Big Pre-schooler!!

Well, I lived through it. ;) After my mental break down yesterday that is. :D Maddie started pre-school this morning and LOVED IT. She was such a brave girl. Tom and I walked her in and it took her all of about 3 seconds to start playing. She handed the teacher her "home work" that we got at the open house and started chatting away. I know that she is going to really enjoy pre-school and learn so much. I just can't believe it's here! :)

Sentimental Day

I think I may be having a surge of pregnancy hormones today (good luck Tom) because I am so emotional and sentimental. I am looking at Maddie and wondering how in the world over three years have gone by. She starts pre-school tomorrow and is so excited about it, she's literally dancing around with glee. I'm just in awe that it's really that time in her life and ours. Now with this new little life coming I feel like time with Maddie is just going to go even faster. That is something that I know so many of my friends who have more that one child have shared with me and well, today I'm kinda struggling with it. It just feels like I'm going to miss something with either the new baby or with Maddie no matter what I do. Moms...I need some mental positivity here!! :D Anyway, just needed to get that off my chest I guess.

A Night at the Symphony

On Friday night Tom and I took Maddie to her very first Grand Rapids Symphony. What a big girl!!! I grew up going to the symphony and have always enjoyed it. Tom has really come apprecate and enjoy the arts just as much as I do, and we really want to share them with our children. The Grand Rapids Symphony put on a Disney themed performance where they played compilations from different Disney Movies. They showed clips of the movies on a huge screen along with the music, which was so great. Maddie absolutely LOVED it and was such a good girl. We actually stayed for the entire performance! We are so proud of her for acting like such a little lady. I think she was most excited about dressing up in her Cinderella costume and getting to wear it. :) There were lots of little girls all dressed up as their favorite princess, which was so sweet. I think one the most enjoyable parts of the evening for me was seeing the expressions of the elderly people when they saw these little girls. They simple lit up. :) Everyone is truly a kid at heart.

Drawings of Maddie

I have been a part of an art community for a few years now that I will post some of my photography to get critique and feedback, really just for fun. I have been honored by two of the artist, by being asked to use my photos to draw portraits. All three are of Maddie, and I think they are great! I do not have a lick of talent in the drawing department, so to me this is just phenominal. I wanted to share them with you. :) Kinda cool.

Way to go Oregon!!!

This past Saturday we traveled with the Hagers and Tenbrinks to Purdue, for the Oregon vs. Purdue football game. We had such a blast! The trip down was a little challenging as Indiana was under some major floods. We saw playgrounds were the only thing you could see was the tops of the swing sets. Insane! Lucky we made it safely and there were no storms during the game!! It was HOT, but breezy thank God.

We have become big Duck Fans due to the fact that Jared went there and then found the love of his life Brynne who also went to Oregon. Brynne grew up right outside of Portland so she's the real deal. ;)

The game couldn't have been more fun. It was a nail biter for sure! Oregon ended up winning in double over time, which made it all the better!! I was in shock at how many Ducks fans traveled to be at this game. Jared said there is a good turn out at most away games, which is so cool. We parked by people that drove!! Incredible.

Here are some picture from the game. Thank you goes to Brynne and Jared for the pictures. I didn't bring my camera....yeah I know. What is wrong with me. :) The weather was calling for Thunderstorms, so I didn't want to chance it.
WAY TO GO DUCKS!!!

Ram Fans

We went to the first Rockford Ram home football game on Friday night and had a blast!! The kiddos loved the game as well as the running around. We are proud Brogan Bibler fans and he was fantastic as always. Way to go Brogan!! We can't wait for Friday to cheer on the Rams again.
I didn't have my good flash so pardon the blurs...makes me ill looking at it. :) Course that could just be me right now. ;)

GO RAMS!!!

Baby News...

If you have seen me in the last few weeks you have either thought I was putting on a few or drank my fair share of summer beers. :) Not the case this time around. Tom, Maddie and I are thrilled to share with you that we are expecting a baby early March. I am 13 weeks and feeling extremely pregnant. Which I am not complaining about, (well not to anyone other than Tom poor guy). I have had three ultra sounds, that last one being on Thursday. The doctors couldn't be happier about this pregnancy, everything is looking really good at this point. Maddie and I saw the baby moving all over the place...such a treat.

I am seeing a doctor every other week, between my regular OB and the Maternal Fetal Medicine office where I see a team of doctors. They are simply amazing. That have figured out (or at least have narrowed down) why Maddie was so tiny, why I have had the back to back miscarriages. I have what they call a bicornuate uterus ( heart shaped), which I have known about since age 19 but wasn't aware of the huge issues it can cause until now. I won't bore you with all of the details, but put simply; my uterus is a bit cramped and can sometimes not provide the placenta enough goods for the baby. ;) This time around the placenta is in a GREAT spot and the baby is growing like a champ. WAHOOO!

I have a ultra sound every month or so. So, we will find out the sex of the baby on October 2nd. Just in time for the M.O.P.S sale!! :D I am going to put my guess in writing here. :D I say it's a Boy. Felt it from the get go, so we'll see. :) I'd love to see what everyone else thinks, so I'm gong to put a poll up for kicks.

Hugs to you all and thank you for your continuing support of all of our "baby drama". We have faith and know that God has the ultimate plan. Please keep those prayers come'n!! Someone's listening!!

Love,
Tom, Lauren, Maddie and Baby Hos

Spening time with friends...

This past Monday my dear friend Erinn and I drove to our other dear friend Andrea's home to visit her and family. Andrea and her husband Derek just welcomed their first child Adelyn Gail 5 weeks ago and she is BEAUTIFUL. Just a little doll. On Tuesday we spent the day shopping and just catching up, we had a great time. A huge thank you goes to Derek and Annie for having us and showing us a great time. (not to mention the fabulous FOOD!!)

Thanks so much and you sure do have a little sweetie.

Fun at the cottage

This past weekend we stayed up at the Heth family cottage in Baldwin with Adam, Melissa and Jackson. It was so great just to relax, let the kids play and watch the boys cook. :) The kids of course had a blast as always, and played so well together. So many memories they will share together. Thanks to the Burkholders for having us!!!

Tea With Grandma

Maddie just loves having a tea party, especially with Grandma Fanning. It's a very "Fancy Maddie" thing to do you know. ;) Thank you to Grandma for loving Maddie so much and spending this kind of quality time with her. She will remember this always.

Torch '08 (Woot Woot!!)

We spent the past weekend up at Torch Lake camping with the Vander Walls, Greenlands and the Kellers, and had a BLAST. The weather couldn't have been better. Super sunny days and cool nights for sleeping. If you have never had the pleasure of seeing Torch Lake, you must. These pictures are not messed with, that is really the color of the water. It's is absolutely breath taking. Clear, aqua and not a fish is sight. My kind of lake!! :D

Thanks to Jason(El Capitan) and Johanna for letting us bunk with them and cozy up. ;) Also for setting it all up for everyone. We had a great time and look forward to Torch '09 (Woot Woot!!)

Rebekah Jo

It's just insane to me that my niece Rebekah is going to be a senior in high school. I'm sure it's even crazier for my sister and brother-in-law. Time just flies...

Rebekah and I went downtown Grand Rapids to a area that Rebekah is very familiar with and meant a great deal to her. I think the pictures turned out great! I hope you like them Bekah. :)