The Michna Family

Bday Celebration

2012-02-12T22:29:00.000-06:00

We celebrated Papa Bob's birthday this past weekend and Alex & Sean couldn't have been more excited to wish Papa a Happy Birthday and play with their cousins. It's nonstop energy when the kids get together and I think they are all doing a better job at sharing so less tantrums and tears. We all had fun as usual. Happy Birthday to Papa!! Wishing you another great year and many more to come!

Happy Birthday to Papa!

Grandpa and Sean

The rambunctious BOYS!

The GIRLS in their matching sweaters!

Kisses from Grandma:)

My little sleepy head.

The big kids watching Toy Story.

Alex was getting a little stir crazy in the house with the cold weather so I took him to Kids in Motion for a couple hours to burn off some energy. He loved it and can't wait to go back.

Lovin' the dino pit:)

Wheeeeee!!!

A few random pictures from the past week or so...

Bath time!

Snuggles with Daddy!

My two little rascals:)

All bundled up!

Silly Alex Man!

6 Month Stats

2012-02-05T22:35:00.001-06:00

Our little Seanie turned 6 months old on Wednesday, February 1st. His wellness checkup went well. He weighs 18lb 2oz which is over the 50th percentile for weight and he is 27 inches long which is over the 75th percentile for height. He sure is growing FAST!

Sean is doing really well developmentally. He's sitting up all by himself for longer periods of time. He is rolling all over the place and goes after the toys that he wants to play with. He's starting to get on his hands and knees and rock back and forth like he's ready to crawl. I'm sure it won't be long! He's babbling up a storm and is smiling and laughing like crazy! You're such a joy to watch, Seanie!! We love you to pieces:)

Happy 6 Months, Seanie!

Brewers On Deck

2012-01-29T21:47:00.002-06:00

Daddy and Alex had a special day together and met Auntie Joan for the Brewers on Deck where you could meet some of the Brewers players and get autographs. The place was hopping and Alex was a little overwhelmed by everything. He is obsessed with the racing sausages and today was his chance to give them hugs and interact with them but he kept his distance and observed from a few feet away. Maybe next year! It was still a super fun day spent with Daddy and Auntie Joan!!

The newest little Brewers player!

I love Bernie Brewer!!!!!

On Saturday, Alex met Ty Ty at Gymboree Learn and Play to run around and tumble. Alex was nonstop energy for the full 1 hour we were there, running from one fun thing to the next. Alex and Tyler’s favorite activity though was jumping onto a mat from a few feet above. We could have been there all day!

Climbing...

Jumping...

Rolling...

...and having fun!

Sean is getting a lot stronger and is able to sit up on his own more without any assistance. He is starting to get on his hands and knees like he wants to crawl but I think we have a couple more weeks before that starts to happen. Seanie still loves sucking on his thumb and it's making his thumbs and cheeks all chapped but he doesn't seem to mind. He continues to eat well for us as he tries new food and he's still sleeping like a champ at night with two naps during the day. Way to go, Seanie!

Sitting up and getting so strong!

Trying to crawl after this crazy ball that keeps moving!

So giggly:)

Lovin' the carrots!

Goofy boys!

Lambeau Leap / Rolling

2012-01-25T22:18:00.000-06:00

We finally made it outside and played in the snow last weekend. It wasn't good packing snow so we couldn't make a snowman this time but Alex had a blast on his new sled and wore us both out. Daddy gave Alex a few face washes as he went a little too fast around the turns but Alex wanted more, more more! He also had fun trying out his lambeau leap into the snow!

Faster Daddy!

Lambeau Leap!

Sean is a maniac these days as he is rolling all over the house. You literally turn your back and he is across the room. This morning I practically found him underneath his pack n play that we have setup in the family room. He's such a little goofball and always so happy-go-lucky! I just love it when he spots me from across the room and he gets the biggest smile on his face and moves his legs excitedly. What a little ham!

Rolling, rolling, rolling...

Update / Pictures

2012-01-19T21:31:00.000-06:00

We finally put Alex's bed frame together and raised his mattresses off the floor so he's officially in a big boy bed. He's still struggling a bit to fall asleep on his own at night but he's coming around. Alex has been getting a little stir crazy lately with being cooped up indoors. The kid just wants to run, run, run!

Seanie is starting to eat fruits and veggies, besides the rice cereal in the morning. He's not a big fan of the cereal and would much rather drink a bottle but he seems to like the fruits and veggies so far. It seems like he is teething by the amount of drool but so far no teeth for Sean. It's fun to watch Alex & Sean interact with each other. Nobody can make Seanie laugh as much as his brother. It's really cute to watch!

Alex's big boy bed!

January 11, 2012 - No snow and warm enough to play baseball outside with Daddy!

Seanie adores his big brother!

Alex and Woody

LOVE

My handsome little man:)

Fell asleep in the middle of "dinner"

Alex and cousin, Anna:)

Giddy-Up!

Punta Cana Style

2012-01-15T21:41:00.000-06:00

My cousin, Theresa, tied the knot in Punta Cana yesterday. Oh, how nice it would have been to be there! But since we couldn't be there, we celebrated here with all the cousins and enjoyed a delicious Carribean dinner. We tried out a few new recipes and everything was yum, yum, yum - jerk chicken, plantains, pineapple, homemade salsa, rum cake, banana foster, and of course, pina coladas! We even had the sound of ocean waves and the smell of the "carribean island" burning in honor of Theresa's special day. It sure wasn't the same but it was still a fun Saturday night! Congrats to Theresa & Antoine!! Looking forward to the reception in August:)

The crazy bunch!

Trying out Tyler's motorized Thomas the Train ride!

Jenny, Logan and baby Sean :)

Perfecting the banana foster which WILL be made again - YUM!

The "big" kids taking a 2 second break from the action!

Oh, Miss Hailey!

First Date

2012-01-10T23:41:00.002-06:00

10 years ago today, on January 10, 2002, David Michna took Laura Beyer on a first date to the Waterstreet Brewery in downtown Milwaukee. The same wit and charm that won me over then has captured my heart again and again since then.

Love ya, Babe!

Bedtime Routine

2012-01-07T22:52:00.001-06:00

I'm sure all toddlers have their own bedtime routine which is special and unique to each of them. We start off with a horsey ride up to bed and then we stop so Alex can name all the racing sausages in the picture on the wall. Then Mommy and Alex "dip" a few times - it's our thing. Then it's potty time and pajamas but not before Alex shows us his naked dance first. Alex picks out a book to read, we say our night time prayers and then we talk about our day and ask Alex the same question my Dad asked me every night when he tucked me in, "What did you do today that was the most fun?" We hear his life story and then Alex gets a drink of water and we cover him up with his stuffed animals and give him a goodnight kiss. We might have to start our bedtime routine right after dinner if it gets any longer! Geesh!

Ready for my horsey ride!

This kid is nonstop energy!

Alex Update: Alex has been doing pretty good on the potty as of lately. He still has accidents from time to time but we're getting there. He's been eating better for us so it's not such a struggle at meal time anymore. He absolutely loves his fruits and could eat them all day long! He can be the biggest love bug at times with Sean and other times, he'll stick a foot in his face so we're working on that. It feels like Alex is much older than two because he understands so much and can carry on conversations with us. It's funny to see how is mind works sometimes and we get many laughs with what comes out of his mouth. Tonight, he told Daddy that his blanket wasn't working because his hand was cold. It wasn't under the blanket so Daddy covered him up:)

Daddy and our sweet Alex!

Sean Update: Seanie is growing up so fast and becoming less of a baby each day. It makes me sad so, with every new outfit or with every new face or new trick, I try and snap as many pictures as I can to savor the moment! Sean's still wobbly but he can sit up all by himself now. His legs are really strong and can stand with very little assistance sometimes. I wouldn't be surprised if this kid is walking before he starts crawling, especially since he's still not a big fan of tummy time! He loves his big brother and he's been letting out some huge belly laughs watching Alex act so goofy!

Sittin' Pretty!

Happy Boy:)

Sean will twist his head around and follow us wherever we go!

Look how strong I am!

I'm not the biggest Badger fan but it was a heck of a season!

I stumbled upon another comparison picture of Alex and Sean at 5 months old...

Alexander - 5 months old

Sean - 5 months old

5 Months Old

2012-01-02T22:42:00.000-06:00

Sean turned 5 months old on New Year's Day. His schedule is pretty consistent each day with a morning and afternoon nap and a bottle around 7:30am, 12:00pm, 4:00pm and 7:00pm. We just started him on rice cereal this past week so we'll be starting up the fruits and veggies in no time. We pulled out the activity jumper and Sean loves it. He's content as long as there are people in the room to watch. He absolutely loves to watch Alex play with his toys! There's something about that brotherly bond that they share. I always catch them giggling on the floor together and Alex told me today that Sean is his best friend:) So sweet!

Just hanging out:)

Getting an autograph from one of the Harlem Globetrotters that we saw on New Year's Eve.

Having fun with the race car tracks that Santa left under the tree.

This kid could play with his cars all day long!

Yummy rice cereal!

The spoon tastes good too!

Brotherly Love!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-29T22:01:00.001-06:00

Where do I even begin...This year was an especially fun Christmas because Alex is starting to buy into all the magical happenings and, of course, it was Seanie’s first Christmas. We were SO spoiled from each of our families with presents, food and, most of all, love.

It was a weekend of celebrations - On Friday, we celebrated Christmas with the Beyer side. We’re up to 6 kids running around and it was crazy but so much fun! All the kids were crying when we left because they didn’t want to leave Papa and Nana’s house, even though it was WAY past their bedtimes!

Alex & Aunt Car Car

My little Christmas present!

All the cousins admiring the Christmas train!

My sweet Grandma:)

The "big" cousins.

Uncle Dave & Miss Anna Banana :)

The Michna boys cuddling in their Christmas pajamas.

Silly Papa with Logan and Alex

On Saturday, we celebrated Christmas Eve with the Michna side. We enjoyed a delicious steak dinner and then watched as Alex & Sean were showered with more presents!

Sean with Grandma Michna

My two lovelies:)

Aunt Ann & Alex...Ho Ho Ho!

Mommy & Alex

On Sunday, we opened presents from Santa, went to church, then we went to Grandpa & Grandma Michna’s house for the afternoon and finally headed over to Uncle Paul and Aunt Pat’s for a Christmas dinner.

Miss Hailey & Seanie

Getting some snuggles from Aunt Jenny!

Tuckered out from all the festivities!

Christmas morning was my favorite part of the weekend and everything that I hoped it would be for Alex. We set out cookies & milk for Santa and then looked outside for Santa’s sleigh in the sky before we went to bed. I wasn’t sure if Alex really understood that Santa was finally coming. But, when he woke up in the morning, the first thing out of his mouth was “Santa!” So we ran downstairs to see all the presents under the tree and began ripping them open. Alex & Sean received so many nice things all weekend long - Woody & Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story, dinosaurs, xylophone, bath toys, race tracks, cash register, play food, easel, Mr. Potato Head, books, photo albums, picture frames, choo choo trains, teething rings, clothes, and bibs just to name a few!

Santa came!

Playing dinosaurs with Daddy.

To infinity and beyond!

Seanie's first Christmas!

Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and wishing everybody a Happy and Prosperous 2012!

Gymboree Fun!

2011-12-18T22:56:00.001-06:00

I signed Alex up for a few classes at Gymboree Play & Music during the winter months while we are stuck inside and I'm so glad that I did. He loved it! Unfortunately, there was only one other little girl that was in his class on Saturday but usually there are more kids to play with. He definitely had the instructors full attention and had the run of the place. It was so nice to watch him follow directions and take turns with Maddie, the other little girl that was there. They mostly sang songs and ran around but it's a fun place to take Alex when it's cold outside.

Havin' fun on the balance beam.

My little climber:)

Singing and tapping with maracas!

10 more days...

2011-12-15T23:37:00.003-06:00

...until Christmas! We're enjoying all the fun and exciting things that come along with Christmas season. Santa's elf, “Buddy,” made his first debut in the Michna home when he was left by St. Nick on December 6th. Alex enjoys finding him each morning and is mystified by the whole idea of Buddy’s magic. Alex went Christmas caroling at a local retirement community last night and sang his little heart out. We saw Santa for a second time at the New Berlin library where they had story time and treats for the kids. Alex had the same reaction as the first time we saw Santa, however, he did work up enough courage to slap Santa a high five. We still have to take the boys to see Candy Cane Lane before Christmas. So much fun!

Alex & Sean with their St. Nick stockings!

The little Christmas carolers:)

Helping Mommy hang ornaments on the Christmas tree.

"My Auntie Knows Santa!"

Alex: Which way to the exit!?!

Thumb Sucker

Our little Seanie is quite the thumb sucker. He wants little to do with his binky. I think it’s cute but I just hope it doesn’t become too much of a habit and turn into an issue down the road. Sean decided on his own, about a week ago, to start sleeping through the night. He’s like his Mommy and loves his sleep! He usually sleeps from 7:30pm until 7:15am. Sometimes we hear him babbling to himself in his crib in the morning until we get him up. He will usually flash us the biggest smile in the morning. So adorable!

Found that thumb!

Sucking away...

More sucking!

Kisses:)

Waterpark

2011-12-04T21:27:00.003-06:00

Alex received a gift certificate for his birthday to stay at the Great Wolf Lodge in the Dells and we finally enjoyed it this past weekend – Thanks Jill! We timed it out perfectly with Christmas because every inch of the place was decorated and Santa made his first arrival on Saturday night for the tree lighting. Alex & Sean sat on Santa’s lap, we said hi to his (real) Reindeer, we stayed for storytime and we had tons and tons of fun at the waterpark.

Alex was a little fish all weekend. I swam with Alex primarily while Dave sat on the sidelines with Seanie. I could see Alex’s confidence and skill level get better from day to day with playing in the water. He was scared to ride on some of the bigger waterslides because he had to go alone and when I finally got him to slide down, we spent the next hour on them because he had so much fun. Let’s just say by the time it was time to go, he left the place kicking and screaming! We can't wait to go back!!

Alex and the pretty Christmas trees

Alex & Daddy had to check out the huge gingerbread house that was made entirely by candy. It was amazing!

Alex and Sean meeting Santa Claus-
Sean was out cold and Alex wanted nothing to do with Santa despite talking about him all day!

"Santa's Little Helper"

Alex and I bonded in the water all weekend:)

Trying out the jet ski.

Seanie's first time in a pool:)
Is this kid easy going or what?!?

Sucking on those fingers again. Too cute!

Trying out the baby slide first.

My little fish:)

Daddy and Seanie bonded too!

4 Months / Potty Update

2011-12-01T22:56:00.002-06:00

Wow! 4 months old already!! We went for Sean's 4 month checkup today and the doctor said he looks great and now weighs 15lb 12oz. The doctor said that he's "socially advanced" for his age and Sean is already doing things that 6 month olds start to do - following objects from a distance, rolling, grabbing onto things, and he even had a bit of seperation anxiety when Dave left the room to take Alex potty. The doctor measured Sean's head to check the flat spot and he said it's a lot more symmetrical so there wasn't much concern anymore but we should still keep an eye on it. Yay! The doctor said we have two very healthy boys and we should feel lucky - We feel extremely lucky!

Potty Update: Alex has been doing great on the potty as of lately. He hit a few stumbling blocks a few weeks ago where he was having 1-2 accidents per week and he was so constipated that he wasn't pooping on the potty because it hurt him so bad. But this last week has been terrific - No accidents so far and he's now telling us when he has to go poop on the potty. It's been nice not having to change his diaper during the day! Way to go, Alex!

Sweet brother love!

Our little over-achiever grabbing onto his toys.

The Alex Man trying out Seanie's bumbo chair.

Celebrating the 4 month milestone with a cold one!

ELMO

2011-11-27T22:41:00.000-06:00

The much anticipated day finally came for Alex. Ever since he saw the first commercial on tv for Sesame Street Live, he wanted to go. That was over a month ago and he has reminded us every day since that he is going to see Elmo. He even told the cashier at the grocery store the other day, "I see Elmo." Needless to say, he was excited and it was everything I was hoping it would be for him. I thought he would dance more but I think he was so overwhelmed with the stage and the Live characters that he just sat on my lap in awe of everything. It was so much fun to see the excitement on his face and worth every penny!

I see Elmo!

The Elmo Gang

Tyler was bustin' a move!

This was Alex during the whole show. Priceless!

I can't forget about my little Seanie Wonie. Dave and I both agreed that his personality just popped in the last couple of days. The extended holiday weekend was so nice to catch up on things at home and spend time with our boys. Sean has been so responsive to us and playful and he's got a huge, huge smile that just melts my heart.

My sweet little boy:)

Just look at that CUTE smile:)

Seanie and GG

I couldn't resist the naked shot!

Turkey Day!

2011-11-24T22:20:00.000-06:00

Wow! What a great Thanksgiving! We're lucky that our families live so close and we are able to spend Thanksgiving with both of them. Our Moms really outdid themselves as usual. We have so much to be thankful for but, above all, we are so blessed to be sharing this Thanksgiving with our two precious boys.

Our two little turkeys:)

Alex and his Godmother/Auntie

Alex & Seanie with Grandpa & Grandma Michna

Seanie getting some cuddles from GG:)

Relaxing after Grandma's delicious feast!

Sean's first Thanksgiving!

Watching Toy Story and relaxing again after another big feast.

Ready for bed!

Just for fun...

Here is Alex at almost 7 months old in his Turkey pajamas on his first Thanksgiving. Sean is almost 4 months in comparison!

Alex's first Thanksgiving...November 2009.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

2011-11-16T22:11:00.001-06:00

We celebrated Daddy's birthday on Tuesday with pizzas and cheesecake over by Grandpa and Grandma Michna's house. When Dave picked Alex and Sean up from daycare, Alex told Sharon he was going to a birthday party:) A party it was, complete with a dance party upstairs in Annie's room. Alex gets so excited now to help blow out candles. Grandma accidently bought trick candles this year so we all had fun watching Daddy and Alex huffing and puffing away until the candles finally burned out. Happy 31st to Daddy! We love you!!

Are you ready? Let's do this!

Keep blowing...

Daddy and his boys:)

Grandma Beyer celebrated her birthday last week Thursday so we stopped by for a visit and we couldn't miss out on birthday cake!

Smiles for Papa:)

Sean and Tyler in matching pajamas!

Alex taking a nap on Uncle Mark:)

The Michna Boys

Cousin Love

2011-11-09T22:23:00.001-06:00

Not much to report this week and I just emptied my camera so here are some pictures to enjoy!

Anna (5 months) and Sean (3 months)

Team Huddle-
Alex, Tyler, Anna & Sean

Miss Hailey and Seanie

Hailey, Logan, Alex & Sean

Bicycle kick! That's my boy!!

I found Alex substituting Sean for his pillow here...

Alex is always quick to make peace though!

My little boy!

Playing on Daddy's IPad!

Cuddling with each other!

Happy Seanie!

Go Packers!

3 Months Old!

2011-11-01T21:00:00.000-05:00

Seanie turned 3 months old today! Daddy just recently witnessed him rolling from his tummy to his back on Sunday and then he rolled from his back to his tummy on Monday so it's official, he's rolling! Now I just have to catch him in the act! Sean's starting to wear 3-6 month clothes. He's up to 5oz bottles and eats 6 times a day. He is still getting up once during the night to eat but then goes right back to sleep. Sean loves his playmat and smiles and kicks wildly when he gets excited. He is starting to coo a lot more and this morning I had him laughing pretty good. He is a SUPER good baby for us and hardly ever cries. Sean is the perfect little addition to our family. I just love having a baby in the house again!

Celebrating his 3 month birthday with a warm bubble bath!

All cleaned up!

Night, night!

Trick or Treat

2011-10-30T23:21:00.002-05:00

It wasn't the nicest fall day for trick or treating but the kids braved the cold and rain and ventured out into the neighborhood to collect their "treats." This year we had a "nice" witch, army guy, pirate, bumble bee, duck and "friendly" monster. It was fun to see the kids all dressed up, going door to door for candy. If it was up to them, they would have come home with empty pumpkins because they wanted to eat all their candy along the way. We ended the night with dinner and some yummy carmel apples!

The colorful bunch!

Arrr...my pirate and little monster.

Alex and Tyler checking out their treats.

Trick or Treat!

YUM!

Seanie's first Halloween!

Smiles for GG :)

Happy Birthday, Ty Ty!

2011-10-30T23:05:00.002-05:00

Tyler turned two years old on Thursday so we celebrated with a fun party on Saturday. It was themed with Thomas the Train of course, although I think Elmo was a close second for him. There no longer seems to be a big age gap between Tyler, Alex and Logan because they all have the same interests now and play so nice together (most of the time). Welcome to the "terrible twos," Ty Ty! We had such a good time at your party!!

Aunt Lori and the birthday boy

Uncle Steve with the two youngest cousins, Anna & Sean

The four oldest cousins - Hailey, Logan, Alex & Tyler

Silly Uncle Steve!

Smiles from Seanie

Happy Birthday to Tyler :)

Hailey & Alex always having fun together!

Potty Time / Giggles

2011-10-27T22:02:00.007-05:00

We started potty training Alex about a week ago and we are off to a very good start. The sticker chart was thrown out the door on day 1 but rewarding Alex with treats seems to be doing the trick. We started Alex in big boy undies last Friday and by noon he was on his fifth pair but he was learning. He had no accidents on Saturday and he had just one accident on Sunday and Monday. He's even been pooping on the potty since last Friday and hasn't missed a day yet! Alex is still learning when to tell us he has to go potty but, for now, we tell him when it's time to go potty and he will usually go (sometimes needing the treat to really entice him)! Tuesday was his first day at daycare so I was a little nervous for him but he did great. Sharon has been working with him too and reported no accidents all week. We still use pull ups at night but we're now accident free since Monday! I couldn't be prouder:)

Making himself comfortable:)

Big boy undies!

Why is there a plant in our bathroom? Alex was notorious for disappearing and pooping in the bushes outside so Daddy wanted to give him the same type of privacy indoors. Whatever works! Whenever we go to check up on Alex, he tells us to go away:)

Seanie laughed for me for the first time on Sunday. It was two hearty laughs in a row and, of course, when I ran to get my camera, he had stopped and wouldn't do it again. He usually likes his tummy time but has yet to roll. He seems too comfortable to try. He has been sucking on his fists like crazy lately. He's still not a big fan of the binkie except when he is hungry. We're now up to 5oz of formula and we're only getting up once during the night for a feeding. Yay! Sean is looking bigger to me every day. I just can't get enough of his snuggles and cuddly cheeks:)

Cuddles for Daddy:)

Working on tummy time.

Can't get enough of that yummy fist!

My two precious boys!

Fall Fun

2011-10-22T22:38:00.002-05:00

It was a beautiful fall day so we met the cousins at Cozy Nook. We had never been there so I wasn't sure what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised. We went on a 1/2 hour hayride. Afterwards, the kids discovered a huge barn full of hay bales to climb on. We could have let them play for hours! They also had animals to see and we had to pick out some pumpkins of course. We always have a good time when all six of the cousins get together!

Havin' fun on the hayride!

Hailey & Alex climbing up the hay bales.

The smallest pumpkin of the group:)

All the cousins! Hopefully somebody else captured a better picture!

The boys have their pumpkins picked out!

Searching for the perfect pumpkin!

Family Photo

Already a baseball fan!

On Friday, my friend Julie invited us to a Halloween party at Midwest Twisters where her daughter takes gymnastics. The kids were able to use the equipment and earn candy afterwards as a reward. They had an inflatable slide, bounce house, trampoline, zip line, foam pit and other fun activities. It took a bit for Alex to warm up but once he did, he loved it. His favorite was the trampoline but he tried a little of everything. The kids each received a medal for dressing in costume. It really was a fun event!

Little Miss Strawberry meets the Pirate Man

Seanie, the friendly Monster!

Hold my hand, Momma! This place is haunted!

Arrr...I'm a pirate!

Having fun in the foam pit!

I'm tired! Let's go to bed, Seanie!!

"Princess Fields"

2011-10-20T21:30:00.000-05:00

Alex received a set of magnets of the Brewers players from Great Grandma Dix recently and he was asking us who each of the players were. So we'd say, Ryan Braun, Cory Hart, etc. and he'd repeat after us. A little while later, we wanted to see who Alex remembered so we held up the magnet of Prince Fielder and said, "Who's this?" and Alex responded "Princess Fields."

Alex's imagination is running wild these days and some of the things that come out of his mouth is hysterical! He had both Dave and I in tears the other night because we were laughing so hard. We're definitely going to have to get more of his "stories" on video. He's like a little sponge with how much he is learning. He told Dave in the car today, "Daddy, your name is Dave and Mommy's name is Laura." Seriously?! I don't think I knew my parents actually had a first name until I was at least six!

We took Sean for his 2 month checkup this week and everything looks good. The doctor wasn't real concerned but he does have a slight flat spot on the left side of his head so we have some exercises to work on with him to hopefully correct it. Seanie now weighs 13lbs 6oz and is 25 inches tall. He needed a couple shots but took them like a champ!

Happy 18th Annie!

2011-10-16T21:56:00.002-05:00

We went to Grandpa & Grandma's house to celebrate Ann's 18th Birthday. We had such a fun time and enjoyed a delicious dinner and cake in honor of the birthday girl. It's hard to believe our little sister is an "adult" now. I remember pushing Annie on the swings at Dave's baseball games in college. Time sure flies so enjoy your last year of high school, Annie. College is right around the corner! Happy 18th birthday! We love you!!

Cheers to the birthday girl!

Blowing out the candles!

Yummy! This frosting is SO good!!

Mean faces!

Look who grabs his rattle now!

Enough with the pictures, Mommy!!

Sick Season

2011-10-13T20:57:00.001-05:00

I feel like cold season is just around the corner and already Alex is battling a runny nose and now Sean. Alex was under the weather on Sunday night and told me that his ear was hurting him so we decided to take him to the doctor on Monday. Sure enough, not only did he have an ear infection but a ruptured ear drum! The doctor confirmed it was not all the screaming I was doing during the Brewers game. Apparently, there was so much build up in his ear from the ear infection that the pressure actually ruptured his ear drum. Poor guy! Besides Sunday, Alex doesn't seem like he is bothered too much by his ear.

Taking it easy & watching the ballgame with Daddy.

Telling Secrets!

As for Seanie - Sunday night goes down as the first night Sean slept through the night! He hasn't done it since but its a start. He had his last bottle about 8:45pm and he was in bed at 9:00 and slept until 5:00am. Woo-hoo! He couldn't have picked a better night because that was the night Alex had trouble sleeping with his ear ache. Dave and I had to exchange notes in the morning to see if one of us got up with him during the night. It felt strange to sleep longer than 3 hours at a time!

Our technique to entice Seanie to roll! - He's getting so close!

Hi Good Looking!

What a lil' cutie pie!

Apple Picking & More

2011-10-09T22:52:00.001-05:00

We joined the rest of the world this weekend and spent some time outdoors enjoying our Indian summer. On Saturday, we went apple picking at the Elegant Farmer in Mukwonago and it was almost too hot. We are picking pumpkins later this month so we skipped that part but we did get to go on a hayride to the apple picking trees. Alex had fun trying different apples and filling our basket, and luckily, Seanie slept for us the entire time because there was a lot of waiting in lines all day.

Tasting the apples

Seanie's first apple-picking experience

Searching for the perfect apple!

Alex and Sean got through their first week of daycare and Sharon gave them both great reports for the week. Yay! Seanie continues to hold his head up and he's smiling constantly. I am waiting for him to roll one of these days. Alex continues to be his goofy self and make us laugh:)

Strong little Seanie!

This picture makes me laugh...Believe it or not, this is one of Alex's goofy faces. He's really not mad or giving me a stare down!

Always the comedian!

Happy Boy!

Playing with Daddy before he leaves for work in the morning!

These two boys are going to be trouble some day!

Trying on Momma's sandals!

Back to Work...

2011-10-02T21:58:00.000-05:00

My maternity leave is officially over as of 9:00am tomorrow morning when I return back to work. It has been such a joy to be able to spend the last couple of months at home with Alex and Sean. But I also feel blessed to have a job to return to and a job that I enjoy while my boys are well cared for. Especially this last week, I've tried to make the most of my time off by cramming as many fun things in a day for Alex and snuggling as much as I could with Seanie. I've enjoyed every single day at home but I also have a whole new appreciation for stay-at-home moms!

Mommy and her two angels:)

Two Months Old!

2011-10-01T21:22:00.000-05:00

I just can't believe my baby is already 2 months old! It's so much fun having a newborn in the house again. I love all the snuggles and being able to witness all of the "firsts" again that come along with a new baby. Seanie is smiling a lot more frequently and on demand now and he is starting to coo a lot more too. He continues to be a good baby for us and rarely fusses outside of needing a bottle or diaper change. He still eats about every 2-3 hours and we're still getting up about twice at night with him. Sean's been getting a lot stronger lately and has been holding his head up for longer intervals. He seems to get bothered when his big brother gets too rough with him or talks too loud but who wouldn't get upset!?! I think this sibling rivalry will continue for a long, long time!

Happy 2 Months, Seanie!

Look how strong I am getting!

So much love!

Look how big my 1st baby is getting!

Best Buds and Brothers for Life

5 years & 2 babies later...

2011-10-01T20:33:00.000-05:00

We celebrated our 5th Wedding Anniversary on Friday and were treated to dinner at Mr. B's Steakhouse and a movie, Money Balls. It was so nice to enjoy a night out, just the two of us. Thanks to Grandma Michna for holding down the fort with Alex & Sean. The boys loved having you over! It seems like we've been married much longer than 5 years because we've been together almost 10 now! We've been through a lot together but the most rewarding are our two beautiful boys! I am so blessed to be married to such a wonderful, hands-on Daddy and the best husband a girl could want, who still makes me laugh everyday! Dave, I look forward to many, many more milestone anniversaries in the future with you! Thanks for always taking care of me and making me the happiest girl in the world. I love you!!

Celebrating 5 Years & 2 Babies

Seanie & Grandma Michna

A Night Out

2011-09-26T00:00:00.000-05:00

We celebrated my cousin's Wedding Shower and Bachelorette Party this past weekend and we had an absolute blast. It was actually a couples party so Dave and I had a fun night out together, away from the kids. Staying out until 1:00am in the morning takes on a whole new meaning with two kids - nightly feedings with Sean and up at 6:00am with Alex. The stormy weather today gave us a reason to nap and bum around all day.

Carla, Jenny and I with Theresa, the Bride-to-Be!

Cheers to a night out!

The Beyer Siblings!

COUSINS!

Last week, my mom had off so came over to help with the kiddos. It was nice to have an extra helping hand and we enjoyed her company as well. We went to storytime at the library, we went to the zoo, we went on walks, we took Alex to the park and I was able to go grocery shopping and get things done around the house that I wouldn't have been able to do. Thanks, Mom, you were a huge help and Alex & Sean loved all the attention you gave them too!

Reading books at the library

Logan and Alex at the Zoo

Monkey Man, Logan!

Snacking on his fist

Chillin'

Sweet kisses for his brother!

Running and sliding just like the baseball players on TV.

Always havin' a good time!

This is what happens when Alex misses his nap!

Two reasons to smile:)

2011-09-19T21:30:00.000-05:00

Sean's Baptism

2011-09-18T22:53:00.002-05:00

We celebrated Sean's baptism today at Holy Apostles Parish, along with Sean's Godparents and family. Sean did great and was so good throughout mass. He didn't cry once and only winced when the priest poured the holy water over his head and blessed him with the oil. We continued the celebration at our house with lunch and the Packer game. Thank you to everyone that celebrated Sean's special day with us!

Our family

Sean and his Godparents, Uncle Mark & Aunt Carla

Relaxing with Uncle Steve

Hailey taking care of her two youngest cousins, Anna & Sean!

God Bless Sean William

Lookin' handsome in your baptismal tuxedo, Seanie! We love you!!

Trapper the Clown

2011-09-18T22:36:00.002-05:00

Over the weekend, we celebrated Peyton's 1st birthday. She was a little under the weather on Saturday but we all had fun on her behalf. There must have been 25+ kids running around outside and Alex was in his glory! It was a party complete with a bounce house, pinata and clown. That's right, Trapper the Clown made an appearance and even treated the kids to face/hand painting. We all had so much fun!!

Miss Anna Banana smiling with Mommy

Alex had a snake painted on his hand!

Hailey & Logan enjoying the bounce house!

Even Tyler, who is a huge Elmo fan, had a swing or two.

Alex getting in his batter's stance.

The birthday girl!

Aunt Karen keeping Seanie warm!

Alex had no shame in helping the birthday girl devour her Elmo smash cake!

One Month Checkup

2011-09-14T23:03:00.003-05:00

I'm a little behind on my post, but we went to see the doctor last week Friday for Sean's one month checkup. He now weighs 10lb 12oz and is 23 1/4 inches long. He's doing great. Seanie is flashing us that all gums smile from time to time and he is starting to coo which melts my heart! He is getting stronger each day and lifts his head up like a pro. He has his fussy moments and prefers to be held a lot during the day but he also has been sleeping really well for us at night so I'm grateful for that!

Alex has been pushing buttons lately and likes to test my patience. I think there is some jealously there with Sean sharing the attention now. He loves his little brother though and, any chance he can get, Alex is snuggling right beside Sean and giving kisses. Alex has been really interested in baseball this summer. He is always outside playing with his T-ball set and he was fortunate to be able to go to some Brewers games this summer with Daddy. It's all he talks about and prefers to even watch the game on tv over anything else. Dave's lovin' every second of it!

Lift that head up, Seanie!

There's that cute, little smile:)

Alex loves to snuggle with Sean on the floor and likes to tell him stories - I heard him the other day telling Sean, "Daddy's at work, okay Sean," as if he was wondering:)

Best buds for life!

This little spit fire keeps me on my toes:)

Reved up at 10:30pm after going to the Brewers game!

Logan came over for a playdate and the boys were using their bodies to bowl! Silly boys!!

Labor Day Weekend

2011-09-08T23:32:00.000-05:00

It's been busy in the Michna house to say the least. Labor Day weekend was fun and we were able to spend time with our families and enjoy a cookout both on Sunday and Monday. This week, we had several playdates. I took the boys to visit my friend Julie and her newborn, Ryan, who was born just 19 days after Sean. We also had a playdate with cousin, Logan and Alex had a blast. It's really going to be fun to watch the boys interact as they get older. They can be so silly at times! Then my Mom came over to help me out and give me a break so I wouldn't be pulled in two directions all day, just one. I'm not sure where the time goes because the days are flying by. Alex and Sean are changing before my eyes!

Hailey and Alex giving Jake some lovin' for Labor Day!

Aunt Jan meeting Sean for the first time:)

Alex and Papa sharing a laugh!

Tough guy!

Keeping busy with his trains!

My little snuggle bug!

Daddy, Uncle Mark & Seanie on Labor Day

Lauren, Ryan, Alex & Sean

Proud Cousin, Logan, holding Seanie

My three loves:)

10-4 Officer Michna

Snuggles from Grandma

Brotherly Love

Who's Who?!?

2011-09-07T23:33:00.001-05:00

In finding some old pictures of Alex, it was neat to compare his newborn look with Sean's look. They have many similarities but Seanie is definitely starting to develop his own look as he gets older. I tried to post the similar pictures side by side but it didn't work so Alex is the first picture posted and Sean is the second picture posted.

1 Month Old / Photo Shoot

2011-09-01T21:13:00.000-05:00

Sean is one month old today! I can barely wrap my head around that right now. He has been such a joy in our house. Alex was such an easy baby for us so I always thought my next one would give me a run for my money but that's not the case so far. Sean's been eating great for us. He usually eats about 4 ozs and lets out huge burps when he's done. He's been staying more awake during the day. He goes about 3-4 hours during the night before he lets me know he is hungry again. Overall, such an easy baby and he has even given us some smiles to enjoy!

Alex is a ball full of energy. He knows now that Daddy is back to work that he can't always play outside or manipulate my time because he has to share it with Sean. He's been pretty good about entertaining himself with his toys, especially when I have to tend to Seanie. We had a playdate with his cousin, Logan, today which was much needed for Alex. Bedtime is our biggest issue right now because he always wants me to lay with him until he falls asleep so we're going to have to try and break that habit real soon. Other than that, his vocabulary is multiplying daily and he continues to surprise us with what he knows!

We had newborn pictures of Sean taken and 2 year old pictures of Alex taken a few weeks back. Sean's look is changing so quickly so I'm glad we captured his newborn look on film. I just love Alex's personality and the interaction he has with Sean. Here are some of the pictures of the boys...

I survived!

2011-08-31T00:06:00.000-05:00

Monday was Dave's first day back to work so I was on my own with the two boys. My mom helped out for a couple hours in the morning so I could get a shower in, do some laundry and let Alex burn some energy off outside which was nice. I did manage to scarf down an apple for lunch around 3:00 just before Alex woke up from his very short (I don't even think he slept) nap. It was hectic at times with both boys crying and needing me at the same time but it was also fun to hang out with my boys all day. The hardest part for me is not getting any personal time to myself until about 11:00pm and then I have to decide if sleep is more important than catching up on emails. So here it is...almost midnight...and I am updating the blog when I should be sleeping! I survived the first day but I sure hope it gets a little easier!

Snuggle Time!

Helping Daddy wash the cars!

4 weeks old - Getting so big!

I'm going to get you:)

I walked into our living room to find Alex swinging away in Sean's baby swing. It cracked me up so I had to take a picture before I scolded him:)

Outdoor Fun

2011-08-25T23:12:00.000-05:00

We're trying to enjoy every last day of summer before Daddy goes back to work. We took the boys to the lakefront and enjoyed the beautiful sunset last night. Alex enjoyed playing on the playground with the other kids and Seanie slept right through our adventure. Tonight, we treated Alex to a minor league ballgame in Beloit while Papa Bob spent some quality time with Sean. Alex was so excited to go to the "ballgame" and talked about it all day. He even caught a ball from one of the players.

It's hard to believe Sean is already 3 1/2 weeks old. He still sleeps for most of the day but when he's awake, he seems to be making more eye contact with our faces and looking at the colorful toys on his activity gym. Alex continues to be a great big brother. He always has to know where Sean is and gets concerned if he's crying or fussing. We just love them to pieces!!

I'm 3 weeks old!

Future MVP!

Tummy time together!

Veggin' out!

Enjoying another beautiful summer night!

My silly boys:)

Alex and the baseball he caught at the Beloit Snappers game!

My little peanut!

Zoo a la carte

2011-08-20T16:43:00.001-05:00

We ventured out as a family to the Zoo a la carte on Friday since it was such a beautiful night. It was Sean's first time at the zoo and really our first big outing as a family of four. It takes a little more planning packing for two now when we leave the house and it was strange pushing two strollers. But I also can't remember what it was like without Seanie here. Our family feels more complete:)

It's so much fun going to the zoo with Alex this summer because he LOVES all the animals. He is constantly talking about the animals at home through the books we read and the games we play on Daddy's IPad. He can tell you each animal's name and the sound the animal makes. Seeing all the animals at the zoo makes them come alive for him.

Mommy & Alex

Checking out the Giraffes with Daddy

My Brave little Alex touched a turtle!

Alex and his death-grip on the Carousel.

Seanie was a perfect little angel at the zoo!

Busy with Two

2011-08-17T21:53:00.001-05:00

We've been stayin' busy with the boys as we are adjusting to life now with two kids. It's been super nice having Dave home this month to help out before he has to start up another school year. Sean is changing his look daily and is so precious to hold and cuddle with. He still sleeps most of the day and only really fusses when he's hungry. He's sleeping great at night too. Alex is a ball of energy these days and has been putting our parenting skills to the test lately. He's also the biggest sweetheart though and continues to amaze us each day with how much he is learning. I love these two boys!

Alex & Seanie during their boy bonding time.

2 weeks old!

Chasing after bubbles!

Anna at 2 months and Seanie at 2 weeks!

Lovin' the activity gym just like Alex did.

Saying "Hi" to the goats at the Wisconsin State Fair.

Alex and the baseball he caught from Cory Hart at the Brewers game!

Daddy and Baby Sean

Alex has been getting pretty swift on Daddy's IPad2. He knows how to work it better than I do!

We've had many, many visitors over the past couple of weeks. Alex loved all the play dates and Sean enjoyed the extra attention from everyone!

Sean with Great-Grandma Dix

Aunt Gail stopped for a visit.

Uncle Andy and Kris came over to meet Seanie.

Alex loved his play date with Ty.

All the cousins were together for the first time at Grandpa and Grandma's house for my birthday celebration last week. It's definitely a lot more crazy with six of them running around!

Sean & Great-Grandma Callahan

Uncle Steve with Alex, Hailey & Anna

Grandpa with three of his Grandsons, Alex, Tyler & Logan.

Silly Aunt Carla:)

1 Week Old

2011-08-08T21:40:00.000-05:00

Today was officially my due date with Sean. I am so happy we were able to enjoy him a week early! He's been nothing but pure joy. When we left the hospital on Wednesday, Sean weighed 7lb 11oz (down from 8lb 2oz). We went to see the doctor on Friday and he had dropped to 7lb 6oz but we went again today and he's back up to 7lb 11oz so he's doing great and starting to gain weight. He has been so mellow for us and such a good sleeper. I've only been getting up once during the night to feed Sean and usually I have to set my alarm and wake the little guy up.

Alex has been doing really well with having Sean around. He's still learning to be gentle around him but he loves to give kisses and rub noses with Sean. He has been bonding with Daddy a lot this past week as I have been more busy with Sean. Alex is starting to test our limits a bit more lately so I'm not sure if it comes with his age or because he is vying for our attention now that Sean is here. Overall, though, Alex is a ball of energy and enjoying Mom and Dad both being home for the summer with him.

Takin' a snooze in Daddy's arms.

Is it too early to sign Alex up for T-Ball!

Trying out some tummy time.

First bath at home.

Going for a swim. No need for a bathing suit!

My two handsome boys!

Sean William

2011-08-04T06:33:00.000-05:00

Sean William Michna made his debut on Monday, August 1st at 5:55pm. He was 8lbs 2oz and measured 21 ½ inches long. He is a healthy, little boy who is the center of our world right now, along with big brother, Alex. We couldn’t be happier or more proud of our new family addition.

We went into the hospital at 7:00am to get induced since I was 39 weeks and we were more than ready to meet our little bundle of joy. Labor started out just fine in the beginning after I received the epidural but I seemed to be progressing slower than what we had anticipated. The nurse increased my Pitocin and that’s when things started to go downhill. I was feeling every little contraction and was in excruciating pain even in between contractions. Sure enough, the epidural had come out which I’m told NEVER happens! The anethesiologist had to reinsert the epidural for a second time (one is bad enough)! The drugs kicked in just in time for me to start pushing at 5:30 and 25 minutes later, Sean was born!

Alex did wonderful this week too as he was shuffled around and away from Mom and Dad. He is still getting used to Baby Sean and calls him “Baby Anna,” his 2 month old cousin. He’s already given Seanie lots of hugs and kisses though and I know he will be a great big brother! Thanks to everyone for all their well wishes for our family. We’re enjoying each moment!

Our first family photo

Our healthy little boy

Sean with his wonderful doctor and nurse

Mellow as can be!

Lots of visitors

So precious!

Going home!

Kisses from big brother, Alex :)

Waterpark & Fair

2011-07-29T22:30:00.000-05:00

We made it to Wirth Park one last time with Alex before the baby arrives. It was an extra special treat that Daddy was able to come along this time. Alex loved the water as usual. Then we took a family trip to the Racine Fair since this Momma will most likely miss the Wisconsin State Fair this year. I was a little nervous being 40 minutes away from the hospital but we wanted to make the most of these last few days with just Alex. It was the perfect summer night and Alex had a blast looking through all the barns at the animals.

Daddy & Alex goin' for a dip in the pool!

Alex lovin' the cute bunnies:)

Showing off the little chicks to another little boy.

Alex climbed into every huge tractor they had on display and loved it!

Every little boys dream!

Checkin' out the horsies.

Momma! That sheep just Baa-ed really loud at me!

Recovering and Waiting...

2011-07-27T14:31:00.001-05:00

It's been a gradual process of recovery for Alex this past week with his tonsils. The doctor and nurses said days 3-5 are usually the worst and they were right. Alex hasn't complained much but it's easy to see when his mouth is bothering him. He's been doing pretty well on drinking liquids but it has even been hard for him to swallow. He hasn't had much of an appetite all week although we have made frequent trips to the bakery to pick up a chocolate long john for our little man. Alex has been pretty good about taking his medicine and it's like night and day after we give him a dose. A few sleepless nights with him but, all in all, I think Alex is recovering really well and almost back to himself again.

Peeking around the door for any nurses so Alex can make a run for it.

This pretty much sums up the past week with our Alex Man.

Not much energy for running around but lovin' the swing at the park.

Alex was showered with ice cream, shakes, smoothies and gifts all week. Thanks to Auntie Joan for the super cool radio flyer. Alex LOVES it!

We've gotten a little stir crazy indoors with Alex recovering from his surgery and we're trying to make the most of the little time we have with just Alex before Baby M arrives. Yesterday, we walked around the Milwaukee County Zoo with Uncle Mark. Alex has been more interested in the different animals through the books we read and puzzles so it was neat to see him explore the zoo this time. He kept talking about the horsies so we thought it might be a good idea to give him a pony ride. That "good idea" turned bad as soon as Alex sat on the pony. The other good idea we had was to take Alex on the choo-choo train since he's been into Thomas the Train lately. Another bad idea. He wanted no part of it after we bought our tickets and got in line. Alex definitely wasn't feeling like himself at the zoo but it was good to get out, walk around and enjoy the fresh air.

Who's son is this?!

Not liking the pony ride!

Riding the choo-choo train at the Zoo.

We are all patiently awaiting Baby M's arrival. We had our 38 week checkup yesterday and everything looks great. I am 2 centimeters dilated! We are scheduled to get induced next week if this baby doesn't make an appearance on its own before then. We finished a few last minute projects around the house this week and now we're all just waiting...

Popsicle Boy

2011-07-20T23:59:00.001-05:00

Alex had tonsillectomy and adendoidectomy surgery today at Children's Hospital and he did fantastic. He had gigantic tonsils and adenoids so were we advised to remove them before they cause problems for Alex in the future. The procedure took less than 30 minutes and the doctor said Alex did great. Alex was extremely cooperative and polite and each nurse said he should be a role model to all patients.

After surgery, the doctor said it was critical for Alex to get in as many fluids as he could, especially in the first 48 hours. Not a problem for the Alex Man. He literally had 9 popsicles in the first hour after surgery and 3 cups of apple juice. All the nurses knew him as the "popsicle boy." By the end of the day, Alex had become the record holder at Children's Hospital for the most popsicles eaten in a day totaling 14! Even after all the medications, Alex decided to forego his nap and not sleep a wink until about 7:30pm when he finally crashed for the night. I know the next few weeks will be rough for our little man but we are SO proud of him!

Right before surgery with Dr. Martin

The "popsicle boy" right after surgery.

Passing the time by with Daddy's IPad.

Finally, asleep after a rough day!

Ahh...Summer!

2011-07-17T22:32:00.001-05:00

We've been taking full advantage of the nice weather this summer as we've been keeping Alex busy and trying to fit in as much as possible before Baby M arrives. This past weekend, we went to the Racine Zoo with our friends, Zack, Katie & Ty, we checked out St. Dominic's festival, Daddy took Alex for a ride in his new bike seat, along with Ann and Mark, and Mommy took Alex to the pool to keep cool in this heat, along with his boy cousins, Logan & Tyler. What a fun, jam-packed weekend!

Momma, I'm sitting in the shade - It's TOO hot outside!

Alex & Ty - best buds at the zoo.

Check out my new ride!

Logan Man having some fun in the sun!

Uncle Steve throwing Alex up into the waterfall.

Alex & Ty Ty making a splash!

I'm 37 weeks (tomorrow) which means I am officially full-term! The heat hasn't bothered me too bad and I'm still sleeping really good at night despite my frequent trips to the bathroom. My feet get sore when I'm on them a long time or when I'm chasing after Alex and I have the occasional swollen ankles. But not too much to complain about from this expectant Mom. Dave is finishing up his baseball season and I've had time now to get the nursery set so I'm starting to feel ready. Alex has surgery to get his tonsils removed on Wednesday so, fingers-crossed, we're hoping for a speedy recovery before the Baby arrives!

Oh Baby!

Anna's Baptism

2011-07-10T22:31:00.000-05:00

We celebrated Anna Kathryn's Baptism this afternoon at Holy Apostles Catholic Church. She borrowed Hailey's baptismal gown and she looked beautiful just as Hailey had. She winced a little bit when the priest blessed her with the holy water but, besides that, she was a perfect little angel throughout mass. God Bless you, Miss Anna. Your Godmother is very proud of you:)

So angelic!

Anna with her Parents and Godparents

My sweet Goddaughter:)

Happy 4th!

2011-07-06T22:51:00.010-05:00

We had a fun, long 4th of July weekend! We kicked off the holiday at a festival by our house. The weather was absolutely perfect. Alex enjoyed riding the "bunny horse" on the carousel and the choo-choo train. The park had some playgrounds too which Alex loved.

On Monday, we went to the Tosa parade with Papa & Nana Michna and Annie & Mark. It was neat to see Alex's reaction to it all. I think his favorites were the mini go-karts, motorcycles and marching bands. Papa made us burgers on the grill and then it was off to Papa & Nana Beyer's for the afternoon. The cousins enjoyed playing in the pool and on the swing set. Dave lit his annual firecrackers for everybody's enjoyment. We didn't quite make it to the fireworks but we did see some in the sky on our drive home so Alex could enjoy. However, he wasn't a huge fan of the noise so it was probably better that we skipped them this year.

Alex & "Papa Bob" having fun on the slide.

Practicing his big brother skills with cousin, Anna.

Alex waving to Mama on his "bunny horse."

Alex's first sparkler!

Enjoying the Tosa parade with Annie and Mark!

Daddy & Alex at the parade.

Alex, our entertainer:)

"Papa Geno" and Alex sharing a laugh:)

Hailey & Logan lovin' the water!

My little stud muffin:)

Happy 4th of July!

Stayin' Cool

2011-07-01T18:01:00.000-05:00

I played hookie from work today and spent the day with my little man at the pool since it was so hot and I enjoyed every minute of it. Nana joined us, as well as, Aunt Carla & Tyler while Papa stayed back with Anna. Alex is definitely not afraid of the water and probably went down the baby water slide about 100 times. He was so fun to watch - He'd climb the stairs, skip the kids in line that weren't paying attention (no, I'm not condoning this) and then sit patiently next to the lifeguard until he was waved to go. After he was done, he'd get up from the slide, count to three and then jump as high as he could in the water and land on his butt. This was his routine every time down the slide. We had a blast and can't wait to come back with Daddy this summer!

My crazy fish leaping through the air!

Cool shades, Alex!

Havin' fun in the waterfalls with Nana!

Lovin' the water slide!

Tyler had a blast too!

Big Boy Bed

2011-06-30T20:56:00.000-05:00

The binky is a thing of the past and hasn't been mentioned again since that first day so we're on to our next big step with our little man. We made the leap last night and transferred Alex into his big boy bed. We wanted him to get used to it before the baby comes and we're using his crib for Baby M so it was time.

Daddy set up the baseball-themed bed while Alex was taking his bath. The look on Alex's face when he saw his big boy bed in his room was absolute pure joy, although maybe for the wrong reason. He took off running and immediately started to jump and flip around. I think Alex thought we got him a trampoline for his room. I thought it was going to be a LONG night ahead of us.

BUT...Once Alex settled down and we reinforced to him that his bed was for sleeping and not jumping, Alex did GREAT! We read books to Alex in his new bed and tried to follow the same rituals as when he went down in his crib. When it was time to say goodnight, Alex turned himself perpendicular on the bed so that his head would rest right on the mattress and butt up against the mesh guard rail just like he slept in his crib. I'm sure he'll eventually get used to the pillows and blankets but for now, this is what works for him. He didn't wake up once for us and, in the morning, he sat up in his bed and called for us to come get him. I hope night #2 goes as smooth for us. Way to go, Alex! You're such a big boy in your new bed!!

Bye, bye to the crib!

Lovin' his new "trampoline."

Storytime with Daddy

I went to check on Alex before I went to bed last night and I found him sprawled out. Way to use the whole mattress, buddy! Like father, like son:)

Grandma's 90th Birthday!

2011-06-26T23:07:00.000-05:00

My Grandma turned 90 years old on Friday and we celebrated the huge milestone by throwing her a "surprise" birthday party on Saturday. She knew that the immediate family was celebrating with her but had no idea that all of her extended family, close friends and neighbors would be celebrating too. Guests came from all over and as far as North Carolina to spend the day with my Grandma. The day was absolutely perfect and something that my Grandma will cherish forever! Cheers to you, Grandma!! You look beautiful and you've got more spunk than most I know that are half your age!!

Delighted to see the first guests arrive.

The surprise guests keep coming...

Happy 90th Birthday!

All the excitement tuckered out Miss Anna!


The cousins had a blast on Grandpa and Grandma's swing set. They were perfect little angels all day even though they skipped their normal naps.

We love you, Grandma!

GG and all five great-grandchildren!

Festival Fun

2011-06-26T22:36:00.000-05:00

Our church festival at Holy Apostles was going on this weekend so we stopped in for some great food and fun rides. Alex is a little bigger now so he can actually enjoy some of the smaller rides this year. He particularly enjoyed the horsies that went up and down and the inflatable ball pit was a huge hit for both Alex and Tyler. It finally felt like summer and Alex loved every bit of it!

Giddie up, horsie!

Daddy even took Alex down the big slide. I'm not sure who was more scared at first, Alex or Daddy! Despite the look of horror on Alex's face, he actually loved the slide and wanted to go down it again and again!

These two boys had a "ball" in the ball pit. We might have to get one of these for our backyard:)

Look how high I can jump, Mommy!

We ended our weekend at Grandpa and Grandma Michna's house for a cookout to welcome back Annie from the Appalachian Service Project that she volunteered for in Kentucky. What a fun night complete with trains, bubbles and a trip to the park for Alex! Welcome back, Annie! We missed you:)

Alex and his Auntie that he missed so much!

Markie set up his train tracks for Alex which kept him entertained all night!

Having fun at the park!

Alex Meets the Dentist

2011-06-22T23:01:00.001-05:00

Alex had his first encounter with the dentist today. It was mainly informational for us but the dentist did take a look inside Alex's mouth. His teeth look good and all we're waiting for are his back molars to come in yet. We were reminded to brush Alex's teeth at least twice a day which is sometimes hard to do. Alex usually likes to do it himself which obviously doesn't get the job done. Alex tested out the big boy chair as the dental assistant moved it up and down for him . He opted to sit on Daddy's lap for the exam though. All the ladies in the office seemed to love the visit from Alex as they all stopped working to smile at our little man who had the run of the place. He took home several goodies too - stickers, rubber balls, floss, toothpaste and a toothbrush, of course.

Such a big boy sitting all by himself.

The dentist checking out Alex's pearly whites.

Alex found the goodie drawer!

Happy Daddy Day!

2011-06-19T23:47:00.001-05:00

Happy Father's Day to all the Dad's out there or "Happy Daddy Day" as Alex likes to say. We had such a fun time hosting our families for a Father's Day cookout at our house. The weather turned out to be beautiful and it was nice to be able to sit outside for a change and let the kids run off some of their energy. Thanks to Uncle Mark for keeping the little ones busy with wagon rides and bubbles - Nobody else had the energy to keep up with them! Thanks to Dave for being the most loving Daddy imaginable to our little Alex Man and the peanut in my belly. We are all so lucky to have you in our life and love you so very much!!

"Happy Daddy Day" to the best Daddy in the whole wide world!! Love, Alex:)


Alex and Daddy threw the baseball around after it stopped raining this morning. Dave couldn't have been a prouder Dad on Father's Day!

Dave and his Dad on Father's Day

Uncle Mark taking the boys for a wagon ride.

Miss Anna Banana enjoying some fresh air!

Alex and Papa sharing a laugh:)

The wild ones and Uncle Steve!

This video of Alex is kinda random but was too cute not to post. I started to videotape Alex half-way through reciting the alphabet. He's getting much better with pronouncing his letters although "W" seemed to give him some struggles.

32 Weeks!

2011-06-14T20:28:00.003-05:00

We're moving right along and getting even closer to meeting Baby M! I had another check-up yesterday afternoon. Everything looks good. Baby M has been super active for me, especially around the 10:00 hour. Are we going to have a night owl on our hands?!? I start to see the doctor every two weeks now. Reality is setting in. Now that Dave is off from school, we're trying to accomplish a lot before the baby arrives. The nursery is next on the list!

Alex is doing super with his "Binky Bear." The last two nights, he asked for his binky when it was time for bed and then that was it. He did wake up a few times during the night but went right back to sleep. He now talks himself to sleep which he never used to do and he's woken up a little earlier than usual the last couple mornings but maybe that's just coincidence. Today, Daddy put Alex down for his nap and Alex said, "Daddy, no binky." I had no idea it would go this smooth but so far so good! Next up, introducing the big boy bed.

32 weeks! Alex was excited to join us for the picture!!

"Binky Bear"

2011-06-12T14:42:00.000-05:00

It's a big day for the Michna household...we ripped the band-aid off and officially said goodbye to the binky today. I don't know if it's harder on Alex or more difficult for us as parents. The binky has been a comfort for the first two years of Alex's life. It's gotten us through so much - bedtime, car rides, skinned knees, tantrums in stores, quiet time in church, etc. It feels like it's a part of who Alex is.

We have been gradually weaning Alex off the binky for the last several months. We had limited the use of the binky down to car rides and bedtime and lately, he's needed it less and less in the car. So as his vocabulary continues to grow, we felt it was time to say goodbye to the binky for good. We've been so dependent on it that it's kinda scary to move forward without it.

After getting advice from other parents, we felt the Build-a-Bear idea was the best strategy for us. We took one of his binkys with us to the Build-a-Bear workshop. We let Alex pick out a Bear to stuff and take home that day. When it was time to fill the Bear, we had Alex put the binky inside the stuffing before the Bear was all closed up. So this now became his "Binky Bear" and he would be able to sleep with the Bear and take it with him wherever he went - a new comfort object!

Overall, the experience went well. There was as small meltdown in the store before Alex said goodbye to his binky for the last time. But he voluntarily put the binky inside the bear and watched as the bear was closed up. The true test came this afternoon when it was nap time. We put Alex in his crib, along with "Binky Bear." Alex asked for his binky but we reminded him that he's a big boy now and the "Binky Bear" is holding his binky instead. No tears thankfully, but he did have to talk to himself for awhile before falling asleep. We'll see what tonight brings! I anticipate a few more meltdowns in the future but I think he gets it! Way to go, Alex!! We are so proud of you!!


Helping to stuff the "Binky Bear"

Alex watches as his binky gets closed up inside the bear.

Alex & his new "Binky Bear"

Memorial Day / Summer Fun

2011-06-04T23:06:00.001-05:00

We had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and have been enjoying the hot, summer weather. We celebrated Steve and Carla's birthdays on Monday with a delicious meal at Grandma and Grandpa Beyer's house. The cousins had fun running through sprinklers and swinging on the new playset. Who would have thought Carla would go into labor that night?!? I'll have to have my mom make the same meal for me when I get closer to my due date!

My cool lil' dude!

The cousins having fun on Grandpa & Grandma's new playset.

Sprinkler time!

Uncle Dave riled up the kids and ran through the sprinklers with them!

Even Papa had to cool off with Hailey.

Daddy says it's never too early to start training:)

My little rock climber!

Silly Alex Man

Yummy...Bubbles!!

Baby Anna has arrived!

2011-06-04T22:47:00.000-05:00

I can finally update my blog now that Mama Brenton has posted - Anna Kathryn was born on Tuesday, May 31st at 3:23 PM. She weighed 7lbs 13oz and was 21 inches long. Anna and Carla are doing great and we're all so happy the delivery went smooth. I feel like there's some pressure taken off of me now that the barrage of boy births have been broken in the family. I am excited, more than ever, to find out what I'm having now. Congrats to Rob, Carla & Tyler on their perfect little girl!!

Little Miss Anna

Anna and her proud Godmother:)

A Family of Four!

Adorable!!

Alex and his new cousin:)

Fun New Toys

2011-05-29T22:25:00.000-05:00

Alex has been keeping himself busy with all the fun, new toys he received for his birthday. This boy likes to get his hands dirty! He's also tried a taste of sand, bubbles and playdoh this past week. How else will he learn!?! He is a ball of energy and doesn't stop moving for a second! He's quick too, especially for his pregnant Momma! Alex is growing up so fast. Yesterday, he disappeared on me and I found him in his bedroom with the door shut, sitting in the rocking chair, reading books to himself. He just melts my heart!

Blowing bubbles...

...and chasing after bubbles.

Taking his cozy coupe for a spin!

Experimenting with playdoh!

Daddy set up the ramp so the cars fall right into Alex's dump truck. So cool!

This kid is ALL boy in his sand box!

Weekend ReCap

2011-05-22T21:48:00.001-05:00

May & June are the months of birthdays for my family. On Saturday, we celebrated Hailey turning 6 years old on May 22nd and Logan turning 3 years old on June 1st. We stuffed ourselves from the delicious taco bar they had and had a blast with everyone. The kids even got to run off some energy outside in between rain drops. On Sunday, the celebration continued for Hailey at Stonefire Pizza on her actual birthday. The kids had so much fun playing the games and winning prizes. Happy Birthday to little Miss Hailey and our precious Godson, Logan!

The birthday girl showing off her gymnastics tricks!

Some bonding time for the boy cousins!

The birthday boy showing off his new SWAT gear...just like Daddy!

Hailey was our big winner at Stonefire Pizza and won 100 tickets on just one game!

Logan and Daddy racing on the motorcycle.

Alex had to give the "cycle" a try too.

On Sunday, I went to church with my parents at Blessed Trinity (formally Holy Redeemer) where my dad attended grade school as a kid. My parents just celebrated their 37th wedding anniversary on May 18th and were married at Holy Redeemer. They haven't been back in 35 years but we found out the parish is closing next month so wanted to see it one last time. The church looked beautiful inside.

At the alter 37 years later...

I had a checkup for Baby M on Thursday. I'm 28 weeks along so also had my glucose test done too. Everything looks great. The baby's heartbeat was 150 and I'm measuring a little ahead of schedule at this point. The baby has been very active for me and Daddy has been able to feel it's movements a lot too. We'll have to start working on the baby's room real soon!

Daddy and Alex giving Baby M kisses:)