Dr. and Dr. McKeown--August was a fun filled month!

Hola,

So after the wonderful news about hearing we are expecting a baby girl, Ryan and I celebrated my PhD graduation. I have to admit, I should have hounded him to do his, but alas we didn't. Here is the throwback photo to August 2013 when Ryan finished!!! We were a bit excited here so it's a tad blurry.He is an incredibly talented, hard-working, handsome man and we are very proud of him. There are definitely more than 3 adjectives to describe Ryan, and I'm sure Ryan has at least a few favorites himself :) Kidding.

August 2013

But we both want to thank our families very much for being in our lives and helping us to get through it all from the beginning to the end. It was a big team effort, so thanks to everyone!!

Here we are after 6 years of graduate school, one pug, a happily married couple,

and two little girls later: Dr. and Dr. McKeown

August 2014

Family photo :) We didn't get one with the 'get up',

 but definitely awesome to get all 4 of us in one frame.

Ryan you are a rock star and my rock. I am really glad we found each other in graduate school. You always listened, encouraged, hugged, and fought for me to finish. Thank you. And to think, I have a murder mystery party and Ryan's wily charms to thank for meeting such an incredible friend and husband. Some of our best memories and moments in our lives as individuals and as a family took place while at Penn State. Like our Lady J! The friends we met there are like a second family to us. We miss you all very much, and wish you all the best on your new adventures. Looking back, State College was good to us. Thanks Happy Valley!

J thought my outfit was hilarious. I have to agree--it's unique! It's no Elsa dress :)

My two lovely ladies :) 

  Here is a throw back to my HIGH school graduation... love these two guys.  And thanks to my brother Eric for being my partner in crime and best friend growing up. I miss and love you to pieces.

It was wonderful to share this time with my Dad too. Love you Abuelo. It was great to share this time with you in person :)

Thank you Dad for all your encouragement, strength and guidance from my first days in Kindergarten until now!! My Dad reminded me of all the times I spent studying to get to this moment. If my math undergrad serves me right, it was approximately 25 years of schooling (with a few breaks for summer vacation and living abroad-- a girl needs a break once in awhile). It was all very worth it!! 

Here are some action shots going up the ramp. Thanks Ryan for catching these. My main goal: don't trip!

Thanks also to our incredible friends that came out for a celebratory BBQ. We feasted! Unfortunately, we were so busy there are no pictures, but here is a lovely morning shot the next day of Jocelyn and her Woodruff sister buddies Ellen, Anna and Lucy. Thanks for hosting us Kate and Matt  :)

Before the caravan arrived back home, we had an incredible reunion with my Aunt Maria Pilar, her brother Rafael, husband Jack, daughter Cassandra and her boyfriend Ryan. Many years had passed since all these faces got to laugh and tell jokes together. The weekend was truly fantastic.

We sadly had to say goodbye to Abuelo... until next time!

<3 <3

It's a girl :)

Hooray :) 

The McKeown family received wonderful news August 15th that we are having a baby girl due around Christmas 2014. We are very excited :) I have to admit my guess was boy and Ryan's was girl. It was a wonderful surprise and we found out via cupcake! 

Here are some belly progression photos. I think the light pink shirt hides some of the bump, but she is growing beautifully. Her due date was originally the 23rd but it may be closer to the 28th, so the 'week' estimates may be a week off. Oh well :) 

15 weeks, aka the size of an apple! 

18/19 weeks, aka the size of a bell pepper/ heirloom tomato!

21 weeks, size of a carrot!

Here are some amazing photos from the ultrasound. She was measuring right on target and weighed around 12 ounces. These are taken during week 20 (though the machine says 21), aka the size of a banana!

Leg and foot

Her spine

An awesome profile

Whole body shot :) She is comfortably upside down

Baby loves loves loves to kick. She is more of a kicker than Jocelyn. I am also a bit bigger this time around, which is fun because I get to wear comfy pregnancy clothes that much sooner.

We had a little 'reveal' by ordering cupcakes that had a color inside for the gender. We had the results in an envelope that we gave to the baker and did not look at beforehand. It was hard to wait but very fun in the end! Thanks everyone for all the happy wishes on our girl power family :) 

We borrowed this photo idea for Auntie Colleen and family. J was jazzed to show off her new purple boots, and I had these little shoes from years ago that just surfaced. Here are feet by baby and J!

Let's zoom in on these sparkly boots! Come on :) 

Jocelyn's current favorite dress. This lady lives in them!
Baby has quite the collection she will inherit. 

Playing with her favorite hand-made book by Auntie Molly

Thanks guys for reading! 

August: Great Falls Park with Megan, Kevin and Boscoe the doggie

Hi,

August started off with a bang. We were visited by our awesome friends Megan and Kevin, and Butters got to meet Boscoe.

We first had to take of business: visit Dogfish Head Alehouse. We ate like champs! The boys aren't featured here, but if they were there would be some happy grins and tall beers.

We worked off our calories with some intense dress up time.

We went to Great Falls Park on the Virginia side. That is the Potomac River. This was the first outdoorsy place we found when we first moved here last September.

And little 'tree' yoga :) 

Thanks Meg and Kev for taking this photo many times. It's interesting trying to get J and Butters to look somewhat at the camera :)

Thanks for coming guys! It was a fun weekend. Until next time :)

Recap of July Part 4: More summer fun

Hi gang,

So I'm dreadfully behind on blogging :) But here are some more fun highlights from our WA trip and back home in MD. Also, happy (belated) birthday to Grammy and Mom Mom.

Jocelyn was a little buzzing bee while visiting Grandma Gina and Gigi, but here are some quick shots. Thanks Gigi for capturing her! J was giving lots of hugs and running around faster than any of us could. I could use some of her energy! Hopefully, we can have more downtime to 'catch' our J monster. Oh and Jocelyn had her first hair cut by Mama at the shore, and her curls became noticeably bouncier. We still love her semi-mohawk she would rock at the shore after time at the beach (see Molly and Colleen's blogs for some extra special shots).

We have been trying to go to the pool more often as well. Jocelyn's good friend Julianna is a little fish, and they had fun being "Ariel" together. 

Jocelyn's favorite activity rain/sun/snow is art. She has this beautiful focus about her. 

And, she loves being a ham. Here are some of her awesome yoga moves :) 

(Note she is below the table ha ha)

July was all about Clifford and the gang. She took Clifford everywhere. 

Pugs are still a BIG favorite. She has a little book from her Auntie Christa called Pug Hugs and she reads it to herself all the time. Here is a shot of her, Butters and her pug pj's. 

And this little girl is VERY excited to be a big sister/hermana mayor. Here she is putting baby in her tummy like Mommy :) She continues to make me smile and laugh in the best ways possible. 

We wish everyone awesome last days of summer. As always, if you're feeling down put on some sparkle and all will be better, says Lady J :) Lots of love to all our family and friends far and wide.