ONE!!!

The birthday boy and his cake

Opening presents- Ella actually opened most of them

The handsome birthday boy

Trying to get pictures usually goes like this

He pulled Ella's paint off the table while i ran to the store and Stewart was watching them. Who knows how much he ate and then the rest he painted on the tile and table

Loves, loves to swim

A whole year has come and gone since our little man has joined our family. He is such a joy to have in our home and we all love him to death

At a year Luke:

- Takes two naps a day and still sleeps 12 hours a night (or more)

-Started walking at eleven months and now he hardly ever crawls (sad). His first steps were February 25th and there was no stopping him after that

-Busy, busy. He does everything with a smile on his face, like he knows he isn't supposed to be doing it but if he smiles he won't get into trouble.

- Chatters all day. He says: ball, dog, uh-oh, ruff ruff, ella, mom, and dad.

- Follows Ella everywhere

-Laughs and smiles all the time. He is very happy go lucky and I love it.

-Wearing 18-24 month clothes

- To say he loves balls is an understatement. He also loves cars and makes little car noises when he plays with them

-Loves to go to the park

-Loves to swim and have a bath. He has fallen in Ella's bath twice trying to get in when she is having a bath.

-Climbs on anything he can and has learned how to climb on the couch.

-Anytime a door or the fridge opens he rushes over to try and get everything or get to the toilet paper

-Likes to dance when he hears music

- Getting more hair, and I think it is going to be dark (maybe). It would be fun to have a dark haired child and blond child.

- Has had an ear infection for TWO months. Ugh. If it's not gone soon he might have to get tubes.

Stats: 26.2 pounds and 32.5 inches

We love you Lukers! You have brought so much joy to our lives.

Happy 1st birthday Luke.

More to come on his birthday later. But for now I just want to wish this little dude a happy birthday. I can't believe you are one:)

Ella makes me laugh....

She loves the mannequins at old navy.... especially the dog. The only dog's Ella likes are either stuffed or plastic but that is not what this post is about so moving on. So we are at old navy one day and she tell Stewart, "OK I am going to stand up here and you pretend that I am a mannequin and not Ella." I don't know about you but I can hardly tell the difference.

And on another completely unrelated note Ella has asked us to change her name, and not just call her this name but change it forever so now I have a daughter named flower. Flower Hazel Christensen, I guess it will take some getting used too:)

Ella's four year portraits

Miss Ella was a big ham when we took these. She was saying, "I can do this with my foot." and putting her head on her shoulder. It was cracking me up, she was like a little model. She was so excited she got to have balloons in her pictures and let me tell you they were HUGE. At first she was worried they were going to lift her off the ground because they were so big. She is really 4 1/2 when we finally took them. I love you bugs, you are too darn cute.

Thanks to Anna- check out her site here. Your the best:)

Lied Children's museum

This is one of Ella's favorite places to go. They have remolded the museum and it is a lot nicer than it used to be. It is always fun for the kids when we go here:)

28 and feeling great!

Yes, I know it is a cheesy title...haha. My birthday was last week and I can't believe I will be 30 in a few short years.

- I have been so blessed in my 28 years and have so much to be grateful for. Here are a few reasons:

*I have a wonderful husband. He is so willing to help me anytime I ask him and it comes with little to no complaining. He is my best friend and I really do love him more now than when we got married. He is my better half.

*My Ella. What a wonderful little girl you are. So sweet, smart, loving and so fun to be around. You bring me joy every single day and I adore you more than you will ever know. You color me pictures all day long and I can't bring myself to throw any out. You are such a beautiful little girl.

*Luke, my busy boy. You are at such a fun age. I love how you love me to chase you and look back to make sure I am. You walk or crawl as fast as you can just laughing as hard as you can. You love to play with any kind of ball and can throw things pretty far, it makes me laugh. You are the happiest baby, always smiling and laughing. I could squeeze you and Ella all day if you guys would let me. You are my handsome little man.

*I love how much my kids love each other. I never thought they would play so well together and it makes me so happy to watch.

*I am so grateful to have a lot my family close by. Ella loves to go to Grammy's and to Grandma Christensen's and it is nice to have family here to watch my little ones.

Walking!

We have an official walker! Luke started taking steps on February 25th and this was taken tonight. He has made great progress and walks all over the place. He is still crawling as well but walking just as much. Ella told me he can't walk everywhere yet because he has, "fat, wobbly legs:)" Ella is his biggest fan and if you are in the room when he is walking she will make sure you stop what you are doing to watch him and will yell, " good job buddy, or yay Lukers." I love when babies first start walking, it is pretty much the cutest thing to watch. I love how Luke balances himself with his arms. Good job little man we are so proud of you, even though you walking makes me sad.

I could seriously squeeze her all day.

Shhh.... Don't tell my mom turned me around!

Luke loves facing forward now. We switched him around last week and he loves it.

Sent from my iPhone

We have a new family member.....

Meet rainbow! Ella's first pet (thank goodness I talked her out of a dog). Rainbow and Ella share a room and Ella is in heaven. At the pet store I overheard her say, " oh rainbow I love you so much I am going to take such good care of you."

Sent from my iPhone