HOUSTON---we have a tooth!!

We have been awaiting this day and this post for over a year. I can remember people telling me last January that MaryCate was drooling soooo much, a tooth must be coming in. That continued through the spring, summer, fall, and here we are 13 months later and my 19 month old now has her first tooth. I was not all that worried though, because they say it is genetic, and I did not get a tooth until 18 months.

One other side note, in case you didn't know, MaryCate is not the most conventional baby---pretty much marches to the beat of her own drum---I think she gets this from her cousin, Clare. Well in perfect tune with that, her first tooth is of course a MOLAR. I almost died when I felt it, but sure enough her bottom left molar has cut and she will be eating steak in no time!! The beauty of her being somewhat "different" is that this tooth never kept her awake or made her fussy. She simply sleeps like it is her job, and as her momma, I will take it! On Sat. she slept until 9:20am, Sun. until 8:30 and this morning I had to wake her for therapy at 8:45am. That is the big news around here, not much else to report. I have some Dr. appointments later in the week so will have some updates then. Just a few pics to post....and of course the tooth is so far back there is no way to capture it on the camera, but we are hoping that a few more are on their way!!

MaryCate likes to feed herself these days and HATES bibs, go figure

We have since resorted to letting her eat without a shirt on, much easier on the clothes

My little Irish FAN!!

Some throwback pics and a few I missed

I just realized there were a few pictures I missed posting a few weeks back and just uploaded them. Also a few pictures from last April that a friend just sent to me, they made us laugh so hard, I thought I would include them as well. It is crazy how quickly they change at this age. All is well here, enjoying the warmer weather and spending lots of time outside while we can!

We put MC in this outfit for church today. Chris's mom got it for her for X-mas and it is hilarious. The hat never stays on but we snapped a quick pic...she LOVES the fur

I can hear it already----but I got a fur when I was 1, why can't I have one now---and I will tell her to go talk to Mema

This is Chris having way too much fun burning our Christmas Tree

MC and Cora when the Wells and the Kofer's came down for a visit

Jodi----man handling both girls

Kristin reading MC a story---we miss them soooo much!!

Kristin and MC

Throwback pic---back in April at Coco beach---look at the drool on her dress, she MUST be teething, yup---heard that before

She is so happy and those CHEEKS

At the park with the Johnson's and the Smiths, who were in from PA

Summer Shontere, trying to help out

Leighton Johnson and MC----look I finally fit into a swing

This is a blast

Pictures from our photo shoot!

These are just a few shots we had taken a couple of weekends ago. Corey Moss is photographer in Fort Myers and does a super job. We took them at a really fun park and LOVED how they turned out!! Now we just have to choose our favororite and get them on the wall!! Enjoy

MC pointing to the baby

I want the camera to play with

MC with her Daddy

Momma's GIRL

Love this, my 2 little babies

MaryCate and Mommy

Daddy's going to get you

This is what MaryCate does when you ask her to be a Lizard

So happy

Looking away

The whole gang

Probably my favorite

Everyone again

Oh Happy Day!!

I should have written this post on Tuesday, but Chris has been out of town for a week with the computer, so I have had no technology. Anyhow, just wanted to post that I am more pregnant at this point than I have ever been. We were so excited to get past Monday, which was the day in my pregnancy that MC was born. I am feeling pretty good and the baby is kicking like crazy. They say the baby is about 2 lbs---more than MC was at birth, and 13 1/2 inches---longer than her as well!

I did have a Dr. appointment yesterday and had yet another new Dr. I had made the appointment with the intention of seeing one of the Dr.'s in the practice I normally see and I guess you always need to call the day before and make sure they did not change their schedule---which I will do from now on. Anyhow he seemed to think I was fine and was plenty kind, but did say that the stitch was a good idea as my cervix seems to be getting shorter. The stitch is still in place though, and I will go back in 2 weeks and will meet with the Dr. I really like who gives me a TON of information and is always very clear and very thorough. I thought about going back this week, but honestly the appointments cost us so much and considering I have had no symptoms like I did with MaryCate, I am going to hold off. It is hard when the practice has 4-5 doctors that all have different opinions and different ideas of what is safe for me to do. I will be sticking with one Dr. from here on out and completely trust his opinion. He is pretty conservative and I appreciate how much time he spends with me.

My mom was here for the week to help with MC while Chris was out of town and we were so busy that we failed to take one picture. My house has never been so clean and MC was so thrilled to have Gramma in town!! I will post more as I know it---26 weeks tomorrow!!!

Christmas 2009

This year was quite different, as we were unable to spend any time as a family in WI, but we made the best of it. Christmas morning we were able to I-chat with the cousins and my family, and watch them open some of the presents, so we made due. I am sure come April it will all be worth it.

It also was different as MaryCate and I were a bit under the weather. I slept about 2 hours Christmas Eve, spending the rest of the time coughing and feeling as though I had done 500 sit ups----pregnant and coughing do not mesh well. All that to say we still had a wonderful day. We went to Christmas Eve Service at our church in Fort Myers and then headed to Bradenton. Woke up Christmas morning to an unbelievable amount of presents, spoiled rotten by the Mustaine's. As you can see below MC got a pony from her Auntie Trista, which she LOVES.

The week after Christmas my Aunt Madalyn and her family came down to Naples and we were spoiled to spend so much time with them. They came over one night for homemade Pizza and then we met them for some great shopping a couple other days. My cousin Maggie even got to spend one night with us here, which was a blast. We had a fire in fireplace, puppy chow and oreos to snack on, as well as a good board game and puzzle to work on. Nothing says fun, family and the holidays like that. It has been quite a treat.

We had an amazing New Years----day before traveled up to Bradenton to pick up a King Size bed, which has been a long time coming, we have always wanted one!! While there we got a chance to see some freinds that were in for the holidays, which was a special treat. When we got home we set it up and were asleep before 10:30pm----pretty sure this is the 1st new years I have not stayed up till midnight and it was heavenly!! Today we are relaxing and watching a lot of football. I may work on my puzzle a bit and take a long nap with MC!! Hope the new year treats you all well, enjoy the pics!

MC in her X-mas dress

I could just eat her up

Opening her Gifts

This is so AWESOME!!

Can you tell she LOVES it

First of, I am sure many, pony's, from Auntie Trista

Just waiting for everyone to join him for X-mas dinner

Momma and her boy

Chris with my cousin Michael V---like 2 peas in a pod, claiming to bond through dip and football

Making our pizza's

The 3 Field kids----best of friends :)

Molly Kate with MaryCate

My Aunt Madalyn trying to give her baby boy a kiss

This is for you MadDog----congrats, you made the BLOG---she used to change my dirty diapers

Maggie Doodle helping me with MC's bath

This is to make Madalyn jealous, MC snuggling up with doddlebug

Cousins, cousins

Chris with Ethan Speece, his best friend's son----Ethan LOVES Chris

Chris and Brad-----best of friends

Disney Trip

So I feel like we, or maybe I should say, I, have been pretty spoiled getting to do so much Christmas stuff---which I LOVE!! Chris and I had decided a while back to take a quick family vacation to Disney since the holiday season was going to be a bit crazy with him being out of town a lot and basketball season in full force. Chris had a pretty big basketball tournament that started on Friday, when I got back from WI, and went until today. Since we didn't know the exact schedule we had to play things a bit by ear. After the team won their game on Saturday we decided to quickly pack and take off so we could enjoy 2 full days there and head back Monday night for the game on Tuesday.

En route, we opted to spend the night at Auntie Trista's house to make it easier on MaryCate's schedule. We had a great dinner in St. Pete at PF Chang's Pei Wei and then took off early Sunday. When we got to Disney we checked in quickly at the Dolphin hotel on the boardwalk and then headed over to Epcot. MaryCate LOVED seeing all the Christmas trees. She has been so good about looking and not touching!! She would get ecstatic every time there was a big one spotted, and at Disney there were plenty of the them. We rode the sea ride there, because MC LOVES fish, and then we walked around a bit. After that we headed back to the hotel, and on the way saw some amazing gingerbread creations. MC got a good nap, and Auntie Trista came over to meet us for the eveing.

That night we went to the Candlelight procession at Epcot---it was great and we were pleasantly surprised to find out that Whoppi Goldberg would be the narrator. MaryCate did awesome and actually seemed to enjoy it.

We had a laid back morning on Monday---looked at some more decorations, Auntie Trista and I got some fancy coffee, and just enjoyed the cool weather. MC took a nap and then we headed to the Gaylord hotel to see ICE----I was SOOOO excited about this! They ship in over 2 million pounds of ice and sculpt it into what they call a "whimsical winter wonderland." I wish I could say it was incredible but if I blinked I would have missed it----MC was having none of it, and to make a long story short we literally walked in and then did everything we could to find an emergency exit out ASAP----it was a disaster. Oh well, live and learn.

We ended our vacation by heading back and dropping MC off with Mema and Granddad while Chris and I went on a fun date!! We drove back after her last feeding on Monday and have been busy with Dr.'s appointments ever since.

It seems MaryCate and I have both come down with a cold, probably from our trip to WI. We are hanging in there, just hoping tomorrow it improves a lot so we can enjoy Christmas. MaryCate saw her pulmonologist (my favorite of all our Dr.'s) on Tuesday as well---once again, she has lost some weight. SO, I asked him what he would do if she was his daughter....the next steps we are taking are, he has put her on an appetite stimulant, hoping this will help. He has also referred us to a endocrinologist----as if we haven't seen enough gist's (neonatologist, gastroentinologist, retinologist, opthomologist, and the list goes on)----they will look at her growth hormone. He was able to get her most recent blood work results, all of which came back normal of course. I will keep you posted but honestly, all I want for Christmas is a couple pounds and some teeth!!

Today, I had an appointment with my specialist and once again everything looks great. This is a big deal for us, because at this point with MC we were already in the hospital. The baby weighs approximately 1 lb 6 oz and is measuring 11 1/2 inches. According to my due date I will be 23 weeks on Friday but they said I am measuring about 23 weeks and 5 days. This is the best news yet, mainly because the baby is viable at 23 weeks---now, for all my NICU nurses reading this, I am not saying I want anything to happen anytime soon, but it was a relief to hear. The ultrasound tech said that the legs were quite long and kept going on and on about how rambunctious the little one was----SUPER! I go back in 3 weeks! Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, will post some Christmas pictures after the holiday!!

Daddy and MC in front of a tree at Epcot

As you can tell it was a bit chilly for this time of year in FL---but I was loving it

MC and I in front of the Spaceship Earth

This one is for Uncle Pretty---learning the ropes

This is my girl who does not gain weight

Loving the aquarium

Look at that one mommy

A gingerbread carousel

Auntie Trista and MC in front of a tree at a disney resort

Can't you tell, it's WHOOPI

Reindeer display at our hotel

The Poinsettia Tree at our Hotel, MC went CRAZY when she saw this

Dinner ordered from the ESPN Zone, eating with a washcloth as a napkin

Family pic on the boardwalk

The girls Enjoying our morning coffee

Another attempt at a family Picture

A different gingerbread carousel

MC's first, of many, I am sure, pony rides with Auntie Trista

YeeeeHAW

So Sweet

I LOVE the snow

This is our only picture from inside ICE---with a HUGE ice Santa in the back