Been a while...

I realize that it has been a long time since I have posted. I really don't have much time right now b/c we are going to spend the weekend in McPherson, Kansas to visit Michael's family. Yuri is going to meet her great grandma and grandpa Newell. We'll be sure to post pics. Tonight we are leaving to travel part of the way. We are going to stay at the Laughlin's in Columbia. Traveling to McPherson is the perfect excuse to make a stop to visit them and I am excited to see them since it has been a while.
I just wanted to give a quick Yuri-update. She is growing so fast and each day I am so blessed by her. She is a talker! She loves to babble to anyone that will listen. Here is a video of her talking. Sorry that it is sideways, I can't figure out how to rotate it.

Also, here are some pics of Yuri's room. We just got the bedding (thanks, Mom!!). It is beautiful! I also finished her letters. They turned out great, thanks to the great advice from Nicole and Heather! I wish you could see them better but this will have to do. Slowly, her room is getting done. That is good b/c she is sleeping in her crib now and has been for a week and a half. We kinda miss her in our room!

Weekend of Firsts...

I know, with a new baby, everything is 'a first'. But, growing up in St. Louis, I can truly say that we encountered a true milestone: that is Yuri's first Cardinal's baseball game. We got tickets from our good friends, Matt and Evie, for last Friday night's game. The tickets were fabulous: a party box. Yuri was an absolute hit. She was on her best behavior and wasn't even phased as 50,000 fans screamed when Rick Ankiel hit a grand slam. Although it hasn't been confirmed, we're pretty sure that Rick dedicated that grand slam to his youngest fan, who was eagerly watching from her daddy's lap. Yuri fits right in here in the Lou.
Saturday morning, we woke up and got ready for another first: a vacation. We spent Labor Day weekend with the Crowders, the Schrimpfs, and the Wohlgemuths at the Lake of the Ozarks. The Schrimpfs came to pick us up and we rode together. Yuri was the only one who didn't get car sick on the way down. We stayed in a roomy condo at the Lodge of Four Seasons. The guys played a round of golf everyday while the girls shopped at the outlet mall. I got some great new clothes and so did Yuri. She, by the way, was a peach. She was complimented often on her calm demeanor. We are very blessed! BTW, she slept through the night for the first time on Saturday night! Anyhow, we had a very relaxing time, playing games, hanging at the pool, and eating great food.
Finally, today, we had Yuri's 2 month check-up. She had to get 4 shots (yuk). Yuri is 10lbs14oz. (50th percentile) and 23 in. long (75th percentile). Dr. Whiteside said she is a very healthy little girl.

Swimsuit Edition

Last week, Yuri and I went swimming to celebrate our last days of summer vacation. Here are some pics of Yuri in her swimsuit. She couldn't really get in b/c they don't make swim diapers small enough for her, but she looked cute relaxing by the pool, none the less.

When You're Smilin'

That's right, Yuri is now smiling! She started last week! Dr. Whiteside was very impressed when we (Grandma Malone and I) told her that Yuri had already been smiling at people; she said the average is at 6 weeks (Yuri was only 4-1/2 weeks). Yuri even smiled at the nurse who was measuring her. Here is a video of her smiling!! She does it twice, you have to wait for it!

Let me give you a recap of our weeks, since it has been a while since I have blogged.
Last Sunday, Grandma and Grandpa Malone came into town. Well, Grandpa was dropping off Grandma so she could spend some time with Yuri. I guess Yuri wanted to make sure that Grandma's week was worth it b/c she cooed for the first time and smiled for the first time.
Here are some pics.
We had a great week. Michael had to go back to school so it was nice to have someone else around. Monday night, we went to meet our newest little friend: Preston Eash. It was so exciting to finally meet him. Kyle and Marisa looked great!
Wednesday was Yuri's 1 month doctor's appointment. She weighs 9lbs10oz and is 22 inches long. She is 75th percentile for weight and 80th percentile for length. What a big girl she is now! We also spent time with Aunt Renee and the cousins and Aunt Gina and cousin Will.
This weekend was very busy also. Friday, Michael had to drive Nancy back to Kansas City to meet his dad. Yuri and I spent the evening with Mema Redd. Yuri didn't waste any time and smiled at grandma right away. Saturday morning I woke up a 5 a.m. to drive Grandma J-funk to the airport. She is vacationing in Mexico as we speak! Lucky! Then we went to the Wohlgemuth's for a Back-to-School BBQ and after that to the Morrison's to visit Dave, Amie, Ben, and Jeremiah, who were in town from Nashville. It was fabulous to see them.

Sunday, Michael had a soccer game. My dad came and got Yuri and I to go eat at Gingham's (and see Aunt Amber). Once again, Yuri made sure that she showed Poppy how she smiles! After lunch, we went to see my Great Grandma Koch, which is Yuri's Great-great Grandma. She hadn't met Yuri so we made our way out to the home. She is 102 years old, so it was a very interesting and unique experience. Great Grandma LOVES babies. She can't see very well, or hear very well but when we put Yuri in her arms, she was in awe. She couldn't stop talking about how sweet and precious she was. After telling her roughly 50 times that the baby had not been just left here, but was in fact my baby, and telling her the baby's name was Yuri (of which she never got, but thought it was Jerry, Debbie, and Gary that we were saying) we said goodbye. That night, Dave and Amie stopped by on their way out of town. What a great way to end the weekend. Here are some pics of Great-great Grandma Koch and Yuri.
Here are some other recent pics of Yuri!

Massive Head Wound Harry

The Malone household saw a very busy weekend. I don't think that we slowed down the whole time. Friday, we went to the zoo with my sis and the nephews. It was Yuri's first trip to the zoo, not that she will remember it. It was a beautiful day though and we all had a great time.
























The other children are a friend of Renee's. They were all so cute. I know that it looks like the sun is shining right on Yuri, but it really wasn't in her face.



















Too much excitement for Yuri. Time to rest!























Aunt Nae, Yuri and a bear























Daddy, Yuri and a polar bear



















Mommy, Daddy and Yuri in front of the zoo.




















Saturday we went swimming in the afternoon. Yuri and Daddy sunbathed in the shade!




































Saturday night, we went out to visit Shippy, a friend that still lives in Guam. He is in town visiting. It was really nice to see him again! We miss him!


















Shippy and Yuri

On Sunday, we went to church in the morning and then to eat with some friends from church. We went home and took a short nap and then went to Michael's soccer game. When we got there, I had to feed Yuri so I stayed in the car to do so. A little time later, Liz comes knocking on the window saying that Michael was hurt and had to go to the hospital. He had collided with the goalie while going up for a header. He had and gash above his right eyebrow that was very deep. Not to be too graphic but you could see his skull and his eyebrow drooped down because there was nothing to hold it up. Luckily, we had some help from Pancho's parents. They drove Michael to the ER and I followed. I am so glad they were there to help b/c I had my hands full with the baby.
When we got to the hospital, they decided that he would have to get stitched up by a plastic surgeon. Michael actually had muscles that had to be reconnected and some nerve damage. The surgeon did a great job though and Michael looks good. Here is a pic of the gash. It truly doesn't do it justice though.

Playtime

Two posts in one day!!! Exciting. I just wanted to share a video of Yuri at playtime today. We got out her Baby Einstein Activity Gym. Yuri loved it and I tried to capture her reaction to it in this short video. It is kind of dark but you can still tell that she is quite captivated by all the "flare". It was really amazing to watch her notice everything. She continues to bless me everyday. It is so wonderful watching her develop.

Odds and Ends

So, once again I have gotten behind on blogging. There has been so much going on and I can't keep up with everything. I am just going to make a hodge-podge of pictures andI captions updating you with things that have been going on.

First is Yuri's first beth which was last Monday. Mommy and Daddy had fun, Yuri didn't. She just got cold...
















Next is a picture of Yuri on her BilliBed. She had to be on the bed for four days because she was jaundice. It was no fun because we had to leave her on the bed at all times, except to feed. That was very hard for us since all we wanted to do when we got home was snuggle with her and hold her.




This is one of Yuri sleeping in her SwaddleMe. That thing is amazing!


And this one is from yesterday... Yuri's first trip to the mall. She was a hit. We went with Aunt Nae and the cousins (Jacob, Cole and Cooper). It was a long day but she was flawless. She slept part of the time and the other part she just looked around. She's so stinkin' cute!!