... lots of firsts!

I can't believe it has been almost 1 month since the last post. Oops! Since that time we've had lots of firsts around here. Here are some of the highlights!

1. First trip to Gray's Brother's Cafeteria in Mooresville (Johnson family, please appreciate this!!! :)

It was Great Grandma Johnson's 88th birthday and our 5th anniversary!

2. First trip to the Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis and first time to get in a Nascar

This was Kyle's Christmas present... a 4 lap ride along... unfortunately, before Kyle got to ride, the car broke down. We rescheduled and we'll go back in June. This will be Levi's second trip to the raceway... ha.

3. First trip to the Indianapolis (or any) zoo

We went with Megan, Dave, and Adelaide Kriebel on the Saturday of Mother's day weekend

4. First trip to a semi-pro baseball game - the Indianapolis Indians

After the zoo we decided to take the rest of our picnic from lunch and get lawn seats and watch a game. The weather was great and Levi was a trooper. It was a busy, busy day!

5. First Mother's Day!

6. First picnic at Mounds State Park

Mother's Day with Don Deena, Great Grandpa Don and Great Grandma. Levi joined in the party sitting in his Bumbo seat

7. First church softball game

Doubleheader... Park Place won both games and Levi fell asleep...

8. First time in a swing!

Much to my disappointment, Levi wasn't as excited as I thought he would be to swing but he was very content to be pushed and pushed and pushed... and chew and chew and chew on his fingers (still no teeth but they are coming!)

9. First time to sit up alone!!

Haven't caught this on camera yet but Papa John, Gigi and Kyle and I have witnessed this.
(this picture was snapped when he was still sitting up but he fell over fast enough that I didn't catch it...)

Whew! That was a lot! We are really enjoying having Levi around. Our lives have definitely been changed for the better. Stay tuned for more. :)

... garage sale!

So this morning we voluntarily got up bright and early (7am on a Saturday!) to walk around our neighborhood for the annual Lindberg Estates garage sale. We decided not to participate (though we certainly have stuff to sell) and instead be consumers.

It was COLD and WINDY but we bundled Levi up and headed out for a treasure hunt.

Smiling and ready to shop!

We had several items on our shopping list - all for Mr. Levi. We found everything we were looking for!

All the loot in front of the fireplace (that is on!)

A high chair, bowl, plate and spoon, fun treasure book, 2 sleepers, smaller stroller, blow up pool and fountain, small toy that sings and has different shapes to put in the different shaped holes... all for $28. 

Pretty soon we'll be using the high chair... he is growing up so fast

 This will fit into my little car so much more easily and will be nice for quick trips

We stopped shopping partly because we found what we wanted and partly because it was so cold! Levi still had nice warm hands and cheeks when we got in the house. It did seem to tire him out, though... 

Shop 'til you drop?

I am already looking forward to some more neighborhood garage sale mornings (after all, we're up early with Levi, anyway). Hopefully the next one won't require so many blankets! Happy Saturday :)

... time flies!

In looking at the blog, I realized it has been 2 months since I wrote anything. A lot has happened with our little guy since then. He has started daycare, started smiling, laughing, rolling, teething... the list probably goes on but those are some of the big ones. Check out the pics below to see how he's changed in the past 2 months!

in February - just fitting into 0-3 month clothes

photo shoot with his toy lion, now one of his favorites

2 months old!

with Adelaide Kriebel, the onesies we gave them when we told them we were pregnant :)

 sitting up in the Bumbo seat!

first time in the big boy part of the stroller, during our 80 degree March weather

getting better (and happier) at tummy time

creepy Easter bunny at St. John's employee Easter brunch (he didn't cry!)

playtime with the lion - Levi loves to hold onto his mane and try to eat him

3 months old!

dedicated at Park Place Church in March

 playtime in the mirror with Papa John

cuddled up in the Moby wrap and ready for a walk - still super warm weather!

we found 2 Gators things at Goodwill... this was when Florida was still in the NCAA tournament

Levi and Adelaide playing dress up after Easter ($.30 ears at Target!)

playtime with dad and a cool new toy that makes lots of noise

handsome stud on Easter

Those are some of my favorite pics of Levi and below is my favorite video - laughter.

He'll be 4 months old tomorrow and he keeps changing so fast so we'll post more pics and updates in time. 

... a new normal

It is amazing how quickly life can change! Levi has only been in our lives for 8 weeks but it seems like forever! We have greatly enjoyed the transition to being parents and a family of 3 (for the most part). I am really thankful to have been able to spend the first 8 weeks at home with Levi. I have one more week to soak up the extra snuggles, cuddles, naps and laughs before I head back to work on the 20th. As I sit here, writing this blog, Levi is sleeping in his swing, my kitchen smells so good with warm oatmeal chocolate chip cookies cooling on the counter, and I am overwhelmingly blessed.

I wanted to take these few quiet moments to share some of the adventures we've had over the past few weeks with our little man, Levi.

Tired out after tummy time with mom

Love this outfit! 

The boys getting some shut-eye on the couch

First wet bath after his cord FINALLY fell off!

Posing for the camera with the tail-end of a smile

More snuggles with dad before bedtime

at the NFL Experience in downtown Indy

boys at the NFL Experience

Future Dolphin?

Getting stronger - holding his head up

Hope you enjoyed these pictures. Keep on the lookout for more of our little man. He keeps changing so fast! He'll be two months old next week and that means time for another tie shot! :)

Okiedokie - now I have to go make sure the cookies are safe to share... 

...smiles!

A smile has a way of changing your perspective and I realized this again at 4am after having been up for almost an hour to take care of Levi. As I was holding him and trying to get him to go to sleep again I was talking to him and he smiled at me. Not a small, accidental smile but a big and purposeful smile. I smiled and he smiled again, and again. Those 3 big, genuine smiles were enough to make me forget that it was 4am and I was tired. Levi smiled! ... at me!

"Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing." 

Mother Teresa

Smiles also make it easier to remember that everything, even middle of the night feedings, can be done with a thankful heart.

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the father through him." 

Colossians 3:17

Just wanted to share this little revelation with you. Keep smiling and be thankful!

... 1 month old!

It is hard to believe but Levi is already one month old! Even though it has only been 1 month but it is hard to remember life without him. It is also hard to believe how much he has changed in just 1 month.

Here's a quick glance at Levi over the 1st month of his life.

6 pounds, 15 ounces at birth...

Hanging out with mom

Big truck, little guy

Monkeying around with dad

Sleepy time

Bath time

Merry Christmas, 2011!

Love from Uncle Will and Aunt Mandy

New Year's Eve with the Davy cousins - Jayce 11, Linkin 7, Reagan 6, Hayden 3, Shawn 4 months, Levi 2 weeks

Levi and Adelaide Kriebel (first date) 

All dressed up and ready for church

Such a big boy! 9 pounds, 4 ounces and 21 inches long :)

Life is different with a little guy whose main goals in life are sleeping, peeing, pooping, stretching... but so much fun! We love being parents and are really enjoying watching Levi change and grow.

More to come...