Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Baby Steps, It's All About the Baby Steps

Life has been a little chaotic these last couple of weeks! To start with Lorelai turned one this past friday and boy did we have fun! We had the family birthday dinner with Mimi and Papa friday evening at the 63 Diner. Which is a family favorite and Lorelai got to experience her first McDougal family birthday tradition at the diner. Brownie and ice cream........this equals trouble!





Then on Saturday we had her first birthday party! It was a very exciting time we had some friends come over and we decorated pumpkins and ate lots of cake and pizza! Lorelai loved being with her friends and family. She also enjoyed her gifts especially this turtle that talks and sings!




Now to the Baby Steps! I got my own apartment! It's a huge baby step in my life. Something I have been wanting to do for awhile and the oppertunity came along and I got a great deal due to some awesome people that I work for! So, the entire week before Lorelai's party I was moving and planning a birthday party all at the same time. It was a little chaotic and I think I was kind of nuts for doing it but both things got accomplished successfully I must say! I'm adjusting to being in my own house with just Lorelai and I. It's pretty quite which I'm not used too and I'm constantly feeling like I need to be doing something or that I need to be out and about. I'm not used to not having anyone around. Good thing mom doesn't live that far away and I still see dad practically everyday! Going grocery shopping by myself is another adventure I'm getting used to. I come from a family of five so grocery shopping was a big to do in our house and it always seemed as if we were buying a ton of food! So now I'm just buying for me and Lorelai (who doesn't eat a ton) and I feel kind of strange with just the little bit of stuff I get. I feel as though I need to be buying more even though I really don't. So, those are the new adventures we have encountered lately and we'll keep you posted on more adventures to come!!! :)
Happy Fall Everyone!!!!!!!!

Friday, September 16, 2011

Adventures of Lorelai!

It has been an extremely busy week for little miss Lorelai. Last weekened we went and spent the weekend over at Mimi's (grandma's) and Lorelai kept trying to get off the couch. She would scootch to the edge and kind of look down at the ground like how do I get down there. So Mimi rolled her over on her belly and showed her how to swing one foot off the couch and then the other. Now Lorelai constantly wants to climb up and down off the couch.

Then next thing I know Mimi had gone upstairs and Lorelai was at the base of the stairs and I was behind her and she starts climbing up the stairs. So we let her climb all the way up the stairs and then I brought her back down the stairs and she climbed right back up. I decided it's time to get the baby gates!

Last nigh I was sitting with her and we were watching dora and swipper was taking something I don't exactly remember what but Lorelai out of nowhere starts saying "Uh Oh" over and over and over again! I though it was absolutely adorbable! I do believe that her going to daycare is having some benefits! Anyhow, I will get some new pics up of Lorelai soon! 

Monday, August 29, 2011

It's Just Nuts!

Things have just been nuts here lately with the McDougal Family! Last weekend we got my sister moved to Kansas City for school. This is one of those things that I'm cautiously optimistic for her. I'm excited for the new chapter that of her life that she has started and yet hesitant to the change. For any of you that know me totally know that I'm not a huge fan of change. Now on top of my sister moving, my brother has moved to Jeff City to go to school at Lincoln. I'm very proud of him and know he will do just fine. I know that he loves it there and I think that God has a huge plans for him there as well. Oh wait forgot one more thing....Mom moved too! By the way all this moving happened in the same week. So anyhow, everyone is pretty much moved and situated for the most part. Mom's place we still have some work to do. It's really weird to me being the only child around my parents at this point. I keep wanting to call my brother and sister and say hey let's go grab lunch or go to a movie...it's not that easy anymore. As far as I'm concerned I have just been busy working and taking care of Lorelai.

Lorelai is doing well. She now has 8 teeth and loves to eat just about anything. She is attempting to drink out of a big kid cup without a straw or lid. So I'm excited for her but don't necessarily like the mess that goes along with it. Although at the same time I think it's totally adorable! Lorelai had another fashion show this past weekend at the Kid City event that the Holiday Inn Expo Center put on. Which seems to really enjoy all the attention that comes along with it. I do have to say though the most exciting part of it was when Lorelai and I were sitting on the floor to take a break I looked over at her and she was totally standing up all by herself without holding onto anything for about 10 to 15 seconds. I have a feeling walking will be occuring soon. It's so exciting to watch her grow and discover new things. It's also kind of sad to see her grow up so quick. I just want to keep her small! Lol I'm working hard on getting ready for her first birthday and I'm pretty excited about it. I should be getting invites out soon!

That's all I've got for now! :)

Monday, August 8, 2011

Just an Update

Well things have been a little nuts lately. We survived the turnovers at the apartments! Yay!!!!!! That's such a stressful time of the year but it went very smoothly. Now we are getting ready to go through a second smaller turnover which I think will go just fine. My sister is getting ready to have her going away/college party as she calls it which will be this coming saturday. It will be fun! Also, I have my brother, sister, and mom moving to 3 different places all in the same week! All I can say is AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Lol.

Now it's time for the infamous Lorelai update. My little girl is now crawling everywhere and she just turned 10 months old yesterday. Gosh, these past ten months have flown by and she just keeps growing it's kind of crazy. Lorelai now has 7 teeth and one more on the way for sure! This past week she came down with a fever of 104.1 and she had it for about three days. Lets just say that was the longest three days and nights I have ever been through. All she wanted to do was lay on top of me and cry constantly. I really didn't get much sleep through that but I'm happy to report she is doing really well now and back to her normal self. I have been working on trying to figure out Lorelai's first birthday party and I think I have it figured out for the most part. Although I'm sure I will end up tweaking it a bit.

I think that's enough for now and I hope all is going well in everyones worlds!

Saturday, July 16, 2011

A Crazy Chaotic Life

Things have been a little crazy since the last time I posted. Right now I'm working like crazy and still going to school and being mom. Work has been kind of nuts with it being turn over season at the apartments. We're running around like chickens with our heads cut off because we have air conditioners falling apart it seems like every six seconds and they are proving to not be easy fixes! I have a week left of school for this eight week session and then I have to take my final and then I get to start my next class which will be Biology. I took it in high school this is just a higher level Biology but I think I will enjoy. The only thing I'm hesistant about is that it requires me to be in class for 5 hours a night for two nights a week. So that's time that takes me away from Lorelai and getting other things done around the house. I will have to do some adjusting to that. My baby sister graduated from high school in May and turned 18 the same month. Anyhow, she is just getting ready to have her "graduation/dorm party" as she calls it next month. Then she is off to KC to go to school August 19th. So I'm anxious/nervous about her leaving but I'm very proud of her.

Lorelai is now 9 months old and is getting sooo big. She started crawling the week before the 4th of July. She now has 6 teeth and is eating all sorts of fun and exciting foods. She loves yogurt and pasta. Well just about anything for that matter. I had to take her to ER for the first time a few weeks ago because she had this diaper rash that just wasn't going away and then it would blister up and break open and bleed. She also wasn't drinking very much as far as formula is concerned. So I was getting a little worried about the possibility of dehydration. Anyhow, found out she had thrush which explains why she wasn't drinking very much and a fungal diaper rash. The doctors gave her some meds for those things and she seems to be doing a lot better! :) The 4th of July was fun. We went down to Warsaw to see of our old friends and they live right on the lake. So we took Lorelai down to the dock and stuck her feet in the water and she loved it. We also took her on her first boat ride. She seemed to enjoy it minus the wind blowing in her face. She still hasn't figured out what to think about the whole wind thing.

I think that is latest excitement in my world! I will keep you all posted on more adventures that Lorelai and I have! :)

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Making Baby Steps

Let's see where do I start....This past weekend my baby sitter has finally graduated from high school. It's so weird!!!!! I"m super duper excited for her though. It's a "new start" sorta speak for her. She is going to be going to the Kansas City Art Institute in the fall. I'm so very proud of her. She one so many awards from the high school this year which was totally amazing! So after Zoe's graduation we went and had lunch at Rio Grande...yum yum yum! Then one of my good friends called and invited me to go see Tim McGraw in concert. So I went and it was a ton of fun! I hadn't been out in quite a while and hadn't been to a concert in a few years. It was a blast!!!! :)

I have successfully completed my first class at Columbia College and passed my psychology course with a B! I'm very very very proud of myself. I just signed up for my next course which ought to be interesting i'm taking Intermediate Algebra...yikes!

Lorelai is doing well she continues to grow! She is all smiles most of the time. She is sitting up extremely well and is working on crawling. It's so funny she can get up on all fours and then starts rocking but just hasn't quite figured out how to get the hands and feet moving! So hopefully we will work on that some more. The doctor gave her the okay start eating real "grown up" food if it's soft and small. We have discovered she loves pasta, vegetables, yogurt, and boy oh boy does she love bananas! She has also discovered the joys of playing in mashed potatoes! She had her fashion show at the kids day last weekend and she looked so stinking cute! I will post some pictures soon!

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Wow I'm Really Behind!

Lets see where do we begin. Lorelai had her six month check up last week and she is getting big! She is now 26 inches long and weighs 16 Ibs 11oz. She is in the 60th percentile for height and weight and 25th percentile for head circumference. So that is awesome. She is now sitting up and working on crawling. She can get on all fours and starts to rock but she can't quite get the movement going. Hopefully she will get going pretty soon! I swear she is so stinking smart. She is keeps trying to drink out of a regular cup and plastic water bottle. Which is nuts! Anyhow, this past weekend on Mother's Day Lorelai got dedicated at church. I was very excited about that! Pictures will be posted soon! Easter was fun we went to church twice and then went and had lunch at my mom's with my brother, sister, and my mom. Oh Lorelai is going to be in a fashion show this coming weekend for Children's Orchard family fun day! I'm very excited about that. So I have picked out some cute outfits for her to wear! Everyone is welcome to come out it's a free event held at the Holiday Inn next to the mall on Saturday May 14th!

Nothing too exciting is going on with me. I have been working lately. Things are starting to pick up at the apartments and students are on the hunt for apartments! That has been keeping me busy. I'm getting ready to finish my first class at Columbia College. I have my final on Saturday so that ought to be interesting! Then I get to start a math class...ugh!

That's about all that's new with us McDougals

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

A New Chapter

Well friends, I feel like I'm starting a new chapter in my life. I got accepted to Columbia College and will be starting school again shortly...hopefully like next week if everything goes well. I'm very excited about that. I plan on finishing up my pre requisites and then I can apply to there nursing school! I'm extremely excited about that. Meanwhile, dad's house is up for sale. The landlord decided she had one to many properties and has decided to put the house up for sale. So, dad and I are dealing with house showings which is driving me nuts at the moment. It's kind of hard to keep a house perfect with a 5 month old. So if you know of any places for rent fairly cheap in Boonville please let me know.

Lorelai is now 5 months old and getting into everything! She is still working on sitting up. She can get the top half of her back up but not the lower half. She is still rolling over to her stomach but hasn't figured out rolling over to her back. Oh and we started actual baby food. She is totally loving that and I can't seem to feed it to her fast enough. These past few days she has been congested so I'm trying to keep her from getting sick. Vicks vapor rub is totally amazing! Anywho I can't believe it's been five months already. She just keeps growing and suprising me everyday!

On the other hand my good friend Nic came home from boot camp this past week! It was good to see him. I can't even begin to say how proud of him I am and how greatful I am for his service even though he is just beginning! I pray for all of our service members and the hard work that they do and their families that allow them to do it! Unfortunately, Nic had to leave this morning to go to combat training and then to tech school. So it's going to be awhile before we see him again.

Last but not least apart of this new chapter in my life is I'm once again determined to lose more weight! Being pregnant does some strange things to your body. I have to say I have lost all the "baby weight" but it has shifted all the weight into some places that I really don't like! So I'm working on that! Bring on the fruits, veggies, water/tea, and some good old fashion exercise!

Friday, January 14, 2011

Brittney is Going to Drive Me Nuts if I Don't Do This!

Here it goes....Since the last time I have posted Dad managed to fall and break his ankle in three places on Nov 22nd. Then Nov 29th he had surgery on his ankle. That went pretty good and since then he has been home with his foot elevated and on "good drugs" as he likes to say. So Lorelai and I have been staying at my dad's helping him out and trying to get him back on his feet, literally. Dad just recently got a letter stating that there is a possibility that he could go back to work on light duty on Jan 17th but would be unable to go back to full duty until May 2nd. Just in time for my sister Zoe's 18th bday and graduation! Meanwhile, he has just recently this past week gotten a low grade infection which had been causing him to chill and have a slight fever. He was put on antibiotics and we get to wait till he goes to the doctor on Jan 18th. Thanksgiving was fun. Me and my siblings spent thanksgiving with my mom. At our house we consider Thanksgiving to be "mom's holiday." She loves it! It was great to be around my family and spend some time with them. Then we were going to go to dad's that evening but we were so exhausted that we just decided we would have Thanksgiving w/ dad over the weekend. That was totally enjoyable we went out for our dinner and got to enjoy each others company.



December and Christmas was an interesting time. December I got a 3rd job which is a temporary full time job at MBS Books in there call center. So I started training for them Dec 13th and finished training on the 28th. I actually had my first day on the call floor on Dec 29th and that was a totally nerve racking experience in my life. There are so many little details involved in that and make it a kind of complicated job when you are first learning. You definitely have to be good at multitasking. I guess that's why a lot of women work there. lol. Anyhow, I'm still working there and hoping that it may lead to a full time permanent position. We will see what happens with that though! Christmas, Oh boy what a story! It started off Christmas Eve my entire family including both my parents went to Christmas Eve service and sat together. Mom then invited dad over for chili afterwards. So we all loaded up after church and went to mom's for dinner. It was almost 11pm by the time we wound down. So mom suggested that Dad should just go stay the night at my brothers house with him and then come back in the morning and we can all open presents together and have breakfast. Christmas morning us girls woke up and got the morning rolling and waited oh so very patiently for my dad and brother to arrive. It was noon before they finally got there! We then all got our presents and opened them one by one. Then we sat down and had what was supposed to be breakfast but turned out to be more of a brunch. After that we all laid down and took naps because we were exhausted. When we all finally woke up it was time for another McDougal Family tradition.....CHINESE! This all started one year when mom burnt the food for our Christmas dinner so we decided we were going to go out to eat and the only place open was the Chinese restaurants. Now every Christmas we go out for dinner at the Chinese restaurant. So Dad had invited mom to come to Chinese dinner with us. We all went to Chinese and had an enjoyable time. I will say though trying to get food when your on crutches is quite the experience as dad was soon to find out. Lorelai, managed to knock over my full glass of soda with her arm at dinner. I was very happy to have her around and watch her experience her first Christmas w/ all the crazy McDougal Family Traditions. I was also very blessed to actually get to spend an entire Christmas with my whole family together. That was quite the experience in being humble and learning to forgive.



It's now January and Lorelai is now 3 months old. At her 2 month doctor appt she was 10 pounds 12.5 ounces and 22 in long. At that same appt she got her first shots. She handled it like a champ. She cried for 5 minutes and then was just fine. I also found out that she has colic. That has been a test of my patience. Overall though she is doing wonderfully and getting big. She has gotten a lot more vocal and this weekend we hit a huge milestone. She rolled over all by herself! i was a very proud mommy to see that happen!

Things just continue to be interesting around here and full of new adventures every day!