This post is for the special purpose of letting you get a look at the little chunk that is my son! Isn't it too cute?!?!!! There is definitely not a lack of handholds on this one! He is so much fun! Alan can now roll over both directions, and he can actually sit up on his own for about 2 minutes at a time.

Quotes of the Day:
Lindsey, while smelling a flower from the garden:
"Flowers smell so sweet! Not Brother! Brother stinky!"
Evidently she has been exposed to one too many stinky diapers ala Alan,
but I have news for her--Hers smell much MUCH worse!

This year for Halloween Alan was supposed to be a penguin (we bought him a suit on clearance last year) but due to his much-greater-than-anticipated size (he is now wearing 9-12 month clothing) we had to borrow a costume from some friends. I think he was a super cute dinosaur, but I'm his Mom and I think everything about him is cute! By the way, these pictures are from a Halloween party Saturday, and Robert is absent from the pictures because he really was absent at a conference in Lawrence, Kansas.
Lindsey was a monkey, thanks to April's generosity, and she went around saying "oo-oo, aa-aa" all night (think Boots the monkey from Dora and you will know exactly what she sounded like). She loved dressing up, and has wanted to put the costume on every day since the party. Good thing Halloween is still coming, because I think she would be really sad not to be a monkey again in public.
The second picture of Lindsey is simply because I couldn't decide which one was cuter, so you get both!
I was a "Split Personality," and no, you don't need to comment on what psychology nerds Robert and I are; We thrive on nerdiness! I unfortunately didn't get a better picture of myself, but we'll get one of Robert (who is also a split personality--and together we area multiple personality (: ) and I on Halloween. I am wearing half of two seperate outfits, and you can't really see, but my hair is straight and down on one side and curly and up on the other. Someone suggested that one side was Maniac Macbeth and the other was Bashful Butler, but I am not sure which is which! All in all we had a fabulous time, but we will have even more fun on Halloween because Daddy will be with us! (Mommy does much better with Daddy around!)

Fall Fashion with Lindsey: We start off with the lovely Lindsey modeling the popular Patriotic colors with a twist in her choice of footwear. The heels make it a little hard to strut, but Lindsey pulls it off beautifully! Note the way heels emphasize the shapeliness of her model thin legs. You have to have the right body type (e.g. that of a two year old) to pull off this look!

Backstage the model is faced with an array of choices for her next costume, and in frustration flings them all over the floor, much to the angst of her managing staff.


Here we see the lovely Lindsey demonstrating flawless style for going out on the town. It never hurts to have two purses in case one of them gets snatched! Darkly tinted shades are all the rage this season, especially when paired with an artfully messy hairstyle!


When choosing an outfit for cooler weather, coordinating in various shades of pink is always a good choice! I know this is a bit of a goofy post, but I am trying to emulate the wit and charm of my darling older sister (kudos to April!). I figure with enough practice I might actually come off as somewhat funny! Mostly I wanted to post these pictures because it is so fun to see Lindsey developing her independence in whatever ways she can. Her clothes have become a good way for her to show her own sense self, and that self is sure cute to her Mommy, even when it involved taking every piece of clothing she owns and throwing them on the floor!

This is Alan eating cereal for the first time. He spit it out really well, but he also ate quite a bit!

This is Lindsey and Alan playing together. I am including several pictures so you can get a sense of how much fun they have together! Lindsey is a wonderful big sister, and Alan just adores her! Before she asked me to help scoot Alan over so she could lay next to him, Lindsey said "Mommy, Alan wants share me! We play!" (translation into normal speech--Mommy, Alan wants to share with me! We're going to play together!)

Alan is growing so fast I can hardly keep up with him! He is a beautiful and joyful baby. I love these pictures of him because you can see his personality so well. He is to the wiggle and coo stage, and happily lays wherever I put him and grabs whatever he can to stuff in his mouth. It is amazing how much you forget from one child to the next how fun they are at each stage of development! It just tickles me to see how Alan responds to Robert when he comes home, and how excited he gets just becuase one of us smiles or speaks to him. He actually reminds me a lot of Benjamin as a child (and let's face it, as an adult too!)--lots of smiles and pretty laid back. He definitely takes after his Daddy in looks--if I can figure out how I will post a picture of Robert as a baby next to a picture of Alan. It's almost creepy!

Life

Lindsey is so much fun! She has really begun exploring the world around her with voracious curiosity. If she could, I think she would spend all of her time outside! Robert took her fishing for the first time two weeks ago, and she loved it. Unfortunately, the fishing pole broke so they weren't able to catch anything, but she still thought it was great fun. The other picture is of Lindsey reading, and yes, she is in the trunk of our car! I go walking every morning, and she didn't have her shoes on this particular morning, so I sat her in the trunk while I loaded up the stroller. She thought it was a fabulous place to sit, and I had a difficult time convincing her to come inside!

Lindsey loved opening her presents, though she was very neat about it! One piece at a time, and she wouldn't look at the present until all the wrapping paper was off!She was a bit curious about what the great eye belonged to,
and then she wanted to lay on her beach towel the rest of the time.
Lindsey, Alan, and Mommy
Lindsey and her ladybug birthday cake
Lindsey had a very happy birthday. She told everyone she talked to "happy birthday" and asked for cake and ice cream at every meal. She loved all of her presents and played furiously until she finally fell asleep WAY past her bedtime. Thanks to everyone who have made this beautiful little girl feel loved and special her whole life. We are so blessed to have her as part of our little family! It is hard to believe she is two already!

Lindsey really loves Alan, but sometimes there is a blurry distinction between 'brother' and 'doll.'

I feel like I post a lot of pictures that have no significance other than I think my children are adorable. This is one of those pictures--Lindsey wanted to sit by Alan, and they just sat like that while I got ready for church.
Lindsey was 'sharing' her dolls with Alan, and he thought it was really funny. He laughed the whole time!

Sorry to do so many posts in one day! I just have to do them when I think about it, or this blog will never be updated. This particular picture is of Lindsey (obviously!!) "helping" me cook. She had a little too much fun with the flour! She is making that face because I hadn't dealt with her before I took the picture and she isn't sure if she's in trouble. For all she knew, I was taking a picture to present evidence before Daddy! :) Fortunately for her, I was planning on sweeping and mopping anyway, so I was able to approach the situation with a 'kids-will-be-kids' attitude. Life with children is always an adventure!!

Alan was being so cute a few days ago that I took about 20 smiling pictures. These are just some of the cutest! Oh, and thanks Aunt Karen for the darling outfit--he's adorable in it, even if I am biased! Alan is laughing really hard in this picture (I have to clarify because RObert thought it looked like he was crying).
Every day I am amazed when I think about how blessed I am. I have a wonderful husband, two beautiful children, and countless dear friends and loved ones, not to mention all sorts of temporal blessings! Life is great!

Can you tell what one of Lindsey's favorite activities is?! She doesn't like taking naps, but if I let her read a book she inevitably falls asleep. Cinderella is her current favorite.

These pictures are for those of you who laugh at me every time I tell you I have planted Morning Glory. It is NOT a weed!!

Lindsey really wanted to wear some of Mommy's earrings, so Robert found her the only pair of clip-ons I own.Then when she decided she needed make-up, too, Robert helped her with the eye shadow and lip gloss. I just think the picture of her in the mirror is a cool shot.

Grandma and Grandpa Butler and our family on the day of Alan's blessing

Lindsey playing in the sand at Lake Martin.

Isn't she cute?!?

Pictures just for fun

A cute smile from Alan during our photo shoot this morning

Lindsey helping Alan with his pacifier

Lindsey and Grandma Macbeth being cool

Lindsey modeling her new big girl panties

Alan in his favorite mode--Asleep

Alan was given a name and blessing last Sunday (June 29). He looked adorable in his little tuxedo (Thanks, Grandma Butler!) and was even happy during the entire block of meetings!

Lindsey

Lindsey will be 2 in August, and she is still our little ray of sunshine. She always has a smile and 'loves' for almost anyone, and is forever singing and dancing and laughing. She is a very busy little girl, and is learning words and ideas about as fast as we can shovel them out to her. She loves to read, and is mildly obsessed with animals of all sorts, Dora the Explorer, and Cinderella. She is still super tall for her age, but has thinned out a lot and is very feminine. She is also developing a healthy sense of independence--I hear "I do it!!" on a very regular basis. It is fun to watch her becoming a little lady, though it also makes us a bit sad to watch our baby girl growing up.

Alan Robert Butler

As most of you know, Alan Robert Butler arrived in our family on June 6, 2008. He was 9 lbs. 2 oz. and was 21.5 inches long. He is an absolute delight! Alan has been very awake and alert from the beginning; he is also very strong and active for a newborn, and is growing like crazy! At his one month appointment yesterday, he weighed 12 lbs. 10 oz. and was 23.5 inches long. The nurse measured him three times because she was sure he couldn't be that big! We all love having him in our home. Lindsey constantly wants to kiss and hug him, and so far has been very accepting of him.