Christmas images..

Reverse order...more to come.

8 Months and a NEW YEAR

We are officially in a new year and a new decade. Makena turned 8 months on on the 6th of January and unfortunately she was sick and went to see the doctor. She got croup the week before Christmas and then seemed to continue to have a cold (runny nose) over the holidays (including our trip to Rising Star, Lubbock, Taos (NM), and Del Norte (CO)). When we returned on the 4th she was feeling good and went to school on the 5th. When Don picked her up from school, she seemed warm so he took her tempature and sure enough she had a fever. She ran a fever for 3 days so the nurse wanted us to come in and see the doctor. They ruled out RSV and the flu as well as any bacterial infection, therefore settled that it must be a virus. On Friday her tempature was around 99.5 but went down shortly after lunch and hasn't spiked again. Praise God for a healthy little girl and thank him for such a wonderful husband that would stay home with her while my schedule was crazy at work. Don has now come down with something similar and has been running a fever. I am praying that I can avoid getting sick again (I had something just before the holidays but didn't stick around too long).

These 8 months have been wonderful. Development over the last month include:
- Crawling...officially just this week she has learned to move forward. She was only going backwards before or just rocking back and forth on her news. As she has learned to use her needs, she sometimes just inch worms or bear crawls her way around. I can still keep up with her for now but i give it a couple more weeks and she is going to be traveling pretty fast.
- Waving...it is more like a indian chief "how" with her hand held high in the air. She knows what she is doing though because she does it when someone walks in the room or is about to walk out.
- Tongue Clicking..just tonight she started clicking her tongue. She was so proud. Her big blues eyes lit up with eyebrows held high and a big smile that could light up the room.
- Singing into the remote control...last night she and I were up late and she was "singing" so I started doing the same into the end of the remote and she laughed so hard. She would sing then I would sing, she thought it was so funny. It was one of those moments that you wish would never end. Seeing and hearing her laugh can make the pain of a long day simply fade away.
- Riggins is becoming more interesting...she always reaches out for him when he comes near. She wants to pet him so much but he doesn't really let her. Today she was on the floor with him and she would touch his paw then he would back up to get away. She would then scoot towards him and touch it again. It was the cutest. I can't imagine them being anything less than best friends in no time, especially once she learns to kick or throw a ball. :)
- Able to go from tummy to sitting very easily
- Solid food is getting easier. Now doing a couple of solid meals a day with puffs/cracker snacks.
- Laughs, laughs and more laughs.
- She also moved up at school to Infant B with the movers (crawler/walkers).
- 19 lbs 4 oz

I have a few pics from our trip over the holidays. I need to get Marcus to send me some of his from the Southern Reunion in Colorado because I didn't really take many. I will post what I have a little later.

We started our 2009 Christmas in Coppell. Christmas morning was spent at home with only Makena, Don, Riggins and myself. We were planning to go to Rising Star on Christmas Eve but due to the snow that moved in, we thought it best to stay home and travel on Christmas. We opened presents. Makena got clothes mainly including a snowsuit as well as a stacking toy (star stacker), stuffed puppy and ball. I got a flash for my camera (so excited!!) and some clothes. Thankfully the weather was better on Christmas so we got packed up and on our way.

Before we left that morning, I recieved a call from a dear friend of mine letting me know that her aunt (who was also a dear friend) Anna had passed away. Anna has been in my life for as long as I can remember. She was a teacher in Rising Star while I was there and I also taught with her in 2002-03. She and I were junior class sponsors together and she was such a big supporter while I was teaching (she actually recommended me for the job). She not only helped with my wedding shower and came all the way to Dallas to help decorate for my wedding, but just this spring she helped host Makena's baby shower. She was an inspiring, strong woman with a heart of gold. I will miss her. She fought a hard fight, but now she is pain free. As Don always reminds me, she wouldn't want to come back. She is now in the perfect place full of peace and joy!

On Christmas day, we set out with a 4-Runner full of stuff on our way to Rising Star through the snowy roads. Rising Star had gotten more snow than we did in the metroplex. As we come through Sipe Springs you could see the line where the weather must have gotten a lot worse, what the weatherman called a blizzard. We had a wonderful Chrstmas dinner with Mom, Dad and Tyler then had a feast of gift opening. Makena got a DVD player for the car, clothes, but had the most fun crackling the paper. She also got a precious Cross necklace from Tyler. I can't wait until she can wear it. I got lots of fun clothes and jewlry and Don got a Wii.

ok it's time for bed...i'll write more later to capture our journey.

MAKENA'S 1st CHRISTMAS!!

I wanted to get these posted before life gets away from us. Makena is getting more and more active each day. She is getting to where she squirms to get down out of our laps. She is getting back to her happy self and sleeping again thankfully!

It's also going to be a white Christmas..yippee.

Here are pics of her visiting Santa yesterday. Love to all!

(not sure why these won't upload..I'll keep trying)

7 months

I can't believe another month has already passed us by. We have now enjoyed a fabulous Thanksgiving with family, both the Carrolls and the Chambers. Makena is so blessed to have such a great family that love her very very much. Don and I couldn't ask for a better family. Makena has continued to do her "push ups" to strengthen her arms, abs and legs. She is not crawling yet but can pretty much go where she wants to go...usually backwards however. I suspect by Christmas we'll have a busy little bee on our hands.

Since her 6 month check up we have had some sleeping problems. She is nursing a lot and getting up 2-3 times a night (what used to be her old night anyways). I have chalked it up to shots, teething and growing. Hopefully that is all it is. She has remained healthly besides a slight cold just before her 6 month appointment. No fever, just a running nose. The weather has changed too. It is now much cooler. We had our first freeze this last week, but expecting to be back in the 60s come this weekend. Gotta love Texas weather. Hopefully sleep will get better.

Makena is doing a lot better the last few days with eating solid food. She is still only eating 1 to 2 times a day but the last few days have been much better. Over the last month, she has had sweet potatoes, rice cereal, oatmeal, peas, a little apple sauce (which she hates), and a few taste of other things. The one crazy thing that she seems to enjoy over Thanksgiving is a pickle. Don just loved that of course since he hates pickles. She wanted to suck all the juice off. She also enjoyed the gravy off of uncle Tyler's chicken pot pie and the cream on the green bean casserole. Just yesterday she thought holding her sippy cup was hillarious. She seems to like the cool water on her teeth so I put some ice water in the cup so she could feel it on her teeth without drowning herself which she has come to like doing with my ice water. She tries to lap the water out of my cup like a little puppy. It is so cute. She is learning learning learning!!

Over Thanksgiving Makena also attending her first Turkey Trot. Chris, Stephanie, Don, Riggins, Makena and I went to downtown Dallas Thanksgiving morning. Makena and I walked the 5k..well Makena slept the 5k. Don and Steph ran the 5k while Chris set out to make is best time in the 8 mile, which he accomplished. It was a lot of fun until I couldn't find the crew after the race was over. Manuvering a stroller through 40,000 people is really no fun but we made and it was a great day!
Then we were off to have lunch with the Carrolls. The Carroll men stayed up smoking a brisket on Wednesday night. It was delicious! We had a fun night of Ticket to Ride and lots of laughs. Friday after breakfast and some hang out time we were off to Rising Star for a relaxing weekend with the Chambers family. It was good to see everyone. Mom and Dad hadn't seen Makena in a couple of months so they were surprised to see how much she had grown and what she could do.

Here are some pics we took over Thanksgiving just a week before her 7 month birthday. We were getting ready for Christmas. Thanks Granny for the dress. :)

6 Months

Makena turned 6 months old on November 6th. Things she has started to do: Growl, get on her hands and knees (she is going to be crawling in no time), rocking on her hands and knees, sitting up unassisted, lots of new sounds and lots of laughter. She can now reach for things while she is sitting and pull them back to herself. At her six month check up (at 6.5 months) she weighed 18.1 lbs (75th percentile) and was 27.25 inches (85th percentile)long.

October memories...

HAPPY MORNINGS...my baby girl is usually this happy in the morning. Her first noices in the morning are happy coos. This was from October 17th, 2009. To many more happy mornings.
HAPPY 35TH ANNIVERSARY GRANNY AND PAPA!! On October 18th, Mom and Dad celebrated 35 years together!! Congrats we love you both. Mom was working out of town so we managed to get these pics to Dad before he made the trip out to see her. (because I was late getting them in the mail we used the 21st century technology to upload them to Walmarts website and print them in Brownwood. Sometimes technology is a goo thing)

Blessed Babies...Also, on October 18th we celebrated the birth of Makena (and many more babies) at Prestoncrest Church of Christ. We enjoyed having family near us that day. Granny and Papa were celebrating their anniversary in West Texas because Granny had to work. However, we enjoyed having Don's family and Uncle Tyler with us to celebrate. Here is the lady of honor with her Daddy.

And then she was exhausted...it takes a lot out of a lady in the spot light. Grammy, Gramps, and Uncle Tyler went to class with us that day. Here are Grammy and Gramps enjoying a few moments with the woman of the hour.More fun with Grammy...
Makena really enjoyed her Uncle Marcus.
Fun with Uncle Marcus and Aunt Amanda.

Here is a pic of our precious family. We are truly blessed!!

Here is the actual event. It was difficult to take pictures from the seats. Many wonderful families were blessed that day and Makena was precious!!
More time spent with Uncle Marcus. As you can tell she is really enjoying herself.
Here is Makena and Uncle Tyler. She is truly loved by so many! We are so blessed to have a wonderful family. I seem to have missed getting pics of Chris, Stephanie and Caleb, but they were there (juggling church services) and we appreciate them coming.Gramps and Makena. She is about to spy the pen in his pocket. She is looking forward to having a blizzard with Gramps one of these days.I took this picture to show off her new K-Swiss tennis shoes. Granny got them for her before she was born and I almost forgot to get them out. Thanks Granny for such a cute outfit...from the top of my head to the bottom of my toes.
Makena getting rested for her first Halloween party with our Wednesday night small group at the Davis house. She was the cutest little jack-o-latern!!
Heidi and her mom Anna. Sweetest little flower!
Here are more of the precious kids from our small group. Ellie was Super Woman, Cale the policeman, Allie the princess, Hannah the tiger, and Layton the racecar driver.

Miss McKenna, the sock puppet, and her daddy Patrick.

More pics of our precious little girl. She started clasping/clapping her hands. She is growing up so fast.

We took a trip to the Flower Mound pumpkin patch with the Conleys. Here is baby Caden trying to blend in with the pumkins.
What a precious family. Jack, Jenny, Colten, and Caden!! Love you guys!

Makena and Mommy..

Makena and Daddy...
Our family in the pumkin patch...

Makena was avoiding the sun in this one but thought it was cute.

It is fun to think about where Makena will go to college...ACU, Harding, A&M perhaps. Here she poses for her "Little Wildcat" photo session...
she loves her toes..wish I was that flexible.Playing with her giant worm...with Riggins standing guard in the background.

Yea!! Makena!
Precious girl..
This one is my favorite.

Here is her serious side...in deep conversation with her butterfly...
I had to add this picture because it captures a stage. She started holding herself up with her hand flipped under. It looks painful to me but she seems perfectly comfortable. I am sure she'll figure it out.

Makena started sitting up pretty good before her 6 month birthday! She still needed a little support of the boppy at this time but by 6.5 months had it completely mastered with only a a few flops to her belly from sitting position.
Big Blue Eyes...

Riggins loves to watch her play and steals a kiss from time to time. She doesn't seem to mind too much. (Becky, the worm has become the best barrier for her play mat. Thanks!)

Oh the happy smiles...

This just shows her personality so well..

AGGIE FOOTBALL: Makena's last game of the season October 31st!
Happy Day with the Aggies...Got a little chilly at the end of the day...

GOAL LINE STANCE!!

MAKENA AND HER DADDY!

We had a wonderful time at the game. We hope that we'll have many more years of games in Aggieland!

Well that wraps up October. It was fun filled. We praise God for the blessing of our little girl! Only He could make such a precious little girl!