Gianna's Slide Show

This is a slide show of all the pictures I took of Gianna. Mike and I picked the music and he put it together. Some of the pics. get a little cut off because the format isn't perfect for the blog. Enjoy!! :)

Introducing Gianna Rose

Mike and I were able to go to Santa Monica, CA. last Sunday. Mike had a business trip that he was going on until Thursday in L.A. and it so happened to just be the perfect timing because his sister was having her first baby. So I got to tag along and when we arrived Jenny went into labor. Jenny and I hung out all day together Monday counting contractions. Jenny ended up having a really long labor and after 12 hours of very consistent contractions went to the hospital and was only dilated to 1cm. Her contractions at that point were 2-3 minutes apart and nothing was changing. They admitted her and started pitocin at 3 a.m. and at 8a.m. there was still no change. We were all getting concerned that Jenny was going to end up with a cesarean, and then her body decided to go from 1cm to 10cm in an hour! Jenny was kind enough to let me stay in the room and be a part of Gianna's birth. I think that besides my own children being born, it was one of the neatest experiences I have ever had. So after a long intro, please meet my adorable, beautiful, darling little niece. (Hmm...can you tell I like her just a little?)

Gianna Rose

8 lbs. 3 ozs. 21 1/2 inches

Born Nov. 17th at 10:24a.m.

Jenny, Rob and Gianna

I told you she is darling!!!

A Good Use For Mike's Belt

Jacob jumps up and down from the counter about 20 times while he is doing homework. Every time I turn my back on him he runs off to play, runs laps through the house, chases the pets or uses the bathroom 5 times. I've been threatening all week that I was going to figure out a way to tie him to the stool. So tonight I decided to borrow Mike's belt. It worked for a few minutes until he pulled the belt around and unbuckled himself. Maybe I'll have to make it tighter next time!

Always Wanted One of Those

Jacob had an unpleasant little trip to the dentist today. He is a horrible little tooth grinder. It has created a very expensive problem in his mouth. He can't seem to keep any fillings in his mouth for more than 6-12 months. He has had a couple of fillings replaced up to 3 times. We are on our third dentist with him, who claims the problem is due to all the grinding.

Sometime in the last week he had two more fillings come out. There was so little left of his two teeth after the multiple replacements, the only thing they could do was to give him silver crowns. Last night I was explaining to him that they were going to give him two silver teeth. (As I was cringing inside.) His reply was comical. "Cool, I always wanted one of those." I'm glad at least somebody is happy about it.

Thankfully you can't see his new "silver teeth" when he smiles. He handled the crowns like a trooper and was rewarded with ditching the last 2 hours of school to come home for some Advil and video game playing. Next month he is going to see a specialist for his jaw. He has a very severe under bite that is going to require major surgery when he is older. We are hoping to avoid surgery by finding out about a new less invasive procedure that puts in some kind of implant to push his upper jaw forward.

Do you think it would be okay if I took a cup and a sign up by the freeway to collect donations for the McKean children's dental fund? Sigh....

Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake

I found a very yummy recipe for pumpkin cheesecake on allrecipes.com. It has a 5 star rating and over 800+ reviews, and those reviews were right!!!

Ingredients:
2 (8 ounce) packages of cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust (I made my own crust and put it in a cheesecake pan.)
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 pinch ground cloves
1 pinch ground nutmeg
Whipped cream

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325.

Combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla, beat until smooth. Blend in eggs one at a time. Remove 1 cup of batter and spread into bottom of crust.

Add pumpkin, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg to remaining batter and stir gently until well blended. Carefully spread over the batter in the crust.

Bake for 35-40 minutes (I did 35) or until center is almost set. Allow to cool, then refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight. Add a spoonful of whipped cream to the top when serving.

This recipe is great and easy, very light and very yummy!!



I had my hair cut short today....the girls are devastated!! Mike loves it, the girls hate it! (I will let the child remain nameless who told me I would look ugly if I cut it short.)

Fourteen

( Well, either Kelsey is getting old or I'm getting old....I can't decide yet which theory I'm sticking with.)

It really seems just like a few years ago that our lives were forever made better when you came along. We never knew how much a parent truly could love a child until we had you. You truly have opened our hearts to so many things.

It seems like yesterday we were celebrating your 13th birthday, and before we know it we'll be teaching you to drive.

You are such a bright spot in all of our lives.

We are so proud of how hard you try in everything you do. We truly believe that you can do anything your heart sets out to do.

Happy Birthday!!! We love you!!!

Mom and Dad