THANKFUL

We are thankful for so many things this year.... family, friends, our health, our beautiful home, and of course our precious daughter.

We spent Thanksgiving at Matt's Aunt's house. Unlike last year, Mya and her cousin, Quentin, were ALL OVER the place. Up and down the stairs, opening and closing doors, and playing the piano. It was so cute to see them being buddies! They are absolutely scrumptious!

Trying to sit still was a challenge! But, once we got them, it was priceless!

Here they are being silly!So cute! Do you notice the black and blue, fat lip? Mya took a tumble onto the footboard of a bed. Guess it's the cost of doing business as a toddler!Q was making kissy faces at Mya. Preparing for their hug!

Could one be the next Mozart?

Mya was running around with the remotes? There was no relaxing at this party!

Next was opening and shutting the door!

And a shoulder ride!

"Sing, Sing"

Mya loves to go to the park and "sing, sing." She gets excited if we even talk about swinging, and she has started to say "sing, sing" when we drive pass the park.

I fear we may have experienced the last of the beautiful fall weather last weekend. We took advantage of it and went to the park to sing, sing. As usual, Mya had a blast and has been talking about "sing, singing" ever since!

SHOTS, SHOTS, and MORE SHOTS!

Last week Mya had two different visits to the allergist. She's now at the point where if she even sees a doctor or nurse she begins to scream. She's no fool. She knows exactly what's going on and why she is there.

Our first 2 hour doctor visit was so that she could get her MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine. She, again, had to get the vaccine in 3 different doses. Which meant she had to first, get the scratch test on her back (3 pricks), and then receive the shot in her legs 3 different times. 3 pricks + 3 shots = 6 pokes with bloodcurling screams. Regardless of how many times as she has had to go through this, a mother can never get use to seeing her baby scared and in so much pain.

This is Mya's back during the scratch test. She SCREAMED when the nurse was writing 1, 2, 3 on her back. Not a good sign for the shots soon to come!

Trying to keep her preoccupied in the room while we waited in between shots!

More waiting.... I brought more toys this time. She insisted on wearing her shoes in the room! Hmmm...maybe my germ paranoia is wearing off on her!

H1N1 Stalking.....

Ok, so I have been somewhat of a freak about the H1N1 flu. I don't keep Mya at home everyday, but not because I don't think this is the ideal way of keeping her from getting sick. Fact of the matter is, we HAVE to get out of the house. We go crazy when we are at home all day. But, I definitely haven't been taking her out as much as I would like. I avoid play areas, I am obsessed with Purell, I always use my cart cover when at a store, and I hyperventilate if anyone touches her, her sippy, or her pacifier.

Because of her egg allergy, she couldn't get the H1N1 vaccine at any of the county clinics (which may have been a blessing because waiting in line with a 1 year old sounds awful!). I have pretty much been stalking my pediatrician's office and the allergist's office. Every time they told me they were sorry but they didn't have any and had no way of knowing when they would get it... blah....blah....blah. But, they promised to send out an email as soon as they received it. Well, you better believe I checked my email about 101 times a day. Nothing. I called the dr.'s office one day and was told there was a clinic scheduled but it was already booked. WHAT?!?!?!? I didn't get the email. Her response, "I'm sorry, there must have been a glitch in the system." Whatever, I was beyond annoyed, but there really wasn't anything I could do.

So, next on my stalking list was the allergist. Again, I got the song and dance about how they didn't have any. Interesting, because I talked to a coworker and her daughter got it there the day before. Persistence pays off. I asked the receptionist and got the same run-around. I then asked the doctor, and what do you know!?!?!? He said they had some! Long story short (or not so short...sorry!) we ended up driving to Orland Park the following day to get the vaccine. Another 2 hour doctor visit with lots of poking and screaming. But, at the end of the day, I feel so relieved that she has been vaccinated. I just dread the fact that she has to get round 2 of both the seasonal and H1N1....UGH!

So, let's summarize....

Flu shot: 3 scratch tests + 1 underskin test + 3 shots = 7 pokes

MMR: 3 scratch tests + 3 shots = 6 pokes

H1N1: 3 shots = 3 pokes

Other Vaccines: 2 shots = 2 pokes

TOTAL pokes for Mya in the last month: 18 pokes!

Super Bowl Champions!

On Saturday, we went to root on our nephew, Drew. He was playing in the Little League Super Bowl Game. This was like nothing I have ever seen before. They played at Mt. Carmel High School's football field. There were announcers, camera crews, and mega-fans holding signs, balloons, cowbells, and intercoms! This was THE game of the season. Both teams were undefeated and out to win the Superbowl....did I mention the kids are around 9 years-old? It was crazy! I even found myself squirming and screaming!

Mya had a great time running around and cheering on her cousin! She loved the noise and watching the "ba." The team ended up winning 7-6 in overtime! It was a great game and Drew did awesome. He was a great defensive player and was the star punter! Go Drew!

Mya and Daddy before the game
Go #50!

Drew and Grandma Diane after the game! Way to go Drew!!!

Drew, Ben, and Grandma Diane after the game!

You have to be stylish at these games...notice the legwarmers and mini-skirt...so cute! :0)

Here's a video of Mya cheering with the "clappy hands". Do you think cheerleading is in her future?

Dinner Date with Friends

We had another dinner date with my college roommates and their kids. 3 of the 4 of us were pregnant....me being the odd man out! We had a great time catching up and the kids had a great time playing. It was a bit chaotic, but we still had fun. It was definitely a challenge getting a group kid's picture....here's the best I could do.....

Mya before we left for our dinner date! She likes to hang out on the bottom step of the stairs.


Quintin, Mya, and Tyler hanging out on the couch.


Quintin and Mya were in a deep conversation! Sweet Tyler was posing for the camera!

Harvest and Exploration

Mya and I took a trip to Mimi and Papa's house to experience harvest-time. We had a such a great time playing in the leaves, riding the combine, watching the farm animals, and just exploring!

Mya and her good friend, Gracie, were watching the horses put on a show.

The horses were running all over the pasture! They would run up to us and then take off again! Very entertaining!

Mya and I were hanging out on the back stoop!

The leaves were EVERYWHERE!

Mya in front of our playhouse! This was built for my sister and me when we were little. We spent hours playing house, school, and detective agency in it! I love that our kids now love it, too!It has a swing attached to the back.

I LOVE this picture! Mya was climbing the doors to the outside entrance to the basement. She stopped for a photo-op!

Finally, we made our way to one of Papa's soybean fields. Mya was a bit grouchy and unsure of the HUGE red combine! She clung to me for dear life....but warmed up a bit to Papa after awhile. It was very challenging to get her to look at the camera. She was in awe of the combine.

The handoff. She didn't appreciate this. Ok, here we go! Mya sitting on Papa's lap. She was helping him harvest!
Can I help steer, Papa?

Mommy's turn! We were actually driving!

Mimi waited for us at the end of the field.
Bye, bye Papa. Thanks for the ride!

Happy Halloween!

We took our little Bumble Bee trick-or-treating for the first time. She wasn't quite sure why she was dressed up like a bee and why her mommy kept telling her to say "bzzzzzzzz." But she looked adorable, and I think our neighbors loved seeing her dressed up.

Look at me, I'm a bumble bee! Bzzzzzzzzz....... Mya with Mommy and Daddy getting ready to get some candy!Mya and Mommy on their way to their first stop! Trick-or-Treat!Mya doing what she does best.... climbing our neighbor's stairs!

Our busy, busy bee playing in her room!Finally, she sat still for just a second to take a picture.Mya with her favorite Auntie Sarah!Mimi Rey, Auntie Andra, Robin, and Batgirl came to visit our lil' bumble bee!

Busy Bees

It seems fitting that Mya was a bee for Halloween because we have been busy, busy bees the last couple of weeks. I got together with 6 of my bestest friends over the last 2 weeks! It has been so great to catch up, but also very exhausting! I, of course, took lots and lots of pictures!

My college roommates, Katie and Kelly, came over for pizza. Kelly's little boy, Quintin, came to keep Mya company. It was very challenging to get the two to look at the camera at the same time! Here they are enjoying their dinner...and Mya "watching" her future boyfriend eat his pizza! Kelly says he can be a little devil... but I think he is a precious angel! :-)

Next up, was a visit from another former roommate of mine, Kristy, and her beautiful baby girl, Izzy. They spent the evening and following day with us. Izzy loves to be held, but her Auntie Rachel was able to get her to go fast asleep in her carrier! It took Mya awhile to figure out what all the baby business was about. But, she soon warmed up to her new friend! We can't wait to spend more time with our little Izzy!

My last visit of the week was my bestest friend (since 4th grade!), Sarah. Because Matt works nights, I needed a companion to accompany me to a big Halloween Bash at Trump Towers in Chicago. She decided to travel all the way from Austin, Texas to join me! My wonderful, mother-in-law, agreed to babysit so we could spend the day and night in the city! I picked her up at the airport at noon and we headed downtown! Despite the rain, we were able to eat, drink, shop, eat again, and drink much much more! We had a BLAST...but definitely paid for it the following day!

Sarah was a Go-Go dancer and I was a flight attendant. There were multiple go-go dancers and multiple flight attendants. We were the G-rated version compared to the others' R-rated version. Guess that's what happens when you are 30 and/or a mom! We still looked cute, just not trashy!

One of the party hostesses, Angie (another roommate....gosh I moved a lot!). She was Amy Poehler's character from Baby Momma, because she will soon be her own baby's momma! YAY!

Whew...what a week! I LOVED catching up with my friends! I love them all and can't believe how things have changed- 3 pregos, 1 newborn, a mother of 2, and one set to get married in July! We are all so lucky to have such wonderful lives, and I am so thankful that I can still be apart of all of them!