My One Month Birthday!!!!

On Tuesday, May 29 at 3:28 pm I officially turned one month old! Can you believe it? The past 30 days have gone by so fast it seems like just yesterday mommy and daddy were first bringing me to my new home. Over the past month, I have met some pretty special people ranging from family to friends of mommy and daddy. I am so thankful that so many people have taken an interest in getting to know me and who will be helping mommy and daddy raise me :) Today, mommy and daddy officially weighed and measured me. I was 8 lbs 6 oz and measured just shy of 22 inches long. If you remember, on my two week doctors visit, I weighed 7 lbs and measured 21 1/4 inches long. In the last two weeks, I have gained  1 lb 6 oz and grew nearly another inch taller! Daddy and mommy are very happy with my growth and development in my first month. It must mean I am a good feeder..... right mommy?!   :)

To celebrate my first month of life, I thought I would list all the fun and exciting things I have done:

• 4 Farmer's Markets
• 1 wedding (Aunt Kelsey and Uncle Jay)
• 2 weekends at grandparents
• 2 trips to Prairie Meadows to watch horse racing
• 1 Schuring family picture
• 1 college graduation
• 1 mommy and me play group
• 3 trips to the grocery store
• 1 shopping spree
• met all my uncles and aunts
• slept nearly 360 hours
• had at least 240 diapers changed!

In addition, daddy and mommy have seen all kinds of funny faces that I have made. I decided to share a few pictures of these faces below. Enjoy everyone!

First time at Nana & Papa's!

Hello everyone. This past weekend, daddy, mommy and I took our first trip to see Papa & Nana McCurren in Fairfield for Memorial day. It was a lot of fun seeing them. We got there mid-day on Sunday and hung out catching up before daddy grilled some delicious t-bone steaks. In addition, we made grilled vegetables and a new favorite....grilled brussel sprouts?! Papa McCurren said they were his new favorite and you know what...they weren't all that bad :) After dinner, we went for a nice long walk and came back and played cards. The next day, Papa made some breakfast and we all sat out in their patio and drank coffee - well everyone except me of course! It was a great time and they were pretty excited to see me. In addition, uncle Nathan & aunt Angela drove to their house to spend the night with us. They are moving to New Orleans so this was my last time to see them for a while. Mommy and aunt Angela were pretty sad about the move but then they started talking about us taking a vacation down south. Can you imagine mommy, aunt Angela and me enjoying some southern hospitality and entertainment as we lounge by their pool?! Sounds like a blast to me :) I even have a couple of swimming suits I can wear when I get a little bigger.


For an added bonus, mommy took me to the Dairy Bar. It is a great little ice cream shop on the west side of town that mommy worked at for three summers during high school. The ice cream is delicious and it was fun to see where mommy used to work. Overall, it was a short but fun trip and it was great to see everyone. I've included a few pictures below.

Papa McCurren and I spending some quality time together

Papa's famous football hold

"Mister" - uncle Nathan and aunt Angela's little puppy

Mommy and me at the Dairy Bar

Mommy, aunt Angela and I

Aunt Angela and uncle Nathan saying goodbye

I love ponies!

You know how little girls are supposed to want a pony for their birthdays at some point? Well, daddy is trying to circumvent this future desire by taking me to Prairie Meadows to watch live horse racing. Thus far, I have been twice and guess what? I actually helped daddy pick a winning horse!! Daddy calls me his little good luck charm :)  But I'll let you in on a little secret...mommy has picked more winners than daddy has! I have included a few pictures from both times - once with mommy's family and once with uncle Austin & aunt Michelle. Enjoy!!!

P.S. Uncle Austin & Aunt Michelle are expecting their first baby in 7 weeks. I can hardly wait because they are having a little girl just like me. We are going to be the bestest of friends and will make our daddies play lots of dress up and have finger/toe nail painting parties!! Daddy just grumbled something under his breath and mommy laughed :)

Two best looking ladies at Prairie Meadows!!!

Daddy studying the program

Daddy & Uncle Austin and their first winning tickets!

Two winning tickets for mommy & Aunt Michelle!

 

Mommy's family!



Daddy and his losing ticket :(

Aunt Kelsey's Wedding!!!

On May 19, Aunt Kelsey got married to a guy named Jay Boot in Pella. It was my first wedding and it was a blast. Mommy also happened to be the maid of honor. I thought mommy did a wonderful job balancing her duties as maid of honor and mommy :) Mommy, daddy & I traveled to my grandpa & grandma Schuring's home Thursday night which was the first time I had spent the night away from home. It went pretty well overall and grandpa & grandma were really excited to have us (mostly me I think though). On Friday, all the ladies went and had our hair and nails done, had a bridesmaid luncheon and even squeezed in an hour for our first Schuring family pictures including me. The guys wore black and ladies all wore red. Mommy and daddy said I did a great job handling all the chaos and pictures. Daddy and uncle Vance wanted a pose from the movie called "The Lion King" which I thought was funny.

Daddy (Mustafa) presenting me (baby Simba)?!

Want to know my favorite part about the wedding?! Aunt Kelsey and grandma Schuring made me a matching bridesmaid dress!!! Everyone thought I looked adorable and I must say that I agree :)  In the end, the wedding was a huge success. Mommy did a great job with her speech. Daddy and uncle Vance did a great job as ushers and as host & hostess of the reception. Daddy says uncle Vance was the hostess :)  On Sunday, we all slept in (well kind of) and grandpa fixed a big breakfast before we packed up our stuff and headed back to Des Moines.

I've included a few random pictures from the weekend for your viewing enjoyment!

Grandma, Aunt Kelsey and me at the hair salon

Mommy getting her hair done

Mommy and aunt Alysha getting ready at the church

Mommy and me in matching dresses outside taking pictures

Daddy, mommy and me on the dance floor

Me in my awesome dress!!!!

Aunt Kelsey and me at the bridesmaid luncheon

Grandma and me at the bridesmaid luncheon

Aunt Alysha, aunt Kelsey and me getting our hair & nails done

Uncle Vance and me pinky swearing not to start dating until I am 30 :)

Me and uncle Vance at the reception

Finally meeting aunt Alysha!

On Thursday night/Friday morning of last weekend, I met my Aunt Alysha for the first time! It was great. Mommy and daddy had told me about her and I couldn't wait to meet her. I have included a few pictures of the two of us. She was last aunt or uncle I had left to meet. She said I just saved the best for last :)

Aunt Alysha holding me for the first time!

My baby dedication!!!

On Sunday, mommy and daddy had me dedicated at church. It was a very special day for me for many reasons....
#1: mommy and daddy pledged to dedicate themselves to raising me to know Jesus.
#2: the church pledged to help mommy and daddy raise me to know Jesus.
#3: many family members were present at the event.
#4: mommy and daddy bought me an adorable pink and white dress for the special event.
#5: it also happened to be Mother's Day!!! 

After my dedication, everyone hung out, took pictures and then went out to eat to celebrate this special day. I have included two videos and lots of pictures of the day. Daddy says that everyone will enjoy the first video and will get another laugh if you listen carefully when I tell my grandmas happy Mother's Day :) The second video is of me being dedicated.

Mommy and daddy chose a bible verse that was very personal and intimate for them and expressed how special I am to them and that I was an answer to many prayers. It was from 1st Samuel 1: 27-28....."We asked the LORD to give us this child and HE has given us our request. Now we are giving her to the LORD, and she will belong to the LORD her whole life."

Thank you everyone who was there to celebrate such a special day and happy first Mother's Day mommy!

My 2 week doctor check up...

Last Friday, mommy and daddy took me to the doctor for my official two week check up. Guess what?! I have grown a lot! I officially weighed 7 lbs 0 ounces and was 21 1/4 inches long (up from 6 lbs 14 oz and 19 1/2 inches long at birth). Everyone was really happy - especially mommy because these measurements indicate that I am getting enough "food" from mommy to support and encourage adequate growth and development. My doctor is really nice and mommy and daddy think he is one of the best. Want to know an interesting fact about him? He has taken care of several of daddy's family members over the years - even my great grandparents (aka "GG & GG"). That is pretty amazing if you stop and think about it. So far he has done a great job and I look forward to many future doctor visits in the coming years....well maybe not because vaccinations are coming up soon :(  Mommy is going to be really sad at those visits but deep down she knows it's best for me. I am pretty sure she is going to cry.