2009 in review

Can you believe 2009 is over? It flew by, and brought a lot of changes to our family.

Here is our year in review:

JANUARY

Mckinlay turned 2

We matched to Case and found out we were moving to Cleveland

Ty turned 29

We got bed bugs in our apartment

{Yeah, never mentioned that one since we didn't want anyone to be paranoid about getting them too. Worst experience of our lives. Seriously. The worst. Sorry Spragues.}

FEBRUARY

Discovered we didn't completely eradicated said bed bugs {Luckily this time we got rid of the little buggers}

Megs was released after 3 years of being Relief Society Pres, WAHOO!

{Again, sorry Laura}

MARCH

Found out I was preggers

Grandpa Hallstrom passed away

Mckinlay and I joined the Hallstrom family in Hawaii for the funeral and family fun

Ty stayed home and studied his guts out for the boards

APRIL

Bought a house

MAY

I finally stopped barfing {morning sickness my foot, try 24/7 sickness!}

Learned to dance like WALL-E {"da da da da da da da da da da dah!"}

Took a trip "down the Cape"

Tried to squeeze in every possible outing with Boston friends

LOTS of packing

JUNE

Ty became Dr. Tyman Loveless, DMD

Found out baby #2 is a girl

Left Boston {we're still crying about that} and moved to Cleveland {crying about that too}

Enjoyed lots of moving help and a visit from Mom and Dad Loveless

Laid the Carolla to rest and bought a new car

Ty took the Medical Boards

JULY

Ty crazy busy at work

Celebrated a 1/2 birthday

Painted bodies and mustaches

Went swimming every day that the sun was out {both of them} and eat ice cream {with "sprinklers"} or ICEEs on the way home

AUGUST

Celebrated 5 years of wedding bliss

Became pirates for the 3rd year in a row

SEPTEMBEREnjoyed a visit from the McFamily

Megs turned 27

Discovered leaks and got a new roof

OCTOBER

Discovered more leaks and got a new bathroom Enjoyed Cleveland Fall

Went "trick-or-treaty" with the cutest ladybug ever

NOVEMBER

Megs out grew nearly all her maternity clothes

Welcomed Baby Eliza to the family

DECEMBER

Enjoyed our first Christmas as a family of 4 in our very own home and celebrated with Happy, Papa, and the McBrennans

Oh, and someone got a new hair style! This just happened this morning while I was in the shower. Guess she had to hurry and do it so it could make the highlight list for 2009.

{And yes. I cried. Then I laughed.}

It's been a great year. We're excited for what 2010 will bring...

like, I dunno, a new short hair cute for my daughter!?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

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sidenote - does anyone else have problems with the spacing in their posts? it is fine while i'm typing the post, but when i publish the spacing comes out all wonky. is it a blogger thing? or am i doing something funky?

Eliza -- 6 weeks

Little "Pugsley" has started smiling. Despite Mckinlay and my efforts, we just can't get a picture of it yet. Here our attempts:

Why don't you just trust me when I say it's a smile that melts your heart.

Mckinlay likes this one because:

"Huxley McSwugs is eating her cupcake Mom!"

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Eliza's nicknames at 6 weeks:

"Pugsley McSlugs" or just "Pugsley"

{or "Huxley McSwugs" if you are Mckinlay}

"Baby Liza"

"Little Lizey"

"Cutes"

"Cupcake"

& "Peanut" or "Pill Bug"

{usually after she is bundled in this}

Christmas Chef

Christmas was fab. Happy Jo and Pappio flew in on Tuesday night and B, Alli and kids drove up on Christmas Eve. We had So. Much. Fun. So much in fact, that I didn't take the time to take very many pictures, which is very unlike me.

Mckinlay got her play kitchen and the umbrella Santa promised. She was pretty thrilled and now we have been getting non-stop home cooked meals from our new little chef. Her specialties include: potatoes with salt and pepper, broccoli soup, ice cream bars and banana muffins.

This was Christmas Sunday. I think I have a pretty cute family, wouldn't you say?

I just love this picture. I think Happy is in heaven. The girls too for that matter.

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas. We missed you Maddle, Jeff, Tyler (who we got to talk to on the phone while on his mission on New Orleans) and all the Loveless Family. We're really excited to have Mom & Dad Loveless here on Saturday!! Eliza can't wait to meet ya.

Do we have a mouse or a Mckinlay?

The girls are asleep. I went to my room to start wrapping Christmas presents. I moved them all into my room last night so I could work on them during naps/after bed time and I covered them with a blanket to keep curious eyes and hands out.

I pulled back the blanket and what did I find?

Hmmmm, looks like some little hands {and a little mouth} got into the presents if you ask me.

What can I say, she is her mother's daughter.

"I can do anything that's everything all on my own."

We took Mckinlay "ice staking" yesterday.

I say "ice staking" because it was faux ice. Major bummer.

I'm no professional ice skater, but I did frequent Ice Palace, so, I mean, I can work it in the rink...but for the life of me I couldn't move on that "ice."

Fortunately Ty could, so he took Mckinlay out. She was convinced she could do it "all by myself."

And she could do it "all by myself"...

after she put her regular boots back on.

What? You've never heard of "Domenic the Donkey"? The "Italian Christmas Donkey"? Well here you go.

My girlies

I had the girls photos taken a few weeks ago. They turned out pretty darn cute. Here are a few: 5 days old.

This makes me laugh.

She looks like a little adult relaxing.

I can't believe Mckinlay will be 3 next month. Where has the time gone!?

Photos by Ashlee Jenks.

Santa's message to Mckinlay

This made me cry. I know, who cries over Santa...but I have so many fond memories of Christmas time as a kid {and as an adult} and I'm just so excited to see Mckinlay loving Christmas just as much.

Click here to watch her message from Santa.

I wish I had a picture of her face when Santa said he knew she has been nice to her sister. Priceless. And she was pretty thrilled to find out he'd be bringing her the umbrella she just decided in the past 3 days that she really Really REALLY wants for Christmas.

And I thought I was done with my Christmas shopping...

I dare you to not smile while you watch this:

Mckinlay and I are both smiling, from ear to ear in fact.

& tapping our toes.

"My BFF"

This morning I was burping Eliza and Mckinlay came and snuggled up on my lap to Eliza and said:

"Mom, she's my best friend forever."

My heart began to melt, then she looked up at me and said :

"You smell kinda stinky."

Speaking of stinkers, later I was upstairs getting a few things and when I came down the stairs Mckinlay met me at the bottom with an ice cream cone in hand. She got everything out herself and even used the ice cream scooper to assemble her cone. And the best part was she totally cleaned up after herself! No drips in the kitchen and the scooper was even put in the sink. I was proud. Even if it was only 9am and my daughter was eating ice cream.

"Cribs" -- Nursery addition

I took these pictures of Eliza's room today so I could put them in her baby book. I'm pretty pleased with how her room turned out, so I thought I'd share.

Thanks for the rug Grandma!

And thanks for making the brown curtains Happy Jo...

and the vinyl!

I love vinyl! {Surprised?} It's such a great way to decorate. It's cheap --or free since I have connections --and the littlest thing can totally finish off a room. Remember Mckinlay's cute room? Did I ever post those pictures? Sometimes I can't remember if I actually posted something or just thought about it... So fun having a Mama that can turn my requests into reality.

Frames will be filled shortly. I'm just waiting on getting Eliza's newborn pictures back and printed.

And I won't go into detail, but I have to mention the dresser because of all we went through to get it. Let me just say Mom and I are lucky we didn't die on the dark back roads of Kentucky.

"Why in the world would they build and IKEA out here!?"

Special thanks to Laura for the darling mobile.

The room is even cuter in person. Come check it out for yourself. Winter's gonna be long and we'd love to have visitors!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

It's snowing. Very lightly and not even sticking to the ground, but it's the first snowfall of winter.

Isn't there something magical about the first snow!? It makes me think of the first time I saw snow. I was in Jr. High and everyone was so excited because "the girl from Hawaii got to see snow for the first time." I remember my music teacher opened up her backdoor and let us go outside and stand in it. It was magical then and I still think it is today. There is something about snow from Thanksgiving until New Years. Any other time though--the magic is gone.

We're snuggled up inside enjoying our Christmasy house and listening to Christmas music. Pretty darn fun decorating my own house for Christmas!

{Sorry the pictures are dark and not so good. No time to retake 'em.}

I found this wreath tutorial and am so pleased with how it turned out.

I got the ornaments from Dollar Tree. Drive on over and pick some up.

I'm looking forward to Turkey Day leftovers and then snuggling up to a movie with some cocoa and some Ty.

Let the Holiday's begin!!

P.S. Will you pick up a movie on your way home Ty?

Thanks.

Wish me luck

Happy Jo left us this morning.

Other than Mckinlay waking up at 5:30 and balling because she couldn't find her Happy Jo, play dough all over the kitchen table and the fact that she is eating her 3rd Go-Gurt of the morning (the package of which was just thrown at me because "she's all done!"), we're doing fine.

Love you so much mom! Thanks for everything!! And can't wait to see you again in 3 1/2 weeks!

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And can I show off my mother's amazing sewing skills?

Is that not the cutest baby quilt!? Ever!?

And if you too want a darling car seat cover, check out her blog.

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{Oh and Mom, she just found the peppermint you left her in the Christmas tree. Thanks.}

Week 1.

& check out all that hair!

We're trying not to think about Happy Jo leaving in 4 days.

"Can I hold Baby Eliza?"

A tired Mama and her darling girls.

"My little sweetie"

The sisters have met! And they are quite in love with each other.

Is it just me or does Mckinlay seem like she's about 5 years older than she was when I left for the hospital!?

Because of the flues going around, the hospital was not allowing visitors under the age of 18, so Mckinlay didn't get to meet Eliza until Wednesday when we got home.

Mckinlay is so sweet {and "careful"} with her and wants to do everything for her. "I can change her!" "I can hold her all by myself." "I can get her blanket!" {Although she knows only mommy can feed her "from her milk cups" or her "milky moles".} And she is always stroking her head calling her "my little sweetie." It's just about the cutest thing.

She doesn't like it when Eliza cries, it kinda stresses her out and she always covers her ears. And Eliza's "owie" {umbilical chord} freaks her out every time she sees it. She is convinced she can't touch the baby until it's gone {or until she forgets about it -- about 2 mins after seeing it.}

We are loving our little chubby cheeked girl.

Eliza Mae Loveless

Eliza Mae is finally here....
Weighing in at 8 lbs 5 oz. and 21 inches long. The exact same as her older sister Mckinlay!! Looks like she's going to be a good sleeper too!

Funny Mckinlay.

A couple days ago while driving in the car:
Mckinlay: "Is your baby gonna be here soon Mama!?"

Me: "Yeah. She'll be here in a few days."

Mckinlay: "Oh fun!" Thinks for a sec... "Is she just gonna pop right out?"

Me: "Kind of."

Mckinlay: Thinks again... "Oh, is the Dr. gonna squeeze her and then she'll pop right out!?"

Me: "Ahhh yup. Just like that honey."

If only it were that simple.

She is super excited for Thanksgiving and Christmas. She has me tell her about what we do for the holidays and about the decorations and what we eat {a true Hallstrom or what?} all the time. Yesterday I explained to her about Santa Clause and how he comes down the chimney at night while we are sleeping and brings us presents. She was pretty thrilled about it.

This morning she woke up just as Ty was about to leave for work and you could hear him rattling around down stairs. She came bounding into my dark bedroom and said:

"Mommy! Santa Clause is here! I can Hear him!"

We sure love this gal and think she's gonna make a great big sister.