Perfect Angel

I found this old halloween costume of mine when I was getting my fall decorations out the other day...I thought it suited her well (most of the time anyway!).

Ella Jeanne Koning

We are so excited that our friends Brad and Jill had a beautiful healthy little girl yesterday!! We went to see her today and she's absolutely adorable!! Jill had her at 4:45pm yesterday and she was 22" long and 9 lbs 4 oz.

The happy family...(I forgot to get a family pic of them today so hopefully Daysha doesn't mind that I took hers:-0)










Proud daddies:-)


They're going to be life long friends!!

Fall is in the Air

It sure was a crisp fall day today! We walked around downtown Zeeland during their Pumkinfest.

Alden, Layla and Jonathan posing with their new "friends"...



Layla going for a ride on Elvis...


Layla preparing for Lord of the Dance... (her hands were cold that's why she has socks on them)

Race Day

Saturday was the Race for the Cure. Thanks to those who supported Layla and me by donating to this great cause!! Layla and I went with my friend, Lindsey, and her son, Jonathan, my cousin, Mandi, and my sister, Emilee, with her son, Gavin.

Elv and Layla in their pink race wear...it was early and I was running late as always so this was the best pic I got:-)...


Layla slept pretty much from about the moment we left home until we arrived back home (and we even had time to do some shopping afterwards)! And she had slept 8.5 hours the night before! That was a record and she slept 8.5 hours again last night (we woke her up both times after 8.5 hours)!!


The kids ready to go!


Lindsey and Jonathan ready to race...or just walk:-).


Jonathan looking "bad"...


Em, Gavin and Mandi before the race...


Layla was all bundled up for the walk...


4,880 people signed up for the race and $196,969.01 was raised!!


Layla modeling her shirt I made (notice that Em made Gavin a matching one too:-0)...

4 Month Check Up

Layla went to see Dr. Green today for her 4 month check up. She had to have 3 shots which she screamed her lungs out for:-(. Other than that, it went good. She made it on the charts for height and head circumfrence, but not for weight. She had been gaining weight at a greater rate (steeper slope) than the growth charts, but now her weight line is starting to curve like the growth chart line. Therefore, we have to increase the amount of formula we put in her breast milk so that she gets more calories.

Here are her stats:

Height: 22 1/8" (3%)
Head Circ: 38.8 (5-10%)
Weight: 9.5 lbs (not on charts:-( )

Happy before going to the doctor...


Showing off her pretty bandaids...

Tag, You're It

This is from Lindsey...I don't normally do these, but Layla's sleeping and I'm feeling lazy so I figured why not? :-)

TAG - YOU’RE IT! If you opened it, you have to do it
(it only takes a couple minutes I swear!) Then, post it on yours!
Two names you go by:
1. Mere
2. Meredith
Two things you are wearing right now:
1. Sweatshirt
2. Comfy pants
Two things you want very badly at the moment:
1. Dairy!!! i.e. cottage cheese, chocolate, icecream, and the list could go on and on!
2. For Layla to sleep lots today
Two people who will most likely fill this out
1. I would say Lindsey, but she already did it
2. Keely
Two things you did last night:
1.Watched t.v.
2. Fed Layla (go figure)
Two things you ate today:
1.Smokey link things which I normally don't eat, but they sounded good when I was getting groceries, however, I did discover that they contain milk...oops!
2 Raisen bread--again, to complain about the no dairy diet--I had a hard time even finding raisen bread that didn't contain milk and the bread does have soy in it which she might be allergic to too!
Two people you last talked to:
1. Joe 2. Layla
Two things you did today:
1. put a load of wash in
2. Got groceries/dropped off dry cleaning
Two favorite beverages:
1. Water 2. Apple Juice (I would have said milk, but not at the moment:-(...just wanted to complain one more time:0 )
Okay now it’s your turn!!

Doctor Layla

When we went to visit my mom in the hospital the other night (she's home now) we had to wear masks due to her low white blood cell count. Layla didn't have to wear a mask, we just had to keep her on the other side of the room, but she wanted to try one on when we got home. She looks like a little pink surgeon:-).

Layla discovered her thumb/hand a couple of weeks ago. She doesn't always get the thumb in her mouth--sometimes it's just her wrist or other fingers, but she seems to really like that.

Also, I baby-sit my nephew, Gavin, one day a week now. Elvis and him are buddies.
Elvis helps Gavin get toys out of his bag...


And Elvis waits for Gavin to drop food on the floor so that Elv can eat it up...


Also, Joe's good friend/neighbor from growing up (Ryan DeYoung) was in a very serious car accident last night. I don't have many details, but please just keep him and his family in your prayers.