Indiana Trip

Below are a few pictures from the Indiana trip. I would love to post more but it takes a long time and I need sleep. We had a wonderful visit first with Gene and Fran Simmons in Indianapolis. They are doing very well there. Then we went on to Warsaw and saw Jean and Jack Zielasko, Grandma and Grandpa Goodman, John, Sharon, Kendra and Douglas Zielasko, Steph Bernhardt and her mother Tammy Fites. We saw Bill and Trina Hoy and Shyloh and Kyla as well. I am sure I am forgetting someone. We had a wonderful time there visiting. My 10 year reunion was a bust but I saw about 10 friends from highschool and it was fun to catch up. We then went to Dave and Nancy's in Chicago and spent 3 nights there. We loved tooling around Chicago. We went to Navy Pier, Gino's East, Ryan and I celebrated our 6th anniversary at the 95th floor of the John Hancock building (it is a restaurant). We took the kids to the Lincoln Park Zoo (Noah slept the entire time). We drove around quite a bit and visited Little Poland. We ate at a very authentic Polish restaurant and loved it. That is a quick summary but the trip was wonderful.

Pumpkin Festival - Oct. 2005

This was the 2nd annual family outing to the Pumpkin Festival in Dewey, Arizona. We had a blast.

Chicago in October 2005

Another photo of a beautiful gray October day in Chicago.

Chicago - October 2005

This would be a picture of us in Chicago (Noah was sleeping in his stroller).

Lewis Side Cousins

These are all my children's cousins on the Lewis side. Left to Right Andrew, Austin (older boy), Noah, Laurelle, Rachel (older girl) and Emily. Andrew and Emily belong to Tim Lewis (Ryan's brother) and Austin and Rachel belong to Cher (Ryan's sister)

Laurelle and Daddy Time

This is Laurelle in one of her daddy's hats. He loves to take pictures of her and he caught her in this adorable moment.

More Pictures

Family Pictures

We had family pictures taken August 19. We messed up our order and did not receive the pictures electronically this time so I had to scan them into the computer myself. We really liked them - I hope you all enjoy them as well.

Follow up to Deb's Surgery

Deb is at home now recovering. Praise the Lord the surgery went well. Please continue praying for her during the healing process.

Deb's Surgery

Just so you know....... my sister Deb had hip replacement surgery on Monday. The kids and I visited her at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix today. She is doing ok. She has had a fever and fast heart rate but was doing better today. She is going to go home Friday most likely. Rich has the next 8 weeks off to take care of the kids as she will be in a lot of pain and will not be able to lift things or be walking much for a while. The Doctor lenghthened her leg so they are the same length but this adds to the pain since he had to stretch the muscles. Rich is not able to visit since they live an hour away and the kids are in school. That doesn't leave him time to get to the hospital and back before bed. Feel free to call her - she would enjoy the thoughts. Mom, Andrew and Christina and I have visited so that helps. She actually kicked us out so she could nap. Please pray for her healing and for Rich as he is Mr. Mom for the upcoming weeks. I will keep you posted on her recovery.

Warsaw High - 10 Year Renunion

My (Beth's) 10 year highschool reunion is this year. I didn't think we were having one but I just heard it is slated for Oct. 7-8. The whole family of four is going. We are going to be in Indy with Fran and Gene a few days. Then we will head to Warsaw for the reunion and visit family. Lastly, we will go to Chicago to stay with Dave and Nancy and do some sight seeing. We are excited. I am nervous about traveling with both kids but we will survive and have some great memories.

We are also planning on traveling to Nevada to see Ryan's grandmother in early November. He has a convention to attend in Las Vegas. We are trying to coerce Ryan's mom into traveling with Beth and the kids separately so I don't have to hang out in Vegas while Ryan works with two kids. We'll see if that works out.

More Pictures

Grandma Becky and the grandkids Dr. Brachfeld

Noah in the Boppy pillow Beth and kids with Nurse Kim - she helped deliver both our babies

Picture of Laurelle and Noah at Home

Laurelle in our backyard and Noah in his carseat

Pictures

Moments after Noah's arrival!!!!!!!11
Day 2 of Noah's life...
Beth and Ryan awaiting his birth in the Labor Delivery Room

Noah Ryan Lewis

Well he came. Yeah!!!!! He was born Monday, August 1st, 2005 at 5:03 p.m. He weighed in at 7 lbs. 11 oz. and 20 1/4" long. We arrived at the hospital at approximately 10 am after my water broke. I went from 6 cm dialted at 4 p.m. to 10 cm at 4:30 p.m. The doctor was then called and he and Ryan delivered the baby at 5:03 p.m. after 3 contractions (with pushing). Laurelle met him around 7 p.m. and she has been mildly interested but not concerned with his presence. So far no fits or jealousy but we will see how she progresses.

I came home yesterday about 1 p.m. and my mom is with me today helping. Ryan had some work to do today but he had been off Mon. through Wed. and will have to be off tomorrow to take us to the doctor. My mom will be back again next week for a few half days I think and then I will be on my own (with Ryan's flexible schedule - hopefully). I am healing much more quickly than last time so that is a praise. I am already up and around and feeling good.

I will post some pictures as soon as I get them downloaded (we got a new camera and the software isn't installed yet).

Baby Noah!!!!!!!! Not yet..........

Well, I went to the Doctor yesterday and no change since the week before. I am 2 cm dialated and 80% effaced. His head is down in position though so he said anytime. I am scheduled to see him again on Monday. He is out of town this weekend so I would like to have him today or tomorrow before 3 p.m. or else next Monday. We are just trusting that the Lord knows the perfect time....... but in the meantime it is REALLY hot.

Wedding Reception

Top: Josh (cousin) and fiance Megan
Bottom: Matt (cousin) and wife Monika

Left to Right: Grandma Goodman, Cousin Jessica, Grandpa Goodman and Mom

Wedding Reception

Ryan and myself Mom and I

Wedding Reception

Jessica (cousin) and Anthony Conroy Uncle Paul and Aunt Marlene Goodman

Andrew's Wedding July 22, 2005

The wedding was beautiful and seemed to go off without a hitch as far as I could tell. These are some photos my cousin Jessica took.

Family Arriving & I am dialated

My family is arriving for the family reunion. How exciting. I can't wait to let you all know how it went.

Also, as of last Tuesday I was 1-2 centimeters dialated. WOW! It won't be long now.

Laurelle's First Birthday - March 11

I can't believe I didn't put up a post for Laurelle's first birthday. Here are some cute pictures.

Happenings

I can't find my digital camera cord to upload photos so I am very behind. I am having Costco put them on CD so I can upload them that way. I will get some up eventually. Sorry.

So much has been happening. We went to Page twice and loved that little city on a mesa. The Lake was beautiful and we all got nice tans. Mine is fading quickly - Ryan's stays nice from golfing. Laurelle is a water lover. She had a wonderful time and was a great car traveler. Mom and Dad went to Page as well the second time over the Memorial Day weekend and it was a nice time. We explored the city, ate out and relaxed.

I am in the middle of my first real estate transaction. Some friends of our are buying property for investment and I was helping them. It kept Laurelle and I very busy for a few weeks but I think we are going to close on a property in June sometime. That is a very fast paced profession here is Phoenix right now. You have to be quick on your feet. We all found the process very tiresome. Now is a crazy time to be buying property.

The property we bought for remodeling closed in May and we have begun renovations. It needs everything. Mom has designed a new kitchen for it and we have picked out tubs, tile, vanities, toilets, faucets, doors. We haven't decided on paint yet but we will have to at some point. We settled on a place to buy garage doors but haven't ordered them yet. This house is literally a skeleton with everything torn out. I need to get over there and take some pictures of before so we can show you our progress along the way.

We are looking forward to the Goodman reunion in July and Andrew's wedding. Some of my dad's family is coming as well. My baby shower is going to be July 21st. FUN! I can't wait for all of the excitement. The doctor appointments continue to go well. I have 8 pounds to gain and be the same weight I was when I had Laurelle. I am due Aug. 9th. I have begun my 2 week visits (first 2 week next Wed.) and after two of these will go to the once a week visits. It makes me feel very close when I have to see the doctor so often. We bought a new Convertible crib for Laurelle. We have yet to put it up because we have much rearranging to do (from room to room). I chose a surf pattern theme for Noah's room. I got the quilt and sheet set from Pottery Barn and it is adorable. I am going to the craft store hopefully today to pick up some items for the walls (also ideas I am copying from Pottery Barn for a fraction of the price).

Page, AZ & Lake Powell

Ryan, Laurelle and I are venturing to Page, AZ this weekend. I have been working from home mostly and a client I work for (Southwest Gas) asked if I would consider a trip to Page when they convert their accounting system. I asked Ryan if he would be willing to accompany me and so we are off. We will leave on Sat. and rent a boat on Sunday to play on Lake Powell. Then I will work approx. 6 hours Monday and Tuesday and we will drive home Tuesday night. We are excited but a little overwhelmed because we have much to accomplish before the new baby comes.

I left my heart in San Francisco

Well, not really. We had a wonderful time this weekend. I did just fine being away from Laurelle and she did all too well with me gone. She was wonderful for my mother-in-law who watched her most the time. My parents relieved her for an evening as well. She didn't appear to miss a step and when we returned it was as if it we had just been gone for an evening.

While in San Francisco we explored a submarine, a cargo ship (still operational), some other three boats that carried people and cars and a tug ???. Ryan thought that was all great. We took a ferry to Tiburon which is a very quaint little town that would cost a fortune to live in. We road on trolley and cable cars. We went downtown to Old Navy, Ross, Gap and Mimi Maternity. We walked down the crookedest street in the world. We ate LOTS of crab... crab cakes, crab chowder, whole crab, crab fettucine, crab sandwich, crab cocktail ... just to name a few. We had excellent sourdough bread from Boudin. We went to the cannery, Pier 39 and Ghiradelli square. We perused a museum of games - old games - like the fortune teller machine from Big - they had the pianos that played themselves (Worlitzer?). They had puppet machines and all sorts of old what we would call arcade type games. We ate and ate and ate. Ryan did not bring his golf clubs which I am sure was quite a sacrifice.

We stayed in a very nice Hyatt hotel at Fisherman's wharf. We had easy flights there and back and it didn't rain at all until today. We were leaving anyway so we didn't care. We went to Chinatown and bought Laurelle a Kimono with a matching purse. It is very cute.

Well - I will post some pictures later.

Real Estate

I became a realtor. We were interesting in investing (Ryan and I along with my parents) so I got my realtor's license. The classes took me away from my baby but were interesting and I enjoyed being in the classroom again learning. I passed the exam the first time and now and a licensed real estate agent with Home Smart Realty. I haven't completed any transactions yet. It looks like the first house we will buy will be through his realtor because we saw a house we wanted and called him and he is willing to sell. We are hoping to sign on this house Monday. I will post some before pictures after the house is ours. It needs an extreme makeover.

San Francisco

Ryan and I are going away for Mother's Day weekend. We are very excited and nervous (I am). We are leaving Laurelle for two nights and WOW! that will be big. I was crying last night as we made our hotel reservations worrying that my daughter wouldn't know what happened to me and if I was coming back or not. But I am determined to have a wonderful time.

Walking

Laurelle is Walking. Last Wednesday (one week ago) she decided to give up crawling and start walking as her mode of transportation. It is such a cute walk. We love it. I have some pictures I need to upload and put on the site when I get a chance. She is a bundle of energy and smiles and we love her lots.

Teeth

Laurelle has two teeth going on three. She got her first tooth (an upper) at over a year old but now they seem to be coming fast and furious. She got another (bottom) and the other top one is on its way through. She is such a doll. She says Hi! She can take steps but is very stubborn about it and refuses to upon command. I just love being her mom. What is it about motherhood that you can't stand to leave them, you love to see there bright smile in the morning... but there are those times when they won't stop screaming at you to pick them up right when you are in the middle of dinner and then you can wait for dad to get home so you can shove that precious girl into daddy's arms and say "Your turn!" But then five minutes later they clap or say Hi! into the phone and your heart melts. Parenthood is such a blessing.

It's a .........BOY!

Well we had an ultrasound yesterday and the results are in... it was very clearly a boy. But more importantly everything looked normal and healthy. We are ecstatic that the Lord has blessed us with this little boy. So everyone says "well great you can have two - a boy and a girl". However, we aren't convinced that this is all the Lord has in store for us. We will wait and see.

Crazy Life

Our lives have been fast paced recently. We have all been sick (Laurelle has her first ear infection) and then we celebrated Laurelle's first birthday last Friday evening. We had a wonderful evening with friends and family - eating and watching Laurelle open her presents. She enjoyed the messy cake experience and then was wisked to bed because she was desperately tired. She is enjoying her new toys immensely.

I am in my 19th week of pregnancy and feeling good. I am beginning to show obviously - meaning people are beginning to ask when I am due (not just secretly suspect). It is much more fun this way. We find out on Thursday if the new baby will be a boy or a girl. I believe we have names picked out either way. They are leftover names from the last baby. It hasn't been long enough for us to change out minds.

Ryan is extremely busy with work - trying to grow the business in new directions. He hired a new employee who started today. Hopefully it works out.

Laurelle's Dedication

Laurelle and Grandma Becky

Laurelle's first encounter with snow - we took her sledding

Laurelle's First Christmas

Mommy's legs - the rest is all the cutie pie.

Mommy and Laurelle

This is Laurelles' favorite bear.

PICTURES

These are some of Laurelle's one year pictures. J C Penney's does such a great job. I was really happy.

Andrew and Christina's Engagement Photos

Go to www.weddingprints.com - subject Christina and Andrew's engagement - password Grout to view their beautiful photos.

Just thought I would share the information.

Baby Dedication

I don't know exactly the origination of this name baby dedication. We are dedicating the baby to the Lord but moreover, we dedicated ourselves as parents to raising Laurelle in the ways of the Lord. We want our daughter to love the Lord her God with all her heart. On Sunday, Feb. 20, 2005 we dedicated ourselves and our daughter to the Lord. Our friends and family were present in an intimate setting (not in front of the whole church but rather a separate room with 3 other sets of parents and their friends and family). It was a sobering event reminding us of the task which lay ahead and all the responsibilities that come with it.

With the Lords help only can we accomplish this lofty goal.!!

Doggy!

Laurelle's first word was Daddy (dada as well) and soon after she said doggy. We believe she did anyway but in the last few days she has begun pointing to our dog and saying Doggy. She loves to say doggy. She says it when I am mad at her and when she wants my attention. She says it all the time. She has begun saying Mamamamama and nana. Anyway, she is saying new words daily.

And our little baby who has no teeth (yes at 11 months) has bumps on top. They may break through any day. She has been a little fussy today and I used orajel for the first time.

We are also dealing with a our first discipline issue - the dog bowl. She wants to splash in the dog bowl. We say no and smack her hand (not too hard) and move her away and then we repeat the process approx. 30 times. It is great fun.

Picture Day

Laurelle and I went out to get her/our picture taken today. We like the JC Penney portrait studio and they took some awesome photos. They will be available for me to email and post in a few weeks and then I will share them with all of you. We also had our first professional mother/daughter photos and they turned out lovely if I do say so myself. I can't wait to share them with all of you.

Laurelle's 1st birthday party is March 11th (her first birthday). Family and friends in town are welcome to join us in celebrating the anniversary of her birth.

Andrew and Christina at Christina's Surprise Birthday party in July 2004

Andrew's getting Married

Well, I know this is old news but Andrew is engaged. He popped the question in December to his girlfriend (now fiancee) Christina Grout. He was very romantic ( I am told) and they have set a date of July 22, 2005. The wedding and reception will take place in Chandler, AZ. I have added a picture of the happy couple.

The Pumpkin Festival - October 2004

We had a blast taking a family trip to Prescott for the weekend in October. We were celebrating our five year anniversary along with my 28th birthday and we decided to hop in the car and head North. We researched the local happenings of Prescott before leaving town and found that the Pumpkin festival was going on. We stopped by there on our way to Prescott and really enjoyed oursevles. We will probably make this a yearly family outing. We enjoyed touring Young's Farm and taking a hayride. We sampled fresh cider, arizona wine, freshly fried potatoe chips, funnel cakes, BBQ sandwich, apple and pumpkin pies. I am combining what Ryan and I both ate (although you can imagine who ate most of it). Ryan was like a kid in a candy store and wanted a little bit of everything. They have fields of pumpkins that you can walk through and pick out your own. It was a very eventful day and we got some great pictures.

We went along to Prescott and enjoyed the Prescott Brewing Company for dinner. We really enjoyed the food there and Laurelle cooperated through dinner......until we went back to the hotel. She proceeded to keep us up most the night. She woke up hourly and we finally gave in and brought her to bed with us but that did little to help. The next morning we woke up exhausted but still managed to shop at the local antique stores and find a few interesting items.

Joining the Blogging world

It is a scary thought that I, Beth Lewis, have become a blogger. After receiving multiple links to blog sites of friends and family I decided that we needed to join the blogging world. This site will map the milestones of the Ryan and Beth Lewis family.

So here it goes........We are a family of three currently. Ryan, Beth and little Laurelle (11 months old tomorrow). We are also expecting a new addition on or around August 9th, 2005. The two will be less than 17 months apart. WOW!! We will have our hands full.

That is the big news for the first blog. I am just setting up the site so I will continue with more milestones later..............