"Pleasantly Pierced"

Tonight we decided to bite the bullet and have Ella get her ears pierced. I have been wanting to get it done before she knows how to pull on her ears and tonight was as good as any. We went to the Piercing Pagoda in Westshore Mall. I was freaking out thinking I was inflicting pain on my little girl who had no idea what was coming to her but I would rather do it now than wait til she is older and have her freak out because she does know what is coming. Brad was a sweetheart and volunteered to hold her because I didn't know if I could deal:) It went actually incredibly well. She cried while it was being done but as soon as I grabbed her to soothe her she calmed down and when Brad clapped his hands and said "Yea Ella!" (the newest thing she absolutely loves) she started smiling and was totally happy. It worked out great because she was due for a bottle so we just fed her immediately after that and she was happy as could be - not as tramatic as we cooked it up to be in our minds. What a little trooper:)

The Maroon Platoon:)

Pictured here is Alden (Curt and Jamie Lucas' son), Ella, and Layla (Joe and Mere Geurink's daughter). Curt, Brad, Joe and Mere all went to Holland Christian High School. When Holland Christian is made aware that alumni have had a child, they send these cute shirts. We just couldn't resist taking a picure of them all together. (I didn't include the other pictures where Ella was screaming and Layla was pulling her hair:)

4 months old!

Our little girl is now 4months + ! Time has gone by so quickly. It has been so fun watching her come into her own - seeing her personality shine through. She has been a joy to interact with - smiling and laughing and seeing her little habits forming like trying to shove anything possible into her mouth whether it be her own fingers, our hands, toys, blankets, or mommy's hair:) We are still working on tummy time - it is certainly not her favorite but she is doing really well - just need to work on the rolling over. She cracks us up because she is good at displaying how she is feeling - happy, hungry, sleepy...not to mention cranky - she has such a fake whiny cry sometimes it makes us laugh - I think it makes her more mad because we don't take it too seriously:) She remains a major cuddle bug and loves to be held (her mom and dad might have something to do with that). The newest thing with her is truly recognizing people and knowing when she isn't with someone she knows and possibly recognizing that her parents aren't around - this has been discovered after some evening crying sessions when mom and dad were gone and when strangers hold her. We can't help but feel some happiness that Ella loves us and misses us but sad that she gets upset - lets hope that this is just our perception and she won't start separation anxiety yet.

We had her latest Dr appt. this past Monday and she weighed in at a whopping 16lbs 3 oz (90th percentile) and 26 inches (95th percentile). She had a clean bill of health and the Dr gave us the okay to begin a tsp of rice cereal 2x per day! Anyways - here is some updated random pics of our doll.


Up close and personal

Her best friend Macie (we can always get great belly laughs when she is around)

Saying her prayers during her nap:)

Acting all prim and proper

"What are you doing with that camera again Mom?"

Another cute new habit - rubbing her eyes when she is tired

Can't get enough of those tasty fingers

We almost peed our pants laughing at how funny she looks at these sunglasses Brad's Mom gave her - they are meant for this summer - but we couldn't resist trying them on her with all the sunny days we had this week:)

I am not really a ribbons and bows type of mom but I may seriously need to reconsider!


A few seconds of joy on the tummy!

Goodbye Ky! We'll miss you mate!

Today Brad's sister,Kylee, headed off to Australia for a semester abroad through Grand Valley. She will be studying there through July. We are so proud of her spreading her wings like that and going on such a big adventure but we will surely miss her. She is the little sister that I never had (besides you Betsy:) and she will be greatly missed. Ella will miss her auntie but hopefully she can see Kylee at Grandma Konings house through the webcam. We love you Kylee and hope you have a wonderful trip!!!!

Grandma

Grandma -

I remember…

Playing hide and seek

Your pumpkin bread :)

Drinking cold coffee out of your really small coffee cups when I was way too young to be drinking coffee.

Watching Psalty The Singing Songbook religiously at your house and how we’d all sing along when the kids were lost in the woods…“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path”.

Sleepovers – I can still smell the sheets.

The big Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings ever year, we’d always stay as long as possible.

How the grape jam always tasted better from your jar with the little spoon.

School shopping with you every year.

Walking you down the aisle at my wedding.

Swimming at your house and how you always made us use the ladder (when you were looking)

Going to Chicago with David, Josh, you, and Grandpa.

The way you prayed.

How you’d come to almost every school function and church event I was a part of.

Playing MadLibs on the way to the Tiger’s game.

Introducing Ella to her great Grandma.

How you’d read us Bible stories.

I know these are just a few things, but most of all I simply remember you as being a part of our lives and I wish I could thank you for that in person!

I love you and will miss you until we meet again.

Love,

Brad

In Memory of Grandma Koning...

Today we lost a wonderful person in our family; this morning Brad's Grandma Koning passed away. She was an amazing Grandma- a loving Christian woman of grace and beauty. She will be so missed by us and her family. Please pray for Brad's Grandpa and the Konings as they will be missing her greatly but also rejoicing that she is in heaven with her Savior.

question

Jill - did you go in and edit my congratulations to the President and put my name at the end?

wuss :)

LOVE YOU!!!!!!!