6 Month, Big Boy!

Aylen got his 6 month Well Baby Check...and he is indeed a Well Baby (despite more pooping, coughing, and fussiness than usual).

Height:  28 inches (90%)
Weight: 15lbs 8oz (20%)
Head Circumference:  17 1/4 inches (50%)

And here are some of the 6 month pictures that Aylen modeled for the last week or so:)

Love,
Momma

Fruvellhoff Tour de Christmas 2010

In case you can't see this picture...this was US the past 5 days.......652 miles traveled, 4 towns, 4 Christmases, and tons of family.  Boy am I tired.  And speaking of boy, my Boy is even more tired.  But he wouldn't admit to it, just ask his Dad about that one.

We started our tour headed to Norfolk-this was an awesome opportunity to see my Hoffman family and allow them to meet Aylen.  He slept the whole way there and put on a show when we arrived.  Here is a picture of Aylen with his Great Uncle Matt.  I swear Aylen thought he was his Grandpa--he just chatted it up with him.

Then we headed down to Kearney.  We celebrated Christmas with Russell's immediate family.  It was great to see Aylen with his cousin, Annie Rose.  She just loves him...he is her own personal doll!






After this we ran home for a couple hours and said hi to the puppies.  We then headed to Omaha to celebrate Christmas with the Fruhwirths.  And it can't go without mention that cousin Caroline got ENGAGED! So excited for you two:)

From Omaha we headed home to spend a night.  Woke up, took a hike through Pioneers Park (50 degree day in December, yes we'll take that), and then headed down to Fairbury for our final Christmas.  There was plenty of laughs, computer work, presents, and great food.

We had an awesome Christmas time!  Even though we did not have not have decorations up, or EVEN a Christmas tree--we showed Aylen what Christmas time is all about.  Spending time with Loved Ones.  And next year Aylen John, I promise you--we will have a Christmas tree!

Merry Christmas all--I hope your Christmas holiday was awesome and filled with all kinds of goodies!
-Momma

we must do that which we think we cannot.

We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot.  -Eleanor Roosevelt.

I made a decision, a really tough decision this past week. 

Let's back up.  When i was an undergraduate at UNL I saw a flier for place called RSACC.  They were doing a volunteer training to help victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and other forms of abuse.  I felt like I needed to do this training.  I did.  And I found my passion.  I stayed connected through RSACC (which became Voices of Hope) through volunteering with the crisis line, serving as an Enhanced Advocate and going to the hospital for victims of sexual assaults and domestic violence, as an intern with the MSW program, and lastly as the Groups Coordinator.  I feel like a piece of my heart will be always be with Voices of Hope.  It was awesome to be at a place that thought like me.  I didn't have to explain myself, they just "got it".  I learned alot about myself and others here at Voices of Hope.  I gained FRIENDS that have been through SO MUCH with me.  Who let me cry, vent, laugh and BE ME around them.  Honestly, you know when you were little and you would fall and everything was fine, but then you would see your Mom and Dad..and all the sudden those tears would come rolling down.  Well that is the effect that Voices of Hope has on me...That's the best example I can think of to describe the greatness of this place...

Then I had a child.  And people say having a child changes everything.  I couldn't have planned or EVEN predicted how Aylen would change me and my priorities.    So now when I worked my weekends--I desperately wanted to be home with my family.  When I answered that crisis line in the middle of the night-It almost always woke Aylen up, which meant it woke Russ up, which meant we were up for awhile trying to calm Aylen down.  I knew I needed to keep my eyes open for something else.

Then a job for School Therapist became available.  I applied.  I interviewed.  I was offered, and I accepted.  It all happened super fast.

So starting January 3, 2011 I will be starting my new position as a School Therapist with Child Guidance Center.  I will be housed 4/5 days at Lincoln Northstar High School.  I will not work weekends.  I will not be on-call.  And I will occasionally have to work nights.  As most people ask, I will WORK the summers.  And I will be challenged clinically. 

It is something new.  And it scares me.  I will be leaving behind some really awesome people (however, I KNOW where you all work & live, and I WILL always be your friend.  Whether you like it or not!).  I slightly panic sometimes about my decision.  But I know it will be good for me.  And I will love working with teens--it will not be awesome everyday, but that is with anything you do.  I will be overwhelmed, especially at first.  But I had a teacher in grad school that said, "If anyone asks you to do something- you ALWAYS say Yes.  Then you freak out.  Then you figure out how to do it."  My dad reminded me of this yesterday.  And that is what I'm doing.  I said Yes.  I'm freaking out.  And I'll figure out what I'm doing later.  I will succeed.

And I'm pretty sure I have figured a piece of life out through this process.  It can best be summed up by a quote that my friend Marla has in her email--- "And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.
Anais Nin" 

I made a decision that was for me, and most importantly my family. So here's to the New Year-for big changes, freaking out, and Finding MY way.

Love,
Momma

PS.  And Can I say--Happy 1/2 year Birthday to my sweet Aylen John! Love you!

SHOT Correction:)

As Deller reminded me...and for those of you that don't know...Deller is 24 years SOBER and going strong! The pic of her and TRAVIS is WATER.  Well her shot is water...I wouldn't count on that for Trav:)


Props Deller Mae!!!!

Home Base....

When I was younger, my house was THE HOUSE.  The house where my friends hung out....the house were I wanted to be (usually:)...The house where we had all the family over to play tripoley, Monopoly or any other game...Our house was on Faulkner Street-and it was known as just that- the Faulkner House.  My siblings friends knew about it, my friends knew about it....and then my parents did the UNTHINKABLE.  They moved.  Yup that's right....but lucky for us--it was to an even cooler place..CAPITAL BEACH.  Yup, their backyard was a LAKE or Beach....(right in the middle of the United States..whatever makes you feel better, right?)...Anyways--if you are going to move homebase it better be to some place cool, not like New Jersey.  Whoops-did I say that?  No, no! New Jersey is awesome, but FAR FAR away!  
So anyways--the Fruvellhoff home has become HomeBase for my family.  And Thanksgiving-we met at HomeBase aka Casa de Fruvellhoffs.  It was amazing....

There was magic from the Great Uncle Travis.

Sleepovers.....

Sister time...."girl your makeup looks great"

Birthday cake making....(and can I just say that the original birthday cake baked unevenly in our oven.  SO IT IS OUR OVEN.  IT IS NOT MY FAULT when things don't bake properly:)

Happy Birthday Arjan Celebrations:).......

attempts at family photos!  multiple attempts.....notice the oldest and youngest having issues paying attention:)  coincidence?

People being extremely cool.....
                                                                                                                                                                  

A REAL ROLLERcoaster.....duh (doesn't everyone have a rollercoaster in their backyard?)

the dogs even participated in the festivities aka cleanup patrol.  (They LOVE little kids:)

 

and last but not least SHOTS

SHOTS

SHOTS:)

Love you Fam!  Thanks for coming!

-Momma

Walking....

The cold doesn't stop us!  No way, no how!  We are outdoor people, and without getting outside--I fear for our mental health.  ALL of us...

Not to mention our weekdays are SOO busy....not because we are out and about, but because Russ is finishing up his class work for the semester. 

Our weekend is our family time....Our time to reconnect with each other....Our time to do fun things with Aylen together (instead of separately like the weekdays).....Our time to get the doggies out....Our time to laugh, play, and SHOW Aylen how cool life is.....

Here are some pictures of our walk we took on the Walton Trail.  I can't wait to take the bikes there next Spring!

Love,
Momma

Everyone loves the Park.

I'm behind in my blogging.  
 I can't help it.  Life happens.  But we have had some awesome weekends.  Here is a family + Grammy and Grandma trip to the park.

 
parks are the best.  i decided that having kids truly allow you the opportunity to go back to your roots.

you learn how cool it is the climb on the cool rock, column thingys.

and hanging with the Grandma and Grammy is way cool--even though my facial expression doesn't exactly show it!

:) Awesome family photo!:)

and the dogs even got in on it!

:) Momma

His First Donation!

Little A man had his first donation experience!

That's right!  I'm teaching him the ways of being a responsible citizen!

So as we walked up to the THESE GUYS I gave Aylen a dollar bill, and he dropped it in the bucket.  (Well actually he went to put it in his mouth.  I convinced him that this was not the final destination of this dollar...and that if he put it in the bucket these guys would play bells for him!)

Congrats Aylen John....we are on the road to teaching you the important ways of volunteerism and donating to worthy causes:)!

-Momma

Soaking You Up....

Fall.

Probably my favorite season...I know Russ loves it....And Aylen is digging it too.  So many pretty colors, leaves everywhere...

I told Russ that WE had to go to East Campus and do the obligatory photo shoot.  I again must say how much I love that Russ will walk around and let me shoot pics of him! It is just way fun!

We have discovered that Aylen loves flying! This makes a momma's heart proud--because I have tons of plans for us that involve heights.  Some of my best memories are with my dad at World's of Fun.  I was short (ok ok...i'm short now...whatev').  Anyways-I was short and barely tall enough to get the okay to ride THE TALLEST and FASTEST roller coasters.  Let's be honest.  I wasn't tall enough at all.  And my DAD who is the most law abiding citizen I know--did the unthinkable.  He bought his girl platform tennis shoes & tall hats that made me appear tall enough for the roller coaster attendant to say--"Go ahead".  BUT every time it was a close call and they always had to get that darn stick out...and every time my heart would beat really fast...(Please let me pass through, please let me pass through)...And I would and oh my goodness WE GOT AWAY WITH IT-- it was the best feeling....well second best feeling to the feeling we got when going down A CRAZY HILL:) I digress...

SO I can't wait to be that mom that buys Aylen the platform shoes and tall hats so that he can ride the craziest rides too:)

love

momma

The things that run through my mind that DRIVE ME CRAZY....

I should make more money.....I have my Masters degree and am fully licensed ya' know.

I should work part-time....because Aylen needs his mom around & because I miss out on so much ya'know.

I should dust more often.....when you can write your name in the dust in multiple areas of my house that is disgusting ya' know.

I should clean the toilets more, clean the pet hair that gets on the stairs....because we have a baby & we need a clean house ya'know.

I should walk the dogs more and play with the cats.....because we adopted them ya' know.

I should be fitting into my pre-preggo jeans...........because I'm breastfeeding ya'know.

I should exclusively breastfeed Aylen until 6 months, and with solids until a year....because it's what is best for him ya' know.

I should give Aylen some formula....because it would be easier on me and give him nutrients that even I don't produce ya' know.

I should feed Aylen cereal now....because it will fill him up ya' know.

I should keep Aylen in bed with us....because he sleeps better, to ultimately let us sleep better (I think), and because it is best ya' know.

I should make Aylen sleep in his crib...because he needs to learn to self-soothe, because he will sleep better and we will too, and because it is best ya' know.

I should cook most of our dinners.....because it's healthier and cheaper ya' know. 

I should finish my book that I started ages ago.....because I deserve me time & I like the book ya' know.

I should make all of our Christmas presents for people.....because I love making things, it is cheaper and more personable ya' know.

 I should have time in the evenings to hang with Aylen, workout, make dinner, clean up dishes, keep the house tiddy, and have 30 minutes to myself.......because I'm Megan..and I'm a taurus, and a Hoffman, and a German...and I can ya' know.

Ok...thanks I just had to get some of that out.
-Momma 
 

I Gotta Brand New Camera...You Gotta a Lotta Pics to See!

I love my husband.  Yeah this guy.....

Awhile ago, we decided that we were going to sell the motorcycle.  Once we did that we were each going to buy something big.  I wanted a camera.  Russ wanted boy stuff (bow, guns, etc).  I guess both of us had a desire to shoot things:) But the difference is mine doesn't hurt!  Anyways, I managed to convince Russ that my thing was compatible with a baby & his was not:) So needless to say we did not get the motorcycle sold (and I'm not too sad about this-i hardly got to ride it the past year)--but I did get my camera!

I have to say that I have some of the best looking subjects to take pictures of! I mean seriously....

So stay tuned for a TON of new blog posts with my favorite men and my new camera:)

-Momma

Happy Halloween Aylen!

It was a great Halloween weekend.  It started off with a visit from Grandpa.

 There is nothing cooler than watching your parents playing with your child.  I feel blessed that Aylen has awesome Grandparents (all 5 of em').  Aylen's grandparents come to love up on him all the time.  They get him to giggle in their own ways.  They want to spend time with him.  And there are No conditions.  It is truly what I envisioned this grandparent relationship to be like for my son.

Back to Halloween weekend:)

My parents, Russ, Aylen & I took a visit to Roca Farm.    
He was totally digging the animals.  And I swear he had a conversation with them.  

On Halloween, Russ & I struggled with what to do with Aylen.   I figured we could 1) Dress him up and drive around to our friends and family,  2) Take him over to the neighbors in an outfit,  3) Trick'or'Treat & totally use our child for candy, or 4) Put him in his outfit for 10 minutes & take pictures.  I decided on #4.  
Hence these....(thanks Bev for the awesome costume).

I'm fairly certain you have never seen a cuter POLAR BEAR.


-MOMMA.

 
 

Down Home:)

I asked Russell what he wanted to do for his birthday weekend, and he said "Go to Mom's."  Being a mom now, this has got to be one of the coolest compliments EVER.  So we invited our friends Hunter and Josh in our country shenanigan plan.   This has been a long promised event since we all became friends:)

You may ask what the country entails---

Yummy home cooking from Grammy & Grandpa Mark

Grammy time with Aylen

Protecting our Ears from this guy.....

Ok, maybe I partook in this too.......

And Josh too......
..........

But the real scary dude who was making the most noise was Hunter....he was perfecting his holy-crap-don't ever mess with this guy-complete bro-ROCKY-POW face....

And while all this shooting was going on Grammy had A-man:)

after that we made a visit to the Grandparents!

and the country wouldn't be complete without a fire!

  It was an awesome time!
Thank you for Everything Grammy & Grandpa Mark!

AND special thanks to Hunter & Josh for finally making it happen!

-Momma

Pic of The Day!

Grandmas are AWESOME! For many reasons:)

One reason is they send pics of lil men to their moms, during the workday:) 

Thanks for my PIC today Grandma!

-Momma

Jump around! Jump around!

Jump up, jump up and get down! Aylen totally has Momma's chicken legs,
Nottttttt!

This big boy just had his 4 month checkup and he is in the
20(something)% for weight and 90% for height!

Sweet boy!
Momma M

Hello, my name is....

Megan's second pair of jeans that once did not fit but now does. How
Do you like those apples???;)