What have we been up to?

Well hello there!! I thought it was time for a real update on us and what we have been up to. I can't believe that Taegan is almost 14 months old-what happened to the last two months??? Time is flying and I can't seem to find the pause button. She continues to impress us everyday with her knowledge. She is really starting to talk a lot more-she can say juice, feet, shoes, ball, momma, dadda, bye-bye, dog, walk, baby, ba(cup), bath, and up. She says other things but we won't give her credit for them yet because you can't really tell what she is saying:) She knows right where to go when it is time to leave, knows what breakfast, lunch, and dinner mean, will get her milk cup and bring it to you when you ask her to, is trying to put on her shoes and pants, knows right where to go for her bath, is starting to give more hugs, not really big on the kisses yet! She is sleeping from 7:30-7:30 most nights. She has started having some times at night where she cries out and needs to be held for a bit to calm down, but that is not every night. She is really starting to become a momma's girl, but loves her daddy time when he gets home. On a slightly negative note-she is very demanding. When she wants something she will sign more, point to it, or say it and if you don't respond to that she begins yelling. YIKES-how do you break them of this? Is is a phase? I don't want a whiny girl that needs her way. We don't give in, but then we get to listen to her:( Other than that we are having a great time together this summer and she is really starting to enjoy the pool!!! We love to float with her at night when the sun is down a bit-she just kicks and splashes. She is so fun!!!!

Now-onto the picture overload!! Enjoy. PS-Kinsley got to go home on Saturday and has been doing great with mom and dad!!!!!

Taegan meeting Kinsley.

Justin holding Kinsley.

Me with Kinsley.

Taegan giving her silly face before going down the slide.

Mastering how to climb UP the slide!!!

Look at me go...

Striking a pose with mom!

Seriously-could she be any cuter?

Coloring for the first time...didn't do too bad.

In her new float with Grandma Ridgeway.

Strutting her stuff heading to the pool.

My all time favorite outfit and shoes of hers!!!

Eating breakfast in bed watching cartoons!

Watching Grandpa mow and telling him what to do!

Figuring out how the diaper thing works:(

Happy Fathers Day!!!

Daddy,


Hey there, it is me-Taegan! I just wanted to send you a little message and let you know what a great daddy you are. I remember that first night I was born that you spent so much time with me in the NICU and came back at 3 in the morning just to check and make sure I had finally settled down for a good rest. I was so glad to have you right there with me and holding my hand the whole time. You had a such a calming effect on me. I love being wrapped up in your arms and being silly with you now. I still don't really appreciate a good bear hug yet(I like to wiggle out of it), but one of these days I will LOVE them. I can't wait to hear your truck everyday after work and wait right by the door until you come in. I love when you lay on the floor and chase me around the house-it makes me giggle and giggle. What a funny daddy you are!!

Thanks for always being there for me and making me laugh when I feel like crying. We both know that you do a much better job of that then mommy does. She tries, but it is nothing like you. You are a super daddy and I love being able to call you "my daddy". I can't wait to grow up more and have more fun with you-I love you so much!!!!

Your special daughter-Taegan.

Justin-

I love watching you with Taegan, it is such a special sight to see you with her. You are so gentle and loving and want nothing but the best for her. I love that I get to be the lucky one that gets to see all those special moments you share with her. Thanks for being one amazing husband and father. Taegan and I are both lucky.

I love you.

The new princess...

Well, Justin and I got to go meet Kinsley last night here in Topeka with Kyle and Melissa. It was not as tough as I thought going into that room as I had thought, but it still brought back tons of emotions I didn't know were there!!! She was in an incubator and was snug as a bug...she is super sweet. I got to touch her and rub her belly. She is long and lean. The ultrasound they did on her head yesterday came back normal and they are awaiting the results of the EEG. She got to eat this morning through her nose tube and they were hoping that Melissa could feed her the noon bottle, but Miss Kinsley was sound asleep and the nurses did not wake her so through the tube it went again. Melissa was a little bummed. I have my fingers crossed she can feed her this afternoon or evening. I remember how hard it was to sit and feel so helpless!!!

So right now, we all have our spirits up and are rallying around Kinsley to get better. Thank you so much for your support and prayers!

Prayers...

We got to see Miss Kinsley yesterday, but no offical meeting of her yet. She was in the nursery and could not leave and we could not go back there. She is having episodes where she stops breathing and they can't figure out why. She had another one this morning and they decided to bring her here to Topeka for more testing and evaluation. She is in the NICU here and we will be able to see and meet her here!! Not really under the circumstances that we wanted to, but at least she is being taken care of very well. I am asking that people say some prayers for her and our family. This is the second little Ross girl to join the family that has thrown everyone for a loop right off the bat!!! Taegan spent 7 days in this same NICU!!! In fact, in the SAME room that Kinsley is in. Yikes, I am looking for strength for myself as I go back there this evening to the room where my little girl was not well in...

Welcome Kinsley!!!!

Justin and I are the proud new aunt and uncle to Miss Kinsley Coventry Ross. Kyle(Justin's brother) and Melissa had her this morning around 2 am. She was a month early and weighed in at 5 pounds 4 ounces. She is doing pretty good, had a little trouble breathing this morning while eating so she is being monitored right now! We are on our way to meet her this afternoon in Manhattan!!! I can't wait to see her.

Congrats Kyle and Melissa. Welcome to the family, Kinsley!!!!

A week...

Has it really been that long since I have made a post? Geez, I am slacking on the job over here. Not really though-I have been a cleaning, exercising, cooking fool the last week!!! WOW-it is SOOOO fun to be home. Not so fun when I put in the camera cord to move pictures over and it won't work. Just something else for me to try and figure out.

Taegan update: Man is she getting her own personality! It is cracking me up how much she is like Justin and I put together. She is becoming very possessive of everything in her reach(which happens to be more than I would like) and has also figured out how to throw major fits when not getting her way. She still continues to love to play on her own and is loving to feed her baby with its bottle. She has recently figured out how to stomp her feet when she is mad and can turn on the tears at the drop of a hat!!!! This is about to send her daddy right over the edge somedays. Let's just say that patience is not one of his strong areas!!!

I am off to Jazzercise and will do my best to get some pictures on here soon!!! I have some good ones.

On a weight update: Justin and I both lost 1.8 pounds this week. Working out is helping:)

Prayers please...

Lindsay, a little girl I have been following, is getting a new heart tonight to give her a new chance at life!!! Please, please, please, keep her family and the family of the donor heart in your prayers. God works in amazing ways-you just have to sit back and wait for it to happen. She has been listed since last November and she turns one a week from TODAY!!! WOW....

A little better...

Yesterday was a little bit better with the sleeping in aspect. Taegan decided to sleep until 7:30!! That was a big step compared to the 6:00 last week, so I was happy! We got up and around and got ready to head off to Jazzercise at 9. She did great when I dropped her into the child care room. She was playing and did not even see me leave. I was having an awesome workout until about 40 minutes into it when I heard her screaming. I went to peak on her and she was a mess. I went in to see what was going on to find that she had her hand shut in a door while playing. The room was overflowing with kids-and it was super loud. I got her to stop crying and she went back to playing. And then 5 minutes later she was a wreck again-so we headed home!!! I had a great workout though. So we came home and went on a walk and then she was fine. She decided at 10:50 it was naptime(not a good idea) and slept until 2!!!! WOW-no lunch before she went down either. So needless to say she was a little off. She went to bed at 7:30 which is normal-but then woke up at 12:30 and did not fall back asleep until 2:30. Yikes, does this get easier??? I really don't have much to complain about-but this is not how she was at all while I was working. I think she is trying to figure out what is going on with me being here everyday and the schedule. She slept until 8 this morning so I am going to attempt to get her back on schedule!!! This is what she learned how to do yesterday...feed her baby!!!!! SO CUTE!