Ten months old!

I am so glad to have my happy baby back... we had a very rough week last week. When I posted last week we thought Mikayla had a stomach bug. Well, for the first part of last week she did have the stomach thing... but it did not stop there. She was over the stomach part by Tuesday night, but then she got something else... the mini flu!!! All she wanted to do was cry and sleep. When I say cry I don't mean fuss, she screamed and no one could appease her. We ended up going back to the doctor on Thursday and they did all kinds of tests to see what was wrong with her. Finally, a blood test determined the mini flu. Today(Monday) she is FINALLY 100 percent back to herself. I am so THANKFUL!! Since she was born, Mikayla has been a VERY good baby so for her to cry like that and go almost a week without smiling - it was torture around here.

We went to the grocery store this morning and she actually sat in the front part of the grocery cart instead of her carrier (with a cloth cover over it of course)!! She looked like such a big girl!! I had an older gentleman ask me on what aisle he could get one of those!! I laughed and Mikayla thought it was funny so she flashed him a big toothless grin and laughed too! So sweet! She has developed such a fun personality. She wants to do anything to make you laugh, and when you do laugh of course she keeps repeating!!

Got these pics of Mikayla playing before nap time this afternoon - she is growing up so fast!! Cannot believe she is 10 months old today. It just amazes me that she will be a year old in 2 months!! Man... time flies! Yes, previously I did say toothless grin... she STILL has not cut any teeth. The two front bottom ones are SOOOO close, just not there yet. We are throwing a party when one breaks through!! Anyway, enjoy the pictures.

She is trying to sing into the microphone... future American Idol!!

Here she is watching herself in the mirror!!

Beating the microphone on the drum!

She is watching the beads inside the microphone move when she shakes it!

Mikayla and Daddy

Mikayla wants to share her pacifier with Mommy and Daddy now... and she is VERY persistent. She actually tries shoving the pacifier in our mouths with GREAT force. She is starting to show a little temper when she does not get her way.





Look how much these two look alike!!!

We are so blessed.

We had a scare yesterday. Mikayla's soft spot was enlarged and firm, she threw up a couple of times, and was just not herself. Taking all that into consideration I made a phone call to my contact at Vanderbilt and was told to bring her to the ER. All signs pointed to a failing shunt, AGAIN. Some days our burden feels a little heavier than others and yesterday was one of those days. So after many tests, tears, and hours they let us know that her shunt was fine and it was just a virus. Turns out that it is a not fun stomach virus. We had a few friends that came to see Mikayla while we were there, which we love them very much for that, but with a very good friend I was really able to reflect on the situation. Like I said before, some days are naturally harder than others but we go through nothing compared to some families who were at that hospital yesterday. Our daily struggles with Spina Bifida are nothing in comparison to parents that have to watch their child lay in a hospital bed every day with stage 4 cancer, knowing that could be their last day. I think about the initial and continuous reports we got while I was pregnant with Mikayla and I look at her as I hold her in my arms today... we are so very blessed. Don't get me wrong - every day is in no way a cake walk for me but when those uncertanties about the future arise or the why starts to come... I step back and remind myself of what could have been or what is a reality for others. We are so blessed.

First Haircut

We decided it was time to get rid of Mikayla's Mullet. Mike and I took her at 3:30 today and Mikayla got her first haircut. She did fantastic... did not cry or even wimper once.(mommy didn't even cry either)

Mikayla with her Mullet.

Getting her cape in the chair.

No turning back now! Snip, snip.


There goes the mullet!!


What are you doing to me Mrs. Angie?

Hair is gone, gone!

Time to trim the bangs.

We even got a certificate and hair for the baby book.

She looks like a big girl now. So precious!!

Snow FINALLY!!

Well, we finally got a little bit of snow. It was not much but it was enough for Mikayla to look at and go out in for a few minutes. When all was said and done it covered everything pretty good.

Even the animals enjoyed watching the snow. You can see Pootie in the picture above and Duke below.

While Mikayla ate her fruit puffs at breakfast I turned her highchair so she could watch the snow out the door. She really enjoyed watching.

9 months old!!

Wanted to share Mikayla's 9 month pictures with you all. She had so many good ones but these were our favorites. Hope you all enjoy.