Happenings...

Oh I am so behind. It's crazy how little free time I have these days! Life has been good. Lots of time with family, especially watching and smiling at little Luke. Oh, that little guy! He has my heart! He is just the sweetest thing. We are so happy to have him in our little family. During his first couple of months, I kept trying to figure out his fussiness. We switched formulas, and that seemed better and had him checked for ear infections and eventually had him try meds for acid reflux and he seems much better. His doctor was probably like...geez lady...chill out...some babies cry. But I can't stand the thought that me might be crying if something hurts. But we have a happy little guy on our hands now for the most part. He still HATES the car. Opposite of most babies...he'll be fine in the carseat and as soon as we start the car...it's cry time. Doesn't fall asleep. If he manages to calm down, he'll still be awake, looking around. He has the cutest little pout where he sticks out his lower lip...cutest thing I've ever seen. He has the greatest smile...and he is still a little picky about who he'll show it to. We've gotten some giggles out of him recently and that is the best sound on earth! Love it.

I think we are finally all healthy around here...knock on wood. I think E had a cold for a month straight. Preschool germs are the best! Ugh. We had to run him to the ER one night for croup. That was a little scary and I'm so glad he is finally feeling better. Between the two misters, I am ready to be done at the doctor for a while.

Thanksgiving was great, we spent the day with Randon's family. Yummy meal...great family, nothing more to ask for. Aaaand that night was my first experience with Black Friday. I went with my sister in laws. So fun! I had no complaints. Although we didn't sleep a wink that whole night...made for a tired mommy!

We blessed Mr. Luke on December 4th. Randon did a great job. It never fails to make me emotional and grateful when I hear him give a blessing and I'm reminded how lucky I am to have the priesthood in our home and what a great daddy he is. We had the family over to my mom's house afterward and had a great time chatting with everyone.
Some pictures...

First time in the bouncer!

Trying to teach E to look at the camera...unsuccessfully.

This little guy loves his changing pad! For some reason, he would be happy there if no where else.

E always loves to hug his "little".

Can you tell these two are brothers?

Luke and Easton, both taken the day of their 2 month well check.

Eeeek!

Yeah, so my Halloween post is finally going up and it is almost Christmas time! (Yippeeeeeeee!)
We had a fun little Halloween, though pretty relaxed. I was still getting used to helping 2 humans survive instead of just 1. :) I had a little costume scare this year. Easton found a Buzz Lightyear costume at Target and was deadset on being that. I didn't want to think we were already to the point where he chose his costume instead of me choosing it for him! The costume at Target was one that looked pretty cheap and I didn't want to pay money for it. I still thought I could talk him into being a pirate or something. But the closer we got to Halloween, the more stubborn he got. I gave in and we went to the store to find Buzz was sold out everywhere. Online...sold out. Amazon...ordered only to have an email tell me it was backordered. Crap! What to do. I thought to call the Disney store. They had one left in just his size. They had been sold out for weeks, but someone had returned it that very day. We got so lucky, and it turned out to be such a cool costume with a jet pack with wings that lit up and gloves so I was a happy momma. Lesson learned. Don't procrastinate. I guess I'm just done with the cute coordinating costumes. Oh well. He was a dashing version of Buzz and Luke was the cutest tiger you've ever seen.

First off, we had Easton's field trip to the pumpkin patch. It was so fun! The kids sang Halloween songs and recited Halloween poems us, the cutest thing ever. Then it was off to find a pumpkin! 

Then, a few days before Halloween, E got to wear his costume to school and have a parade where they sang songs for us again. So fun!

So on Halloween, we headed to Dad's work to trick or treat.That was fun and Easton got lots of treats.

He said he was going to fill up his whole bucket...and with Dad's help that night, he did! They went out trick or treating while I stayed at the house with Lukster. They were gone for so long! But wow, they sure filled his bucket. Fun stuff!

Someone had a birthday!

My little man is 4. 4 years old. That is so old for a baby. Oh wait...he isn't a baby anymore. He is pretty much a full fledged little man. I really can't believe he is 4, but I say that every birthday. Easton is such a smart, sweet, funny little guy, I am so lucky to be his mom. He is such a good big brother and quick to help me when I ask. He comes up with the funniest and sweetest things to say. He loooooves his little brother. Some of my favs...

"Mom, I just smelled Luke and he smells like love."

"I just love Luke, Mom. He is my best."

"Luke is a cuuuute baby alright."

Alright is a favorite word of his. When he decides to obey it's, "Alright, alright, alright."

It is so cute how he mimics how we talk to Luke. Every time he sees him he comes up cooing "Oooooh Luuuuuuke! Look at your cute little faaaaaace!" "Ooooooh Luuuuuuke, you are the sweetest baby ever."

And every time we pick him up from preschool, it's "Don't worry, big brother's back from schooooool, big brother's back from schoooooooooooool." Hahaha. I just love it.

Easton is loving preschool. He is so dang smart and is doing great. He comes home with poems memorized and recites them for me and I die. I die from the cuteness. He recently recited the Pledge of Allegiance and said "...for witches hands..." instead of "...for which it stands...". Like I said. I die. Hahaha. Oh I just love him.

We had a pretty low key birthday this year. It was on a Sunday so he woke up and quickly opened his presents before church. Again...all focus was on video. I've GOT to get better at both! He got all sorts of Toy Story toys...ones that are all decked out for space. And Grandma and Grandpa got him Buzz's super cool spaceship and he got a Buzz Lightyear scooter...all sorts of fun stuff.

We got together at my Mom's for dinner. He looooves Chik-fil-a. (Wonder where he gets that from?) So we tried to recreate a homemade version since it was Sunday. At least I already had some legit sauce. He seemed to like it.

This was my attempt at decorating his eclair cake (how do you decorate one topped with whipped cream?)...Luckily he didn't seem to mind. :)

And he wanted to decorate Halloween sugar cookies. Good times.

Happy Birthday East!

Life with Luke

Luke is now 6 weeks old. Wow. It has been a little crazy adjusting to having two kids. At first I thought I would never leave the house again. But having Easton in preschool has forced me to learn how to get everyone ready and out the door quickly. Luke was going through a little fussy phase but we just switched formulas and he is doing so much better. It is so fun to watch him when he is alert and you can just see his brain going a million miles a minute just processing everything. He is starting to bat at things with his cute little hands. He caught hold of my necklace the other day and his arms and legs started just a goin...he was so excited to hear the jingling it made. So cute. Easton is being a great big brother and he'll be the first to tell you. Haha. If Luke starts crying, he'll come over cooing "It's okay Luke, big brother is here, big brother is heeeeere." And he always asks after preschool if Luke was sad because he missed his big brother. It is great. I love watching Luke watch E. You can already tell how much he is going to look up to his big bro.  I don't know how moms manage more than 2 kids it's cah ray zay but I'm slowly feeling more normal. I feel grateful to have two healthy boys. And we sure love Luke's sweet innocent spirit and his adorable face!

Bundled up to take E to the park...

I don't know why I always think to get the camera out while he is eating...

We ♥ this little man!

He's Here! He's Here!

And he is already 2 weeks old! I can't even believe it. I was scheduled to be induced on Monday the 12th. I was totally for it. With Easton I had to go in the night before, but this go around, I was already dialated to a 2  and 70% effaced. So I called in at 6:30am and they told me to come in at 8:00am. Chantel came to stay with Easton and off we went to the hospital. I just kept thinking...I can't believe next time I see Easton he will have a little brother. We got checked in and got my IV started. Randon settled in to read a book and I just hung out and watched TV. They started the pitocin around 10 and I was so excited to get things goin! I wasn't feeling much but my nurse told me she was going to get me the epidural before the anesthesiologist went to a C section. So I got my epidural early and spent the day hanging out, dozing off and eating slushies and ice chips. And here I am suffering through a particularly painful contraction.

Oh wait. I had an epidural. Har har.  This was more like it... quite pleasant actually.

I think it was around five that I was finally dilated and effaced. By the time everything was ready and my doctor was there I started to push and fifteen minutes later he was here!!! Labor this time compared to Easton was a dream. I couldn't believe he was really here. (Sorry for the blood on the head and the one leg pictured spread eagle. It's all good, people.)

He was 7lbs 14oz and 19 inches long. We decided on the name Luke Randon Russell. I was so excited to have Easton meet his new brother. He was so excited and Chantel even took him to pick out a little gift for him. So sweet! (Why does my expression look funny? I'll tell ya. Because I burped .5 seconds later. I'm nothing if not ladylike.)

We just love little Luke. He is the sweetest little thing. And my recovery has been so much better. Love it!

We are so tired but so excited he is here! We are so blessed to have such a sweet healthy little guy.

preschool!

My goodness, I didn't this day would come so fast. My little man is a preschool goer now.  I am so happy for him and excited for all he will learn. He is going to Miss Karie's preschool where he will get to learn all sorts of fun things and she teaches tumbling and they get to go on a field trip once a month, the list of fun goes on. We went to a preschool open house before his actual first day for the kids to see everything. While we were walking there, he said, "I'm scared. Mom, how can I be brave?" Oh my heart! Okay, you don't have to go! We can go home and you never have to go to school and you can be my little buddy forever. Not really. I told him I was right there with him and that he knew and loved Miss Karie. She is so great and took him right by the hand to show him everything and he found some Toy Story toys so he was sold.

We had a little school feast the night before school (well...the feast consisted of Little Caesars pizza and root beer...hahaha). He was happy and got a buzz lightyear watch. Before bedtime, Easton got his first school blessing from Randon. I am emotional about everything right now, but it was so great. I can't believe I have a child of my own getting school blessings, it really wasn't that long ago my dad was giving them to me...was it?

At home...before we left for school! So handsome! 

With his lightning mcqueen backpack of course.

Ready to head into preschool. I seriously have the cutest boy. 

Look at that sweet face. He did so great.

Ready to go! So fun!

He was all smiles when he came out and said he had a great time. Most of what he had to say was about the toys during play time, but they also got to have ice cream and paint an ice cream cone. Fun! Sigh. My baby is a baby no more. A long time ago. But now its official.
***
Update...still pregnant. :) I asked Randon the other night on a scale of 1-10 how excited he was for me not to be pregnant anymore. I thought he would say like 5 to be safe. He looked right at me and said 10! His eyes said 17. Haha. He has been so sweet and patient and does anything I ask.  We are ready for you little mister!