Goodnight Mckinley!

After a long day, I was ready for Mckinley to go to bed. So, against her will, I got her ready, and put her down. She normally plays for a little while, and then dozes off to sleep. Sometimes she will cry, but only for a couple of minutes. However, tonight was different. In fact, I can still hear her in there making all kinds of noises. There was one point that she would not stop crying. So I gave in. I went back to her room, and this is what I found. Yes, she was completely entangled in her sheets. So much so, that I had to detangle her, and remake the whole bed. Of course, she thought it was the greatest thing ever. 

Mckinley goes back to the dr!

I think that I am just paying my dues. It seems as if our week is not complete without at least two trips to the doctor's office. Wonderful. My mom informed me the other day "Emilie, you were sick as a child too." I guess it is my turn to care for the sickly. Oh well! 

In the mean time, I have started reading a wonderful book titled "Having a Mary Spirit," by Joanna Weaver. The book has been wonderful so far, and left me feeling so challenged and refreshed! The book really goes along with one of our main motto's at church: no perfect people allowed. Joanna Weaver is a pastor's wife, and she talks about one of her main struggles being the fact that she has a tendency to be more like Martha than Mary. I would have to admit that once I became a mom, Martha tendencies are really typical for me. However, this book has helped me to really rethink so many things. I just love it when God uses everything to teach me more about Him. 

On a lighter note, last night offered another bright Chris parenting moment. We had gone to dinner with some friends, and Mckinley was shipped off to Grammy and Paw's house due to her ear infection. After dinner we went to pick her up, and headed home. Like always, she fell asleep in the car. We pulled in the drive way, and I volunteered Chris to bring her inside. He picked her up, and headed in the door. He took her to her room, put her in bed, and turned the lights off. He tip toed out of the room and said "Shhhhh, be quite, she is almost asleep." Not believing this to be true, I walked into Mckinley's room. I looked over in her bed, and there she sat with the most pathetic look ever. She still had her pink jacket on. Mind you it was buttoned up, and her hood was still on her head. "Babe, she can't sleep in her jacket, " I said. "Yeah she can, I don't think she would get to hot in it." I walked over to her bed, and once again rescued her from what would have been some really hot and uncomfortable sleeping attire. Oh my!

McKinley...goes to the dr!

Today we went to Kinley's one year appointment. I always dread going to these appointments for two reasons. One, I know that she will be given shots and two, it is one of the longest hours of my life. Fortunately, Chris was able to go with me today. 

After waiting for about forty-five minutes, the doctor finally came in. As we were sitting there talking, she commented on Mckinley's high energy level. This not only came from the fact that Mckinley was sitting there swinging one of her shoes around by the laces, but also because Mckinley babbled the ENTIRE time we were in the office. Please note that she is only one. I wish I could know what in the world she is trying to communicate. Anyhow, we got a great report. She is in the 10th percent for weight, and 90th for height....tall and skinny. We have Aunt SaSa to thank for that combination. 

Her newest activity....walking for hours behind this lovely lion walker from her boyfriend Levi. Here is a picture for enjoyment!

Coffee Date!

Chris and I are constantly changing our schedule around to see how we can most efficiently use the twenty four hours God has blessed us with. Well, I guess it is more of Chris changing his schedule around. For the most part, I am a creature of habit. I have gotten up early for years (or at least since McKinley has been here). I never understood this concept in high school. My mom is an early riser. I mean not just like seven or eight a.m.. We are talking four a.m. people. And yes, she even wakes up at this insane time without an alarm. Unfortunately, I guess I am prone to this type of schedule because of my genetics. Who knows. 

Anyhow, recently Chris has decided that he thought it would be best to stay up way past my bed time. I am not going to lie, I usually hit the sack around nine p.m.. Anything past this is pretty much considered a late night. He, on the other hand, considered his bed time to be more around the early morning hours. This worked for awhile. However, I would wake up around two in the morning to suddenly realize that all of the lights were on, and I would briefly panic thinking "He is working late tonight." I would roll over and fall back asleep. I would wake up around an hour later to still find all of the lights on. "Man, he must be on a roll." At this point I would have to get up to see what in the world this was all about. I would walk in to the living room to find Chris on the couch with is head back, and his mouth wide open, his eyes closed.  "Babe, how long have you been asleep?"  He would wake up, look around the room and say in a confused tone "Only fifteen minutes."  "Yeah," I would say "and the last time I went shopping was when I was twelve. Come on, time for bed." After this happened several times, Chris decided that he needed to make a revision in his schedule. 

As we went to bed last night he told me that he was going to get up at the same time I did. I acted surprised. He has said this before, and I never saw it happen. I have to admit that this morning was different. He did get up, and his only request was coffee. This surprised me even more. He NEVER drinks coffee. In fact,  he has given me a hard time for years for drinking coffee. So there we sat at the kitchen table with bibles in hand and coffee cups close by. After a couple of sips from his cup, he stated  "man, this stuff will wake you faster than you can think." 

"Finally." I thought. He finally understands why I start each day with some quality time at the coffee pot. We had a great morning...I'll let you know if this schedule lasts. 

More on McKinley

McKinley is one, and she loves life! We go to her one year check-up on Monday. I am sure she has no clue what is coming...you know all those shots they love to throw in at those appointments. 

I seriously can't wait for her to start talking. However, I have this slight feeling that she is going to be just like her dad: a person that is completely full of questions. In fact, Chris' nickname when he was little was Dennis the Menace. The only word that McKinley knows so far is "Uh oh." I think that the only reason this word is her only vocabulary choice is the fact that she can accompany this word with dropping various items on the floor and then saying without hesitation "Uh oh." I am working really hard on "Mama," but I think we have awhile to go. 

She really does have the life. She sleeps about twelve hours a night. Plus, she takes two naps during the day. Her favorite food these days....cinnamon rolls. Funny thing about that is, those were the one thing I craved my entire pregnancy. She loves watching TV, and helping people on the computer. I am surprised she has not broken one of our computers yet. Well, time to go put her down for nap number one. :)

Chris Galanos as a dad!

Raising a child has been such a joy. However, raising a child with Chris has made life even more fun. There have been countless things that Chris has done as a dad that have left me laughing hysterically. 

Take for instance this morning. I was rushing around getting ready, and I asked Chris if he would get McKinley dressed. He said sure. I was in our bathroom, and he walked in with her all ready to go. "Don't you think she will get cold in this dress?" She was in this cute brown and pink corduroy dress she had gotten for Christmas. I had not thought about the fact that is was January and the dress was sleeveless. "Oh yeah, there is a pink sweater in her closet. Would you mind grabbing that and putting it on too?" I guess I assumed that he would put it on outside the dress, you know where a normal cardigan sweater would go. Five minutes later he comes back to the bathroom with Mckinley. I could tell he was proud he had gotten her dressed. I glanced over at her, and noticed, that yes, the pink button up sweater was on, UNDERNEATH the brown dress. "Umm, babe," I said.  "Yeah," he replied. "That sweater needs to go on the outside of the dress." "What!" he exclaimed, "that makes no since." You see, Chris does in fact, have his own since of style...I guess.  I did not argue. I feared that by arguing I would loose any possibility of him helping in the future.  So, I just waited until he had left for the day, and saved her from a sad, sad fashion mistake.

McKinley Turns One!

I can't believe that McKinley is actually one year old! This year has flown by so fast. She celebrated her first birthday on the 26th of December. To be honest, I think it was more of a celebration for Chris and I than it was for her. In fact, she was not even interested in the presents. She was more excited about the paper and bows that her gifts came in. 

I have a small confession to make about her birthday this year. During the course of this entire year, I have met so many people that have birthdays in December. Their main piece of advice: make sure to keep her birthday and Christmas completely separate. I would shake my head and agree. I mean she is one, and combining these two holidays would leave scars that would last for her entire life, right? Well, as the holiday season approached life got crazy, and  I did it. I combined her birthday and Christmas present!! Notice how the red wagon present at both Christmas and the birthday party. Opps! However, I felt totally redeemed when McKinley even after opening all of her other presents still went for the red wagon she got from Chris and me . In fact, she was so territorial at her birthday party that she pushed another friend in the face because she was well, in her way and in HER wagon. I am thinking that one of our New Years resolutions should be teaching Mckinley how to share. 

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