Our Father's love

I've had this song stuck in my head and thought I would try to get it stuck in yours. I pray my heart and yours would celebrate Easter each new day.

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

~Stuart Townend

It was a Happy Easter!!

He is risen INDEED! We had a great Easter weekend with our family and hope you all did too. Luke met his "future girlfriend," Charley Jane, at church on Sunday and boy is she a cutie! We're already setting Luke up with older women. :) Holidays are even more fun now that Luke is here to experience them. I know it will only get better when he actually knows what's going on! Next year he'll be toddling around looking for Easter eggs and hopefully we'll soon be able to teach him about Jesus.

Here are some pictures from the weekend- I made it a point to get some family pictures of the three of us. Oh and we got his picture taken with the Easter bunny on Friday! It was too cute- I'll post it as soon as I get it scanned.

Luke's first Easter egg hunt.

This is the beginning of his latest trick "marching."

A family pic.

Being held by Great-Grandmommy for the first time.

One month vs. two!!

I took some pictures of Luke last weekend on his two month birthday and have been meaning to post them. The second picture is of him around one month in the same spot. I'm going to try and remember to take a picture in his chair (from Auntie Lynn) each month to watch him grow into it. We're looking forward to our first Easter with Luke this weekend with both of our families. I'm sure I'll have lots of pictures to share after that. Happy Good Friday to you all!!

Look at that little smirk he's giving.

Proud parents

Things at the Merrick house have been great lately. Luke just fits so perfectly into our little family. Michael and I just sit and stare at him in the evenings letting every little thing he does make us so proud. ie. burping, farting, smiling, cooing, standing (with assistance). He has started doing this thing we call "the big boy dance." I can't even begin to explain, I have it on video but I have the hardest time loading those so I will wait for Michael.

For now another photo shoot...

"I love you too Lukey."

Most people that know me well know that I am not really a dog lover. Our family dog "Oreo" (may she rest in peace) was not a fan of me nor I of hers. Whenever she would escape to the upstairs it never failed, she would pee or poop in my bathroom. Needless to say I have not been a huge fan of dogs since. I know one day this Merrick family will have a dog but Michael and I want to wait until the babes are old enough to ask for one. We'll see. It will certainly be an outside dog whenever it comes. But back to the picture. I thought my dad would appreciate seeing Luke loving on "his doggie." (I think my distaste for dogs disappoints my dad more than he lets on.)

Here he is in the rocker. I can't get over how big he is getting. Sometimes I think I can see him growing right before my eyes. :) But this puts it back in perspective. He's still just our tiny little babe.

We go to the doctor Friday for his two month check up. I am excited and sad at the same time. I can't wait to find out how much he has grown, but on the other hand he will be getting a few shots and I just know it's going to break my heart to see him scream. I've been preparing myself for a fever and/or fussiness afterwards just in case, prayers would be great!

7 weeks (really, almost 8)

Luke has really started to get into a more predictable routine the last week or so. He's sleeping better at night, and we are having fun playing more during the day. He's started cooing a lot more, it's so fun to see him get excited about new things.

Cutest "Gnome" baby

Luke staring at his Poppy
Not so sure about the hanging elephant

Photoshoots and Photoshop

Luke and I had a couple of photo shoots over the last few days. It's still hard to catch him smiling, but he is doing so many cute new things. Also, I've been playing around with Photoshop Elements lately (hence the blog makeover). That program is my new obsession.

I think he looks like such a big boy in this one.

But then he looks like my sweet baby here. (This Houston weather has been crazy)

Cowboy Luke

We went to the rodeo cook-off this weekend and although Luke slept through the whole thing he sure did look cute. The boots are John Deere and Michael won't let him wear any other shoes right now. He also met his great grandparents- Nanny and Grandad.