4 months

On January 23rd, Lars turned 4 months old! Yesterday we had his 4 month appointment, and he has grown a bit! He is 24 and 3/4 inches tall/long, and 13 lbs, 11 ounces.  He's just a little peanut compared to other babies his age, but growing and developing and healthy nonetheless. He is fairly happy, and is getting the hang of taking a nap in the afternoon and going to bed before midnight (honestly, you'd think he was one of the college students!). He no longer dreads tummy time, and is able to roll over both ways. Still loves to kick, and has been grabbing at and putting everything into his mouth lately (feet, hands, blankets, toys, everything). He has been exercising his voice as much as possible, and talking/yelling/squealing/babbling a lot. We LOVE his cute voice! No words or anything like that yet (or, that we've been able to interpret ;). Also loves to sit on our lap and be read to. Steve can make him belly laugh, and it's too cute. Perhaps I will have to get a video of it.  He is so fun, and growing up so fast. We are thankful.

4 months old

Sweetheart

Three Months

On December 23rd, Lars turned three months old! He weighed in at around 12 pounds as far as we could tell from home (no three month appointment to give us official measurements), and is getting more grown up each day.
He has recently started nonchalantly grabbing his feet, and loves to to chatter and coo and smile. He is getting better and better at tummy time and wants to try to sit up all by himself a lot. We were blessed to be able to go home for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and both times he was a wonderful traveller. Many of the other passengers and flight attendants complimented him on how well he did. Thankful that we can travel with Lars!

Happy New Year!

bundled up in cold Minnesota

checking out his feet

tummy time is always more fun with daddy

such a big boy already!

2 Months Old!

On November 23rd, Lars turned two months! Time has flown. We were blessed to be in Minnesota over Thanksgiving, it was a wonderful time with family. We wondered how it would be to travel with a baby, but it went very smoothly. Lars did great. When we got home we went to Lars's two month pediatrician appointment. He measured in at 11lbs 3oz, and 23 inches long. If I remember correctly, Lars is heavier than 33% of boys his age and longer than 47% of boys his age. The pediatrician says he is advanced at being able to lift his head up. Anyway, here is the monthly picture in his Western PA shirt and on his blue blanket from the hospital....as well as a cute picture that Steve captured the morning of the 23rd. We are far behind on posting due to being in MN and then spending a day recovering from vaccinations and Steve being under the weather.

The blurry feet are pretty accurate :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

As I sit here with a sleeping babe on my lap, I'm not only cherishing the moment, but also reflecting on how I can't just take the afternoon to get a bunch of stuff done anymore. A mountain of laundry waits in the other room, and birth announcements that arrived in the mail on Halloween sit on the coffee table, still unsent. Having just calmed down from an afternoon cry (Lars, not me), I am reluctant to put Lars in his crib or rocker just yet. If I want him to have a good afternoon nap (if I want to get those birth announcements done), I've learned to rock him on my lap just a little bit longer. He loves laps, and who am I to deny him my lap when he still fits on it? He won't always want this much mama time, so I cherish it. So the pile of laundry and announcements will have to wait. But until then, I will work on this blogpost, which is going to double as our "annual Christmas update letter," but under the guise of a Thanksgiving letter. We have much to be thankful for as we look back over 2012.


Steve - last Spring was promoted to "Interim Assistant Director of Residence Life" here. He continues his responsibilities as Resident Director of the campus houses, and as the housing coordinator. We are thankful that his hard work was recognized with the new title.


Laura - In May I graduated from here with my MA in Religion, with a Christian History and Theology focus. I am thankful for the opportunity to complete my dream of attending seminary. We are also thankful for scholarships that enabled me to finish without any extra debt. Looking forward to how God will use my time there in a future ministry.


Lars - The best for last! Last January, we were delighted to find out that we were pregnant! This was some long-awaited news, and we were thrilled! We are so thankful for a healthy pregnancy, and for healthy baby boy Lars Michael, born September 23rd. He is such a joy, and getting bigger and more expressive each day. We are in love.


We were blessed during the first month of his life to have a whole stream of visitors. Lars got to meet his grandparents (Nanny, Papa, and Mormor), Auntie Em, and Uncle Bjorn & Aunt Aly. We can't wait to take him to MN to meet the rest of his family over the holidays.

So there you have it, a year of thankfulness. We are also blessed by our community of friends and church here, while we live far from family. We are thankful to God for providing our every need, especially the need for friendships. We hope this letter finds you well, dear friends and family. We are thankful for you.
Happy Thankgiving!
Blessings and Love,
Steve, Laura, and Lars


PS...to finish out 2012...We are thankful to be able to be in Minnesota for both Thanksgiving and Christmas...a first for us!

7 weeks old!