but this was the first all over haircut.

Levi's After

Caleb's After
But he still has hair that just can't be tamed! 

I thought they were pretty cute boys before but I LOVE my boys with sweet little boy haircuts.

Extra Fun Week!

We're still trying to figure out where all the Christmas presents are going to go but we got busy constructing a few this week. Levi's new car was a hit and he has been standing at the back door signing "more" and "please" and bringing me his super cool boots to tell me he'd like to go outside and play. Thankfully we've had a brisk and sunny week so we've managed lots of outside activities.

Rolling in his new wheels.

We also put together Caleb's jumper and were surprised when he fit in it. It will still be a while until he really enjoys it but in the meantime Levi thinks it has some pretty cool features.

 Pretty good for a 2-month-old!

We've also been busy getting great smiles and coo's from this little flirt:

Representing for Auntie Sarah and her Cougar friends!

 Then because Grammy was still out of school this week, we took the boys for a couple of firsts. We went to an afternoon movie and saw (part of) 'The Muppets'. Levi was really excited about every preview and clapped and cheered after they were each over. He loved eating snacks and sitting in the booster seat. He loved the musical numbers and the new muppet Walter. And then he turned around and saw the stairs behind us and spent the next half hour trying to get out of our row to climb the stairs and meet the other people in the theater. We left shortly thereafter. :)


Then we decided it was about time to go to the zoo again. We got in the car with the intention of going to the Sacramento Zoo but got to Lodi and decided to stop in at Mickey Grove. It was about how I remember it. Small and a little run down, but for $4 it was the perfect excursion with these two littles. Levi liked the animals, wandering around on his own, and making all kinds of animals sounds.

Levi & Grammy

Mesmerized by the monkeys!

 The zoo was fun but he especially loved the trains that drove by and "choo choo"ed every few minutes!


Mommy and Grammy also found time to do some discount shopping and we found this gem at Big Lots. It's his perfect size and he thinks he's pretty hot stuff sitting in his very own chair.

This is also his new "cheese" face. Not quite sure where it came from but I think it's hilarious.

After realizing his new love of trains we decided the best place to go was the Railroad Museum in Sacramento! We grabbed Uncle Bryan and Auntie Alison and Grandpa to see all the trains. He liked the trains and the phones that gave the information and he loved all the snacks that we got as we walked around Old Town. :)

Uncle B, Levi and Grandpa learning about trains.

Getting excited about trains with Auntie Alison and Mommy!

Where's the telephone museum? Because I'm pretty sure this kid would be in heaven!

Showing off our new train conductor hat (thanks Uncle B & Auntie Alison!) but really secretly paying attention to the mini donuts that were being made right in front of us.

It has been a super fun week and a good reminder that I need to get these kids out of the house and learning and exploring and enjoying all the things this region has to offer. A little daunting on my own, but I can do it!

Monterey Bay Aquarium

We took a quick trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium this week. We met up with Whitney and spent a couple of hours in the aquarium-- the perfect amount of time for our little guys. Levi LOVED the sea otters and was very interested in the rest of the tanks but a little apprehensive of the big tanks with the sharks and turtles and big fish. He liked them from afar but was a little anxious when we got up close. It was a great trip and both boys were in great moods and made traveling so easy. We even got to indulge in a Ghiradelli hot fudge sundae before we hit the road which is a big, sentimental treat for Dave and me because we got one of those (in San Francisco) an hour before we got engaged back in '06. Great, great day!

Latest Lockridge family picture!

Levi "Finding Nemo" :)

Trying to convince him that the sharks were really cool!

There was a whole new area (since the last time we've been) with places to crawl around and slides to play on so naturally we had to try to fit in the clam shell for another family picture. 

Harden/Lockridge family group picture!
Dad, Sarah, Me, Mom holding Caleb, Dave holding Levi, Alison & Bryan

I'm so excited to get out of the house and do fun things like this with our boys-- especially now that Levi is enjoying and understanding things more and more. Thanks for coming with us Whitney! :)

Lots of Christmas!

Another great Christmas season is behind us and we feel so loved! We got to see both sides of our family and enjoy both quality and quantity of time. We celebrated at my parents' house on Christmas Eve, Christmas morning at Great Grandma's house, and Christmas Day with the Lockridges. My boys are beyond blessed for all the love and presents they received and now we're just wondering where it's all going to go! Here's a quick peak at our whirlwind weekend:

Cousin Lindsey, Levi, and Auntie Sarah

Grammy and Auntie Alison trying to get the boys to model their PJ's santa hats!

My sweet boy who was indulging on sweets while Mommy was giving his brother a bath.
It's always more fun at Grandpa & Grandma's house!

Mommy and her big LITTLE guy

Levi and Grandpa checking out his construction set

Cars! Sitting with Daddy at Great Grandma's house on Christmas morning.

Grandma Lockridge getting in some Caleb cuddles.

Grandpa Lockridge and Caleb

Levi loves his new BBQ!

And lastly, my attempt at getting both of my boys in their cutie patootie, matching pi's in one picture...

I think I need to resign myself to the fact that I'm only going to get pictures of both my boys if other people are in the picture holding them. Oh well. I tried. :)

We hope you celebrated the season with those you love and felt the anticipation and joy in the remembrance of our Savior's birth. Merry Christmas to all!