Our little Pumpkin!

Last weekend we went to the pumpkin patch and had an awesome time. The day was beautiful, a bit windy but warm. We picked out some great pumpkins and got some cute photos of our favorite little pumpkin!

And tonight we carved them! It was a lot of fun! Reagan didn't want to touch the "guts" - Daddy called her a diva and a prissy girl, haha! Here are the finished products. Joel's is the skull, mine is the ghost, and Reagan's is the little monster!

Happy Halloween from the Mathews'!!

Reagan's new tricks

Some fun things Reagan can do now!

- Roll from back to tummy like a pro
- Get mad b/c she can't figure out how to roll back to her tummy
- Sit in the "tri-pod" position for a few moments unassisted
- Do mini push ups and hold her head way way up
- Sit like a big girl in her high chair
- Squeal, talk, and blow bubbles all the time
- Realize when we've left the room and cry because we're gone
- Eat cereal from a spoon
- Hold her bottle for a few seconds at a time
- Scoot to reach for toys when on her tummy
- Know mommy & daddy's voices when we call her name
- Get a sad pouty face when she doesn't know someone and want mommy to calm her down
- Giggle!
- Pet (read: grab and pull) the dogs ears/tail/fur when they lay next to her

It is amazing to watch her learn and figure out the world around her. We are so blessed to have such a happy little girl!

Whirlwind Summer

We've been here, we've been there, we've been practically everywhere! Which would explain my absence from posting for quite sometime. Here is a quick rundown of our adventures of the summer of 2009.

June 3-8 - Ryan & Danielle's wedding in Ohio. We drove 6 hours the 3rd & 6 more on the 4th. Reagan was pretty darn good considering the long time spent in her car seat. The wedding was beautiful and once again Reagan was such a good girl. On Sunday we drove 13 hours back and by the end Reagan was definitely ready to be out of her car seat. But we made it home and I took Monday off to recover and reorganize before I started my new job on the 9th

June 11-13 - Kathleen & Jerod's wedding in Columbus, NE. Mom and I drove up on Thursday because Joel had school - it took us 5 hours and Reagan was so good once again. I think we have a little traveler on our hands! Kathleen's wedding on Friday was so much fun even though it poured rain. We had a great time seeing old college friends and staying up way too late - thanks Mom & Dad for watching Reagan so Joel and I could stay out past 9 p.m.! Saturday we drove back and had Sunday to recuperate from two weekends worth of traveling.

Middle to late June - Eunice and Grandma Labbus came down so Grandma Joan could meet her 16th Great Grandchild. Yes, you read that right, number 16!

July 2nd - Our first night away from Reagan. My mom and dad kept her overnight so Joel and I could enjoy our anniversary dinner and get a FULL night's sleep. It was hard to be away but man, it is amazing what a full 8 hours can do for a momma's spirit!

Middle of July - we were finally home by ourselves for a while. But then we started work on our basement to finish it and mom & dad have been over every weekend since. Mom, Reagan, and I usually escape for a bit of retail therapy while Dad and Joel work hard!

July 31st-August 2 - We drove 12 hours to Wisconsin for Joel's mom's family reunion. The reunion was Saturday and despite being a bit chilly (even for Wisconsin in August) it was a blast. Reagan got to meet so many wonderful people who love her almost as much as we do! Sunday morning we drove back the entire 12 hours and I was wiped out when we got home. Reagan was, as always, a good traveler as long as mommy was in the backseat providing the entertainment! As much fun as it was, I don't think we'll be making anymore weekend trips to WI....too long of a drive with a little one.

So that pretty much sums up the big events from our summer. The time has gone by so fast! Next summer Reagan will be over a year old! I'm trying so hard to savor each moment with our sweet little girl, but they still seem to fly by.

Catching up (again)

Well life in the Mathews' household is ever changing and not just because we have a little girl who is growing like a weed.

First off, Michelle resigned from her current position at the end of May and accepted a position with ATK Lake City (where her mom works!) and starts June 9th. We are so thankful that the Lord provided this opportunity - better salary, more time off, better benefits. And I've actually been able to stay home with Reagan for the past two weeks as my old job did not want me to work out the two week notice I gave. It has been wonderful pretending I'm a stay at home mom!

Second and most exciting, Reagan is changing and growing by the second it seems. New developments

- Holds her head WAY up when on her tummy
- Can roll (occasionally) from tummy to back

- Smiles BIG smiles all the time

- Talks and coos constantly

- Found her tongue and sticks it out and blows bubbles

- Had one short giggle and is trying to figure out how to do it again (Mommy is so ready for giggles)!

- Has excellent head control when sitting in her bumbo seat or sitting supported by someone

- Tracks Joel or I or the dogs when we walk around the room

- Focuses on the toys from her activity play mat

- Loves to look at herself in a mirror (and why wouldn't she - she's just so pretty!)

- Loves to look at pictures of other babies

Today we are headed to Ohio for Uncle Ryan's wedding! Hopefully little Miss will be a good car rider and we'll be able to make half the trip today and finish it up tomorrow, it should be around 12 hours total. Reagan has the cutest little dress to wear, no she is not in the wedding, but I did try and match the colors so we can get a family picture since both Joel and I are in the wedding. We are very excited to be a part of Ryan & Danielle's beginning together! I promise to post pictures when we get back.

Until then here are a hodge-podge of pictures from the past couple of weeks. Enjoy!

Joel and his famous Heisman Trophy pose

Sweet little smile!

So serious!

(The red light on the camera scares her I think!)

Pop-Pop showing off his new Harley!

Nanna & Reagan having fun in the Bumbo

Smiling big for daddy!

Stylin!

Surprise!

We went to the zoo!
Those are Meercats behind us - the are so cute!

Daddy & Reagan with the Kangaroo's that just roam about the Australia section.

2 month check up

Monday, May 11th was a day I've been dreading since Reagan was born......2 month shots!!

So we met Joel at the Doctor's office so he could hold my hand while I held Reagan!

Before I get to the shots here are her two month stats

Weight: 12 lbs 2 oz - 75%

Length: 22.5 in - 50%

Head: Can't remember the exact measurement - 90% !

So she gained 4 pounds and 2.5 inches in two months and has a BIG head - daddy says it is because she is so smart! Thankfully I don't recall it being that big during delivery, haha!

Now for the shots, she had one oral vaccination and 4 shots - two in each sweet little thigh. She really liked the taste of the oral vaccination, I think they give that one first to distract them! Then the nurse got the four shots ready and I leaned over Reagan's face and didn't look at her poor little legs. I just sushhhed her while the nurse gave her the shots like lightning - I swear she was done in like 5 seconds. Reagan did cry but it wasn't the awful crying I had expected, she actually cried harder and louder when they had to undress her to get her measurements. About a minute or two after it was all over she was smiling and happy again. I was so proud!!

We got home and Reagan was the happy go lucky little girl we love all night long, she slept like a rock and slept pretty much the entire day at day care too. Hopefully the 4 month shots can be just as good!

Here is our sweet little girl and two of the four little band aids where the shots were.

My First Mother's Day

My first mother's day was wonderful. Being a mother is the most amazing experience. I am so blessed to be a mommy to such a sweet little girl. Reagan makes it so easy to be a mother too, she is such a content baby that even the tiny little bit of fussy-ness is out of character for her.

I have to brag on Joel for a minute too, not only because he is a Godly husband and fantastic father but because he (& Reagan) got me a beautiful anniversary band to go with my wedding set. It matches perfectly and I feel so spoiled. Thanks honey!

At church the pastors said a special prayer for mother's and asked that all mother's stand to be recognized. At that moment I was so very humbled that God has bestowed on me this gift of motherhood - I hope to do Him justice and raise a God-fearing daughter who marries a man like her father.

Mommy & Reagan matching on Mother's day

First trip away

The weekend of May 9th we took Reagan to Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska for Uncle Caleb's graduation form the University of Nebraska. It was a successful first trip away from home. We left right after work on Friday and Reagan slept the entire way, not even woke up once, to Omaha where we spent the night. Here she is in the great big king sized bed, isn't she cute!We then woke up and drove to Lincoln to watch Uncle Caleb graduate from college - way to go Uncle Caleb!! We're so proud you made it out after 4 colleges in four years!! There's Uncle Caleb somewhere in the crowd!!
The trip home Saturday was almost as good as the trip up, but she got cranky around St. Joseph, so we stopped and fed her and had a happy little girl the rest of the way.
Now we can only hope she is as good for the 12 hour drive to Uncle Ryan's wedding in June!

Reagan's Baptisim 5.3.2009

On Sunday, May 3rd, 2009 Reagan Louise Mathews was baptized into the Lutheran church. It was such a special day to be surrounded by family and friends. We had family in from 5 states: Michelle's brother Ryan and his fiancee Danielle and friend Sara from Arizona, Joel's Mom & Dad from Wisconsin, Joel's brother Caleb from Nebraska, Joel's brother Aaron & his girlfriend Jen from Texas, and Joel's paternal Grandmother, Aunt, Uncle, & Cousins from Kansas. Michelle's parents and her maternal grandparents (Reagan's great-grand parents) were also in attendance.


We are so blessed to have three wonderful family members agree to be Reagan's sponsors - Ryan, Danielle, & Aaron. We know you will continue to be a spiritual presence in her life - thank you.

Reagan wore the same dress that I did when I was baptized 25 years ago. I was so glad it fit! And she was wrapped in the blanket Joel was wrapped in at his baptism 27 years ago. Joel and I are looking forward to fulfilling our duty as parents by bringing up Reagan in the church and teaching her of the love of Christ.God Bless Reagan

Joel, Craig, Reagan, & Great Grandma O
Four generations

Reagan's paternal Great-Grandmother

Reagan's maternal Great-Grandparents

Both sets of Grandparents

Reagan's Sponsors - Aaron, Ryan, & Danielle

Reagan & proud Mommy & Daddy

Pastor Ted baptizing Reagan

Mommy & Reagan

Reagan wearing the same dress mommy did at her baptism

Whistle while you work.....

If only I could be so cherry about going to work as the seven Dwarfs were, well of course Grumpy wasn't cherry, but you get my point.
I went back to work April 20th and it was one of the hardest days of my life. I cried the night before and cried the morning of, cried when I left her at the sitters, cried on my way to work, cried at work, and cried when I picked her up. It was a day full of crying. It was just so hard to leave my little girl in someone else's arms. But thankfully, our someone is Dyna who is a wonderful Christian woman who takes such good care of Reagan. This makes it easier to leave her and by day number two there were no tears! Joel and I feel so lucky to have found Dyna to watch Reagan in her home which is only 5 minutes from my work so I get to visit at lunch time to feed Reagan. I also have to rave about Dyna's three daughters who love Reagan too, she is going to be so spoiled this summer when they are off school!
And work, well it's work, but until we win the lottery staying home is not an option so I'm trying to be positive about the whole thing. Maybe by the time we have baby #2 we'll be in a better spot for me to stay home.
But I still don't whistle while I work....I bet that would annoy my co-workers and they would be Grumpy!

So much to catch up on....

Wow! I can't believe it has been over a month since I last updated. Our lives have been in fast foward since April 20th when I went back to work. I'm going to post a series of entries to catch everyone up on our growing girl but in the mean time check out the next post for some random pictures from the last month. enjoy!!

Shhh....do you hear that?

I added music to our blog! Just a few of my favorite songs.

It is at the very bottom of the screen if you want to check it out. You can choose to listen to different songs just by clicking on them. You can also turn it off if you so wish.

I hope you enjoy!

Happy Easter!

Reagan's first Easter was wonderful! She looked so precious in her Easter dress. We went to church with my parents which was special since it is the church Joel and I got married in. She slept pretty much through the entire service except for Communion. Daddy & Mommy got her a play mat and a new set of pj's. Nanna & Papa (Michelle's parents) got Reagan a ball that plays nursery songs and lights up when you touch it and two cute outfits for this Summer. Grandma E & Grandpa C (Joel's parents) sent Reagan a very nice card. It is so obvious she is loved very much!