Happenings

What have we been up to lately? Oh, you know, the usual...

Myla had her BFF over for a day. Johnny made them a tent. They wore him out.

We made Christmas cookies that swelled up into pretty much one big pan of cookie and not the cute little shapes we cut them into.

We went with the family to see lights at Hudson Gardens and ice cream afterward. It was awesome.

So you know, a little bit of this, little bit of that... just been having fun and enjoying the season. Myla is having the best time looking for Bentley every morning and having a special countdown Christmas chocolate at night. She's very excited for Santa to come, even though if we were to take her to see him she would cry and run away. Its going to be a lot of fun to watch her this year. I'm really looking forward to it too!

Baby update... we had a check in with the doctor two weeks ago where she measured exactly where she should be and was even making noticeable breathing motions on the ultrasound, which is apparently hard to see at that stage. Then we found out that the fluid around baby was a little low, so we went back this week for another test to make sure everything else was good. Baby passed the test beautifully and the fluid was up a couple of points. I'm on a "rest period" every night when I get home and drinking more water than any normal person should, but its helping so that's what we'll continue to do. That's what the doctor says, and I'm sticking with my doctor. Johnny and Myla have been amazing in helping out when I'm down and we've played a lot of the Elmo memory game, but its been good. Another check-in comes on Tuesday, although no ultrasound this time. They will probably want more blood from me. Drat!

Christmas Time!

Tonight, in keeping with family tradition we started when Johnny and I were married, we decorated our Christmas tree. It was awesome, a little Christmas music in the background, Myla running back and forth between the ornaments and the tree, her getting frustrated when they wouldn't stay on the tree and saying "I can't do it" with her little lip out. It was fun to watch her get into the spirit and so what if the lower front part of our tree is top heavy? She loved it.

We also added a new part to our tradition - the reading of the Elf on the Shelf. Myla was mesmerized by the book and immediately found a place for Bentley (our elf) to sit for the night. If you don't know about these guys, they are little elves that report to Santa every night after you go to bed, and of course they don't return to the spot they left. So you have to be good so he has something good to report. It will be fun in the morning to remind Myla to look for Bentley and see if he's moved - that means he left to report! I think she'll catch on pretty quick.

To top off the evening, Johnny and Myla put the angel bear on top of our tree. Craziness ensued and memories were made. Allow us a moment to share...

I seriously laughed so hard I dropped the camera, Myla and Johnny watched it over and over and laughed hard each time, and it was truly the best way to end a perfect night.

Too good to be true?

Shutterfly is having a deal for bloggers - 50 free holiday cards just for posting about it on their blog. I have used them for a lot of things in the past, but the best is probably a photo book I made for Father's Day for Johnny one year. He says he can't read it because its got "dust" in it that makes his eyes tear up. Myla loves to ready it though, conveniently when he's not around. I've already got my Christmas cards picked out... Maybe this one .... or this one.... or....

My family has always sent out Christmas cards, and the photo ones are the best. My mom has a book of all the ones she's sent out with the family and its kind of fun to see us grow up from year to year. I think this year is the first year she'll send one out with Myla on it too - just talking about her in the letter doesn't count. It will be fun to add to the book and see not only us "grow up" but the family grow too.

My mother always comments that I can find anything online - and good deals especially. This one I have to credit to my fellow blogger Stephanie (who has one super cute little boy!) for turning me on to. I feel kind of bad about posting this, since my mom just bought her Christmas cards, but she doesn't have a blog, so that makes me feel a little better...

Thankful-ness

And so it is, the week of being thankful and the time when we start thinking about all the wonderful things we have - the holidays! Myla is so excited for Thanksgiving because after that its A2's birthday and then its CHRISTMAS! She is going to be so much fun to put up all the Christmas decorations that I finally get to pull out of storage. I have a feeling this year, she is really going to get into it. Johnny and Myla came downtown last week to watch Santa repel down the giant "D" at the Pavilions. She kept waving to him "hi Santa!" Maybe this weekend we'll help him light the Christmas tree in downtown Littleton...

Myla had a lot of fun last week playing with her cousins Tank and Kaidy from Omaha. Of course, did I pull out my camera, um, no. It took her a little while at first to warm up to having more kids around but she was talking about them for days after they left. She loved to come home and see them and one night they got to eat at her little table before all three hopped in the bath. She thought it was so cool. I know how much she loves to play with cousins. She has been saying all sorts of random things and laughing at nothing in particular. Tonight, she was running around the house (gotta love those circular layouts) singing horsey, horsey on your way. And truly having the best time. John and his brothers were able to move my mom's old piano over while they were out last week so she has been having a good time playing that as well when she needs to sit for a minute.

We had a check-in with the doctor last week and baby is measuring right where she should be, which was good to hear. I'm feeling fine, although I have to admit, I'm a little freaked out right now. "D-day" is next week and I'm just hoping that everything continues to go smoothly. So far so good, lets just keep it that way!

Its Pumpkin Time!

Our little ballerina/princess had a great Halloween day. She was so excited to take out her monster bucket and go trick or treat she could hardly stand it. Luckily for us, we were able to distract her with her pretty skirt and other activities during the day before we really had to deal with it. Myla has been singing in a children choir with her BFF and they did a little song today. It was cute with all the kids in costume. Myla didn't really sing, but she got up there which, frankly, was more than I expected. After they sang their song, Myla stood up and her pretty skirt fell right off her waist and on to the floor. She just laughed - it was classic.

Myla had her three year check up with the doctor this week. She's looking great he said, measuring in at 32.5 inches tall and a whopping 23 pounds. We can finally turn her carseat around! (Just kidding, she's been forward facing for awhile, but if she's supposed to be 20 pounds before you do it...) Really, she passed with flying colors on all the little parts of the exam.

Check in for baby coming on Tuesday, just really to make sure that my blood pressure is where its supposed to be. When we were in the doctor with Myla, he was pushing on her tummy and he said "what do you have in that tummy?" And Myla responded with "a baby." And yesterday after breakfast she had me say hi to the baby in her tummy before she said hi to the baby in mine. I think she understands a little more than I thought...

How old!?

Three today! Holy moly, how did that happen!? We had a little family birthday party for her yesterday and she was so excited for it. When we went for the plates and such in the morning, she kept telling me, "and I need balloons and presents too." In fact, when A2 came in with both the balloons and presents, Myla said "may I have one of those presents?" She made out like a bandit again this year, books and clothes and games and stuffed animals. She loved seeing all the family - and great grandparents too! But perhaps, in out little bug's mind, the best part was...

The duck cake! Uncle Scott's girlfriend has a brother that is a chef and was therefore recruited to make a duck cake. We had grand plans last year to make her one and it didn't happen, but this year, she got it. She walked in and was smitten. She was still talking about it today, in fact.

Today, Myla and I spent a little bit of time just hanging out (since, again, she didn't want to nap) and we spent some time in a furniture store looking for chairs for our sitting/play room. She was awesome in the store and took to calling me mommy-pony in homage to her little pony that came with us. And so, for the rest of the day, there was daddy-pony and Haley-dog-pony and Myla-pony. She was so much fun to be with and even though I found myself looking at her remembering and comparing, she made me laugh too. She made me thankful for the seven-millionth time for all that we have and had to come through. And excited for our third year and what it will hold!

Its fall!

Although you'd never know it with the up and down of the temperatures... But that doesn't stop us from enjoying the crunchy leaves, the colors on the trees and the warm days that let us get outside. Myla is having a great time, but still ready for the snow. She asks Johnny all the time "do you want to play in the snow with me?" She's also quick to say "but first, we need to put our boots on." Lets slow down a bit kiddo, enjoy the warm days just a little bit longer...

I think Myla has been testing out this turning three thing. She's been protesting the idea of naps and has started asking the why questions. But why do you want me to lay down mommy? But why is sun going down? Her birthday party is this Saturday - its hard to believe that she's three. Tonight she told Johnny, "I'm not your baby, I'm a big girl." So, there you go.

We had a check in with the doctor on Tuesday and baby girl is growing just fine so far. She's right where she should be they tell us. We've also started going every two weeks, so if something changes, we will know quick. Which only reinforces the idea to me that we have to get painting!