Happy 10 months old Aislinn!

My goodness for something that seem to be going by so slowly, due to lack of sleep, seems to really be flying by now! 

Nothing like sleeping through the night (at least 2 weeks now with no waking up in the middle of the night and crying it out!), no back pain, no nursing, to enjoy the life of a baby even more! ;-) Now if we could just get some hair! She won't wear her banded flowers anymore, pulls them right off!  Oh and 6th tooth still hasn't cut, but she has a low grade fever today.

We got to play with Carson and his mom Amy today, while her older children were at school! Carson and Riordan were in playgroup together when we first met! It just got to be too much at the time with having Teagan and then Caden's school schedule so we haven't got to see them much. Then the last two weeks they were in camp together and rediscovered each other! So it was so wonderful to catch up and hang out. We adore them so much! Can't wait to get together again! She and I are going to do double dates and I will have Julie come in the morning to watch the girls.

Tomorrow we are all heading to Caden's school for there will be a local news channels Helicopter there! We are all so excited!

And Teagan keeps asking for Leah Leah Leah, and she will be here in the afternoon! YAY!

Thursday night is Riordan's open house and Friday night I'm hosting a skin care evening, by Great Skin Arizona! 

Saturday morning we have swim lessons and hopefully to visit Kate, Jason, and Micah ;-)

Okay Grammy, pics of Aislinn and Riordan! When ya coming out??

Can someone send me Kay and Don's addresses and email? I thought I knew the email by heart, but it bounced back.. And addresses of: ALL the Follett's PLUUUEEEAAAASSEEE and Aunt Claire and everyone, Karen and Bobby, etc.. I still have nothing! Don't make me hunt ya down!

Caden's 1st day of Kindergarten!

Daddy missed 1st day, but he was here up until we left!

Ready for school!

Love this smile! Love this boy!

Another shot?

Come on mommy, the sun is bright!

Can you stop, pleaaaaseee?

Caden playing, just before realizing we were still there ;-)

He did so awesome!

He was so excited this morning. He did say at one point, while watching the show 'Wipe Out' online, that he was a little bit nervous. 

Nervous?! He didn't even kiss and hug me good-bye! Riordan, Teagan, Aislinn, and I walked him onto the playground where they will meet every morning. Reminded him where to drop his backpack with the rest of his class, and he was gone! Playing and having fun. Gave his teacher, Miss Williams, a bag of goodies for the class and then was walking to leave the playground area. 

As I was going to get Aislinn, I kind of parked her at the entrance, I banged Riordan in the head with the camera. He started to wail.

Then Teagan didn't want to leave the playground and wanted to play with Caden. She started to wail.

I some how managed to get them all out and told them, let's watch Caden play and go into school when the bell rings. This made them all happy, also gave Riordan a thousand hugs and kisses. Now we were told to leave in a letter, but me and quite a few moms stayed around. I knew Caden would enjoy it more. And he did, because once he realized we were still there he started being his goofy adorable self. Waving and jumping and just having a ball. 

Soon the warning bell rang, Riordan recognized it immediately. Oh yeah and Aislinn started to cry in her stroller, so had to pick her up. So we walk closer to watch as they all lined up to go to their class. 

Caden's is the last one in all of the 6 classes because their room is the closest to the playground. As Caden came out of the gate, Teagan starts to wail again. She wanted Caden to come with us, not go into his class. It was so adorable and heart breaking at the same time!

My friend Heather, who's son is with Caden in the same class!, took the stroller for me and I held Teagan all the way to the car. 

All day long from Teagan "Where's Caden" "I want Caden" "I miss Caden"!! Oh just so sweet and never once did it actually get on my nerves!

I decided to do the car line to pick Caden up. I mean it's 100 and something and I was pretty sure there would be no shade. I was the 6th car in line too. Thank God for DVD Players in the car! We were waiting a long time. Heather came through the cars and offered to get Caden, the kids were out already at this point for some time now. I accepted! Thank you Heather!

Within moments she had both Ca(y)den's and we were on our way!

First thing I asked Caden (and always do for years now) was, "What was your favorite part of the day?"

He said, "Resting time!" I started cracking up!

Truly just like his daddy!

He can't wait to go back tomorrow. I did miss him a lot today, but I handled it better than a)I thought I would and b) better than some of my mommy friends. My advantage though is two main points: he was in public school last year and i have 3 other children to keep me distracted instead of thinking about it. Now last year and the year before, I really struggled with it, being I felt someone else would be raising my baby boy! But I'm confident we have set a really strong, moral, solid foundation with Caden and he will flourish ever more!

I can't wait!

For Aug 16th! Mike and I are going away for the weekend! Leaving Saturday morning and coming back Sunday around noonish!

I've been trying to go away with my girl Marcie, but she can't after all. So I was just going to go by myself. Well we have a new amazing babysitter, Leah, that does overnights and I said, hey! Why don't we see if she wants to keep FOUR kids for the weekend! She said yes! Worth every single penny!

We are going to Sanctuary, we have our spas all set up: a couples massage and a facial, and dinner reserved at Elements, one of my most favorite places to eat!  Okay if I close my eyes long enough will it come quicker?! This will be the first time we have had a true vacation together since our honeymoon, one that is only about us and no one else. Not a work trip, spouse got to go on while he had meetings everyday, and not a wedding, which was fun and all, but it wasn't about us. PLUS I'm not pregnant, haven't you heard he's been fixed ;-), not nursing either! 

One our way up, we are going to go to "Old Town" Scottsdale and do some window shopping and eat at Valley Ho Cafe Zuzu's. By the way, Leah, is more than I could have hoped and dreamed for as a replacement for our dear Kate. She is a permanent fixture in our home on Wednesday afternoons and then fills in any evening and weekend spots. We also hired Julie, who is just as great, but will be most likely moving in the Spring to go to Nursing school. But I still wanted her and will figure out what I will do for my days. Right now she will keep Aislinn while I take Teagan to dance, and then flexible for any other days for either me time or dates. Plus she does nights and weekends as well. I feel so blessed to have these two amazing ladies, who are devoted Christians huge bonus, helping me with the zoo. Leah is already doing letter of the week with them, she wants to be a 1st grade teacher and is so passionate about children.

Speaking of Kate, she was readmitted to the hospital Monday and got out last night. I'm not sure why, but when we did talk via email on Monday, she said she was not feeling very well and having a hard time getting around. She had hemmorraged during the birth, so I'm just assuming it's related to that. She says she is doing much better and for me to still come today! I can't wait!

Aislinn is cutting her 6th tooth and screaming at me as we speak. Teagan wants to go get dressed for it's their last day of camp. School as she says it and she's so ready to go! She's ready to go to school, but I'm going to keep her home one more year since she still has 3 years of preschool ahead of her. But we are signing her up for dance today along with her girl Macey! Heather is going to be tired of me for sure! Our boys, her son is Cayden, are in the same Kindergarten class, going to play flag football together, and now the girls will do dance together! She is just such an amazing, giving person. I look forward to some good time with her!

Okay off to tend to the zoo! 

Oh yeah, one more exciting announcement. I officially graduate out of Physical Therapy in two weeks if I don't have inflammation! Last night was the first night I didn't have ANY! You can tell when he press on the SI, it would be tender, actually a bit painful to the touch. Ummm, yep none and I have been running and working out hardcore?! Thank GOD for PT, and of course I have to give myself credit for doing my homework with strength training on my back  and abs ;-) 

The second half of this year is going to ROCK, I can just tell! FINALLY, and I'm going to take advantage of everything coming our way!

Okay making time

Aislinn is asleep and the olders are fighting as always!

But I'm ignoring them!

Mike came home Saturday night from his trip saying he was missing his family and ready. It was a nice surprise. We all geared up the next morning and went to church! We go to hear the most amazing Christian from India. Drs. Ajai Lall and his wife Indu, founders and directors of Central India Christian Mission spoke on being a Christian Extremist. It was so amazing and so glad that we got to attend and be present for such a message. Our Pastor had traveled there in January and brought back stories you would even see on the news. To be a Christian in India, you are constantly battled and attacked by Hindu Extremists. Husbands beaten, wive's raped and killed all because they won't sign a document saying they "Do not believe in Jesus Christ and are a Hindu Extremist." And yet these spectacular Christians continue to spread the Word!

We are sooooo fortunate to be in our country with the freedom of religion rights. It's sad that these Extremists are so threatened by the word and feel they have to make a statement to be heard by hurting people like that!

After church we hit our favorite lunch spot, Paradise Bakery! I had one too many cookies. I just can't help myself! Got to go to Tumbleweed and worked out for 1 1/2 hours! It was so wonderful, yes wonderful! Once I find a show to watch I can work out forever! LOL

I had dinner with my friend Kristi last night and we had such a nice time. We hit Barnes and Noble afterwards. I could live in a bookstore. It's like a candystore to me! So much to catch up from not being able to read like I love in past 6 years.

Tonite a few of us are going to go see Mama Mia! at our new mall. Which by the way, is pretty much my home away from home now. It's just missing Tiffany and Nordstrom! Gotta talk to Amy about that ;-) 

Mike and I have a date night Friday night and we are going to go see 'The Dark Knight'. I luvvved 'Batman Begins' with Christian Bale and felt it never got the credit it deserved. He was spectacular. So Heath Ledger's last movie part is just a bonus for me. 

What else.. hmmm I have Physical Therapy Thursday evening. My back is whole again, so these are just follow ups to ensure that my SI is staying in place. Any time my muscles feel tight on the right, I know it's trying to move, so cardio loosens it right back up! Oh and I have been jogging here and there. Just little bit at a time and not for a long time. It feels so wonderful!! I really was ready to give up on being able to ever go back to running.

Caden has Kindergarten Kickoff tomorrow night. We already met his teacher last Friday for his KIST testing. I can't remember if I said, but small world, his new teacher is our dear Kate's cousin!! Isn't that crazy?! She is super nice and was really impressed with Caden's skills.

I have tea at the Phoenician Saturday with my girls! I have been looking forward to this since Rena planned it two months ago! The last and only time I've been was with Amy for her Bridal Luncheon. It was such a great time.

*Okay I had to take a break for lunch and now it's 1pm and the boys are chasing each other and beating each other up with pretend swords, while Teagan is calling for her backpack "Backpack wherrrrreeeee areeee you" and Aislinn is watching it all in sheer horror!

I just heard myself say, "Learn to play nice or don't play at all!" 

Oh and by the way Aislinn has cut her fifth tooth up top. Sad thing is I didn't find it. Mike did and it had been in for at least 4-6 days because it was realllly in, not just cut. Poor Aisie!  She pulls up on everything now, but still can't get her legs moving. 

Teagan joined the boys at camp this week and loves it! She was very upset when I left, but when I picked them up, she was very happy and has said over and over again that she goes to school now. I'm at a fork in the road to send her this year.  Part of me wants her home, but the other part wants her to feel like a big girl since she wants to do everything her brothers do. I will be signing her up for dance this Friday, so maybe that will help? Don't know.

Haven't had the camera out in a while, so will work on that the rest of the week. I'm in closet organization mode again. Did the linen closet yesterday and sometime this week need to get the art and pantry done. They are horrendous. It's also frustrating when I'm the only one who cares if things get put back in the right spot. Yes, that was directed at YOU ;-). And the garage is a mess again after I cleaned it a couple of months ago. Sighhhhhhhhh......

Baby News!

It's a BOY!!

For our dear Kate and her hubby Jason!

Micah Thomas arrived yesterday morning at 8:57 am after 24 or so hours of labor!

He is 7 pounds 15 ounces and 21.5 inches long.

She had complications after pushing for 4 hours! but is doing wonderfully today. 

So great to hear her the happy jubilation of a brand new mommy's voice. 

We are so thrilled for you guys! 

We can't wait to see you and meet your precious son!

Trying to get back what was lost

So here I am, had my computer two nights now and I'm no where near trying to fix my technical life. 

Also, I have now been without a cell phone for THREE weeks! 

After a week of getting the right parts or phone here, it's here. Just gotta find time to sit for 10 hours on hold to activate it.

I'm trying so to remember everything that I lost and make it back from memory. Which brings me to, Malloy family and extended!, you know who you are and if you haven't sent me your address, phone numbers and such, I can't send you a card on Christmas! 

Grammy was lucky I still had her cell listed in our old home phone memory that I have been trying to convert to our new home phone memory. Send those addresses people! ;-)

Mike left today for the weekend with some guy I have never met to see the Sox game in LA tomorrow. He will be back Sunday.

The boys have really been enjoying Camp week at Riordan's old school this week. I signed them up for next week and it's an Olympic Theme and Teagan gets to go too now that she is fully daytime pottytrained! So just me and Aislinn hanging out most of next week.

Our landscapers are really letting me down. We have a white sheen that has been on the pavers for weeks now, due to the fact they cut the pavers ontop of set pavers and the dust with water set in. They can't figure out how to get it off. I recommended pressure washing and they said they don't have one. And this is the little things that make you wonder why you don't go with a company instead of an individual. Also they have left the sod wood palette in the front yard for a month now and still didn't take it today! After I asked them too! It has been not so good week for me.

Birthday was just another day really. I made it to 35! We did go out to Hon Machi for dinner with the Zoo, but if you know what going out to dinner is like with four children 4 and under, there's a lot of work involved. I got a lot of wonderful birthday wishes from friends too! Thank you so much!

Aislinn is lovingggggg her bottle! The Soy Formula and the new bottle must have been what she needed. She demolishes them. I'm still faring well here on not nursing. I haven't nursed at all for 4 days now. I'm on the downslope of pain thankfully! My body was reacting well to cutting back, so I took it as a sign to go all the way with cutting it out. Went down to one feeding a day for two days and then did one day two days apart, to nothing. Didn't get mastitis! YAY! 

She is pulling up to standing and you can see the wheels turning on willing her feet and legs to move to cruise but they don't. She gets so frustrated! I then move them for her to help her acknowledge what she wants to do. She is still an army crawler too! She moves so darn fast! Just like Teagan it's so funny! And hurray! With formula now she sleeps all night long!! For a week now! Sometimes she's up at 5:30, but heck so is Caden so that for us is all night! Today though she slept till 7 am!

Our twice a week swim lessons are now over as of this past Thursday. We will begin once a week in August on Saturdays. Not sure what we will do in September though. Now that we have been there 4 months, I know who I want the children with and who I don't. And those I want them with are available in the morning of course while Caden and Riordan are in school. 

Beginning September Riordan will be in Soccer! He is wishy washy about it now, but back when Caden was playing he wanted to play so badly. Caden will play Flag Football again. He just isn't interested in Baseball much. Teagan will be in Dance for the first time as well! I'm hoping to get in a class on Wednesday's while Riordan is at school. That would be perfection.

So this weekend not much going on here. We will probably stay at home and play in our back yard. They did move the swingset back to the yard and we are going to use it! I have to retake pictures since the ones I did before are lost forever. WELL actually maybe not! The guys at Apple did tell me that if I take my harddrive, they took out and replaced, to an data recovery person, they most likely can go in individually and get whatever I want back. So all is not lost, but it will be expensive. But what is the price of memories? Yep, priceless. 

Now, just where did I put that harddrive?

Anyone got an airsick bag?

I'm completely and utterly sick to my stomach.
My harddrive is shot.
Nothing can be recovered.
ALL my pictures for the past 1 1/2 years, GONE. Yes I have some uploaded to Shutterfly, but not all.
My address book, gone, for emails and home mailings.
Itunes, gone.
Videos, gone.
Anything else that I had saved to the computer that I can't remember now, gone.

SO if you ever want an email, phone call, or Christmas card from me again, please send me your info. You won't ever hear from me, unless I get it. heatheremalloy@cox.net

I'm off to cry some more.
Oh and just so you never feel this pain. Spend a good $100 bucks on a backup hard drive and backup you precious computer.

This week has gotten away so fast!

So let me throw out a huge bellowing shout of "FREEDOM!!"
Mike gave me a day of me yesterday, all day. Which meant no nursing for Aislinn. She in the past would take the bottle about an ounce at a time.
She took 4 ounces TWICE at one time!! AND
Today she took 6 ounces from me! I'm almost home! Hurray!!! I'm so thankful she likes her new milk! So I didn't get her on the sippee with milk, but she will drink the heck out of water, so that should be no problem when switching to milk in a couple of months. I always start mixing for them at 11 1/2 months, the formula and milk so that milk is their drink at 12 months.
So, I have to slowly wean her. With Teagan, she did the weaning on her own until the end and I cut off the feedings and then had to pump twice for relief, and with Riordan the pump was my tool the whole time for weaning. So in order to feel the least amount of discomfort and not to get mastitis I know the best way is to do it slowly. Night feedings out for over a week now, I can now cut out another feeding! Seriously, I am so excited to have my body back!!
My computer is in the shop till next week, so I don't have much access to the computer right now. Please pray that the harddrive isn't destroyed. I never backed up and that means all my beautiful pictures will be gone. I never learn the lesson of backing up, no matter how many times I have had this scare with the previous computer!! I think lesson learned now!
Tonite we are going to my friend Rena's party "I kicked Cancer's Ass" Party! We can't wait to celebrate that! Tomorrow night is my birthday dinner Mike and with some friends, who I'm not supposed to know who, but I have a good idea, however I have no clue as to where we are going or what time.
My day of me rocked yesterday. I worked out, went shopping, got my hair done, ate at Kona, and then came home. I was home at almost 6 and left at 11!! I haven't had that much of a day to myself in I don't know how long. It can get very addictive very quickly. Can't wait for next months day of me and I can't wait to plan my girl get away with Marcie next month! We are getting the heck outta dodge for two nights and 3 days! Just us two moms of four! I can't wait!

Pics so far of Mom's visit and more...

Well first the 4th of July at the Jackson's home was absolutely wonderful. We had such a great time and the spread was so delicious! The olders, Mike and Mom swam for a while and then Mom took Caden back in to swim. 

The whole time Teagan did amazing with bathroom duties! I think it's definitely official, she is potty trained. The past two days she goes on her own, by herself without anyone for both visits. She is amazing! So young, not even 2 1/2! Girls truly rock! :-)

Saturday morning we went to see Wall-E. Teagan went potty 10 times I think. So she and I didn't see much of the movie. Oh and Riordan went 3 times and Caden once. ALL at different times. It was a bit frustrating, but I kept reminding myself : no more poopy diapers for Teagan. In a month or so, she should be able to hold it better. 

After movies, we came home and all took naps for dinner out at Chelsea's Kitchen. It's in Phoenix, on the cusp of Scottsdale and worth the drive. The kids had eggs and bacon. It came on a tray plate! So cool, with fries and apples, grapes, and ketchup to dip! It was so right up their ally, the loved it! Mom and I split the short ribs and fish tacos and Mike had the short rib tacos (he preferred the steak ones though). It was delicious! We then headed back to our side of town and stopped for Cold Stone. Again another hit. The zoo did so amazing. It is so nice to get out and do things with them! It's been soooo long and the Disney trip most definitely has helped us with relearning dining out.

Today we have done pretty much nothing, but lay around and lay around ;-)

We did get some Carraba's for dinner. Mike left at 2 for his 4 o'clock flight to Cleveland for Super Star Training. He will be back last Tuesday night and mom leaves Tuesday morning.

Tomorrow we may try and go swimming. Need to see if our girl Lauren can keep Aislinn. If not we do plan on a trip to Paradise Bakery. And that's about it! Well besides my work out, oh yeah!

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

Hope it's a fun and very patriotic day for you!

Had so much fun last night out with the girls! I can't wait to get a hold of the pictures from dinner that Michelle took ;-) Blue Wasabi was pretty yummy, but  I think we all agree that Kona's sushi is still the best. But BW is a lot more fun atmosphere.

Mom's flight took off a little while ago, so we will all be heading to the airport soon! Can't wait to see her! And then we will come back here to break for a couple of hours before we head to the Jackson's. We should make it back here to watch fireworks on which really is so much better since we have such a large tv and a lot of cranky zoo members.

Tomorrow morning, the 10 am showing of Wall-E! I think a few of our friends may meet us up there! How fun would that be!

Okay Aislinn just woke up from her morning nap.. The stinker woke up at 5 am this morning and wouldn't go back to bed, but we consider that sleeping through the night. Not easy when you get to bed at almost 2 am.. I need toothpicks again, seems to be my thing this week.

The Arizona Malloy girls!

Aislinn and Maddy

How Aislinn likes to smile for the camera.

Finally Pictures from John, Amy, and Madeleine's visit!!

So much fun. Aislinn was grabbing at Maddy and Maddy would cry and then Aislinn would cry. Oh cousins! 

More Pics here.

Our week

Has been busy with and longgggg with no sleep.

I have cut out night feedings for Aislinn and we have her cry it out when she wakes up. It's been going well, that it only takes her a few minutes to go back to sleep. But she's up all the time. The first night she woke Teagan up and it was a bit brutal. Mike is the one that went in there for that one. Last night she didn't wake up quite so much as the night before.

And big big achievement is Teagan is potty-trained! We've been working on it all week. As you know it's been her decision at first, but this week was when I wanted to be done with diapers. Of course she didn't. So we had some huge fights, a lot of crying on both her and my end, but today sealed it I'm pretty sure as a done deal.  

She wouldn't go poo for the past almost 48 hours and we knew she had to go, because she would scream for a diaper. So I finally guilted her and shed real tears out of exhaustion because she wouldn't stay on the potty. She calmed down and said she would go and guess what?! She did! She was so proud of herself as was I! I promised her a toy of her choice and straight to Target we went were she picked out a Disney Princess Cash Register LOL. 

And she says all the time now that Aislinn wears diapers, not Teagan, diapers are for babies, I'm a big girl now, I wear big girl panties! She's the best!

Also another huge win for the me and the will benefit us all is Aislinn drank Soy Formula big time from the bottle today. I know I said I would stick with the sippee cup, which she drinks the heck out of water, but she wouldn't take regular formula (really it stinks when mommies milk is so sweet) Then I switched it up to Soy, remembering it was more pleasant smelling and tasty. And she started sucking on a soothie pacifier the past couple of weeks when she find one laying around. She's not a pacifier baby, but she was having fun with it. So my big idea was to get the bottles that are from the same company that use the same nipple. She drank 2 straight ounces today! Yee Haw! She's had it twice today already! I see a silver lining now with totally getting my body back and my much anticipated Palm Springs trip with Marcie!! It couldn't come any sooner. 

This time weaning is harder, because with Riordan I could do it on my own with the pump, and Teagan slowly cut her nursing time down as well. Teagan loves to nurse. She is always grabbing at me! But those teeth and this reoccurring mastitis. Not fun.

My PT graduated me up to just once a week therapy! My back is really doing so much better. Hardly a twinge just a couple of times a day. I'm still very cautious and I'm not allowed to do more than 30 minutes of cardio, and of course no bending or twisting, but really no one should bend at the back.

We had our first week back at swim lessons with Kristen and the children did amazing. Caden is really improving so much. Still hates to jump in though. We will continue with once a week once these two days a week sessions are done. 

My mom comes in tomorrow for a much anticipated visit until Tuesday. Did I mention Mike has to go out of town Sunday afternoon to late Tuesday night? Hmmm.. So tomorrow we are going to the Jackon's for a swim/bbq party. Should be a lot of fun! Saturday morning we are seeing Wall-E and Saturday night going to our new favorite non steak house, Chelsea's Kitchen with the whole zoo, but early. Can't wait to eat more fish tacos! Sunday and Monday I promised close to home rest ;-)

Tonight my group of girls are celebrating Kristi's big 40th birthday (which happens to be tomorrow, lucky girl they always have fireworks ;-) and my 35th birthday! We are going to Blue Wasabi and who knows where after that. Marcie should be here soon to get me. I can't wait!

I haven't blogged all week and still have so much to say! I will try and catch up this weekend! 

Still need to post pictures from the Malloy visit!!