The Name Game

Bean Bean Bo Bean

Banana Fana Fo Fean

Me Mi Mo Mean

Bean!

We've had a lot of people asking us Beanette's real name, and the truth is we really don't yet know it.  We've narrowed it down to about 10 or 15 names but we can't seem to commit to just one name.  It's a pretty big decision and we don't want her to ever think What were my Parents thinking when they named me so we just keep sleeping on it and eventually we'll decide. 

Don't worry we promise that we won't allow her to grow up and have panic attacks when she walks into a company meeting because she needs to fill out a nametag but does not yet have a name. 

But as much as I'd love to have her embroidered Pottery Barn chair ready and waiting when she arrives home from the hospital, we are going to wait to confirm her name 100% until we meet her and hold her just to be certain that her name fits her. 

So for anyone trying to get the big secret out of us, stay tuned!  You'll just have to be patient for a few more months... but we are pretty sure our cute little Beanette (and her name) will be worth every second of waiting. 

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PIcture of the Week ~Happy Birthday Connor!~

In honor of our nephew Connor's Big 6th Birthday this week, this picture (taken at his 1st Birthday) seemed like the perfect Picture of the Week!  I have never seen a baby get so excited about the cake.  It was adorable!!

Yum!!

Happy Birthday Connor!! 

We still can't believe it has been 6 years since you were born! 

We love watching you grow up!

Love you lots, Uncle Denny, Aunt Erin & Baby Girl McGee

________________

Some other Cute Pictures

~Then and Now~

Connor and Deegan (but Connor could not take his eyes off the cake for the photo)!

Fast forward to now... they are getting to be so grown up!

Our June Bug

  ~~  June 23, 2012  ~~

A date that we will always remember.  A day that we thought we be a lot different.
Today is June 23, 2012 and we are here.  I was wondering how it would feel to get to this day but it's not too bad. 

Eight months ago today we found out we were going to be parents!!  We were having a baby!!  Exciting and crazy and overwhelming.  It was finally our turn!  We felt we were patient and we did it right... got our degrees, got married, bought a house,  got more degrees, had good jobs.  It was finally time to make our family a family of three!  It was October 23, 2011 and within minutes I looked at the calendar and figured out June 23, 2012 would be the day we might welcome our baby.  A sweet little June Bug!  Even if if he or she didn't arrive on that day, we knew the day would symbolize a pretty big milestone. 

We bought baby clothes, made our lists of names, told our families and pinched ourselves.  It's amazing how many dreams can play out in your mind over the course of a few weeks.  And it was all becoming real.  We could not wait to decorate the room, meet our little one and spend our lives enjoying every second of a sweet baby. 

As quickly as we found out the good news, we realized something wasn't right.  An awful trip to the hospital in the middle of the night, a few tests, some agonizing days of waiting, and our worst fear was confirmed.  We lost our June Bug.  We always knew it could happen, but being naive we didn't think it would happen.  The medical explanations didn't make much sense and certainly didn't help to heal two broken hearts.  Denny became my rock and he supported me when I couldn't support myself. 

Despite feeling totally lost, we realized how lucky we were to have so much love and support.  Tremendous, unconditional support.  Our families, friends, neighbors and co-workers wrapped their arms around us and helped us get by.  And we slowly did.  The good thing about life is that the sun will continue to rise every day.  Eventually we noticed this. 
  
Saturdays were normally  the toughest because I always seemed to wake up thinking Today should have been 14 weeks, or Today could have been spent preparing for our baby.  That and a day without a busy schedule often means the most time to think about things.  But we eventually let go of the would haves and should haves.   It took a while, but slowly the journey didn't seem just so dark anymore.

Four months and two days after the first round of good news, we found out that we were very lucky.  We got good news again!!  We were a lot more cautious and much more nervous, but this time was different (as shown by my growing belly). 

Today we are in a good place.  It has been a bit bittersweet but we have taken this day to relax and enjoy each other.  We are really lucky to be able to focus on a sweet baby girl arriving in about three months.  We have each other and we have an added appreciation for the miracle of a new baby.  We will never take this experience for granted, and we will never underestimate how important it is to share our story with friends and family. 

One reason I really wanted to write this post is to thank all the friends and acquaintances came to me and told me their story of loss (I still hate the word miscarriage and avoid writing or saying it as much as possible because it seems so cold and clinical).   I was astounded at how common it is to lose a baby, yet it seems to be something that is not commonly discussed.  I found a lot of strength knowing that it wasn't a road I was walking down alone and I think that if talking about it helps even one person feel better, it is absolutely worth it.  

Ironically our sweet baby girl is due October 2, just 13 days before Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, a day created to provide support for anyone who been down this road.  It brings me peace to know that perhaps the Beanette will have a an extra little angel watching over her in life, not just on October 15, but everyday. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

(On a side note, I always thought that our first baby would be a boy, and maybe he was.  About 90% of the people I talked to that lost a baby went on to have a baby girl right after their loss.  It makes me wonder if that is why we are now filling our house with pink.... )

Back that Thang Up!

No, this post is not about 90's music, I'm just trying to remind everyone to back up all their computer files!

Sad but true I'm reminded of it right now while I stare at my (formerly favorite) little 8 GB jump drive.  It has been my partner in crime for the past three years!  I have shared all my pictures, spreadsheets and every last one of my Masters assignments with it.  It lived in my wallet right next to my other inanimate object BFF, my debit card.  But today it decided to be a little punk and change it's formatting so that I can't access anything on it. 

I keep asking myself, "How did we share so much over so many years for it to just turn it's back on me?!?"

When it first happened, Denny (being the rational husband he is) calmed me down and took me to the wizards of all computer woes, The Geek Squad!  Surely those amazingly knowledgeable guys would be able to outsmart a teeny tiny two ounce jump drive. Right?  Wrong!!

The geeks sadly looked at me and said there was nothing they could do.  It was crushing and heartbreaking.  And then I lost it.  Right there in Best Buy.  I was "that pregnant women" crying over all my lost pictures and documents from the past three years. Pa-thetic!  The two geeks behind the counter were clearly cursing at themselves for ever applying for the job and just kept trying to tell me how sorry they were in hopes I would eventually disappear.  Talk about embarrassing.  Who's the geek now?

I know there are millions of things in life that could be worse, way worse.  But this is a major bummer.  Pictures from over thirty weddings, twenty holidays and countless hours of assignments for my Masters.  I honestly feel like part of my MBA is going to be taken away from me because I can't support the fact that I ever wrote a paper. 

So now I'm spending my evening sulking, being cranky and googling answers of how to regain 8 gigs of my life.  Thus far the search has been unsuccessful.  Supposedly there are a few options that can help me restore my files but I won't know for sure if the claims prove to be true without a swipe of my credit card for $45 or $79 dollars.  I might sleep on it so I can make a more logical, less emotional decisions. 

In the meantime, I keep playing a slide show in my head of all the times I saved stuff on my little jump drive while It's so Hard to Say good-bye to Yesterday plays in the background of my brain.

I'm sure I'll wake up tomorrow and feel better, and maybe even find the miraculous download that will help me restore all my memories and hard work.  In the meantime, don't be a Juvenile and lose you documents.  Quit reading this blog and back that thang up!  It's the only way to ensure you won't be cursing the lost pictures in your Semi-Charmed Life.

One cool kiddo

I have already mentioned about a hundred times how lucky I have been to grow up with great parents, but it is the truth!  One thing that was super cool about my Dad is that he was a Big Brother through Big Brothers Big Sisters in his twenties .  Dad kept in touch with Bobby, his Little Brother, during his 30's, 40's, 50's and even today! 

It motivated me from a young age to be involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters once I was in a stable job and city.  This came about six years ago when I landed in Buffalo.  So I gave the Buffalo Big Brothers Big Sisters organization a call, and a few interviews later I was matched with cutie-pie, Erma!  She was 6 going on 7 at the time and was sweet as could be! 

Fast forward five years we are still matched and see each other regularly.  We have gone putt-putting, baked cookies, watched movies, visited trampoline parks, and just hung out over pizza.  (I'm pretty sure that I have more fun when we are together than she does) 

She is turning 12 in eleven days and I can't believe what an amazing, sweet and thoughtful young lady she is becoming.  Despite some tough circumstances in her life she is an awesome little girl.  One thing I love about her is her outlook on life.  When we are together I'm always reminded of the real important things in life. 

Some of my favorite conversations with Erma have kept me laughing for days.  Here is my favorite example of her view on life:
  
   (While playing the Guess How Old We Are game)
     Denny:  Erma, guess what year I was born...
     Erma:  Hmm, I'm not sure Denny.  When?
     Denny:  Erma I was born in the 70's!
     Erma:  No way, did you know Jesus?!?

Too funny, and a great reminder to me of how lucky I am to be matched with such a cool kiddo!

Picture of the Week ~Happy Father's Day!~

A day late but just as important is this week's Picture of the Week.  In honor of Father's Day and my amazing Dad, here it is!

Dad, Melissa and I would have not made it half as far in life without you!  You supported us through all we have done.  Thank you for everything.  We Love you so much!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wishing all the amazing Dads out there a wonderful week.  May your golf scores by low, your days be long and your life be full of love and happiness!

Journey to the Weekend

Considering Monday morning kicked off with a broken oven and a sick cat, I should have known Friday was going to be equally eventful.  Weekday bookends perhaps.  Today was the yin to Monday's yang; the salt to Monday's pepper, and the Matt Lauer to Monday's Katie Couric (still the best co-hosts on Today's show history, in my opinion).

Talk about chemistry!  I loved them

Maybe I should have been more worried today when my instincts told me to pack water, snacks and flip-flops before I left for Canada.  Or maybe I should have know that my good old Jeep Liberty would eventually need a break... But I didn't.

So off to I went Canada today thinking my Nexus pass would be my ticket to fast border crossings on a day when a hundred thousand people were flocking to the Falls to watch crazy Wallenda walk on a wire. 

It was a Friday and I was feeling good...  I quickly stopped in the offices in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and then hopped in my car to zip over to the hotel and meet my client.  And suddenly, my car would not start.  Hmm, not good.  But being the brilliant woman I am, I figured it had to be a temporary issue.  I would meet with my client for lunch and by then the car would fix itself.  They do that, right? 

Four hours later I was ready to head home.  Computer bag loaded, key in ignition aaaand... nothing. 

Great.                                    Peachy.                            Awesome. 

I was a happy camper.  

Three rounds of unsuccessful jumper cables later did nothing but jump start my fear of being stranded in Canada all weekend.  And then my fear got even more real when I realized that Denny could pick me up IF only he could access his passport locked in our fireproof box..  ya know, the one that I locked with the key on my key chain. 

Tick tick tick.  It was now almost 3 PM.  All the local car places were closing for the weekend in 120 minutes and I had no solution.  Hmm, time for AAA intervention.  And what a worthwhile call!  Turns out towing a car across the border IS possible!  Success. 

So by 4ish, I hopped up in the cab of the CAA truck and off we went.  Matt the driver has 5 kids ages 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 (whoa), and told me all about how to remove Crayola from kid's bedroom walls.  Good to know.  We crossed the bridge and by 5 he was unloading my car from his truck. 


The Little Jeep's visit to Customs!

Turns out Canadian drivers don't drive into the US and US drivers don't pick up in Canada, so I bid farewell to Matt, the baby-makin tow-truck driver, and waited for the tow truck driver from AAA to pick me up and take me on my last leg of the journey.  I waited, and waited, and waited.  Ninety minutes later, Dan arrived and loaded up the Liberty.  It was the victory lap to a long day. 

Dan was quite chatty.  He broke the ice by asking if my pregnancy was a surprise (did he not notice that I practically have gray hair?), and then told me about how I am building character with Beanette by allowing her to ride in a tow truck.  Not exactly my goal, but I guess it was a bonus for the day.  

By the time we pulled into the mechanics lot, tow-truck drive Dan was telling me step-by-step instructions of how to remove a cat's head from a glass jar if it was to get stuck. Yep, more useless knowledge.  I nodded, convinced him to give me a Pregnancy Discount (he agreed!) and said Good Bye to Chatty Dan.  My ordeal was over and my cute hubby was waiting!!  

It took almost five hours to travel home about 50 miles but it was quite the memorable (and comical) end to my week.  I'm finally at home... relaxing.. and enjoying my Friday with Denny, our character-filled Beanette and our cat (whose head is luckily not stuck in a glass jar). 

Happy Friday to all!

May your weekend journeys be full of fun and useless knowledge! 

Oh Monday

..............................

Today was really good at being Monday.

I woke up and thought it was Sunday... bummer, I was wrong. 

I snoozed... too much. 

Then I slept... too late.

Then it turned into more of a Monday.

We realized the oven likely needs replaced.

Lexi got sick.

Lexi got sick again.

And Lexi got sick 2 more times.

It was only 8:18 AM.  Oh Monday.

 ..............................

BUT then...

Work went fast. 

The jeweler called and my rings were cleaned and ready early. 

We got a great coupon on the mail. 

Our doctor's office was actually running ahead of schedule.

AND...

We got to see the Little Beanette!!!

We had her six month sonogram and she looks super healthy & way cute! 

Her heartbeat is perfect and her size is great!!

We are SO lucky!!!!

..............................

As a bonus we got home and Beanette was thrilled to see some of her Signal Drive Aunties.  She put on quite the performance and they got to feel her kick.  So cool! 

Perhaps she will someday live out my childhood dream and be a Radio City Rockette.  I would be one proud Momma to spend my Thanksgiving morning watching our Little Beanette (I promise we will name her by then) kick her way down 6th Avenue. 

My goal in life during much of the 80's and early 90's!

But then again I'll be proud no matter what she does.  I'm learning that I'm pretty darn lucky to have her, and I'll be even luckier if I can make her life even half as amazing as she has made my Monday. 

..............................

Picture(s) of the Week ~Love OU!~

I can't believe that seven years ago this weekend, my OU roomies and I walked across the stage at the Convocation Center and received our diplomas!  It was bittersweet to say good-bye to OU and spend our last night as students in the town of Bricks and Beer.



GorgeOUs College Green!



Sara & me-- prOUd Dragon and Bobcat alum!

Graduation night rOUnd of drinks!

I'm still not sure how those four years flew by so quickly and I am clueless as to where the next seven went, but it has been a really fun ride!  



OU Roomie Reunion 2011 - HilariOUsness at Kristin's Wedding

 _______________ 

So in honor of my wonderful roommates and for all those Bobcats who still carry a little bit of Athens in their hearts, this picture of the week is actually Pictures (plural) of the Week!

(These pictures might not mean too much to you unless you spent a few nights at good ol' 15NC, but they describe a lot of the fun we had during out final three quarters in A-Town. )

The Official 15 NC Beer Pong Table!  This was TrOUble!



AND last but certainly not least... the OU deer!  

Spotted for the first time on a walk home from COUrt Street during fall quarter.  The deer reappeared many more nights that quarter.  During the colder nights, he kept his antlers warm with gloves.  He was incredibly entertaining especially to a few seniors after a few rounds of fishbowls.


So for all you grads moving your tassel from one side to the other this weekend, Congrats!  Be proud of your achievements, but more importantly Stand Up & Cheer for the awesome people you met along they way. 

A Little Hotel Humor

My favorite joke about working in hotels...


Whenever I have groups that need 2 beds, but phrase it to me that they want a room with "Two Queens," I always have to resist the urge to put this on the contract:

We are pleased to offer your group accommodations with Two (2) Queens

 

~~ Hope everyone has a Super Duper Thursday!! ~~

Happy Birthday Melissa!!

I came into this world with one of the best advantages in life ever (no, not just my stunning good looks)... an awesome big sister, Melissa! 

Awesome Where's the Beef matching jammies!

As sisters we had our share of fights but more often than not, we were best friends.  Melissa was my interpreter until she went to kindergarten (why talk when someone could do it for you?).  We shared clothes, Barbies, a room and a childhood. 

Growing up a Q wasn't always easy.  Melissa threw magnets at me when I wore headgear, and I laughed at her when she did science fair projects.  But together we survived perms, embarrassing cars, family car trips and tons of other crazy happenings... and I wouldn't change one thing about it.

The Quilty version of Barker's Beauties showing off Clicker Car

When we went to OU, we got even closer!  My freshman dorm room was about 100 yards from her senior apartment (ideal for when she was kind enough to buy me beer). 
And we've been by each others side ever since.  Together we cheered for each other and supported each other as we earned diplomas, hunted for houses, said I Do and became Moms. 


OU Class of 2002 graduation!



 I'm so lucky to you as a best friend and big sister Melissa! 

Wishing you a wonderful day and your best year yet!!    LLKK

Picture of the Week ~My Cousin Leslie~

My sister Melissa has a great blog (click here if you haven't visited lately) and started a Picture of the Week.  I love the idea and thought I would try it too (sorry to copycat Melissa). 

In honor of my awesome cousin Leslie's Birthday I think this picture should be the first McGee McBlog Picture of the week! 

~~~~~~~~

A little background... In 2010 Leslie ran the Cleveland half-marathon (awesome job cuz!), and wore a waterbelt with water jugs to stay dehydrated. 

When Melissa and I saw it we immediately felt that it was cause for a new nickname.  So when the Quilty reunion rolled around a few months later we knew exactly what "Q" award would be perfect for Leslie.  Take a look...

Most of the other Q Awards were very G-rated: Smiley Q, Courageous Q, Funny Q so this award certainly woke up the crowd (as you can see by her dad's shocked reaction behind Leslie). 

I still look at this picture and laugh every time I see Leslie's reaction.  Have an AMAZING Birthday Les and thanks for all the laughs!!    xoxo

Staycation, please stay longer!

The past 7 days have been the McGee Official 2012 Staycation!  And it has been Fabulous!! 

But even more important than the Staycation are all the great happening with our friends & families this week...  A very happy Welcome to the World to sweet Lola Noelle, and congrats to Missy, Tom & Big Brother Dylan!   

So Gorgeous!!

Congrats to our cousins PJ and Ally for graduating from high school.  College will be some of the most fun years of your life, enjoy!!  And Congrats to our Uncle Bob and our new Aunt Elaine (and 3 new cousins!) on their recent vows and celebration tonight.  We are thinking of you and wish we were with you to enjoy it! 

           

We decided a few months back that with the Beanette on the way we should take some time to relax, work on some house projects, and perhaps save some $$ for all of Beanette's necessities (crib, furniture, car seat(s), hair bows, legwarmers, tutus, etc, etc).

It's not over until Tuesday morning (which makes writing this less painful) but here are some major highlights of the week so far:

• 54 holes of golf for Denny
• 36 holes of golf for me including a few pars and even a birdie!
• 28 hours in Ohio visiting my family, Sara, and some friends from our tap-dancing days.
• 22 week pregnancy mark!  We hit it Tuesday and can't believe how quickly our little girl will arrive (although my closet is clearly aware when I stare at it everyday and say/whine "Oh no, NOTHING fits me")
• 9 hours of garage cleaning and organizing (finished result now includes shelves for organizing and sense of relief that we won't lose our daughter in there once she starts moving)
• 7 hours of neighbor fun at annual Memorial Day picnic (thanks Kocialskis for another great year!)
• 6 hours at the Buffalo zoo!  Denny's 1st visit since moving to Buffalo over 7 years ago.
• 5 miles worth of enjoying tax dollars while strolling along the Lancaster Bike Path
• 4 baskets of tortilla chips accompanied by salsa, guacamole and cheese dip with our friends at La Tolteca, yum! 
• 3 great daycare tours and happiness knowing Beanette will have wonderful care while we work.  We're not sure if she'll end up being a little DoodleBug, an EduKid or a Briarwood Baby but we did dispel the myth that all daycares give their kids sleeping pills each day to keep them quiet (thanks again Grandma for telling me about that rosy newspaper article, but please end your subscription to the Dire News Daily immediately)
• 2 matching his & hers farmer tans.  Hey, it's what happens when an Irish couple spends a day in the sun.
• 1 great husband that has spent 7 days with me tolerating my Staycation To Do lists, pregnancy hormones, and sneak peek of what our life will be like someday far in the future when we grow old and retire by the water.

Monday is my last day of vacation so I figured it would best be spent getting a little pampering, but I'm in no rush for that to get here.  Staycation, please feel free to take your time.  Put your feet up and enjoy a cold glass of lemonade... that's why you're here after all, right?