Being a mom...

Being a new mom is hard work... I wasn't expecting it to be this hard, but I wasn't expecting the reward to be this great either... Watching Finley grow and reach new milestones is amazing. I cannot believe that Mike and I brought this wonderful little girl into the world. She is so... I cannot even think of the words to describe her. She already knows how to work her papa. And she laughs the most for him. Speaking of her laugh, her laugh is so contagious... I love to hear it. She loves it when I sing to her and she tries to sing with me too. She loves carrots and pears, though not together. Finley is the most important thing in my life. I cannot imagine my life with her. She is such a personality so full of joy and smiles. All the sleepless nights that we've had (are few) but worth it. She is impossible not to love. She babbles when you talk to her. She's only 4 1/2 months. Everything she does is new and exciting. I hope that when I have other children when they reach these new and great things that I will be able to feel the same as I do now. Finley is all we've ever wanted. The truth is that she completes our family. I feel like she makes us whole. Like the missing piece of the puzzle, having her as my daughter is surreal. Being a mom is surreal. I love being a mother, I truly believe that this is my greatest calling. I feel so blessed to have this amazing daughter of God to raise. Oh, how the Lord must trust us so much to be able to raise his children... I hope that I do right by him, and provide the best for her that I can. I want so much for her. I want her to succeed in life. I want her to be able to have the best things and to have a home that she can always come to. I want her to know that her father and I would do anything to make her happy. I have never thought about anyone else like this (besides Mike). I want so much for her... She deserves it. I think that being a mother brings out the best in me. And a little hard work never hurt anyone.  And like I said... She deserves it. She deserves whatever I can give her, and I'll give her everything.

Time Flies...

Time has flown by, I totally became sidetracked! Well Finley is great! 3 months and growing. I can't believe that it has already been this long. She's so big and getting so independent! She is such a joy to have in my life. She is amazing, she already sleeps through the night and has been doing it consistently for over a month now. It is wonderful! She only cries when she's tired or hungry. I think that she's doing more so now because she is going through a growth spurt. The doctor told me 3, 6, and 9 months are when they hit their growth spurts. She goes down very easy as well. She will cry for the most 10 minutes and then she puts herself to sleep. I'm telling you she is making it so that I want to have more little ones. But I know that the next one won't make it so easy on me! Mike and I have our own little place and it is so wonderful. Mike is pretty busy now. He is working 2 jobs that he likes and going to school. I am so blessed while I get to stay home and watch Finn. He truly is so amazing! And good to me. I miss him every moment he is gone! Finley is such a daddy's little girl. She sure does love her papa. We're in a new ward. The walnut park ward and it is soo lovely. The people there are so welcoming and so nice. We truly love being there and having such a great ward to call our own! Mike and I are very happy. He is coaching a  high school swim team right now and he likes the kids. Sometimes I'll get in and show them a few new things and demonstrate how to swim.. (Man am I out of shape!) I just try to help out Mike as much as I can. I'm going to try and be a little better on keeping the blog updated. And I did pretty well while I was prego... But ya.... hahha

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!