Ryan's First Christmas

What a wonderful year 2009 has been! Of course Ryan Marie's arrival was the start of it all back in July 5 months ago. Ed and I are amazed when we look back at pictures of her - she was so tiny! She is still our little munchkin. She is getting bigger - almost 16 pounds (we think). She is starting to sit on her own. She loves her exersaucer and jumper. She still loves her musical star. She is really starting to babble - she wants you to know what is on her mind! Ryan loves spending time with all three of the grandparents.

We have looked forward to her first Christmas and it is here! And what a magical Christmas it has been. Ryan met Santa this morning. She didn't even cry. Then it started to snow. Ryan is going to have a white Christmas.

I will never forget 2009. But look forward to all of the years to come!

Ryan 4 months

Ryan is such a happy girl. She smiles and giggles ALL of the time. She is a DADDY'S GIRL. All she has to do is see Ed and she smiles SOO BIG! He is wrapped around her little finger.

We went to the Arboretum to take pictures in the pumpkin patch. Ryan did as well as she could without being able to sit up!

Ryan was baptized on 11.08.09 by Deacon Ed Leyden. It was so great to have the family together. And we were so happy that Rob and Maggie are her Godparents. We had visitors from New Jersey - Aunt Nancy and Lyn, from Boston - Maggie and Matthew, from Plymouth - Aunt Pat and Michael, Tulsa - Aunt Kathie, Holly Lake - GrandDad and Cleone. Ryan was a perfect Angel! As she should be on her special day.

Ryan 3 months

Ryan - 3 months

Well we are growing and growing! Miss Ryan is almost half way through her THIRD month and she is close to 14 pounds. So she has almost doubled her size since she arrived. Hard to believe she has been in our lives for 15 weeks. Sometimes it seems really fast and sometimes it seems like it is dragging by. It is amazing all of the new things that are going on with her.

She smiles ALL of the time now.

And I get giggles out of her daily.

She is thoroughly fascinated with a musical star that flashes in different colors. If we need to entertain her that's the way to do it!

But when she is hungry or tired - WATCH OUT! She has a set of lungs on her. Ed says she gets that from me. Hmm screaming and bright red. Me? Quick tempered? :-)

She loves all of her babysitters - Gram, Heather, Roni and we love them!

We have started walking in the Bob jogger(Gotta wait a couple more months on the running - don't want to jostle the baby!)

I have attached another video of her giggling. Yes I have the silliest mommy voice but HEY you will do what you've got to do to make your baby happy and giggle!

Videos of Ryan

Here are a few videos of Ryan! One is from last week - some tummy time. She can hold up her head really well! Before we know it she will be rolling! And our world will really start to change. The other video is of her smiling. She has started to giggle but I can't catch it on video yet!

Hope you enjoy watching her grow like we are!

Ryan's First Football Trip

Well we did it! We drove to Fayetteville Arkansas for the Arkansas v Georgia game. It's normally a 5 hour drive but it only took us 6. Two pitstops for changing diapers and eating. And boy did we have to change some diapers. Ryan had a BLOWOUT! We had to throw away her onesie! She was happy as can be just chilling in her seat. I washed her down and Ed washed down her seat!

Here are a few pictures of Ryan in her Hog onesie (thanks Stacey!). She went to the tailgate to hang with her parents and all of their friends. She slept the entire time! She finally woke up when it was time to go. :-)

Ryan's First Road Trip

Ryan was AWESOME today! We went to Holly Lake Ranch to see her Granddad, Jan. We got to Holly Lake around 10:30 and she was spoiled with many kisses and handed around to all of his friends. Granddad LOVED holding her too. Ryan got her first piece of Harley gear - My Grandpa rides a Harley onesie - LOVE IT! She also got her first pair of shoes and we know they won't be her last. After a few cookies (for me, not Ryan), we headed to Tyler for Ryan to meet her Great Grandmother. What a wonderful time. Great Grandmother Thula was smitten. Lots of kisses and holding from her. Check out the photos - we have 4 generations of Parkhills! We will definitely be heading back to East Texas soon!

PS - We went to the doctor yesterday and Ryan weighs 10 lbs 5 oz! Check out the cute chunky cheeks!

Ryan's first days

As most of you know, Ryan Marie is here! After a marathon labor, Ryan arrived via c-section on July 15, 2009 at 2:12 am. She weighed 7 lbs 5 oz and was 20.5 inches long. All of her grandparents were there to celebrate her arrival.

The last 5.5 weeks have been busy in the McGonigle house. Ryan is growing and growing. At her 2 day visit she was already past her birth weight at 7 lbs 7 oz. Then at her 2 week visit she was at 8 lbs 1 oz. And at our last visit, her one month, she was 8 lbs 13 oz. She could easily be 9 lbs by now! And she is getting longer too. She is 22 inches long and in the 80th percentile.

As you can see in the photos, she doesn't look like either one of us. She is a good mix of both of us! We kinda think she is cute!

She is a great sleeper. She is already sleeping 5 to 6 hour stretches at night. That's nice for us that we are only getting up once each night. Ed is a great help and will rock her and put her to bed. She loves to be held. And would much rather be held than take a nap in her crib! We are working on that...

Ryan has already been on many outings - grocery store, Target, Chuy's, Mi Cocina, and Gram's (of course!). Thanks to everyone for coming to visit. We have enjoyed all of our guests.

We hope to keep you better updated now that she is a little older and mommy and daddy are learning more about her!

Countdown

So the countdown is on. One more week to my due date. Ed and I are so ready to meet Ryan Marie! Here is the latest picture - me playing lifesize jinga. Why not, right?!!

Baby Bump

So we haven't taken too many photos - Hopefully we will improve when we our baby girl arrives! But here are a few photos of my bump's progression over the last 8 months or so!

Top Row Left to Right: #1 Unknowingly pregnant at Notre Dame Football Game with Hoyt and Laura Hammer at 6 week, Me about 3 weeks and Ed, #2 In Vail snow shoeing with Diane Hudek, Me at 16 weeks and Chelsea May, #3 In the Nursery at 22 weeks

Bottom Row Left to Right: #1 With the hostesses from my shower Meg Munson, Theresa Dillard, Me at 23 weeks, Chelsea May and Heather Alvarez, #2 On our BabyMoon in Tuscon at 24 weeks, #3 31 weeks

The Babymoon

What is a Babymoon? Our last trip before the arrival of Baby McGonigle.  We went to Tucson, AZ and it was perfect.  We stayed at the Omni Resort.  Our goal was to lounge by the pool the whole time and we did!  The weather was perfect.  It got warmer and warmer each day.  Our first day was about 75 and it was 95 degrees by the time we left.  And yes, it was a dry heat and I loved it. 

 

We got up early every morning and headed out to the trails for some hiking.  Don't worry - nothing too steep or strenuous.  We also headed out to San Xavier Mission and Ed got some great pictures. 

 

My birthday present while we were there was to go to Kitt Peak Observatory.  We headed out of town about 90 minutes to our nighttime tour.  We were able to get some great pictures of the telescopes and sunset.  Once the sun set we used binoculars to look at constellations and also got to play with a big telescope to check out Saturn.  

This was a birthday and a great "last" trip!  

Welcome

Well, we have given in!  We have a blog!  We just wanted to be able to share with you everything that is going on with us and our family to be.  The past 6.5 months have gone by quickly and we are looking forward to July 12.  And as an introduction, here is baby girl McGonigle's room.