He'll be 2 tomorrow

Well - needless to say - I've been remiss in "blogging" - not that there hasn't been things to blog about! I'm sure my thoughts will be random - guess that is what I get for not writing anything down in over a year!

Wow - Levi will be TWO tomorrow. Two wonderful years have really flown by. Levi is an amazing little boy. A lot has happened in the last year...

Joey was baptized, we joined our church and we also dedicated Levi. We really want to live for God and we want Levi to grow up knowing and loving God. During the dedication we were in front of the church ... Joey was holding him and I was reading to him. He started patting me softly on the back - it was so sweet. I love how he pats us on the back when he hugs.

Levi -- runs, jumps, loves, kisses, hugs, talks, knucks, ... he loves bikes (imagine that!), his Mommy and Daddy, George (curious george), Hat (cat in the hat), Hot Rods and tools (he can work on Daddy's R/C cars). racing, golfing and baseball.

Levi still doesn't eat very well - He wants to, but he still throws up too often for me. We have an appointment for him at the end of August.

Levi sleeps well most of the time - we go up, sing some songs, pray and then hum a little. Then I ask if he is ready to go night night... he will usually say mmm hmmm - I give him kiss on his forhead and 3 on his pacifier (he still uses it at night and in the car from time to time). I lay him down and he just hangs out in his bed until he falls asleep. He sleeps in till 8:30 or 9 on the weekends! :)
He enjoys "school"... We are trying to teach him to say "miss" in front of his teacher Erikas name. He'll do it sometimes, but then he tries to put "miss" in front of his friends names too and that is funny to me.

He says Peeas for Please. I wasn't good about documenting all his words - what his first ones were, etc. I just know that he can say just about anything you ask him to right now.

In recent days - he is into ribeting and jumping like a frog. Ribet - Ribet - Ribet... It's too funny to see. He Ribeted so big last night that he flipped on over!

Joey and I are doing well ... we both work hard. Joey has recently been riding his bike to work (26.5 miles one way) a day or two a week and is really slimming down. He looks great :)

My Grannie (Levi's GG) passed away recently. God was working overtime during that time to get me there in time to spend time with her before she passed. I am really thankful that I was able to be there to talk with her and to help my momma through it too. I spoke at her funeral service. That was hard to do, but I am glad I did. I hate it that Levi isn't going to grow up knowing her, but we'll keep her memory going for him. Knowing that she was saved, at peace and ready to go made loosing her more bearable.

I mentioned that Levi likes baseball earlier... he does the coolest thing... He gets the bat and sometimes the ball in the same hand then he lifts his leg up like a pitcher would and swings the bat or throws the ball. I've yet to get it on video, but it really is something to see. He enjoys golfing too... he says "get in the hole" and I did it and raises his hands in the air and jumps up and down. Good stuff - great entertainment all the time!

A couple of months ago, Joey took Levi to a car show in the "Hot Rod" (our 1961 Ford Unibody). He thought he was really something sittin up in that truck. They broke down at the show, but that is a different story... but to this day, when he sees a cool car - he'll say "Hot Rod!" It's awesome to to hear it.


We got Levi a little strider bike sometime before Christmas this past year. In recent months he has gotten to where he can reach the ground and he gets around really well on it. He knows to wear his helment. Joey has him jumping things and crossing up BMX style already. We went to WinterPark CO this past weekend for Crankworx. We saw hundreds of bikes and Levi kept saying "my bike, my bike"... It was cool. He was so good during the trip - stayed up till 10 each night but stayed in a good mood through it all. He saw a person dressed up like a monkey, trying to cross a pond on a bike... it really stuck with him because he was telling me all about it this morning over breakfast.

I cannot believe he is going to be 2 - We love him so much and when people tell you that it goes by fast - that is the understatement of the year. It goes by extremely fast and I wish that I had taken more time to write all the little things down. He truely is a wonderful bright spot in our lives and I wouldn't trade a single minute of it. He is precious and loving ... just tonight he was giving us the sweetest kisses... holding our faces with his hands and puckering up real sweet. I don't know where he saw that but it sure made our nights.

I pray that we raise him right - we want him to grow up being loving and respectful, strong and independent.

Happy Birthday to Levi

April Picture Extravaganza!!!

4/2/2010 - Cool Breeze and his new sunglasses. (8 months old today!)


4/4/2010 - Easter Sunday - My two men looking very Eastery!


4/10/2010 - Daddy and Levi checking out the spring flowers that are starting to pop up in our yard.

4/12 - Bath time!

4/14 - Pink Flamingos from Grannie Mary & Aunt Tammie... Love them and the box too!

4/17 - Garage time with Daddy... Having too much fun!!!

4/20 - Ready for Church!

4/20 - Visiters... Bethany John & Ian came over after Church! Here's all the boys togehter.

4/20 - Hanging out in the yard after our company left

4/20 - Cool -- Levi hanging out in Daddy's truck

Levi has a tooth finally coming in. It started showing up on the 10th & as of today the 21st, there's still only a sliver of it showing. It doesn't seem to bother him too much.

Levi is growing up so quickly & he is so much fun.

March / snow day & new job

**This post is a little out of date. It took me forever to take the time to upload some pictures...

Hello All,

Well - today is a snow day! We got about a foot of snow between last night at 5:30 to this morning... wet heavy snow! Because of the snow, Levi's daycare was closed today, so that meant that Mommy (me) got to stay home with the sweet little man. Right now, he is napping - we'll see how long that lasts.

Anyhow. He is growing like crazy and oh so much fun. He is doing better on his tummy, but still not crawling. He always wants to stand up and try to walk. He smiles so pretty and big when he's walking between our legs.

Levi has this little red car walker thing that he enjoys being in too... its funny.... his little feet are just a gettin it, but he only goes backwards. So funny!

Levi is eating well too... He likes pears, applesauce, carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, peaches, bananas. Joey got this bananas, pears & granola combo thing and Levi was really digging that. He didn't want any part of the plain ol' oatmeal that I was trying to serve with it.

Joey got a new job!!! Yay... he calculated it ... he was out of work for 112 work days - I think that is the longest for him. He started yesterday & thinks he's really going to like it. The company is Rexel. The only negative is that it is quite a bit of a drive for him, but he's making the best of it. The drive will give him time to get prepared for the day and wind down after the day. Another thing is that he won't be getting home till close to 6, so he is missing some Levi time. He'll make up for it though with good quality time with Levi.

I wish I could think of all the great things about Levi that I want to share. As we go throughout our days, I am always thinking that we need to blog about this or that, then I get here and draw a blank. Write it down - y'all are saying... I know! :)

Oh --- one thing, he has a hard time rolling over from his tummy to his back. He does well back to front. So now in the middle of the night and morning, he will get all upset because he has rolled over and can't get back. Its funny & sad. One of us ends up having to go in there and roll him over ... then he's awake and not wanting to go right back to sleep. I know he'll get it figured out someday. For now though... that arm is just in the way!

He still doesn't have any teeth. They say 7 months is the average time when babies get their first teeth... so Joey reminds me that he still has a week to go! But it could be as late as a year old or longer. Can you imagine --- a little toothless grin at his 1 year old birthday?

Here are some random pictures from March... enjoy

My goodness, what a year 2010 has been already...

So - again, it has been a long time since I posted anything and as you know, when you have a little one, so much happens in just a couple of months. This will probably be another long post, filled with Levi updates and also some not so good ones...

First with the bad / sad news.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, my Dad was real sick. He had stage 4 lung cancer (was diagnosed around Thanksgiving). He passed away on Jan 9th at home with his wife Shirley. When she called to tell me, I was stunned. I knew that the prognosis wasn't good, but I sure didn't expect it this soon. So we loaded up the family and flew to Pensacola for his service. We were in Pensacola for a week & it was filled with visits with family and my Dad's service. The service was very interesting and I found myself in an awkward situation. Those of you who read this that are my family know that my Dad and I were not super close, but we still had a love for each other and over the past years (since I have been in Denver) we have tried to be better with each other. Well - I was afraid that I would be kind of an outsider at my Dad's service, but that wasn't the case at all. It was real good to see much of my family from his side & they were all good to me. He was cremated and placed at Barrancas National Cemetery on NAS base.

Then for the second round of bad/sad news. We got home from Pensacola on Saturday, Jan 22nd ( I think). Then very late the next Saturday / Sunday morning we got a call from Tammie (Joey's sister) that their father had passed away. Oh man ... did this ever hit Joey hard. We weren't expecting this at all. His dad had Muscular Dystrophy & Diabetes for quite a long time and it finally took it's toll on him. He had struggled to get around for a long time & was on oxygen. When we saw him the previous week, he seemed okay, but was definitely not doing well. He had agreed that he would go to the hospital the next week. Joey loved his dad very much and this was very hard on him. He struggled with whether or not to go back to Pensacola. It was decided that Joseph would be cremated and that they(as a family) would spread his ashes out at Blue Springs in Alabama in June. So we decided we would make the trip home in June. Joey wanted to go home and help his momma get things in order around the house but his sister and mom encouraged him to stay here with me and Levi. Joey did. But then ...

Third round of bad news... On Wednesday, Feb 3rd, Joey's Momma (Mary) was taken to the emergency room and admitted to the SINU at Baptist Hospital. She had been borderline diabetic and with the stress of the recent passing of her husband, her sugar had sky rocketed (into the 900's) and her ph balance had reversed itself in her body. She was not in good shape. Levi and I put Joey on a plane bound for Pensacola the next morning. He needed to be there to be with his Momma and help her out if at all possible.

Good news time ...
Mary is doing well. She spent almost a week in the hospital. They got her blood sugar to within a manageable range & she was able to go home the following Tuesday. Joey stayed with her and they spent time visiting and doing some of the healing things that need to be done. She is still experiencing some of the bad side affects of the sugar getting so high (like blurred vision, etc), but she is doing better and taking care of herself and trying to eat right.

Joey felt comfortable coming back home and he did on Saturday Feb. 13. While he was gone, several of his friends checked in on me and Levi and that was very nice. One couple brought us some groceries and visited for a little bit. We enjoyed that too.

Levi and I were very glad to have Daddy home. We had done okay without him, but we did miss him very much. I told Joey when he got back that I had really missed hearing his voice in our home.

Levi did really well on the plane trip to Pensacola. He & I were both suffering through some congestion so the landings weren't a ton of fun, but we made it through. He was a real trooper. He met so many people while we were in Pensacola and had a smile for every one of them.

He met his Grannie Mary & Paw (Joey's mom and dad). It's crazy, given the circumstances of our trip home, we were so glad that we had made that trip when we did, that way Levi got to meet his Paw before he passed away. He also met his Aunt Tammie and cousins Sam & Adam. Everyone of them was so good to him.
He also met his great Grannie (GG) Beck & countless other relatives and friends.
He sat up for the first time while on this trip & also rolled over from front to back. Like I said before, he smiled pretty for everyone. All of his good moods during the day and entertaining really wore him out, but that didn't mean that he slept well. He didn't. But once we got back to Denver, he was back on track.

Levi turned 6months old on Feb 2nd. He weighed in at 16lbs 13oz and 27 1/2 inches long! He wasn't able to get his shots at his 6month checkup because he was running a slight fever, so we had to reschedule for 2 weeks later. I really think he was just hot because it was hot in the Dr.'s office, but it's okay.

While Joey was in Pensacola Levi and I just hung out & played. We sang and laughed and did the best we could without Joey here. I would send Joey pictures all the time showing him how Levi was doing. He was real close to rolling over from back to front but didn't do it any while Joey was gone.

This past week was kind of tough on little Levi. I am not making as much milk as he needs, so I had to send him to daycare with some formula this week. He didn't do so well with that. They sent him home on Monday because he was throwing up. Joey got him home and he seemed fine. He stayed home with Joey on Tuesday because he finally got his 6 month shots and was good. He drank breast milk all day though. Then back to daycare on Wednesday and they sent him home again because he was throwing up... !!! So - I am wondering what they are doing to him. We took him to the Dr & the Dr said that he has Bronchiolitis (which is a lung infection caused by a virus)... so it was determined that the mucus from that didn't mix well with the formula and that is why he was throwing it up. He stayed home with Joey Thursday and Friday & seems to be doing better. We still can't seem to get him to eat any formula though. He just pushes it away. Joey is gone now to try to find some different kinds so we can test a couple. If I am not making enough milk we have to supplement and Levi has to like it!

I am trying to keep my milk supply up. I feel bad because, when I was pregnant with Levi, I said I was only going to nurse for 6 months... but as it got closer to the 6 I decided I wanted to do it for a year. I am afraid my body heard me saying 6 months for so long that it took me seriously!

Anyhow ... as crazy as the first couple months have been for us, it has been good to. We have started going to church and are really enjoying it. We both have a need to grow in our relationship with God and to raise Levi knowing God as his savior. We are going to do the best we can to make sure that Levi knows and has a relationship with God.

We are still encouraged that this will be a good year.

Sending lots of love your way ...

Lacey, Joey & Levi

I will put up a post later that is just pictures of Levi! He is growing beautifully and y'all need to see him!

Happy My Birthday and other things too.

Hello!
Today found me turning 37 & I couldn't be happier about it. I am lucky to have a wonderful husband and beautiful, happy, healthy son.

I have a lot that I want to talk about, so this could be sort of random... My apologize in advance! :)

1 - Levi was sick with a fever for a few days after Christmas. It was a very worrisome time for me and for us. He ran a fever as high as 103.5 at times, but tylenol would bring it down to about 100 or 101. He was pretty uncomfortable & kind of fussy for about 3 days. We had to keep him home from day care and it is a real blessing that Joey was able to be home with him. Joey took real good care of Levi while he wasn't feeling the best. On the 3rd day we decided to take him to the Dr. & wouldn't you know it... he was cute, cuddly and all smiles for the Dr. The Dr said that that was common. Parents will either come in on the very first day of a fever or on about the 3 day & usually whatever it was is getting better. Anyhow ... he checked him over - no ear infection or anything like that. Breathing good - heck, he wasn't even running a fever. But just to be safe, the Dr wanted to rule out a urinary tract infection. All clear. So - Levi is good as new again & we don't really know what was wrong. Joey and I suspect teething, but the Drs & nurses say that that high of a temp is not normal for teething. We still suspect teething though. He is back to good as new now & we are real happy about that.

2 - I have had a very nice birthday. We started celebrating yesterday. Since Levi was feeling better and not running a fever anymore, we took him to daycare. I took my last vacation day for the year so Joey & I could spend the day together. We went to breakfast, then to the book store. I picked up a new book & then we headed to the movies. It has been a tradition of mine for a long time to go to a movie on my birthday. Since this was going to be our only day alone, we decided to go a day early. We saw "Blind Side" and it was a great movie. Had me tearing up pretty good at times. After the movie, we went and did a little shopping. I was in desperate need of some new clothes. I have lost all my baby weight (48 lbs), but I am not able to wear the same things I was wearing when I got pregnant. My body has changed shape quite a bit. Anyhow... I have been wearing my maternity clothes & Joey told me it was time to get some new clothes. He is so fun to shop with. He helps me think outside the box and my comfort zone. We picked up several new outfits. Then we picked up our little guy and went home.
Part 2 of my birthday today has been great too! I talked to my Momma, Grannie & my Dad this morning. A lady at my work was getting married today and she invited us to go. Joey & Levi got cleaned up and went too. Levi looked real fresh and cute, but he got a little wiggly just before the ceremony so Joey took him outside. The reception was a nice little one in the basement of the church so I stayed and had some cake. It was sweet- I went to tell Mary that I had to go so I could feed Levi & she said wait -- it's your birthday - I have something for you. How sweet is that... she's getting married & thinking of me on my birthday.
We came home & Joey proceded to make us some dinner and me a birthday cake. It's 9:30 and Levi has been in bed for about an hour. That is a little unusual for him, so I don't know what that will mean for the night, but it gives me an opportunity to update this blog before I fall asleep on the sofa. The cake was delicious... Here's some pictures of the day...



3 - My Grannie turned 80 a couple of days before Christmas. She doesn't get around as good as she used to, but she is still so very sweet & I love her to pieces. I wish I could have been there to celebrate it with her. At my Pensacola baby shower she gave Levi a little silver cup with his initials on it. I asked Joey to take some pictures of Levi with his cup & I sent her a frame and these pictures. I think they are worth sharing here too.

Dang - he's sweet!

4. You know - I have tried to keep this blog on the lighter side and try to talk about all the good things in my/our lives, but I feel a need to write this down... My Dad is really sick right now. I found out just shortly after Thanksgiving and it has been kind of an emotional time for me. He has stage 4 lung cancer. I know that time for him is short, but we haven't really discussed that. I thought I was going to be going home either last week or this week to see him, but he asked me not to. This was hard for me to accept, but I had to. Although my Dad and I have not been super close all my life, we have always loved each other very much. When I talked to him, he told me that it is his desire that I not come. He said that he wanted me to remember him the way he was when I saw him last. That was last May when we were home. Joey got to meet him then and really liked him. My Dad liked Joey very much too. I think he liked Joey's good southern ways. Anyhow. I have talked to my Dad almost everyday for the last couple of weeks. They are short conversations and they never get too deep, but I am glad that I am able to talk to him. I do wish that I could have gone home to see him, but I believe that he meant it when he asked me not to come. I would have liked for him to get to see Levi in person, but pictures will have to do for now.

5 - I know this is long - I am sorry for that. I will close with this. 2009 was a good year. 2010 will be even better. I have a great family in my family in and Joey's family. I love my husband & I love my son. I believe that having Levi has changed me forever. I never knew how big my heart could swell to the size it has. I was never one to be all mushy over babies, but dang if I don't tear up when I see little ones these days. I now "get it". The love of a child is amazing & just think...the love I feel is only a smidge of love that God has for each of us, his children. Amazing!!!

I hope that everyone has a wonderful 2010.

Love from the Hardwicks!

Levi's 1st Christmas

Hello Everyone!

Well - we had our first Christmas with Levi & it was a hit. Levi woke up around 8 Christmas morning... He ate and then we got up. We went down stairs and saw that Levi must have been a good boy this year because Santa had come to visit. We got Levi all set up on a blanket in the floor and his boppy. We proceeded to show him everything... :) he did really well. Santa brought some kind of educational toys... he got a little laptop and piano as well as some balls of all shapes and sizes - a football too!!!. He also got a cool zoo toy that has a joystick that he can use to move a little monkey around. It sings real loud and everything! Levi also got a cool buckaroo outfit from Mrs Fran at Mommy's work & some money from J9 at Mommy's work too. His little buddy Ian & Ian's parents gave him a ring stacker ... you know the one that you pile the rings from biggest to smallest ... It was a hit too. Mr John & Mrs Jess gave him an Exersaucer. He loves it! It has so many things for him to play with. He has some more stuff coming from Pensacola but the mail system was a little bogged down with the holidays, so we'll be doing Christmas again later (tomorrow probably!). :)

He was worn out and we were too, so we took a little nap after all of that. After the nap, we started on dinner ... we had turkey breast, mashed potatoes and green bean casserole. It was all delicious!!!.

It was a great day and pretty tiring too. Levi did real well and played with all of his new stuff

Grannie Faye had sent us some Christmas PJs and we all looked very cute. Here is Levi in his outfit enjoying his new toys... (oh yeah... and he got a cute little hat too!)

Levi's first Christmas was wonderful - we enjoyed the time spent together. Wish we could have been home for the Holidays, but maybe next year.

Love to all of y'all!

Joey - Lacey & Levi!!!

4 months old & croupy

Mr Levi turned 4 months old on December 2nd and did it with croup. :-(

He woke up December 1st sounding hoarse. He sounded so pitiful, but seemed okay. I fed him and put him back to bed.... I told his daddy that he didn't sound too good. He went to daycare that day and when I picked him up, Mrs Sheena said his cough sounded like a bark. I heard it on the way home & called the pediatricians office from the car. The nurse lady (Artis) started telling me all sorts of stuff to do then asked how far away I was from the office. Only 15 minutes was my reply. So she said we could come on in. I got Joey and away we went. I know she was only trying to educate me, but it gets kind of scary when they tell you all the things you need to be looking for. The Dr checked him over real good and said that he looked good, but yes - he has croup. Poor little man. He sounded so pitiful!

We went home and babied the baby. We sat with him in the bathroom a couple of times with the hot shower going big time. It was like being in a sauna. He was really sweet and just looked at us like "what's up with all this". Not fussy or anything. He had had a cool air humidifier in his room, but we switched it out for a warm air one to help with the breathing. He did have a little bit of a rough night, but we made it through just fine. We decided to keep him home on Wednesday. I got up, showered, dressed and left for work. I didn't get far. I thought - this is crazy, my son has croup & I have the ability to work from home - why am I going to work? So ... I turned the corner and just drove around the block and pulled back into our driveway. I did work from home. I had a presentation that I had to give the next day and I still needed to get it finished up. Basically, Joey watched our little sick man, I worked and fed him when he needed it. He did pretty good. He has a really a sweet disposition. It worries me sometimes because I am afraid that he won't really communicate when he is feeling badly, but most everyone reasures me that I'll know.

Last night after he laid down, I did too. I heard him on the monitor a couple hours later and just as I was getting up, Joey came in and told me to sleep - he would take care of him. He did too. he did a great job & I got some good rest. Joey is great how he helps out with our little man. I couldn't be happier with the two of them.

He went to daycare today and it was hard on me. I worried that something would happen and they wouldn't notice. But ... he was fine & when we picked him up, he was his same sweet self. Tonight (Thursday) he was doing his little talking thing and he didn't sound as raspy and hoarse, so I think he is on the mend. He is a little conjested, so we are still doing the saline little noses spray.

So for now - he is doing okay. He is 4 months old and still a little croupy, but seems happy.

We are scheduled to go to the Dr for his 4 month checkup and shots on Saturday. I think he will be well enough to go. We are excited to see how much he's grown & if he can start rice cereal or not. He has started really paying attention to us when we eat or drink, so he might be ready for a little something more than Mommas Milk.

Here's a picture of him today... look how dang cute he is.

Love from the Hardwicks!!!

It is finished!

So - A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that my quilting juices were dried up.... Well, yesterday, I told Joey I was going to get Levi's quilt done before I go back to work on Monday. Yesterday, I looked up how to bind a quilt online & found a couple of really good blog pages that laid it out real well. I started trying to do it yesterday, but the original light green satin fabric that I was going to use was toooooo difficult to work with. So Joey suggested I use some black/white checkerboard material that I had. I didn't even think twice.... just about every baby toy has black and white on it somewhere so it just seemed appropriate to do! This morning I let Joey sleep in a little and Levi and I came down stairs and started working on it. I cut the material into two strips & then once Levi was sleeping, I pressed it and got it all ready. Later, once Joey was awake I got to doing the rest of it. Joey worked on the Christmas lights and I worked on the binding. We set up the little box thing that Levi does so well in & he hung out with Mommy while Daddy did the outside stuff. He played real well for a while then fell asleep. I got it just about all the way done, then he woke up. Joey played with him for a while so I could finish it up.
I am super pleased with how it turned out.
I took a little quilting class this past spring & the design is called a split rail. We didn't know if we were having a boy or girl at the time, so I tried to find neutral fabrics, but once I got it all put together, it seemed a little on the famine side... So putting the b/w checkerboard seems to BOY it up good! & Let's not forget the quilting I put into it. For the squares, I just quilted straight lines, but on the boarder I quilted cars & trucks on two sides and flames on the other two sides.
I still have to label Levi's quilt. That will require me writing on a piece of fabric something like for Levi George Hardwick, hand quilted with love by your Momma - finished 11/2009. Then apply it to the back.
Here is a picture or two or four of it. :-)

As you can see in some of the pictures, Joey had the Christmas lights out. He was able to get the Christmas lights up on the outside of the house today. He did a great job. Here is a picture or two of his work!...

We also had a great Thanksgiving this year. John & Jess invited us over to their place for dinner with their families. We got to meet Abby (Jess' daughter) & both sets of their parents - all real nice people. It was great. We had turkey, stuffin and all the other fixens. Levi was very good & the timing was perfect that he was asleep when it was time for us to eat. We had him looking real cute, but forgot to take a picture! While it was wonderful to spend the holiday with friends, it wasn't like being back home in Pensacola. I commented, that if we had been at one of our parents house a nap would have definitely followed dinner! But it was good & we are thankful to have a good group of friends here.

Friday after Thanksgiving it was in the 60's and a beautiful day, so we loaded Levi and the stroller up and went for a nice walk around the lake at Clement Park. Levi was asleep for most of it, but it was nice to get out in the fresh air!

Levi turns 4 months old on Wednesday & goes for his 4 month checkup on Saturday. We'll post again with his stats after weigh in on Saturday! Also - we'll see if he can start eating something besides milk at that time too!

Here's some random photos from the last couple of weeks... He is 17 weeks old today.
One in a highchair that is still to big for him... but he doesn't seem to mind sitting in it from time to time... another in his "toy box" & another taken during a "tummy time" moment.

Okay - so that's it for now. He's ready to eat.

We love all y'all & we miss you too. Wish we could be home during the Holidays, but we'll make it before too much longer.

On a quick - little different note - Both of our Dads are not in the best of shape these days. Mine is in the hospital right now & Joey's has a mix of good and bad days. Prayers are good.

Love & kisses from the Hardwicks! --- J, L & L

Grocery store story

Hello all,

This was too sweet not to share. Yesterday, Joey & I picked Levi up from daycare and decided to make a quick run to the grocery store. We think it was his first time in the grocery store (he's been to walmart, but that isn't the same).
At any rate, we stop by the deli and Joey picked up some chicken for dinner, while he was waiting he suggested that Levi and I go ahead and pick up some salad. We are making our way down the produce section and this little old man asks me what I have there in my buggy.... I tell him - I have a sweet bundle of joy. He asks if he can see him. I say sure! This man and his wife stop and visit with Levi. They were a very cute and sweet older couple. We were trying to get Levi to look at them, but he had his eyes on something else... Finally I turn his head and he looks at them. The man asks if he can talk to Levi - he says to me "I am not a preacher, just a grandpa" then he leans in and talks real sweet to Levi, he says "I pray that you will grow up happy, healthy and strong and when you are big enough that you will pray for peace in this world"... Levi then smiled the prettiest smile. At this time, Joey walks up and we all visit for a minute. The man tells us he is 87 years old and has lived a good life but he worries about the state of the world today. This encounter really made our day. We wish that we had gotten their names so we could keep in touch with them and take Levi to seem them every once and a while. Maybe we will run into them again in the produce isle!

So I close this with a prayer that all of you are Happy & Healthy and that we'll all pray for peace in this world.
Thanksgiving is next week. Take time to really appreciate those around you (family and friends).
Love, love & Love

Dirty hands...

Well... A lot has been going on over the last couple of weeks.
Joey had a little cold or something for a couple of days, then I caught it and held on to it for way too long. I am just now getting to feeling pretty good again.

Little Levi got it too... just a little it seems. Beginning Thursday night he started waking up in the middle of the night again - he's still doing it - we think maybe he is either going through a growing spurt or his little cold is bothering him. On Thursday too, his left eye starting weeping a little. On Saturday I took him to the pediatrician and he gave us some drops for his eye. It already looks a ton better (it was never bad). He also got weighed and he weighed in at 14 lbs 8 1/2 oz (with clothes on). He's been a little stuffy too. We got a humidifier a couple of weeks ago and I think it helps.

Levi has been talking up a storm lately. He just goes on and on saying stuff and we think it is pretty important. He really raises his voice sometimes to make sure we are paying attention. He really is growing. Daddy (Joey) has been showing him how to roll over from his back to his tummy and then have some tummy time. He's stays propped up on his elbows pretty good and looks around. He checks out the other baby in the mirror too! ;-) He hasn't figured out how to push himself up with his hands, but that will come in time.

Last Monday Levi came home with a dirty hand. I was feeding him, checking him over like I do & noticed his finger nails were dirty. I was a little perturbed. I thought what in the world did daycare let him get in to. He's a baby! He shouldn't be getting dirty yet!!!. It was in the cracks of his nails where the nail meets the finger. I told Joey I was really tempted to call the daycare to find out what it was.... I was thinking poop or something (ick). Joey told me not to call and to quit worrying... just to let it go. Well... the next day, I go to pick him up & one of the girls says to me "want to see one of the cutest things ever" - I think to myself --- hey lady - I'm holding him! :) ... but really, she shows me a little turkey that they had made the day before! It's his little hand and it's painted brown. It was precious! I told her ... oh that's why his hand was all dirty. They appologized and I learned a lesson. Try not to panic and think the worse. Also - you never know what kind of suprise is waiting for you - so just take it easy & if it isn't hurting him, don't stress over it! That is his first little art project and once they are done with it at the daycare - you can bet it is going to go on our fridge!

We did a little 3 month photo shoot a couple of weeks ago too... here's just one of the pictures ...
enjoy :)



On to other news. Joey got laid off this past Thursday. Crescent had to down size and he and some others were the casulty of it. Joey is working on staying positive. He has already filed for unemployment, made some contacts and distributed some resumes. Things will work out just as they should and we will be just fine.

Well... my head hurts a little Levi is waking up from a little nap. Maybe he'll sleep through the night tonight (like he used to).

We love y'all...

Lacey & Joey & Levi too!!!!

3 months old

My blogging juices are dried up, much like my quilting juice! I started a quilt for Levi many months ago. Just a couple of weeks ago, I finally got all the quilting done on it. Now it sits, waiting for me to sew the boarder on. Boarders are tough for me anyway ... and I am wanting to put a satin boarder on this one, so I am scared of it! Anyway... I will be tackling it soon. I want him to have it before he turns a year old! :)

By the way ... Last Monday he celebrated his 3 month birthday. We went the day before and got pictures of him taken. He did really well. He smiled pretty for the camera and we bought way too many pictures. I'm sure you'll be getting one in your Christmas card!

Levi is still sleeping through the night, most nights. He seems to be well adjusted to day care. Most of the time, he comes home in a good mood & he is always good for Daddy in the mornings.

He was a little m&m for Halloween! Thanks Aunt Tammie for the outfit. He looked just too cute. We didn't take him trick or treating even though Joey wanted to stock up on some candy. Maybe next year.

Levi went to his first birthday party yesterday. It was his buddy Ian's 1st birthday. Levi's timing was such that he was eating when Ian was doing the cake thing so he missed it - but we all had a great time. Mrs Bethany & Mr John (Ians parents) are great people and we always enjoy their company. Levi got Ian a Tow Mater truck that says "well dag gum!"... it was a hit! :)

Here's a smattering of pictures over the last couple of weeks.







We love and miss all of you!