Mikayla turns 3!

Mikayla getting ready for breakfast & showing off her Tinkerbell birthday balloon.
Mikayla after opening all her great gifts! She received so many fun toys!
Mikayla & Seydie playing with the dress up clothes she got for her birthday.




Mikayla turned 3 on Sunday, December 27. We not only celebrated her birthday, but we had family over to celebrate christmas, so she had plenty of cousins to help play with all her new toys.

2009 Christmas fun!

Mikayla sitting on Grandma Schubbe's lap while eating dinner
The family hangin' out-Bob, Kiley, Cammy, Grandma Schubbe & my dad, Bruce
The girls playing in Mikayla's room (Mikayla, Madalyn, Kiley & Seydie)
My niece, Madalyn, striking a pose
Seydie trying out Mikayla's new sit'n'spin
More family hangin' out (Kelly & Lynn Ullrich and Randall's parents, Bob & Rita Anderson)
Nolan rolling around, found his way under the x-mas tree
Nolan really wanted that ornament, but we had to intervene for safety reasons, of course!
Mikayla making Nolan giggle
Mikayla taking her sit'n'spin for a ride...a present from me & Randall
Attempting to get Mikayla to hold Nolan for a picture. Nolan looking at his daddy for help.
Mikayla being quite patient so we could get a pic before she rips the presents open
Nolan opening his stocking stuffer
Yeah...an elephant I can chew & suck on!
Mikayla brushing her first My Little Pony. She has slept with it for every nap & at bedtime since christmas.
Mikayla showing off her finger puppets
Mikayla opening her stocking & Nolan in the background wondering what all the fuss is about.
Randall & Mikayla building a snow fort in the backyard
Mikayla helping me decorate (and eat) sugar cookies on Dec. 23.


We had plans to spend christmas day in Mankato with my mom's side of the family, but due to the snow, the party was postponed. We actually spent our entire christmas break at home except for the few hours I spent on Saturday running errands in Shakopee. This gave me plenty of time to bake christmas goodies & time to relax christmas day while the kids openend gifts. My mom's side of the family originally had the police annex community room rented in N. Mankato for christmas day, but the celebration was moved to our house on Sunday afternoon instead. I'm so glad the weather was nice on this day!

Mikayla bundled up!

Mikayla's all ready for some fun in the snow! There are just a "few" things we've discovered since having kids. Here are a couple of them:

1st- Elbow gloves at Fleet farm...a must have for every child to avoid any snow up the sleeve incidents while your kid is playing. Wish I had these as a kid! Does anyone know if they sell these for adults....they're amazing!

2nd- If your 1st child is a girl & you plan on having more kids, always buy black snowpants. This will save you money & dreaded trips to the store looking for snow gear. Of course, you'll have to pass by the cutsie pink & purple stuff (which is sometimes hard for me to do), but she doesn't know the difference (at least at this age she doesn't). I still get some cutsie hats & coats, but snow pants, gloves & some snow boots will have to be neutral.

Visiting Santa

Went to visit Santa at The Mustard Seed in Chaska on Saturday, Dec 12th. Nolan was an instant crier (but still so cute) & Mikayla wouldn't go near him, but I was able to get her to sit in the front of the sleigh. Maybe we'll have better luck with the Easter Bunny!

First Big Snowfall

Mikayla enjoyed playing in the snow & helping Daddy shovel the driveway tonight (Tuesday, December 8). If the snow keeps falling, Randall may actually have to fire up the snow blower tomorrow morning.

Amber turns 30!

Seydie showing Amber how the gift bag lights up
My aunt Lynn & new grandson, Tristan
Hazelynn & Seydie
Nolan & Cammy

My cousin, Amber turned 30 on December 1st & we celebrated at her family's new home on Saturday, December 5.

Holiday Express

We went to the ECFE Holiday Express party at the elementary school on Saturday, Dec. 5. Mikayla (with Daddy's help) made a x-mas gingerbread necklace, got her face painted with a candy cane, bought her first x-mas presents for mommy & daddy with a shopping helper & made reindeer antlers. She wouldn't sit on Santa's lap, but Nolan got his first Santa experience with no tears shed.

Santa's Little Helper is 6 months old

Nolan turned 6 months old on November 22. We had his 6 month check up on Friday, November 27.

Weight 15 lbs. 10 1/2 oz. (20%)
Length 26 3/4 inches (70%)

His baby eczema continues to be a problem, therefore we are still using the Dermasmooth prescribed by the doctor.

On Thursday, December 3rd, we had another appointment with the orthotics dept. regarding Nolan's helmet. The doctor doesn't like the way it has been fitting & he will be getting a new one made (free of charge). The doctor made it sound as if it was their fault & we just won't get the results expected unless a new one is fitted. His head will be rescanned on December 18th & the new helmet fitted on the 30th. Even though I know this whole process will hopefully be for the best, having to do this all over again has given me my doubts regarding the doctor, the process, my clinic...etc. I know a few of you have had kids or know people who have had this helmet. If any of you could email me the clinic or names of doctors you went through that would be greatly appreciated.

The Many Faces of Mikayla

Sometimes, she's such a goofy girl

The one of many that actually worked for the x-mas card
Taking a bath with all her bubbles