welcome to the club................

Lesley is finally 30!

We celebrated Saturday at her parents place on Lake Michigan!

It was a great party. We had an amazing time catching up with old friends, and meeting new ones. The weather was a little windy and cool, but we still got in a great fire at the end of the night! We had some competitive games of tippy cup, pennis, ping pong, foose ball, and some great karaoke! Jim and I even spent the night. We were spoiled by his parents willingness to take both girls over night, even though Kady gets up quite frequently! It was my first time away from Kady at all, she survived, as did I...and it went much better than anticipated!

Thanks for the great party!

chubby cheeks

I can't believe that Kadence is 5 weeks old already! She is filling out, and already growing out of some clothes. I love her juicy cheeks, and they get kissed all day long! She is just starting to become more alert, and today I caught her doing a little more cooing and talking. I love the fact that she stares at you and studies your face now. Along with her developing personality she is also developing quite a hair style. I comb it straight down after a bath, but every time a little more stands straight up. Sometimes it even resembles a mohawk, all by itself!

Kadence

So much changes in 3 weeks! Kadence is fitting quite nicely in our house. She sleeps, eats, and poops. Not much crying......she does go from relaxed and sleeping to "I want to eat like 3 hours ago" in one second. She is starting to develop some chunky monkey cheeks, I love kissing on them. She is finally starting to become more alert, and she loves snuggling! She has fuzzy hair that sticks straight up on the top of her head, which makes it so rubbable (I don't think that really is a word)! What beautiful girls I have been blessed with!

Lucy's second birthday

Lucy's new bike
Daddy trying out the hair that came in Lucy's dress up suitcase
What a perfect day to have a party outside!

Lucy might have been more excited about the princess ariel paper than she was about opening her gift. She was so patient and waited all morning to be able to open up her present.
Lucy modeled her new princess nightie from Max and Tyler. She was on her phone all night to Max to thank him for the gifts (and the sponge bob sticker on the box it came in!)
My masterpiece...................the princess castle cake that Lucy told everyone about for her birthday. Her favorite part was the gumballs on the top! She chewed them for an hour or so....but I lost track of her towards the end of the party and don't quite know where the gum ended up, maybe her belly, or maybe I'll find it someday in her playroom.
Her princess Ariel bucket


Saturday Lucy turned 2!!! I can hardly believe it. She is an amazing little girl, who is blossoming right before our eyes. She talks non-stop, and I try to write down some of the funny things she says. Her new word is "probably".....in Lucy words "probly". As in "Kady's probly hungry"--the minute she cries, or "Kady probly dreeming"--when she makes noise in her sleep, or in response to a question, like would you like to eat "probly". She even says "probly" when asked if she would like to start going potty on a tolite and not in her diaper!!

Sunday we celebrated with a family party. It was so awesome to have everyone there and to just hang out and relax on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. The kids all played so well together and it was fun to see how much each one is growing!

I really want Lucy to know what a beautiful girl she is! She makes me laugh and smile even on the cloudiest of days. She has a strong sense of self already, but is the sweetest, most gentle soul you can find. She reminds me a lot of myself (and so people have said) with her streaks of stubborness and independence, but also with an incessent love for life and for those around her.

Mom of 2

So I'm settling into my role as a mom of 2 little girls. Lucy loves her little sister. She loves to hold her, and kiss her, she reads to her, and tonight in the car sang a song to her. She is very sweet. Kady seems to love the attention that she gets. I don't have much more to add then how good both of the girls are. Kady just sleeps and eats, and Lucy entertains herself very well when she needs too. Lucy is anticipating her second birthday this Saturday, which I can't believe. She tells everyone that she is going to have a princess castle cake for her birthday. I hope I can live up to her expectations of this cake........because the recipe that I found calls for a lot of stacking cake pieces. I hope it stands tall like it's suppose to. I did try and buy a princess ariel cake mold (which I thought would be easier), but Lucy keeps insisting that I make a princess castle cake.....the birthday girl gets what she wants. I'll be sure to post a picture of my masterpiece later.





I myself am feeling good. I love getting up to 2 happy, vibrant girls every morning. I love the little challenges every day brings, and the relaxing, quiet moments that happen at nap time as well! (I luckily have been getting a few naps in as well!) Jim loves his house full of girls. He takes everything in stride as well!





The video is a little long......but I started taping it because Lucy had been rubbing Kady's belly and saying "Kady so bootiful, Kady so bootiful". It was a very cute moment. SOrry I've tried for 3 days and can't get the video. I'll post some pics soon!

It's a girl

Most of you know that on Mother's Day, May 11 we welcomed our second little girl into the world! Kadence Joy Koops weighed 7 lb 10 oz and was 18.5 in long. She is another perfect gift from God. We are all transitioning to life as a family of four, and it's going very well!

any day now

So I'm so excited to say that we have a final, last day set for this pregnancy! Sunday I am scheduled for an induction. I am very excited to find out who has been jabbing me and wiggling around in my belly for some time! Most people have bet that it is a boy, along with me, but we will see! We can't wait to share the news with everyone after his/her arrival. Lucy is quite set with some QT with both sets of grandparents this weekend! She is going to be the best big sister. She is very motherly, nurturing, and gentle. We are so thankful to have so many supportive friends and family nearby that have offered to help us! Thanks to you all. I'm very ready to finally hold this baby.....yet a little anxious about the adjustments to become a family of four! Please pray for a safe arrival for the baby and safety and strength for me and the rest of our family as we welcome our newest addition.