New Year's Eve

Last New Year's Eve, we kind of installed a tradition for our little family of visiting lights around town (we went to Zoo Lights). This year, we decided to check out the Blossoms of Lights at the botanic gardens. Yes, it was cold, but we enjoyed all the wonderful paths that were set out for us to see the lights. It was even more fun to see them through a two-year-old's eyes. Cause let me tell you, they move much faster when you are two...

Myla had a blast! She kept saying "run, run, run" all the way through. She would say "this way!" whenever a new path popped up and "more lights" when we would stop for a minute. She made so many people that were walking around us just giggle and enjoy her too. She just loved it. One gal said she was a little pink snowball barrelling though. (I was the one who said we should bring the stroller, although all it did was tag along and keep her with us in the parking garage.)

If you ask me though, I think her favorite part was crunching in the snow with her new snow boots.


Happy 2010!

Homecoming anniversary

Yesterday was the two year anniversary of Myla coming home from the hospital after nine really long weeks. And tonight, we celebrated with her making us a wonderful fruit salad from the kitchen she got for Christmas from Mam-mam and Pop-pop. She was so cute cutting the fruit in half and telling us what it was (pear, orange, strawberry). She was having a lot of fun until real dinner was ready and then we weren't so cool. If I'd been thinking, I would have put together a real fruit salad and maybe that would have appeased her.

Today we went swimming at Aimee's high school pool. I think Myla had more fun watching the divers that Aimee was coaching and critiquing their splashes. (I think she made it hard for Aim to coach too because she does some really cute things, but that's just me...) She did do some great kicks and gliding, worked on her scoops and almost floated on her back. I think we are making progress.

So, we were thinking about how amazing and really inspiring our girl is that in two years, she's ignored the whole born early thing and cruised through every milestone. She talks like nothing else - three and four words in a row sometimes that you can understand! - runs, plays, colors, and gets heavy if you carry her for too long. She also gets antsy and wants to walk, but that's a different story. Two years ago we brought home a tiny four pound baby on oxygen who got lost in her car seat. She's had no setbacks, no real illnesses and reservations about doing things on her own time. Maybe the nurses were right. Maybe we really will have our hands full when she is a teenager...

Merry Christmas

We just got home from a week of joyous Christmas celebrations. Sunday, we played with Witulski cousins and had a great dinner. One of Myla's cousins wouldn't let her down she was having so much fun coloring and playing. Then last night, we played with more cousins running around and playing with new toys. She's a little confused as to how there are so many cousins and they don't all have the same name I think, but she has fun with them just the same.

Today, Myla had the best day, opening presents and playing with her new toys and reading her new books. We had a great day watching her do it all too. She got new beds for her babies, a kitchen, and some very cute outfits. Add in all the Little People stuff and the bath crayons and she was in heaven! She got very good at saying Merry Christmas by the end of the day and it was very cute. John and I got spoiled too - web cams and Cricut cartridges and movies, oh my! - and we certainly felt like little kids again.

We are especially grateful for our families this year. It hasn't been an easy year for us but we always knew that we could count on them to rally around us. We know how important they are to us, and we know we probably don't always tell them but we hope that they know they are. We'll do our best in 2010 to tell them more.

Remember - only 364 days to go till Christmas! Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Stylin'

Myla completed her first round of swim lessons today. She had the best time chasing ducks and kicking. We still need to work on her scoop and the floating on your back parts, but she loved it I think. All morning she went around the house saying "simmin lemmons" and was really excited to put her suit on. I think we'll have to look into the next round once the Y releases their schedule. She even got a pretty yellow certificate to show off - if you could get past the shy part that she's all of a sudden doing with anyone. But once she flashes that smile, you know you are okay.

She's also been a busy girl learning her colors (most things are blue or green, sometimes purple) and counting to ten (even if she does miss a couple of numbers here and there). This week, Myla got to play with one of her East Coast friends, Emma, and teach her the word "no, no" and how much fun it is to run away from mom. That Myla, she's a trouble maker I guess.

We have been counting down to Christmas on our calendar and are very excited to begin the festivities tomorrow with the Witulskis. It will be the first time since she became mobile that she will really get to play with her cousins on that side of the family. They are bigger and older than her, but I think she'll have just as much fun watching them as she will trying to keep up. Or maybe they will just make her laugh cause they are so funny. We'll have to see!

Christmas time is here!!

Yeah for Christmas!! Myla has already taken a liking to this holiday what with the tree and lights and all. She liked Thanksgiving too, it's just that the main mascot is a turkey and gobble gobble doesn't have the same ring to it as ho, ho, ho....Maybe we need to be more creative with T-Day activities and start celebrating them sooner. I don't know, but anyway it's Christmas time!!

Here's just an idea of the fun we had building the gingerbread house together. The dog got a lot of candy off the floor but otherwise, Myla was a big help squeezing out the icing and holding the walls together and especially taking the candy off and putting it back on again then eating it. Look at that mop-top of hair she's got! Time for another trim.

Lately Myla has been reading so many books. She got some from Boynton that she likes a lot and that teach her colors and letters and sounds etc. Recently, we've been reading the Christmas Story book for children about the greatest gift of all during Christmas that of Baby Jesus. She's so cute when she says it too!

This morning while Myla was eating breakfast I was playing a video game and I didn't know she was watching until the car I was driving got stuck and she said, "Uh, oh!" and then something like, "Go Dad-dy!" It was cute. Probly shouldn't let her watch me play GTA IV.....yet anyway. So much fun being a parent.

Magical Moment

Tonight, we decorated our Christmas tree. Myla put her ornaments on by herself. My heart melted - it was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.

Its Turkey Day!

Yeah for turkey! We had a little scare the night before Thanksgiving because Myla came home with a slight fever and she still had it in the morning. We thought we wouldn't be able to join in the giving thanks celebration, but after a good nap, she felt right as rain and we got to see everyone. It was a lot of fun to watch the cousins play together again. Myla LOVED the mashed potatoes (that's my girl!) and even had a bite or two of turkey. Today though, put that turkey in a sandwich and she was all over it - again, my girl! - and we think she had a good time.

Myla's been rebelling against her highchair at home lately, so we went on the search for a booster seat, thinking maybe she would eat more. Then we found out that our space saver high chair turns into a booster seat, and once we converted it, she loved it. And today I bought her a place mat to help keep the table kind of clean (its multiplication tables, a bit advanced, but you can't start too soon, right Aim?).

In the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday, we would like our friends and family to know how much we appreciate them and all they do. We've been blessed with a wonderful circle of support and we are thankful every day. We know that Myla is well loved and that, even though we are second to her, we are too. We hope everyone had a wonderful time with their families and that they are as thankful as we are for everything, big and small.

Special parent time

Since Johnny has started working overnights, Myla and I have had a lot of time on the weekends together. Its been a lot of fun - we started swimming lessons last week. She clung pretty tight to me, even though she's been in the pool before. I think it was the people all around us. She did really good at the kicking part and was starting to get the hang of the scoop to paddle with. The going under was not so smooth though. We'll keep working on it. During our "shhh, daddy is sleeping" time, we've also been to a number of parks and started a new tradition of bagels. Mmmmmm, bagels.... I don't know which she likes better, the bagels or the people watching.

Today, Johnny got to spend some daddy time with his girl. The chose to check out the Wildlife Experience, which he said is not really for two-year-olds. A lot of big animals making some weird moves and noises that scared her too much to even be down from his arms. But, they did have some things that she thought were neat to see. Butterflies and trees and a place that you could make an avalanche. The butterfly had handles that you could move the wings and a mirror so you could see yourself with wings. He thinks that overall she had fun.

She's become quite the talker, spouting off two and three words together. She's also discovered the thrill of online games and we spend some time playing Curious George games on PBSkids. She's actually pretty good on some of them. She's changing every day - and taking us along for the ride!

A cause dear to us

As many of you know (if not all of you, I don't know that our blog is that internationally read), Myla was born 12 weeks early. She weighed 1 pound, 5.8 ounces and was just over a foot long. She came so early because I developed HELLP syndrome - a nasty version of pre-eclampsia. I don't know how sick I really was, but ask my mom someday, she said it was pretty scary.

Because Myla came so early, her lungs did not get a chance to develop fully. We were able to wait two days for steroid shots to help her, but it wasn't a cure all. When babies are in utero (like that? that's science-speak) around 26 weeks, they start producing surfactant, which helps the lungs to open. The surfactant helps them stay open upon exhale, and babies "gulp" the fluid in the sack so when they are born, thier lungs are ready. Myla didn't get that chance. I remember looking at the x-rays they took of her lungs and seeing large dark areas where her lungs weren't open yet. She had three treatments of surfactant to open them up.

I tell you this because it was the March of Dimes research that pinpointed surfactant as necessary for babies that were born so early. November 17th is "Fight for Preemies" day. Obviously, we are BIG fans of March of Dimes. Because of their research, our daughter was given an extra push and able to grow and become the strong and feisty and amazing little one she is. Please join us in fighting for all preemies by clicking on the purple badge to your right. It will take you to the March of Dimes website where we have created a band in honor of Myla. I know it is hard these days for a lot of us, and the holidays are coming up, and things are tight in the middle of the month (at least, they always are for us) but we ask, if you are able, to please join us in giving all babies the chance they deserve. Any donation you could give would help. Thank you!

Horsey, horsey on your way

Myla got this great rocking horse for her birthday from Mam-mam and Pop-pop Witulski. When she first got it, it didn't make any noise for some reason. But since then, she's loved it, rode it a lot, been bucked off and now, the horse talks back...

It came as quite a surprise when she pressed it on the first time, but she loved it. And yes, she still does. A lot.

Halloween Party

Today we had Myla's birthday party. She didn't know what to think about it at first when people started showing up, but she quickly found out that she has cousins that like to run around. It was a lot of fun to see them all together. Myla made out like a bandit - thank you everyone! - and really enjoyed brunch and the singing of Happy Birthday. (I dare say it is her favorite song!) She even blew out the candle all by herself. She is a big girl now you know.

Today was a doubly fun day because, being as how its Halloween and all, Myla got to go on her first trick-or-treat excursion. We hit a few select houses and then it was off to "trunk"-or-treat at the church. She loved it, all the kids in their costumes running around and all the things to do. She colored two pictures and then it was time to go outside. She's a little shy and so she didn't really say trick-or-treat, but her parents helped out and she got enough loot to satisfy our cravings. I know, I know, its not all for us. Don't worry, she'll get a sucker or two... eventually...

And now, for your viewing pleasure, the cutest peek-a-boo this side of the rockies...

Snow day!

Check out the pink snow suit... can't move in it, but she's warm. It snowed nearly 24" and we couldn't put off shovelling out any longer. We coaxed Myla out to play but she mostly stood there until we were going inside, then it was cool to play in. The wind was still sweeping snow crystals around and it's not terribly warm out either so maybe tomorrow we can build a snow fort.

The picture of her inside before we ventured out is priceless. Her face looks like, what in the name of pete....who wears this stuff? (imagine a Stewie Griffin voice)
I have today and tomorrow off and half of Saturday for Myla's Halloween/birthday party so I also get to bake the cake and try to make it look like a duck. Right. It should be fun.

Myla has always done silly things and the two bottom pictures of her say it all. She leans against one ottoman and walks her feet up the other and just leans back and relaxes, but this time she used me to help steady with one hand while she drank from her cup. We'll have to build a tree house for her to climb up to one of these days. So, yah, we can't get into the backyard easily. Haley has to squeeze through because the snow is so deep and wet, heavy stuff. Perfect for a snow fort. Have I already mentioned the possibility of a snow fort? Well, now I have.

Myla really loves the gifts from everyone for her birthday. She scatters them all throughout the house, switching at random between them all if we let her. She has quite an imagination. Saturday should be a lot of fun with costumes and trick or treating, sugar highs and crashes. Have a great Halloween everyone, until we blog again.

Myla is 2!

Myla knows her age and shows us by holding up both index fingers and saying twooooo. It's so cute! Her words are becoming more clear as well. Like Peekaboo isn't peek...anymore but she does take a short pause inbetween sylables. Today we picked out pumpkins, one Myla carried by the stem and two bigger ones for mom and dad to help Myla carve. As you can tell by the picture, she was having fun picking them out too. She got a cool little apron from Auntie Tiffy that goes down to her shins but is perfect for her and Grammy and G-Daddy put together some activity packs with shapes and animals and different themes.

Tonight, Mam-Mam and Pop-Pop came over for dinner and to give Myla presents and so did Aimee, Scott and Jeff. Myla must have stood at the front door looking out for 10 minutes saying "Aimee," "Aimee." Uncle Jeff gave her a Mr. Potato Head which she played with for a long time. It was a hit. I think she enjoyed having everyone at her dinner table because she was all smiles.

For her cake, Aimee made cupcakes frosted to look like a pond and grass around it with two little ducks sitting on them since Myla loves ducks. She even has a duck halloween costume that she will have us put the hat on her so she can look at herself in the mirror as a duck. This will be a fun halloween.

Dear Myla

Tomorrow, you turn two. We can't believe how fast that day has come. Its a big day to be sure. Tomorrow we get to stop "adjusting" your age (which will make Grandfather Witulski happy because he could never figure that out anyway) and we get to celebrate how far you have come. Let's face it, your start in this world was not the smoothest. You were never sick, just small, they said, but with one big feisty streak.

You have learned so much in these past two years. You have grown so big and done everything on your own time. All the doctors and therapists you saw were always amazed at what you had overcome. But we always knew you would be fine. Even through those awful eye exams and the monthly RSV shots, you were always strong. (Eyelids of steel, remember?)

And here you are, two years old. You prefer to walk anywhere we go, talk up a storm in whatever language you speak, and even say some pretty clear things. You know what you want that's for sure. But you are a sweetheart. You give hugs and kisses, you love to crawl into bed with your dad first thing in the morning, and your smile and laugh light up a room. You make us laugh every day and continue to amaze us with the things you learn. (Today you said "octopus". What a strange word for you to pick up, but you said it without a second thought.) We watch you as you figure things out - how they work, what they do - before you become a master at it.

Myla, we are so proud to be your parents. We are so blessed to have you in our lives. We are so thankful that you have come through so much without any major problems and are here to light up our hearts. We wish you the happiest birthday with many more bright days to come.


We love you~
Mom and Dad

Going speechy

Myla had her quarterly check in with her speech therapist today. Or, to hear Johnny tell it, her quarterly "wow, she's doing so great"-in. They were once again amazed at how well she's doing. The therapist thought Myla had progressed in leaps and bounds even just since last time she saw her. She's putting two words together and saying "watch" to Mommy and Daddy so we will watch what she's doing. (Change of author here so that I can go calm our fiesty girl...) It's great to hear your child begin to talk, even when she repeats things you say, like poop and butt. Still makes me laugh... until she says it at the top of her lungs in the store and won't stop. Maybe I'll still laugh.

Myla is becoming very independent as of late. She has to put the key in the lock anytime we're coming or going and must hold the leash when we take the dog for walks and tries to pit us against each other when putting her to bed. She'll cry for mom if dad is rocking her and vice versa. Just this morning she was watching a movie before her nap while I did some things in the kitchen and I thought I heard the movie go to credits but before I could get in the living room she had the remote out and started the show again. She could probly hook up a home theater system too.

We took her two-year-old pictures this past weekend. I can't believe she's almost two. So big, so fast, and so darn cute!

Best Friends Forever

Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh?" he whispered.

"Yes, Piglet?"

"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw, "I just wanted to be sure of you."


Myla & her BFF Hailey at Nonni's house.

Royal day trip

We took advantage of what might be our last Saturday together since John starts his new job this week and took a day trip down to the Royal Gorge. My parents had given us admission tickets for our birthdays and all we did was walk right in. Its past "season" so it wasn't very crowded and it gave us lots of time to meander down the bridge and feel it swaying in the wind. Ok, the swaying freaked John out a little bit because we were 1000 feet up in the air, but we walked the whole thing, looking for ducks over the side. (Just in case there were any swimming in the river below. Hey, you never know!)

We had no idea that it was more than just a really high bridge. We visited the petting zoo where Myla got to meet a goat and some llamas, we saw elk and buffalo - a white one! - and big horn sheep up close and personal and then took the tram OVER the gorge to get back. Then, because you can, we took the incline railway to the bottom and looked up. Myla loved that we rode on two trains (we told her the tram was a flying train) and kept saying "choo, choo" all the way.

On our way out, Myla took her first carousal ride. She choose the bunny to sit on, I was next to her on a horse and John was holding on to her. Once we got going, she was in heaven. Her whole face showed how much fun she had. She loved it. And of course, it was fun for us to see her learning and enjoying something so much.

We had the best time together as a family making some end of summer memories.

There must be an easier way

Botanic Gardens

Today, after a week of low clouds, rain with the threat of snow and cold temps, we took full advantage of the returning sunshine (and our free pass) to visit the Botanic Gardens. We got there early enough that there weren't too many people and Myla could walk around and say hi to all the bugs and plants that she wanted to.

They are having a dinosaur exhibit there, which is kind of interesting for a garden. But it was fun too, you got to see some plants that they might have eaten, or that might have been around when they were. And of course they had some statues as well that we got to go up to and see. And of course, say hi and bye-bye to.

Myla is spouting out new words every day. Walk, lunch and Myla among them. She's very talkative and almost every time we get in the car, we must be going home, even if we just came from there. She says "puppy, meow", not that puppies say meow, but she isn't so good on the kitty word, so that's how we know she means cat. And since she has one of each, we must be going to see them. Its kind of fun cause she won't say them until we say yes, or repeat after her. She's so happy and fun to be around and we had the best time being outside today.

A trip and 1 virus later...

What have we been doing the past three weeks that we have been so busy we can't blog? Besides being cute of course...

Well, we took a trip to Omaha to see family and bless the newest baby boy...



We made some new friends while we were there...

We stopped by Creighton to see what was new...

We got to go to the famous Henry Dorley Zoo and visit with some friends there...

We came home and fought with a computer virus for a few weeks...

And then we decided, let's stay home for awhile and enjoy these bubbles! Take it away Myla!

More free stuff

I'm really big in to the "F" word lately - meaning FREE. I came across this deal today and thought that I better share it with my other free loving friends. The Smithsonian magazine is sponsoring a free Museum Day! Basically you and a guest can enjoy FREE general admission to hundreds of museums and cultural venues nationwide on Saturday, September 26. In the Denver/Boulder area alone the following museums are participating: Boulder History Museum, Denver Art Museum, Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls & Toys, Littleton Museum, and Molly Brown House Museum. To get your FREE admission card simply enter some general information, indicate the museum you want to visit, and the system will issue you a pass that must be presented on the 26th. See if there's any you want to visit here!

Dog Days of Summer

Myla has been enjoying the not too hot days by doing what she does best - playing! We walked over to the school and played in the sandbox which she loved. She wasn't interested in the slide or the stairs this time, the sand was where it was at. I don't know if the school knew they had left the sand toys out, but it just made it more fun, scooping and dumping - it was a toddler's dream. It was hot that day and thankfully she didn't scream or fuss when we left, just said "bye" in her cute little voice.

Myla also got to meet her newest cousin Parker over the weekend, although she wasn't as interested in him as I thought she'd be. (His big sister Reagan has some really cool toys.) She got a little jealous when I was holding him, but I thought she got over it quickly... That will be good because we go to Omaha next weekend to meet another new cousin - she's a lucky girl, all these new cousins! - and I want to hold him too!

And now for the Myla cute moment of the week - Grandma Witulski found her some very tiny little Nike shoes at the outlet stores over the weekend. (You can kind of see them in the picture.) Myla thinks they are so awesome! When she got them on Sunday, she would show them off and they made her dance. Her little legs look so cute with those little shoes on them! Thanks Mam-mam!

A free dinner - or two

Thanks to Stephanie, for spreading the news! This offer worked like a dream - I only have to pay 5 cents for tax - and so I'm sharing it with others. Schwan's (the frozen food people) is offering $10 in free stuff to new customers. Check it out here. I checked it out and you don't sign a contract or commit to buying any more. I got two beef tip dinners, but they had several things for less than $10. If they deliver in your area, and you can get dinner for free, why not!?

Surprise day with Daddy!

Guess what we did today.... played at the park for like a half hour at least! Myla was probly good to stay longer even though she was getting hungry and that means a little cranky believe it or not. Mom had to go down the slide with her first to make sure it was safe or something... not that Kara minded. But after that Myla went down on her own and put her feet down and promptly would have gone face first into the slide if mom weren't standing right there.

Myla really enjoyed the yellow motorcycle rocker because she could climb up on it all by herself and really rock it which surprised me 'cause it was pretty tall for a shorty like her. Dad unexpectedly got the day off work so we tried to take advantage of the time together and get out a little to the park and the store and stuff like that.


Myla has no fear at the park and in places with a lot of people. We went to a concert in the park last night, that was really at a mall courtyard, and it was packed but did Myla care? Nope. She weaved right through everyone and made some people move around her too. We stopped at a fountain to get her feet wet and it was right behind the band that was playing a Sammy Hagar tune but the loudness didn't bother her at all.

Hope you enjoy these pictures as much as we do.