FiFi

Van has a new girlfriend. She goes with us everywhere! Van is constantly kissing her, chewing on her hooves, nibbling her neck and ears. He even falls asleep holding onto her.

Her name is Sophie the Giraffe but Van likes to call her Fi. He giggles everytime he squeezes her and she squeaks!

Poor little guy is really teething and Fi makes him feel so much better. Plus I think she distracts him from the pain. She is one of our favorite toys at the moment.

Play time with Lawton

This last Wednesday was my turn to host playgroup for the first time. It turned out to be a playdate for Lawton and Van and a mommy date for me and Brooke! We had the best time catching up and laughing hysterically. I'm so very glad it was just the four of us. Van and his bff Lawton got to spend some quality time together and I just know they are going to appreciate that we take SO many photos of them together!

Derek even picked up Jack who came over for an adult beverage and some guacamole!

Not the camera again.

YaY for playtime!

Where has March gone????

Look at those precious baby blues!

Our little peanut.

Well, Van is no longer a newborn. He has moved on to infant status and is looking more and more like a little boy to me! It's scary how fast he is growing and changing. We're really starting to hear that he looks like a little Lukoskie!

A lot of friends say they see my dad in Van.

This milestone is marked by not only chubbier cheeks, but personality galore! He can be so silly making us laugh and himself giggle. He has such a big smile and I love seeing that little dimple. Like a typical boy he loves fart sounds. Especially when you blow raspberries on his tummy!

Other noises that are new this month - screams and fake coughs to get your attention! So funny! Van is a big talker and I swear he says mamamama when he is babbling.

He also has a very serious side (where did that come from?). I wish I knew what he was thinking when he gets that serious expression on his face.

Van loves to clasp his hands together. It looks so funny! Like he's about to hold a meeting or give you a stern talking to! For the first time ever I saw him take his paci out of his mouth, wave it around then put it back in! This may sound trivial but before he could never find his mouth, he would wave his paci around then just drop it. He tries to hold his own bottle while you're feeding him and he's grabbing at everything. He's a very curious little man!

Teething has begun! He's constantly chewing on his fingers or trying to shove his whole fist into his mouth. Sometimes this results in him gagging and spitting up. Not pretty! We use a lot of baby oralgel! That stuff is a lifesaver.

We go through a ton of bibs and burp cloths at the moment. Between him spitting up and drooling it's hard to keep him in one outfit for too long.

Look at that drool!

Speaking of outfits Van is now wearing 9 month clothing!! He is growing like a weed. He is about 26 inches long but he has the cutest chunky legs. I have a hard time getting him out of his bumbo!

This month we've had some great visits with a couple of Van's girlfriends.

Betsy Grace is the happiest baby and she loves to have her picture taken. Van makes you work a little harder for his smile.....just like his daddy! BG was trying to hold hands with Van and get him to smile. I picture these two playing house in the future and Betsy Grace trying to console Van when he gets upset.

Here he is trying to be a big boy and sit up like Betsy Grace. "I don't like this MOM!" Am I a bad mom to laugh at this picture? His face is just too cute and I rarely capture him crying.

We went over to Avery's house for dinner one night and these two had a ball together. They played a game where Van would wave his arms and kick his legs and Avery would try to grab on! Avery is 9 months old so she's moving around quite a bit more than Van but I can tell these two will be fast friends! We're going to have to keep an eye on them! Avery was trying to teach Van how to talk in her monster voice!

Aunt Candace and Uncle Clay just found out that they are having a baby boy!!! Cole Phillips Goodman. Candace has been busy painting his nursery and picking out his crib bedding while April and I have been busy planning her baby shower.

Don't they look like naturals?

Van can't wait to meet his cousin in August!

Wow! I think it's time for a nap!

Van's First Trip - BHI

On March 12th Derek and I packed up the car with Van and all our baby gear and headed to Bald Head Island. It was our first trip with Van and sort of a dress rehearsal for our annual Fourth of July trip to BHI with the Kinlaws.

Van, like his mommy, can't seem to stay awake in the car and he slept for the first hour and a half until we got to St. Pauls. We stopped in St. Pauls so Grey's mom could meet the infamous Van.

Here is Marsha telling Van how cute he is and how she can't wait to spend a week with him for the Fourth of July!

The last hour of the drive was a little tricky. I sat in the back with Van and tried to keep him entertained. We were all ready to get out of the car and stretch our legs in the salty air.

Here we are waiting on the ferry and Grey and Haley to arrive!

As soon as we boarded the ferry - I lost my voice! I progressively got sicker as the weekend went on but at least I was in the most comfortable place with close friends. We did a lot of lounging around! Thankfully Van never got my cold! It turns out I had a sinus infection. Ugh!

Derek and Van doing what they do!

All in all we had a very relaxing weekend with great food and great friends.

We ate lunch each day at Eb & Flo's. Van enjoyed watching the ACC tournament on the big screen tv's.

Van's first glimpse of Old Baldy!

It was hard to say goodbye to BHI but we'll be back soon!

The gorgeous view from our back deck.

And as a special treat we got to stop by and see Grammy on our way back home. She had not seen Van since Christmas and was shocked at how much he had grown! Van was telling his Great-Grammy all about his trip to BHI and how he can't wait to come back! He's definitely a beach baby.

Such Strength

Van is getting better and better at tummy time!

I was so excited to capture this on film!! Van has rolled from his tummy to his back a couple times on the couch with me sitting next to him but today was the first time he did it lying on the floor!!!

Letter to my husband

After talking to Brooke the other day about how lucky we are to have such incredible husbands I really started to get sentimental about you my love. I began going through all our cards, letters and pictures and wanted to write a quick little note. We've been through so much in the 13 years we've known each other that proper words can't begin to describe how in love I am with you and the life we have created together.

There is one place that is my favorite in the whole world....I don't have to go far to get there. In this place, I feel totally free to just be myself. I can laugh and be silly or sigh or cry without fear of being judged. In this place, I know that I am accepted and appreciated just as I am. It's a place where I'm convinced I was born to be. My favorite place to be is wherever you are.

It is by God's grace that I have found the kind of peace and happiness that you've given to me. You give me purpose when I feel I have none. Without you, my soul would be empty, my heart broken, my being incomplete. I thank God everyday for bringing you into my life and I thank you for loving me. I am truly blessed.

Seeing you with Van makes me fall in love with you even more. You are the most amazing father. To see the loving way Van looks at you brings tears to my eyes. You are so natural with him. Thank you for creating a home full of unconditional love, happiness and so much laughter. You'll always be everything we need.

You are my best friend and I'm so proud that our son is going to be raised by such an incredible dad. We will both love you till the end of time.