SAY (cottage) CHEESE! 2012

Elle getting all ready for her 3 week photo shoot... We can't believe how much stronger she is getting! She is still in newborn clothes which fit from 5-8 lbs. so we are guessing she is just under 8 lbs. now.

Our annual cottage visit for Summer 2012

Uncle Tom and Aunt Cathy have a beautiful cottage right on Lake Huron that they are so generous to share with us! We were doubtful that they we would be able to make it up there this summer. However, on a whim we had a M-Th. time slot with no plans so we called the weekend before to see if it was available and we were ecstatic when Aunt Cathy told us it was! We weren't for sure how it would go with a 2 year old and a 3 week old for a 4 day trip (little own the car drive!) but we were willing to give it a shot! Good thing we did too...It was a PERFECT vaca for the 4 us before Ben headed back to work. Both kids zonked in the car for the majority of the trip (yay!) and we only had to stop once each way to feed Ellie. During the week we were able to make ourselves at home with Luke's toys everywhere, Ellie's crib and changing area, and Ben even setup Luke's bed rail so he could sleep in one of the twin beds all by himself! Thank you Uncle Tom and Aunt Cathy! 

Snuggle time on the couch.

The 3 of us loved spending time in the water! Ellie was a champ hanging out at the beach...Ben setup a beach umbrella and we just sat her in her little crib in the shade and she was good to go. We were able to all stay down there together from about 10-3 everyday! Ben and Luke enjoyed kayaking on the Lake and a few times Luke fell asleep during their adventure. We had fun on all of the floaties and tubes, taking bathes each day in the Lake (even Luke!), built castles and "pine trees" in the sand, and Ben and Luke had fun jumping off the big rock! We were all by ourselves on the beach and didn't see one other person in the water the entire time we were there. :)   

Luke taking his nightly bath in the Lake!

SO much love...

One of my favorite things that Luke does is he points his finger to you when he knows he is doing something well. Ben does this too and so he picked up this old trick from his 'ol man. :)  He does it a lot when he is "mowing the grass" and I love this picture here because he's letting us know..." I've got it mom and dad. I'm cool."

Our daily setup at the beach. It looks a lot different from last year!

2 kids just loving the beach!

Ben and Luke exploring the big rock...

Sand castles and pine trees...

Our little beach beauty just enjoying it!

We made a trip into Harrisville where we enjoyed a pizza at the marina's park from the local pizzeria, and a walk around to see all of the boats.

Ben & Lukey's shadows.

And of course we each got some ice cream before heading back to the cottage!

This was the place where Ben proposed and we got engaged, this is Luke's 3rd time here, and Ellie's first time at just 3 weeks old! We are so thankful to have this special place to share memories with one another. Till next year cottage...

We all look peaceful in this picture. TRUTH: We had to set the camera on the timer from the deck to be able to get this shot. Ben would click the button, run and jump over the deck bushes, grab Luke, and we'd get in a quick, "Luke smile at the camera!" all before the picture would take. 4 tries later we were able to get this special family photo...good thing we didn't give up. :) 

Adjusting well to being a family of 4!

 All dressed up for her 2 week pic!

 Ellie is such a cuddle bug and we have noticed that she is really starting to respond to others. She will gaze into your eyes when you are talking with her and so now it's confirmed that indeed, her eyes are blue.

 I was able to get away a few hours last week for a bachelorette party. When I got home Ben was a champ holding Elle while watching a happy 2 year-old mow the lawn with red popsicle dripping down to his diaper. He put my party beads on too and then we knew we had to take a pic...this will be a good pic to have for later in life! :)

 The Beagle's came in for a visit over the weekend too! Luke had so much fun playing with Addison and showing off his new bedroom to her.

 Here are some of my girls the morning of Jen's wedding. Ben and I were able to go for a few hours too while Grandpa and Grandma Cooley watched the kiddos. One of my favorite parts of the wedding was that once we parked in a field nearby, golf carts would come drive you to the ceremony! SO FUN!

 One of my very closest and dearest friends...3 kids later.

 Ben has started a new tradition with Lukey since Ellie arrived. He wakes Luke up early in the morning and surprises him with a special treat at our downtown donut shop! They have gone twice and both times Luke has had a chocolate donut with sprinkles and a chocolate milk. Right now our downtown is under construction so Luke loves to sit at the window and watch all of the big trucks, "diggers", and "mixers".

 Over the weekend my parents also had some of our relatives visit from Traverse City! After the wedding we were all able to catch up and visit. Lukey became best friends with our 2nd cousin James while we were gone. At one point he asked my Mom, " When is Courtney coming home? I'm tired!" Yep! That's our life! :)

 The Moore family also came over for a visit! We had pizza, went to the park, and we met Renee, their new foreign exchange student from Germany.

 We had a great week seeing many people we love!



Elle Marie Morin is here!

 Just before leaving for the hospital! We were so excited to meet our new. little babe and we were both thinking 70% girl and 30% boy...looks like we were right!

 Lukey came out to announce to the family who he was a big brother too. Here Lukey is unzipping his

hoodie to announce that we have a baby...

  

 ... GIRL!

 Our sweet, little miss Elle was born at 10:13 AM on Friday, July 27th weighing 6 lbs. and 14 oz. and 19 in. tall. She came out so perfect and beautiful we couldn't even believe our eyes...we are in love, again.

 Our first family picture of the 4 of us!

This is the first time Lukey held sweet Ellie! Luke loves being a BIG brother and LOVES having a baby sister. He always wants to check on her to make sure she is ok. We call her "baby girl" because that is what Lukey has been calling her. :)

 I adore the pictures below...

 My heart melts at this picture below. We are all just so happy.

 This is Lukey seeing his Ellie open her eyes for the first time!

 Look Mama!

 So PROUD!

 Little Ellie is a great sleeper and eater...just like her mom AND dad :)

 Grandpa and Grandma soaking it all in...

 Great Aunt Cathy and Great Uncle Tom came to visit too! Ellie was so peaceful and content in Aunt Cathy's arms.

 Elle is our little angel and we jut love her!

 We loved having Auntie Meg visit too!

 We are now home and adjusting to having a family of 4. This has been a way easier transition than with our big guy Luke. Partly because we love having Dad home too! Ben has summers off as well and so we have all been able to just relax around the house and take turns spending time with each of our children. Ben surprised Lukey last Friday morning with a special Father and Son trip to the donut shop downtown Rochester. With Luke's pajamas still on he loved having a chocolate, sprinkle donut and chocolate milk with his Dad for an early breakfast. They sat on the stools eating and watching the cars go by the window. :)

My recovery this time around has also been a lot easier. The first night home we all went for a walk to the park!  

Us girls watching the boys :)

Later that night...Ellie's first sponge bath!

 At the hospital Elle had dropped almost 10% of her birth weight and this caused a little bit of concern. We were told to wake her up every 2-3 hours around the clock to make sure she was eating. Well, to make a long story short both nights we didn't wake up to our alarm and she slept! I woke up startled and worrried both mornings but then when we had her 2nd day Dr.'s appt. she was already back up to 6 lbs. 12 oz. we were ecstatic! (Ben had guessed her weight correctly on the way to the Dr.'s...one smart man!) The Dr. gave us the go ahead to just let her sleep because she was doing so well...which has been great because she's a sleeper! At her 2 week check-up they wanted Ellie to be back to her original birth weight of 6 lbs. 14 oz. and she made it to 7 lbs. and 7 oz.!!! She's our little rockstar!

 Our hospital has a photography service that comes around during your stay at the hospital to take picutres. Below are some of the pictres we got from this service...

 Lukey loving on Ellie!

 1 week old!

 Auntie Nae came to meet her new little niece and of course, spend time with Luke too!

 The walk that didn't happen. We were FINALLY all ready to go for a walk down to the park. We made it this far (to the end of our dirveway) and it started to pour rain!

 SO back inside we went to play a game that Janae created... Where in the world will Janae be going to live next????

Then Auntie Nae surprised Lukey with a bath tub surprise...a foaming volcano ball!

 

All of the girls...

 Papa and Lukey...and Luke showing off his mad pedaling skill on the 'ol red trike! Go Luke, Go!

 

A very proud Auntie!

 Grandma Uitti comes for a visit!!!!!! 

 I LOVE how Elle is looking up and smiling at her Grandma...so sweet :)

 I went to go check on Ellie and found Lukey up from his nap all cuddled with Grandma on the bed. So precious.

 Little Yooper sweatshirt from Lukey's Great Aunt Pam!!! Love this!

 Ben spending time with our kiddos. :)

 A group of my girls that I teach with all came over for a visit. SO fun!

 Elle had fallen asleep in the car so we had left her in her car seat to sleep. When Lukey woke up from his nap we gave him his snack and when I walked back from my bedroom this is what I found!!! Luke had taken his Elmo chair from the living room and sat it next to Ellie in the kitchen to eat his snack. I started crying when I saw this...such a sweet little guy we have.  

 Aunt Shelly came in for a visit! Lukey and Ellie LOVED having her here!

 Matt and Megan also stopped by and it was great having them here too!

 Elle's baby bath has been sitting in her closet for awhile and even before she came Luke has been asking about giving his baby a bath. We showed him Elle's "boo boo" (her umbilical stump) and explained that it had to fall off first. This led to everytime we changed her diaper, Luke would drag in his stool to watch and see if it had fallen off yet. The day it fell off  Luke was so excited he grabbed the purple bath tub out, her washcloth, blanket, soap, cup, and even went back and picked out his 3 smallest bath toys to give to her during her bath :) He then helped us wash her feet and legs... 

 Uncle B and Aunt Mol stayed the night! This is the last picture with them holding just our kids...their  little one will be born within a month!

Elle trying out tummy time...

 We are so happy to announce the birth of our beautiful daughter Elle and we want to thank all of our friends and family for all of your love and support you have given our family. Like they say...It takes a village. Thank you!