More Photos!

You know how some things seem to good to be true? Well in many cases it just is, as in the case of our newfound beloved photographer. She came over last night with our complete disc of photos from our shoot with her and broke the news that she is moving to Colorado. Noooo! My heart aches because she is a gem, with such amazing talent. And just as quick as we found her, we lost her. But, we (I) will try to be positive and love our photos and hope to find someone just as good and wonderful as she is! I apologize to all of you who wanted to get your hands on her too!

Here are more photos from our fun outdoor shoot. Enjoy!

Random Thoughts...

• Craig has trained me in the past 6 years to keep the toilet lid down on all toilets, which I have learned to absentmindedly do in all these years together...until now. Why do I not do it anymore? How could I forget to now after all these years? Craig would really like to know.

• I would much rather be: Watching Sesame Street, Playing with my boys, or Sleeping...than unpacking right now.

• Note to self: Watch children or take a meal to the next person I know that goes through a move with little ones!!!

• I am so glad it doesn't take much to make my children laugh. I am sure if anyone else saw me (over the age of 3) I would be just plain weird.
  

• I am BLESSED beyond measure!

I want to be out there!!

Helping Daddy

How many Mediacom guys does it take to hook up a dvr??

7 Month Eli

Dear Eli,

The months keep passing faster and faster and now you are our adorable chubby 7 month old! The day you turned 7 months old it was the eve of our big move. I didn't know how it would happen with all of my time and attention spent on you and your brother, but with the help of your dear Grandma E, our home, the only one you and Gage have ever known, was packed up and ready to be transferred across town. Now we are adjusting to our new home and I know as soon as you are able to move and groove you are going to love it as much as we do!

As hard as it is to believe, because I couldn't possibly love you any more, I think we have bonded more than ever in this past month. Maybe it's the need you've developed for your mama that no one else can fill. Maybe it's that smile that melts my heart. All I know is that I can't get enough of your chubby cheeks and pudgy little legs.


In the past month you have developed the skill of rolling over! You don't stay on your back very long...very soon after we put you down you are onto your tummy. You haven't quite mastered rolling over again, so I am glad that you like to be on your tummy for awhile and you don't do any rolling in your crib!

I love the way you reach for my cheek or my chin when you are taking your bottle. You love to just squeeze me, or run your fingers through my hair. Even when your little fingernails are digging into my skin I cherish every moment!

Look at those long eyelashes! And messy face! You have the most beautiful eyes and long eyelashes. You get comments on them all the time. And the messy face - happens every time! (I'm not sure if you move around a lot or I am just a crazy feeder!)

My sweet, sweet boy. You require a lot of love and attention, but you give back 100 fold. I will hold you and kiss you forever, or as long as you'll let me. You are our bright shining little doodlebug.

Loving you always,
Mommy

We Moved!

Life has taken quite a turn in the Engelbrecht household! No blogging, no emailing, no tv...all due to a move and renovation project! We moved in to our new northeast Ames home last Saturday and are in the midst of some half finished painting/staining projects, and a little chaos. Thanks to my mom my kitchen is unpacked and organized! And that's where the organization ends...but we are loving it!

No more sharing a tiny bathroom with the rest of the world, no more sleeping far far away from my babies, no more having a hard time getting back to sleep after making the trek downstairs to put Eli's pacifier in when he fusses at 5 am, no more loud mufflers roaring by at 6:45 am, no more college student neighbors...and the list could go on and on. One of my new neighbors brought over some welcome-to-the-neighborhood-cookies yesterday. Another neighbor invited us to join he and his wife by their backyard fire pit. Everyone waves. Everyone is friendly. WE LOVE IT HERE!

And as soon as I find the cord I will be posting pictures! :)

18 Months, 1 1/2, Halfway to 3...

In the past 6 months, from age 1 to now, my baby has gone from not-much-hair to beautiful humidity-induced-curly blonde locks, from crawling to walking to running, from babbling to understanding to talking more and more. I have had pangs in my heart when I glimpse a not-so-much-of-a-baby anymore but a little boy! I have decided that I am not going to dwell on the fact that someday before I know it he is not going to want to hug and kiss and cuddle. Someday he is not going to want to be held. Someday he is going to prefer his friends over me. (Oh, perish the thought!) I am going to cherish each and every moment of each and every stage, and no looking back! Because he sure isn't! He is a raring to go toddler who loves his independence. And there's no stopping it anyway. My baby is growing up and I am going to love it!

Here are some of my growing boy's "favorites":

Favorite book: Wheels on the Bus and If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Favorite word: truck, pronounced "guck" (which also means duck)
Favorite food: grapes (everything else depends on the day)
Favorite phrase: uh-oh and all done
Favorite tv show: Sesame Street with Curious George a close second
Favorite toy: any/all trucks and musical ISU bottle opener
Favorite thing(s) to do: open up the fridge to get his sippy cup or just take a look around, push the start button on the dishwasher, play in the backyard, play in the rock pile
Favorite person: Mama at bedtime, Daddy at church, Papa when he visits

After playing in the rock pile. Notice his face...and what his shirt says...

More words he can say:
hi, bye-bye, wow, eat, hot, hat, no, up, dog, ball, snack (nack), bottle (baba), cup (cuck), please (tsease), book (gook), bird (caw), Elmo (Melmo), Papa, and of course, Mama and Dada

He understands so much! Like when he hears "Time to change your diaper..." he shakes his head no! If he wants to be finished with something such as a long car ride, diaper change or sitting at the table, he'll say very fast in one word "ahduh" (all done). I fail at hiding my laughter most times, it is just the cutest thing.

One of his most unusual quirks is his strong need to pull things down, ie. hand towels, clothes, etc. and throw things in a filled tub. We have to be careful or he will throw his beloved blankie in the tub before he gets in! He threw one of his shoes in there the other night.

Blankie is usually found in Gage's mouth. One morning he would not take it out while I was dressing him so his shirt ended up going over Blankie. He walked around that way for a long time! Such a stinker!

I just don't know how to even adequately describe the joy we have in life with Gage. He is so funny and cuddly and lovable. He goes to bed with a smile and wakes up with one too. He gives kisses with a big smack: "mmmah". He makes motor sounds as he drives around his trucks. He repeats everything we say, our favorite: please, which he says "tsease" with his hand on his heart. He makes funny faces and sounds to get attention. He laughs with delight at tickles and funny faces made at him.

One day not long ago we were walking in the park side by side. I wanted to stick out my hand and walk together holding hands but I knew that my little monkey would not go for that one bit when he can do it all by himself! A metaphor struck me right then. This is what parenting is all about, isn't it? Walking right next to your child through life. Sometimes they will want to hold your hand, sometimes not. But no matter what, you are there. Right next to them. And my prayer for my children is that they always know that. And not only am I on one side. Their Heavenly Father is right there on the other. I think it's a beautiful picture! Something to remember when it's not as easy as it is right now. Like when I'm not first on the favorite list anymore...

Family Photos Take 2

I'm sorry - no photos here yet, but I have a great story and recommendation to share! Please read on...

Well, we just had to do it again...what we should have done the first time! Last week I was left with the feeling that our boys will only be these ages once and since we have such a difficult time getting family photos taken due to these ages (specifically one...) I really want a professional photographer to capture some fun, creative natural shots of our family. Well did she ever!

We had the awesome benefit of recently hearing about a wonderful photographer through a co-worker of Craig's. I was so intrigued by her style of photography....She shoots outside at various spots that she knows about in the Ames and Des Moines area, you pay a very reasonable flat fee, and then after she does some amazing editing she gives you a disc with all the photos on it for you to do with as you please. That is unheard of (at least to me!) We have had some experiences with professional photographers and have never been given the photos on a disc! That is the only reason we suffer through the fast-food/fast-photo type of experience at Portrait Innovations!

This young lady is phenomenal. She is special. She is awesome. Can you tell I am totally impressed and in love with her? Her name is Allison Froehle, her business is called Allison May Photography. Her website is : http://allisonmayphotography.blogspot.com/

Click here to see a sneak preview of our awesome photo shoot with her!

I really can't even do justice with my words. I had tears in my eyes looking at these photos. And even though it was a challenge, due to an 18 month old who does not want to sit still for a photo, and a 6 month old who desperately wanted a nap, she was able to capture the love and fun we have like no one else has. Thank you Allison!