The Ricklefsens

Well..it seems like forever since I've blogged last..obviously my two little munchkins are keeping me super busy..lol  Sooo- much has happened in the last 6 months I really don't know where to start..  In June we took Hope with us to Canada..she did great on the airplane and was such a little trooper as we explored Vancouver city, island and the Canadian Rockies..such beauty was to be seen everywhere we looked..we will definitely be bringing both kids back once they are a little older..  Joel stayed in TX with the grandparents for two weeks..we were really sad to leave him, but he did great and we will never leave him that long again.. Hope is now walking!  She took her first real steps at 11.5 months and is still pretty wobbly on her feet and falls often, but she is one tough little cookie and just keeps on trekking lol.  She currently has 8 teeth and I believe a few more are to make their appearances soon...joy..  She is eating solid table foods and is almost completely off formula (still takes 2 bottles/day but I'm "hoping" to fully wean her soon).  Yesterday was Halloween and we went over to my friend Lesa's house and trick-or-treated in her neighborhood.  Joel dressed up as Superman and Hope was a little princess (both very fitting costumes :)  Fun, fun!  Joel is enrolled in preschool at St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church's parents day out program.  He loves it as do I because it gives me some one on one time with Hope and is a great, Christian (most important!) structured classroom which is helping prepare him for the real thing :)  I am serving in the children's ministry at our local church (Hill Country Bible).  Joel is in my class and is getting exposure to stucture (and the bible!) there as well..  Hope isn't saying too many words yet, still a lot of babble, but she will point to things I ask her to while we are reading and uses some signs.  Joel's vocabulary has improved by leaps and bounds..he is nearly obsessed with the ABC's and phonics which is helping a lot with his speech (still much room for improvement tho).  I am so thankful to God for these two blessings and pray that they will develop into beautiful, Christ loving adults in the future.  Here are some recent pictures.  Oh, also, we *finally* got professional family pictures taken when Hope was about 7 months old..the shots came out really good (non pictured here) and I will cherish them always.

Her first Easter!

Look ma, my first tooth!

In Chinatown, Victoria, BC

Being silly in the bath :)

Birthday girl enjoying a chocolate cupcake!

One year old!

Daddy and Joel chillin' at Lake Pflugerville

 

Spaghetti Fun!

Sporting a new haircut

So handsome!

Sitting on Daddy's bike..don't get any ideas buddy..

WOW!  Where in the world is the time going??  It seems like just yesterday we were welcoming Joel into the world and now Hope is nearly half a year old..incredible..  What a wonderfully crazy journey it has been so far!  Since I've blogged last SO much has happened..first of all, Joel is now officially enrolled in preschool!  He will be starting in August at the parents day out program at St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church..I am very excited and think the structure and social setting will be very beneficial to Joel (and the break will be good for me lol!).  I was very impressed with their program (has been running over 17 years)..seems very organized and Christ centered (most important!).  Joel is now speaking a lot more even though he primarily still talks in "Joel language" lol.  Each and every day I see advances in his speech..is quite amazing..  We bought him a 'Strider' bicycle (is like a real bike, but with no pedals..teaches balance)..he hasn't quite got the hang of it yet, but he tries so is just a matter of time.  Joel also had his first visit to the dentist he did great and kicked the pacifier habit soon after with no problems whatsoever!  We haven't started potty training yet, but will do so when he is able to communicate better.  Also, he is still sleeping in his crib (not trying to escape..yet :)..we plan on transitioning him to a bed without railing before starting potty training.  Joel had a wonderful Christmas and 2nd birthday.  We held an art-themed party here at the house..was a lot of fun..had several different art stations set up.  He received lots of fun presents including a play kitchen, art easel, t-ball set, basketball goal, and his very first train set.  He absolutely LOVES this set so we are planning on getting him a train table soon.  He is also really into airplanes right now..who knows, he may end up being a pilot.. :)  Hope's colic finally stopped around 3 months old, Praise the Lord!  She started eating rice cereal about a month ago and is (finally) taking supplemental formula which is helping her sleep longer.  I am still breastfeeding, but am planning on weaning her completely next month.  She is trying to sit up and can roll from her tummy to her back, altho not very easily and not without fussing (she hates tummy time).  We transitioned her to her crib, but we still end up co-sleeping.  She is smiling and starting to laugh and is drooling like a leaky faucet lol.  Here are some recent pics:

We are so very happy to announce the arrival of our newest bundle of joy, Hope Lyn Ricklefsen!  She was born at 12:10pm on October 18, 2011 at St. David's Hospital in Round Rock, TX.  She weighed 8 lbs, 3 oz and measured 20.5 in. long.  Ironically this was the same day of the year that we lost our precious angel Ariel Lyn in 2007.  Is amazing how God takes and gives...  Little Hope is a blessing indeed..she is already two months old and my oh my how different she is already than Joel.  She has bouts of colic and thus wants to be held all of the time..understandably much more needy and demanding.  The weekend after Thanksgiving we took her and Joel on a road trip to Arkansas..this was quite a feat since I'm breastfeeding her and had to stop every three hours to feed.  What a neat visit tho..The Lindells and my cousin David were all able to join so for the first time ever we had FOUR generations together under one roof (see pics at:  http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?fbTitle=Thanksgiving&fbThumbURI=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kodakgallery.com%2Fimaging-site%2Fservices%2Fdoc%2F6167661611105%2Fjpeg%2FBG%2F.jpg%3Fp%3D5683&_requestid=110215)!  We have held two 'Sip and See' parties in Hope's honor (one in Austin and one in Houston, see:  http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?fbTitle=Check+out+my+photos+at+the+Kodak+Gallery&fbThumbURI=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kodakgallery.com%2Fimaging-site%2Fservices%2Fdoc%2F3470279911105%2Fjpeg%2FBG%2F.jpg%3Fp%3D5445&_requestid=109721 and http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?fbTitle=Hope%27s+%27Sip+and+See%27+Party!&fbThumbURI=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kodakgallery.com%2Fimaging-site%2Fservices%2Fdoc%2F8675371611105%2Fjpeg%2FBG%2F.jpg%3Fp%3D5730&_requestid=110095).  Since we didn't know if she was a boy or girl before the birth we didn't have a baby shower so this was a great way to have everyone come and meet her all at once. :)  She just had her 2 month check up and now weighs 12 lbs even and is 23.5 in. long.  She is growing up fast already!  Troy returned back to work a few weeks ago after taking 5 weeks off to help me after the delivery.  It is definitely a challenge, to say the least, taking care of a newborn and toddler, but we are adjusting and  establishing a new routine.  Joel loves his sister very much and will help mommy by talking to her, rocking her, bringing her toys and giving her kisses :)  It is going to be so neat to see them grow up together!  I'm loving being a mommy of two..it is the hardest, yet most rewarding job ever :)  Here are some pics of our precious princess:

Hello again...WOW!  I can't believe it has been half a year since I updated this blog last..  Soo- much has changed it is quite amazing.  Well, Joel is now officially a toddler!  He started walking around 14 mos and gets more and more sure on his feet every day...  He had a bit of an 'in-toeing' problem, was stumbling a bit, so we took him to a pediatric podiatrist who took an x-ray and said all was OK and that he would outgrow it..and so far so good..  He still takes a tumble here and there, but that's to be expected I guess.. :-/
He is now feeding himself fully and uses a spoon really well.  This is a very important milestone because (drum roll please) we are expecting baby #2 in October and I'll need Joel to feed himself so I can begin bottle/nursing duty once again..  As we did with Joel, we are going to hold off until the delivery to learn the sex, but I totally feel like it's another boy...we shall see!  I've tried telling Joel about the baby growing in mommy's tummy, but he's not getting it..lol.
What else?  Hmmm...Joel really isn't saying too many new words, but he sure does understand a lot of them and will even bring me specific things when I ask for them...of course he still talks a lot in 'Joel language' hehe..
We recently moved back into the smaller rental house and are now leasing out the larger one.  The move was a nightmare..especially being pregnant and having to care for a one year old...NOT easy..thank goodness Troy's folks helped watch him a few days while we got settled in..  There is still a lot to do, but it definitely feels like a home now...finally our very own home with no roomates!  Amen!!!
Well the TX summer heat is definitely on...(hottest in recorded history)..uggg..we feel pretty much trapped inside the house most of the time due to the heat, but do make it outside to hit the splash park, pool, beach and lakes as often as we can..Joel loves the water and I'm looking to enroll him in swim lessons soon..
Joel's 18 mo. Dr. visit was yesterday...this was the first time he didn't cry at all when he got his shots...such a big boy!  He now weighs 25 lbs and is 33 in. long...long and lean like his mommy (used 2 be lol) and late Pee Paw Pirtle.
Here are some recent pics: