Hello, y’all! I am fully back into my southern drawl in this crazy heat!! Rebekah let me know the other day that her carseat was hot and had me blow on it…stinkin’ hot weather! Anyway, we are safe in Texas at my parents’ house thru this week and then off to even hotter south Texas to visit Josh’s family for a month, then back to Big D (that’s Dallas for you Iowans) 8/10-9/8, when we head off to Scotland!
Our drive down was great- we took Luke and he was a stud!! He either slept or smiled most of the way and my mom was awesome enough to take R with her on her flight, which both enjoyed! Other than the fact that Rebekah, Mom, and now Luke have had vicious coughs (Mom’s the worst by far!!!! 
), it has been great being here! I am LOVING the family time with my parents, Billy, Becky, Riley Jane (oh my gosh- adorable!), and my aunts/uncles, and friends! Luke is now solely on formula in bottles, so I have had lots of help even in the middle of the night! He is starting to regulate a little bit more, only getting up once to eat, which is wonderful. Sadly, tho, we have had some troubles with little Luke- I mentioned he is not nursing- crazy story there…I nursed R for a year and planned to do the same with Luke…however, he started getting really fussy while nursing most of the time and did better with bottles, so I was pumping like crazy. Then, I was pumping all the time and not as much as he was eating and getting pretty stressed about it (who me?)…b/c I was tired of spending so much time feeding him and pumping, I decided to give up nursing- (we had been transferring thrush back and forth, too_- to have the flexibility of the bottle. Sadly, he started getting really fussy while taking bottle, too. He also has had a persistent cough for a month (!) which could be related to reflux…even tho I didn’t want to pay out of network, I took him in to see a doc here and he agreed with me that L might have reflux…we started meds last week and he seems to be doing better at eating. The cough persists, but we think it’s sickness and we’ll have to wait it out.
We celebrated Rebekah’s 2nd birthday here with family this afternoon! She had a blast and kept saying Happy Birthday Party!!! It was really fun seeing people and for a no gifts party, she got quite a haul of presents- favorites were bubbles, books, Crayons, a backpack, and Tic Tacs!
Aunt Becky (who LOVES Baby Luke like her own) holding Luke in her sling…
Rebekah right before she pawed into her own cake…
We joke that no one would guess that Riley Jane is Becky’s and Rebekah is mine!
We went to my aunt’s for the 4th…we didn’t get a pic of Luke’s swim trunks, but his swim shirt says “King of the Beach.”
My dad holding Riley Jane, next to my cousin’s husband…
Riley Jane
Rebekah has been loving going swimming in the kiddie pool in my parents’ yard…
Rebekah goofing off in Old Navy…
It is so fun to see Riley Jane and Becky! They both look beautiful. I love Rebekah’s cake. Did Rebekah like the fireworks? David was freaked out this year! Tell everyone hi! We miss you all!
Hi Em! So good to read your post. I’m glad you made it down to TX ok. I’m headed there tomorrow. Not looking forward to the heat either. Seeing all your pics makes me miss you guys even more. I’m praying for you all to feel better soon.
em- weird to see you in texas- it made my heart sink when i saw you there.. crazy. and how you won’t be back in iowa- it went so fast and sadly when people leave i always seem to say.. “wish i could have spent more time with them..” but know we miss you here! can’t take your name of the momma playgroup list yet!
You guys look so great! I hope it’s gotten easier and easier for you! Bottles and family to use them make such a huge difference, don’t they? Enjoy your time back home
Welcome back to Texas.
Yes, a post! Not that I have checked multiple times a day since you left or anything.
I must echo Jamie in that it is so weird seeing you there knowing you are not coming back soon. So glad to see your faces though!!!!!!
OK, Luke looks huge and is changing so quickly! Loved R’s cake and wished we were there to celebrate. You and Becky (beautiful) look awesome and yes, you certainly could pull off the switch and no one would know it! Love God’s creativity. You all look great!!!
Miss you like crazy. Just keep living like you’ll be back soon. Working on making sure that happens too!
Love you guys!
First, you’re haircut looks way cute! Amanda told me the story about all the drama that happened. Sorry!
Second, yeah for Texans moving back to Texas (even if for a little while)! I sincerely hope we move down there sometime. But who knows if that’s God’s plan. Although, I will say I DO NOT miss that Texas heat!!
What??? Thats Luke? Woah…boy is he growing fast! You look great as always in those pics, and it is great to hear from ya. Love ya!
Darlin’ fam! Glad to know the timeline for your move. I knew it was coming up, but wasn’t sure that maybe you were already Scotland bound. Know that we are praying for y’all for precious family time, rest, energy for all things, and an easy transition. We know the Lord will be with you WHEREVER you go!
With all our love!