My little sweetheart Leo is 11 months!

I had to post these(they are a little fuzzy because I took them with my phone,) to show his curls. Hard to believe he used to have super dark, straight hair. He lost a bit a few months ago, and when it started growing back, this is what we got=light, & curly =) Just like his Daddy's(as well as Olivia's,) baby hair.

• Took his first 2 steps at my mom's on June 20th. Noel and I were chatting in the sunroom and he took off from the ottoman. It was so cute! He waddles like E.T. =) He is more determined each day to get walking, and really does get better each day.
• Still remains a total snuggle bug. Comes over to me and lays his head on my chest. Or wraps his arms around my neck when I say "can mama have a hug?" He is just a sweetheart in so many ways!
• He just recently started shaking his head no, if we mention the word or try and redirect something that he is doing.
• Nurshing like a champ 24/7 which makes me think he will be nursing for a L-O-N-G time!
• Last but not least, he is definitely still a Night Owl! In love with him, wish he could stay little, yet so excited to watch him hit milestones and grow, and Grow, and GROW!

What we've been up to~

Whoa, it's been a C-R-A-Z-Y month!  Olivia's last day of school was June 13(also my BiRtHdAy.)  We left for our annual trip down to the Oregon Coast that same day.  We spent a week down at Rockaway, & Cannon Beach.  When we got back home I had one day before family came into town for my Mom's 60th BiRtHdAy.  My brother has been town visiting before he heads back to N.Y.  And well, now it's time to get going on Leo's 1st BiRtHdAy party~can't believe I just typed that!!!  He's going to be 1 in a flash.  It's amazing, and tugs at my heart all at once.  This last year has gone by way too fast.  Summers are busy around here...especially since our 3 little one's have July, August, & September Birthdays.  Leo & Liv's are exactly 1 week apart.  Life is good, but so busy, I want to just unplug, but don't really get the chance.  This week brings more excitment as my friend Siri will bring a new baby boy into the world...and I thank her in advance for giving me a newborn baby fix.  Can't wait to meet the newest Herzog!
So it's been Vacations, Birthdays, Baby's, & Business as usual!  All in all, we are enjoying summer!  Pictures and posts on all the above coming soon~

Olivia's final project for 2nd grade~

Olivia had to create a Diorama for her last project of the year. She was able to choose from several habitat's, and after going back and forth, she chose a Tropical Rainforest.  The Diorama was a collaboration~Tabitha taught her how to make bananas and coconuts out of clay, and made a cute little Monkey, Uncle Noel helped make frogs, I cut out stuff(ya, I'm not as creative as Tabitha or Noel!) The other part of the assignment was to write a report. She worked so hard on both, and received an awesome, much deserved grade. Very proud of her, can't believe she is at the tail end of 2nd grade, crazy! She deserves the most wonderful summer, she's worked very hard this year, and is a great student! Nolan didn't want to be left out, so he asked if he could make a Diorama too, sweet boy. Nolan loves school, and projects. He came up with some of his own ideas, but asked uncle Noel to help with a frog, & snake, and borrowed a few bananas, and coconuts from his sis.

Leo James is 10 months old!

Some things about Leo~
He LOVES music, just like the others.  Climbing into baskets is his new thing.  He holds his little arms up to show us that he's "SO BiG," he crawls up to me and lays his head on my shoulder for a snuggle.  He is SO MUCH like Olivia when she was a baby.  He uses a bit of sign language, mainly more, all done, and eat.  He picks at little tags, fuzz balls, threads, anything little ;)  or with a soft texture.  He LOVES the water, and bath time.  Maybe he'll be a great little swimmer like his Daddy.  He is perfectly content when he's being held ;)  He is a snuggle bug.  Happy as ever unless he is hungry, frustrated, or sick.  These first few pictures were taken on his 10 month bIrThDaY!  I haven't been taking as many pictures lately, shocking I know! 

I seriously can't believe we are here...10 months!  Leo continues to be the sweetest little babe.  He is very mobile now, never wants to sit still.  Cruising along furniture, cruising while holding onto my hands, crawling everywhere.  Well, because of his activeness, he's losing his chubby little body =(  I don't like it one bit.  I have enjoyed his roly poly bod and was hoping that he'd keep his baby fat for a lot longer.  He is going to have curly hair, just like Liv's.  Same color, same texture.  They really resemble each other, especially when Liv was his age.  His eyes stayed blue.  Both Liv & Leo have my Grandma Hennessy's blue eyes and darker eyebrows.  He babbles up a storm, all though the only words I can really make out are Mama, Dada, and this.  He has been our pickiest eater.  I have tried to place fresh avocado and banana bits on his tray, and well, he's not a big fan.  Probably because he still has quite the gag reflex so we are sticking to pureed foods for a bit longer.  Has never taken a bottle, bink...or sucked his thumb.  For a while he would suck on silk, but that has stopped.  He is still nursing, it's CONSTANT!  You would honestly think I have a newborn baby living under my roof!  So it would only be fitting that along with nursing is waking in the night :/  I am SO STINKEN TIRED.  This sweet boy hasn't slept through the night once since birth...not even close!  He his up every 2-3 hours most nights, no joke.  I know it is out of habit, he really doesn't need to eat.  Poor babe has 6 teeth right now, so I know the waking is due to a combo of things.  He wants comfort, and well, I give it to him.  I am not wired to let my children cry it out, never have been, and guessing I never will be.  Olivia and Nolan weren't good sleepers until after a year either, so I don't know why I am surprised.  The trend has been that after a year, I have incredible sleepers, and nappers!  It would just be nice to not walk around like a zombie, so sleep deprived I can barely function.  I do love him so, everything about him, still nibble on him so much my jaw hurts ;) and if he were a good sleeper, he really would be a perfect baby.  Come on Leo, you can do it buddy...sleep at least 5 hours in a row for your mama ;)  There are a few other things I want to write about, so I will post more soon.  Well, after our upcoming VACATION that I cannot wait for.  Looking forward to UNPLUGGING from the world and enjoying all the sweet faces in my life!
*Below are some pictures(gotta love rapid fire :) ) I took of Leo with his Uncle Noel last week =) He is so content with Noel. I think he knows what a gentle spirit my brother is. He just hangs out in his arms, perfectly happy. It's pretty sweet!
 

These really are the Glory Days~

Nolan started baseball for the first time. He had his first two games this week~one on Wednesday, and the other yesterday. It is probably one of the cutest things I've ever seen. All of these little boys ranging in ages 4-6, with shirts that are a wee bit too big, baseball hats, mitts, a bat that is almost as big as they are, baseball with little boys in general=CUTE!!! In the short time that Nolan has been learning the game, he's polishing up quick. He seems to really like it, and more importantly, having fun! Team name=Red Hawks, seems to be a nice group of boys, and the coach is G-R-E-A-T too! Hopefully we will be loading the boys up with sunscreen during this next week, instead of layering in under armour, sweatshirts, and gloves. Not to mention, I'd rather be in a sundress, and flip flops vs. my parka, UGGs, and beanie(like I was for baseball all this last week.) Go Red Hawks!!!

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14~

Olivia received her 1st Holy Communion & Confirmation this past Sunday! It was a beautiful, and sacred day.  Shane & I are so happy that she is continuing to build on her relationship with the Lord.  We are very blessed that she is a part of a wonderful Catholic community at school.  That daily she is learning so much about Jesus, and about the ways she can connect with him through her faith.  We have been preparing for this day for months now.  On Saturday night she was so excited she laid all of her clothing on her bed, set her gloves, purse, and darling shoes next to her dress.  At first she asked for a veil, but then changed her mind and wanted a halo made out of fresh flowers.  So fresh flowers it was.  *The florist that made her halo, was the same one that prepared all of the flowers in my wedding, nearly 9 years ago, so it was pretty special to have her make this for Liv.  There were specifics she asked for, like to have wavy natural hair(this is how she explained it to me.)  Her dress was very simple, her shoes...fancy =)  Her Auntie D went with her and Liv picked out the most adorable shoes with a white flower on top with a shiny stone in the middle of the flower.  They are so cute!  Definitely her Sunday best or fancy shoes.  It was so much fun to see all of the kids from her class dressed up.  The girls were just beautiful, each one unique in how they dressed.  The boys were so handsome.  The ceremony was very traditional and included a full Mass.  The Bishop led the Mass.  He was so sweet, very good with the kids.  It was one of the most special, and sacred times in my life to watch my little girl receive the Host for the 1st time.  Our friends(who are like our family,) as well as our family were there as witnesses as well.  Olivia is one lucky & LOVED little lady! 

Liv wanted so much for me to have her reception at our home, but we had such a BiG group, and I didn't have the energy to get it all organized.  So her 2nd choice was going out for dinner.  There were around 25 of us, so it was quite the group.  Her dessert request was for me to make her Auntie Laura's PINK cake.  It is so yummy!

Olivia was BEAMING, had a grin from ear to ear all day long.  I loved to watch her, especially when she was up at the altar, you could tell how proud she was, how happy she was!  Shane and I pray that our children would always have a heart for the Lord, and to never forget how much He loves them!  Olivia is really growing up, in so many ways, but most importantly, she's really building on her relationship with Jesus.  She received her first bible on Sunday and is reading it constantly, she loves it!  Another gift that she won't put down is the Sunday Missal that my mother received as a young girl.  It was given to her by her grandmother.  It's very sweet, and I'm so glad she has it.  She recognizes so many of the prayers, and hymns.  Catholic Mass hasn't changed that much over the years ;)  pretty traditional!  It meant the world to Liv to have her friends and family with us on her 1st Communion.  Not only were they there, but they were so generous and brought her some of the most sweet, special gifts.  I can't say it enough, she is one LOVED and cared for little girl!  Thank you to EVERYONE that came to support and love on my baby girl!  Here are some of Olivia's 1st Communion & Confirmation memories.  Tried our best to get pictures of everyone who was there with her, but realized I missed a few =(  probably because some of you were the one's helping take the pictures, so you were behind the lens.  Thanks for what you were able to capture!  Thank you for being there with us!!  XxOo...

Olivia with her Yaya, Papa, & Nolan~

Gam with Liv & Nolan~

A special day spent with Gam & Yaya~

Sweet little school friends~

Cheer girls, as well as school pals~Eva, Ali, Izzy, Liv, all receiving their 1st Communion & Confirmation together.

Liv with her Auntie D(who is also her God Mama, and Sponsor)

Liv & Kennadi~

Us...party of 5!

With her sweet friend Sammi~

Noodle & Bean~

Tabitha & Liv~

On her way to the altar for Confirmation~

I'm hidden in this group...somewhere in the middle ;)

Bishop Skillestad anointing Liv with Holy Oil...and lots of it~

Happy Girl!

Beauties!

It wouldn't be Nolan without being a goofball during a picture!  He is a character!

My babies.  I love this picture so much.  Liv with her arm around Nolan, Nolan holding onto Liv & Leo.  While Leo picks off flowers from Liv's halo~precious.

You can still see the oil on her forehead.  We all smelled yummy the rest of the day, like Holy oil~

This one too, I love them!

Auntie Shawna with Olivia~

A definite surprise.  Liv has been asking for these boots for a L-O-N-G time.  Thought it would be fun to throw them in with her gifts.  I also gave her my first cross and added it to her St. Elizabeth Medallion.

Trying to sneak a few random pictures.  Back of the hair, and shoes =)

Cousins Evan, Nathan, & Chase

The everything Pink Cake~

Love them!

Liv with her favorite twins(besides her uncle Joey & Jeff of course ;)) Charlie & Mitch~

Liv & Mitchy have a sweet little bond~

Tabby & Joe~

Liv with Uncle Joey~