Christmas time!!

Finley loves the Christmas Lights.

All is well at the McGowen house. Just getting ready to celebrate Christmas! Finley is doing wonderfully. She just finished her first growth spurt, which took its toll on me and Mike. Lots of feeding and only a couple sleepless nights. lol. But life is good. The picture is Finley at my mom's house and she loves to stare at the Christmas tree lights. And her lullaby are the First Noel, Away in a Manger, and It Came Upon a Midnight Clear. She loves music, its such a joy to see. She's got such a little personality. I can't believe she's almost one month old. Time has flown by, I can't believe it. We're excited for Finley's first Christmas, even though she won't remember it. But were planning on doing Christmas at home, going to to church then heading over to my moms for a big Christmas dinner. I'm looking forward to it. Just wanted to let you all know how we're doing and wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas!!

Finley Nicole's Newborn Shots!!

Yesterday we went and took some newborn photos, for Finley. And even though she refused to sleep, and was very very fussy. We still got our moneys worth!! This photo took about 45 minutes to get. But I think it was sooo worth it. We used Jenolyn Christensen, here's her blog: http://jenolynchristensenphotography.blogspot.com/  She was so patient with Finley and was willing to work hard to get some beautiful shots, I stole this photo off of facebook but I think that it is to adorable to not show. I love my little girl, and she is everything I've ever wanted in my life. I think that if you are planning on having photos taken you should contact Jenolyn, she is very gifted and talented and just an over all joy to work with.

Finley Nicole McGowen

Finley Nicole McGowen arrived on Tuesday, November 29th 2011 at 10:10 pm. She weighed 8 pounds and 12 ounces. She was 20 inches long, and her head was 15 centimeters wide! We are so excited to have her in our lives, we are truly blessed.

Lets get down to the nitty gritty!

So on Sunday (11/27/2011) (Finley's due date) I started to have contractions and by 2:00 AM they were coming at 5 minutes apart. So I called the hospital and spoke with the doctor on call, she told me to come in and get checked to see if I would be admitted. So I woke up Michael and we headed to the hospital. So I got checked and I was still dilated to only 1 cm. The contractions were still coming every 5 minutes or less. The RN named Nancy suggested that I walk for 2 hours. So by this time it was 3:30 AM and I walked and walked and walked until 5:30,  by this time, my back was killing me and my feet were swelling up. And the contractions only got stronger and didn't stop. So I was checked again, and I was still only 1cm, but the cervix was lower and the baby was moving down into position. The RN the spoke with the doctor and they suggested that I could walk for 2 more hours, or go home with a muscle relaxer and hopefully I would be dilated more the next day, they told me to keep my doctors appointment that I had that evening.

So I went home with the muscle relaxer and slept till about noon, by the time we left the hospital it was 7:00 AM Monday morning. We went to the doctor, and I was still having contractions every 5 minutes. so I went in and spoke with the doctor, he checked me, and I was now 2 cm and 70% effaced and the baby was at -1. He then suggested that I just go home and wait until my water broke, or I could be induced Tuesday morning. I chose to be induced on Tuesday. So Mike and I went over to my parents house and told them the plan, then I went home and tried to get as much rest as I could.

On Tuesday morning, we headed to the hospital, (I think they should invest in a parking garage, because we had to park out in the boonies. lol). I didn't mind the walk, I did anything to get that baby out!! haha So we then were checked in and admitted. I met my labor nurse, Alla. She was amazing. I loved her. I was then checked again, and I was now at 3cm and 80% effaced and the baby was head face down. I had to take antibiotics and then I was able to start the labor process. By 1:00 pm I was being given the Pitocin. By 5:13 PM I was checked by my doctor and was 4 cm and he had broken my water, and I could feel the contractions coming full force, and at 7:00 PM I decided that I needed the epidural and by 7:15 I had it. The nurse came in and checked me about and hour and a half later and I was now 8 cm. And I was very happy. They called my doctor and he headed to the hospital. And he then came in and told me to start pushing, and 10 minutes later, I had my daughter in my arms.

As you can see she is the cutest baby ever. And I'm not biased at all. :D

Baby shower in honor of our litte one!!

Well after waiting and waiting for the big celebration of our little girl. It finally came. Which was nice because I don't know how I would be feeling if we had done it earlier. It was a lot of fun. We ate first and  Mike's sisters were in charge of the games, and it was actually pretty entertaining. We played some games and then there were gifts, so many!! We are surely blessed! After opening the gifts, we had cake and then everyone left lol. But it was nice and I loved every moment of it. After everyone left, I just hung out and visited with those that had stayed and then packed up the car, came home threw everything in the washer and placed it in the baby's room. I thought that was a good way to end the day. :D

The Decorations:

 (Best part is I got to keep the onsies!! YAYY)

 The Favors: (It was popcorn!)

 Gifts:

 Game 1: Name that baby food!!

 The Cake:

 Game 2: Pin the baby on the belly!

 Game 3: How many Clothespins can you hold in one hand?

 More Gifts:

 My mother made this quilt, and she made me cry. lol

 Sitting, Waiting, Wishing, (Only 3 Weeks to go!!)

 Me and my momma, relaxing afterwards.

I had a wonderful time, and my mom did a great GREAT job, I can't believe that our little one is almost here. Talk about crazy. Hopefully all will go well when the time comes. I am so excited to meet her. And Michael cannot wait to be able to hold her. He says its not fair... I get to hold her for 9 months before him. :) Ain't he just the sweetest thing!?

Date Night!!

Well Michael and I had a date night and we went to Lucilles, Let me say SCRUMPTIOUS!! We have been saving a giftcard that was given to use since Christmas, I know crazy right, but so worth the wait. I mad reservations about 4 days in advance and we walked in and sat down almost right away, not bad for a friday night at 7. I was happy, We ate like Kings.  Here are some photos from it. :D

 On our way to dinner

 Outside!!

 Michael's dinner

My dinner

Just thinking about our dinner is making me hungry!! Don't worry, I had left overs, no way was I going to eat all that! I brought the rest home and gave it to Kevin! YUMMM!

Home Work, is all we ever do around here!!

Ok so by the title of the post, you can already tell that this is not going to be a happy one, kidding. But I just thought that I could post about our homework (So interesting right!?) well, Mike is constantly doing hw that's what happens when you decide to try and kill yourself via school... Not the way I'd like to go, but anyway, my husband is always doing hw. And he's always helping me with mine. (Isn't he wonderful) The photo, is of my actual hw... its due on Tuesday, but I still haven't done a paper (front/back), thats all for one class. And as it turns out I think all my professors got together decided to make everything due on tues. For instance, I have a Lab due (the photo) HW questions, and a 5 page history paper all  due all on Tues. Not to mention that I have a science exam that is when... ON TUESDAY.  So I will be very busy this weekend. Not doing anything fun, just homework. Wish me luck!!

Baby Madness!!

Well Michael and I have been very busy with preparation for Finley... Only 6 weeks left on Sunday. Wow, seems like time is slowing down. But we are staying busy with school and trying to stay on top of all that. I have a doctors appt tomorrow and I'm looking forward to it. Maybe we'll have more stories to tell you of our crazy doctor! HA! Well, we've been busy getting Finley's room ready and making it cutesy. But it is pretty bare because we don't have much until the baby shower, which is in 3 weeks and I CANNOT wait. I am very excited. But I've got some photos of her room and our theme. which is TURTLES! yay! and a few blankets that I've made for her... Yea, I made something. :) (There's some really cute clothes that have been given to us.) 

 This is a hair bow board that I made with Amber, hopefully she'll have some hair :D

 Our little turtle rug, (isn't it adorable.)

 Walls of the room, it was originally blue. But I didn't want to repaint.

 I think it looks like the sea... with the little turtle decals.

 Our turtles. The one on the far right is the one we got from Mexico.

 These are pictures of the the baby blanket that I cross-stitched.

 This is a turtle quilt that I made as well.

 Here's a close up of the cross-stitch blanket.

 This blanket we bought in Mexico.

 A cute little tutu!!

 Isn't this adorable!?

And last but not least this is a cute turtle hamper.  Hope you enjoyed the photos, and we're not done! I'm sure we'll keep adding to the room. :) And don't be fooled by all the blue, we are having a little girl! hahaha :D

Fun night at the Fair...

Yesterday Mike and I went to the L.A. County Fair, with some friends of ours, (Denise and Derrick). We had a lot of fun, we went after school and were able to get in for free because Denise's mom found us some used books. Sweet right!? well we also saw the demolition derby, it was my first time and I loved it. (That was also free.) Good to know some friends who know so many secrets right! KIDDING! :) But we walked around and went through stores and saw some pretty cool things, like the shark exhibit. But they didn't do much, they were on the bottom of the tank... they were either dead or sleeping. I have no idea. But one neat thing that Denise and I got to do was pick your pearl. We found this booth where you are guaranteed a pearl once you pay a standard fee, its yours. Well we both did it and got beautiful pink/peach colored salt water pearls. It was fun. And not to mention we have pearls! hahaha But walking around the fair made my feet kind of swell, not too bad. But just enough to be annoying, but luckily that was at the end of the night. Mike and I really enjoyed hanging out with friends and having a good date night! Here are some photos:

 Derrick as an octopus!

 Denise and I has mermaids...

 I love Mikes face in this photo!! hehehe

 Denise and Derrick watching the Derby

 Mike and I <3

This was the best part. The car was pushed up on the barrier like a see-saw and the tractor had to pick it up and move it. (That car did end up winning but it was pretty funny.)