Before and After

Potential.  That was what we thought when we first saw our home.  It had good bones, but it was WAY ugly.  BUT the price was right.  For the last two years we have been slowly putting the Lightner touch on the rooms and making it our own.  Danny has been in the process this summer of replacing the bathroom faucets, countertops and floors.  They now look amazing! 

He has almost finished 2 of the 3. 

Here is the BEFORE of just the Family Room Bathroom (don’t you like the Sponge Bob light switch?):

Here is the after:

2 month comparison

Every time someone sees a new baby they try to determine who they look like…mom? dad? big sister? big brother?  The examination of each eye, nose, mouth, ear, and smile helps guide the opinion of each person.  There is no doubt that Josiah looks like Danny… it is truly obvious.  I have NEVER had a person think he looks like me.  But with Caleb I haven’t seen what others have seen.  Over and over people tell me that he is EXACTLY like Josiah.  I don’t see it.  So I pulled out the pictures of all of the kids at 2 months to make the comparisons. 

What do you think?

Two month old Gracie

Two month old Hannah

Two month old Josiah

Two month old Caleb

 

Two month old charmer!

I love this stage in a baby’s life – finally on a schedule, sleeping through the night, smiling, cooing, and loving life (for the most part)!  Caleb Andrew is now 2  months old, and he is really charming.  He loves to talk and smile, and that is really rewarding for this momma!  He will have his two month appointment on Monday, but I am estimating that he is in the 12+ pound range.  I can’t wait to find out! 

 

Cooing...”When am I going to see Nanna again?”

“I have a question!”

“Stop taking pictures, Mommy!”

Off to Art Camp!

Painting, coloring, gluing, creating, snacking and making messes… What could be better than that?! Grace did all of that and MORE at art camp this week at church!  She had a blast… Hannah desperately wanted to go with her, but she will be able to next year.  It was great for Grace to go to something special and she loved it.   Here she is on her first day of camp!

Yes, her eye is a little puffy…. Josiah hit her with a book just a few minutes before she left.  She is STILL gorgeous, though!

I LOVE my family

It was so good to be together as a Chase family in Virginia in June for Abigail’s wedding.  We were all there – 2 great grandparents, 2 parents, 5 children, 3 children in law, and 8 grandchildren!  It was fabulous!  I never get enough of seeing my children playing with cousins and aunts and uncles and playing with my precious nephews.  It was awesome…but NOT long enough!  I think we need two weeks on a private island (with each family in their own cabin) with jet skis, a boat, pool, golf course, spa and all food included.  Sound good?  :)

Bethany and Rachelle graciously took these pictures for us so we could say we were all together – Danny wasn’t around that day so we didn’t make Rachelle and Bethany join in.  Thanks for the pictures, ladies!

Either Really Brave or Really Stupid

Danny is gone to a conference this weekend, and I really needed to just get out of the house with the kids.  It was raining Friday morning so we only went to the McDonald’s Play Place as a family.  I had a choice to make:  stay home and do what we always do or go out.  Since we hadn’t been to the Lake yet this year (it is literally a mile from our driveway), I decided to be really brave (or really stupid) and take the four kids after dinner.  I didn’t tell them where we were going until after they had eaten, but then at turbo speeds we got ready and went!

WE HAD A BLAST!!  Too bad Danny wasn’t there….he would have loved it.  There were only a few other families there, the kids were great, the weather was warm, the water was cool and it was SO RELAXING!! 

Caleb was either in his car seat in the shade or in my arms in the shade.

Josiah was cautious at first but really got the hang of it by the end… we was even running into the water with the girls!

Both girls loved swimming, getting their heads under the water, playing tag, running into the water, diving into the water , floating on their backs and going all the way out to the rope.  Their giggles could be heard all over the beach!  :)

Proof that I was there with Caleb!

The kids being kids

CHEESE!

Siah asked for a chance to hold  Caleb and wanted his picture taken… ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE!!!

Tummy Time!

There are some kids who HATE tummy time…but NOT this kiddo.  Caleb prefers to be on his tummy and two weeks ago our house got less crazy when I realized this.  Caleb had never been a good napper – unless you were holding him.  He didn’t like the swing too much and even if you thought he was asleep or really sleepy, he wouldn’t sleep for more than 30-45 minutes in his bed for naps.  Then he would be so tired and cranky… NOT FUN!  I had been begging God for wisdom and waiting for His answer….

But two weeks ago I tried having him sleep on his tummy exclusively for nap times… and we have a NEW BOY!!  It must have been an answer from God because I had tried that before but I didn’t get the success that I have now.  He loves it and is really strong.  He holds his head up really well and even flipped over onto his back once in his crib.  He scoots all around during naptimes and I find him turned 180 degrees from where I laid him.  

Some people ask if I am nervous with Caleb sleeping on his tummy even though the doctors tell you not to.  My answer… I believe that God gave me the answer to help Caleb sleep.  He knows Caleb better than I do and He will take care of him.  As the Giver of Life, I am trusting my Heavenly Father.  (It helps when I hear other moms in this situation and am reminded that my generation ALL slept on tummies.)

Here is our 8 week old boy!

 

This one makes me laugh!