Welcome Home Max

Monday afternoon Mommy & Max were released from the hospital...

... just a few more snuggles before we go 'k Mommy...

One proud Momma...

Hotdog fingers + miniature clothing + squirmy baby = 20 more minutes of sleep for Momma...

... some say Max looks like me...

I don't see it... hehe

Our traditional picture on the front steps. Welcome Home Max!

Maggie & Lyla were very excited to meet their little brother...

...so gentle... so sweet...

Lyla... "...ok I've had enough... I'm outta here..."

"...two sisters... good grief... I'm going to need my rest..."

"...cute...who me... naaaghhhh..."

"...I could get used to this..."

"...sniff....sniff....eewwwhh... hey Dad... can you get that... I'm tryin' to sleep here..."

I finally have everyone back together under one roof. Yayyyy!!!

Thank-you Grandma & Grandpa Mooney and Grammie & Papa Clark for taking such good care of the girls. Thank-you to our kind friends for the meals this week and for the clothes for Max.

Thank-you God... for our precious little family.

JRM 9/30/2010

Our Big Boy Has A Name...

We are proud & delighted to "formally" introduce...

MAX

Maxwell Jameson Mooney

Born: Friday, September 24th, 2010 at 7:57pm

Weight: 9.01 lbs

Height: 21 Inches

Head: 14 & 3/4 Inches

Hair: Dirty Strawberry Blond

Although Maggie really wanted us to name him "Chickaroni" Mooney, we decided on a more... well... traditional name. I'm sure she will continue to call him Chick all his life but hey... what are big sisters for.

JRM 9/25/2010

It's a BOY !!!

Maggie & Lyla have a little brother...

Just a quick note to say that our baby boy arrived safe and sound tonight, Friday, September 24th, 2010 at 7:57pm via C-section at the Foothills Hospital.

It was a very long day for us but I'm pleased to say that both Nicola and Jr. are doing very well.

We'll share his name and all the stats tomorrow. For now... it's sleep for everyone.

Thanks for all your warm wishes and prayers. God is great!

Love, James & Nicola

JRM 9/24/2010

Outsmarted by a 3 Year Old

So the other day, my darling Maggie was sitting up to the island in the kitchen putting together her Dora puzzle. Maggie loves puzzles and has become quite proficient at putting them together. This particular puzzle she has completed many times so it really isn’t much of a challenge for her anymore.

Wanting to engage her blossoming intellect (while also hoping to buy us a little quite time), I thought I would throw down a little challenge to her. I walk over to her while she was taking the puzzle apart and I began turning all the puzzle pieces over facedown / blank-side-up. I then said to her, “Maggie… I want you to try to put this puzzle together upside-down. I tell you what… if you can put this puzzle together upside-down, Daddy will take you to the store and buy you your very first bicycle.” I figured this would keep her engaged for an while and allow Nicola and I a chance to visit while getting ready for supper.

Looking at all the blank puzzle pieces before her she replies, “…really? Hhhmmhh.” So.. she starts humming a little tune, turning the pieces over and playing with them. I figured she kind-of really didn’t hear me and was just going about her business so I turned my attention to Nicola and Lyla.

A few minutes later Maggie says aloud, yet to herself, “… I am SO EXCITED that Daddy is going to get me a new bike…” This statement brought my attention back to her and the puzzle before her. As I glanced across the island I didn’t see blank white puzzle pieces… I saw the nearly completed picture of Dora and Boots so I blurt out, “…no, Maggie I said you have to put the puzzle together upside-down if you want Daddy to take you to the store and buy you your very first bicycle.” To which she promptly replied, “…but Daddy…. I DID put the puzzle together upside-down. Now I’m going to go put on my boots so we can go to the store… I’m SO EXCITED … hey Momma… Daddy is going to get me a new bike!!!”

Well would you look at that….

Crap.

JRM 9/16/2010

I'm a terrible blogger.

I'm also a terrible scrapbooker.

With scrapbooking, I enjoy the end result of my efforts, but the time and energy (and space on the kitchen table) is just too much. So I think, I'll blog more often then make one of those fancy books and that will be my scrapbook. As you (if there even are any "yous" out there reading anymore) can see by our last post of Lyla before she turned 1 (she's 15 mos now), I'm not so good at the blog to scrapbook journalling either.

So I've decided that enough is enough and I will progress through the rest of the summer by updating our blog until it's current.

I'll begin with Lyla's birthday. I can't believe how in only one year, you can love someone so much that you can't remember life without them. She is such a precious, sweet, little girl and I love her more and more each day.

I love how she's so easy-going. Not that Maggie isn't easy going, but Lyla has such a calm nature to her that is just so nice to be around.

I love how she squeals with glee when she first sees me in the morning. What a way to start the day!

I love how she puts her bowl on her head, or tosses her plate on the floor when she's finished eating. I'm sure I'll get tired of it, but right now it's cute because she does it with a smile.

I love how much she and Maggie enjoy each other. They play so well together and I'm looking forward to watching them grow to be best friends.

I love how she's pretty comfortable with just about anyone, but as soon as I walk back in the room her legs kick with joy.

I love how much she loves her daddy. She can't crawl fast enough to the door to greet him when he comes home at the end of the day.

I love how she goes to bed so easily. She's been like that from the early months, sleeping through the night since about 4 months. This made it very easy for me to not feel quite so badly about having someone else care for her while we did the show.

My sweet Lyla, I love you so much. I wish you every joy and dream come true in your lifetime. Thank you for making me smile every day.

Lyla Claire

Have you been wondering what 'lil Lyla looks like these days? Here is just a little teaser .

JRM 3/2/2010

Resolution for 2010

Happy New Year friends and family!!!



Well, the past 6 months was crazy for our little family and, consequently, the family Blog paid the price. We're excited to begin a new year of adventures and we resolve to get back to the family Blog with regular updates and pictures.



Nicki, Maggie and Lyla are doing well and we are pleased to say that we are now living in our new house. Each morning we have to pinch each other to confirm that this isn't a dream.



We wish you all the best for the year to come.



Love,
James, Nicola, Maggie & Lyla



JRM 12/31/2009/8:00pm