Couldn't have gone better!

Well we had our first appt. with the new OB yesterday morning and it couldn't have gone better! First and foremost, I think Dr. Vandersloot is a great doctor and I feel very comfortable and confident with him! Next, and most exciting ... we got to see the baby! It was wiggling all over the place and waving it's little arm buds at us! Cory thought that was the coolest thing ever! It's heart beat was 167 and my due dates has been confirmed. October 4, 2010, which is closer to where I thought it would be! I have to get our picture scanned onto our computer somehow, but as soon as I do, I'll post it on here! We are so excited! Now we just have to wait 12 more weeks to find out if it's a boy or a girl! It's gonna be a LOOOOONG 3 months! LOL!

Sick of feeling sick.

Man, if I would've known what was coming ... I wouldn't have been complaining. I kept telling Mom and Cory that I was feeling great! No morning sickness or anything! than all of the sudden it hit me. It's not as bad this time as it was with Ellie (the 24/7 throwing up, can't get off the couch kind of sick) but it's kicking my butt just the same. I'm thankful it's not as bad because I have NO idea how I'd manage a toddler, sometimes two, if it were. I mostly have all day on-and-off nausea, I've only thrown up a few times (sorry for the TMI), and I'm pretty sleepy. When the small windows present themselves, I have to get up and move to get anything done. My poor house is suffering and thank God for Cory because in addition to working his normal schedule ... he's been coming home and picking up the slack. Today my sole mission is get the laundry washed and dried, all of it. Cory said he'd fold and put it away if I can just get it all washed. I'm trying. I'm waiting very impatiently for my first appointment next week. In-take, since I have a new OB, is on Wednesday (just with the nurse) and I meet with the OB and hopefully get to see or hear the baby's heartbeat on Friday!

On a more exciting note, Ellie started swimming lessons at the YMCA last week! She absolutely loves it! She's learning to blow bubbles, kick and has been going underwater! She's not a huge fan of her ears going into the water or floating on her back though. I think she just doesn't feel secure. but when Teacher Lori does it with her she does amazing! I'm so glad =) So far she's been to 3 classes and has about 6 or so left this session, but each time she gets more and more comfortable and better and better! We've decided to sign her up for next session as well so that will be another month 2x/week! She loves it so much, I know if she knew to ask me, she would want to continue with them!

Back to my laundry. And I need to find something to eat that will stay with me. I'm thinking Grammy and Papa's homemade applesauce and toast. It seems to be my fail-safe!

And baby makes 4!

That's right! Cory and I just found out that we will be adding the newest member of the McLaughlin family sometime in late September! We are so excited! A little nervous, but so super stoked! I have my first appt. on February 26! We should be able to see/hear the heartbeat, so let the countdown begin!

On a sadder (if that's a word..) note ... Boone ran away Monday night and has yet to return. =( We're all pretty bummed, Cory especially. We keep praying that someone will find him and call us and NOT that he's been hit or stolen. Every time the phone rings we jump. Even Ellie knows something is up. She's always been a huge fan of him but yesterday woke up from her nap asking for him. Poor baby. Please help us prey that he is returned to us safe and sound!

9 month recap

I can't believe our baby girl is 20 months tomorrow! WHERE does time go? Walking, talking, running, yelling, picking her nose, putting on her own shoes, a toddler bed. What is next =( I feel like tomorrow she'll be off to college. Well, typical me, hasn't updated in 9 months! I'm terrible. But I'll give a month-by-month recap real fast.
May: Ellie's first birthday (cupcake theme) was a blast, despite the 6" of cottonwood "snow" all over Rooks Park. I made 88 cupcakes and came home from the party with 75 of them *sigh* We BBQ'd and it really was a success!
June: We started cloth diapering (again) and this time for good!
July: (Mommy's)Great Grandpa Tom and Great Grandma Jeanne McKeown's memorial service & big cook out at Grandma Darlene and Grandpa Tom McKeown's for the 4th! Most ALL the McKeowns were there!
The Oregon Coast for 5 days camping with Nana and Papa! Ellie LOVED playing in the ocean! Even though it was cold, she loved the water!
August: Camping trip with Uncle Sam and Uncle Evan at Wallowa Lake!!
September: Another camping trip to Wallowa Lake but this time, with Grampa Tracy, Grama Sarah and Aunties Tiffany & Megan!
October: Mommy started watching a little girl, Maddy! She's only 6 weeks younger than Ellie and they are BEST FRIENDS!
Halloween! Ellie was a bumble bee and went trick-or-treating with Uncle Sammy and Uncle Evan!
November: Yummy Thanksgiving at Nonna and Granite's
December: Christmas tree cutting up Tolgate!
WONDERFUL Christmas! spent with all our families =)
And here we are, almost done with January: We had a great NYE get together at our house! Ellie stayed with Nana and Papa, after they were over for dinner and some Wii!
So ... with the New Year comes resolutions!
Here are mine:
Be thrifty (spend less)
Stay away from dairy (...not going so well)
Stay organized.
Go GreenER ~we already cloth diaper, MOMMY uses reusable grocery bags, trying to conserve energy by using less HOT water (wash machine etc..) and heat, switching to all natural cleaning products, and starting learning to sew to cut back on spending (especially with the diapers)!

Cheers to a happy and healthy 2010!

SHE WALKS!

Oh my ... it's been far too long since I've updated. I guess I'm not as good at this as I thought I would be.
Well anyhow, Ellie started standing on her own (from the floor to standing without holding on to anything) on Wednesday March 25 and then decided to take her very first 5 steps on March 31!!!!! She's taken series of small steps here and there ever since but no "serious" walking yet.
She had her 9 month check up on Thursday March 26th and everything was great, as usual! She's 28 3/4" tall and weighs 19.8 pounds! This puts her in between the 50 and 75th percentile for her height and between the 25 and 50th percentile for her weight. Tall and skinny I guess. She didn't have to get any shots this time (yaaaaay!!) because she's all caught up already! She did have to get some blood work done though to check for anemia. They stuck her finger twice and she didn't even flinch. The results came back perfectly fine, so there are really no worries whatsoever! She's PERFECT!

We took her camping up the Tucannon on March 16th for one night, it went amazingly! We borrowed my parennts' 5th wheel so Ellie had SOME sort of room to get down and crawl. She went fishing for the first time and caught her very first fish on her own Dora the Explorer fishing pole! We were very proud of her! Mommy helped her reel it in. We went back the following weekend, for the annual 3-D archery shoot, for 4 nights this time! It went as well as can be expected for 3 days of rain and poor Ellie being stuck in her stroller the entire time. It was just too yucky to let her get down and explore. We came home a day early because she woke up at 230 in the morning and was up until 530 with diarrhea. I figured it was time to get her home and back into her comfort zone and routine. Everyone else decided they were tired of all the rain and snow so they came home later that day as well. All in all, it was a great experience and we can't wait to take her up camping and fishing again! I think she really had a good time!

I've been busy planning Ellie's 1st birthday party! I can't believe she'll be ONE in a month and a half! Time FLIES! I've been making the invitations in the free time I have while she's napping. I'm really excited for it! It's going to be cupcake theme and should be a great time! We're having a big backyard bbq with her closest friends and family!

Ellie's 1 year checkup is scheduled for May 26th!

Ellie's 1st ouchie

Last Friday, January 16th, Ellie got into a serious fight with our baby gate AND the refrigerator and they both kicked her butt. Her and one of the little girls I watch were standing at the gate watching me fix lunch and the gate wasn't latched all the way. It fell forward with both of them attached and Ellie's face made contact with the corner of the frige. She had an instant bruise and goose egg. I panicked and called Eilin and had her leave work and come help me. I didn't know if I should just ice her head or take her to the E.R. or what! We ended up taking her to the E.R. and although nothing was seriously wrong, the E.R. doc said it was a good thing I brought her in just in case. Head injuries and babies are common, but nothing to mess with. So ... she has a pretty "accessory" for now. Hahahaha! Poor baby! She's tough, she only cried for literally about 45 seconds. She had a pretty good headache for the first couple days but is now back to her normal busy self!
She also had her check up yesterday (Jan. 22) and Dr. Hall gave us the First Aid poster, they usually don't give out until the 1 year appointment. He said it looks like we're gonna need it! HAHAHAHA!
She weighs 18.6 pounds and is 27 3/4" tall! She is between the 25th and 50th percentile for both height and weight! She's is VERY active and her Dr. says we better watch out! He's pretty sure she's going to be an early walker because the pulling up on things, and getting herself down from the standing position are things they expect 10 month old babies to do! YAY! Baby-proofing here come the McLaughlin's!

9 month check up (at 10 months) is Thursday March 26

one more makes 3

Today is the start of a new week for me and it brings another little girl! She comes in the form of a 3 year old called Claire! I was approached last week about watching another child one week out of the month. I happily accepted and today is her first day with me! So far, so good!! My count is now Ellie, Kristen, and Claire ... a house FULL of estrogen! I'm loving it! It's definitely a lot busier, but I really don't mind! If this week goes well with her, I'll have her every month when she comes visit her Daddy! If nothing else, we could definitely use the extra money! I'll keep you all updated as the process unfolds!