6 month checkup......

Jaylen today after we got home from her appointment.

The shots don't seem to be bothering her.

We just got back from Jaylen's checkup and some errands. I'm always amazed at how well she tolerates the shots. Of course she lets out a horrible scream, gasps for air and cries for several minutes but then she usually does great after that. It wears her out so she took a nice snooze while I ran errands getting ready to leave tomorrow. I've still got tons of packing, organizing, laundry, etc to do before we leave so I'll be short and sweet with her update.

Our chunky monkey is 19 1/2 pounds (90%), 25 1/2 in. long (50%) and her head is in the 90% too. He said she is doing great and really happy with her sleeping 11 hours a night. She is doing better eating cereal.......I switched from rice to oatmeal. She has only eaten peas but did great with them so we'll see how the others go. He is referring us to a dermatologist to have her birthmark looked at, which I'm happy about. I'm sure it will take a while to get in but at least we'll have something scheduled to get it checked out. All in all she's a happy & healthy little girl.

I took these pics earlier this week. I've been trying to get her rolling over on video but still haven't gotten it. I love her little plaid skirt in these pics.

Before rolling over

In motion........she only made it half way and then plopped back down!

Sometimes if she wakes up when Gavan is getting ready for work, he will bring Jaylen into snuggle with me in bed. She fell back asleep the other morning.....she's so sweet in this one.

We'll be gone for a week in Colorado loving the cooler weather. Wee is house sitting for us, taking care of Paisley, and watering our flowers and my garden, which we are so thankful for. By the way, I've got several squash growing already! Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend.

6 months.........

I just can't believe that my sweet baby is 6 months old today. I feel like in just this past week she started doing new things all of a sudden like rolling over unassisted, sitting up with some help, and laughing when Gavan makes funny noises and faces. They just happened over night it seems like. Mandy and I were talking this afternoon when she was picking up Vivian how it felt like we were just in the hospital having the girls and now it is 6 months later. She picked her up today at 4:00 and 6 months ago at the same time she was being wheeled to the operating room and Viv was here shortly thereafter. I was just getting back from Target and starting to have lots of contractions. Mind you, I was already dilated to a 5 and my nurse doesn't know how my water didn't break while I was walking around the store! I went to the hospital about 6:00 and Jaylen was here at 8:48. Amy had already had Addisyn around noon (I think) that day too. And yes, Amy we need to get a picture of them together soon!

Happy Sweet 6 months Jaylen! You are such a joy to us and we love you more than you'll ever know. You have changed and blessed our lives SO much and we can't imagine life without you. You truly are a gift from God. We love you even if you are a rolly polly!

Just a few hours old

1 week old

1 month old

2 months old

3 months old

4 months old

5 months old

6 months old.......I guess she's doing the "sprinkler" dance!

I only spent $2.15........

I love shopping sales and getting things for cheap and when I got my mail yesterday I was pumped. I got a coupon for a $0.99 shampoo and also a coupon for a free pair of underwear. So today I went to Beauty Brands and got a 13.5 fl oz. bottle of soy milk shampoo for $0.99 (regularly about $12.00) and also a new type of base coat fingernail polish for $0.99 (regularly $7.00) making my total $2.15. Not bad. Not bad at all. Then I went to Victoria Secret and got my free pair of lovely cotton panties......I could choose from white, black, nude or light pink....I know a swell selection. I could barely find any of these colors so nude was what I got. But hey, it's a free pair of undies.

By the way, the nice lady at Beauty Brands told me that they usually have a hairspray sale in the spring (they just had it) and pretty much every bottle is like $6 and they will have a big 2 for 1 sale for big bottles of shampoo and conditioner as well. She put me on the mailing list for more coupons and notices of the sales. So go by and get on the mailing list.

It's been a good day running errands with Jaylen and just hanging out. We are heading to Tulsa tomorrow for 2 of my cousin's high school graduation reception. They both went to the same high school, which was nice. Lots of my family will be there and get to see Jaylen. Most of them haven't seen her since Christmas when she was 1 month old. I'm also having lunch with my best friend from high school as well. It should be a good day. Gavan is golfing with some buddies so I'm sure he'll have a great day too. Have a good weekend.

So the birthday post was supposed to be dated today, May 14th. It was a computer error, not my memory.

Happy Birthday Michael......

Well, my brother is hitting the big 30 today! It's actually really hard for me to believe he's turning 30 years old cause that means that I'll be 30 in a couple of years. We always got along so good growing up and still are really good friends. I truly cherish the friendship I have with him and thank him so much for being there for me through so many things in my life.

Michael.......I love you so much and I wish you a Happy Birthday. Don't worry about your age!

Here's some pics to celebrate your day. Sorry they are random.........

November 1981........Michael is 3 and I am 1....guess we're ready for bed.

LCCC 2000

LCCC Sport themed banquet 2002..........Michael is wearing a pair of my pants (come on, they were stretchy) and I'm dressed as Doug.

Gavan and I had just got engaged in this pic in 2002 at LCCC......that is Michael & Myra with us.

This was an 80's themed banquet at LCCC in 2005.....left to right: Doug (got his outfit out of his trunk), Gavan, Michael (enlarge the pic to see his mustache....gross), Wee

Michael & Jaylen

Michael with Macy and me with Jaylen......they are 4 months apart.

Weekend recap.........

We had a great Mother's Day weekend in Lookeba with Gavan's family. We took the boat out on Saturday for just a couple of hours to make sure it ran for the first time and just made sure everything was good to start the summer. Paisley got to go to the lake as well and loved it! She ran right down the boat ramp and started swimming. She rode on the boat and like it too. We got to see his brothers and their families. All the kiddos are growing up so fast. We all don't live that far away from each other but we can't seem to see each other that often. Gavan's parents have 6 grandkids ages 9, 7, 5, 2, 16 months & 6 months! It's always an eventful time with all of them. After we got out to Lookeba I realized that Gavan had packed the same color shirt as the dress I packed for church and I brought the same color for Jay to wear as well. Didn't plan it but we looked cute but did not even get a picture. So upset with myself.

Paisley followed the boys to the cow pen and rolled herself all over a cow pie.....yes, cow poop! Again, I didn't get a picture but it was unreal the amount of poop mashed into her hair. Ridiculous. Then when she was just about dry, she did it again. Poor Gavan had to give her a bath before we came home.

All in all it was a great time and I loved being able to celebrate my first mother's day! We are taking a trip to Colorado in 2 weeks and for mother's day I got a spa package from him at our hotel. I'm so excited and ready to get there! Thanks babe, love you so much.

This was not on my list of things to do today..........

Nope, I really didn't want to have to dispose of the squirrel Paisley caught and killed somehow. I went outside to take a load of laundry to the garage and here comes Paisley trotting up to me with a freshly dead squirrel in her mouth. Yes, she had a hold of it right in the middle of it's back and the rest was just hanging there. Did I mention blood was dripping from it too? I really almost threw up right. I said "Oh, no, no, no Paisley" and she dropped it right on the back porch in front of the door. I put Paisley in the garage and then went to the shed to get a shovel. I wasn't for sure what to exactly do with it but all I could think of was to bury it. I dug a hole in the back by the fence then went to scoop up the poor squirrel. That was not easy as I was not about to touch the thing other than with the shovel. Anyways, I got it on the shovel and buried it in the nice hold I dug. Not quite what I had in mind for this morning but hey Paisley keeps me on my toes, as if I don't have enough!

Now I better get outside to make sure Paisley didn't find the spot I buried her "kill" in. I wouldn't put it past her to dig it right back up!

She found it........

Well, Jaylen has been trying to get her thumb in her mouth for quite a while now and she finally figured out how to isolate it and not get her whole hand inside. She sucks on her index finger sometimes too but I think she's going to prefer the thumb. We'll see.

Notice her hair coming in nicely too. I still think she might be a strawberry blonde.

Still doing the cereal thing but she's not liking it anymore and doesn't even really swallow much. After I put it in her mouth she usually just spits it right back out and gives me a big smile. Cute but no progress. It's only been a week so we'll keep trying and she'll figure it out. Here she is before we started eating. Happy as can be but quickly wanted her bottle and no cereal.

Such a big girl

My life has gotten a little busier this week. I subbed this week at Edmond Church of Christ Sonshine School (sort of like a Mother's Day Out program) and am finishing the year for a girl who had surgery. I am on full time for the summer program in June and July and hopefully be on in the fall as well. I have twelve 2 1/2 year olds that I teach with another lady. I really enjoy it and the kids are so much fun. Jaylen goes to the nursery class and is doing ok but having a hard time adjusting to someone else take care of her and having lots of other kids/babies around. The ladies in the nursery are great and love having her cause she's the youngest and they other babies are about 15 months or so. But I can check on her when I want and get to see her several times during the day in the playroom so it's good.

So Mondays/Wednesdays I keep Vivian here at home, Tuesdays/Thursdays I teach at SSS and Fridays are now my days to spend with Jaylen and actually get some things done! I'm actually really enjoying getting back into work and having some adult time but still have Jaylen close. This fall I won't watch Viv anymore cause she is going to SSS as a student so I'll just work 2 days a week, which will be perfect. Jaylen & Viv will still get to see each other at school so that will be fun too.

Well, I'm off to bed now after a wonderful night of our favorite shows, except Grey's Anatomy........I'm kind of getting tired of all the stupid drama. It needs to take a turn for the better.

It's that time.........

Yep, time to start the good 'ole rice cereal. Jaylen's first attempt was just like the books say it would probably be. She spit most of it back out and wasn't too crazy about it. She could care less about the cereal and just wanted her bottle! Today's attempt went a little better but still needs much improvement but I know that will come with time. Here are a few pics to commemorate her first try at cereal.

Jaylen in her new high chair. She looks like such a big girl.

Really not sure about this new stuff.

Really, really not sure about this new stuff.

Aaaaahhh........that's what I really wanted!

Just stuff.......

Jaylen got her picture taken by our friend, Peyton this morning so we're excited to see how they turned out. It was a little chilly and windy but she did okay. Her biggest smiles were when I was holding her and we were just talking of course not when Peyton was trying to take her picture. Here are a couple I snapped before we left. I keep her Bumbo chair in the kitchen and use it all the time. She watches me get her bottle ready, cook dinner, put dishes away, etc. It's so helpful. I put her high chair together yesterday & I think we're going to try rice cereal for the first time tomorrow. It's that time. My baby is growing up.

"Do my muscles look big?"

I just love Jaylen in purple. It's her color.

Myra (my sister) owed Gavan 2 steak dinners for 2 different bets they made earlier in the semester and she's paying up for them tonight. We're enjoying a nice dinner at Outback (I think) on her tonight! I think the Bloomin' Onion is calling my name. No, I'm not thinking about how many calories it is. I think Gavan & I are going to go see Baby Mama tomorrow too. It looks crude and funny.......just my style. Just kidding but I do want to see it. Amy Poehler is one of my favorites from SNL so I'm sure she'll be funny.

I'd like to give a Happy Birthday shout out to my sis-in-law, Shawna and my cousin Kara's little girl, Maida both tomorrow! Honestly I'm not sure on Shawna's age but Maida is turning 1. She was such a cute Birthday Princess who wore a hot pink tutu at her party! So adorable. Happy Birthday tomorrow to you both!

And yes, I finally learned how to link things on my blog!