The good and the bad....

The good news: Amelia is a healthy, hearty, 31 pounds (I know where my bicep came from!) We are consulting the car seat manual to see if it's time to upgrade to a booster seat because she's also TALLLLLL.

The bad news: The fluid in her left ear is affecting her hearing :( Her right ear has fluid, but it's not as bad. Shouldn't be affecting her hearing on that side. This explains the constant "huh?" we get....

I love my pediatrician and trust him 110%. Thankfully, he didn't have me screaming to the ear, nose and throat dr. He said a lot of times warm weather can help with the fluid, but he fears another ear infection. Miss Amels will be on a preventitive prescription for the next 6 weeks as a precaution, then a recheck. If fluid is still present...ENT Dr. and tubes :(

The thought of Amelia having surgery gives me high anxiety. I know it's best for her and I trust that my Dr. isn't going to throw me to the wolves unless it's in Amelia's best interest. But still....I'm having a hard time!

The next American Idol...Amelia, not me.

I have what Mommy calls...bangs...

Mommy went to see her old friend Salina to get her hair all pretty before Salina left for a few weeks to have her third baby, so I tagged along because Salina had heard all about me but never met me. I've been growing these bangs, but they were unruly and in my eyes all of the time. So Mommy and Salina tried to get me to sit on a boasted seat on the chair, but I was not having it. Mommy held me and Salina gave me a "side swept" look for my bangs. I like them a lot better now that they're not in my eyes and they look pretty. Mommy wouldn't let Salina touch the rest of my hair. And...mommy didn't cry!

23 months of happiness.....

This is what you've given us, my dear Amelia. This time, 23 months ago, I was getting my epidural! We had been in the hospital for about 2 hours and made the calls that IT'S TIME. Although, by now we were making a second call saying IT'S COMING QUICKER THEN WE THOUGHT! And maybe Nana should just get coffee at the hospital instead of her fav. coffee place, in Gresham. (45 min. away). The epidural slowed that down.

You continue to grow, both physically and mentally, at an astounding rate to me. Since mommy has been staying home, she see's the changes daily. Your use of words, and putting them into sentences, is growing daily. You're starting to copy mommy and daddy more if we say a word you're curious about. Or now you ask that favorite question "what's that?" I'm always happy to hear that, knowing you're looking for answers about the world around you! You talk all the time (even in your sleep!) and I have no idea where you get that! You always have something to say to someone!

You still love to sing, dance and run. You run a lot! You'll stand at a place in the living room and shout "READY, GO" and run as fast as you can. Mommy is sure there will be either dancing classes, or singing classes (maybe both?) in your future! You've also discovered "prettys" this month. Mommy has painted your nails a couple of times, but thinks we'll wait a little longer to do it again. You get so excited you forget that something is on your fingers! Mommy even tried the "instant" dry nail polish, which seemed to work ok. You are so proud when it's on your nails, showing daddy when he gets home. The girly girl is showing!

You're growing so tall. Mommy's interested in seeing your "stats" at your 2 year apt. with Dr. Culver next month. You're in a 2T, some 24 month shirts are working out. You take a more "active" roll in dressing yourself in the morning. You know your socks, try to put on your shoes, and will tell me whatever is on your shirt (we're close to Halloween, so I get CAT a lot). I'm happy to see that 2T clothes are still adorable and I have a feeling after your birthday next month, you'll be set clothes wise. We were able to have you get into a 24 month dress that your Aunt Christie got you a while ago that every one just LOVES one last time for Cousin Henry's 2nd birthday. We had fun at his party, leaving daddy home because of a case of shingles. (and a great week for daddy to get them, mommy had surgery 2 days after Henry's birthday). You liked, and shared, his toys quite well and also met your Uncle Darren's side of the family, including 3 year old Gavin. You faired quite well with 2 boys! But you were quite the little lady in your dress, with your brown fancy jacket and hair with curls on the end. Ah, the curls. I WILL NOT and have not touched your hair, and don't plan on it! It's getting so long and has the most adorable curls on the end, it can go up in a full pony tail now! You still don't sit still much for mommy to do anything with your hair, so I have to work fast to try to get it set. Mommy has managed a couple of braids a time or 2.

This past month we also accomplished transitioning you into a big girl bed! Mommy and daddy have been so proud with how well you took this. Nana got you, and mommy picked out, what's called a "life time crib" before you were born. This made it so that we didn't have to buy a new bed, we just got a guard rail for your crib. So you got to keep the same mattress, and we just took off the "foot board" of the crib. After this you'll get a daybed, where the guard rail comes off, and then a twin bed. Mommy will defiantly be buying another one of these, in the future :) Nap time has been a challenge, as you realize your new found freedom since it's light out. Mommy thought she did a pretty good job at keeping things in drawers, then realized you knew how to open the drawers and didn't tell me! One nap, it was too quiet upstairs so mommy went upstairs to check on you. You were covered in ink, your sheets were covered in ink, your bed had ink on it, it was "a mess"...as you told me when I opened the door. I had to just put you in the tub to get it out of your hair and off of your face! Mommy also had to mumble some not so great words under her breath as she cleaned your bed off before daddy got home from work so he wouldn't see. The first couple of nights were hard. We would have to go in and reassure you that the big girl bed was yours and a good thing! You look so adorable and grown up when you finally fall asleep. You're still surrounded by your stuffed animal friends, which makes it look crowded but I think it makes you feel safer. Now you're so good at it, you just climb right in at night. We are proud of you little's!

Mommy let potty training go as you haven't shown much interest, but is vowing to pick it back up. You know what it is, we just have to work at it. We can't wait for the day of not buying diapers! It will be as great as the day we stopped buying formula! You've also become a picky eater, much to your daddy's dismay. Things you used to love you don't even want to try anymore! I've read this is a "stage" and I hope so!

Halloween is Sat. and your outfit is a no-brainer. You'll be a Ducks cheerleader. Mommy and daddy will actually be at a big ducks game so you'll be at Nana's. She's going to take you to a couple of houses near her and we know you'll have fun. We're looking forward to Halloween next year, when you'll understand it more and actually be able to eat the candy! Daddy introduced you to "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" and "Garfields Halloween", both of which we have in boxed DVD's. Love the classics! We decorated much more this year then last, due to daycare not being here. Daddy got to set up his Spookytown village. We have been collections and getting village pieces as gifts and didn't realize how big the village has become! We put it together while you were at Nana and Sampa's, and when you came home we got a lot of "wooooooow's". Every day when we come downstairs in the morning you say "WOW" like it's the first time you've seen it. You've been so good about not playing with the pieces and just light up when we turn it on for you at night with all the lights off. You seem to enjoy the decorations we put up, so now we can't wait for Christmas, knowing how much more you appreciate it as you get older. I can't WAIT to set up our Christmas stuff, we have a lot!

We are very excited for your birthday next month, 2 days after Thanksgiving. Mommy hand made your invites, and we're going with your favorite right now, Elmo. Mommy worked really hard on the invites and is very proud of herself! Daddy and mommy are both very excited for what we're getting you, but you'll have to wait for that! You just keep asking your questions and dancing away! We love you!

Well, we survived!

My first night in a big girl bed was a little rough. I was not sure what to think of this new bed. Well, it's not new, per say. I have what's called a "life time" crib. It turns from a crib, to a toddler bed with a guard rail (what I have now), a day bed and then a twin bed. Pretty cool! Daddy put up the guard rail last night and mommy only had to come in and reassure me about 5 times. A couple of times I just stood on the outside of my big girl bed and cried. Mommy rocked me to sleep and I liked that. I then slept from 9:30pm-4am, where it took 2 more times to put me to sleep. Right now mommy can hear me on the monitor not in my bed. hehe. I know it's a big change, and mommy said she is looking for something called a comforter for my bed. I like new stuff! Mommy took pictures of my big girl before I was in it, and when I finally fell back asleep. Nap time today has proven to be hard for me, as I just want to explore my room. Mommy just left me laying here with all my friends around, but I'm not sure if I want to sleep or not. Let's hope so, for mommy's sake!



Checking out my big girl bed!


My big girl bed needs a comforter!

Happy 22nd month baby!

**edits at bottom

My darling Amelia-
You have brought nothing but sunshine into mine and your daddy's life. Every day you grow more and more before our eyes and it amazes me. You put more words together into sentences, you love to dance, and most importantly, love to sing. You sing all the time, to the point where you request certain songs in the car. "La,la,la"? That would be you requesting a Britney Spears song. What's a mom to do but turn on a semi inappropriate song and let her daughter just go for it! You sing to me, the dog, daddy, yourself. The same goes for your reading. You love books. You will read to the dog, or me, yourself, or any stuffed animal available to listen.

You love to color, which we do every day. You sing while you draw. We tried finger paints, we'll wait on those. We try hard to have play dates so that you get more social interaction since it's just you and me. Which isn't a bad thing, but we need you playing with people your age! Mommy is looking into a tumbling class of some sort to not only burn some of your never ending energy, but also to make new friends.

We also have started time outs. You have learned you get a couple of chances at doing what you're not supposed to, then you go to time out. Sometimes you put yourself there! But there is always screaming and flailing involved. If I put you in time out and daddy is home, you'll hear "daaaaddy" from your time out spot. No Amelia, daddy will not save you. Or he'd better not...

We took you to the state fair for the first time. You have a love for "moo's", cows....and "nee's", horses. And piggies, of course. We thought it would be fun for you to see all of your favorite animals up close and personal. You wanted nothing to do with it. For now, I think we'll keep your love for them at a safe distance, as they were so big and actually moved! We tried to get you to pet the goats, but even they bothered you. Mommy also wanted to get you on the carousel, for a great photo op. but your poor little head didn't reach the line. No worries though. With the way you jump around this place, you'll be on the big kid rides screaming with the best of them in no time!

Daddy has introduced you to "deeeep". Translation: dip. Now, you feel you have to dip EVERYTHING in deeep. A graham cracker? DEEEP. Cereal? DEEEP. Yogart (which is a dip IMO)...DEEEPP. And then when you are given something that actually could require dip, say chicken nuggets, it's not enough DEEEP. I look over and you are scooping your DEEEP into your mouth, with your hand as the shovel. Thanks daddy, love ya for that.

We took our first bonafide long road trip with you when we went to Montana for Labor Day weekend. It was a short 4 days, but you did amazing. We left Thursday night and got lucky with your sleeping most of the night through. You woke up when the sun came up, just about an hour outside of Missoula. We sang in the car, you slept most of the way, and got to meet so much of your extended family that you had never met. We got to meet your cousin Mavrick, who was born the day before your daddy and I got married, for the first time. You met 2 aunts, and uncle, 4 boy cousins and 1 girl cousin. (the only other girl in the family!) You LOVED being able to run on all of the property and the attention you got. You are one loved little girl. Mommy almost had heart failure during a famous Montana thunder/lightening storm, you slept right through. You found, and were bothered by, "Norman", the deer head hanging from the stairwell. You would back up against the kitchen cabinets and just talk to him but not take your eyes off of him. It was adorable. The car ride home, since it was during the day, was long for all of us, but overall we had an amazing, yet too short, or a trip. It was a tad last minute but well worth it.

You met your first live "baby" (since you have one you play with), Miss Annie who was 5 weeks old. I was amazed at how instantly gentle you were with her. Everywhere she went, you went, concerned of how she was. When she slept, you would look at me or Kelly (Annie's mom) and say "shh baby sleeping" if we were talking too loud. It def. gave me a twinge of that baby feeling.

We're trying the big girl bed. We went to set it up yesterday, in celebration of today, but when we opened the box for your conversion kit it was broken. I think I was more heartbroken then anyone else. You have what they call a "life time" crib, so we don't have to buy you a new bed. We just take off what will be your foot board later on and place a guard rail up. After that, you go to a daybed, and then the full bed. Mommy can't believe how big and independent you've gotten. Daddy looked at me the other day and said "I can't believe how big she is".

We have you rooting for the right team. You walk around in your cheer leading outfit that daddy got you and say "Go Duckie", fist pumping in the air. Yes, Duckie. Just make sure when you try out for the real cheer leading team (hello scholarship!) you say duck honey.

With your second birthday upcoming, mommy is hand making your invites, but we have yet to decide on a theme. You love Handy Manny, Pooh, and of course Elmo. We'll see how creative mommy gets! Mommy keeps thinking: 2 leads to 3, leads to 4....it's amazing.

I've enjoyed every minute of being able to stay home with you and while at times it's a challenge, it's forced mommy to get more creative and I have to admit. When you call my name over the monitor at night (or in the morning) instead of daddies, a smile creeps on my face. You can always call me baby, I'll be there :)

We love you Miss Amels, and we promise to keep promoting you being you!

** Mommy wrote this late last night and since the coffee has now kicked in, realizes some things she forgot! Your favorite phrases. "OH no"-in very dramatic form. "It's a mess"...even though you don't mind being messy, you just need to let us know you have a mess goin on. "Thank you Baby". My personal favorite. Not just thank you, but you're so adorable you have to add the "baby" onto the end, and you'll say it to anyone.

A trip to what will be my future school.

Today me and mommy went to my future grade school, which is about 3 blocks from my house. At first we were the only people there, which was fun. Then these boys showed up and played tag on the play equipment, which made me bored so we left. But mommy took pictures of me having fun.

My "baby" turns 20 months.

It's hard to believe, but it's true. 20 months. Was I not pregnant yesterday? I wonder when the counting of months disappears, and she can just be "a year and a half" or something to that affect.

My darling daughter, you are showing clear signs of not only being like your mother (although still looking like a carbon copy of your father) but the terrible 2's. Mommy and daddy have to turn away from laughing at you when you throw one of your famous tantrums. We get the throwing ourselves on the ground, kicking and screaming, face turning red. You pout when you dont' get what you want. We started time outs this week, and I think you are quickly getting the concept of them and that they aren't fun. It's funny, but not. You eat almost anything, although are starting to show signs of being picky. You let us know when you're done, and as of late, you'll eat ANYTHING with ranch on it.

Your vocabulary amazes me daily. You're starting to put more sentences together, which is so cool to hear. A lot of times daddy and I will look at each other and say "did she really just say that?" We get "moe"=more. LOTS of mommy and daddys. Puppys. Tree's. Pool. "Get to go to the pool?" Manny manny=Handy Manny, your fav. show. A cow is not a cow, but a moo moo. We can't get you to say cow to save our lives. Melmo, whom you love. You sing, all the time. That's one of my favorite parts of the day, hearing you sing with your toys. You read, both to me, daddy or to the dog. He's a good listener. You love to be read to. Mommy taught you how to clap when the daily double appears on Jeopordy. Grandpa would be so proud. You impress everyone with your "hi's" and "bye's". You will greet, or dismiss, anyone at anytime. Because daddy and I usually follow up with "hi baby", a lot of your phrases end in baby. "thank you baby" "what's up baby." You would think we let you watch the movie Swingers one too many times.

You run, not walk, and take pride in your independance. You run into things, fall, and your legs are usually bruised. Aw the joys of childhood. You are going to be an active one, and mommy made mention to daddy the other night of finding some type of dance or tumbling class in the fall for you to not only enjoy, but expel some energy!

We are also beginning potty training, kind of. You know what it is, you say it, but have no interest in it. So we don't push it. But my dear daughter, the day I don't have to buy diapers is a day I will buy myself a drink!

Recently mommy has been able to stay home with you and it is one of the most rewarding, and exhausting things I've done. I love being able to play with you all the time, and we're working on our ABC's and 1 2 3's. We color and cook on your stove. You are now are wanting mommy more, which is making daddy jealous. (mommy secretly loves it). But, you'll always be daddy's girl!

We just love you to pieces littles and are so proud of how grown up you're becoming and having so much fun watching you learn and grow. You're the best thing we've ever done.

18 months and 2 days old.

Mommy is a little late with this, but we've just been having too much fun together celebrating my 18 months on this earth. I got a baby, and that has occupied most of my time. I take her everywhere, feed her and make sure everyone know she's my "baby". Mommy has video of me saying "shhh" when she takes a nap. Which is a lot. So until the next update, this was me on my 18 month day.

Memorial Park, on Memorial day. Odd, I know...

Untitled from Megan Glynn on Vimeo.

A pigtail story...

Mommy gave me my first pigtail today. She says my hair is long enough, but still a little thin. Either way, it didn't bother me much. I just went about my business.
Running and clapping
Singing to daddy
Yeah mom?
Caught!
"Mom, can I open just one? I've been looking
at them for so long!" (don't worry, I didn't let her!)

Baby, you're a year old!

Miss Amelia Jane-
Exactly one year, 2 hours and 36 minutes ago, you made me a mommy. Words can not express how I felt. Your entrance into the world wasn't something to be desired, but you've made the terrible thoughts and feelings of those first few days fade so far away, it doesn't even feel like it happened.
See, your daddy and I had some trouble getting you here. Without going into graphic details (I hear the "ewww mom"'s already), mommy and daddy decided they wanted to add to their family. After a few months of trying, nothing was happening. Mommy was in/out of the drs. office trying to find out what was wrong. After many tests, and a surgery, they figured it out. So then mommy went on these pills called Clomid. They made mommy less then desirable for 8 whole days. The first time I took them, mommy got pregnant but miscarried. Then I was put back on them, and 7 days later we got word that you were coming! We were so excited. We just told immediate family at first, because of the first baby, then as things progressed we told everyone.
We found out you were a girl as soon as we could. You were Amelia right away. See, when mommy went back to Montana to meet your grandma before mommy and daddy got married, grandma showed mommy this ADORABLE pink blanket she had made. Mommy fell in love with it. Grandma said the next person in the family to have a girl would get this blanket. Boy did mommy want that blanket. So when mommy was a few months pregnant with you, we found out Aunt Christie was pregnant too! We found out Aunt Christie was having a boy, so mommy felt she still had a chance with the blanket. When the ultrasound guy told us we were having a girl, mommy's first words to daddy were "WE GET THE BLANKET". Mommy was so excited! You can home from the hospital with the blanket keeping you warm!
Mommy had a hard time being pregnant. She didn't get sick, but wanted to sometimes. She started showing a cute little belly. Mommy loved her belly. She would always poke you to get you to move, but then couldn't get you to quit moving when she went to bed! Mommy craved pasta, maple bars and Rainbow Sherbet from Baskin Robbins. Mommy was diagnosed with gestational diabetes at 29 weeks. This made Halloween a really hard time for mommy with her restriction on candy. She still snuck some in though! To this day, seeing pictures makes it hard to believe mommy got so big!
Mommy was in labor with you for 3 days. Yes, 3 days. The hospital kept telling her this stupid rule of "if you're not 4, you're out the door", meaning centimeters. She was contracting all right, but you just weren't ready. FINALLY on day 3, I was 4 cent. and enough to admit. We were all so happy, but you weren't done proving to everyone you had the last word. You were sunny side up (facing the ceiling, not the floor like you were supposed to be), your head got caught in my pelvic bone, and mommy had to push for 2 hours to get you out. Yes, 2 hours. Thank God for epidurals, mommy couldn't do it without one! When you were born, you weren't crying. This worried mommy. They took you over to the baby warmer and started to help you breath. Then about 45 minutes later, they took you for x-rays. They said you had fluid in your lungs and were sick. They wanted to keep you for a while to make sure your infection cleared up and you were breathing ok. They wheeled mommy back to the nursery to hold you. I only got to hold you for 10 minutes before the ambulance showed up. Amelia my dear, that was my hardest moment ever. Watching them put my fragile little newborn, that I worked so hard to get here, in an isolate on a stretcher. You had about 6 different technicians go with you. One for your IV, one for your heart, one for your lungs. It was so overwhelming, I just cryed. The hospital they transferred you to wouldn't take mommy as a patient, so we spent our first night apart. That is my biggest regret, that I didn't stand up for myself more and go with you. That night I slept with one of the blankets they wrapped you in after you were born. It smelled like you.
For the next 5 days, mommy and daddy made the treck back and forth to the hospital to see you. Mommy spent all day in the NICU holding you, talking to you. Your infection cleared up fast, and there are so harsh feelings about why you were kept so long. It was so stressful being in a room with alarms going off all of the time, including the one on your foot. Babies were so sick, and crying, and so little. You weren't, yet you were there. We finally got to take you home on the 5th day, the best day next to the day you were born. It was one of the stormiest days in Oregon. I've never seen daddy drive so slow. It was so windy and rainy, but we got you home safe and sound.
You've always been a good baby, a good sleeper. Nana came over and stayed a couple of nights to help mommy out. It was funny, seeing Nana after a night with only a couple of hours of sleep. She said it was no wonder people have kids so young! You progressed along just wonderfully with your stats. Always so tall, and weight being perfect. You had a case of bronchitis when you were 3 months old, but got over that just fine. Other then that and a case of rosiola later on, you've been perfect. You started walking a couple of weeks ago. You've been talking since the 4th of July. Daddy is the apple of your eye. You smile and reach for him whenever he comes home. Grandma and grandpa came out to see you in June, grandma couldn't keep her hands off you! Plus, she introduced mommy to Nancy Grace, and how to make just the right pie crust. You started overnights with Nana and grandpa early on, as mommy and daddy went to daddy's company party and stayed the night. Nana takes you for a weekend once a month or so. She loves showing you off and being so proud. You have looked like daddy since you were born. People at work call you "mini-Nick". You eat hotdogs like you're in the 4th of July hot dog eatting contest at Nathans in New York. You love any big people food. You are starting to show mommy's attitude and are already throw mini-tantrums. You're a flirt in public. You love to smile and say "hi" when people walk by. You're in daycare because mommy has to work, but you seem to like it. Your nickname is Rosebud. You actually have quite a few nicknames. Rosebud, butterbean, littles, miss Amels and Melia. You happily answer to any/all. You're just so happy, but boy you let us know when you're mad!
You make mommy so proud little Amels. You are so happy, smiley and talkative. You have made my world complete and have given me the greatest gift of all, the ability to be called mommy. You make mommy and daddy laugh everyday and never fail to give us a smile. We love you baby girl. You're the most challenging, yet best thing I've ever done. We love you.

7 months and 2 days old...Houston we have a milestone.

Yes, it's true. We are now, officially, the household of the crawling. My dearest daughter, Miss Amelia J, namesake of this blog, took her first "step" toward freedom today. It's an army crawl, but she moved from one place to another so it counts. I have it on video, but need to learn how to upload, and also mute (I sound like a dog owner egging on their dog: "come on...you can do it..."). We're so proud of our little girl, but a part of me is sad that she's growing up so fast! I was at the nail salon today getting my nails and toes pretty for the upcoming holiday and sat next to a mother who brought in her 10-12 year old-ish daughter to get joint pedicures. They both got flowers on their big toes. I had a Quantem Leep moment, and thought of me and Amelia doing this same thing many years down the line. I'm currently attempting to download software to my computer to upload said video. Be patient, I'm blonde but will prevail!