Our House in the Middle of the Street

All Moved In!

2011-05-01T17:37:00.009-06:00

Yes, we are now in our new house. We feel like we've just taken the biggest breath of fresh air since moving in. We are in a newer, cleaner home much like our home in Denver. The views are beautiful and the voices of the neighborhood kids laughing and playing make us feel like we are in the right place. Yes, it has been quite busy since we closed on the house a little over two weeks ago but we have made great progress in unpacking and organizing our home. Much credit goes to my parents who arrived on Good Friday. We were lucky enough to have them spend Easter with us as well as spend the whole week with us afterwards. My dad was our own little handyman and helped put up decorations, unpack, build shelves, caulk our shower stall, you name it, he did it! My mom, on the other hand, relieved me of all my kitchen duties by cooking all week! It was so nice to not have to worry about what was for dinner that night and I was able to run many errands to Costco, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Target (much to those store's delight).
There are a few more boxes to unpack but we are now just taking it slow and taking it one step at a time. My main concern was the kitchen and I really could not sleep well knowing that it was utter chaos. It is now all set up so I can relax a little easier.
In other news, Mike was recently recruited to be the head coach of Alex's soccer team. Yes, our own Mike who has no soccer experience whatsoever has taken on the task to herd 2-4 year olds every Saturday morning for the next 8 weeks! He is excellent with kids so I have no doubt that he will succeed in this new adventure :) Alex is gradually learning soccer skills and how to work with a team. He does tire easily and isn't too keen about actually "fighting" for the ball. He is excellent when it comes to drills though :)
My mom took a million of pictures during their stay so here they are!

Blowing bubbles with Grandpa!

Our little fish during his swim lesson

Don't quite know what this pose is about

He got the "Hustle" medal during soccer!

Eva and Grandpa

My girl with flowers in her hair :)

Someone's getting tired!

Go Alex!

Coach Mike talking to his players

Dinner at Jak's Grill

Ready to go out for dinner!

Yep, that's me huge as can be

Playground fun!

Alex is apparently a bunny rabbit of some sort

Terrific Two's

2011-04-08T22:33:00.010-06:00

We celebrated Eva's 2nd birthday yesterday and quite frankly, I am still recovering from it. No, there were no shots of tequila or late-night partying (okay, okay--it was a late 9:30 bedtime for the kids). The day started with chocolate pancakes for the birthday girl, a romp in the mall playarea, Build-a-Bear, Gymboree clothes shopping, lunch at Mickey D's, Top Pot Doughnuts, and finishing the day off at Maggiano's. Quite eventful since I flew solo the whole day up until dinner time. The kids were great but signs of exhaustion were definitely showing by the time we were driving to the restaurant.

Mike and I can't help talk about how Eva has grown into such a sweet, lovely, funny little girl. She is a constant source of entertainment and is never short on telling her brother how to behave or be careful. She loves loves to tell her "Kuya" what to do. When dinner or lunch is all set on the table, she's the first to say "C'mon Kuya! Eat!" or "Oooh careful Kuya!" after he jumps off the couch. I am always laughing at her antics. She talks A LOT! This is quite a difference from Alex's verbal skills which truly didn't develop until he was well past 2. She can repeat most if not all of the words we say to her. She communicates her thoughts and needs in complete sentences. She loves reading much like her brother does. I've often caught her sitting on the glider with book on hand and describing the pictures she is looking at. There are moments that she even repeats the sentences verbatim (obviously from memory but impressive nonetheless). Her favorite books are from the Disney Princess series and Henry and Mudge readers. The Henry and Mudge books were bought specifically for Alex but Eva took a real liking to them and now has claimed them as her own. We have had this blog for over fives years and it really has served as a journal of our life. Mike and I always talk about how we need to write down the milestones and funny anecdotes about the kids and this really has been our way of documenting those moments. So a few things come to mind that I've been meaning to write down and here's the perfect opportunity. So bear with me. Feel free to skip!

1. Eva refers to a spoon and fork as "Rice". Why? Because what is most served on the spoon/fork in our house? Rice!
2. Eva loves to sing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star", "Happy Birthday", and has most of the ABC song down.
3. As of 4/7/11, Eva can count 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,7,8,9
4. She can identify the colors red, black, blue, pink, purple, and white
5. She knows most animals including hippos, penguins, koalas, etc.
6. Loves to twirl around with her hands up in the air like a ballerina :)
7. She loves to jump.
8. Favorite past time is snacking. Pirate booty, Z-bars, crackers, apple juice. Dinner? Lunch? Not a big fan.
9. She says "Buy that" when she wants something. I'm guessing she's repeating what I say when she asks for something in the grocery store. "No Eva, we need to buy that first before we can eat it."
10. Prefers Mommy to put her to bed at night. I'm flattered but man, sometimes I just want Daddy to take over!

So, that's our girl in a nutshell. She is an absolute joy to be with. I can't believe she's two years old but sometimes I'm surprised she isn't already because of all the milestones she's reached. She will no doubt be a great big sister because I see the caregiving/nurturing side in her. Happy Birthday Baby Girl, we love you!

Eva- One Month Young

Eva- One Year

Eva- Two Years Having fun with Daddy Beautiful Girl

One Year Later

2011-03-23T21:28:00.006-06:00

Yes, it has almost been a full year since my last post. It's been quite a year packed full of adventures. I've tried writing posts about it but it just seemed so long-winded and honestly, I just got too tired of remembering what happened. So, here is a quick review of the past year.

2010:
April- Eva's 1st birthday
May- Melissa's college graduation and Bridal Shower
June- My mom's surprise 60th birthday party, Melissa's and Cameron's Wedding, Mom and Dad's Church Blessing and Wedding
August- Mom and Auntie Josie visit so Mike and I could have a quick get-away to Las Vegas. Had an absolute blast. Can't wait to go back!
-Alex's 4th birthday.
September- Alex starts his first year of preschool!
October- Discovered we are expecting our third child! Due June 20th. Visit from both parents. Weekend trip to Vancouver and Victoria BC.
December- First Christmas in Seattle

2011
February- Found out the baby's sex---BABY GIRL!
March- Purchased a house in Snoqualmie, WA

So, as you can see. It's been quite a ride so far. Adjusting to Seattle has been far more difficult than we anticipated. We missed Denver immensely and the weather affected us more than we thought it would. It was hard not being in our own home and the rental home we are in needed a lot of work. There were many instances where Mike and I just looked at each other and asked, "What the heck did we get ourselves into?" I just kept reminding him that our journey here has to have purpose. We prayed for guidance every step of the way and we knew that God played a big role in where we found ourselves. Things started to unravel when we enrolled Alex in preschool. School definitely let Alex blossom into a very intelligent and articulate toddler (is he still considered a toddler?) Anyway, about one month into school, he knew how to read on his own and write his name! We couldn't believe how fast he was progressing. His teacher spoke very highly of him and despite a few "re-directions needed", she thought he was a very bright boy!

I also joined a local Mommy group called MOPS. It is a national organization that has groups throughout the country. This particular group meets at our church and I have never met such a wonderful, warm, and inviting group of women. I felt so welcome and made some great friends over such a short period of time. It has definitely helped me settle into our new city by knowing such a great women who are so supportive of each other.

As I type this, I am in my 27th week of pregnancy. Although I felt a lot of nausea and heartburn during my first trimester, this has been quite a smooth pregnancy so far (knock on wood). I have been trying to stay active the third time around so as not to gain so much weight. I'm hoping the third time is the charm because man, losing the baby weight is hard! The baby is doing great and I am so excited to have another little bundle of joy in my arms again :)

Our second biggest news is our new home purchase! Yes, Mike and I are absolutely giddy about this. We had decided to start looking just to learn more about the market and keep our eyes open. We didn't expect to purchase in such a short amount of time. We found a great realtor and one of the first houses we saw just kept calling our name. There were even subtle signs that the house was meant for us. For example, the current owners are ASU alumni and their little boy had a ASU hoodie hanging on a coat rack (identical to Alex's own). A detail that immediately caught our eye. Also, in the little girl's room, there was a framed Denver Post newspaper from the day the girl was born. It was too much of a coincidence. After seeing many, many more houses, we just thought--hey, it's the right price, the right school, right everything! So we put in an offer and after a little negotiation, it was accepted! We are scheduled to close on 4/14 and are hoping to move in as soon as the carpet is cleaned and the housecleaners are done.

Here are a few pics of the house:

The front of the house

Entry

Second Floor

Girl Room

Kitchen

Family Room

Sold Sign!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EVELYN CLARE!

2010-04-07T16:09:00.001-06:00

Just a shout-out to my girl Eva. Happy birthday sweetheart. We love you so much and thank the Lord for blessing us with you!

(Pics to come as soon as I start to feel better from an horrible horrible cold....)

Apartment Livin'

2010-03-22T22:27:00.007-06:00

It's been seven years since Mike and I lived in an apartment and it takes some getting used to! The creaking floorboards (I swear they're playing Wii up there), the slamming doors, and the running water is worlds apart from the quiet surrounding of our home in Denver. However, I'm sure the incessant screams and shrieks coming from our apartment is giving our neighbors a run for their money!

We are happy to say that we did finally decide on a rental home here in Seattle. It seemed like a long process (it really only took us a week to find one) but bringing two kids with us as we toured the homes did not make things easy. We are staying in the city of Sammamish which is in the "Eastside" of Seattle. The house is surrounded by tall trees and we looking forward to BBQ's in the great deck behind the house!

Mike's mom visited us last weekend and is now officially our "First Visitor!" We showed her the sights including the Space Needle and Pike Place Market. Mike and I were also to go on some much-needed date nights! We had a great time with her.

The kids goofing around in the bathtub

Our Alex

Our Daddy

Mike

Our baby girl!

Nana with her grandkids

Red is Alex's favorite color

Walking in downtown Seattle

Looking up at the Space Needle

Beautiful flowers at Pike Place Market

We're here!

2010-03-08T16:40:00.002-07:00

Yes, we have safely arrived in Seattle. I cannot believe that within a few short months, our lives dramatically changed. It seems like it was just seconds ago that we were living our life in Denver, going through the motions and routines we were so very used to. Mike going to work, taking care of the kids, working on my business, fantasizing about purchasing our forever house. We never thought that in less than six months, we would pack up all of our belongings, put our house up for rent, and move to Seattle. If someone had told me that, I would have said they were crazy! But alas, we are here and I truly believe in God's will and guidance. I am excited to see what opportunities and adventures lies ahead!
As for now, we are staying in temporary housing which is basically a fully furnished apartment. Although it is small compared to our house, it is a marked improvement from the tiny hotel room we were staying in. Now it's time to start searching for rental homes so we can move-in by the end of the month.
We are also now official landlords! We found renters after only a week or so after the house became available for rent! So we spruced the house up and left it in impecable shape (almost better than when we moved in!) We are excited about this new endeavor and hope it works out!
Will try to update frequently and post more pictures of our new life in Seattle!

For Rent

2010-02-26T14:24:00.006-07:00

Yes, the official "For Rent" sign is now up in our house. We've had about five interested parties walk through our home and lemme tell ya, it is EXHAUSTING. Utterly exhausting to put away all the toys, clear the counters, make the bed, and make the house look somewhat presentable. At least the house looks nice! Our official move date is Tuesday, March 2nd---that is, when the movers arrive. They will pack for two days and load on the third. Our flights are booked for Sunday, March 7th! So, it's definitely getting closer. We are hoping to have renters lined up before we leave. As for our own house hunting, it's slow going. We can't really do much unless we are already physically in Seattle. Thank goodness for temporary housing because it will give us time to really hunt down the perfect house. As previously mentioned, we are renting for a few different reasons. First and foremost, we want to get to know the area. 2nd, we need to save up for a bigger downpayment. Housing in Seattle is significantly higher than Denver!

A few last pictures of the house before it is stripped of all furnishings :(

Formal living room

Family room

Kitchen and Dining

Nursery

Pirate Room

Master Bedroom

Seattle or Bust!

2010-02-17T13:26:00.006-07:00

Many of you have heard that we are leaving our home of seven years for Seattle, Washington. It came as a big shock to us when we learned that Microsoft would be closing down their Denver offices by March 31st. They are moving Mike's team out to Fargo, ND and Mike had the option of interviewing for a position out there. We contemplated making the move to ND and looked at all the positive and negative aspects of living in such a northern state! We decided to explore other options first so Mike decided to interview for positions in Seattle. Mike really enjoys his job as a Program Manager and wanted to continue down that career path. We also knew that being at the headquarters would provide more opportunities for growth in Mike's career development. Mike was fortunate enough to interview for two positions. They were grueling 8 hour interviews which consisted of the toughest questions I've ever heard of. I think a normal person would have walked out within the first hour crying! I know I would! Mike was offered the second position he applied for. We were ecstatic to hear that he received the job but it was a bittersweet moment when we realized that we would be really leaving Denver.

It was here where we started our life together. We purchased our house, started our jobs, and started our family. I had already (happily) resigned to the fact that this would be where we would raise our children even well into retirement. But alas, the waves had changed and we are now traveling down a different path. Mike and I have always maintained that whatever happens it is through God's will and we entrust ourselves to Him. We have prayed a lot this past several months and have continually asked for guidance. We are not only responsible for ourselves now but for two little ones and that is what is important to us. We want to make sure that where ever we go, we can only enrich their lives and provide them the tools to make them happy and loving individuals. We are confident that Seattle will be a great environment for the both of them.

We are now in the process of looking for house in Seattle (to rent for the time-being) and getting our Denver house ready to be rented out. I am comforted by the fact that we will still own a house and property out here.

We had the chance to explore Seattle last weekend on our "House Hunting Trip". Surprisingly, the sun showed itself on our last day there! Here are some pictures. Enjoy!

Beautiful pic of Daddy and Daughter on Valentine's Day

The sun reflecting off Puget Sound

Alex the Pirate!

Alex and Mike at the Hat and Boot's Gas Station

Our hotel room.

2010-01-21T19:41:00.002-07:00

It's been a staggering 3 months since my last post and I don't have time to update the blog with all of the activities of the last few months. There was Disneyland, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. Very busy indeed. All I can say is that we are so very fortunate to see our family and friends during the holidays. Disneyland was especially fun and I truly never knew the "magic" of such a place until I took my kids there. I cannot wait for our next trip!

Most recently, we took Alex and Evelyn for a much needed haircut. It was Evelyn's first time and she did great! Here are some pics!

7 month pic!

2009-11-12T10:27:00.004-07:00

Our little girl is growing so fast! She's crawling, eating solids (as to date- carrots, green beans, sweet potatoe, apple sauce, rice cereal, oatmeal, puffs), and sitting up unassisted. She's screeching up a storm (ear-splitting, ear-bleeding type of way). She's a total sweetheart and her and her big brother have a lot of fun together!

Eva is 6 months old!

2009-10-08T15:33:00.004-06:00

Yes, our little girl is 1/2 year old! The second time around is sure flying by!
She is absolute sweetness personified. She smiles whenever you lay eyes on her and her whole face just lights up. Almost as if she's saying "Oh wow, they're looking at me!" Simply adorable. As you can see in the below video, she is army-crawling and fast at that. She adores her brother and he loves to play with her. If she takes a toy from him, he will take it away and make sure to replace it with one of hers. I have been warned that though this may seem cute and adorable now, as soon as she is older, she won't be as forgiving! I am enjoying it for the moment. Here are her amateur 6 month pictures!

Alex singing the ABC's

2009-10-06T23:07:00.001-06:00

Here's a slow-mo version of the ABC's by Alex. He was about to sing the last part but my camera ran out of memory!

Eva crawling!

2009-10-05T22:59:00.003-06:00

Eva started crawling about 2 weeks ago. It started as a slow creeping but she is getting faster everyday! We actually have to childproof again because she is very interested in all of Mike's electronics. It's funny that just as Alex was learning not to touch Daddy's toys, the baby start to go at it! Anyway, here's a quick vid of her mad crawling skillz!

A little crazy dancing from Alex!

2009-10-02T16:03:00.000-06:00

Vote for Alex

2009-09-25T15:49:00.003-06:00

I have recently entered Alex into the GAP Nationwide Casting Call! I am asking all my friends and family to vote for him as a Fan Favorite! The one lucky entrant who receives the most fan votes will be crowned the Fan Favorite winner. The winner will receive a seven-day/six-night family vacation to either Turks & Caicos or Jamaica from Beaches Resorts - The Luxury Included® Family Vacation. Voting runs from September 22, 2009 through November 17, 2009, and your family and friends can vote daily. The Fan Favorite winner be announced on December 7, 2009. So please, help Alex become America's Fan Favorite.
Click on this link to cast your vote: http://family.go.com/gapcastingcall/entries/genmclean/ Remember to vote every day!
Here's Alex asking for your votes!

Extreme Floor Makeover

2009-07-26T21:58:00.002-06:00

We have finally bitten the bullet and torn up our dirty carpet and vinyl! We have been wanting to install wood floors in our home for quite some time and also found excuses to delay it---time, money, laziness! Well, there is no turning back now because we are walking on bare concrete. We started the process on Friday and hopefully will have it complete by the end of this week. Alex keeps telling us "I like to sit on the wood floors!" We'll post pics when the project is done!

My 30 DS is still going strong. I am currently on Day 19 (11 more days!) I finish Day 10 of Level 2 tomorrow and will start Level 3 on Tuesday. Again, like I've stated before, I am seeing results by the way my clothes fit. I do have days where I say to myself "I'll take a day off today, or I'll double my workout tomorrow." But, I get an encouraging push from Mike and know that I will hate the nagging guilt of not doing it, so I do. I am also playing around with the idea of starting to train for a 5K. I am not a runner. Never have been. I always thought that my lungs were just not built for running but I want to really test my endurance (and lose weight!). I will start a program called c25K (Couch to 5K) which will gradually train your body to run. I am excited to learn that there was a program like this and that there was hope for people like me!

Well, off to bed! More updates later this week!

Day 3 of Level 2

2009-07-21T10:56:00.002-06:00

It has been almost 2 weeks since I've started. I believe I've lost more inches than I have pounds. Honestly, I didn't weigh myself nor measure myself but I am guesstimating I've lost 2-3 lbs since I started. I am really basing my progress by how my clothes fit and considering I am back into size 8's (gasp!) I think I'm doing pretty well!

Level 2 is still kicking my butt. I am doing modified positions especially during plank jacks and squat thrusts. Holy heck those are hard! Hopefully my body will adapt and these excercises will get easier!

I am also looking at Jillian Michael's Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism program after I finish the Shred. I really like her attitude and motivation. She is a hard-ass but I like her style. My cable provider has her program on On-Demand so I don't even have to purchase the DVD! So, no excuses for me!

Day 10 of Level 1 and Day 1 of Level 2

2009-07-18T16:58:00.002-06:00

Okay, this is going to compress two days of the workout. Day 10 of Level 1 complete. My stamina has improved and I have increased my "real" push-ups up to 10! Woo-hoo!

Here's the scoop on Day 1 of Level 2. It kicked my butt. Mike literally laughed at me when he saw me struggling with the plank jacks. I mean why name an excercise that makes me immediately think of flap jacks? Not a good combination. Anyway, it was hard but fun at the same time. I need to perfect my form because all I did was glance up at the t.v to make sure I was doing everything right.

I am still seeing a lot of improvement with my body. The pregnancy belly is still there but I can see my waist shrinking down and my abs peeking out (and it's only Day 11)! Will update more tomorrow!

Day 9

2009-07-16T15:49:00.003-06:00

Complete. It's getting harder to motivate myself. It's hard when I want to crash on the couch and catch a few zzz's while the kids are napping. It's hard when I need to fold laundry, unload the dishes, or catch up with my business. Time is so valuable when the kiddos are sleeping. But, I must persist. I drag myself upstairs, change into my workout clothes, blast the fan on high, and play the DVD. Twenty minutes later (or so), after a quick shower, and fresh clothes, I am renewed. It's like getting my second wind of the day. So, I'm not even a half way through the program and I already have to mentally coach myself. I will do this, I will complete this, I am woman hear me ROAR!!

Day 8- No more yoga pants!

2009-07-15T15:07:00.002-06:00

So, as I was shredding it up about 30 minutes ago, I was thinking about what I could write for today's post. I didn't want to bore you with more updates about the actual excercises so I was trying to come up with something. Motivational anecdotes perhaps? Complaints? Well, as I was still pondering what to write, I decided to try on my "fat" shorts from last summer. These were the shorts that made me realize I needed to lose some major weight. Pictures of me wearing these were unflattering at the least. In my desperate attempt to stay cool during this summer, I tried them on a few weeks ago and to my disappointment they were too small :( I tossed them into a plastic bin in a fit of fury and decided to wear my go-to yoga pants. Well, I am happy to say that I tried them on today and they are actually loose! I was in shock and tried on another pair of shorts (even smaller) and they fit! Yes! Progress! Now I don't believe this 30 Day Shred is a miracle worker but combined with healthy eating, it really works! I am still watching my diet by eating whole grains, low-fat, and fat-free foods. I also watch my portions (no more 2nd or 3rd helping for me!) I do not starve myself especially since I am a nursing mother (which requires you to add an extra 300-500 calories) per day. I just choose to eat foods that are good for you (no chips, chocolate, soda). Yes, I may stray a time or two but I am proud to say that I don't do it everyday!
So, that's it. I am a long ways from my smallest sized short but at least I don't have to live in yoga pants anymore!

Alex in the Splash Park!

2009-07-14T16:12:00.002-06:00

McLean Family Update!

2009-07-14T15:24:00.004-06:00

***We interrupt our regularly scheduled program to bring you some exciting news....Melissa-Rose Caitlin McLean is formally engaged to her long-time high school sweetheart Cameron Nelson! Melissa (the 3rd oldest of the McLean girls) got engaged over 4th of July weekend under a waterfall (well, not quite literally under it but in front of it, I don't know if they got wet...) but nonetheless they are ENGAGED! Congrats to Melissa and Cameron*** We now return you to our regularly scheduled program.

The happy couple :)

Evelyn rolled over! Yes, our little 3 month old decided that she was bored being on her back so she has accomplished the feat of rolling over! Of course, she's pretty mad when she finds herself on her stomach. I mean really Eva, what's the point of rolling over if you don't like being on your tummy? Really! Just kidding...she's a sweetheart and will probably start crawling soon!

Also, we got a visit from Mike's ol' college pal, roommate, and Godfather to Alex---Ryan. Ryan was here for a wedding and decided to make a weekend out of it by hanging out with the fam. Alex had a blast playing with his Godfather! Here are some pics!

Evelyn and Uncle Ryan

Da Boyz

Alex posing with Uncle Ryan

These kids are going to have so much fun together!

My little sweetheart!

Day 7 of the 30 Day Challenge

2009-07-14T15:19:00.002-06:00

Complete. The excercises are getting a tad easier or maybe it's the fact that I'm not quite as sore anymore. I am challenging myself by sinking into the squats a little deeper and increasing my weights. The jumping jacks still KILL me especially when I have to do two sets in a row! This body is not made for jumping! I still feel great after each workout though. I am re-energized and I haven't even felt like taking a mid-afternoon siesta anymore! 3 more days till Level 2. I'm kinda scared but up to the challenge!

Just call me a Shredhead

2009-07-13T09:42:00.002-06:00

Okay, it's been 3 months since Baby Eva made her appearance and I am still 10 lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight and about 20 lbs from my "goal weight". I've been following Weight Watchers for almost 2 months now and have been able to shed 15 lbs of the 43 lbs I gained. I initially lost 20 lbs without any diet or excercise at all. Have I lost you yet? Well, I know it's only been a few months and I've heard the addage "It took you 9 months to gain the weight, expect to take 9 months to lose it!" Well, I think that's all well and good but it was my unhealthy eating habits and lack of excercise that was really stalling the scale. Who would have thunk that staying within a healthy calorie range and actually excercising would actually help me lose weight? Ding ding ding! So, I have decided to incorporate an excercise routine into my life. I chose Jillian Michael's "30 Day Shred" for the simple fact that it only took 20 minutes to complete! Taking care of 2 kids, a business, and household chores didn't allow for much excercise time so this was perfect for me. 20 minutes you say? How can I achieve any results from just 20 minutes? Well, this DVD simply kicks your butt. It is a 3-2-1 system which is basically 3 minutes strength, 2 minutes cardio, and 1 minute abs in 3 cycles. There are 3 difficulty levels to be completed in 30 days. My muscles were so sore the first day that I couldn't even bend to lift Baby Eva from the floor! I am now on Day 6 of Level 1 and I can say that I am definitely seeing change. I fit into my jeans which recently wouldn't even pass my thighs! Yes, they're still a bit tight but it's progress! So, I will check-in daily and let you know how I am doing. I thought this would help me feel accountable! Wish me luck!

4th of July Festivities

2009-07-07T09:01:00.003-06:00

Happy 4th of July everybody! I know, I know, a little late but I hope everybody enjoyed their long weekend. We had a very nice, relaxing weekend at home and welcomed another set of visitors too. My cousin Mike and his girlfriend Wendy were in town to visit her aunt and they stopped by to say hi to the new baby and see Alex (I guess Mike and I were part of the equation too!) It was nice to see them and catch up.
On Friday, Mike, Alex, Eva and I took a trip to a local park. It had a petting zoo, a miniature train, and a running creek. It was the perfect summer day! We sat under a shady tree and watched the kids catch crawfish. Summer in Colorado is truly beautiful!

Uncle Mike, Eva, and Auntie Wendy

Ready to watch the fireworks!

Alex loves when people visit him!

It was a little wet that night but it didn't stop the fun!

Mike and Eva checking out the animals at the petting zoo

Watch out, the kid has sticks!

Having fun!

Alex making friends with the sheep

He wasn't scared at all!

Our Little Bed and Breakfast

2009-06-29T16:12:00.004-06:00

Yes, we should officially call our house "The McLean Bed and Breakfast" because of the amount of visitors we've had for the last two months! We have been thoroughly enjoying our guests and love the fact that Mike and I can steal a quick break now and then when the guests are entertaining Alex and Evelyn.

Evelyn is simply doing wonderful. She has a killer smile that can melt anyone's heart! She started sleeping through the night around 6 weeks old and has been sleeping more and more each night. At her two month check-up, she currently weighs 13 lbs 8 oz and is measuring 24" long! She is definitely a big girl!

Alex is crazy as usual! He's still our little pirate :) I've found him all dressed up in pirate costume one too many times when I enter his room after his afternoon nap. He talks nonstop and even said "I'm so hungry, I want to eat at a restaurant!" as we came home from church yesterday. Mike and I just looked at each other and burst out laughing! The boy knows what he wants! I love his sweet spirit and his goofiness.

Alex with his Uncle Trent and Aunt Meghan

Such a ladies man! With Aunt Monica and Aunt Melinda

Alex and Eva with Auntie Abet and Great-Grandma

Eva with Nana

WELCOME EVELYN CLARE!

2009-05-17T12:12:00.004-06:00

I know this is a bit late but we would still like to formally announce the arrival of our daughter, Evelyn Clare McLean. She was born on April 7th at 11:06 am weighing 8 lbs 1 0z, 20 1/2 inches long! She is absolutely beautiful and her big brother Alex adores her. As expected, it has been a whirlwind month full of sleepless nights, numerous diaper changes, and even added to mix was a sick toddler, sick Mommy, sick newborn, and even a sick Grandma and Grandpa! What a month! We survived and we are slowly and gradually settling into a routine. Hopefully, we will be able to update the blog more often. Evelyn loves being carried so having two free hands is very hard to come by! She is sleeping on my chest (in a sling) as I type this!

On Mama's chest

Wondering where the heck she is!

Big brother saying "Hi!"

Alex's Pirate Cove

2009-02-22T17:53:00.038-07:00

Well, this last month has been an exciting ride! First of all, yes, this is Mike posting. I am laid up in bed recovering from having my tonsils removed, so I figured this would be a good opportunity to provide a status update on everything McLean.

We worked really hard the last part of January and the first half of Februrary getting Alex's "big boy room" all put together. With our baby girl set to arrive in April, it's time for Alex to move into his own bed which will free up the nursery again. This project required a complete overhaul of the guest room in our house. Don't worry guests, there is still plenty of space for you. Although you will notice we have combined our home office/guest room into one living space. :)

Since Alex has been absolutely obsessed with pirates since last August, we decided to go with a pirate theme. He's had a blast shopping, picking things out, and helping us hang, assemble, and install things for his new pirate room. We searched and searched eBay as well as various other online and in store retailers and his room is now pretty much complete. Enjoy the pictures below!

Genevieve's mom has been visiting since last Sunday. I went in for surgery on Tuesday morning, so she has been a major help watching Alex while Genevieve takes care of me. This also included a short relapse that occured Thursday night where I had to go back into surgery at the ER and spend the night in the hospital. It's nice to know we have family taking care of Alex while Genevieve and I are out getting things taken careof. Plus, Genevieve always enjoys spending time with her mom. Unfortunately, her mom leaves tomorrow, but my mom is scheduled to fly in on Wednesday for a full week. It is great to have the extra help!

After this recovery time in February, it's on to March where we are looking forward to having Meghan come visit for a weekend, and are trying to coordinate all the family visits for the new baby girl.

Alex's big boy bed configuration: captain's bed with 4 drawers and a nice storage compartment in the middle. Matching nightstand and dresser

This room is in the corner of our house. It has 3 small windows on one wall and 1 large window on another wall. These are Roman shades made of sailcloth which help regulate temperature/light while adding to the "boat" feel with their texture

Side view of adjacent wall. We painted the room light blue with a dark blue accent wall

Genevieve found a matching step stool since the bed is so high. It actually has a secret compartment in the top stair for Alex's pirate booty

This wall contains some of the items Alex likes. We'll probably eventually end up putting a bookshelf in that open space

Matching dresser

Black cargo net used to hold his stuffed toys

I found this treasure map on eBay. It measures about 22" x 28". I had to cut it down to size and mount it in the frame.

This is an old oil painting we've had for years and finally have a good use for it!

I also found this wooden pirate wheel on eBay. I was going to build a deck for it until Genevieve found a great deal on a better set up. The clock was a wedding gift and matches the rest of his furniture

This is his pirate trunk. It's the closest thing I could find to a treasure chest without spending over $200

Here's the pirate with his sword, pretending to be asleep

3' x 5' Jolly Roger flag above the bed

Treasure Island "book" that is actually a secret box

Shot of the other corner...his pirate ship

The curtains here match the Roman shades courtesy of Genevieve

This ship has some sweet features and better than anything I could build. Built in periscope, dual canons (that actually fire and make noise), a wheel that turns and makes ocean sounds, a pirate flag, and secret compartment in the back

Also includes a compass and two small storage areas for more of Alex's pirate booty

View from behind the pirate ship

Playtime with Alex!

2009-01-18T21:37:00.004-07:00

Here are a few pictures from a recent trip to the Denver Children's Museum. I convinced Mike that it was a great place for him and Alex to explore and have fun. The last video was taken tonight before Alex's bedtime. Ignore the fact that Alex is pantless (we had just changed him). Enjoy!

Puppet theatre fun with Mommy!

Dressing up as a king!

Completing a puzzle with Daddy!

Of course, playing with choo choos!

Apparently Alex wanted to hang from a tree!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T18:06:00.002-07:00

Wow, it is unbelievable that 2008 has come to an end. It sure was a crazy ride wasn't it? Despite the economic turmoil and other difficulties the year faced, Mike and I feel blessed to have another year of marriage, parenting, and family under our belt. We have been contemplating what the year has brought us and we are overwhelmed by the multiple blessings we received. First and foremost, Mike's initiation to the Catholic church made the most significant impact in our lives. We were spiritually unified as a family and entrusted ourselves to the hands of God. We became aware that our life as a family is in God's hands and we trust that everything that happens in our life is his will. I saw a dramatic change in Mike, in how he approaches spiritual life and how he handles everyday problems and occurances. I've said this many times, but he NEVER ceases to amaze me. Sure, we have our little fights (normally ending with me as the winner) but he assumes the role of husband, father, friend, brother, son, worker etc. and fulfills that role in every which way possible. I speak highly of him because I believe in him. This is not just words from a wife all gushy about her husband, but in the 12 years we've been together, he has not failed me in any of those roles. He is truly a wonderful man and discovering God has only made him better in ways I never knew was possible!
2008 also bought us the second biggest blessing in our life (Alex being #1). We discovered we were pregnant in July and we are now awaiting for Baby Girl to make her appearance in April. We've always pictured Alex as a big brother and we are so excited that he will be meeting his little sister soon.
Speaking of Alex, he also had a very exciting year. He traveled to and from Arizona multiple times, spending time with his Grandparents and Aunts. He has physically grown (gasp! almost fitting into 2T sizes!) and has learned so many things this year. He visually knows his ABC's (not quite singing it but he sure does know every letter!), he knows his numbers but not in order (for example, 1,2,3, 9!), and he has become quite the talker. After worrying that he would need speech therapy during the earlier part of the year, we saw his language skills develop exponentially just during the last 2 months. He can now speak in sentences and repeat words very clearly (as opposed to his jarbled, non-recognizable jargon from before). We have to be careful of what we say because he is a little parrot squaking away behind us!
As for myself, I have become more active in my Pampered Chef business. The first six months were pretty slow but after finally applying myself and attending a few fairs, my business has finally taken off! My Fall/Winter season was extremely busy and I even finished the year off with my biggest show ever! I am hoping to keep the ball rolling and keep 2009 strong for my business!
2008 was FULL of family events (thus the multiple Arizona trips). We had three graduations. Meghan graduated from the University of Arizona, Melissa graduated from Chandler-Gilbert Community College, and Monica from Chandler High School.
My Dad turned 60! We threw him a suprise birthday party that would be very hard to top. I mean, a dj, yummy food, glow-in-the dark necklaces, party beads, who could ask for more?
As we welcome in the New Year, we hope EVERYBODY will experience peace, happiness, and prosperity in 2009. Thank you to our family who gives us the biggest gift of all, their love and support. We are grateful to have you in our lives! Happy New Year Everyone!!

Alex and Santa!!

2008-12-12T17:09:00.001-07:00

I think I sent this picture out to about everybody but it doesn't hurt for the whole world to see it!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

2008-12-11T21:47:00.003-07:00

First and foremost, my apologies for not keeping the blog up-to-date! I've been swamped with Pampered Chef shows, holiday activities, and general daily errands. We spent Thanksgiving in the comforts of our own home but not because of our choice. I unfortunately got sick the night before Thanksgiving so I was confined to the bed surrounded by tissue boxes, lozenges, and orange juice. Not fun. We were still able to enjoy a homecooked Thanksgiving meal thanks to our lovely friends, Mary Ann and her family.

We are in the process of getting ready for our big trip to Phoenix next week! So lots of shopping and planning. Here are some pics from the past month!

Our first real snow of the season!

Mike and Alex having fun in the snow!

Santa Alex!

Genevieve's birthday dinner

The best present a Mommy could have!

A busy Fall!

2008-11-09T21:38:00.006-07:00

It's been a crazy couple of months! We took a quick trip to Phoenix for my Dad's 60th birthday party. It was definitely quite an event. The true suprise for my Dad was that we were there! It was awesome to be with him on his special day :)
We also got a visit from my mom and grandmother. My grandmother had not been to Colorado since Alex's birth so it was extra special to have her here. She is such a phenomenal woman and I am always at awe at her accomplishments and her life. It was fun to see her interact with Alex who was very generous with his hugs and kisses to her. We were fortunate to have my mom in town so that Mike and I could make a quick get-away to Aspen last week. We celebrated our 6 year anniversary a little early by spending a couple of nights at the beautiful St. Regis Aspen. We treated ourselves to a massage, a nice dinner, and alone time! It was the first time I was away from Alex for more than ten hours! Mike will tell you that I was calling my mom every 3-4 hours to make sure he wasn't driving her too crazy! We are happy to report that Alex passed with flying colors and my mom was very impressed with his angelic behavior :) If only he could be that way for me!
Here are a few pictures from the past few weeks! More to come!

Watch out for the big elephant Grandma and Alex!

Out and about with Great-Grandma and Grandma

Trick-or-treating with Daddy!

Our Pirate Prince!

Alex's awesome tricycle from Mama Joah

Checking out his new trike...not quite tall enough yet!

Our happy little guy!

Our early anniversary dinner in Aspen

Fun Fall Pics

2008-10-06T16:23:00.002-06:00

He is such a cutie!

At the Great Pumpkin Festival

Alex at the Pumpkin Patch

Alex and Daddy

Mike trying out the stilts. Not as easy as he thought!

Did you notice something? Did ya? Did ya?

2008-09-22T14:30:00.003-06:00

Look above this. What do you see? There's a new ticker and it shows what a lot of you may already know, we're blessed to be pregnant with #2! Yes! Alex is going to be a big brother! Some of you may say, "It's about time!" or some of you may say, "What? Are you crazy?" Either way, Mike and I are very excited for this new addition. Whether it's a girl or a boy, we will be happy that our Alex will have a playmate. I know we haven't been posting for a while but it has been busy in the McLean household. We had a packed house on Labor Day weekend with Mike's family paying us a visit. I had a trade show and an open house for my business that took a majority of my time. So, with those and taking care of a rambunctious little boy...we've had our hands full.

Here's a few pics from our Labor Day weekend!

As you can see, Aunts can greatly influence the color of the car!

Waiting to be seated at Red Lobster

With Nana and Grandpa!

Alex's new play kitchen, thanks to Nana and Grandpa!

Checking it out for the first time!

Alex's 2 Year Pictures

2008-09-20T18:58:00.002-06:00

We finally got around to getting Alex's 2 year pics done and we could not be happier. It was a heck of a lot easier than when we first got them done when he was only 1 month old! Now, Alex is not one to hesitate to say "Cheese" and give us a big goofy smile. However, when it is a stranger pointing the camera on his face, he draws a complete blank and just stares. So, Mommy and Daddy had to pretend that we were being tickled to death by a multicolored duster. If this was caught on film, it would win America's Funniest Video. Oh well, the outcome was adorable shots of our little guy! Enjoy!

This was his "serious" model pose!

2 Year Stats

2008-08-20T14:47:00.002-06:00

Name: Alexander

Date: Aug 19th, 2008

Hemoglobin: 13.2 (normal!)

Weight: 25.8 lbs (25th percentile aka shrimp)

Height: 33 3/4 inches (40th percentile aka getting there!)

Head: 19 3/4 (80th percentile aka huge noggin!)

That's our boy. Getting bigger, smarter, and cuter everyday

We had a fun day yesterday celebrating Alex's birthday. We picked up his cake, met Daddy for some fun at Monkey Bizness, took a long nap, ate some Mexican food, ate some cake. We even had time to do a video chat with Nana, Grandpa, Aunt Monica, and Aunt Melinda. Oh, he opened his presents first thing in the morning and some in between. By the end of the day, he was chanting "Two! Two! Two!". He must think that turning two was the coolest thing that has ever happened to him.

Here's are some pictures!

Enjoying his new chair (from Mommy and Daddy) and a book from Aunt Meghan and Uncle Trent!

Monkeying around with Daddy!

Family pic!

Yummy monkey cake :)

Blowing out the candles! (He did it two times for luck!)

Alex is almost 2!

2008-08-14T16:32:00.003-06:00

Dios mio, Alex will be turning 2 on Tuesday which coincidentally happens to be his favorite number. Ask him how many fingers you're holding up, 2. What's this number? 2. How old are you? 2. Awesome

Anyway, Mike and I are frantically scrambling to put together a little celebration for the little guy. We are not throwing a party for him like last year. Because, honestly, I'm still recovering from that one. I did order him his big present and it is currently sitting by our front door blocking the stairway almost entirely. I will be glad when it is actually being put to use. I also just ordered his cake from the same cake shop I ordered from last year. Needless to say, my Weight-Watchers program will be thrown out the door next week :)

A much-needed haircut is in order before the big 2, so that has been scheduled for Saturday. We will be taking a trip to the toy store for a couple of more presents. We definitely want to make this day special for him. But lookout for next year's party, we'll be definitely making a comeback!

Alex and his Daddy

2008-08-08T16:35:00.003-06:00

This is a true testament that shows how much Alex loves his Daddy. Alex quite literally attaches himself to Mike as soon as Mike walks in the door! Please ignore the fact that Alex is pantless. By the time 5:00 pm hits, the pants hit the floor as well! It's a little scary but the same goes for Mike...

Happy Birthday Mikey!

2008-08-08T16:21:00.005-06:00

As many of you know, it was Mike's birthday yesterday! (Thanks from Mike for the Myspace and Facebook postings, as well as the many cards he received). We celebrated his birthday by grabbing some lunch at Mike's favorite delicatessen, Deli Tech. We also enjoyed some Chinese food later that evening mostly due to my complete lack of motivation to cook. We also did a video chat via Xbox 360 with Mike's family! A quiet yet fun filled day!

Alex is ready to attack the cookie!

We found a really nice playground behind the deli

Alex in his element...the playground

Yes, I am as tired as I look

The monkey bars with Daddy!

California Fun!

2008-08-08T16:03:00.004-06:00

We took a quick trip to California last weekend to celebrate the 2nd wedding of my Uncle Bob and Auntie Abet. It was beautiful ceremony and we were so happy to witness their marriage be blessed by the church! Congrats to them again! Alex served as ringbearer, his second time in a little over a year. He was a true champ and walked down the aisle like a pro! So proud of my baby! Here are some pictures! I will be posting more pictures from the wedding soon :)

The happy couple!

Alex took this pic of Mommy!

Enjoying the California weather with Mama Joah

Looking good with his shades!

A few random things that melt our heart...

2008-07-25T09:18:00.002-06:00

Okay, every day Alex does something so completely adorable that I cannot help but call Mike, my mom, and every living relative we have to share the news. So, instead of shouting it from the rooftops, I have compiled a list of Alex's oh-so-precious moments...

1. He is learning a new word every day. Mike and I had diagnosed Alex (based on our expertise which is nonexistent) as a late-talker and we had been twiddling our thumbs waiting for Alex to finally communicate to us a word or syllable that actually made sense. It has been only the last week or so that he has expanded his vocabulary! He has now added the number two and five and not only says them but clearly identifies them on paper and when we hold up our hands! Sheer genius! He can also say cow, duck, please, keys, cheese, bye-bye, hi, banana, yellow, and a slew of others! He can also say his vowels, thanks to Mike!

2. Alex has always loved puzzles and solved them within a matter of seconds. I bought him another puzzle yesterday which did not have the illustrations on the board, only the cut-out of the puzzle pieces. I was worried that it would throw him off and he would sling it away out of a fit of frustration. Nope, he placed those pieces back as if he had memorized where they were originally placed. I may be naive and ignorant and maybe most toddler's his age has mastered this but I was still impressed! Never underestimate the intelligence of a toddler!

3. I religiously use my laptop and occasionally I let Alex use it as well. He is an expert "scroller" meaning he scrolls up and down the screen, studying the words and pictures as they go by. He has somehow figured out that the laptop gets warm on his lap. He quickly solved this dilemma by grabbing a dish cloth from the kitchen and carefully spreading it out on his lap before placing the computer on it. Where he got this I have no idea because neither Mike and I do that!

4. He loves Sesame Street and Word World and repeats the numbers and letters as they are shown across the screen.

The list goes on and on....from his lively greeting when Mike comes home, to his great singing and dancing abilities, to his little cries (clearly forced) so he can have his cookie...it all melts our hearts. He is a wonderful little boy and we cannot wait to see what each day brings us!

Texas Trip

2008-07-23T21:13:00.002-06:00

I've been meaning to post pictures from our recent trip to Texas, but my elusive jump drive which contained all the pictures went MIA for a while. Alas, it has been found and here are the pictures. It was great trip and it was wonderful to see my Mamaw. It was her first time to see her great-grandson! We also met a plethora of cousins and Alex was in heaven playing with all of them. It was a truly down-home feel where we enjoyed the company of my Aunt Beverly, Sarah, Steve, Stevie, Bailee, Brandon, Christie, Mariah, Christie's newborn, and of course my Dad and my Mom! It was a mini family reunion! We also met other relatives who were kind enough to drive down and see us!

Alex and Bailee getting acquainted with each other

Mamaw and Alex!

Fourth of July in Texas

A contemplative Bailee

Family dinner at Pappadeaux!

Water fun!

2008-07-21T15:43:00.003-06:00

Alex loves the water. Swimming in it, bathing in it, splashing in it, wherever there is water, Alex is there. So, I thought I'd take him to our local outdoor mall. They have a splash park that I thought Alex would love. Alex, however, wasn't so sure. Cold water shooting out of the ground with wild kids running about? I don't think it was his idea of fun. Oh well, he amused me for a few minutes and even walked the whole perimeter of the park. I even got a few smile out of him :)

He loves being outside

Watching the other kids at the splash park

Not quite sure what to make of all this

Hmm...water splashing out of the ground! Cool!

Come here often?

Fun at Elitch's

2008-07-21T15:28:00.003-06:00

Mike's company had their annual company outing at Elitch Gardens (formerly Six Flags). I was a little apprehensive about going because Alex has never been in any type of amusement park. I had been avoiding to go simply because I did not want to deal with #1- a toddler scared of rides and #2- a TIRED toddler scared of rides. Nevertheless, I agreed to go because it was FREE. Best reason to go right? Anyway, I could not have been more wrong about my preconcieved notions. Alex loved every minute of it and loved every ride. We even managed to stay wayyyy past his naptime and the little kiddo was still in good spirits. So, needless to say, Disneyland here we come!

He loved riding in the teacups with Daddy!

With Mommy

Around the world in sixty seconds!

More teacup fun! He went twice!

Showing off his piano skills!

Phoenix 2008

2008-06-20T17:19:00.001-06:00

IMG_3143
Originally uploaded by mikeandgen

I can't believe it's been since May 6th since my last post! My apologies to those who frequent our site. As many of you know, we have been quite the travelers the last month or so. We were in Phoenix for three weeks which included a weekend in Cali and some business trips for Mike. So, needless to say...we are exhausted. I have finally caught up with some much needed housework, bill paying, and gardening. I will include as many pictures as I can from the last month or so bear with me!

First of all, a big CONGRATULATIONS to the three McLean sisters who graduated last month. Melissa graduated with an Associates Degree in Education from Chandler Gilbert Community College. She is moving on to Arizona State University to complete her Bachelor's degree. There are big things awaiting Melissa and she was even voted "Most Promising Teacher"...great job Melissa!

Next was Meghan McLean Updike (she's always a McLean in our hearts). Meghan graduated with honors in Nursing from the University of Arizona in Tucson. This girl racked up the awards and we could not have been prouder! She will be a great nurse and any patient who has her will be so lucky! She is now with her husband in Texas and we wish both of them all the best!

And finally, Miss Monica McLean graduated from high school! Woo-hoo! She has been accepted to Arizona State University and also received a scholarship. More Sun Devils in the family!

I'll post more later! Oh, click on the above picture of me and Alex lounging in the pool for more pics!

Hot Tofu!

2008-05-06T21:22:00.001-06:00

MVI_3063
Originally uploaded by mikeandgen

Here's a funny video of Alex eating his favorite food tofu! Hot tofu!

Mike's in Seattle

2008-05-06T20:27:00.003-06:00

So, my husband is in lovely Seattle as we speak. Sure I've had a few rough moments with Alex, a little tantrum when it came to eating his dinner, a little cranky here and there but over all, he's been good. I like to know that I can survive a few days w/o Mike (emphasize FEW days), nothing longer than 4 nights. He really helps me out and the kid misses his dad you know? Anyway, I left Alex to attend a conference for the WHOLE day today. Quite a change since Alex has never been baby sat by anyone outside of the family for more than a couple of hours at a time. But he was a trooper. My good friend Mary Ann and my neighbor Mary took turns taking care of him and by all reports he was great! Albeit he refused to nap for Mary Ann. Oh well, it couldn't have been perfect right? He also loves this water table I just got for him. It is the best invention ever. Occupies him forever! It's great!

He apparently finds it amusing

I can actually play with water without getting yelled at!

He takes water transferring seriously

More water transferring

Being such a good helper, he decided to water Daddy's grass

Alex our little rascal

2008-04-16T12:28:00.001-06:00

Here's Alex practicing his favorite newfound hobby--spitting water. He really gets a kick out of it!

Easter Pics!

2008-03-24T16:36:00.007-06:00

Mike receives a blessing during Easter Vigil

Mike taking his first Holy Communion in the Catholic Church!

Alex solves a puzzle

Alex on his first Easter Egg Hunt!

Searching for eggs

Alex with Daddy and Grandma

Grandpa, Grandma, and Alex

Happy Easter from the McLeans!

Easter Blessings

2008-03-18T16:04:00.000-06:00

This might seem a mushy little note to my husband but I really would like to take this time to let him know I am so proud of him. I met Mike almost 13 years ago and there is not a day that he ceases to amaze. As many of you know, Mike is going through Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) through the Catholic Church. He decided that it was time for him to study and explore the Catholic faith. In truth, he wanted to convert for Alex's sake. He wanted our children to see that their parents were of the same religion. Simply, he felt that it would unify us more as a family. So since September, he has been attending three hour sessions every Sunday at our church. There he studies scripture, reflects, and meditates on their meaning with other candidates and catuchumens. He also learns important historical events that formed the Catholic faith. The most amazing and inspirational part is that Mike is not simply attending these sessions to "become" Catholic but it is serving as a stepping stone for him to understand himself and his relationship with God. I think Mike himself was surprised at how much he has learned and how it has affected him. I am often taken aback when he has a thought or comment that is obviously influenced by the teachings he has just learned. I am truly blessed to have a husband who understands the importance of God in the family. It gives me comfort to know that when we make decisions in our life, we both will look to our faith for guidance. This Easter is especially momentous because Mike will be formally initiated into the Catholic Church. On Saturday, we will be attending Easter Vigil and there Mike will be finally able to take part in the Holy Eucharist! We are so excited!

I'll leave you with a poem I found on our church's website under the RCIA section.

Unfolding a Rose

A new Christian was walking with a friend one day. He was feeling a bit insecure about God’s will for his life, and he asked his friend what he should do. His friend walked up to a rosebush, handed him a bud, and told him to open it without tearing off any petals. The new Christian looked in disbelief at his friend and tried to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the WILL OF GOD for his life. But because of his high respect for his friend tried to unfold the rose. . . It wasn’t long before he realized how impossible it was to do so. Noticing the younger Christian’s inability to unfold the rosebud while keeping it intact, his friend began to recite the following poem. . .

It is only a tiny rosebud,

A flower of GOD’s design;

But I cannot unfold the petals

With these clumsy hands of mine.

The secret of unfolding flowers

Is not known to such as I.

GOD opens this flower so sweetly,

When in my hands they fade and die.

If I cannot unfold a rosebud,

This flower of GOD’s design,

Then how can I think I have wisdom

To unfold this life of mine?

So I’ll trust in Him for His leading

Each moment of every day.

I will look to him for His guidance

Each step of the pilgrim way.

The pathway that lies before me,

Only my Heavenly Father knows.

I’ll trust Him to unfold the moments,

Just as He unfolds the rose.

When Irish Eyes are Smiling

2008-03-07T10:30:00.003-07:00

I completely forgot that I had an old Karaoke Machine and since Alex loves to sing I busted it out of the closet this morning! Here's our future American Idol singing an old Irish Tune "When Irish Eyes are Smiling" just in time for St. Patrick's Day!

Enjoy!

Monkeying Around with Melissa

2008-03-05T13:18:00.008-07:00

We had quite an eventful week last week with Mike's little sis Melissa paying us a visit. Melissa was in town to accept a scholarship she was rewarded through a National Teaching Conference. Congratulations Melissa! During her visit, we were able to play a few games of gin rummy, monkey around in an indoor playground called Monkey Bizness, and basically did a lot of catching up! It was great to have her here!

Melissa at a great burger joint called the Cherry Cricket

Alex apparently wants me to wipe my mouth.

Wassup, wassup!

It's past both their bedtimes

Doing what he does best! Being cute!

In the child's fantasy world called Monkey Bizness

Zoom in on this, who's more excited Mike or Alex?

Our big boy going down the Big Boy slide on his own!

Baby Pics of Genevieve

2008-02-15T09:22:00.002-07:00

My mom sent me these pictures from one of her friends in the Philippines. She can't believe how much Alex and I look alike!

Happy Valentine's Day

2008-02-14T14:42:00.004-07:00

Alex's Nana sent him the cutest outfits and I have been loving dressing him up! Here is Alex's Valentine's Day attire. (He certainly knows how to work the camera!)

Mommy and Me Playgroup

2008-02-12T14:42:00.000-07:00

So, I decided that it was time to break out of my shell and actually start going to playgroups with Alex. Winter in Denver has definitely given both of us a bit of cabin fever so I thought it would be both beneficial for me and Alex to get out of the house and meet some new people! I've only attended a couple but Alex has had a blast so far! Here are a few pics from a meet up this morning.

Ummm...excuse me...can you move please?

He shoots, he scores!

Hmmm...what are these?

Future NBA player

This is awesome...balls everywhere!

New Year! New Hair Cut!

2008-02-06T13:42:00.000-07:00

Alex was in dire need of a haircut and it took all my strength and courage to bring him in to get it cut. As we all know, I tried my hand at cutting his hair about a year ago and it resulted to a very saintly looking Alex...like a monk. So, we did not want to go through that again but Alex is not a big fan of the professionals either. So through many tears and screaming, these are the final results...

Before...he seems to know what is about to happen

Immediately After

I hate you Mom

A happier Alex

My Rocker Boy

Silly Pics of Alex

2008-02-01T14:25:00.000-07:00

Congrats Mike!

2008-01-31T09:27:00.000-07:00

I wanted to send out a big congratulations to Mike and his team at Microsoft. Today is the product launch of the long-awaited Microsoft Office PerformancePoint 2007 Management Reporter. Mike has been working hard on this product since he started in Microsoft almost three years ago! It is a great accomplishment and Mike is proud to have a product ship under his belt. He even gets three paid days off because of this completion! Yay!

Other exciting news in the McLean Family household is my venture into a new business! Yes, as many of you know, I have started my own Pampered Chef business. I am now officially a Consultant. I attended my very first Pampered Chef party in October and was intrigued by the business. I love to cook, I love to sell, and I love being in front of people. What can get better than that? So, I eagerly signed up and have been building my business since then. This was the perfect time to start because of the New Year, I have many goals to fulfill and it is comforting to know that I have a full twelve months to reach them! I have booked a few shows and I am anxious to get the gears turning in full swing!

And for our little tyke Alex---he keeps getting bigger, funnier, and naughtier! He definitely has a sense of humor that compares to none! He makes us laugh daily with his antics such as putting buckets, baskets, and strainers on his head. He loves to get buried under pillows and triumphantly emerge from them. He is a seasoned architect building blocks high and knocking them over. He has mastered the art of putting toys from one place to another. He climbs furniture like a rock climber. He is our own Evil Kneivel, balancing on his riding toys, boxes, and anything that can hold his weight. We have our fair share of scares and here's hoping to no trips to the hospital soon :)

That's it from the homefront! Will be updating more with pics soon!

Alex the Rock Star

2008-01-10T13:19:00.001-07:00

As many of you know, Alex received a slew of toys for Christmas. Well, the gifts just keep on coming! Our good friend Mary Ann dropped off a drum set that her boys had no use for anymore and Alex loves it. He's our little rock star. As you can see from the video, Mike is ready to train his apprentice!

It's 2008!

2008-01-01T22:10:00.001-07:00

IMG_8454
Originally uploaded by mikeandgen

Hope everyone had a merry Christmas and a great New Year!

I have sooo have to go to bed but here are a few pics from Christmas day!

Merry Christmas from the McLeans

2007-12-21T12:00:00.000-07:00

This has been a year of new beginnings and sad goodbyes. We saw the wedding of Meghan and Trent, a new life for my brother Paul, and the death of Grandma Joy. It brings tears to my eyes to know that each of these occasions brought peace to our family. Although Grandma Joy's passing was a sad event, it bought peace in our hearts to know she is sitting up high in heaven with her love. What can I say about Meghan and Trent? After four years of dating long distance, I am sure the hassle of traveling and being apart coming to an end has brought peace in their life! My brother Paul, who has endured a lot for the last year and a half is on the road to recovery. Our family is eternally grateful for this second chance in life. We love Paul and we are praying each day for his continued success.
As 2007 comes to a close, we want to wish everyone who visits this blog a happy Christmas and a joyous New Year. We want to thank everyone who has made 2007 such an eventful and wonderful year. We want to especially thank God for the blessing us with good health, family, and friends. We are so thankful to have such a happy and healthy little boy. There is not a day that Mike and I do not look each other and say how lucky we are. Thank you to our families who continue to support us and is so generous with their love. We want to thank our friends who still talk to us even though we can be so consumed with parenting, we forget to reciprocate!
We pray that your 2008 be filled with joyous surprises, beautiful sunny days, and the knowledge that each day is a gift.
From the deepest of our hearts, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Cheers!

Hawaii Vacation

2007-12-13T11:18:00.000-07:00

So, as most of you know, Mike, Alex, and I went on a week-long vacation to Maui. My parents kindly invited us to join them and who could refuse a vacation in such a beautiful place? Although the weather did not cooperate with us, it was still wonderful spending time with my parents, Auntie Abet, Uncle Bob, and my brother Paul. Alex provided a lot of entertainment by showing off his dancing and singing skills, "blowing" away his Aunt and every other person who would be blown away, and generally being the goofy toddler he has become. He loved exploring the resort grounds and being admired by passer-bys. He definitely brought a lot of smiles to the other vacationers.

Like I mentioned, the weather did not cooperate with us. It rained almost 100% of the time with a few bits of sunshine here and there. We were still able to do quite a bit. A bike ride down Haleakala volcano was beautiful and breathtaking. We hopped from one store to another in Whaler's Village (literally hopping as to avoid getting soaked). We sampled various restaurants and enjoyed the fresh seafood. Yum! The rest of the family took the Road to Hana while Mike, Alex and I stayed within the confines of the resort. Alex isn't a fan of long car rides.

Overall, it was a worthwhile trip. Alex got to spend time with his Grandpa and Grandma which is what the trip was mainly about. Alex loved sitting up high on Grandpa's arms and watch the world around him. Now, we're back in cold, snowy Denver adjusting to normal life again. Mike has been in Seattle for the last few days and I am eagerly anticipating his return. It gets lonely around here without him.

Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays. Christmas is coming soon!

Here is the link to the Hawaii Pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/gp/18481625@N00/W6THK5

My life as a SAHM

2007-11-16T10:53:00.001-07:00

I always thought I would be a career woman. The modern woman who could balance work and home. I thought of stay-at-home moms as mediocre, lazy, unmovitated. Why would you want to stay at home? There is a whole world to conquer! I never knew that I would eat my own words. I really thought I would go back to work after having Alex. I researched daycare facilities. Mike and I even alloted some money especially for covering the costs. But, each day I spent with Alex, the thought of going back to work seem to move farther and farther away from me. I couldn't fathom the thought of placing him in a daycare, thinking of my helpless little baby and the exposure to germs and sickness made me sick to my stomach. I know there are many women out there who do not have a choice but to go back to work. I respect those women and I also respect the women who choose to go back to work because they want to fulfill other goals and dreams. We are all different and I have learned to not judge those who make different choices from my own.
As Alex grows and enters toddlerhood, it has just reinforced my decision to stay home. This is the stage where he is discovering the world and is finally grasping a lot of concepts and I am simply amazed. It's funny how little things like learning how to blow a whistle, stack rings, and point to body parts is such a momentous occasion. I am so happy that I can witness these discoveries. I just shake my head and say "Wow" each time Alex does something new. I thank God every day that he has blessed me and Mike with a beautiful, happy, and healthy little boy. So, that's my little blurb about my life as a stay-at-home Mom. No, we're not lazy, unmotivated, and mediocre. We are working hard raising our children and also enjoying each moment before they think Mommy and Daddy are crazy and mean :)

Super Jealous

2007-11-12T19:30:00.000-07:00

So, I am not the jealous type. I try not to be at least. Especially when it comes to Mike. Yes, he may have the glamorous job at Microsoft, he may have the brains of a genius, and drive a superfast car. But I like to think there is more to be jealous about me than him. For example, I spend hours and hours with the cutest little boy on earth, Alex, I enjoy the outdoors by taking walks and going to the playground any time I want, I can pick from our many choices of delicacies (oreos, cheez-its, mac n' cheese) any time of the day. Yes, there is much to be jealous about me but not this time. This time Mike has shouted from the hilltops "BOOM!" (our little exclamation whenever we have "one-upped" each other). What is it you ask? I'll tell you what it is. As I type this, Mike is on the 21st floor of the Marriot Marquis overlooking Times Square in New York City! Yes, the lights of Broadway are flashing before his eyes. New York City has been one of the top places I have wanted to go to before I die. And Mike has beat me to it! He has promised me that he will take me some time in the near future. I can tell you it is not soon enough. I have always had a love affair with New York City. It seems to be a world of its own. I guess what draws me most to the city is the artists that live within. The actors, musicians, writers. It seems like the greatest works are born in the Big Apple. I've always fantasized living in Soho trying to fulfill my dream of being a Broadway actress. But alas, I am here in Denver. I still could not be happier. So, yes I am jealous. I admit it. But, it'll pass because in just a few short weeks I will be basking in the sun on the beautiful beaches of Maui. BOOM!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2007-10-21T11:14:00.000-06:00

My little lion!

The Black Spidey and Little Lion

Grandma and Lil' Lion

Alex is cracking up at Mom!

World Series!

So yeah, I have been totally slacking on my posts. Mike kindly reminded me last night that it had been 1 month since my last post. There have been a few events that does warrant my neglect. For example, Mike's mom visited us a couple of weeks. A dentist appointment, a hair appointment, hmmm...I guess that's it. Not much of an excuse huh? Okay okay, well I guess here's a quick recap on the goings-on in the McLean Family camp.

- Mike's Mom took a quick visit to Colorado to see her grandson. Even though it has only been two months since she's seen him, there has been tremendous development in his physical and mental abilities. For example, he WALKS! Another is his communication skills are fast developing. He can now sign "more", "eat", "milk", "help" and "done". He can also understand basic questions and commands such as "Where's your drink?", "Show me the banana", "Clap your hands", "Give mommy/daddy a kiss". So cute!

- My Mom also paid us a visit a a few days after Mike's Mom left. Yes, the grandmas are in need of an Alex fix! As I write this, she is still here and has been a tremendous help. She's watched Alex two nights in a row because of a Halloween party Mike and I attended and we also saw a baseball game called THE WORLD SERIES! Yes, even though Colorado lost, we still had a blast watching the Red Sox win the championship game!

Beautiful Fall Weather

2007-10-02T12:40:00.001-06:00

Hooray for Fall! I love it! The leaves are changing, there is a chill in the air! I even love wearing fall clothes--my brown corduroy jacket, boots, scarves, all of it! Anyway, we drove up to the mountains this past weekend to see nature's fireworks on display. It was breathtaking drive up through Evergreen, winding through the mountains, and passing a beautiful lake. Here are a few pics.

Alex the Walker!

2007-09-12T19:55:00.000-06:00

Alex took his first steps last Thursday! It took a lot of coaxing and bribing (do you want the remote Alex?, the cell phone?...come and get it!) but he did take a couple of unassisted steps on his own. It was only today that he decided that walking was a cool way to get around! Here's a quick video. Be forewarned, he likes to talk!

Tagged!

2007-09-09T10:12:00.000-06:00

So, it's been an exciting weekend so far. We weren't looking for excitement. Excitement found us. Mike and I were enjoying a nice, quiet Friday evening when we were greeted by flashing police lights outside our house. Apparently, there were kids spraying graffiti all over our neighborhood, including our house. They seem to be friendly vandals, spraying the words "HI" on our front door and a little red heart on Mike's white truck. Aww...how sweet. However, they were not as nice to the rest of the neighborhood, spray painting obscene images and words on fences and cars. The police patrolled the neighborhood and even went into several backyards with their K-9 unit (including ours!). There were helicopters combing the area as well. We were in our own little East-L.A :) Apparently, the suspects are four young African-American girls dressed in block hooded sweatshirts with backpacks carrying spray paint. They have not apprehended them and I hope they will get caught. It definitely is a bummer to be greeted by vandalism as you pull into a home that you have worked so hard to keep and maintain. Oh well, it could have been worse right? I did get my 15 seconds of fame because I was interviewed by a local television station. The story was also featured in many of the news stations in Denver.

Here are the links:
http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=76950

L.A Birthday!

2007-08-29T19:16:00.000-06:00

Yes, Alex celebrated his 1st birthday a 2nd time August 25th. What a spoiled baby :) My Auntie Abet was kind enough to host a party in her Glendale home on Saturday. Alex seemed more at ease partly because he was now used to having numerous relatives and friends handle him. He even gladly dove into his cake (hands and feet!)

So, I actually wrote a whole other blog a week or so ago but the darn computer lost my draft :( So, I got really lazy and delayed writing another one until I was settled back in Denver. Alex and I spent a week and a half in Cali and it was a blast! The day after his party, we celebrated my Uncle Bob's 60th birthday by throwing him a surprise birthday party. We Filipinos love our parties. My Auntie Abet pulled it off perfectly. Alex was even on his best behavior despite staying up till 10:30 p.m! That's late for a baby whose bed time is at 7 pm. The weather in Cali was a bit warm (high 90's and even a few 100 degree days) that it made going out quite a daunting task. However, we did enjoy a day at the beach and even cruised around to check out those famous Malibu beach houses.

Another highlight of the trip was my run-in with television host Kat Sadler. Kat Sadler who you say? Kat Sadler is cohost of the Daily 10 on the E! Entertainment network. It basically sums up the top 10 entertainment stories of the day. Yes, I am a celebrity gossip junkie. Anyway, I was sitting at a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf in a Ralphs grocery store in Glendale. I was happily sipping my ice-blended when I randomly thought how cool it would be to spot a celebrity. Maybe a Nicole Ritchie perhaps? She was pulled over right down the road, going the wrong way on the freeway. I was people watching and noticed this petite brunette and her two young boys picking out cakes in the bakery department. I nudged Mike and muttered under my breath that the lady looked so familiar. Mike of course started to look around saying, "What? Who? Who is she? What is she on? Daily 10? What the heck is that?" I quietly explained my presumption and he urged me just to ask her. So, I quietly approached her and asked her if she was indeed Kat Sadler. She was and she was very polite and appreciative that I watched her show. She was a cool lady. Not a Nicole Ritchie or Paris Hilton, but I doubt they would have been as nice :)

Alex's Birthday Party Pictures

2007-08-21T09:57:00.000-06:00

Free MySpace slideshows, photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKE!

2007-08-08T14:53:00.001-06:00

Okay, this is one day late (so sorry Mikey) but HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKE! It was Mike's 27th birthday yesterday! Hooray for Mike! We celebrated by going out to our fave Chinese restaurant John Holly's. After dinner, we enjoyed a Coldstone Ice Cream cake at home and called it a day :) A little low-key but hopefully we can celebrate a bit more when Mike's family comes out next week for Alex's birthday. Yes, that's right...Alex is almost 1! But, that's a whole different subject. This is about Mike, how great he is, how handsome he is, and how we love having him in our life! You all know what a wonderful person Mike is...as a husband, father, son, brother, and friend. He truly is the best :) Here's a few pics from last night!

Alex eyeing the cake

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Don't let the looks fool you, it was delicious!

Hmmm...I might just try this out.

Alex is a little distracted.

Alex Dancing

2007-07-26T09:33:00.000-06:00

Alex seems to be following in the footsteps of the McLean siblings. You may not know that Mike created a trend that is still going strong within his family. Mike was a percussionist in our high school marching band and his legacy has remained strong. His sister's Marianna, Melissa, Monica, and now Melinda have all participated as percussionist as well. Last weekend, on our local channel, they were featuring the high school bands around the state. Not only was Alex mesmerized by the music but started to dance to the music too! Here's the video with Alex and his handsome Daddy!

A big kiss for Daddy!

Future model

Shout out to my people!

2007-07-25T08:55:00.000-06:00

Funny video of some Filipino prisoners reenacting Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video!

Eleven Months

2007-07-19T13:17:00.000-06:00

Alex is eleven months old today! He is however wearing an 18 month old outfit in this pic. A little too big but eh...who cares? He's a cute little bugger!

More Summertime fun!

2007-07-17T09:29:00.000-06:00

Our Little Garden

2007-07-09T14:34:00.000-06:00

As I mentioned in my previous posts, Mike and I have been planting away this summer. Check out our little trees!

Maple tree and honeysuckle vines

Emerald Green Arborvitae

Greenspire Linden Tree

My vegetable garden

Clematis Vine and Austrian Pine

Zoo Story

2007-07-08T09:28:00.000-06:00

We had a fabulous 4th of July weekend! No, we didn't see any fireworks because little Alex was in bed by 7 pm but we enjoyed a productive yet relaxing weekend. Since Mike had five days off, he was finally able to plant the rest of the trees we had purchased. They are cute little evergreens called green Arborvitae that we planted on one side of our fence. Our once barren backyard is now looking quite nice. I have my vegetable garden, a Greenspire Linden tree, an Austrian Pine, a couple of vines, and now the Arborvitaes. It's going to be our little forest :)
We also had a busy weekend with Alex. We took him to the Denver Zoo on Friday. It was a scorching day but Alex seemed to enjoy every bit of it. He loved looking at all the animals and people watch.
Last but not least, Mike and I had a date night! It was the first time we ever had anyone babysit outside of the family. Our neighbor Mary was kind enough to offer her babysitting services and we were able to go out for dinner and a movie. We saw Transformers which was a visually stunning movie. Great special effects and had its comedic moments. It was a typical Michael Bay film, explosions, sweeping camera angles encircling the main characters, booming orchestral soundtrack...think Armageddon and Pearl Harbor. It was a great movie to see in a movie theatre.
It was definitely a nice treat to have spent the last few days with Mike. Not only was he there to help out with Alex but Alex really enjoyed having his Daddy around. There doesn't seem to be moment without Alex's giggles echoing throughout the house because Daddy was being silly. But alas, all good things must come to an end. Is Labor Day hear yet?

At the Denver Zoo

Watch out there's a pachyderm behind you!

Look Alex it's a GIRAFFE!

A Polar Bear Daddy and his cub

Our little picnic in the back of the car :)

Summer Time Fun!

2007-07-03T08:41:00.000-06:00

Summer has hit Denver. It has been a blazing 100 degrees the past few days and what better way to cool off than being in a baby pool? Alex and his neighbor buddy Henry have been doing just that! It's adorable watching these two little boys become friends. It evolved from uncertainty (staring at each other) to a bit of hair pulling and now taking toys away from each other! Ha! Best friends for life :) We are looking forward to this 4th of July weekend, Mike has a record of five days off! Yes! We are planning to visit the zoo, have a little barbeque, splash around the pool, and just general lazying around. Not too bad eh? Happy 4th everyone!

Playing in the pool with Henry
Barbeque with friends
I love my sunglasses!
Hmmm...I want that toy
You want some spaghetti Mommy?

Happy Father's Day!

2007-06-19T14:42:00.000-06:00

Happy First Father's Day Mike! Thanks for being such an awesome husband and daddy and rock star!! We love you!

Saturday Night Live

2007-06-16T20:46:00.000-06:00

It's Saturday night, browsing the internet while Mike rocks out on Guitar Hero II. Who says kids change your life?

Butterfly kisses

2007-06-15T15:24:00.000-06:00

Crawling, pulling up, teething, etc...these are all milestones that do not even compare to the new talent Alex has recently acquired---kissing. Yes, our little boy has learned to open his toothy mouth, lean over, and plant a big one on us!! It is so adorable that Mike and I almost ran up and down the streets shouting to neighbors about this new feat! Yes, we're dorks. It just makes us feel like all the hard work of feeding, changing diapers, clothing, and entertaining him has finally paid of. He shows his appreciation through one special little kiss. Awww...what a sweetheart. Okay, I'll stop my gushing. We just got back from Arizona on Monday after a week packed full of events. Meghan and Trent got married (congrats again!), and they are now probably lounging on the sunny beaches of Jamaica. Lucky! Mike got sick (24 hour flu) that left him incapacitated and passed out on my mom's couch. My relatives from Cali came for a quick visit, really just to see Alex, who cares about the parents. We celebrated my Uncle Robert, Aunt Pauline, and my Mom's birthdays all at once. All that plus a few dinners out with the family, the wedding, rehearsal dinner, and baking (I went a little crazy), and then the week was done. It was fun but it is good to get back to the normalcy that is Colorado. We're adjusting to the quiet again.

Congrats Trent!

2007-05-31T20:56:00.000-06:00

Congratulations Trent for graduating from the Air Force Academy. The family is damn proud of you and we cannot wait to see you and Meghan walk down the aisle next week :)

Please ignore the cowboy hat...it was a Britney Spears moment!

First REAL Haircut

2007-05-31T20:47:00.000-06:00

Mike and I took Mr. Alex to get his first true professional haircut last weekend. As you may remember, I pretty much butchered his hair last February. People were very polite to ask if he had his hair cut and I knew they were holding in their laughter! Oh well, he is still the cutest little baby ever and no awful haircut can take that away from him :) So here are some pics...

Before Pic

Here's a toy to distract you!

Umm...what the heck is going on?

After Pic with Daddy

After pic with Mommy

In Memory of...

2007-05-17T14:25:00.000-06:00

Mike's grandmother Joy passed away early Tuesday morning of last week. She took an unfortunate fall on Sunday (Mother's Day) which may have led to complications undetected. We are very saddened by her passing. She was a very sweet woman who was proud of all of her children and grandchildren (including her great-grandchild Alexander!). She will be deeply missed and we are praying that her soul is in peace and that she is watching us from above. Mike is in Phoenix today for her funeral service. We miss you Grandma!

Visitors Galore!

2007-05-03T11:52:00.000-06:00

Since August 2006, the month Alex was born, we have had a visitor every month. Gosh, we should have had kids sooner. We really did not think we would get so much use out of our guest bedroom. We love having visitors. It keeps our home alive and exciting (and clean too!) My parents visited us this weekend and Alex had a blast! He had an awesome view of the world sitting on my Dad's arms and my Mom never fails to get his contagious laugh out of him. Unfortunately, Mike's '94 Toyota broke down just as we were ready to start the weekend. His engine overheated on his way home from work and we had to pick him up at a nearby gas station. My Dad (the resident auto mechanic) helped fix up the truck and it is now running great! We are hoping to get a few more thousand miles out of it before we purchase a new one.
Another exciting milestone occured this weekend, it was our 10 year dating anniversary!! Yes, it was in April 1997 that Mike and I attend our junior prom together. We celebrated by going out to dinner at Jax Fishhouse in downtown Denver and took a lovely stroll afterward. We also had the most delicious gelato at a quaint little shop. We were planning to hit one of the clubs downtown but as we passed each music thumping, loud, and overcrowded club, we decided a nice quiet evening is all we needed. Gosh, we are definitely parents. Anyway, it was a blast and thank you Mom and Dad for babysitting!!

Big Smile!

Gotta love the timer feature

Ready to shop at Babies R' Us!

My little cowboy!

Look Mom, I can help with the dishes!

8 months old!

2007-04-20T14:08:00.000-06:00

4 months...4 more months till Alex turns the big ONE. He has been a busy little boy this month...so far he has mastered the art of pulling up to standing and is now working on "cruising" along furniture. His two top teeth are coming in slowly but surely. He has also mastered the art of finger foods. He loves to eat his puffs and toasts. I am amazed at the dexterity of his little fingers. But again, he learns from the best :) The clouds and the rain are finally being pushed away by the sun...yes...I can get out of the house again! Alex and I have been taking advantage of the nice weather and have been taking our daily walks again.

We were very saddened by the tragic events that unfolded in Virginia Tech on Monday morning. I am praying for the families and friends of the victims and hope that their hearts will heal in time. It seems that with every tragic event people are desperately trying to put the blame on someone---guns, hospitals, doctors, television, movies, etc. I don't think stricter gun laws or tamer movies will prevent someone from killing. I believe that we must take action on our own and do what we can do within our realm. Being kind, compassionate, and reaching out to people who are in need. There is a young Korean boy who lives a couple of houses away from me and he recently told me about the abuse he has been taking since Monday. Bullies have been tormenting him even in his own home. It upsets me that such a tragic event begets more hatred than creating kindness. We need to teach children that their actions can be detrimental to a person's wellbeing. We need to start in our own home before we can start fixing the big picture.

On a lighter note...here's some pictures of Alex!

Easter Weekend Fun

2007-04-13T09:40:00.000-06:00

I just put Alex down for a nap five minutes ago, and now I can hear him happily playing with his crib toys. Hopefully, by the time I finish writing this post, he would have fallen asleep. It's been a rough couple of nights with him because his two top teeth are coming in. Instead of his usual five to seven hours of straight sleep, he is waking up after three or four. Poor guy. So, I'm running on empty right now and depending on my morning jolt of coffee to get me going! I hope everyone had a great Easter weekend. As many of you know, we enjoyed the company of Mike's family over the weekend. Mike's Mom, Dad, little sister's Monica and Melinda joined us for a fun, festive, and SNOWY Easter! Yup, we had a white Easter. I had my spring dress all laid out but had to slip on my good ol' black pants for Sunday mass. This Easter was definitely special because past Easter's have been spent with only myself and Mike. It was rather lonely and to have Mike's family with us on a special holiday made our home feel especially warm and complete.
Shhh...baby's sleeping....

Cheese!!
Mommy and the twins
Easter at the McLean's
Hmmm...what's this?
Our Little Easter Bunny

Happy Easter!

2007-04-07T13:44:00.000-06:00

Washington Park

2007-04-03T10:09:00.000-06:00

New Slideshow!

2007-03-30T12:06:00.000-06:00

More March Pics

2007-03-23T12:04:00.000-06:00

Lovin' the sun! Swab my poop deck matey!
Cute as a button!

I love yoda

Boarding with Melissa

Spring has sprung!

2007-03-22T14:57:00.000-06:00

I am so sorry that it has been more than a month since my last posting. Having a little 7 month old really takes up your time! Yes, that's right----7 MONTHS OLD!! That's more than half a year! Yikes! The sun has finally come out of hiding here in Denver and is showing its glorious, warm rays. We have been blessed with such beautiful days that I can't help but keep myself out of the house. It was a dreary and cold winter that's for sure. But I digress, this is about Alex! What has been happening with my little man? Well, he's an expert commando-style crawler. He loves to crawl on our vinyl kitchen floor and loves to hear his hand slap the floor. He was very disappointed that his Daddy baby-proofed his favorite non-baby toys---the XBox 360 and dvd player. His Grandma Thomas visited him for two entire weeks and basically spoiled him from head to toe! Mommy and Daddy were spoiled too, what can be better than handing off the baby to Grandma at 6:30 in the morning? His Aunt Melissa even visited us for a couple of days and went snowboarding with the old folks. It was my first time aways from Alex for an extended period of time and was relieved to know that he CAN survive without me! I am relieved but a bit saddened.... He has been introduced to a wide variety of solid foods now, sweet potatoes, squash, green beans, apples, pears...all of which he is still getting used to. He does love sipping water from a cup! Alex is a joy and is growing up so fast in front of our very eyes. We can't wait till Mike's family joins us for Easter in a couple of weeks.

6 months old!

2007-02-20T10:29:00.000-07:00

Alex turned 6 months yesterday! Yes, it has been six whole months since Alex entered this world. He's been to Arizona, California, been R2D2 for Halloween, saw his first snow, cut his first teeth, been visited by lots and lots of relatives, sat-up, rolled-over, and now...drum roll please----started crawling! Alex started his "army crawl" on Valentine's Day. He was after Mike's cellphone and that was motivation enough for him to start crawling. We have recently installed baby gates on the top of our stairs and have started to babyproof all the cabinets and drawers around the house. It has just been within this month that Alex decided that it was time to enter the big boy world. He's changed so much! Ackk! My little boy is growing up :(
Mike's sister Meghan visited us last weekend. Although it was a short visit, Alex had a blast playing with his aunt. He can only take so much of Mommy so when he saw a new face, he was all smiles!
My little doggy Noodles is in Arizona right now and unfortunately experienced a bout with pneumonia again. He had to be taken to the emergency vet on Sunday night and was diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia. He had it in September but something in his lungs and throat is allowing particles of food to enter his lungs. Therefore causing a build-up of liquid around the lungs. He is recovering well but I just cannot imagine the toll this has taken on his little body. Please pray that he gets well!

6 months old and loving it!

What are you feeding me now?

Sweet potatoes...kinda weird

Caught red-handed!

I like pretty girls.

Happy Valentine's Day

2007-02-14T13:26:00.000-07:00

Sitting up, haircut, teeth--- oh my!

2007-02-12T09:47:00.000-07:00

It's just been a few weeks since Alex and I returned from L.A and it seems like he has hit so many developmental milestones since then. He has now officially cut his two front bottom teeth after many many days of fussiness, crying, and obvious pain! He can also sit up on his own which allows him to bang away at his numerous toys. Alex is very content playing in an upright position but as soon as he gets tired, you can hear a nice soft thump on the carpet as he decides that it's time to lay down. I wince when I hear that but he doesn't utter a cry or a wimper. Mike and I also decided that it was time for a much needed haircut. His mullet and bangs were just not cutting it anymore (pardon the pun)! However, I did not attend beauty school so what seemed like a perfectly easy task turned into a very traumatic and horrendous experience. Yes, Alex has the dreaded bowl haircut. Not only did I cut the back too short (and lopsided of course) but his hair looks very much like a half-coconut---a bunot for all you Filipinos out there. I pretty much gave up and decided it would grow back anyway and then I would just leave it to the professionals next time. And that's what hats are for right?
Alex also tried rice cereal for the first time a couple of weeks ago. He has learned to like it (although much of it still ends up all over his face). We are going to start fruits and veggies at his 6 month birthday and we'll let you know how that progresses. The little munchkin is waking up right now so I must attend to him! Happy Valentine's day everyone!

L.A fun

2007-01-27T22:16:00.000-07:00

Sorry about slacking on the posts. Alex and I jetsetted to L.A last week for the 90th birthday party for my Grandma. She's awesome. If I could live 1/4 of the life she's led, I'd be a happy camper. Love her mucho. So, we spent a wonderful, sunny, glorious week in L.A. I so did not want to go back to Denver. But, my hubby and father to my child was begging us to come back home so we had to oblige. Alex was smothered to death by friends, family, acquaintances, waiters, waitresses, flight attendants, god knows who else! This guy is definitely a chick magnet. He was even flirting with the girl next to me on the plane. I really do have my hands full. Not only is he very much like Mike but Mike just loves to show him his beloved Broncos Cheerleaders calendar every chance he gets. Anyway, Alex is doing great. Rolling around, playing with toys, and he even tried his first bite of rice cereal today. Whoopee! He is a rambunctious little guy. He grabs at anything his hand grazes especially my hair. I've learned to live on scrunchies and hair ties now. He has the weirdest laugh where he basically draws in air like he's gasping for air. Hope that changes soon because he'll definitely get weird looks when he's older. Alright, enough of my rambling. Here's some pics of the little fella!

I love laundry!

Alex and Pops

Hi everyone! I'm five months old!

Snoop Doggy Alex

Almost five months!

2007-01-11T14:31:00.000-07:00

As I type this, I am giddy with excitement because Alex finally soothed himself to sleep, it took an hour but it happened! Alex has always been an excellent sleeper at night but his naps could use some work. We had resorted to using a bouncy seat to rock him to sleep since he was a newborn. Unfortunately, it resulted to a nice round bald spot on the back of his head. We have been slowly weaning him off the bouncy seat and getting him used to his crib. I have to hold him and bounce him until he is asleep (a workout in itself) and slowly lay him in his crib. However, today I bit the bullet and layed him down drowsy but awake. It took a full hour until he finally closed his eyes and went off to dreamland :) Don't worry, he wasn't crying that hour before he fell asleep. He just tossed and turned, made sounds once in a while, and I guess when he realized Mommy wasn't going to pick him up decided to go to sleep. I am crossing my fingers that this will be a daily occurence because quite frankly my back is killing me from carrying him! As of January 8th, he is 16 lbs 13 oz and 25 1/2 inches long!

Brrr...It's cold outside!

2007-01-05T09:47:00.000-07:00

Most of you have heard that Colorado has been hit by a couple of big snowstorms the last couple of weeks. And today is no different. As I sit here in my warm comfy house, the snow is again falling outside. Mike had to wake up extra-early this morning (7 am gasp!) in order to shovel the driveway and make it to work on time (9 am gasp again!). Yes, we are back to the Artic home we call Colorado. We had a wonderful time in Arizona, running around in short sleeves and shorts. It was nice to see our family and friends and Mike and I actually went out on a couple of "date nights"! Woohoo! We had a very low-key New Year due to exhaustion from all of our whirlwind traveling. We stayed up just enough to wish our families a happy new year and off to bed we went. Shoot, we could barely keep our eyes open at 10pm. Life sure has changed for us! Alex is slowly adjusting to having just me and Mike give him attention. No more doting grandparents and aunts to hold him and play with him! Poor guy. Well, I hope everyone had a wonderful New Year and we wish everyone a blessed 2007!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

2006-12-14T12:45:00.000-07:00

It is unbelievable that it was this time last year that Michael and I were sharing the news to the family that we were pregnant. And now fast forward to Christmas 2006, I survived nine months of pregnancy, took a month-long trip to the Philippines, had two great baby showers, enjoyed the company of family and friends on their visits to Colorado, and best of all I had my little Alex. It truly has been a blessed year. Yes, there have been many heart-breaks along the way none of which I will divulge but I firmly believe that it has only made us stronger. It is in our belief in God that has allowed us to plow through the hard times. There has been many tears shed this year but our faith in God has not faltered. We face 2007 stronger and more capable to face our problems and our fears. I want to applaud my family for their support and devotion. They are not only there for the joys and successes but are always on your side through the hard times. I always think to myself how Alex is so lucky to have such wonderful individuals surrounding him as he grows up. I know that he will always have someone to lean on whether he has a had a bad day at school or suffering through his own dilemmas as a teenager (ack! can we just skip through that phase?) and as an adult. On a lighter note, we took some adorable pictures of Alex in his santa suit! Merry Christmas everyone!