2010 Special Moments

This year has been one of the best years of my life, if not the very best.  There were alot of "I'll never forget moments." 

 Like opening the big envelope that finally came in the mail with my husband on the phone and being the one to tell him he got accepted into dental school.  Then running out the front door and jumping into his arms when he got out of the car.  Let me just say that Arty really worked so hard to make that happen. 

 Like telling each other that it was time to start trying for a baby. 

 Like in February seeing that faint positive line on the pregnancy test in the bathroom at work.  I'll never forget Arty's expression when I asked him if he could see that positive too. 

 I'll never forget telling my parents and brother about being pregnant and the first thing my brother says when we sit down in regards to the huge gift bag (with the gift I had gotten to surprise my family inside) is "what's in there a baby." 

My mom brought that gift (a framed picture that I took in Newport Beach, CA that said "baby on board" written into the sand) to dinner with my aunt, uncle and cousin Kaysie and put it on the table and my aunt and cousin started crying immediately.  Loved that surprise.

Like seeing our baby with arms and legs at 12 weeks and watching him bounce around.  We were amazed.

Like finding out our baby was a boy at 16 weeks.

Like letting everyone know with filled cupcakes with blue frosting :)

Like learning how to crochet from youtube so I could make our baby a blanket

I'll never forget having Kaysie at our 20 week appointment because I wanted her to see Sullivan before she left for an extended stay in Africa

It was amazing seeing Sullivan's face in 3D at my 28 week appointment

Like feeling Sully move in my belly

Like exercise dates with Kaysie and Arty

Like the labor and delivery of our precious gift and holding him for the first time

Like feeling helpless when Sullivan was put in the nicu for respiratory distress 

And then feeling so happy to be able to take him home a week later

Like all of Sullivan's firsts:

First bath

First walk around the block

First smile

First time he said "goo"...I may have shed a few tears

First Thanksgiving at aunt Tammy's

First Christmas at home

First time he fell asleep on my chest

First time Arty soothed him 

Wow that list is long...I am really looking forward to 2011.  I want to savor every second with my little family. Every moment  is a gift and if there is anything I have learned as the years pass, its that time is fleeting.  I just want to soak up this special time in our lives.  

~Megan

Embrace The Photo

Here we are on Christmas 2010.

Tummy Time

Christmas Weekend

Well, I had almost finished Sully's stocking before he was born I just needed to finish off the top and sew on a loop.  Arty and I had never really had stockings as a couple during our Christmases together so I decided to sew some up really quick.  Now that Sully is here I just have been feeling the need to make our own traditions.  They turned out cute.  I just did a rough trace of Sully's stocking and made ours.  I need to post a picture.  So anyway on Christmas Eve we ate turkey.  It was yummy.  Then on Christmas morning I made ebelskiver filled pancakes with my pan from William Sonoma.  I made these last year after I received it as a gift from my mom.  Its amazing.  I put dark chocolate chips in them and also slices of banana.

Then we opened presents and that was nice.  My family sent us a box full of goodies.  Sully got some great toys and books.  I already got him this one.

But my mom got him this one which I'm excited for him to play with down the road.

My brother found this great toy at the Giggle store in Scottsdale.

We had a very sweet and white Christmas with this truly amazing gift, the best most precious gift I have ever been given.

~Megan

Just Embracing the Camera With This Adorable Two Month Old

Oh how I love this little bundle of cuteness!  Sullivan is officially two months old today and I took some pictures for the occasion!  

Things to Know About Me

Joining the fun with Little Miss Momma

I can't stand the gunk that builds up on lotion bottles and that little piece that lands in my hand disgusts me

I really don't like those square pieces of paper that fall out of magazines trying to convince you to buy a subscription, even if you already have a subscription they are still there...why????

The best jobs I have had so far involve kids...babysitting or teaching swim lessons

I have a new found respect for my body after being pregnant and having my baby boy. I wasted so much energy being critical instead of being grateful...never again (I hope)!!!

I could live on bananas with peanut butter...basically any thing with peanut butter

I love making my little baby SMILE it just melts my heart with delight

Once when I lived in Newport I was on a donut diet that consisted of one donut for every meal of the day for AND surprisingly whenever I visit that beach town its still my first and last stop

When I was 14 I got Bell's Palsy (the whole left side of my face was paralyzed) and I was so scared that I had a stroke I hid it from my parents for a week.  Needless to say there I was a freshman in high school with braces, a crooked smile, and an eye that wouldn't blink in unison with the other.  Thankfully it went away in 6 months.

I won't eat soggy food 

I'm 5'10

My hair used to be naturally blond and now every year its getting darker and that makes me sad

Its a good day if I've taken a shower

~Megan

My First Attempt at Embrace the Camera Thursday

I love that sad lip...little Sullivan was having a moment

This was the best I could do with my wiggly little man...8 weeks on Saturday!
~Megan

Baking and Bath-time

I have been wanting to use my Crate and Barrel cookie press since I got it as a wedding gift over a year ago and today I finally whipped it out and baked these Spritz Cookies.  I got this recipe from Betty Crocker.  I do think I will make them in different colors and add sprinkles to make them more festive but this was just practice.  Here is the recipe:

1	cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2	cup sugar
1	egg
2 1/2	cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1/4	teaspoon salt
1/4	teaspoon almond extract or vanilla
	Few drops of food color, if desired

1. Heat oven to 400º. Beat butter, sugar and egg in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. Stir in remaining ingredients.
2. Place dough in cookie press. Form desired shapes on ungreased cookie sheet.
3. Bake 5 to 8 minutes or until set but not brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to wire rack; cool completely.

They are so tasty :)

These were taken during bath-time yesterday. Sully is so adorable!

I am totally obsessed with his tiny hands and feet...especially when he's eating.  

Hope everyone had a great day!

~Megan

Snowy Day

Well, I finally got my shower today...it was probably my fastest ever.  But I'll take what I can get.  I even managed to get dressed and put on a little makeup.  Progress!  Sully slept alot yesterday but most of it was in my arms.  Today we woke up to snow on the ground and its been snowing off and on all day so far.  I managed  to unload and re-load the dishes and fold and put away one load of laundry and I helped make dinner.  Thats about  all I have right now so I'll end with a few sweet pictures of our boy right after he was born.  My brother, Stephen is a photographer and he took these pics from the head of my bed.  We made sure he didnt see anything graphic at all.  I am so glad we have pictures from the moment Sullivan was born.

Gassy Baby and Pictures of my Dreaming Boy

Gassy baby today.  Sullivan has been in my arms almost 100% of the time since 4am...its 2pm here now.  I am thinking its gas, which is the worst because all I can do to help him is give him gas drops and hold him.  There is nothing I can really do to make him comfortable.  Do you have any other remedies?  I do LOVE holding him but this mama is having visions of a glorious bath or more likely a 5 minute shower...ha!  Plus the laundry is starting to pile up...oh well!  At least the Mr. made me lunch and is making dinner too.  He also took care of the dishes.  This is finals week for him so there's lots of studying and late nights going on around here. Well, this post was all over the place! 

This picture was taken last week at 4 am...he always has dreams while he sleeps and makes these cute faces.  

Maternity Pictures Taken At 28 Weeks

Cute cute cute!

These pictures were taken yesterday next to his stuffed bunny...not a real stuffed bunny but a stuffed animal! To get the smile I had to talk in a high voice and say things like "you are the cutest boy in the whole world" and "I love you Sullivan." So much fun!

Before and After

Last belly shot pre-baby...I was 37 weeks and one day pregnant.

Here I am today, 6 weeks and 5 days postpartum...I'll do a bare belly shot tomorrow.  And here are a couple more pictures of Sully :)

Sweet sweet Sullivan

This week it has been so cold here!  Its been snowing almost everyday so far.  Being from Phoenix, this kind of weather is only experienced up in northern AZ.  Sooo basically I have been taking tons of pictures of Sully.  He has really started smiling when he's awake.  By the way nobody ever told me that babies smile and laugh in their dreams practically from birth.  Its one of my FAVORITE things!!   I also love when we hold hands while he's eating or when he's crying I reach for his hand and he gives it a tight squeeze and it helps him relax and calm down.  Yesterday I brought him in the bath with me and he loved it.  

He normally has a bath in his PUJ tub which has been so great for us and is so easy to use!  

This was after his first real bath since his umbilical cord had just fallen off.

I have also been loving my ergo carrier...thanks Kaysie!! I use it everyday to do household things like laundry and  dishes.  (This picture was from back in AZ)

Sleep...well I will do my best to describe how we achieve sleep at all and how much we get.  At night around 8pm we head to bed.  I lay Sullivan down on the bed on his side and then I scoot in and lay facing him on my side.  Then I breastfeed him until he falls asleep.  I have tried transferring him to his pack and play or crib but he always wakes up.  So instead he stays next to me all night and when he wakes up around 12, 3, and 5am I feed him again and change his diaper.  This sleeping arrangement is something that I know we will need to work on but for right now it works for us.  During the day he only naps from 8am until about 10am.  This has been the time where we maybe go to Barnes and Noble to look at magazines, or walk around Target, or pick up some groceries.  Then when he wakes up he is really awake until its 8 pm.  I do put him in the ergo...as I mentioned to do things and he usually will take about an hour nap or so.   

Well here are a couple cute pictures of our sweet sweet boy!

Have a great day!

~Megan

6 Weeks 1 Day

Sullivan is here! 6 weeks and 1 day late posting!

Here is Sullivan!

I have been a bad blogger...I am still in the process of writing Sullivan's birth story but it will eventually be done and posted.  Here are the basics.  Our little bundle was born on October 23rd and he weighed 8 pounds even.  He had a full head of dark hair!  I completely fell in love with him the moment I saw him.  He could wear newborn size diapers up until 4 weeks and then we had to switch to size one.  He weighed 11 pounds 2 ounces at his one month appointment.  As for me...all of my clothes fit and I am four pounds off of my pre-pregnancy weight.  I feel great!  I would like to get a little more muscle but other than that the post partum recovery has been great.  I am not on a diet or focused on losing those four pounds.  I just think the breast feeding is definitely helping.  Right now Sully has been sleeping in our bed with us.  I found that its the easiest way for us both to get the most sleep.  Feeding him belly to belly laying down makes it easy for him to fall back asleep when he's done.  I am going to make a serious effort to post something daily with pictures.