New pictures!

I can honestly say we are getting into the groove of being a family of 5. Maechen is such a laid back baby, so she has made the adjustment pretty easy. She is now on a schedule and going to bed at a reasonable time in the evening, so life feels like our "new normal." She has the smiling thing down...she smiles with her whole body. :) Vicki brought over a picture of Josh when he was 6 weeks old, and it is fair to say Josh takes the credit this time around because she looks just like her Daddy, which I love.

Swinging with her big sister. I never got the swing out when Harper was a baby, so she spends lots of time swinging now. We say she's really too big for it, but that doesn't matter to her.

My studly preschooler! Lake is loving preschool, and looks forward to going everyday.

It looks like her eyes are going to stay blue.

Hyvee Tri

Josh participated in the Hyvee Tri this past weekend. Maechen and I stayed home, but Lake and Harper went up with my parents and Josh's parents. The weather was beautiful! Josh had a good race, but he wasn't overly happy with his performance. But, it is a great race and many of his Sterling teammates raced as well, so they had a great day.

Waiting and watching for Daddy. Our good friends, the Gustufsons, also went up to watch Dan race.

My parents watched the kids while Josh got his bike out of transition. The race was downtown this year so they took advantage of playing by the capital

She's growing!

Time is flying by! It's amazing Maechen will be 6 weeks old in a few days. But, it's also hard to remember life without her. She has definately been a great addition to our family. She is such a sweet baby and seems to be laid back and easy going. She is loved very much by not only her parents, but Lake and Harper. I never would have imagined they would be this bananas over her...something that warms my heart as their mother.
Maechen loves her tummy! She has started rolling from her tummy to her back, and she is also smiling. I have been trying to catch these smiles on camera, but usually I am too late. She is a great eater and has never had her days and nights mixed up, so Mommy is feeling great. :) The weather has been beautiful so we spend lots of time outdoors. We are working on a schedule, but it's hard when I bring Lake to and from school 4 days a week.
By the way - Lake is loving school. Not that that is a shock, but it is fun to see him excited about going everyday. I am full of questions when I pick him up, and usually learn what was for snack and what he did on the playground. We have over heard him singing songs that he learned in his classroom, so that has been fun.

Tummy time...she is getting pretty good at this.

The day has finally come!

Today was the big day! Lake has been talking and anticipating this day for the past 2 1/2 years, and no, that is not an exagerration. He has been so eager to go to "school" since he learned what school is. Needless to say, when he woke up this morning he could hardly believe today was the day. He was ready to head out the door at 8:15, but preschool didn't start until 12:30, so we had a few hours to get through first.
Lake is going to preschool at one of the elementary schools in town. He has school 4 afternoons a week. Harper, Maechen and I had a quiet afternoon, and were eager to pick him at the end of his day. :)

Maechen Wren

Maechen is 11 days old today. The four of us went to the doctor yesterday for Maechen's first appointment. She weighed 8 pounds 5 ounces, this puts her in the 50% for weight and 80% for height.
Many people have been asking about her name. Josh and I stumbled across this name when I was pregnant with Lake, so it's been around awhile. Her middle name, Wren, is after Josh's Great Grandpa Warren. She is definately a Maechen Wren, and Harper insists on calling her "Maechen Wren."
We are adjusting well to being a family of five, but life is much busier. The kids are doing great with her. They love to hold her and Harper can't seem to give her enough kisses throughout the day. The weather has been beautiful this week which has allowed for some outings to the park and evening walks with Daddy.
Christina has been asking for pictures so I did my best to upload some. It's funny how you forget tp take pictures with so much going on.

Josh's favorite thing to do with her.

The oldest and youngest VZ grandchild. Maechen made it even...4 boys and 4 girls.

He is such a sweet big brother!

Lake use to make this same facial expression.