The MeGown Family

Can't keep up...

2012-02-04T19:50:00.000-08:00

So I realize it's been a long time since I've updated but I've been swamped lately. The holidays came and went (yes, totally missed out on posting Christmas pics), the school year is officially half over and it seems a lot has been going on these days.

In the world of kiddos...Myla is still loving her preschool! Every day she comes home with her "work" or "art projects" and she is so proud. It absolutely amazes me how much she is learning. She is a sponge. She is our little performer, really into singing and dancing. Here is a little preview...

One more...Myla as she sings "My God is so BIG!"

Mr. Noah is 9 months old! He had 4 teeth come in, all in this past month! He's been a trooper. We've had a few sleepless nights but I really feel they have been due to having a cold then the teeth coming through. Here are a few pics...

He is so expressive and observant. He does not want to miss a thing!! Just this past month, he has been so active and busy yet...he's not crawling. I'm really not in any hurry for him to, though. :) He is just getting up on his hands and knees and rocking. He can also get himself into a sitting position while laying on his tummy. Here is the video of the first time!

He is also "talking" quite a bit, saying "dada" is definitely his favorite. We are working on "mama". As each month goes by, I fall more and more in love with my little man. I can't believe he is getting so big!

That's all for now. Really there is more going on in our lives now but I've reached my time limit...ready for bed. :)

8 months

2012-02-04T19:45:00.001-08:00

Our little man is 8 months! (on Jan. 2) :)

Still no teeth and no crawling...I keep thinking it's any day now.

These are not his most photogenic pictures. He actually has a cold here and kept sneezing in between pics! Poor guy. He's still a cutie though.

7 months!

2011-12-12T19:33:00.000-08:00

It's really hard to believe our little man is 7 months old! He is such a joy and so much fun these days! He is just as happy as can be sitting up and doesn't seem interested in crawling yet. No teeth either but I keep expecting a tooth to pop through any day now! He has been introduced to all the veggies (that I've had made, that is) and we've also tried pears. I took him to the dr last week because of a strange rash on his back. I thought it was just excema which he does have on his arms and legs like Myla did as a baby. But it was all over. The nurse practitioner we saw wasn't convinced it was just excema so she prescribed an anti-steroid cream and told us to back off the past few veggies we've tried (green beans, sweet peas, and zucchini) since it was during that time when I started noticing the rash get worse. After using the cream just a few days it seemed to clear up on his back. But just yesterday, I noticed it is back. Not sure what it could be. No new soaps, detergent, or food. Thinking I will have to call the dr again. :( Here is our little stud for his monthly pics....

Family Pictures by BFF Andrea Murry!

2011-12-12T19:19:00.000-08:00

My sweet friend, Andrea, is well on her way of becoming a big-time photographer! She did a fantastic job with our family pictures. We took them outside our house and got them in just in time before the sun set. The weather was perfect and the kiddos were troopers. It is absolutely amazing how many great shots were captured considering Noah was getting super tired and Myla just wanted to play! Here are a few of my favorites...

Dad and Cindy's Visit to Dallas!

2011-12-11T20:22:00.000-08:00

Dad and Cindy came to see us the first week of November. It was so great spending the time with them and having them here. We treasure every minute we can spend with them both. Wish we all lived closer and could see each other more often. One day, Dad had the grand idea to take sandwiches and have lunch at the park. Little did we know how windy and cold it was going to be!! We definitely made some memories! Each night we either went out to dinner or had dinner at our house or Kim's house. We celebrated Dad's birthday at Cool River one evening and had a fantastic meal. Dad has nicknamed Noah "The Chairman" since Noah can give some very solemn looks. Dad believes he will make millions one day, since at the young age of 6 months he's already such a deep thinker who constantly analyzes stocks and bonds. It's now a running inside joke within the family. Funny that I hardly captured the solemn look of "The Chairman" since he now tends to smile big for the camera! Here is the closest one we could get...

Our windy picnic...

Noah is 6 months (on 11/2/11)

2011-12-11T20:15:00.001-08:00

Our little man is getting big! He sits up very well these days, eats and sleeps like a champ...such a good easy-going baby. We are blessed!

Getting Caught up...Pumpkin Patch and Halloween!

2011-12-11T19:58:00.000-08:00

Here are some of our Pumpkin Patch pics...

HALLOWEEN

We had a super time dressing the kiddos up for Halloween. Myla was a precious cowgirl who LOVED her costume and Noah was a grouchy tiger. He wasn't too excited about getting dressed up but he was a trooper nonetheless. We went to Kids Kastle to meet up with Kim, Olivia and Elijah. We hung around for a little bit but the girls were ready to go get candy after about 20 minutes. This year we trick or treated in our neighborhood. It was a fun night. Here are a few pics.

Time is FLYING!

2011-10-15T20:02:00.001-07:00

It's been awhile...my babies are getting big!

Noah at 4 months

Noah at 5 months

Lil pumpkins

House Divided

2011-09-18T14:30:00.000-07:00

Tech and OU both played yesterday and we thought it was important for our kids to learn to show support for their team(s). :)

Red Raider fans by day...

Sooner fans by night...

So they may grow up a little confused but compromise is a good thing, right?!

I personally think they look better in RED!

Update

2011-08-04T13:55:00.001-07:00

Myla is doing pretty good with Potty training. She tells us with enough notice to "hold it" for #1 which is a good thing, especially when you are in the car or if I'm tied up with Noah for the moment. We are still working on #2. She seems terrified of going in the potty. So needless to say, she has taken care of her business in her panties instead. I know, TMI...but she really gets upset with herself when she does and she knows she's supposed to go in the potty but there's a mental block or something. I hear this usually takes some time.

Noah is doing a little better with his naps. I think the biggest thing is staying consistent in putting him down and not rushing in to get him. There have been several naps where he has woken up early and has been able to put himself back to sleep. The past 2 days he has taken 2 1/2 hr naps in the afternoon! Today we haven't been so lucky. He is also not sleeping through the night quite yet either but hoping he will before I go back to school in less than 2 weeks. I think he is close though. We plan to put him in his crib upstairs tomorrow night in hopes that he will get used to being in there. He has been napping and sleeping in our room still. Love that little guy but I'm hoping we will all sleep better with him upstairs!

Here are his 3 month pics!!

Baby Boot Camp: Potty Training Edition

2011-07-18T13:17:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it's day one of potty training boot camp and I am happy to report that Myla is doing pretty good so far! We went to the store together today to pick out her big girl panties and a little doll that goes pee-pee so that she could train her, of course, and a few other things needed for the day. She was so excited to pick out which pair she would wear first. But then it really didn't matter all that much because she peed through 3 pairs straight in less than 45 minutes! I have been giving her lots of water/juice and salty snacks so she'll drink more to help her go. Poor girl didn't figure it out until the 3rd accident. BUT after we cleaned up, tried to go again we decided to go color in her new coloring book until we needed to go again. Before we could open the marker box, she said. "Mommy, pee-pee!" So we ran to the potty and she sat for about 20 secs before she went. Yea! She was so excited and is so proud of herself. We called Daddy, who was on the golf course with Papa, Granny, Jido and Aunt Kimmy to share the news. Nana has been here all day helping out with Noah and she was so proud of her too. All of this happened within an hour and a half. She has told me two more times she has had to go since then and it's been a success!

I put her diaper back on for her nap and she did NOT want to wear it. She is becoming quite fond of her new Dora panties. We will see how the rest of the day goes. She is becoming such a big girl!

Now if I could only get Noah to nap longer than 30-45 minutes. Any advice??? We are still swaddling him. We lay him down with some white noise that helps calm him. He won't take a paci. I have to walk around the house with him to get him sleepy. Since he is used to sleeping in the swing, he needs motion to put him to sleep. Looking forward to the day when I can just put him in there wide awake. Share your ideas if you have any!!

Guess who's almost 3 months??

2011-07-17T07:35:00.000-07:00

So I thought it was time to post Noah's 2 month pics!

He is such a happy boy!(really! except for this first pic!)

He did not want his picture taken...

Then he shaped up pretty quickly...

Myla wanted to join the photo shoot

Look how long I'm getting

Happy Boy

He really smiles a lot!

Having fun!

We are still in the trenches with Noah and his naps. After he dozes off he sleeps just about 30-45 minutes in the bassinet before he cries and wants to get up. :( Maybe I'm expecting too much too soon? Just can't wait for him to go down easier and sleep longer. Maybe next month?

Baby Boot Camp: Nap Edition

2011-07-14T09:34:00.001-07:00

Now that there is just about a month before school starts again, there are a few things I want to accomplish before getting back to work. The first thing: transitioning Noah to sleep in his bassinet instead of his swing. I know, it's all my fault for starting him in the swing so early. It was so easy just to put him in there for naps since he would sleep for hours! I could get things done around the house, play with Myla etc. It was great. But now that he has woken up from his newborn coma and is more active, I know I need to make him nap in the bassinet to get better sleep. I have tried to put him down several times during his newborn stage and he would wake up after 20 minutes. But it's time to buckle down and start the sleep training. His pediatrician also agreed that this is the best time to start as it will only get harder later. I also think Noah is close to sleeping through the night. The past 2 nights he only woke up when Jeff moved him from swing to bassinet at 4:30am! Yesterday we started Baby boot camp putting Noah in the bassinet for 3 of his 4 daytime naps. He got anywhere from 30-45 minutes naps each time. His pediatrician said that it is normal for babies his age to just be getting three 45 minute naps/day and anything more is an added bonus. So we will see how it goes!

The other major thing to accomplish before school starts is getting Myla potty-trained! She is showing signs that she is ready and I would love to help my mom and mother-in-law out who will watch them next year to already have her trained. Plus she starts her preschool in the fall! Yesterday, I wasn't even planning on starting yet but Myla insisted to go pee-pee on her potty. After about 10 minutes she went a teeny tiny bit and also went poo-poo! I will spare you the details but not all made it into the potty but at least she is getting the idea!

Oh the joys of parenthood! These are the fun times, right?!

Family Road trip to Steamboat!

2011-07-13T10:01:00.000-07:00

As nervous as I was about making the long 17 hour drive with a 2 year old and 2 month old, I was pleasantly surprised at how well they did! The way there we left around 11:30pm and drove through the night. We stopped once for gas around 3:30am and both kiddos stayed asleep. We stopped for breakfast in Hays, Kansas which we figured out was about half way to Steamboat. We had plenty of movies to keep Myla entertained and Noah was content dozing off and on the whole way.

As always, we had such a great visit with Dad and Cindy. It was so nice that this time we were their only guests so they got lots of one on one time with the kids. The days were relaxing and beautiful. Wish we could have stayed longer. Here are some pictures of our time there.

On the road...

Just coloring with Jido...

Playing on the iPad

Early morning fun with a view!

My handsome boy

Ready for a hike!

Jeff explaining to Myla what to do if we see a bear...

Standing on the bridge Jeff built 2 summers ago

On the trail

Miss Myla

Me and the little man

Noah listening to the Jido's words of wisdom...

THE VERY FIRST PICTURE OF OUR FAMILY OF 4!

Here she is saying "Big Mountain!"

Waiting for the fireworks to start

My handsome boys

Myla wanted to be high on Jido's shoulders

Love Noah's face here...(at Fiesta Jalisco enjoying some mexican food)

Sweet kisses from Nona...

I'll never get tired of this view.

The drive back to Texas a week later was actually 2 hours shorter but seemed so much longer! Myla didn't sleep as well and grew pretty cranky after awhile. Noah did pretty good but he didn't sleep as well either. It's as if they both knew we were leaving vacation. :( I still have to say that the long road trip was definitely worth it, to spend time with Dad and Cindy and have our one summer vacation.

We were sad to learn that they will be selling their home in Steamboat as it is so much work! Dad is working way too hard managing the upkeep. They know it may take some time to sell. They plan to build a spanish style home in California within 5 years. We look forward to many visits to their new home in the future. In the meantime, we hope to spend more time in Steamboat until it sells!

Happy Anniversary

2011-07-01T09:28:00.000-07:00

Can't believe it has been five years already! It has been a fun-filled five years blessed with 2 beautiful children. I love you babe! When I think of our marriage, the first thing that comes to mind is BALANCE! We seem to balance each other out perfectly and when the going gets tough we always seem to find that peaceful balance again. Loving you today and always...Here's to the next 50!!

Call us crazy...

2011-06-29T13:39:00.000-07:00

AND WE ARE!

Friday night we are driving 17 hours to Colorado with our 2 year old and 2 month old in tow. CRAZY, right? This is our chance for a summer vacation and more importantly time we can spend time with my dad and Cindy. It will be well worth the long drive once we get there I'm sure!

We plan to leave Friday late evening, after Noah's last feeding around 10ish and drive all night. Our hope is that the babies will sleep most of the way during the night. We pray we won't deal with constant screaming but we will be realistic in thinking this is not ideal when kids this young are concerned. But for now, it has to work. Jeff refuses to fly with two kids as he thinks that will be worse than driving. Hmmm...we shall see. It's going to be an adventure!!

To be continued once we arrive in CO!!

Better late than never...

2011-06-29T13:12:00.000-07:00

So I really thought that during the summer I would be able to post all our happenings on here more often but I guess I was wrong.;) The two little ones have kept me busy.

This is all old news but better late than never, right?

Father's Day-
This year, Jeff didn't want me to make any special plans (His dad was out of town and my dad lives out of town). He simply wanted to stay at home, fix his sprinkler that broke, do some yard work, have chili cheese dogs for dinner, and hang with the kiddos. And that is exactly what we did. Here are a few pics from the day...

Myla basking in the sunshine as Daddy works in the yard.

Opening his Father's day cards...

Daddy and Noah

Happy Father's Day Dad! (Did you notice Noah's middle finger?)

Zoo Trip with Cousins

Last week we went to the Fort Worth Zoo with some of Jeff's cousins & kids and had a great time. We did not take Noah with us as we knew it would be way too hot! So glad he could stay with Aunt Ann while we took Myla. She loved every minute. Here are a few pics...

She was loving the daddy-daughter time!

Jeff is having a great time so far!!

Checking out the baby monkey!

So cute!

Poor Myla was running too fast when she slipped and fell! (she was ok!)

Mommy and Myla

Exploring with cousin Nathan

Leaving the zoo after a long fun day!

A Tribute to Jersey

2011-06-15T20:59:00.000-07:00

We learned a month ago that Jersey had liver cancer. The vet only gave her a couple of months as the tumor was pretty large. When I left the vet that day, I was in disbelief since Jersey still seemed fine. But it seemed as each day passed her condition got worse and worse. The vet did give us some cortisteroids to help give her more energy and amp up her appetite since she wasn't eating well. For awhile they seemed to be working but once we were out of pills, it was clear that it was her time. I prayed that we would really know when to bring her in because it would be so hard to make that call. Well, it was easy to decide it was her time since she had been vomiting daily and finally couldn't even stand on her own. On her last day she laid in the same spot for almost 24 hours. It was pretty heartbreaking.

I'm not going to blog about taking her in and our final moments with her but I do want to share a few Jersey memories with this little video I made. She has been with us for as long as Jeff and I have been together. We realized we got Jersey exactly 8 years ago this Father's Day weekend. Crazy!

She will definitely be missed and we will think of her all the time, especially during a thunderstorm as she loved to seek shelter in our bathtub!

Back to church!

2011-06-12T14:12:00.000-07:00

We decided to go back to church this week since we haven't been since before Noah was born. Mom works in the nursery so we felt comfortable letting Noah be in there this early. We didn't take Myla to church until she was a lot older, old enough to know that we were leaving her there. We were called out of the service 3 weeks in a row because Myla would scream and cry. We went regularly enough for awhile that she got used to it and did fine. Now that she is 2, they moved her to the 2 year old room. Going back today, I was a little apprehensive how Myla would do with the new room, especially since we had not been in a couple of months. Well, let's just say Noah did GREAT but Myla, not so much. About 45 minutes into the service we get called out. Her poor face was swollen from crying so hard. We will just have to keep going more often so she gets used it it again. With all that said, we think it's going to be a good thing to get Noah started this early. :)

Here are some pics of us after we got home from church...

NOW she's happy...

Our little stud...

Noah with Mommy...

and Daddy

We could not get over how big Myla looks next to Noah!!

Love these babies!

Summer has begun!

2011-06-12T13:57:00.001-07:00

On Friday, Kimberly, Mom and I took the kiddos to the little splash park in Flower Mound for a lunch picnic and play time! I had no idea this was here. There was a nice shaded area great for supervising the little ones as they played in the fountains. Here are a few pics...

Checking it out...

She could not wait to get to the water...

All wet, tired and ready for a nap!

After playing for awhile, mom got us all ice cream. The girls had a great time, while the boys (really just Elijah) slept on the blanket.I'm sure we will be back many times over the summer.

Operation Slimdown!

2011-06-12T13:45:00.000-07:00

At least that is what I'm calling it. I have 9lbs to lose to get back to pre-baby weight. I have always heard how much harder it is to lose the weight after the 2nd baby but I somehow thought I would be an exception.??? When I left the hospital after having Myla I only had 6 lbs to lose. I went on the South Beach diet and did a little Hip Hop Abs and lost 10 lbs pretty quickly. Can't remember how quickly but quick enough that I didn't have to go buy new clothes. Now I am holding on to these last 9lbs and am having trouble finding clothes to fit. Maternity is too big and my regular clothes are just tight enough to not work. Frustrating. So...it's Operation Slimdown time! It's bathing suit season and well, don't feel like being in one anytime soon! I really don't have a good plan yet but as of now I plan to get up early and take Noah for a good walk in the stroller (while Jeff stays home with Myla-as they both sleep in until 8 or 8:30).Then Myla is really fond of dancing to her Just Dance Kids on the Wii so I now plan to fully participate! Imagine if I could get my exercise soley from a video game?!! Hilarious. I am also cutting out all carbonated drinks and will drink tons of water. Besides watching what I eat, that's really all I've got. We'll see how it works. ;)

1 month...already?!

2011-06-03T15:54:00.000-07:00

Noah is one month old! Time has gone by too fast...I can hardly believe it. We took him to his 1 month well check yesterday and he is doing great. He is up to 9lbs 7oz and gaining like a champ. Funny how his height was 21 inches at the appt. and 21.5 at birth. The doctor assures me he is not shrinking but the nurse just measured him wrong. ;)

Here are his 1 month pics...

Stay tuned to watch Noah grow!

Hello, Baby Acne...

2011-06-02T20:27:00.000-07:00

It's here! The dreaded baby acne that takes over that sweet face, and comes and goes for about a month or two. I do remember Myla having a little case of it but poor Noah seems to be worse. Looks much worse in person...I realize he doesn't look all that bad in the picture. Just take my word for it. ;) I plan to take his 1 month picture tomorrow since I didn't get around to it today.Maybe it will clear up by then?!

"Playdate" with the Harigs

2011-06-02T20:13:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday we invited Jessica, Dylan, Tatum and Baby Druz over for a little cook out and Wii dance party. ;) It was a great playdate for both Myla & Tatum...

Baby Noah and Baby Druz...

AND the adults, Jeff and Dylan.

Jes and I had a great time catching up too, discussing the craziness, as well as the joy of having two little ones now. (Didn't get any pics of us two though. The guys were having way too much fun to stop and take our picture ;)

We all laughed about how our lives have changed a bit with the second baby. We would have never played a loud Wii game while our first born was trying to nap! Nor would we let them cry for too long before rushing over to them to re-swaddle, shush, or sway. Definitely a little more laid back these days!

As always, we had a great time and hope to be hanging out again soon. The girls played so well together and Myla has been asking about Tatum ever since. :)

Little Crabby

2011-06-02T20:08:00.001-07:00

I found this shirt in a garage sale a couple of weeks ago and found it perfectly fitting to describe Noah's attitude in the evenings!

Adjusting...

2011-05-27T07:28:00.000-07:00

It seems like that is the perfect word for our lives right now. Adjusting. I definitely don't mean that negatively at all. We are getting into our daily routine of feeding and napping schedules. I have figured out a great plan on the days when we are home. If I wake up and feed Noah at 7am, that gives me enough time before Myla wakes up around 8am. Then I'm able to fix Myla breakfast and play with her one on one (which she so needs right now) while the little guy naps. Then by the time I've finished with the second feeding for Noah, I can go run errands if needed before Myla's lunch and nap time.I have learned that I'm not a fan of sitting around the house all day even though it can be such a pain to get both kids in car seats then in and out of the car. I have to say that I do feel like Super-Mom when our outings are successful. :) The best part of the plan is having both of them napping at the same time, from 2-4pm. It's amazing how much I look forward to that time so I can get a few things done around the house. I feel bad for saying that because I LOVE spending time with my kiddos but it is great to have that break for some me-time. :)

The evenings are a little different. FUSSY TIME is upon us, I'm afraid. After Noah's 7pm feeding, he has been a cranky mess the past few days. He wants to eat all night long so he's acting hungry but sometimes I think he is just gassy. I know that most babies get like this during this time of the day but it sure is hectic since Myla can get cranky too. SO we are adjusting to the fussy time of the day and finding out what works for a little bit (change of scenery, going outside, rocking and swaying, bouncing, etc.) Kinda feel like I get a little workout during this time of the night. :) After about 11pm or 12, Noah has given up on whatever is wrong with him and passes out. He has been sleeping pretty good at night waking for one feeding around 2 or 3. I try and hold him off until 7am so we are only getting up once. Again, we are adjusting and a bit sleep-deprived even still. I know, as my mom always says, this too shall pass.

Here is my cranky little man during his fussy time...

He is still a cutie, though! :)

I'm back!

2011-05-11T13:04:00.000-07:00

Considering it has been nearly 4 months since I last updated, I figured it was time and I have just about 30 minutes of a nap time left to get it done. Lots of changes these past few months so I will try to recap the highlights. It has certainly been crazy and exciting. We moved into our new house over Spring Break. It was so nice having the whole week off to move and get settled in. Of course, we are still settling in even 2 months later but it will just take time to get everything situated. We absolutely love our new home and feel so blessed to live here and have all this space to grow in. I don't have any pics of the outside of the house other than the one I posted last. Here are a few of the inside...

We
ve actually done so much more to the house than what these pics show. These were taken the morning of our Sprinkle (to be discussed next!)

Just 2 weeks after moving in, my friend Chelsea hosted a baby shower (actually the correct term is a "Sprinkle") at our house for me and Noah. It was wonderful seeing everyone and getting a few of the necessities for Baby Noah.

NOAH MICHAEL MEGOWN is here! Born May 2, 2011 at 7:49pm. He's a big boy weighing in at 8lbs 9oz and 21.5 inches long. My doctor and I decided to induce just 2 days before my due date, mainly because baby and I were both ready. Noah was measuring a bit larger and I was more than ready to begin my maternity leave since we just get six weeks leave. Just so happens that there was just six weeks left of school. Perfect! I have the whole summer with my baby boy & little girl and I am so grateful! So after 9 hours of labor, Noah finally made his grand appearance. It was a pretty rough delivery. He wasn't in the ideal position but the contractions kept pushing him further into the birth canal. His heart rate dropped a bit so my dr had to use forceps to guide him out. I kept saying he was just being stubborn but it turns out he was not quite ready to come out on his own. He is an absolute angel and we are adjusting to life at home with 2 kids! Myla absolutely adores her little brother and is actually quite obsessed. She wants to hold "Baby Noah" all the time and loves helping mommy get his diapers and wipes. She is such a great big sister already. We are so in love with our little family. Here are a few pics...many more on FaceBook. Explaining to Myla that Noah is different than her dolls. :)

Now for some drama...The evening we got home from the hospital, we were home just a couple of hours when we had to rush to the ER with Myla. Little MacGyver as we call her sometimes, got into my sister's purse and into a bottle of hydrocodone pills. All I know is that she was out of our sight for just a minute when we heard her gag and say "yucky!" I got up to check on her and she was sitting at the kitchen table with the empty (well one pill remained) pill bottle in her hand. She was also wiping her face and tongue continuing to say "yucky". Frantically I asked her is she ate what was inside the bottle and she just smiled and said "uh-huh" matter of factly. I freak out, Kim calls her paramedic husband, I call 911, then poison control, then Jeff who was at the grocery store. It was crazy, as if in a movie. Before I knew it an ambulance was here as well as 2 police cars and firetruck. During the chaos Myla was acting fine, so calm and collected. I was trying to be myself but just too freaked out by the unknown to be calm. Kim remembered that there were about 5 pills in the bottle. One was still in there and there was one we found on the floor leaving 3 missing or in Myla's tummy. Long story short, after talking to Poison control, we refused ambulance service to the hospital and took her ourselves. (Did not want to pay the thousands of dollars for the ambulance, thank you very much) On our way Myla said a couple of times that her tummy hurt. :( We could not get there fast enough. My dad was still in town and so he drove us there with Noah in tow and then Jeff met us there. Kim called to tell me the paramedic found 1 pill and then she had found another. So that just leaves 1 that Myla could have eaten. Better than 3 but still didn't know how it would affect her. Luckily, the doctors assured us that the worst case would be Myla acting delirious and lethargic, possibly some vomiting. They had her drink this activated charcoal mixture and Myla complied in exchange for a popsicle. Here is a video that captures her pure delirium. :)Kinda long, but pretty funny.

Lastly and sadly, we learned yesterday that our sweet golden retriever, Jersey, has liver cancer. The vet has given her just a couple of months. She has a tumor the size of a grapefruit on her liver. :( We took her in since she hadn't been eating regularly and has lost some weight. We feel so bad that we have been so caught up with moving in the house, and baby stuff to take her to the vet. The vet, however, assured me that if we had brought her in sooner it would not change the outcome. She has been a very healthy dog up until now. Apparently she is not in any pain so we are grateful for that. We love her so much and will treasure every moment we have left with her. She has been the best dog!

WE LOVE YOU JERSEY!!

It seems like I've probably left some important stuff out but maybe I will have more time to update regularly now that I'm home and with the summer around the corner. Here's hoping, anyway!

We found a house!!

2011-01-29T07:00:00.001-08:00

Jeff, Myla and I have been living with my mom since selling our home in Argyle in October. We decided that saving money would be a great option until we found the house we wanted. We are so excited that we found one we LOVE! It is in Highland Village in a great neighborhood 3 minutes from my school. We close March 15 and will be moving in the week of our spring break. Perfect! We feel so blessed and incredibly grateful to find this great house. We also wanted to move in somewhere with enough time to prepare for Baby Noah. Life is good!

Countdown!!

2010-12-27T15:01:00.000-08:00

Christmas Letter 2010

2010-12-21T09:06:00.000-08:00

It's been months since I've had the time to update so I just decided to post our Christmas letter we recently sent out. Lazy way to fill in the gaps since my last post but it's better than nothing, right??

Dear Family and Friends,
It is hard to believe that the Christmas season is already here! We thought this year we would send out an update about the latest with our family.
Jeff is in his 2nd year as the Varsity Assistant Basketball coach for his alma mater, the Lewisville Fighting Farmers. They have a great team this season and recently defeated the #2 team in the state! He is also teaching a Health class, as well as a P.E. class to a great group of Special needs students. Life as a coach, as many of you may know, is very busy and filled with hard work and long hours. I am very proud of Jeff’s dedication to his players and students. During the crazy basketball season, we look forward to relaxing weekends with family.
I am still teaching 2nd grade at McAuliffe Elementary and loving it. I feel so blessed to work at such a great school with awesome kids. Teaching is one of the best and most rewarding jobs out there and I am glad that I’ve made it my career. Of course, the hardest part of my day is being away from our daughter Myla, but I know she is in excellent care with my mother and mother-in-law who watch her during the week. We are forever grateful!
Myla is now 20 months old and full of laughter and energy! She is so much fun right now as she is talking, running, jumping, clapping, dancing, giggling… you name it. Myla enjoys “reading” books, experimenting with her blocks, and playing outside whenever possible. We are looking forward to sharing this Christmas with her as last year she was too young to notice much of what was going on.
The most exciting news we can share is that we are expecting a baby boy in May! We are thrilled to add another to our family and feel so incredibly blessed with God’s timing and grace. We know Myla will make a terrific big sister. She is already quite interested in mommy’s growing belly and often requests to see his sonogram pictures.
Lastly, we sold our house in Argyle in October after having it listed just 3 ½ months. Again…God is good! Since we sold it so quickly, we were not ready to make that big decision in choosing a new home right away. As of now, we are living with my mom in Highland Village, which has been such a blessing! We are able to save up and take our time finding the perfect home for our growing family. We do plan to live in Highland Village and have recently begun our search. I’ll be sure to forward our new address once we find our new home.
We hope all is well with you and yours this holiday season. If you get a chance during the holidays, we would love to hear from you!
Merry Christmas,
Jeff, Monica, Myla and Baby Boy MeGown

Maybe one of my New year's resolutions could be to update my blog more. Check back...it might happen. :)

Myla and the Macaroon

2010-08-08T07:46:00.000-07:00

Just a cute video of Myla devouring one of Nona's chocolate macaroon cookies while we were in Steamboat this summer. I just now got around to uploading it. Enjoy!

Now that summer is almost over...

2010-07-29T19:37:00.000-07:00

WOW...I really thought I would have loads of time this summer to update the blog but it has been a busy couple of months with lots going on. There is no way I can give a full recap since I last posted but here are the highlights from the summer...

FOR SALE-We put our house on the market the week school got out. Hoping to sell soon to move closer in to Highland Village.We've had 6 showings so far with 2 showing some interest. Our realtor has set up an OPEN HOUSE for this Sunday. Praying for the right buyer to walk in our door!

LUBBOCK TRIP 6/25-6/29- My mom, sister, Olivia, Myla and I took a road trip to Lubbock to see my grandmother Tita. We stopped at the Abilene zoo on the way which wasn't the greatest but a good stop for the girls. My mom was coming to LBK for a high school reunion so Kim, the girls and I stayed with Tita. We had a fantastic time! Just hearing old family stories, looking thru old pictures, laughing A LOT, watching the Twilight movies (yes, I finally gave in) and watching the girls enjoy their great-grandmother. We did take the girls by the ZTA lodge which I think they really enjoyed. ;) We also dressed our future Red Raiders in their Tech gear and headed to campus to take some pics. They were too cute. It was an awesome trip. More pics on facebook but here are a few.
At the Abilene Zoo At the ZTA lodge
Wreck Em!
With Tita

STEAMBOAT FOR THE 4TH-6/30-7/10
The day after returning home from Lbk, we (MeGowns and Lees) flew to Steamboat Springs to spend some quality time with Dad and Cindy. Stepsister Annie came too with four friends and stepbro Joe and his girlfriend were there as well. As always, 10 days in Steamboat never disappoints. There was plenty of great food, fun, and entertainment. We went to a wonderful string quartet concert in this quaint garden near the river (amazing) and to the Steamboat Rodeo. Jeff and I celebrated our 4th anniversary with Kim and Clay who celebrated their 5th. We went to eat Italian and see Eclipse while Dad and Cindy stayed with the girls. We had a blast. Dad and Cindy cooked a fabulous meal for the 4th and we played "Celebrity" into the night (almost missing the fireworks that were visible from the backyard). The best part of the evening was being with family, of course. On the 5th everyone left except for Jeff, Myla and me. We spent the next 5 days just relaxing with Dad and Cindy, watching movies each night, and playing outdoors with Myla (her absolute favorite thing in the world.)On our last full day, we rented a boat and went out on Steamboat Lake to fish and relax. Didn't catch a thing but it sure was fun. Only downfall of the trip was when I rode the 4 wheeler and hurt my left arm which has the metal plate in it from a car accident 12 years ago. So painful, probably more so b/c I couldn't hold Myla for days. :( Overall, we enjoyed our time tremendously and cannot wait to go back. Here are a few pics.

Family pic at the outdoor concert
Random pic before Anniversary night out

With JidoAt Steamboat Lake
Us again before a dinner out

ANDREA'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION 7/17 A group of us went out for my best friend's bday to a wine tasting in Dallas and a great dinner at Angelo's. As always, we had a such a fun time.

SURGERY 7/22 (not really a highlight but worth mentioning) Shortly after returning home from CO I scheduled surgery to have my metal plate removed. I figured this was as good a time as any since it was a 10 day recovery. The surgery went very well, according to the Dr. My pain wasn't so bad although I definitely took it easy for a few days. I get the sutures removed on Monday and I can't wait because this splint is HOT in the Texas heat. Sorry no pics of me at the surgical center or in my stylish splint. :)

That wraps up the summer so far which has been entirely too short. Can't believe how soon we have to go back (Aug. 16). I can say that every single day and every single moment we have spent with Myla has been such a gift. She amazes me daily on all that she can do. I never thought my love for her would be this monumental. Crazy!! Here is the latest on Myla-(as well as some recent pics)

Angel face

Ready to go swim with Cousin OliviaAt the Steamboat Rodeo

Lost most curls in Steamboat due to the dry air!

She will be 16 months on Aug. 7, weighing in at 25lbs at her 15 month well check. She has so much personality, she cracks me up a hundred times a day. She's a mess (in a good way) and is super busy. Of course, Jeff and I think she is just brilliant. I am trying to remember how much she was talking when the summer started and how much she can say now. Truly amazing how much she has blossomed. So...I thought it would be fun to make a list of what she is saying now as a way to keep track. Some of these may be a stretch but exciting for us since it seems just a few weeks ago everything was "dada".

As of today...

Myla can say or tries to say
hi
bye-bye
mama
mom
dada
daddy
more
milk
help
nigh-night
uh-oh (does that count as a word??)
duck
dog
ball
ice
hot
bath (really sounds like "bah")
Nana
banana (although that's really "nana" too)
purple (puhlpul)
yellow (yell yell)
water (wa-wa)
Granny (without the r sound)
Poppa
puppy
boat ("bo")
Tita
Jido
Nona (comes out "Nano" sometimes!)
Jersey ("ersy")
cup
eyes (while pointing at them)
nose (pointing)
bebo ( which means belly button, while lifting up her shirt/dress and pointing proudly)
thank you ("tnku")

We have also been teaching Myla some sign language as another way to communicate since she was about 6 months old. She has really taken off with it recently and it is so fun to know what she needs without her having to say or yell it (although she still does sometimes!)
As of today...

Myla can sign
more
eat
milk
help
water
bed (or nigh-night)
bath
all-done
thank you(really she is just bowing her head forward but it's her own little version)
shoes
where

We are working on "please" and "sorry" but she is not fond of those yet. ;)

She absolutely loves being outdoors and going swimming but her most favorite thing right now is looking at her books. She will look at one after the other nearly the entire time she is awake pointing to all the pictures and making sounds and sometimes words. It is crazy how a couple of months ago she didn't want to have anything to do with them. She does, however, still prefer to read them upside down. It's the strangest thing. Even though, I'm hoping her love for books never fades. It is a teacher's dream, of course. :) Myla also enjoys blowing kisses and smelling the flowers these days.

We have so enjoyed having the summer off to spend with our little bubbly angel and we look forward to many, many more.

Until next time... :)

Time for an update

2010-04-18T07:35:00.001-07:00

It has been challenging to find the time to update this regularly these days. With work, busy weekends, chasing after Myla, and only having her nap times to get things done around the house...there is just not enough hours in the day. But I do have a few moments now while the little angel is sleeping to update the latest with the MeGown family.

We celebrated my birthday, which was March 25, by making it a weekend-long event.Really, I'm not big on celebrating my birthday but it was fun to spend the time with family, friends, and my students! On my actual day, I got to share my b-day celebration with one of my students who was turning 8. His mom had decorated a sign to hang in front of our classroom and also brought in a cookie cake for the class. It was a fun day!

The next night, the family all went to eat at Blue Goose. Myla loved the excitement and wanted to walk around to everyone's table. Jeff was in charge of pictures so this is all we got. :)

Kimmy made the delicious cake! Yes, there really are 31 candles on there.

Myla with Granny and me just looking silly.

Then on Saturday night, it was time to celebrate with some friends. Mom watched Myla while Jeff and I met up with Andrea & Kevin and Jessica & Dylan. We went to dinner at Uncle Julio's in Fort Worth (yes, I LOVE mexican food and could eat it every night of the week) and then over to The Pour House where they had an entertaining live band. It was pretty fun for us married with kids moms to be hanging out with each other. It wasn't much of a late night but we still made it fun!

EASTER
We had a fun-filled and busy Easter! We went to church and had Myla in the nursery for the first time. She was not a fan but did pretty well considering it was the first time she was left with someone other than family. We just need to get her going more often so she gets used to it!
After church we headed out to McKinney to spend part of the day with Jeff's parents. We enjoyed a great lunch and visit with Granny and Poppa and their new covered patio room.

Myla in her Easter dress

Just chilling with Daddy

Having fun at Granny and Poppa's

We then drove back to Highland Village to spend some time with Mom, Aunt Dee, Kimberly, Clay and Olivia. Mom had set up a mini Easter egg hunt and had prepared the girls' Easter baskets. They had a great time!

MYLA'S BIRTHDAY!!
Our little sweet pea turned 1 on April 7th! It is amazing and so hard to believe that it has been a year. Our life changed a year ago and it was the best thing that ever happened to us. She is God's precious gift that brings us so much joy!

I just could not imagine being at school on Myla's birthday so I took the day off! (Kimberly was my sub, which was so great leaving my kids in good hands!) Mom wanted to treat me and Myla to the zoo as part of her b-day present to Myla. We loaded up the car and made it to the zoo before they opened the gates. Myla absolutely loved looking at all the animals we pointed out. She was especially fond of the monkeys. We had her making monkey sounds most of the day. She also found the snakes pretty fascinating too and loved to make the hissing sounds. Here are a few pics from the day!

We had her party on that next Saturday. We had the party room reserved at Fuddrucker's in Grapevine. Overall, it was a fun little party. Myla enjoyed her guests and the attention. She wasn't crazy for the cake although it was fun to lick some of the icing!

Poor girl fell the day before and got a scratch by her eye. Figures it would happen before her big party. ;)

Well, that pretty much sums up the highlights. Next week, we will have Myla's professional 1 year pics taken. Hoping for beautiful picture-taking weather and a bruise and scratch-free baby!!

Spring Break in Steamboat

2010-03-28T07:47:00.000-07:00

We went to visit Dad and Cindy for Spring break this year in Steamboat. Our friends, Jessica and Dylan, and their little girl, Tatum, came with us. We had such a great time! When we arrived Monday afternoon, we went straight to the house to relax from the day of traveling. It's amazing how worn out you can be after traveling half the day on 2 flights with a 2 hour layover in between, with 2 babies. Myla did ok on the plane. She was a little antsy to get down and explore the plane, as I knew she would be. I was prepared for that but it didn't make it any easier. ;) Here is our little busy bee once we got to Dad's...

The next day, Dad and Cindy watched the girls while we all went skiing. It was Jeff's first time to ski and I have to say that after falling off the lift (when getting off, nothing too scary) and 4 wipeouts later, he actually got the hang of it pretty well! After the first run down the mountain he was ready to go again. Here are a few pics from the day...
Getting ready to hit the slopes!

Right before Jeff fell while getting off the lift.

This is a pic of Jeff ignoring my instruction to snowplow!

Way to go, babe!

After a few runs, the guys were done so Jes and I went up the mountain one more time. Here is a pic of the guys when we returned.

Such a fun day!

Wednesday was St. Patrick's day. We stayed around the house, played in the snow and even went on a little snowshoeing adventure. The guys however did not have the luxury of wearing the snowshoes, so their experience was a little different. Jes and I were walking on top of the snow with ease while the boys were up to their waist in snow! What we thought would be a quick walk turned into a 2 hour expedition for the boys. After the trek, the guys soon found the hot tub, then steam shower, to relax their aching bodies. ;)

More pics from the day...

Myla was not a big fan of the snow today.

Thursday was our last full day there so we decided to take Jes and Dylan downtown to have some lunch and go shopping. Here are a few pics.

I would have to say one of the highlights of the trip was going out to dinner that night at this great mexican food restaurant. As an early celebration for my b-day, Dad had apparently told the wait staff that it was my special day. I was surprised by a gigantic sombrero and a very energetic serenade. The next thing we knew, sombreros were being passed around, babies were screaming in utter confusion and chaos, and the whole restaurant was having a great time. So fun!

Unfortunately, my internet connection is soo slow and I'm having trouble uploading pics. (I started this blog 3 days ago and my patience is wearing thin after waiting 15 minutes to upload 1 picture!) So...more pics on facebook.

We always have a blast with Dad and Cindy and are very thankful to have spent the time with them.

Guess who's walking!

2010-02-28T08:49:00.000-08:00

Myla has been cruising for awhile by holding onto the coffee table, chairs, couch, whatever. But she has now decided to expand her horizons. Once she is standing and holding onto something, she will let go and take 3 or 4 little steps. Then she falls. She's a real good sport about it. I keep thinking that she is going to cry like crazy after the 20th face plant into the carpet. But she's a tough one and has a few bumps and bruises to prove it! There have been a few times when she will stand on her own and take a few steps. So cute. I really haven't encouraged her to walk this early and am not sure if I'm ready to be chasing her around. Oh well...let the fun begin!

SNOW!!

2010-02-12T12:43:00.000-08:00

Yesterday it snowed over 8 inches and we certainly took advantage of it! Jeff made an awesome snowman while Myla and I watched. Actually Myla pointed and giggled a lot. Fun times. :)

Ready to play!

Before the snowman...

Sitting in the car, watching Daddy build the snowman.

Almost ready...

Ta-da!!

Myla says "Way to go, Dad!"

She was loving the snow so much we just had to sit her in it.

Later that night...a view from the back porch.

Jersey was almost lost in the winter wonderland backyard.

So sad that the snow is melting already but it's been great to have the time off to enjoy it!! Thank you Snow for a wonderful 5-day weekend!!

Finding new "toys"

2010-02-12T12:28:00.000-08:00

So our little one has decided that her toys are no fun anymore and wants to play with things she shouldn't. These pics and videos were all taken within 15 minutes. She is quite the busy bee.

Playing under the dining room table...

Playing with the door stopper...

Playing with the kitchen chair...

Playing with one of Jersey's toys...

What will she get into next?

Oh, almost forgot one from the other day...

We are convinced Myla has an imaginary friend since she is constantly looking around at what we think is absolutely nothing and "communicating". This is just a little sample of what we've seen of her new obsession.The video is a bit blurry but you can still get the idea. ;)

Lots to update!

2010-02-11T06:57:00.000-08:00

This past month has been a whirlwind. So much going on so I thought I would share the highlights... and lowlights.

Myla had her first fever and cold a couple of weeks ago. She had a low grade fever for a few days with cough, congestion, runny nose etc. Just a cold which is good. She was extra cuddly so she spent her naps sleeping on us. It was heaven. Now she is feeling better although she still has a cough that is lingering and it sounds like she is having some chest congestion. Hoping it doesn't stick around too long.

Jeff's basketball team is doing great! They did lose to their rival,Marcus,last week but have won their past 2 games which make them 23-5 so far. They are guarenteed a spot in the playoffs which start soon. Still have a couple more games left in the season!
Last Friday night, it was Pack the Gym/McAuliffe Night at the Marcus game and one of my students sang the National Anthem. It was great hearing Savannah sing and seeing the kids. Here are a few pics from the night.

Big news...last week Myla took her first steps without support. She holds on to the coffee table, lets go, and walk 2-3 little steps before she falls. I have yet to get it on video but will soon. Didn't she just start crawling?!

(This dress was mine when I was about a year old. So funny... the bloomers underneath are plastic!)

Also this month...Myla is now 10 months old! It is getting more and more difficult to get Myla to pose for her monthly pics. We tried our best but here's what we captured...

Not happy!

Smiling through the tears...

Daddy snapped this one later on in the day!

We tried again that night...

Couldn't sit still...imagine that!

But it's more fun to eat the sign!

Oh well, better luck next month. ;)

We are home today because of the SNOW! We plan to get out and build a snowman later so stay tuned for pics!

Mommy's Day Off

2010-01-09T07:10:00.001-08:00

On Friday, I took the day off to stay home with my little angel. My mom, who watches Myla 3 days a week, was still recovering from a stomach virus and my mother-in-law had watched her all week and had an appointment on Friday. And I'm not quite ready to look into alternate child care. (We've been so spoiled with the grandmothers!) So, I thought I would take the day to get some things done and take Myla to her 9 month well check. We had a great day!!

We played dress up...kinda. We really just tried on some hats. Here she is in her kitty cat hat from Jido and Nona.

This hat was actually mine. ;)

This will be a great summer hat.

We read Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. It was so fun to act out the story!

We took a ride on a pony.

We watched a little Baby Einstein movie. She is obsessed with the puppets!

We also went to her 9 month well check. Here are her stats!

Weight: 20lbs 2oz (75th percentile)
Height: 27 inches (25-50th percentile)
Surely she is going to stretch out, w/daddy being 6'6", right? ;)
Head: 17.25 inches (50th percentile)

She is doing great! She is now pulling herself up to stand on everything! She is also doing well taking steps while holding on to furniture, toys, me, just about anything. Here are a few of her 9 month pics.

Myla on the move

2010-01-02T19:42:00.000-08:00

So Myla decided to end the year with a little excitement. On New Year's eve, Myla showed off her "army" crawl. Finally! She has been teasing us with this for awhile. She was sitting on her own at 5 1/2 months, pulling herself up around 7 1/2 months, and then recently starts to crawl... but then just sits there. Happy as can be, but just sits there. I think she finally got tired of being so immobile. Here is a little video of her army crawl. Not full out crawling but it's a start! (Feel free to turn your speakers down. My commentary is awful. It kinda sounds like I'm calling her to crawl to me as if she is a dog. Awful.)

Myla is also doing a little better "walking" with her walker. She seems so proud of herself. ;) So cute and it's just the beginning. Enjoy!

Myla's First Christmas

2009-12-29T18:53:00.000-08:00

This year had to be the best Christmas yet. Of course, it has taken on whole new meaning now that Myla is in our lives. (And it snowed!!) With Christmas being a time to remember and celebrate the birth of Jesus, it has always been special to me. But now, after having Myla, I can only begin to fathom how much God loved his Son. Wow!
Seeing Myla completely enamored by the bows, ribbons, and wrapping paper was awesome. True, she could care less about what was inside those neatly wrapped gifts. One day she will...but for now it's nice to have her so easily entertained!

On Christmas Eve, we went out to Jeff's parents' house in McKinney. Granny and Papa had gifts waiting for Myla!

Myla thought her Daddy's old Fisher Price train was pretty neat. ;)

We took Myla to her first Christmas Eve service. She was a perfect angel. She only "spoke" when the pastor asked the congregation to bow their head in prayer.

When we got home from church, it was time to open gifts. Myla really seemed to like the books from Granny.
Myla definitely got some cool new toys. After spending some good family time with Jeff's parents, we drove home s-l-o-w-l-y on the icy roads (a little scary, but Jeff did a good job driving.)

The next morning, we woke up to see what Santa brought us in our stockings, had breakfast and waited for the ice to melt so we could go to Mom's for the day. We couldn't leave until noon but had such a great time once we got there.

Our little Christmas angels

More presents...

Yea! Mega blocks from Auny Kimmy and Uncle Clay. ;)

Myla loves her Rock and Bounce Pony from Jido and Nona!

Nana B got Myla this walker since she is so intent on going places these days.

As you can see, she is still needing a little more practice!

All presents aside, this was the best Christmas because of the little angel we received in April this year. She is such a blessing and continues to enrich our lives each day. I cannot even remember Christmas without her.

Ahhh....

2009-12-23T17:53:00.000-08:00

..Christmas Break! Just one of the many reasons why I LOVE being a teacher. I am so happy to spend the next week and a half with my husband and baby girl. We've been having a relaxing time so far, although I've been very motivated to check off things from my growing "to-do" list. With this time off, I am hoping to get some things done around the house. But we'll see. I really just want to relax with the family so I should just know now that the list will have to wait.

Anyway, here are Myla's 8 month pics and a few more from December.

Myla is wondering who this guy is.

HELP!

Myla with Daddy at Jeff's b-ball tourney
Jeff's team won the championship!

Myla says, "Way to go coach!"

We are off to McKinney tomorrow to spend time with Jeff's parents and then to my mom's for Christmas Day. Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!

Thankful

2009-12-05T12:46:00.000-08:00

Myla and I had a great time visiting Dad and Cindy in Steamboat for Thanksgiving! We missed Jeff, since he had to stay home for basketball. But, as promised, I took a lot of pictures! The weather was absolutely beautiful and the food & fellowship was even better. The first morning we were there, Dad and Cindy had a gift for Myla. She was mesmerized by the wrapping paper and ribbon. They got her some cold weather gear: fleece pullover, snow pants, mittens, shoes, long johns etc. Thank you Jido and Nona!

It had been snowing the night we arrived and was just gorgeous!

I could not wait to get Myla all bundled up for her first snow adventure!

She loved tubing with cousin Olivia!

Here is a video that captured the fun. More fun for us, really. Myla was slouched down in the tube and Olivia was not all that excited.

Our little snow bunny.

Really trying not to slide down the mountain here.

The next day, Dad and Cindy watched the girls while we all went skiing! It was Opening Day with $20 lift tickets. We discovered that there was only 1 lift open with access to just a few runs, which explains the discounted price. We still had a blast!

Cousin Aaron, Kim, and Clay on the way up!

I didn't really take that many pictures. I was too busy following my sister skiing through trees and deep snow. Needless to say, I fell once and twisted my knee. I was fine though, after Advil and a glass of wine. ;)

That evening, we enjoyed a delicious meal and relaxed while Myla and Olivia provided some entertainment. You just have to watch this video...Myla is trying to eat Olivia, but in the end, Olivia is too quick!

The next day was Thanksgiving. I decided to take Myla out in the snow again since she was such a fan the first time.

Myla hanging out on Jido and Nona's Bed

I love this picture. ;)

Myla and Mommy
We miss you Daddy!

The next morning, we said our goodbyes as it was time to head back to Texas. Although it was a short trip it was so worth the time spent with family. We love you! I am so thankful for our family, our health, our jobs, our happiness, and our Lord and Savior. This time of the year is a good time for us all to be reminded of how truly blessed we are.

Better late than never, right?

2009-11-22T19:00:00.000-08:00

That seems to be my motto these days. But here are Myla's 7 month pics, now that she is 7 1/2 months old as well as some other pics from this month. It's a little scattered and a bit random but it sums up our life right now. :)

It's getting harder and harder to have Myla hold the sign...

...since all she wants to do is eat it.

She is such a happy baby, although she did cut her first tooth last week and has been a little cranky lately.

Last Saturday, Jeff, mom, Myla and I went to the new Cowboys stadium to watch the Marcus playoff game. Again, Myla was a trooper and loved "watching" the game.

TOUCHDOWN!

The next day, we drove out to McKinney to Jeff's parents house for Jeff's birthday. We did a little shopping and went to dinner.

This pic was taken right before I noticed her first tooth!!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jeff's basketball season has officially started. Myla and I will be attending at least 1 game a week beginning now until end of February. His first game was this past Tuesday against Duncanville. They played a great game and won 62-54! Myla watched in amazement as the ball went back and forth across the court and was even amused at the Duncanville coach stomping his feet in frustration when his players
missed a shot. We were so proud of Daddy for coaching such a good game! ;)

Myla with Papa watching the game...

Lastly, we watched Texas Tech beat OU on Saturday! Myla was supposed to be in her Tech gear for the first half (to support my alma mater) and in her OU gear after half time to support Jeff's team. For some reason, she stayed in her Tech outfit. ;) The way that OU was playing, Jeff agreed that she could keep cheering on Tech. I'm working on teaching her how to get her guns up. She'll have it before too long. ;)

It has been a busy month and it's not over yet. Tomorrow, Myla and I fly out to Steamboat Springs to visit Dad and Cindy for Thanksgiving. Jeff has basketball games this week and cannot join us. So sad he won't be with us but I have promised to take lots of pictures, especially of Myla in her first snow! I'm a bit nervous to fly alone with Myla. Just hoping she is a perfect angel like she was when we flew there this summer. I'm sure she will be. ;) So excited to see the family. I'll post some more pics soon!

Pumpkin Patch and Halloween

2009-11-01T09:41:00.000-08:00

Here are a few pics from our Pumpkin Patch adventure...
Our Little Pumpkin

Myla was more interested in the grass and Olivia was not impressed.

Sweet kisses from Daddy

We'll call this one "Pumpkin Butt"

Even with the missed naptimes and the pure craziness of picture-taking, it was still a fun time. ;)More pics on Facebook!

HALLOWEEN

On Friday night, Myla and I went over to my sister's for a Halloween Party. Myla was an adorable caterpillar and I was a butterfly, kinda. I really just threw on some butterfly wings.

Cousin Olivia was a cute little lobster. The girls enjoyed playing while we all ate dinner. Such good girls!!

On Halloween day, we watched the Tech game. Once Tech got their act together, Myla was excited to cheer them on. We have a video of her attempting to clap that I will try and post later. Of course she was squealing too.

Wreck 'em Tech!

Halloween night, we went back over to Kim's to pass out candy and take cute pics of the girls in their costumes.

Since Myla was soooo laid-back, as seen below...

we decided to break out the costume box and have a little fun playing dress-up!

So she became a lobster..

a scary old man...

Bob Marley...

a rock star...

a hula dancer in her coconut bra...

a clown with a gigantic bow...

and then back to a lobster for a crazy family pic!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Baby Murry Shower!

2009-10-18T19:51:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we had my best friend, Andrea's baby shower. Everything turned out great and Andrea looks adorable! She is due Thanksgiving day and we cannot wait for the baby's arrival! The soon-to-be parents have stayed strong in waiting to find out the gender, so it will be a surprise! Can't wait! I didn't take very many but here are a few pics from the shower...

Jido and Nona's Visit

2009-10-18T19:27:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, Dad and Cindy came in town to see us and go to the U2 concert. It had been nearly 3 months since they have seen Myla and Olivia. They could not believe how much they have grown. It was a short visit but so glad we were able to spend some time with them!

Myla with Nona

Olivia with Jido

On Sunday night, we all went to Nate's in Addison. Myla sat in a high chair for the first time and did great!

Again, she was a perfect angel! She was mesmerized by Olivia's sippy cup although she couldn't figure out how it worked. She loved the live music and of course, all the attention. ;)

Myla is 6 months old!

2009-10-12T16:10:00.001-07:00

Considering it has been over a month since I updated this thing, I thought I'd better post some recent pics before Myla starts driving! Gosh, she is growing so fast! She had her 6 month well check today and is doing great. She now weighs 17 lbs, which puts her in the 75th percentile. When I asked if our little tubby was doing okay weight-wise, the doctor just smiled and said, "She's absolutely perfect." I tend to agree. She is such a good baby! We are very blessed. :)

This post is a recap from the past month. It's a little random but hits the highlights. ;)

Myla recently started eating veggies. We waited until she turned 6 months to be sure she was really ready, and because we knew she wasn't hurting in the weight department. Here are a few pics from the new flavors of sweet potatoes and squash.
Yum-Sweet potatoes!

Here's what I think about squash...

Myla has discovered her feet and loves playing with them. We will need to discuss being "ladylike" another time but for now, this is pretty cute. :)

I am so proud...she is learning to "read" and already loves books. ;)

As always, Myla enjoys spending time with cousin Olivia.

They are best buddies.

A couple of weeks ago, we tried out Myla's Halloween costume. Mom found this caterpillar costume before she was born to save for her first Halloween. I think she likes it!

Check out Myla the Caterpillar in action!!

So that pretty much covers the highlights from the past month. Until next time...hope you all enjoy watching Myla grow!

Another Day, Another Bow (and 5 month pics)

2009-09-07T15:17:00.000-07:00

OK, so maybe I am warming up to the idea of Myla being a bowhead. Not entirely but I did have this outfit that I thought I should try out, before she got too big for it anyway. Check out the matching shoes! (they were a little small but still cute)

We had a lot of fun dressing her up. When I say "we", I really mean just me and Myla. Jeff wanted no part of it! I thought she looked pretty cute and she seemed to like it. ;)

Myla is 5 months today! She is doing great: rolling over and sleeping on her tummy, smiling and laughing a ton, almost sitting on her own, and taking good naps. She has also started to show her little personality and sense of humor. So fun! Here are a few pics of our happy girl. Enjoy!

Time for an update...

2009-09-05T07:55:00.000-07:00

Considering it's been awhile, I thought today would be a great day to share the latest with our little family. The biggest development has been the adjustment of being back at work. As much as I love what I do, it has been so hard to be away from her all day. Mom sends me a "Myla pic of the day" whenever she keeps her which has been awesome. I look forward to checking my email to see my precious baby and what she is doing that day. I try to focus on the time that I do have with her...waking her up in the morning is the best and then coming home after school to such a happy baby makes it a little easier. With my mom and mother-in-law watching her while I'm at school, I know that Myla is safe, loved, and happy! She is doing so good and I am incredibly grateful for their help and could not do this without them!

My happy girl... Thank you Granny and Nana B!!

Last night, we took Myla to her first Marcus Football game. Surprisingly, she made it until half time, an hour past her usual bedtime. She was fascinated by all the people, music and noise. It was "Run with the Marauders" night so it was fun to see our 5th graders run through the helmet before the game. As I was watching them run on the field, I realized that these 5th graders were my first group of students at McAuliffe. They grow up so fast. :) Marcus beat Plano West 35-25 in a great game! (so I heard since we left early) Here are a few pics.

Hangin' with Daddy. The shoes she has on were actually Jeff's when he was a baby!!

Yes, that is Myla in a BOW. Those of you who know me well know that I don't do bows and always said how my daughter will never do big dorky bows that cover her entire head. I mean, dad is a coach, I love sports, we envision our little girl to be the spunky tomboy type (like the little girl in Remember the Titans) BUT...with a little convincing from Nana B, Myla ended up with a bow. I have to admit, she looked pretty stinkin' cute. Not sure if this will be a new look for her or not yet. I'm still getting used to it. ;)

Where did the summer go?

2009-08-09T20:39:00.000-07:00

Seriously?! This summer flew by. Doesn't it seem like every year they get shorter and shorter? Ugh! Well, it went by incredibly too fast and that is scary. It really seems like yesterday we were bringing Myla home from the hospital, so tiny and small. She is now 4 months old and has grown so much. Here are a few pics I took on her 4 month birthday...

Everyday she amazes me on new things she can do and learn. I love watching her interact with life around her. Now, it may be more passive in nature as she looks around intently at everything, full of curiosity. Either that or she tries to put everything she can grasp in her mouth. I'm sure it won't be long before she is running around to explore all of these things firsthand.

I was recently reminded on how much Myla has grown the other day when we visited my friend Christi and her newborn baby boy, Caden, at the hospital. He is so adorable, weighing 7lbs 14 oz at birth, he looked so tiny next to Myla. It's hard to believe that Myla weighed that when she was a month old! Cade has the cutest little face and is just perfect. It was so great that Myla got to meet her future boyfriend! Here are a few pics from our visit:

They would make such a cute couple one day. ;)

Seeing Baby Caden and looking through newborn pictures of Myla just reminds me how fast time flies and how precious life is. So, with this last week of summer, I plan to soak up as much time as possible with my baby girl because every little moment is special. She'll be off to college before I know it...geez....I'm sure every parent has said the same thing but it's just weird that now I actually understand and know what they mean! If only life could have a Pause button or at least a slow motion feature, that would be nice...

Our Little Squealer

2009-07-29T16:08:00.000-07:00

So, we've always considered Myla a "squealer" from time to time, but recently this has been her ongoing form of communication. The best is in the morning right after her first feeding. She squeals in delight and lets us know she is having such a great time. She squeals so loudly at times it could pierce your eardrum. But we are just glad she is such a happy baby so whatever. She hasn't squealed all that much in public yet. For now it just seems to happen in the comfort of our own home, or Nana B's house, since she has fun toys! I'm just dreading the day when I won't be able to take her anywhere because her squealing will be out of control and strangers will give us dirty looks. I will just smile and say, "Hey, at least she's happy!" Although...when she starts getting tired or "overstimulated", instead of crying like most babies, she squeals out of crankiness. Some people may think she is actually still having fun but when we listen closely we've been able to interepret what she really means... "Ok, enough is enough and I am exhausted. I need my sleep STAT!" So really...happy or sleepy, she's our little squealer.
Here is a video I took the other day of Myla squealing away at Nana B's house, having the time of her life. Enjoy! And, oh...you may want to turn your speaker volume DOWN just a tad! :)

Myla's First Boat Ride

2009-07-28T09:13:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, we went out on the lake for Myla's first boating experience. Unfortunately Jeff couldn't be there as he recently hurt his back and could barely stand so we went with mom, Kimberly, Clay and Olivia. We had a great time and Myla seemed to really enjoy riding in the boat. We bought her an infant-sized life jacket that kept her feeling snug and safe.
After Kimberly skiied, we stopped for awhile to get the girls in the water. Myla wasn't sure at first what she thought about being in the nasty lake water but it wasn't long until she was smiling and trying to splash. Since my tendonitis is still bothering me, I decided not to ski and just enjoyed riding around as well. The weather was a little overcast which was perfect in helping protect the babies from the hot sun. Myla took a great nap on the boat and missed much of the excitement but still had a fun time. We made sure to take a lot of pictures to show Jeff so he didn't feel like he missed out too much. Jeff's back is doing better today so hopefully he can join us the next time we go. ;)

Hooray for Myla!

2009-07-14T13:31:00.000-07:00

Last night Myla "moved in" to her nursery to sleep in the crib for the first time. She has been in the bassinet in our room since day one so we figured now that she is 3 months, it was time.
I was so nervous she wouldn't sleep and just cry the whole time since she didn't nap very well yesterday. But she did great! We did not hear a peep from her all night until 6:30am, which happened to be the time we were planning on starting the day. I'm sure you are thinking that should mean that I also got some sleep but no such luck. I woke up at 1:45am staring at the monitor and listening intently but heard nothing. From that point on I could not go back to sleep. I kept thinking, " Is she ok?", "Is her blanket over her face?", "Is the monitor really turned on?" etc. And, yes, I did go in and check on her twice and she was sound asleep. So good news is that Myla got some great sleep... but I am pretty tired today. I'm hoping she will do good again tonight! Maybe I can actually sleep too. :)

4th of July in Steamboat

2009-07-09T15:16:00.000-07:00

We got back from visiting my dad and Cindy in Colorado on Tuesday. It was really hard to leave. The weather was perfect, unlike the steamy 100 degree weather here in TX. It was so great just relaxing. Every morning Myla and I would go for a hike then take a nap in the hammock. Myla LOVES being outside. As long as we are moving in some way, she is a happy camper. Dad and Jeff worked so hard. One of their projects was building a bridge. They worked on it for 3 days and it turned out great. Here is the final product... With Dad and Jeff working most days, Myla and I had a lot of quality time together. She has been more and more expressive lately, smiling and giggling. She has also become quite the "mommy's girl", which just melts my heart. On the 4th, we had 28 people over at Dad and Cindy's, mostly family but also some close friends. The food was incredible and the time with family was even better. > Cindy bought the girls matching Ralph Lauren dresses. They were certainly the most stylish babies around. After the feast, my dad thought it would be nice if my cousin Tiffany sang and then my cousin Anthony, former injured Marine, would ring the bell overlooking the property. It was less than a year ago when Anthony was injured in Afghanistan. To see him standing before us all, so strong and proud, and listening to Tiffany's sweet voice... it was a beautiful moment. Then Dad and Cindy's dog, Petie, got really excited about all the bell ringing and tried to ring the bell himself. Here is the video that captured it all!

So just a little recap of our trip. I took about 300 pictures during the 2 weeks we were there. More pics on Facebook!

Fun in Colorado!

2009-07-02T12:54:00.000-07:00

We are having a great time in Colorado. We've been here 10 days and its gone by fast.
Last Saturday night we went out to see a few live bands play. We brought BBQ and blankets and relaxed while listening to some great music. Myla was awake the whole time and seemed to have a good time! A couple of days ago, Jeff and I were driving up my dad's driveway and as always, looking around for animals. We usually see deer or chipmunks so that was what we were intending to see when all of a sudden...we saw him!.....

A BEAR!!! He looks like just a cub and so cute! We luckily snapped a few pics in time before he ran off. I'm now a little hesitant to go on our morning hike knowing that Mama Bear and her cubs may be out and about. Scary!

Yesterday was our 3 year anniversary. It's hard to believe it has already been 3 years! We had a great day. We took Myla shopping in the little town of Steamboat during the day. Then Dad and Cindy watched Myla while Jeff and I went to dinner and a movie. Dad had made us reservations at this great restaurant by the river. The food was delicious! After dinner we went to see The Proposal which is now on my all-time favorite movie list. It was a fun time. :)
Now we are waiting for the family to arrive for the 4th of July festivities. We have cousins, aunts and uncles, and good friends all arriving over the next couple of days. I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone! We will be here until the 7th and then it's back home. Until then good food and quality time with family. Nothing better!

Colorado Day 3

2009-06-24T13:44:00.000-07:00

Hello from Steamboat Springs!! We arrived on Monday afternoon and are enjoying our time here so far. First of all, I must brag that Myla did great on the plane! She was awake the whole time but very content, thank goodness. Jeff and I thought for sure she would scream the whole way. Once we landed in Denver, Dad and Cindy picked us up for the 3 hour drive to Steamboat. Again, Myla was an angel!! Several times I thought to myself how blessed and lucky we are to have such a good little traveler.
I think Myla is giving herself a thumbs up here. ;)

Now that we are settled at the house, we are adjusting to the time change and altitude. The first day here Myla had a pretty rough day. She wasn't eating as much and definitely not napping. I'm thinking it will just take her some time to get adjusted. The good thing is that she is still sleeping about 5-6 hours at night, waking for a feeding, then back down for an hour or so. Today she seems to be doing a little better but will not nap for more than 30 minutes when put down. She prefers to fall asleep in our arms, the swing or in the hammock. At this point I just want her to get some sleep as I know she gets exhausted from being up so much during the day. Here's hoping she doesn't get too dependent on needing the swinging motion since they don't make swinging cribs!
Each morning we have been going on a hike around dad's property. After just two days, my legs are getting sore but it's such a good workout. Myla loves the baby carrier too!

Last night we went to this great mexican restaurant with really yummy margaritas. Jeff and Dad have been working really hard cutting down trees, making bridges and clearing land so a night of margaritas was a perfect end to the day. Tonight we might go see Transformers or maybe we will just stay in and relax. We are here for 2 weeks and looking forward to the family reunion over the 4th!

Smiles, giggles and tendinitis

2009-06-19T06:41:00.000-07:00

This past week has sure been an eventful one. Myla has been all smiles lately, especially in the morning, and even lets out a few giggles. She is still squealing a lot and LOVES to sit in her bouncer seat and stare at the animals on the mobile.
She also really seemed to like her new pink hat, too.

It definitely seems Myla has found new ways to express herself. We noticed this the other day when she "insisted" on accessorizing as shown here....

We also learned quickly this week that Myla may be a "slow-to-warmup" child, like her mommy. She LOVES bathtime so we figured she would feel the same about the hot tub. Not so much at first...

but she did warm up to it eventually. She was happy to be swimming with cousin, Olivia.

With all the craziness of the past week, I decided it was time to go to the doctor to have my hand and wrist checked out. For the past month and a half, I've been having pain in my right hand from carrying the carseat, picking up and playing with Myla, doing endless amount of laundry and cleaning, anything really. I tried to tough it out but realized it wasn't getting any better. So, doctor says I have deQuervain's tendinitis caused by overworking the tendons in my hand. I feel like a big weenie, but the doctor mentioned how common this is with new moms. That made me feel a little better. ;) I was given a brace to wear during anything strenuous for the next 10 days and also started a steroid pack as an anti-inflammatory. After just a day on the medicine, I'm already feeling better. We leave for Colorado to visit my dad for 2 weeks so I'm glad to get this taken care of before we go. I'll be sure to post pics and give an update while we are there. We are sooo excited to spend time with family and relax in the beautiful mountains of Steamboat Springs.

Go to Sleep...pretty please?

2009-06-12T07:29:00.000-07:00

Ok, so after a really rough day yesterday of little catnaps (45 mins tops), I decided Myla and I needed to have a "Come to Jesus" meeting. Here's how our conversation went:

Me: Ok, Myla...this whole not napping thing has really got to stop. It's driving me crazy. What do you have to say for yourself?

Myla:
This is the face I got as her "response."

Me: Sleep is really good for you, you know. It helps you learn and grow big and strong. Besides, when you sleep, you will be happier and I will be happier! :)

Myla:
I think she is saying here, "But I don't wanna sleep and I AM happy!!"

Me: I understand that it is fun to look around and be curious all day but your little body needs some rest. Come on....pretty please!??

Myla:
I thought this face meant,"Ok, mommy...I will go to sleep." But I was wrong. Minutes later, all she offered was a very stinky diaper followed up with a sly smile. It's as if she KNOWS I want her to sleep and she does the opposite. Ugh...not a good sign.

So I will take a deep breath and try again later. She's sure to get sleepy eventually, right?! ;)

2 months already?

2009-06-07T20:06:00.000-07:00

Wow, Myla is now 2 months old. It has gone by so fast. Compare her 1 month pic (on right) to these and see how she's grown!!

On another note:
IT WAS MOVING DAY...
Today I moved out of my old classroom and into my new one in the 2nd grade hall. It was quite a task and I cannot believe how much stuff I have after just 4 years of teaching. Luckily, I had some help thanks to my husband, mom, and aunt. Still took us about 4 hours to clear everything out. Now I have the daunting task of getting organized in the new room. I'll save that for another day. Tonight... I just need to sleep.

Myla Squeals...

2009-06-04T10:09:00.001-07:00

I took this about a week ago before cousins Danielle, Mia and Grant came over. She was squealing with joy on her playmat and it was the cutest thing. I think I captured just one of her squeals and of course, the very second I turn off the camera she squeals some more. Figures... :)

Myla's Visit to School

2009-06-03T12:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I brought Myla to visit my 2nd grade class. The kids were so excited and so well-behaved. ;) Some of them brought gifts but even better, many of them had made mini-books for Myla to learn from when she gets a little older. She now has about a dozen ABC and Number books custom made by my precious 7 year old students. It was great to see the kids. I was extremely impressed by Myla, too. She was wide awake and alert the whole hour we were there and didn't fuss until school was out when the kids left! I'm beginning to think we have a social butterfly on our hands. :)

Things I Have Learned: Life with Myla

2009-06-03T11:36:00.000-07:00

For my first post, I figured I would share about life with Myla so far. She is such a little blessing and it is sometimes hard to imagine life before her. As a new mom, I have learned so much. I have learned that nothing about babies is consistent, at least not with my baby. People ask, "Does she sleep good at night?" or "Does she like the swing?" etc. and I'm always answering with "sometimes..?" I guess what is consistent is me consistently trying to figure her out. ;) I have learned that parenting is all about trial and error. Nothing is by the book. I have learned that you should ALWAYS have a burp cloth attached to your body at ALL times. I'm thinking it may be the new fashion trend for my wardrobe. A side note: I have learned that you may really need to change clothes several times throughout the day and do tons of laundry! I have learned that its a good idea to get yourself ready for the day first before baby if you need to be somewhere within an hour. I have learned that there is nothing better in the world than waking up a sleeping baby, no matter what anyone says! If it is past time for her to eat, I would much rather wake her up with hugs and kisses than have her crying out of hunger. Myla is so sweet when she wakes up!! I have learned that Myla can be soothed in 1 minute tops if she's upset. (thanks to Dr. Harvey Karp from Happiest Baby on the Block.) I have learned that poor Jersey knows that she is no longer center of our world and I do feel guilty for not having as much time for her. :( Once I figure out how to push the stroller and control Jersey on the leash at the same time, then she can join our daily walks. Until then, I vow to try my very best to give her some extra attention. I have learned that as parents we are always learning. Just when we thought we had it all figured out...we realize that we really don't. And lastly I have learned that having a child to love is the absolute greatest, most amazing thing in the world.