Memorial Day

Whew! What a weekend! It was a whirlwind! Our weekend started early because we were getting ready for it ALL week long! It was a lot of fun...well, most of it. Here is the run down and a few pictures to match!



Stephen had Friday off, so we took the opportunity to decorate Babe B.'s grave before the weekend got really busy for us. It is always a bittersweet moment for me. For me growing up, memorial day was always a day to remember my grandparents and great grandparents. Never did I imagine that I would be decorating the grave of my own child. Yet, I want to honor her. I want to share a moment with her because that is all I got with her while she was alive. So, each year we have decided to honor her with a new set of flowers in her urn to last year round. Then we set up some real flowers. We always choose a lily because that was the flower that someone sent to us while we were up in the hospital. It reminds me of her. A professional photographer took pictures for us in the hospital and incorporated a bright pink daisy. So daisies have become a part of this years memory for us. We even got a flower (purple daisy) for Jesstine to give to her big sister! When we were picking up the real flowers at the floral department in Dillon's, the ladies liked Jesstine so much, they gave her a purple balloon. She was overjoyed! Seeing the joy on her face reminded me that all kids like balloons! So, we put the balloon out there for Babe B. as well! Here are the pictures of how we honored our Babe B. We love you to the moon and back Babe B.

In case you can't tell, there is a purple ribbon that says Daughter.

On Sunday, Jesstine and I went to the cemetery where my grandparents are buried. We hopped in my mom's van with my sister and her youngest son. Stephen led singing at church and came home after communion so he could start fixing some grub and set up tables and chairs. We had my mom's side of the family over for lunch. There were Brauts, HUGE hot dogs, and hamburgers. It was a lot of work, but it was fun! Here are some of the photos!

(Clock wise from L to R): Ashley (cousin-in-law), Phil (dad), Stacey (cousin), and Wes (uncle)

Lexi, my niece, (bottom R) found a friend to at least talk to!

Stephen and Conrad (nephew) kicking the soccer ball around.

The three newest members of our family enjoying some time in the grass (L to R): Charis (my niece), Luke (my nephew) and Jesstine. These three are going to be trouble one of these days!

A couple of goobers sitting under the umbrella on the deck. (L to R): Robin (family friend), Jesstine, and Ilonda (my mom).

This house was the big hit of the day! Even the big kids enjoyed it! Corbin (nephew), Greg (brother) and Charis.

Still enjoying the house! Haley (cousin) and Maddy (cousin).
After everyone was pretty much gone, the house was still a big hit! Here are the three stooges. Can you tell they are related? Corbin, Jesstine and Luke.

Jesstine decided she was going to help with the clean up. Daddy vacuumed while she took care of the cord! What a good helper!

We hope you all had a great holiday weekend. It was very busy for us, but we took time out to remember the reason why we celebrate Memorial day. There are soldiers fighting for our freedom every day! Take time to honor them as well as those of our family who have gone on before us. Also remember God's promise that we will have an eternal home with him in glory and we will see our loved ones again!

God Bless!

Stephen, Lacie and Jesstine

P.S. A big thanks to my sister-in-law (or sister-in-love as she likes to put it) for the house! We have so much fun with it! It is always the first toy Jesstine goes to when I set her out to play!

NEWS FLASH!!!

I think Elmo has officially won the heart of my daughter! We were at the store tonight ordering flowers for Babe B.'s grave. (We always do real flowers on Memorial Day for her.) I spotted what I have been looking for at each store I go to with toys! I found an Elmo plush doll that is just Jesstine's size. I picked it up to show her and she held it through the store and every once in a while I heard a "No No" or "NelNo" from her. I thought nothing of it. I just thought she was jabbering and as usual she sounded like she was making a word but probably wasn't. Then tonight we were getting her ready for her bath. I stood her up on the changing table and she looked at her stack of diapers (which have Sesame Street characters on them) and said "Nono." I am thinking she is trying to make the sound Elmo and it is sounding like "Nono." I know you are thinking that it can't possibly be true. She is only 9 months old right? Well, she does say "cat" or rather whispers it. She knows what cats are and will look right at one and say cat. It sounds more like "tat" but it is the same each time. I am almost positive that Elmo is what she is saying. I am also pretty sure it isn't No. I don't use no twice together like that. I usually say "no" then something in between. A common one right now is, "No biting Mommy! No!" Our girl is growing up and is really obsessed with Elmo! It is so much fun!

In Him,
Lacie, Stephen and Jesstine

9 Months!

Well, Jesstine has reached the 9 month mark. She actually started wearing the 12 month (which is for 9-12 months in case you didn't know) clothing a couple weeks ago, or would have if it was warm enough yet! I will be glad when she warms up so she can start wearing clothes that fit her!!! We are also into size 4 diapers! She has started to have to use an overnight diaper too because of leaks. I guess you can say she is full of it!

She is such a cutie! The other day I saw her asleep in her crib and realized just how big she is getting! She now takes up nearly 2/3 of the bed. Before it seemed like she took up maybe half or a little less! You never know what position she is going to be in! 9 times out of 10 she ends up on her belly, just like Mommy! We went to her 9 month Well Baby exam today. It came at the perfect time because she has really been extra irritable lately. She will cry for no reason and I don't mean just a fuss. She will actually cry with tears! That is unusual for her! In any case, the doctor kept glowing about how beautiful she was! She is a big girl too! Her head now measures 17.5" (60th percentile). Her weight is 20 lbs. (75th percentile) and her height is 28" (also 75th percentile). She is very proportional! I always thought she looked like she had short legs compared to the rest of her body. Now they look long like the rest of her body!

As you will see in the pictures for this month a few things have changed. First, I can't find hair bows for her. She has gotten too smart and takes the headbands off. Yet, she hasn't got enough hair for clips in her hair! I have ordered some snap clip hair bows that we will be trying out soon. I ordered them from an online store called etsy. If you have not ever been there, you should check it out. It is a shop that is made up of sellers that sell handmade items. You can get boutique like items for sometimes a lot less! Just check it out at http://www.etsy.com/! The second change is the quality of picture. I have mentioned in the past that I got the idea to take a monthly picture in the same chair each time from my SIL, Jenny. I seem to recall her reaching this point in her pictures as well. Jesstine LOVES posing for the camera, but her attention span and posing duration have become a lot shorter lately! Most of the shots I got of her this time are of her slumped down because she is squirmy.

Well, we are off to see the big E tonight! There is a parents as teachers family night tonight and Elmo is supposed to make an appearance!

Here is the one I think is the best.

9 month picture

Squirm position 1.

Squirm position 2.

Okay, so we saw Elmo tonight. It was very cute. When I had Jesstine standing back a little way from him, she would smile and laugh. When she sat on his laugh she froze. I guess there is something wrong about an adult sized three year-old monster. Of course I forgot the camera. So as a consolation picture, I have included a picture of our soccer girl! We bought this onesie a for Babe B. a few weeks before she died. We thought we could make it less boyish, but even pink Adidas soccer shoes, pink socks and Adidas soccer ball. Put her in coach!

As always, we hope you are all doing well!

In Him,
Lacie, Stephen and Jesstine Hutchins

P.S. Sorry about the formatting. I guess with blogspot there is no way around it!

Elmo

Okay, I know I have mentioned several times about how much my lovely little girl likes.....er....LOVES Elmo! Well, I have decided that I have no choice other than to have an Elmo party for her first birthday! Here are a few stories to let you know just how much she loves Elmo.

Okay, so lately when I talk on the phone, Jesstine is non-stop smiles and laughs. I guess that is how she thinks Mommy is on the phone! Well, she uses this same laugh in response to anything and all things Elmo! The only difference is that she does it for much longer!!! I was searching for a jacket for her because she has already out grown all of her 6-9 month jackets. (She is 8 1/2 months). I always peruse the clothing to see if there is anything that I think Jesstine can't live without (or rather I can't live without her wearing). I found a cute little shirt that is REALLY girly with horizontal pink and red stripes. On the front is Elmo's face and underneath his face the shirt says, "I Love Elmo!" I thought this was so cute. At the time she was staying with my mother-in-law. I was so excited about my find, when I went to pick her up, I had to show it off. When I showed it to Jesstine, she hugged it, kissed it, and did her cute little laugh over and over. Needless to say, as soon as it was washed she was wearing it.

I have been searching for a bath faucet cover. As you can tell from the last post, she has discovered the faucet and almost hits it when she splashes! I went to Target first because I knew they at one time carried a really cute duck in a Hawaiian print swim suit and surf board. Perfect for her bathroom decor. I of course had to look at the clothes, toys, and anything else that was appealing! I had Jesstine with me this time. We found some Elmo socks in the $1 bins. She of course loved them! I looked for an Elmo plush doll, but didn't find one. So we went to the book section. Didn't find any books worth investigating. Right next to the books is the movie section. We looked at the available Elmo videos. I noticed that most of them were around $10. Then I noticed one was only $5. I thought that was inexpensive enough. I showed it to Jesstine. She was ecstatic. She held that video up like it was her most prized possession. She showed it to anyone and everyone who would look her way! She didn't want to let it go so I could pay for it. The entire time, she did her little laugh.

My mom really tried hard when I was little not to allow us to like just one character. She very seldom encouraged such a thing. Mainly for money reasons, but also because she wanted us to be well rounded. I am having trouble resisting Jesstine's little laugh when she sees Elmo things! It is just too cute! I know I have to stop it at some point. She is so little right now and she will like so many things I am sure! How long can this last? Can't I just give in now and tone it down later when she has all of the Elmo things she could possibly own? At least Elmo is something she will like for at few more years right? Well, for now I am trying to meet some middle ground. I haven't bought TOO much Elmo for her yet, and I think I will know when to say no. The biggest thing is not showing her any of it!!! Then I will buy it for sure!!!

Until next post, *singing* "That's Jesstine's Elmo World!"

In Him,
Lacie, Stephen and Jesstine

P.S. Here are a few pictures of "Her Elmoness" from today! They aren't great because they were taken from my phone, but they still show her in her happiest clothes!

Doesn't that face just say it all?! (Her face not Elmo's!)

These are the $1 socks I found! Check out those shoes! I think her daddy likes them as much or better even than she does! (They are adidas soccer shoes!)