Sleeping Arrangements...

Ever since we brought Irelyn home from the hospital, she has slept in a "side-car" type bed right next to me. It's nice because I can look at her at any time of the night and check on her and just pull her up with me when it's time to feed her... it looks like this:

Irelyn turned 3 months around the first of the year, so I had that marker in my mind to start transitioning her to her crib in her room. But I would lay in bed and imagine her all the way across the hall (of our ginormous house;)), in that big bed (all 5' x 2' that it is), and that big room all alone, and it was kind of hard for me to follow through. So, I decided that first we should transition her away from the bed, like this:

It was a good plan... but somehow through the night... of course I have no idea how... this happened:

I guess mom's not ready... so if you visit in May and her bed is outside our door, you'll know that inch by inch we are making progress =)

Wrapping Up Christmas

Okay... so two more Christmases to talk about. I promise I never expected to be nearly a month after Christmas and still talking about it! I mean, don't get me wrong I love Christmas and it is definitely worth talking about, but I'm not trying to prolong it. My tests are done... for now, and hopefully forever... so I have time to sit down and finish up. Plus, I have lots more to talk about. Irelyn has been very busy in this time since Christmas!

So, on Tuesday the 28th we had Christmas with Casey's side of the family (although when out of town aunts and uncles come to visit, it is more of a week event, but the actual day was the 28th). Irelyn had fun catching up with Aunt Katie and Uncle Andrew who traveled back for Christmas. And she got to see Grandpa Pat at Christmas too, which was good since we were not able to go to the Malloy Christmas in Carroll. We were able to Skype with Aunt Molly and Bella for a little while, but Irelyn wasn't very happy around that time, so she didn't get to talk to them much. And of course she was able to spend time with all of her cousins, and local aunts and uncles, and Grandma Chris. It was a fun, crazy day with really yummy food... something Irelyn will have to enjoy next year... and fun presents for everyone.

Irelyn had her cousin Lydia's name for Christmas and got her a doll set with a doll, a little outfit, and a stroller for the baby. She thought that was a good idea because Lydia loves babies, and always wants to hold Irelyn when she sees her. Irelyn got a learn and discover driver toy. She can practice her driving skills- although mom's fine that it'll be a while before real driving starts. That was from her cousin Nadia (I think- I don't think it was either of the other Nilius girls sorry if I'm wrong on that!), but her mom and dad teach/have taught drivers ed, so they want her to have an early start in learning safe driving =). And, I'll admit, I did a really terrible job taking pictures at the Malloy Christmas, so there aren't many. I carried the camera with me most of the day though- so I tried! =)

Cuddling with Aunt Katie

Hanging out with Grandpa Pat

Irelyn was always sleeping when I thought to take a picture, so we took one later with her present

And here she is playing with it already with the help of her bumbo seat

At the end of the week, on New Years weekend, we had our last Christmas, the Hoylman Christmas. This year we had a fun time at the... well I don't know the name of the hotel, I always describe it as: "the hotel off of I-80 before you get to Iowa City... the one with the new indoor water park... and the Amana stores around it... we used to do a lot of family get togethers there..."=) I think it used to be a Holiday Inn, and I could look up the actual name of it, but I think you get the picture. On Saturday night all of the kids had a fun time playing at the water park. I was nostalgic because as a kid we stayed there several times for family things. At that time, it was just a pool, but it was like the biggest indoor hotel pool I had ever seen or been in (and I actually don't feel like I'm exaggerating it really was huge!) . So, on one hand the water park is awesome, but on the other hand I loved that pool and remembered lots of good times there. =) The water park is a nice size for little kids and I think everyone had a good time. There were lots of blue lips and little raisin fingers when everyone was done! We will have to take Irelyn back when she is a little older so that she can experience the fun.

The next day we had a nice dinner and presents with the whole family. Irelyn, Casey, and I had Colin's name for Christmas and we got him some Army dude stuff =). And Aunt Jane and Uncle Paul had Irelyn and they got her an Iowa Hawkeye cheerleading outfit! Perfect for next football season. She also got a Hawkeye sippy cup and Hawkeye board book.

Starting to open the present

This will teach me how to be a hawkeye! (and yes I love sucking on mom's wrist!)

Mima was taking pictures at Christmas, but I think I went too fast, so we took a picture later at home with all of Irelyn's presents.

The whole group!

Altogether it was a great Christmas season! It feels like a long time ago that I started talking about Christmases. It's always a little sad when Christmas is over, but this one was a little different because we were missing aunt Hilary and our new family member, Clinton, for the first time ever! So, in a way we are glad for the progression of time and are hoping to see them soon. Maybe then we can finish up Christmas with the whole family in tact. (even if it may be Christmas in June by the time it works out- but that's ok you can celebrate at any time right?! =)) Thanks for following along through Irelyn's first Christmas. We have many more updates to come! =)

Christmas With Mima and Opa! (Part 2)

The Christmas blogs are coming to an end... I promise... eventually. I really never intended for Christmas blogs to be this drawn out, but with studying for my exams and the start of the semester, time has gotten away from me. Plus, I actually had this whole blog finished a couple of days ago, and when I went to post it, it failed and I lost it all... so, here goes another try!

We were pretty groggy Christmas morning... the late night and all of the excitement caught up with us. We woke up to a house full of toys from Santa all ready and waiting for Irelyn to play with them. We had a lot of fun just hanging out together, and also got to enjoy spending some time with Grandma and Grandpa Edeker (that being my grandma and grandpa). We started the day with some delicious Christmas brunch with my mom's famous french toast, yummy egg casserole, and bacon... well, the bacon was... well... limited... apparently Leopold can live through eating a whole pound of raw bacon... so we were left with the stuff that I had randomly brought along, which was about as thin as paper. The rest of the day was spent just relaxing and being with each other, with little spots of gifts for Irelyn.

A little bird told me that we needed more pictures on here, and I agree so the rest of Christmas Day will be told in pictures.

We came down to these toys, ready and waiting from Santa... Poor guy, we forgot to leave him milk and cookies!

Getting ready for brunch. Grandma s helping put Irelyn's stubborn sock back on.

Trying out the new entertainer with daddy! Mommy likes this a lot because when Irelyn can stand on her own, the seat comes off for an entertaining table!

Slide around to the other side to check things out...

The only problem is my legs aren't quite long enough yet!

Trying out the new, soft chair ... I'm not sure why I'm writing in underline, I didn't choose this...

A gift from Mima and Opa, Opa was very excited about this, and yes, it's real!

What kid doesn't need a real phone... =) It's so cute and I already have visions of walking into Irelyn's room to find she has called Opa at work to tell him about her day. He said he'd take her call anytime =)

Leopold got a gift too... it was actually just a ploy to keep him busy all day... and it worked!

Hanging out with Grandma

And then this happened when Mima tried to take her from Grandma. I don't think it was Mima, I think it was the tiredness taking over... (Again with the darn underline!)

So... it was nap time...

For Leopold too =) He did a number on that toy

It is our family's tradition to put baby Jesus into the Nativity scene on Christmas Day, so we did it here with Irelyn for the first time

I don't think she caught the Christmas spirit though... she doesn't look very happy here. Look at that lip Hil! Does it look familiar?

Later we opened presents from Aunt Hilary and Uncle Clinton... Mommy and Irelyn have matching aprons for Christmas baking next year!

Opening up Irelyn's new tea set

Irelyn got a tea set, petits fours, and a Fancy Nancy tea party book from Hilary and Clinton

And, Irelyn and Opa can have a tea party now!

Happy little elf feet!

A couple more Christmases to come, thanks for sticking with us through our first Christmas journey!

Christmas With Mima and Opa! (Part 1)

So Christmas number 3, the Malloy Christmas in Carroll, was a no go. A little storm blew in Thursday/Friday and made the roads a little sketchy. We thought we could probably make it there, but didn't think we would like getting snowed in if the roads were worse Friday night on the way back to my parents. So, with our new parental status we decided to take our time on Friday morning and then head to Mima and Opa's house for Christmas Eve. The plan had always been to spend Christmas Day with them.

Christmas Eve was such a nice day. We were able to take it slow and not rush at all. I had spent a good deal of my energy the day before getting ready for our Christmas (Phew, there were only two of us, how did all of our Grandmas do those huge meals for tons of people!). Anyways, I wasn't in any big rush to get ready to go, but Casey was a huge helper and kept me motivated. =) We got to my parents and had a nice time just hanging out, and then we went to the Lutheran Church of hope Christmas Eve service. The church service was great! The pastor there is a wonderful speaker and he gave such a great message emphasizing how God finds us. He wasn't trying to force or guilt anyone into Christianity, but showed a genuine heart for the people in the service. There was great singing, some acting out of the Christmas story, and even an awesome chalk artist to the side who created a beautiful picture of Mary and Jesus which was displayed at the end. It was really a great combination of artistic ability and Biblical truth to bring in Christmas Day.

We also experienced some humor during the service. *Disclaimer... Guys might not find this all that funny... you have been warned =)* Well, I knew that there was the potential of Irelyn needing to eat during the service. There was a chance she would make it, but I didn't know for sure because sometimes she goes a long time and sometimes she doesn't. So, Casey held her for most of the first part of the service, but then she started to get a little restless, and me being nervous all the time that she is going to abruptly disrupt anything I was ready to run out and feed her. But, the problem was that I was enjoying the service so much, I just didn't want to leave! (and I'm really disgusted to nurse in the bathroom). Well, the service was a candlelight service, so the auditorium was dark, so I got the idea that I could nurse her there. I mean, we were sitting in the back and come on, with my blanket on no one can see a thing! I really don't have a problem nursing in public, because I do it discreetly, and I really get tired of the hiding thing all the time... woops!, I need to stop there that's my recent ranting topic... back to the service. Anyways, so it's dark, I throw my blanket over and I have this super convenient top on that I can just pull down, I get my shirt ready, take the baby...AND the lights come back up!!! For the entire service the lights had been off, why must they come on now?!? So, in our shock my mom and I totally overreact... she suddenly pulls my blanket off not knowing that I already had my shirt ready! Them I'm fumbling with the baby, I feel like things are flying... she loses her paci on the dirty floor...it was a mess. I'm sure my mom felt bad about that whole mess, she didn't know what came over her, I just think it is incredibly funny! =) So, I fumble my shirt up before everyone realizes it and I flash them all, and the lights go back down! Then, in a flurry we rush out of the row because Irelyn was really getting restless since she was just fooled into thinking she was going to get to eat! =) Come to find out, she didn't actually want to eat. She was content with me bouncing her in the back, which was nice because I didn't have to miss the service, or the amazing singing that took place at the end. (You can get an idea of what I'm talking about by youtubing John Cheatam, Lutheran Church of Hope...of course, I've got my own Josh Groban/Michael W. Smith at home, so I'm definitely not looking for new music... but this was a fun performer to watch sing the new version of "I Heard the Bells"). Then at the end, we all lit our candles to sing Oh, Holy Night as a congregation, and it was just a beautiful, reverent sight to see all of the candles lit and to hear such a beautiful hymn sung.

It was a late night, but we had a great time together and at the service. We got to bed about 3... I think Irelyn was excited for Santa to come ;). Up next, the rest of Christmas with Mima and Opa... and lots of pictures.

Christmas #2!!!

Our Christmas was the second Christmas of Irelyn's first =). We celebrated our Christmas on Thursday the 23rd. It was a nice night of yummy snacks and fun presents. Mostly though, we had fun just being together as a family having a little quiet time and fun celebrating Christ's birth. It's a time of year that definitely reminds us of His birth, but now as a parent I am reminded that I have this little person who needs to learn about Him and His love, and how now we have this exciting task of showing her what that means. It seems like you get to a point in life where you are comfortable because for the most part we are surrounded with people and family of similar thought and belief, but all of a sudden there is this little girl who has all of that to learn...

When Casey got home from work we celebrated together. We had our snacks and opened our presents. Irelyn was overjoyed at her new toys =)... She told me... Before I get into all of the toys she got that night I need to explain a little gift she got early... the bumbo seat. So, people like my sister and mom know how I originally felt, and no offense to those who may have these, but originally they just struck me as kind of weird or dumb looking. I honestly don't know what it was... probably just my raging hormones... but I decided we would never have one. Well, Irelyn really likes to sit up and she obviously can't so it without something supporting her, and then I read about them on Target.com and found out they are good for kids 1+ months! And then I read the reviews and people raved and raved about how wonderful they were. There were seriously like more than 400 reviews of all of these people that love them! Well, after that, I couldn't let all of these other kids have this wonderful seat getting a head start of my baby girl =) but for real, it's just a great place to be able to set her that she likes. All of that to say, I broke down and bought one. Bummer is, we tried to keep it gender neutral and bought this horrible mint green color one. Oh well, I don't think Irelyn or any of our kids will care (Although, we probably should have just gotten pink, since it's unlikely that we will need anything blue or gender neutral in this family! =)) Phew, the bumbo seat took a long explanation! Back to our Christmas... Irelyn got her blocks, phone, and crawl ball, which I talked about earlier in another blog.

Yes we took pictures of Irelyn next to all of her toys...

Yessss... Just what I wanted!

Hmm, what can I build with these?

A cool new (old) phone- kids aren't even going to know what a rotary dial is these days!

Not looking too interested in the crawl ball, but some day she will love it

She also got a little play kitchen (which is adorable! I love it!). Her kitchen has all of these nooks and crannies and baubles. It speaks Spanish, has shape slots, colors, and even makes squeaky sounds when you open the oven and fridge. =) It plays music, talks, and flashes lights. It's a toy Irelyn will probably appreciate more in a couple of months, but there is only so much you can buy that made for babies under 6 mos.

Her sweet new kitchen

Her other present was a baby play gym with the little toys that hang down. It also can turn into a tunnel when she is mobile, so it offers several developmental pluses. Right now I can really tell that her interest has grown in playing with those toys. She is experimenting with batting her arm at them and lasts for a decent amount of time playing with them. And is even starting to deliberately reach for some of the toys. It's definitely fun watching as she learns something new each day.

She likes it better out of the box

All together it was a great first Christmas with Irelyn. She mostly stayed awake for it, and I think she will keep very busy with her new toys. Up next, Mima and Opa's Christmas!