Definitely in love...

...with this precious angel born today!

6 lbs 15 oz 17.5 inches long...

...looking so much like her big brother...

...and bringing so much joy to our family...

...and as a reminder that 'every good and perfect gift comes from God...'

Lauren Elizabeth Dugan

Aunt Libby loves you to the ends of the earth!

...and just incase you wondered...

Brooke, Caleb, and Malaina are STILL Penn State fans...

...even though they stink...

...we'll just pretend the Iowa game NEVER happened...HM! Hawkeyes WHO?

Remember us?

What ON EARTH have we been up to that has kept us away so long??? (Don't forget to pause the music at the bottom before playing the video!)

We're staying SUPER busy - loving every second of being her parents :)

Zig and I have been very overwhelmed lately with the 'constant juggling act of life' that we live. We're running around like crazy people to be sure that everything gets done - to work on time, Brooke to my Mom's, chores every evening, and trying to fit in a little time to be together.

Brooke is growing by leaps and bounds - right before our eyes!

She is suddenly sporting an entire head-full of light brown hair that is nearly impossible to tame! Even her precious bows can't keep it under control!

My Dad informed us on Friday that she seems to be more 'curious' lately, as well. She's venturing to new places in my parents' house, she's exploring things that she's never bothered with, and she's taken an interest in their steps... Thank goodness my parents can keep up with Brooke - I have a feeling she's going to be a handful!

From the time that Brooke first started to find her voice, my sister declared that she thought Brooke was going to be quite the talker! Man, was she ever right! She is part parrot! She attempts to say EVERYTHING that you say!

She points and says "What's this/that?," which sounds like "Wazis?" or "Wazat?" Whatever our response is, she tries to repeat it! A few words that she's doing really well with: fish (shish), bye-bye, hello?, Pap, Mom, Dad, snacks (snash), milk (mil), and night-night (ni-ni)! She's also blowing kisses, giving hugs, giving real kisses, and doing her best to make everyone around her laugh! She's just like her Daddy!

From the video, you can obviously tell that we've been learning a lot about animals! I came home from school a day last week and my Mom said, "Brookie, tell Mommy what a doggy says." With that direction, Brooke puckered her lips and woofed like a dog!! I screamed "Yay!" and clapped so loudly! We've been working on other animal sounds ever since!

I can't believe how much she is growing and changing! I'm just so glad I get to be her Mommy and watch it all happen!

In other news - T-MINUS 3 days until my niece is born!!

I'm taking a 1/2 Personal Day on Wednesday so that my Mom can head down to be with my sister and the baby, then I'll head down when Zig gets back from work. Then on Thursday, I've taken the entire day and I plan on spending every single second with Meg, Jason, Josh and his new baby sister!

I just can't believe my sister is about to be a Mommy of 2! I remember falling head-over-heels in love with Joshua from the second I first held him- and I'm so excited to think that I'll have another moment like that in a few more days!

You can bet that I'll have tons of pictures by the end of the week of my little Lo-Lo :)

I can't wait to see what you all think of Brooke's video today!

Have a great week, everyone! :)

Pap...

...A word that means so much to us.
Whether it's watching Brooke's reaction when my dad plays "Peek a Boo" with her... Or seeing my Pappy Fred steal as many kisses from Brooke as he can... Or watching as H. Ray's (my Pap) eyes light up when Brooke smiles at him... Brooke's Paps mean so much to us...


On Friday, we lost a very special Pap in our lives.
Zig's Pap, Pap George, went to be with Jesus after his very own battle with cancer.
To me, Pap George was the glue that held the family together.
He accepted me for exactly who I was. Never judgemental. Always went out of his way to make me feel comfortable and welcomed. He loved my daughter and he told her so. And he loved my husband and told him as well.

Attending his viewing this evening was harder than I could have imagined. As I looked at the memory wall of pictures from his wonderful life, I spotted pictures of Zig as a baby, then pictures of Brooke. It hit me like a brick wall that Brooke probably won't remember him. She won't remember his soft voice, or how much he adored her, or how he used to get down on the floor and play with her - just hoping to make her smile.

I hope that I can help her to remember her Pap - and be sure that she knows just how wonderful of a man he was. He was a man of God - and one of the best I've ever known.

As we sat in the funeral home, preparing to say goodbye, Zig and I were talking about his Dad. Gram Janet told us that as Pap was taking his last breaths, she asked him to tell Shanty that she missed him... The pure thought breaks my heart. But as Zig and I thought about it, I looked at him and said "Imagine how happy your Dad must have been to see Pap..." Can you imagine the reunion they must have had!!! I feel sure that Shanty was the first of the angels to greet Pap and was most excited to show him around in Heaven! There is so much peace in knowing that they are together - watching over us, protecting us. And most importantly, they're together.

So, to all of our Pap's... Those here on earth - My dad, Freddy, H. Ray... And those in Heaven - Pap Shanty, Pap Ed, and Pap George... We love you!

Rest in peace, sweet George. We'll miss you so much!