August 2009 Happenings...

The month of August has been busy so far. I took the first week of August off at work so that I could relax a few days and hang with friends. Also, I knew I would need some relaxation time after I completed the Tri for the Cure in Denver on August 2nd. Yes, Jennifer, my sister-in-law and I signed up for the triathlon last year and we were both unable to do it for different reasons. So we signed up again this year to finally complete our goal of finishing the triathlon. It was an amazing experience. I would definitely do it again...but I might train a little more next time. Brett and Kayle came to watch and I was able to give Kayle a big kiss just before I crossed the finish line. After the race Brett, Kayle and I headed up to the family cabin to spend some relaxing time in the mountains. We also took Kayle to see Dr. Albrecht, one of my doctors that helped us along our journey to have Kayle. He was excited to see her.
My college friend, Karyn, came out to visit and spend the weekend with us. So we got to hang out and do some fun things: inner tubing in Lyons, Beau Jo's pizza, shopping, New Belguim brewery, Sierra Trading Post outlet, cooking out, etc.
We also have some more good news...Brett was hired with Yancey's which is a food distributor in town. He will be working in the warehouse and is excited about starting that job on Monday.
I have started back to work as well. Kayle has been going to her new baby sitter already and seems to really enjoy them. We are blessed to have them in our lives to help us care for Kayle.
Kayle's latest news: She weighed in at 12.5 lbs (25%ile) and 24 1/2 in. (60%ile) at her 4 month check up. She is now eating cereal and actually swallowing it. We practiced feeding her cereal for a couple weeks before she learned how to swallow it. Yes, Brad...baby rice cereal...NOT Cornflakes...duh!! Kayle is starting to roll over but not consistently. No teeth yet. She has definitely found her voice and is a blabbermouth. She lays in bed in the morning and talks loudly to daddy until he wakes up. She is also able to stand up in her saucer chair that a couple of her nurses got her.
Her Grandma and Grandpa (Deanna and Jim) moved into their new house this weekend which is closer to us. Kayle is going to enjoy going to spend a day a week with them. And it will be perfect for Brett to drop her off on his way to work and pick her up on the way home. His work is less than 5 minutes from their new house.
That's about all on this end. We'll update more when we have more news.

July has been busy so far...

I can't believe how fast the summer is going by. It's crazy. We got back from Kentucky and we have been busy. Brett helped a friend out in a fireworks stand for a couple weeks. So we didn't see him much for those weeks. Kayle and I stayed busy cleaning house, visiting friends, going on outings, having her picture taken, etc. Kayle even finished her first 5K at the Race for the Cure on July 4th. That morning she also rolled over for the first time. And after the 5K we watched the Greeley Stampede 4th of July Parade which is the biggest 4th of July parade in the country. Seeing the many longhorn cattle strolling down the street to start the parade was amazing. This month we also went to Grand Junction to visit family and friends. It was great to see some of my close friends that we moved away from. While we were there we toured the wineries and went to Gateway, CO to go through the Gateway car museum. The guy that owns Discovery Channel owns the resort, museum and much of that little town in the middle of nowhere. It is beautiful there though.
When we returned from Grand Junction I got to go back to work so that I could earn some of my days back that I lost when I was in the hospital this year. The nice thing is that they have allowed me to bring Kayle when I need to. So she has gone to work with me several times already. Brett has been busy taking out our porch and the old cement pad...because we are having a new cement patio pad poured this week. There is always something to do.
We will update more in a few weeks.

Back home from a great trip

We made it back home to Colorado on Father's Day. Kayle was a great traveler and slept through the entire flight both directions. When we got off the train in Denver to get our luggage, Brett was there waiting. I had tears in my eyes when he took Kayle and gave her a big hug and kiss. Kayle was wearing a "Special Delivery" shirt on addressed to "Daddy...Brett G." It was really cute and had other sayings on it like "Handle with care", "Fragile", "Caution", "Open slowly". Auntie Robin and cousin Grace helped design and make it for Brett. Too cute.
Well, our time in Kentucky went really fast. I'm not sure where all the days went or what we did. While Brett was there the first week we went to several ball games of the kids, took Brody and Anna to Mammouth Cave, did some shopping, had a bonfire, he went golfing at Kenny Perry's course, and went to a minor league baseball game with the new Hot Rod's team in Bowling Green.
The rest of our time there, Kayle and I went to A LOT more ball games. In fact, we were able to be there to see Grace and Anna win their league championship. It was a memorable day!! They both played great! I can't tell you how many times I made the comment "That's my niece!" :)
We also were able to see Brody play several times. He even was given the gameball at one game. And he is a little slugger himself. They are too cute at that age!
Kayle also got LOTS of attention from her cousins, Grace, Anna, and Brody. They were all so gentle and wonderful care takers with her. Grace enjoyed holding her whenever she could. Anna read books to her. Brody sang her to sleep. It was great to see their interactions. And Grandma, Grandpa, and Auntie Robin loved having their time with Kayle as well. Oh, and let's not forget that Kayle's Great- Grandma Melva was there the entire time as well. Grandma Melva was able to hold and feed Kayle also on several occassions.
Kayle also tasted her first Jimmy Diemer's ice cream while we were back there, ride on Bucky with me, swam in the pool, and took lots of golf cart rides. She continues to LOVE the outdoors.
Our aunt, uncle, and cousins from Tennessee came up one day also so we could see them. We celebrated Uncle Frank's 70th birthday.
The day we left, our family from Iowa all came down...so we did not get to see them. But we did Skype them so they could see Kayle while they were there.
In those 3 weeks we were in Kentucky, Kayle sure changed. She put on weight and looks bigger. She is smiling, cooing and talking to us, sleeping through the night, yelling and crying when she is mad, and has fat rolls on her legs now.
Since we have gotten home from KY, Kayle has gotten the coordination to keep her thumb or hand in her mouth, grasp objects, smile real big, and she even giggled today for the first time. We estimate that she weighs about 12 pounds now.
We will update more later.

Heading to Kentucky

We are packing up and getting ready to head to the airport to Kentucky today. This will be our first family trip and McKayle's first plane trip. We all got a good nights sleep though as she slept from 9:30pm til 3:00am. We are excited that Kayle is going to get to see her other cousins, aunt, uncle, grandparents, and great-grandma while we are back there. My aunts, uncle and cousins will also be there at some point I'm sure. So it will be good family time.
I know that Kayle is going to love the swimming pool, so we will have lots of good pictures in the pool as well as with the animals and family when we get back. Until then, here are a few pictures of her recently.
An update on Kayle's growth...she had her 2 month well-check on May 20th. She weighed 9 lbs, 2 oz. and was 22 inches long. She made it to the growth chart finally. :) Her weight was at the 23rd percentile and her height was at the 50th percentile. So she is doing great. The only challenges she had being a month premature was that she never took to nursing due to weak sucking muscles and she spits up often due to weak abdominal muscles that don't hold the milk down. But she is not upset or fussy with any of that and is gaining weight, so the doctor was happy with her progress.
We are officially on summer vacation now. :) We will keep you posted on our happenings.

8 weeks old

McKayle is 8 weeks old today. She had her 2 month wellness check up today. All is well and she is doing great. She now weighs 9 lbs, 2 oz. which is the 23%ile on the growth chart. And she is 22 inches long now which is 50th%ile. So she is growing and putting on weight. She is very strong and able to lift her head and turn it when on her belly. She is starting to smile, does lots of cooing and grunting/making noises. My favorite is her cackle that is like a laugh. She is also turning her head to look for daddy and I when she hears our voices. She is sure changing every day. It is just amazing.
Until next update...

My 1st Mother's Day

Last Sunday was my first official Mother's Day. I spent a lot of time holding Kayle and snuggling with her. That was such a blessing in itself. She is such a gift in our lives now. We also went out to brunch with Brett's parents and grandparents which was nice. We dressed Kayle in a really cute dress and handmade sweater that had been given to us as gifts...but we didn't make it out of her nursery before she wet all over it. So we had to change into another cute pant outfit that had been given as a gift. No matter what she is wearing, she is just getting more adorable every day.
We have not had to take her in to get weighed lately, but we estimate that she weighs in the upper 8 lb or 9 lb range. She seems so big to us, yet others comment on how small she is. But she seems to be getting much longer and starting to fill out.
I have been back to work almost 2 weeks now. I admit that I am exhausted and do not have my normal energy back...but I only have a couple more weeks before summer vacation.

6 weeks old

Little Miss McKayle was 6 weeks old yesterday and she is sure growing and changing everyday. I have gone back to work...started last Friday, May 1st. And Brett is staying home and taking care of Kayle. So she is enjoying bonding with her daddy. I am adjusting to being back but still getting physically exhausted by the afternoon. Probably went back to work too soon, but I'm back now and counting down the days til I'm done...22 calendar days til summer. :)
Yesterday was 80 degrees here with sunny blue skies. It was gorgeous. So our family took a walk down the road after dinner last night. We met several neighbors when we were out which was nice. Babies seem to attract people. It's funny. But we enjoy it because we get to show off our precious little girl.
Many of you ask if Kayle is sleeping through the night...the answer is no. But she does seem to be getting better and stretching her wake times out. But it is not consistent. I would say last night was probably her best night yet...but I don't know when she actually went to sleep because dad was up with her. I went to bed at 10:15pm and woke up with her at 2:30am and at 6:00am. So I thought that was great. And she continues to eat well and gain weight. We have not taken her in to check her weight, but she has outgrown several outfits and we are in size 1 diapers now which are a little big, but the newborn diapers were too small. I would say she has to be over 8 lbs by now. And her little chubby cheeks are filling out. They get kissed a lot. :)
That's all for now. Update more later.