June 2015

Boy life never settles down. you think 'oh after this big event in our lives then we will be able to relax a little and get organized and do the things that we have been waiting to do' Um… ya… nope!

We all say that. I say that. But sometimes you really do have to wait for something to happen in order to do some thing else. But sometimes you just have to take life as it is now and as it comes and enjoy it and keep living! THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOMETHING!! My husband has to keep reminding me that we have to live life and the life that we have or we will never get ANYTHING done! We/he has spoiled me for the first two years of our marriage, but now we have to crack down and live frugally and enjoy more of the little things in life and life with little Hannah :)

May and June have been crazy busy for us. Nothing spectacular or anything; just life. Life with Hannah is SO FUN! I can't imagine leaving her for the day to go back to work BUT I really miss work; the people the patients and all the adults and social skills I learned haha. I feel like being at home I have gotten dumber! haha. But I wouldn't trade it for anything!! :)

We have gone a few outings so far.  In May we traveled to Pocatello for my nieces baby blessing.  That was me and Hannah's first Sunday since she was born.

Then later that month we drove to Boise for Hannah's baby shower open house at my mom's (she slept THE WHOLE WAY!!)  So Hannah got to meet a lot of people; well kind of she slept the whole time :)

The first part of June we traveled back to my mom's for a family reunion that my sister was in charge of.  She had lots of fun things planned! We started at the Birds of Prey exhibit in South Boise.  We saw lots of cool animals and learned lots of fun facts!
Saturday we held a baby shower for my sister in law due in August :) then we headed to the park for some fun in the sun and shade :) and had pizza for dinner! SAWEET! :) haha

Sunday Mike did a very nice job giving Hannah her baby blessing; in my parents ward since his parents wouldn't have to travel to far, coming from western WA and most of my family could be there, along with all of my grandparents :) It was a spiritual experience for all. I barely cried!! Mike sat down and said he had to take a big gulp to prevent tears :) Mike NEVER cries.

Monday we had a fun day swimming at a 'local' hot springs pool. (we had to drive about 45 minutes to get there).
And Tuesday we had the opportunity to do service.  (My sister did an awesome job planning this one!) As a family we had the opportunity to prepare, make and serve lunch (hamburgers fresh off the grill) to the workers building the Meridian, ID temple.  It's about one block from my parents house and we actually know the Senior missionary couple serving as the construction site manager.  What a neat experience that was!!

Hannah was my little photography helper :)

I'd say we had a successful family reunion!!

Hannah turned TWO months old!!

 

Hannah and I participated in a fun Color run :) (she slept the whole time)

We had to say goodbye to our good friends; they are moving to Alaska to follow their dreams and won't be coming back, but every two years.

About two weeks ago Hannah had some of her 2 month shots and did AWESOME!!

Mike was driving his truck to work and on the way home it broke down on OUR exit on the off ramp!  He was about a mile from home! We called AAA to the rescue!

And last weekend we drove to Boise stopped by parents house.  We left Hannah with my parents for the day while we drove up and back from Moscow in one day.  It was a fun, much needed little get-a-way for Mike and I :)  Happy Fathers Day!

Exploring our new stomping grounds!

Mike and Hannah love napping together.  I'm glad Mike had a relaxing Father Day :)

Hannah loves Sophie the giraffe! :)

And this weekend he is up in Salmon with his scouts on High Adventure :) He is one busy man!!

What a busy adventurous June we have had! And in the next 8 weeks it's going to get crazier! AHH!!

Packing, moving, driving/traveling to see family, moving in, schooling, exploring a BRAND NEW town! Oh boy!! Hannah is going to be SO glad when it's all over! Oh wait who am I kidding so am I!! But I am excited to spend time with family :)

Love
The Dukes :)

May 2015

Being a mother is Amazing!

We tried putting Hannah down the other night in her crib; she ate, we burped her, she fell asleep, put her down in her crib then tip toed away HAHA.  We snuck to the living room and sat down on the couch and laughed at our selves for tip toeing away and called our selves "officially parents" because of the situation we just encountered HAHA  We are just having fun!

She is the cutest soundest best sleeper EVER! Mike loves sleeping with her :)

You know you're a parent when :

you tip toe out of their room after laying them down

you're up at 2am because they are wide awake

you don't mind poopy diapers anymore; in fact you're excited about poopy diapers!!

you LOVE nap time; when they are sleeping so you can get things done or when they are sleeping and you are taking advantage of nap time for you too :)

you freak out when they sleep all night

you freak out when they have been sleeping longer than 2 hours during their nap

You cry when they smile :) because you love them so much and love it when they are happy and that you made them smile :)

You never knew you could love someone so much!

Being a parent is the most awesome thing! Hard work and long hours yes, but so much fun!!

haha she got to talking then started eating her dress :)

Isn't she just the cutest thing you've ever seen?!

Being a parent is wonderful!

Love,

Mike, Lanae, and Hannah :)

A Motherly Instinct...

Yesterday was the first Sunday I went to church in our ward after having Hannah.  It was a very nice Mother's Day Sunday :)
We have LOVED and adored having Hannah in our lives and couldn't ask for a better daughter.  She is such an amazingly good baby!
Hannah is so good she sleeps through the night, does very well laying under her floor mat alone for up to an hour, her sleep and feeding schedule is predictable most days and she is learning fast, and loving hugs and kisses from mom and dad :)



I wanted to post a picture of me and Hannah, and my mom and I, but of course everyone else was and I wanted mine to be special.  I read most of what everyone else wrote about their moms.  Knowing my friends and their moms I know what they said about their moms being so special, selfless, kind etc was all true.  We can all say that about our moms.  And I agree my mom is all of those things as well :)
I'm one of those people who don't love these kinds of holidays; I don't want others to feel obligated to get me something.  I just want to feel loved and special all the time. Just a simple nice gesture is good enough for me :)
I want to sit here and write thank you to my mom.  She truly is an amazing person.  She is a very hard worker.  She loves all of her kids, grandkids :) I know she loves us and would do anything for us. She really is self less and just wants to help others. She is a wonderful woman and I could go on all day about her great characteristics. I'm so glad I have in my life and couldn't ask for a better mother!!

 

Very Personal Story:

This year was a special Mother's Day for me; as a new mom to a month old daughter :) I have learned so much as a new mom and I am so blessed and thankful to have her in my life :)

She truly is a blessing and MIRACLE to us!! :)

 



About three weeks before my senior year of high school I became very ill.  After several tests they couldn't figure out what was wrong.  With her motherly instincts my mom knew something was seriously wrong.  She took my back to the doctor and they said I needed to go to the hospital RIGHT NOW.  I had a ruptured appendix and needed surgery ASAP! A ruptured appendix can be deadly if the infectious fluid sits for too long.  And we figured it had ruptured about a week earlier when I started feeling sick.  Again, I went into surgery immediately to remove the appendix and some of the infection.  I felt better but not 100%.  They waited a few days to watch the rest of the infection, then removed the rest of it. After 2 weeks in the hospital I felt much better but very weak. At my post op appt. the surgeon told me because it was bad and had been ruptured for a week before we found it if we had waited much longer it would've been a different hospital visit  :(  He also informed me because it was so bad it might be hard to have kids because it sat on all my girl stuff for so long. I always kept that in the back of my mind knowing it would be a miracle to have kids, so I kept the love of adopting in the back of my mind and became obsessed with the idea of helping others have a loving home.

I'm so thankful for my mom and her motherly instinct for me in that time of desperate need of health and love :)

Being a mother is definitely hard work and brings sweat and tears that I have already experienced much of; but it's So worth it!

So again, I am truly blessed that Hannah came into our lives and that everything through the pregnancy and labor and delivery went so well and that she is healthy today :)



I am thankful for ALL mother's and woman out there that I have come in contact with and their great examples they have been to me.  I pray for those who have lost their mothers, who aren't' mothers yet and especially pray for those who are still trying to become mothers.  I know what it's like, I know the feeling.  It's hard to see others get pregnant and gitty about it all when you are having troubles.  I pray you will be blessed with kids in whatever is fit for you.

 I'm so thankful for my life. I am so blessed in my life with so many amazing blessings!

I LOVE being a mom and that Mike lets me be a stay at home mom :)

Love,
Mike, Lanae and our miracle Princess Hannah

April with a newborn...

I hope I can write this well. Don't worry it's just the pregnancy hormones I needed to write out.  I love my life! :)


This month has been quite different; duh you think...

Well that's what I have to keep telling myself, it's different and life will never be the same as it was before.  Some times/days I think I'm just babysitting and that the parents will be coming to get her soon.  The reality just hasn't sunk in yet.

But don't get me wrong I LOVE Hannah and everything about her and never want her to leave!! :)  We love her small dainty features and watching her sleep and dream and make those fun funny facial expressions.

I feel inadequate for this 'job'/to be Hannah's mother.  I have large shoes to fill from where she came from. It still feels like and I remember it like she entered this world just yesterday. What a joy it has been!!

I feel guilty for ever thinking these thoughts.  They say pregnancy emotions are still not gone for a little while after having your baby; and I feel blessed that it only hit me in the hospital; or so I thought.  This week has been a hard one.  I've held in my tears pretty well until last night.  Hannah has been quite fussy these past few days and I just couldn't figure out what was wrong.  She's had the same schedule her whole life, haha. Monday she had a dr appt and she hadn't truly slept all day.  Same with yesterday. Although we figured maybe we had switched diapers on her.  So we went back to the brand we started with.  Maybe that helped.  But we were also noticing that she felt like she had an upset stomach.  Well so of course I called the expert; my mother.  She said to use gripe water and see if that helps.  We gave her a bath and some gripe water and she slept last night from about 9pm til 2am!! After a large amount of food and cuddling and swaying she went back down til 6 am! Man I love this sleepy girl of mine!!



Well that was the beginning of it all.  Last night I was talking to Mike about things we needed to get done this week and things that were going on with finances, and things I wanted to do in the upcoming months before we move and that I was super frustrated with how my Mary Kay business was not going anywhere and that I felt like no one cared or wanted to buy anything from me and how my goals were not getting met; I finally broke down on him.  The first thing he did was hug me and not let go and talk to me for about five minutes while we were standing there and never let go.  He has been my biggest support through all of this.  He has never once given up on me.  I seriously couldn't have asked for a better loving husband.  He continued to give me the confidence I needed with motherhood, being a wife, and being a good business woman.  "Take it one thing at a time and keep doing what your doing because you are succeeding in all that you are working on.  You have a lot on your plate right now, especially this month.  You are doing great.  Don't get down on your self. I love you and Hannah is one lucky girl. Just do the best you can every day and everything will work out.  You will become successful in your Mary Kay business and we will be fine; don't worry about finances or school that is my job. I love you and I'm so glad you are the one I'm going through life with." (those are just some of the amazing things he said to me last night while holding me.)
Sorry ladies I have the best husband! :)

Tuesday morning I texted him and said I didn't know if I would make it through the day and that I might not get a shower in on the day because Hannah was so fussy.  He said don't worry about it and that he would come home and go to mutual then take over on baby duty so I could a good nights rest and that he would wake up with her during the night. It was what I needed to hear. What an amazing husband! But I told him no he needed sleep more than me.  He refused.  He did exactly what he said he would do and had to kick me away from the baby haha.  I finally got some good rest last night!

Then this morning I was browsing Facebook while feeding and rocking Hannah back to sleep and one of my friends had shared about the exact thing I was thinking and frustrated with; and it's exactly what I needed to read and watch this morning to help me with how I've been the last two days...Look it up and watch it!! :)  Simple yet powerful.
http://motherhood.mormon.org

I love being a Mother and I can't wait til Hannah gets a little older so we can play at the park and go for walks and play with each other all day and I can teach her what I know :)

Mike is right; things WILL get better.
* take one things at a time.
* Being a mother is most important
* Mary Kay business with succeed and get better; I did just have a baby.  I am a little preoccupied this month.
* keep working hard :)
* I am a good mother
* it's ok if i don't shower til noon or never in the day
* I am doing the best I can and that's all I can do
* things WILL get better

Thanks honey for having so much confidence in me and giving me all the love and support I need and always staying close the spirit and knowing exactly what I need :)


When my mom was here I was telling her that Hannah always smiles while she sleeps and that it's so cute and that we think it's cute and funny :)  My mom came back with the best explanation:
She's just talking to her friends up there and telling them how great earth is and how wonderful her parents are and probably telling them I'll see you on 'such and such' day :)  That really put everything in perspective for me.
There was also a time when Hannah was awake and she kept staring off in space or looking at something (because there was nothing on the wall in the direction she was looking) and my wise mom said again: she probably see's angels and they are talking to her :)
I'm thankful for my mother always teaching through example and through her own testimony.  Ever since those experiences I have looked at life and Hannah a little differently; all in a good way of course! Knowing Hannah is a precious daughter of Heavenly Father and that she truly did just come to me perfect from Him and she is mine that I get the opportunity to take care of for Him and bring back to Him :)


Sorry for the long lengthy wordy post, it's just what I've been thinking about and just needed to write down somewhere.

Life is great and I can't complain.  I am truly blessed and wouldn't have my life any other way!!

Last Saturday our amazing photographer came over to take her newborn pictures....

I CAN'T WAIT to see them all!!!

I am one blessed woman! With an amazing family, husband, and baby girl :)

Love, 

Mike, Lanae and Hannah :)

Baby Duke

I know it has taken me forever to get this blog post up but we have been quite busy this week with being in the hospital, coming home, dr visits, adjusting to life, and needing a day/afternoon of rest to catch up while Aunt Terressa (my sister) came up and watched Hannah while we napped for a few hours (THANK YOU)!!

Sorry I'm going to write my pregnancy/labor and delivery story...

The last week of pregnancy I think was the hardest for me. Physical pain, just wanting to be done, anxious, tired, uncomfortable etc.
 I went to the Dr. and was dilated at a two.  He told me if nothing happens by next week I would pick a day and be induced.  We thought 'cool, we will probably get to pick her due date'; so we started deciding what day we would like.
No contractions all week so we thought for sure would be induced.

Conference weekend came and still no contractions.  Conference was amazing by the way! The whole time during conference I thought this is my last conference without kids. Weird.

Easter Sunday morning was nice we gave each other our Easter baskets and spoiled each other with a few items and lots of candy!! :)

Sunday afternoon came and went and still no contractions.  My next appt. was the next day (Monday) April 6th at 11am and we would tell the Dr. what we wanted to do.  I even had a friend text me at about 4 pm and I had to tell her nothing was happening with baby.
Sunday night about 8 pm still nothing.  I'm still miserable.
Sunday night 8:45 I thought I needed to use the restroom and had some pain.
Sunday 9 pm more severe stomach pain
Sunday 9:15 pm we were timing my contractions and they were about 4 min. apart.
Sunday 9:45 pm SEVERE pain and contractions were about 3 1/2 min. apart.
Sunday 10 pm grabbed my bag and headed for the hospital; hoping they wouldn't send me home and that I wouldn't be coming home for a few days.
We rushed to the ER and checked in.
The nurse checked me and I was dilated at a 5!  They monitored me for a little bit, then moved me to the delivery room.
I received my epidural about 11:30 pm
The nurse let me sleep for a few hours after that.  She came in and asked if I was ready to push...I laughed and said NOPE. she chuckled and said ok I'll give you a few more minutes.
She came back in and said ok you ready.  I said no, haha.  She chuckled again and said well the sooner we push the sooner you will be done :) (I really didn't want to go through anymore pain and was scared to do the whole delivery part).  She knew that but her and Mike both said let's just do this :)
So we started pushing and pushed for about 2 hours.  Mike had to hold my right leg because it was so numb from the epidural.  They called in the Dr.  (he only lives 7 minutes away),  he got his gown on got a few instruments out and I had about two contractions and she was out!! It literally took about five minutes from when he showed up.

During delivery he noticed there wasn't quite enough room so he did have to cut me open a tad and place a few stitches.  So of course just from delivering I was sore, but I'm also sore from stitches.  And all while in the hospital my back ached from the epidural.  I was a train wreck. At least I felt like I looked like one. But some people told me I didn't look too bad considering I had just had a baby.

We decided to stay in the hospital our two days to get a good nights rest and get situated with everything and because I was still pretty sore.  I am SO glad we decided to stay that extra day.

It wasn't as bad as I thought.  IT WAS WORTH IT! :)

It was literally up until the last second we had to write it down on her birth certificate paperwork that we confidentlly committed to her name.

Introducing...

The most obedient girl ever; born on her due date! :)


Hannah Mae Duke  :)

Born April 6th, 2015
3:57am
7 lbs. 11 oz.
20.5 inches long


        Just a short time after birth :)

 We aren't exactly sure where she got her auburn red hair, but we are sure in LOVE with it!!
We kept joking since we both have SOME traces of red hair on both sides of our families that it would be funny and sweet if she was born with red hair but we thought, 'really what are the odds?'
And sure enough!!

 We had a few visitors the first night.  My sister and niece.
And friends Kylee and Melissa (no pictures sorry)

Her daddy Loves her! :)

 And in return she sure loves her daddy! :)

She is such a cute lovable sweet baby :)

I loved just holding her and watching her peacefully sleep. 

She is a cuddle bug!

Going home!!

Ever since we got home from the hospital she has been an amazing eater :)

We just can't stop loving her!

I look tired but I just wasn't expecting to be in the picture.  

Today has been the best day so far.  We got to get up and actually get ready for the day!

Hardly any pain today.

First Dr. appt. for Hannah

We just love our Hannah girl 

She is the best thing that has happened to us!

It's still a little surreal that she is actually our little girl forever and it's not just a short term baby sitting job or something.  

She is ours FOREVER and we can't wait to see what the future holds and watch her grow!!

Love,

Mike, Lanae AND Hannah  :)

APRIL :)

I'm usually a very tough gal and have pretty high pain tolerance but this pregnancy I never thought I would say how weak I was and how I wanted to just be done!!
I'm still a pretty tough woman but still never thought I would say or find myself doing any of this!!

I have never : ....

~ eaten so much milk & cereal in my life

~ chewed so much ice

~ had to pee so often

~ gotten up so many times in the middle of the night

~ been SO emotional

~ been so lazy

~ felt so unprepared and unworthy and lonely

~ gotten this much little sleep

~ wanted to go back to work so bad!!!

~ thought I'd say I would rather go through another ruptured appendix than pregnancy

~ wanted my mom more

~ slept with so many pillows

~ done laundry so often; because I only have a few articles of clothing that actually fit

~ slept in so late in my life!

~ seen Mike more excited about kids and wanting to be a dad :)  He is so excited and so sweet and ready to be a dad :)

~ counted down the days for anything like I have for this baby :)

~ "watched" so much tv during the day

~ felt so worthless not doing anything all day

~ wanted human [adult] interaction more

~ knew how much stress, emotion, and physical disability I would have and wanted my old self back SO bad; to just do the normal every tasks more easily without being restricted by some factor or another.

~ felt so fat and self-conscious about myself

~ Just wanted to be a mom so bad!


Baby Duke just arrive so we can name you, hold you, care for you and love you!!


No we are not having a boy...
(this is a picture from our 12 week appt. :)
The nurse wanted to give us an otter pop for being good )


Love the Dukes :)

March 2015

This month has been quite the adjustment for me, and for Mike.

Mike has been working A LOT; many long days/hours put in, busy with scouts, applying to law school, traveled to Twin Falls for our maternity pictures, and among many other things. He has been quite the superman lately and I feel bad because he hasn't gotten much sleep and when he gets home he just wants to be lazy and go to bed and I want to see him and hang out or go do something because I've been cooped up all day.  He is a studly, hard working man and I can't thank him enough.  I get emotional just talking or thinking about it.

Me: I stopped working! It's a good feeling but some days I wish I was at work; I miss the human interaction. I have tried putting the baby's room together.  I've tried cleaning the house and making dinner every night.  Some days are better than others.  I've had crazy dreams.  On top of NOT sleeping more than two-four hours tops!! So the days drag on.  But I just can't seem to take a nap.  Emotions are getting worse.  Belly is getting big, stiff, heavy, and a few people have told me my belly has dropped! That's a good sign; I guess.  I'm getting super nervous about having this baby, but I have to remind myself that EVERY woman goes through this and everyone survives just fine.  I'm considered full term but still have about three weeks until my 'due' date; any day now baby duke!

Last weekend Mike was so sweet and called a few people and organized everything and took me to the sand dunes for my 'retirement' party he has been wanting to throw for me. :)

I love bonfires :) 

We had a blast just hanging out, roasting hot dogs and visiting with family and friends :)

Thanks for coming everyone!!

Me and my honey :)

After everyone left we decided to stay until the fire went out;  we were enjoying ourselves so much we didn't want to go home. We finally decided to call it a night; even though there was still a fire going. 

My wonderful talented sister and a few other friends helped throw me a baby shower :)

Like I mentioned we had a blast in Twin Falls with our lovely photographer Jessie taking our maternity pictures :)    Here are a few:

I LOVE all of them!!

We (mostly Mike) are so anxious to have this baby! Mike is SO ready to meet her; he sees and feels her move inside my belly and just wants to meet her :)

Me on the other hand, yes I want to meet her but it's a bit more convenient just having her right there.  BUT I am uncomfortable so yes I'm ready for her to come into this world :)

So yes the conclusion is we are ready for her!! (Ready or not)

I know most of these things I have posted on Facebook, but I felt like I should still post them on the blog.  Every time I wanted to post on my blog my motivation just got in the way and I suddenly got overwhelmed by the task and thought why would I post just that one thought??  Then I would have a few thoughts and think ok today I'll update the blog, then I would forget what I wanted to blog about. 

So I would ponder for a day or so and I would remember what I wanted to say, BUT THEN my emotions would get ahead of me and I just can't blog while being super emotional.   

The days are getting harder and longer and more emotional.

  Please forgive us if you don't hear from us for a few weeks again.

 I'm also hoping and thinking this baby will come early.  EKK!!