The Blog Gets a Name Change

As you can see when you open up the blog, we've done a little redesign to make room for baby #2! At 14 weeks along, we decided it was time to update the blog and let our blogstalkers in on our big surprise! Baby McCarthy #2 is due to make an appearance 6 months from today and we couldn't be more excited!

Not too much news going on with Baby #2. I haven't been sick, only very tired, but I sometimes think that had more to do with a teething 1 year old than with the pregnancy. My pants are growing tighter by the day and unlike my last pregnancy when I wanted to start wearing maternity clothes as soon as possible, this time I'm refusing until I absolutely can't fit into normal clothes anymore!

We've had two ultrasounds of Baby #2 since finding out about our expected arrival. The first in November and then again last week. Interestingly, John and I both said (independent of each other I might add) from the beginning that we thought June 28th was the day, but the first due date we were given was July 2nd. Still, John and I thought June 28th. At last week's ultrasound, the baby measured at a June 28th due date! Just like with Reagan's due date which was 11/11/07, I'm already tired of people commenting on the gimicky due date and possibility of a July 4th birth, so John and I are saying June 28th is now d-day. June 28th also happens to be my Auntie Phyllis' birthday which makes it even more special for us to have that as our due date.

Here are some of the images from last week's ultrasound. I'm always amazed at how much you can see. Baby #2 did make John and I quite nervous that our already active little girl is going to be joined by an already active new baby. This little one didn't stop moving the entire ultrasound.

This picture is a little scary. It's the baby looking straight at us.

I thought this one looked a little bit like Reagan's 20 week ultrasound already. We'll see in 6 months how much they look alike. I'm pulling for brown eyes this time!

Here's the baby from head to toe.

Christmas 2008

Our first Christmas activity was to celebrate Christmas with the Lehmans. Since Hanukkah had not begun yet, we decided to share some of our traditions with our great friends. We brought over a little tree, lights, ornaments and some presents. It wasn't anything fancy, we had pizza delivered, but Christmas rules still applied - all the post-dinner clean up had to be complete before any gifts could be opened.

One Tuesday, we went down to Madelia to celebrate Christmas with "Grandma Great" Etter. She was in great spirits and it was good to spend time with her, and a few aunts and cousins that stopped by.

On Christmas Eve, we spent the evening at Jim and Jan's house (along with Uncle Frank, Auntie Phyllis, Carrie and Mark. We had a great evening. In an effort to actually take advantage of digital photo technologies, we let Jan take the photos with a promise that she'd email them to us. We don't have any for the blog just yet.

When we got home, we had to put a treat out for Santa Claus. In an effort to make our house a memorable stop for Santa (and possibly bribe him to leave great gifts for Reagan), we set out a beer and pretzels along with a note that read: "Dear Santa, I know all the other kids leave out cookies and milk for you. All that sugar and lactose will probably upset your tummy, so I thought you might enjoy the beer and pretzels. Love, Reagan." Reagan was surprisingly happy for getting woken up after a few hours of sleep and then making the trek home.

On Christmas Morning, Reagan was really excited to get to the gifts.

Here is her favorite present (currently). A Dirt Devil Junior vacuum. Lindsay and I were hoping that it actually worked. It doesn't. I guess we shouldn't have expected too much for $15. Nonetheless, it has already provided several hours of entertainment.

More gift opening. Reagan got a "Cookies for Santa" plate from Papa and Grandma. I know for sure that we'll have to put out an explanatory note for Santa again next year.

After the gift opening extravaganza, I made Christmas pancakes. Here are two of my better efforts - a wreath and a snow man. I tried a few Christmas trees but the didn't quite turn out as good as I imagined. Next year, I'll have to try to add a gingerbread man to my repertoire.

Reagan enjoyed them. I don't think she even noticed that they were shaped or colored.

Then, we returned to enjoy (1) new toys and (2) a nap. Guess who enjoyed which one...

Two Santas?

Yes, we took Reagan to not one, but two Santas this year. As wonderful as the Dayton's display is (I will forever call it that), they leave a lot to be desired when it comes to Santa's area. Really, all they can come up with is a blue wall? I find that hard to believe.

This years theme was a Macy's original "A Day in the Life of an Elf."

Reagan liked the puppies the best, followed by the things that moved.

Checking Santa out . . .

He must not have passed the stranger test.

We tried again tonight at Ridgedale. Much better background, but way creepier Santa. Even I was a little afraid. I'm pretty sure this Santa had no front teeth. Eek. He wasn't even wearing the traditional Santa outfit. Instead, he had on red sweatpants. Obviously, Reagan did not enjoy his company. If anyone comes across a decent Santa, let me know for next year. I won't torture her again this year.

After our run in with Santa, all Reagan wanted to do was push the stroller herself. She literally pushed the stroller all the way across the mall, only to stop briefly to wave at passersby and to take a look at Build-A-Bear.

Crazy December

We're in the midst of our craziest month of the year, which I'm sure many people can identify with us on that one. John and I both celebrated our 28th birthdays this past weekend, so just as the birthday festivities are ending, the Christmas celebrations are just beginning.

I'm just going to do a quick update with some pictures from the last three weeks that I thought were funny. Reagan is growing funnier by the day (as long as she has a decent nap) and I spent much of my day laughing at her today. It was even hard to keep a straight face when she started throwing food on the floor, but her face was so cute!

My decided to try some of my old dresses on Reagan. I wore the plaid one on my first birthday (I think that was what I was told). Obviously, Reagan is a bit taller than I was! The white one couldn't even be buttoned.

Reagan got her first sled for her birthday, so I figured she would need a snowsuit if we were going to use it this year. Here she is trying it on. She was a little like a turtle flipped on its back when she would fall over.

Watching Daddy put lights on our deck (completion date TBD).

So happy in her footie pajamas, except we have to keep her slippers on while she walking around. The legs are a little long still and the feet keep slipping off. The slippers are the only thing that keep them secure so she doesn't slip all over the floors.

We tried Stella's footie pajamas on too.

But the minute she heard the garage door open, she knew John was home and bolted from the chair just as I snapped the picture.

Reagan's 1st Birthday

Here are some pictures from Reagan's Birthday! She seemed to have a fun day ~ minus the shots at the doctor's office. At 1 year old, she weighed in at 21 lbs. 2 oz. and 28.75 inches tall. That puts her at the 40th percentile for height and 48th percentile for weight. She was a good girl at the doctor's office and demonstrated her wonderful motor skills (no verbal skills to speak of yet). To show the doctor her motor skills, she whipped off her diaper not once, but three times. She also tried every cupboard until she found one with a broken lock and also started to pull the hospital gowns from the drawer under the exam table.

She was all smiles when we got home that afternoon. She even smiled for the camera for once.

We felt bad about the shots on her birthday so we picked up a cupcake for her while we were at Target.

John and I got her this chair for her birthday that she loves to sit in. That night, she was more interested in the lemon juice we had just bought than the presents we were opening.

Saturday afternoon was Reagan's birthday party and it was a full house! She had a great time and we really appreciate everyone taking time out of their day to celebrate with us! The theme was shapes and colors and Byerly's did a great job copying the invitation onto the birthday cake.

With Mommy and Daddy while eating her matching birthday cupcake. No one else wanted to get too close to her at this point.

It was at this point that we took the cupcake away. I didn't realize how much she had actually eaten. I figured most of it had fallen on the floor or on her lap, but the high chair seat was pretty much clean when I took her out!

With Grammy and Grandpa.

With Grandma and PaPa.

Playing on her new piano after Daddy had to open all her birthday presents. She was more interested in the golf clubs John had down stairs than opening her gifts.

Happy Birthday, LuLu!

On the day she was born . . .

Needless to say, we didn't get Reagan up at 1:07 am to say 'Happy Birthday' but when I rolled over and looked at the clock at 1:15 am, I whispered it to myself. Hard to believe she's already a year old! I'll post pictures of her on her birthday after she wakes up from her morning nap.

Where Has the Time Gone?

Like I've said many times, I'm trying to catch up on the blog, but just haven't found the time lately. But I'm making time now while John is feeding Reagan, so here we go . . .

12 Month Pictures

Check out Jackie's blog for some of Reagan's second round of 12 month pictures. Notice how in the past year we've gone from 3 outfits a session to just 1!

www.jackieboldtphotography.com/blog

Happy Halloween! Quack!

Reagan was a ducky for Halloween, so for all of September and October we were working on getting her to say "Quack!" The closest we ever came was her Donald Duck impression, but she was still the cutest little ducky ever. At least she had the waddle down!

Our first stop of the day was at John's office. Reagan had a fun time waddling around in the halls.

Later in the day, Reagan's friend Sophia came over to trick or treat and take some cute pictures together. I love her sparkly witch costume!

Reagan trick or treated for a little bit at Grandma and Grandpa Etter's house and took some pictures outside with the gorgeous weather.

In case you're wondering, I was a 'mummy' (terrible pun intended) and John was a 'treat' because his shirt said "I'm a treat."

Next stop was the Lehman house where they were handing out full sized candy bars. I know where we're stopping first next year! Jords was a rapper, Lex was a pirate and Jaden was Hannah Montana.

Denver

My friend Kelly and I went out to Denver to visit our friend Tracy in October. It was a fairly quick trip and John, once again, was in charge of Reagan for 3 days (or should I say my mom since John had work and school commitments the three days I was gone?) Anyway, it was fun for Kelly and I to get away for a little break. We had a good time going out to eat with Tracy (sans a almost toddler who doesn't like to sit at restaurants) and to spend a full day shopping (without having to worry about naptimes and feeding schedules). Denver reminded Kelly and I a lot of Minneapolis, except for the mountains.

We took a day trip to the mountains, but the three of us underestimated how much colder it would be at a higher altitude than in the city. It made the trip pretty quick since we were all freezing.

It was so windy the lake had white caps.

Our first glimpse of snow for the season.

This lake had ice on it already.

Reagan's First Kiss

No pictures for this post, but just a funny story. The other night, Reagan was looking at one of her many books and leaned over and put her mouth on a page. I asked her, "Reagan, did you give your book a kiss?" When I said 'kiss' she did it again. So I said 'kiss' again and she 'kissed' the book. She repeated this about 10 times and by the time I got the video camera, she was tired of the game.

Since John wasn't home when this happened, I tried to show him that she understood the next night. I said "Reagan, give Mommy a kiss." She came at me with a wide open mouth and gave me a nice, big, slobbery kiss. John was also lucky enough to get one too. However, the second time I asked for a kiss, I got more than I bargained for. Again, Reagan came at me with an open mouth, but instead of kissing me on the lips, she bite my bottom lip. It really was a miracle that she didn't draw blood or give me a fat lip!

But I am completely impressed with how much she is learning on a day to day basis and it really is amazing to see her put two and two together. What an incredible journey it is to be a parent!

11 Month 12 Month Pictures

The rest of the pictures are on Jackie's website now. Go to http://www.jackieboldtphotography.com/, then client galleries, password reagan11mos
A slideshow is online at http://www.jackieboldtphotography.com/slideshows/reagan11mos/

We took some of Reagan's 12 month pictures a little early because I wanted to get some family ones outside before all the beautiful leaves were gone. Also, there is possibility that our photographer could get put on bedrest, but we just don't know when so we wanted her to be able to take some of her 12 month pictures this past Friday. She was gracious enough to squeeze us in on "her day off" which didn't turn out to be a day off at all. At least we were pretty quick.

Jackie posted some of the pictures on her blog already and I'll put up the link again when the rest of the pictures are online.

www.jackieboldtphotography.com/blog