Another Catch-Up

Alright, Gaby...I'll update this thing....My sister has informed me that she is tired of looking at the "lady-like" picture of Lana in the last post so time for me to catch everyone up.

Nothing too exciting in central Illinois. Last week on St. Patty's Day Neil turned 30...yeah I know he's old, but don't remind him. ;) We had a low-key birthday for him here since we had a stressful week the week before. I helped the kids make some birthday art projects for Neil including a map that would lead him to his present which would have been great except for the minute Neil got home from work Landen proceeded to point and shout "Dad, your present is in here!" Good thing that map took over an hour to make.

Lana had her 15 month appointment last week as well. She weighed in at a not so whopping 15.06 lbs and 27.5 inches. Really really small but otherwise perfectly healthy. So not only does she look exactly like me she will also be tiny like me. She is finally starting to repeat some words including eyes (which she thinks refers to her ears but I'll take it), Dada, apple (which is always in a growling voice), and done. A couple others too that I can't think of right now.

On a sad note, thanks to everyone who has expressed concern for me and my family...we did find out we were pregnant a few weeks ago and then lost the baby on the 12th right after announcing to the world our excitement. It was absolutely heartbreaking but I'm slowly on the mend. Also, my grandmother is not well and any prayers sent her way are more than appreciated.

And as always, some photos....









"Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better." The Beatles

Dear Elena,

Sometimes it's a scratch and sometimes it's a pick. If it's unclear...

give the camera a better angle.

Not that there's anything wrong with that. :)
Love, Lana

(In reference to the March 4th Leone Family Blog)

"She never stops, she's a go-getter..." The Beatles

Spring, is that you?

Although it was a bit windy outside today, it was absolutely beautiful. Blue skies that made me hopeful that we've seen the last of winter. As soon as I realized how nice it was we headed to the park. Landen was so excited to be able to play outside and Lana was very happy to investigate every inch of the park. Last time we were there she was still just crawling and not big enough to do much of anything aside from swinging. She had so much fun and was all smiles trying to keep up with her big brother. Landen had fun "showing her the ropes" too.

It was one of those days where the kids were both in a great mood and I got about a million great pictures. I tried to narrow it down some and put up the best ones. Enjoy!











"Sounds of laughter, shades of life are ringing through my open ears exciting and inviting me. Limitless undying love which shines around me like a million suns it calls me on and on across the universe. Jai guru deva om. Nothing's gonna change my world." The Beatles

Busy Busy Busy

Okay. Maybe not that busy, maybe just too lazy to upload my pictures. But enough people have called me out on having not updated in a while so here I am. Note to husband...my apologies if the dishes do not get done as I am otherwise preoccupied. :)
Cute face to make you forgive me about the dishes...

Anyways...so much has been going on. Landen finished basketball and is anxiously awaiting for baseball to start next month. I am too actually. Since basketball, he is a totally different person around other children. Where as before he would cling to me and be too shy to interact with the other children, he now goes off on his own and makes friends. He calls them by "hey kid," but it is a start and we are working on how he can introduce himself as I'm certain the other kid doesn't enjoy being called that way.

Landen is also officially signed up for preschool. He starts in the fall. It seriously took me three days to fill out the application (which was a bit more lengthy than I expected for preschool) because I would almost cry every time in disbelief that my son was so grown up already. I can still remember rocking him when he was a baby....(insert big mommy sigh and reminicing look here). But I'm really excited for him. Also, one of his friends from our play group is in the same class, so I think he will be happy having a familiar face to be around.

Lastly, there are no more cribs in my nursery...oh I mean kids' room. On the advice from one of the Java Mamas we have done an early transition to a toddler bed...a really cute pink princess toddler bed for my really cute, almost always in pink, princess Lana (pictures coming soon). She love love loves it and has made the switch with no problems at all. When did Lana get so grown up? I know I didn't authorize it, but nonetheless here we are. I think I'm okay with it....actually I'll get back to you.
In the meantime a game of peek-a-boo...


Lana still has no desire to talk. Which is okay with me...as I'm sure many have heard me say "The sooner they talk, the sooner they talk back." So not much talking other than Dada, but she is throwing away her diapers after we change her, picking up her own toys and putting them away, climbing on everything, getting into my make-up bag and with surprisingly good aim applying lipstick (perfectly good lipstick ruined in two minutes by the way).
So pretty...


All in all...time really has been getting away from me lately and I'm busy trying to cherish each little moment I have with my boo-boos.

"Hold me. Love me. Hold me. Love me. Ain't got nothin' but love babe eight days a week." The Beatles