Reitsema Family Adventures

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

2011-12-26T07:33:00.001-08:00

What a delight to see Christmas through the eyes of a toddler. We had lots of "Whoa" and "Wow" and "Yea!" and could not have felt more love. Christmas festivities were not even close to a "silent night"; however, the noise, the activity, the family, and the frenzy reminded us how grateful we are to have so many people that we love.

May 2012 bring new life and refreshing to you and all your families.

Our Windproof, Winter Jackets put to the Test!

2011-12-02T11:44:00.000-08:00

Whenever we agree to follow Darin G. on an adventure, we expect a memory! This year's post Turkey snowshoe hike certainly delivered. We climbed Mount Eva to burn all our fuel from pumpkin pie. We certainly burned the pumpkin pie, our hamstrings, our calves, our glutes, and our quads! A huge storm moved in right as we got above tree line. We felt like true mountaineering folk...what we didn't feel was our finger tips or our toes. The clouds parted on our descent to give us a clear picture of the Winter Park Valley. What a reward for our day's work. Thanks Goods for helping to create an adventure we'll never forget.

Thankful Hearts

2011-12-02T11:34:00.000-08:00

Our Gratitude list (abbreviated): Family visits home from Julie and Kevin, two turkey dinners with people we love, a game of "Reitsema Football" with no twisted ankles, the words and phrases Lia has picked up that make us smile, adventures with friends who love us well, and understanding that what feels out of our control is held with loving purpose in the hands of our Father. Hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving holiday!

An Elephant Never Forgets

2011-11-01T07:57:00.001-07:00

Our Lady Bug and Elephant cousins!

Lia questions this strange tradition

However, if it involves a wagon ride, I’m In!!

Walking to knock on the door for our first treats. Lia put all her treats back in people’s candy bowls. I think she’d rather sort the candy at this point than eat it.

It was our treat as parents to celebrate all the growth since she was just a baby chick last year. What a sweet gift it is to be able to hold this baby elephant’s hand!

Happy Halloween

Cause people like to say “Salsa”

2011-09-15T12:43:00.001-07:00

Just like her Dad! Lia loves her chips and salsa snack break.

For those of you who haven’t seen her walking yet…here is some footage of her busy little steps:

4 Years

2011-09-15T10:12:00.001-07:00

September 1, we celebrated our 4 year Anniversary. Josh arranged a weekend away at Lake Grandby, the perfect setting to soak up the sun and celebrate the family, friendships, and adventures we’ve experienced along the way. Lia is a huge fan the the boat. She added “boat” to her rapidly growing vocabulary list.

Words: “Hot” “Hat” “Doggy” “More” “Up” “Ball” “Duck” '”Water” “Boat” “Crack” (short for cracker) “Birdie” “Moose” “Elk” “Milk” “Mommy” “Daddy” “Bop” (Her word for Flip Flops) and many more.

Now that Lia can say and identify her “Hat” she is much mire excited to wear it!

The perfect way to start our mornings!

Lia protecting her lips from the dry CO air

Thank you, Josh, for loving both of your girls so well! We are two very fortunate girls. Can’t wait for many more years of marriage and family memories.

Jackson Hole

2011-08-17T13:50:00.001-07:00

Nana celebrated her 90th birthday in true Reitsema fashion, surrounded by her entire family in Jackson Hole, WY. Lia was a road trip champion enduring the 10 hour drive with little to no breakdowns. What a fantastic memory J and I will cherish forever. We treasure the moments we can be together with family and experience the gift and legacy that Nana made possible. Happy Bday Nana!

Baby Tegan and Lia ready to explore Jenny Lake with the Ladies.

Our picnic spot. Lindsey, Lauren, Lia, Lexi, Holly, Nana, Pam, and Debbie.

Lia running around Grand Teton Park on our way into Yellowstone.

Stopped for a picture on trail toward Taggart Lake

A shot in front of the Grand Tetons

Lia loves uncle Larry

Bringing a little TX BBQ into the kitchen. Go team bandana.

Goodbye Jackson Hole. We can’t wait to visit you in the winter to make some memories skiing your chutes!

Backpacking

2011-08-17T09:09:00.001-07:00

I am married to the most wonderful man who knows my heart and the things that make it come alive. Recently, when an opportunity came up for me to guide a group of YL girls on a backpacking trip, Josh helped to arrange all things Lia so I could make the experience happen. It was such a refreshing treat to be on trail and reflect on this past year as a new mom. Even after 28 miles of hiking and very few hours of sleep, I returned feeling like I spent a week at the spa. Below is a link of the pictures we took. The joy of returning home to J and Lia was oh so sweet, especially considering that Lia perfected walking while I was gone.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.535991263768.2031681.171700865&type=1

Here’s to knowing the things that bring life to the people you love and helping to provide opportunities to make them happen!

Fun on the 4th!

2011-07-12T13:24:00.001-07:00

This year’s 4th of July was full of hometown favorites: A mountain hike, Lia’s first trip to the zoo, and BBQ and fireworks on the lawn with cousin Ella. It was really special to watch the girls hug on each other and giggle as the colors lit up the night sky. Watching our little girls grow up together is so very special and something we will never take for granted.

Thank you, uncle Kevin, for this new way to travel on Mom’s back!

The zoo made Lia VERY happy as you can see.

Yard games with the munchkins

Hugs for cousin Ella!!

Under the Sea

2011-06-27T11:11:00.001-07:00

We just returned from a diving adventure exploring the shore diving landscape of Bonaire. Our dear friends, the Goods, experienced the trip with us and helped to create lifelong memories capturing views of the underwater world.

Josh and I headed for the reef

Lia was our champion traveler making it through multiple legs of plane rides.

Thrilled to be in the pool with Daddy!

…and loving the view for her morning bottle

Josh and I entering the water for a night dive. We saw a sleeping turtle, lots of Tarpon using our flashlights to hunt for fish, and a blue parrot fish that was 4 feet long.

Excited to explore with our flashlights!

I had hoped Lia’s first hairstyle would be pig-tails, but we’ll settle for a mohawk!

Taylor and Nicole finished their open water certification in Bonaire. This was the Goods’ first family dive together. They picked a great setting!

Josh, Lia, and Lauren before diving Angel City Reef

One of the most remarkable things we saw was a giant bait ball composed of hundreds of thousands of small silver fish. We’d swim through it and the fish would circle around us in formation. This was the most fascinating image of teamwork we have ever seen. From the surface, this mass of fish looked like its own coral reef; the sheer number of fish will amaze you. Enjoy this underwater footage!

All Smiles!

Father’s Day sunset

The Goods

Dinner with Daddy on the pier

The view from our porch

Taylor, Lauren, and Nicole after a dive on Andrea II

Our whole crew!

Lia sporting her very own wetsuit. Baby in training :)

Goodbye to the sea turtles, lion fish, sting rays, shrimp, eels, and countless creatures of Bonaire’s coral reefs ! Thanks for letting us peek into your world through our masks. Lia’s hat says it all!

Cruising…

2011-06-04T20:28:00.001-07:00

Celebrating Grandma’s 80th birthday cruising the islands of the Caribbean and FL Keys will certainly go down as one of our favorite family memories. Lia was so fun to watch as she discovered the sand under her tiny toes, the salty taste of an ocean swim, and the flavors of many new foods including a savory bite of escargot. We couldn’t be more grateful for this precious time to reconnect with family we have truly missed over the years. We hope this adventure marks one of many with the Posts.

Lia couldn’t get enough of the view and loved being perched by our window to see the ocean.

The Sheraton Beach in Nassau, Bahamas…

Practicing with Daddy for long walks on the beach with her future husband.

Best view for any of Lia’s naps yet!

Sunglasses are SO FUN to play with…

Grandma’s birthday wish!

Ella and Lia loved the waves gently splashing their toes on Coco Cay Island.

“Isn’t this just the best, Lia?” (Ella)

“Sure is, Cousin…sure is!” (Lia)

Uncle Kevin squeezes!!

Fresh key lime pie stop at Kermit’s in Key West!

One family shot on the ship before heading home.

Patiently waiting to board our flight for CO. Lia’s eyes are saying “Please don’t make me go home!” Mine are saying “Please don’t scream on this plane ride.”

Love you all!! Happy birthday Gigi!

Lia’s 1st Birthday!

2011-05-09T13:49:00.001-07:00

What a treat to have Lia’s birthday fall on Mother’s Day this year. We spent a lot of the day reminiscing about last year’s Mother’s Day being our very first full day as parents. A wonderful year began that day, and we look forward to many more in the future.

To avoid leftover cake with no fridge space, we opted to craft a bouquet of cake balls! Lia had her own flower cupcake with green frosting, but the adults needed a taste of something sweet too.

The theme for Lia’s party was “Shake, Rattle, and Roll” We had a milkshake bar, rattles for the babies, and a variety of sliders on fresh baked rolls.

Grandma came early with a special delivery of balloons for Lia’s chair. We soon learned she has an aversion to balloons that was quite comical. (Video Below)

Dad, What’s all this about?

After singing “Happy Birthday” and blowing out her candle, Lia was free to indulge in her first-ever sugary treat. She was a slow starter:

But soon she came around:

Time to get cleaned up…

…reluctantly

After scrubbing green frosting from her hair, she was all smiles again

Until…Those crazy balloons:

Turns our balloons don’t make every kid happy. Who Knew?!

Happy Birthday to our Precious Peanut! You have brought so much joy to your parents and everyone who has had the chance to meet you this year. We love you very much.

Bunnies and Bears

2011-04-27T19:37:00.001-07:00

Although Lia and her cousin, Ella, aren’t quite old enough for the Easter egg hunt, the two were incredibly festive in their bunny ears.

Showing off her toothy grin.

Off to collect her Easter basket treats.

Both Ladies were a little unsure about the ears.

But soon enough they stopped pulling them off and enjoyed the flash photography!

Grandma J and her grand-bunnies.

Lia went from her bunny ears to her Bear coat as a Spring chill partnered Easter week.

Baby bear hunting for berries.

Teeth!

2011-04-25T15:11:00.001-07:00

Lia has worked hard to add her two front top teeth to her bottom ones. To celebrate the teething pain she’s endured, we got her very own light up toothbrush. We had to pry it out of her hands to get her to bed. I think this little peanut will have great oral hygiene.

Table Talk

2011-04-14T18:08:00.001-07:00

Here is the facebook “table talk” video for those of you who are not on facebook or unable to open it.

Spring in her STEPS!!

2011-04-11T16:40:00.001-07:00

We are on the go doing laps of stairs outside and enjoying the Spring sun! Our afternoon activity gets us nice and tired for bedtime :).

Funny Faces!

2011-03-25T13:14:00.001-07:00

Makes us smile! Hope we can pass some smiles on to you.

On the GO!

2011-03-03T11:23:00.001-08:00

Lia is making her move all over the house. She loves to crawl through her fabric tunnel and has invented what we’ve called the “monkey scoot” to keep her knees from getting rug burn. Enjoy these visual clips!

Monkey Scoot!

Tunnel Crawl!

Lipstick already?

2011-02-21T14:21:00.001-08:00

Not quite, but it certainly looked like it after sampling our berry shake!

My how you’ve grown…

2011-02-10T21:27:00.001-08:00

Lia’s 9 months old this week. We can’t believe she’s been in our lives now for the same amount of time Lauren was pregnant. Here is a little photo journey of her growth and development. What fun to see these changes and anticipate so many more to come.

1 Day

1 Week

1 Month

2 Months

3 Months

4 Months

5 Months

6 Months

7 Months

8 Months

9 Months

The only thing not growing is her hair…soon enough we’ll be able to do pig tails.

Thanks to all of you who have celebrated her with us.

Sips and Snacks in Training

2011-01-25T16:40:00.001-08:00

Introduced sippy cup and “puffs” finger snacks this week. Lia loves practicing !

Two Big Milestones

2011-01-18T19:37:00.001-08:00

#1: Pulling herself up!

We may have to move bath time to the big bath downstairs as she is ready to leap over the edge of the sink.

#2: Crawling!

Life is about to really change. Lia hit 8 months this week and began to shuffle and crawl around.We can’t believe how fast she is making her move. Next step…WALKING!

Our Favorite Sound…

2011-01-17T15:12:00.001-08:00

Memories in Motion

2011-01-04T17:41:00.001-08:00

Here are some clips of Lia’s 1st Christmas memories: Opening her stocking, playing with her new stackable rings, and sledding at the cabin!

Also…Lia cheered alongside her mom and dad for the TCU Horned Frogs who captured a Rose Bowl Victory defeating the Wisconsin Badgers. Here are some snapshots of her Purple Pride!

Lia’s 1st Christmas

2010-12-26T13:46:00.001-08:00

As we prepare to take down the “Baby’s 1st Christmas” ornaments, we reflect on what Lia’s perspective taught us. It is remarkable to see Christmas through the eyes of our baby girl. Her expressions of wonder, joy, awe, and delight reminded us of the simple message that forever changed the world: Light entered the darkness and transformed the world forever. We hope this truth encouraged each of you and your own families while celebrating together. Here are some memories we captured throughout the Christmas festivities.

Christmas afternoon…

Christmas morning…

Christmas Eve…

Celebrating a few days early at the ranch…

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

2010-12-11T18:34:00.001-08:00

Our winter adventures continued this weekend with a trip to the cabin for some fabulous skiing and a beautiful snow shoe through the woods. Snow was falling from the sky as we took in the peaceful scenery and realized once again how thankful we are to live in Colorado. Our friends Alison and Joel joined in the adventure. Nothing beats returning from the cold like Catan, a wood burning fire, and a hot cup of chocolate!

Discovery

2010-11-23T13:19:00.001-08:00

At 6 months, Lia is discovering the world with a lot of enthusiasm. Here are some photos of her fascination with Telly and her first experience at Young Life camp.

We are so thankful for her eyes that are teaching us to see the joy in every circumstance. Happy Thanksgiving! Excited to feed her squash, sweet potatoes, and peas…all mashed to perfection!

Which Came First…

2010-11-01T11:46:00.001-07:00

…the chicken or the egg?

We set out to find the answer via our Halloween costumes. In our quest we ran into a precious bunny (Ella) and met trick-or-treaters with cousin Tegan. Hope your weekend was full of treats and sweet memories.

Have fun sorting pillow cases of candy!

When Dad’s away…

2010-10-27T17:29:00.001-07:00

…Mom with camera will play! While J coaches his soccer play-off game, L has fun capturing some of our little lady’s fabulous faces. Let’s just say her eyes speak louder than her lips. Hasn’t quite figured out that the camera lens means “Smile!”

5 Months!

2010-10-07T17:05:00.001-07:00

We can’t believe our peanut is already 5 months old. We are loving this stage of development as she coos, squeals, grabs rattles and tosses them on the floor, takes interest in Telly, and oh so much more. Can’t wait to continue watching her precious personality blossom.

Wedding Bells in Baltimore

2010-09-15T20:10:00.001-07:00

Our cousin Mandy celebrated her wedding this past week. What a beautiful, glowing bride! Lia and Ella were both champs on the plane and socialized the night away with the best of them. Congrats Mandy and Sam! Sending our love from CO.

1st Rice Cereal: One Messy Adventure

2010-09-15T18:57:00.001-07:00

Now 4 months old, Lia is experiencing the joy of “semi-solid” foods. Here is a glimpse into her rice cereal debut. Her audience (J and I) truly enjoyed the show. She’s already stealing the spoon from our hands and demonstrating her little independent spirit!

Big Girl Bites…Pictures say it all!

Welcome to the Hotel Colorado

2010-08-27T12:07:00.001-07:00

Here are some snapshots to capture our weekend in Glenwood celebrating Mary’s birthday. Enjoy!

Are you ready for some Football?

2010-08-19T16:45:00.001-07:00

Two things that Lia will definitely be a fan of…Skiing and the Broncos! This summer we had the opportunity to observe Bronco’s pre-season training camp, and Lia seemed to really engage.

Pep talk: “Lia, are you ready to watch some football?”

Definitely paying attention right?!

Maybe sitting upright will get her to focus on the action?

Or being in the arms of a player?

Looks like we can count on her sleeping through the games as to not interrupt our football passion. :)

Maybe next year she’ll want to watch and cheer. For now she can look cute in her Bronco’s onesie! We are ready for some football. Can’t wait for the first tailgate.

Dedicated

2010-07-27T13:24:00.001-07:00

And this we pray… 2 Timothy 3:15-17.

”From infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Last weekend we were able to dedicate Lia to the Lord. What a special day in our lives and in hers. My mom had saved the dress I was Christened in when I was her age. Thanks to all of you for helping to create another fabulous memory with family and friends.

Baby Cousin Tegan!

2010-07-14T17:24:00.001-07:00

On July 13th our family celebrated the much anticipated birth of precious baby Tegan. She arrived with much excitement and even more hair! In true Reitsema fashion, we filled the waiting room with people, laughter, food, and love. What an incredible gift to see our family continue to multiply. Here are some pictures her debut!!

Lex is so ready to hold baby sister…practicing here in waiting room with Lia.

Proud Dad!

Couldn’t help but admire her!

We are overwhelmed with joy to welcome the newest baby girl in the family. Congrats M and A! You are dearly loved. Can’t wait to watch them grow together.

A Feminine Touch!

2010-07-10T09:46:00.001-07:00

After discovering we had a baby girl, we were able to add some details to the nursery. Here is the finished product. As far as we can tell, she loves her room. She’s been sleeping in it 8-10 hour a night…must be the soothing colors :).

Bumbo!

2010-07-02T16:01:00.001-07:00

She may still have some growing to do before fully taking advantage of the Bumbo seat; however, 8 weeks was a great opportunity to try it out. Great neck control little peanut! She seemed to enjoy the experience.

Take me out to the Ball Game!

2010-06-25T08:46:00.001-07:00

To celebrate Josh’s first Father’s Day, we took Lia to the Rockies game. We were fortunate to have front row seats, beautiful weather, and an extremely content baby girl! It’s sad to admit, but yes, we propped Lia on top of the dugout and made her do the twist to land a spot on the jumbo screen. The camera man must have been unaware of our efforts. She never made the big screen, but we sure had fun dancing!

“We’re all tied up…watching closely for the top of the 9th”

“Seriously Rockies, you let 4 runs through in the last inning…what kind of defense is that?”

Best seat in the stadium…Dad’s lap.

Happy Father’s Day Josh! You are an incredible dad!

Sara’s Visit!

2010-06-13T07:46:00.001-07:00

Last week we had the pleasure of hosting my friend SB and her 15 month old, Owen. We met at TCU and have stayed close ever since. What an incredible gift to have her here to meet Lia and spend some precious time with our family. We experienced a lot of CO highlights: Pearl Street in Boulder, the Flatirons, sitting poolside under blue skies, an evening backyard campfire, and Park Meadows. I’m not quite sure how, but in addition to watching her son and meeting all his needs, she managed to make us dinner, bake fresh banana bread and chocolate cake, complete and fold loads of laundry, and take Lia duty to ensure we could get a nap. In addition, she was nurturing Owen’s health as he battled dehydration and a high fever. What a super mom and incredible friend!

Josh built us a fire. Owen was fascinated but strapped to a chair for safety reasons :)

Poolside

Lia sporting her first bathing suit

She also got to meet Uncle J and Aunt J!

1 Month Old!

2010-06-08T20:19:00.001-07:00

One month has already flown by since little Lia entered our lives. Here are some recent pictures of her resting between all of her many adventures. This past week she joined us and used her best manners for an alumni dinner for Westmont college, met her cousins Jeremy and Libby, grilled and enjoyed yard games to celebrate a friend's birthday, and joined some CCHS graduation festivities. She also went to the pool with her grandma and grandpa and loved being in the sun with her aunts and uncles. She is definitely a baby on the go! It is so fun to watch her take in all that's around her and study this world she now explores.

Even baby Lia likes to take naps on the couch

Road Trip

2010-06-01T07:24:00.001-07:00

To celebrate the 3 day weekend and 3 weeks of Lia's life, we decided to take her to Vail for her first CO mountain experience. Lia was a champion traveler; she definitely seems to share her mom and dad's passion for mountain adventure. Her adventures included: meeting her grandparents and uncle Erik, lounging poolside, walking to Vail Village and enjoying breakfast on bridge street, and some fine dining. It was fun for me to be able to partake in my own adventures that I haven't been able to do since becoming pregnant. Josh and I played 18 holes of golf, I was able to lay on my stomach to get some sun on my back, and I sat in a hot tub for the first time in 10 months. We weren't sure how Lia would do on her 1st weekend away but learned quickly that the opportunity was one we will definitely do again soon.

Introductions

2010-05-28T08:26:00.000-07:00

Week 3 of Lia's life was full of adventure and new introductions! The most exciting for our family was introducing her to her brand new cousin, Ella Jean, born May 27th at 12:10am. She came 10 hours before my mom boarded a plane for Israel...talk about perfect timing. We cannot wait for these precious girls to grow up together and create countless family memories.

Introductions also included: Cousin Ellen, Aunt Julie, and two special Teresa's in our life!

What we've learned as new parents in Lia's first 20 days:
1. That we are truly blessed in our marriage and need one another daily to celebrate the miracle of it all and to support the challenges of it all.

2. That we are surrounded by a community that deeply loves and cares for us and our new daughter. Thanks for reminding us how grateful we are for your friendships!

3. That baby girls can compete with any boy in the gas and spit up department.

4. That TV is overrated as Lia's facial expressions trump any technological form of entertainment.

5. That we still have so much more to learn!

We cannot thank you all enough for the love and support you've extended to our family. We are thrilled to continue walking alongside all of you in this journey.

Work It!

2010-05-21T07:47:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Lia brought out all the poses for her very first photo shoot at 8 days old. We continue to marvel at her every move. Enjoy these highlights from her very first modeling spread.

A Week of 1sts

2010-05-14T05:31:00.001-07:00

Lia has certainly taken to the camera and given us some incredible visuals of her first 6 days of life.

First photo shoot with Carl

First road trip to Dr.: All dressed up in her frills!

First Bath

First indication that Mom and Dad have gone too crazy with all the flash photography

Happy Birthday Lia!

2010-05-11T05:38:00.000-07:00

Lia Emily Reitsema
6 lbs. 13 ounces; 19 1/2 inches long
Born May 8th 4:07pm
Here are some snapshots of our biggest Reitsema family adventure yet: Meeting our little peanut in person and bringing her home for the first time. Thanks so much for loving this precious girl right alongside us, for praying for her health and ours, and for sharing in the gift of brand new life. Enjoy the photo journey!

Our Last Ode to the "Bump"

2010-05-06T18:24:00.000-07:00

A time to savor the last images of baby before entering the world.

Tea Time!

2010-05-04T08:24:00.001-07:00

Aunt Jan could be the editor and chief of Better Homes and Gardens. Her gift of hospitality was well utilized to bless this baby and our family at her High Tea Shower. Thank you, Aunt Jan, for making us all feel like we were guests at the Brown Palace. Enjoy some of the last pictures of baby belly! Hope pictures of baby outside belly are SOON to follow.

Spring Cleaning aka... "Nesting"

2010-04-17T09:55:00.001-07:00

Although many participate in the long tradition of Spring Cleaning, when you are 3 weeks from having a baby, it's deemed "nesting". Our bags are far from packed for the hospital, but our closets and storage spaces are making this mom-to-be glow!

Who knew I married an artist?! As we cleaned off the chalk board, Josh took his new tip from our birthing class ( 5:1:1 = contractions 5 minutes apart, 1 minute long, for 1 hour duration --> head to hospital for baby) He captured the advice in this fabulous chalk mural, so we'll never forget when to get going!

So cute!

I may not be able to do much with a sewing machine, but just look what I can do with a glue-gun!! I took some extra fabric that we picked for the picture frame matting and transformed this plain, white lampshade into a custom nursery piece!

SO excited about how it turned out. Total cost = $2.99.

We decided that with strollers, diapers, and baby accessories, we needed to clear some extra space on the shelves of our "gear closet". Clearing the shelves turned into a full on organizing endeavor. We even used the infamous label maker (Thanks Mom!) Definitely feeling a little "Monica" these days. (My fellow Friends fans will understand)

Goal: Keep closets and pantry looking like this until May 12th... May 12th and beyond would be the ultimate preference.

Nesting complete!

A toast to all of your own Spring Cleaning adventures!

Nursery Preview

2010-04-10T10:26:00.000-07:00

We are so excited to bring our baby home to his/her new room. Here are some pictures to capture the decor. Thanks so much to all of you who have already labored in love for this child to help make the room extremely personal and beautiful. We look forward to developing the pictures that will soon fill the empty frames!

Changing table and incredible custom built in shelves...created especially for baby by Josh and Grandpa R

Fabulous glider and custom cushions thanks to the incredible talents of Tina Good

Valences sewn by Tina, and shelf stocked with "lovies" from family and friends

Mom and I couldn't pass on the opportunity to have this crib...It's made by "Baby Italia", baby has to know his/her heritage right? Maybe we should have purchased Dutch Boy paint. We'll just buy some baby wooden shoes!

Showered

2010-03-30T08:38:00.000-07:00

Josh and I are so humbled and thankful for the community that surrounds and supports us in this exciting new season. The loyality of friendship is so evident when I recognize the same faces from my high school yearbook, to my college years, to my wedding, and now at baby showers. 6 more weeks until we get to wrap our little one in our arms and introduce him/her to all of you who have loved us so well. Thanks in advance for investing in our family! Here are some photos from my first ever baby shower!

Matched!

2010-03-25T08:28:00.000-07:00

What fun it is to be able to celebrate milestones in friend's lives. We are so grateful to have longevity with all of you and to be able to watch the moments that remind us of the importance of community. Recently, we were able to celebrate our friend Kerri as she was just matched for her Residency in CO. Baby Reitsema got all dressed up for the occasion!

We are now 33 weeks along and filled with anticipation. Josh and I continue to feel grateful for our family and friends who are also eager to meet our little peanut. Thanks so much for being so loyal in our lives and loving us with extravagance!

Ernie's 30th B-Ball Surprise

2010-02-28T21:19:00.000-08:00

In honor of Ernie's 30th birthday this week, family and friends joined for an all out
3 v. 3 basketball tournament at Ernie's old stomping grounds: The Denver Christian High School gym. Kevin and Josh pulled out all the stops with uniforms highlighting not only their march madness b-ball hops, but also their incredibly chiseled thigh muscles.
Ernie was truly surprised. Although our team did not head home with the championship trophy, Kevin brought a "trophy worthy" bruised and swollen foot home with him that demonstrates his go-after-it, competitive spirit. He landed sideways on his foot int he first 3 minutes of the game and tore something that caused the purple swelling to emulate the balloons by the cake. We are all hoping for a quick recovery; however his battle wound reminds us to always give 100%...even when the prize is a 2" plastic golden cup!

Happy 30th Ernie. We love you.

Baby Moon

2010-02-22T21:27:00.000-08:00

We just returned from Riviera Maya in Mexico after traveling for the last time together before our little peanut is born. We are so grateful for the time to rest and process the joy and excitement of the big changes that are right around the corner. Judging from the many looks from other guests and the overwhelming enthusiasm from the hotel staff, pregnant women 7 months along don't frequent this hotel often. I will say that as one begins to feel large and a bit "puffy" in pregnancy, it helps to have a golden tan. Enjoy the photos. The next time we board a plane it will be with an infant (or with a baby-sitter...so surreal!!)
Currently I am 29 weeks along and feeling fabulous. The nursery is painted and fabrics are being sewn into bumpers, crib sheets, and valences. I don't like to do anything half-way, so the pictures won't be posted till the decorating is complete. We know you are all on the edge of your seats.

An inside Look at Baby R

2010-01-17T20:02:00.000-08:00

Incredible to see these 3D images of Peanut growing strong. We love the arm flex and are convinced it illustrates a little athelete who will join Mom and Dad on many fun adventures!

24 weeks

2010-01-17T19:28:00.000-08:00

At 24 weeks I am popping and enjoying my newly hemmed maternity pants. I'm still feeling really great with a lot of energy to nest, although I have yet to direct any of that energy toward completing the nursery. As we've begun the overwhelming process of the "baby registry" we've discovered that there are a lot of marketers out there targeting new moms and dads with unnecessary baby merchandise. I mean who needs a turtle tub thermometer that beeps and turns red when the bath water is too hot?! We're doing our research and polling other parents to determine the essentials and to weed out the excess. Crazy how overwhelmed you get before the baby even arrives!

Hit the Trail

2010-01-17T19:16:00.000-08:00

After getting the ok from our Dr. I was able to ski just a few times over the break; however, as baby grows and belly pops, my skiing days are coming to an end. In its absence, Josh and I have strapped on our snow shoes to hit the terrain in a different capacity. We've loved being outside and experiencing the mountains in a new way. These pictures capture our trek on Dad's ranch in New Castle, Colorado. I aim to get as many snow shoeing days in this summer as I normally get ski days. 4 down, about 15 more to go!

White Christmas

2009-12-26T10:50:00.000-08:00

We certainly hope all of you enjoyed the same festive Christmas traditions with your families and friends. Here are a couple highlights to post from ours:
Fondue on Christmas Eve, Baby Bump pictures with Kim, Pancakes and lattes for Christmas morning at our house, 12 year old nieces posting height at 1.5 inches taller than Aunt Lauren, Entirely too much food, and priceless present opening reactions. May the Spirit of Christ be rich in our lives this season and throughout 2010. And to ALL a Good Night!

Things you can no longer do when pregnant...

2009-12-21T20:49:00.000-08:00

"Capitol"-ized

2009-12-21T20:15:00.000-08:00

It was a promise we made to my brother when he moved to Washington DC."We will come visit you before you move back to CO." Due to a fortunate business trip for Josh and the opportunity for me to join him, we were able to follow through and see Kevin in DC the LAST week he was there before heading back to Denver. We were the only tourists on the mall and conquered the Smithsonian Museum routes, national monuments, Arlington National Cemetery, fun coffee shops, Iwo Jima, and reunions with TCU past roommates and friends from Cherry Creek High School all in 4 days. No lines, no crowds, no rush. Great little trip to see all the country's highlights. Kevin is now back in Denver, and we can safely say we kept our promise.

Baby Bump

2009-12-13T21:36:00.000-08:00

19 weeks and almost 1/2 way there! Thanks for your patience in waiting for the "bump" pictures. We've had to wait until there is a bump to photograph. I am sure from here on out the progress will move more quickly.

Halls are Decked!

2009-11-28T22:13:00.000-08:00

As tradition would have it, we enjoyed entirely too much food on Thanksgiving and watched the Broncos play a great game to give us another win to be thankful for. Once the turkey is digested, Christmas season can officially begin. We made it official this afternoon and hiked through Pine, Colorado in search of the perfect tree. After much searching, Josh's eye hit this beauty and our search was over! We quickly made it home to play Christmas music, drink hot beverages and deck our halls. What a lovely time of year. We're truly enjoying the twinkling lights.

I don't know if it's the turkey from Thursday's dinner or the 17th week of my pregnancy, but it may be the last week of buttoning my favorite jeans. I'm definitely starting to pop and see the baby pushing its way to be seen by all. We truly have so much to be grateful for. What a perfect time of year.

Go Frogs!

2009-11-15T14:36:00.000-08:00

The TCU community has been pulling for a BCS bid for quite some time. This may just be our year. At 10-0 the Frogs rank 4th in the national polls and just boost their status with a 55-24 win over #16 Utah. It's rare I get to watch the Frogs play in person these days, but thanks to a Homecoming reunion with college friends, we were able to watch the dominance LIVE.

Let is SNOW!

2009-10-29T07:29:00.000-07:00

We can't remember a time we've seen this much snow before Halloween. The mood has really been set for Christmas. We've enjoyed cuddling up with hot drinks and shortened work days from home. While trapped inside, Telly and Josh had fun trying on hats. I think this is the closest our dog will ever get to wearing a Halloween costume.

Today marks 12 weeks and 1 day into the pregnacy. The 2nd trimester has arrived. We continue to celebrate feeling healthy and energized and are aniticipating with excitment this next stage where I might actually begin to look pregnant. Pictures to come when that starts to happen. As for today, I am thankful to fit comfortably in all my clothing.

Who Done It?

2009-10-25T10:09:00.000-07:00

Last night we solved the murder mystery in Sin City where "Elvis" and his new fiance "Lucy Legs" helped solve clues to discover the killer, Hustler Hillary.
Hillary was married to Ace who was stealing from the casiono. After she won her own lottery ticket for 125 million, she had motive to kill her new husband to prevent him from stealing from her! What a storyline with lots of fun clues and discoveries! Josh won the Best Dressed award. We had a blast and recommend anyone who has never participated in a murder mystery dinner gather their friends and try it on for size.

We're not in Texas Anymore

2009-10-11T08:15:00.000-07:00

This weekend we braved 9 degree weather, frozen, sleeting rain, and dense fog to cheer on our TCU Horned Frogs as they defeated Air Force. It was one of the FEW times I've ever longed to be back in the Texas climate. CO will be back to sunny and blue skies today. It was was a crazy fluke of a forecast.

TCU pulled off a 20-17 victory even with 4 fumbles. I don't think the Frogs have much experience playing with a frozen football. Go Frogs!

Say "Cheese" Peanut

2009-10-08T12:02:00.000-07:00

We strive to be people who follow through on our word, and revealing this sight aligns with a promise we've made to friends regarding the blogging world.

Our promise: "We will start a blog when we get pregnant so all our family and friends can track our progress."

Fulfilling our promise: We are pregnant and are starting a blog!

How Baby's doing:
This picture shows to outcome of our very first sonogram. Baby's heart beat is strong, size looks "perfect", and due date scheduled for May 12th.

How Lauren's doing:
As of today there has been no morning or evening sickness, no discomfort, no weight gain, and no nausea. We are hopeful these non-symptoms will continue and feel blessed to have had a very easy first trimester.

How Josh's doing:
Elated to become a father. No morning sickness, no discomfort, no weight gain, and no nausea. Already planning savings strategies for college fund and taking great care of his wife.

How Telly's doing: Doesn't notice much of a change but loves to rest his head on Lauren's stomach. We think he senses something and is ready to cuddle.

Both Josh and Lauren are craving pickles, sour candies, and late-night string cheese. Can't say for sure if pattern has anything to do with pregnancy.

Thanks for checking in and tracking the adventure with us. We love you and hope this appeases your desires for a Reitsema blog debut!