It's a....

GIRL!!!
Makena is going to have a little sister. In my mind, this is so weird because I have no idea what having a sister to grow up with is like. Don't get me wrong, I love my little brother, but I think it is going to be awesome for her to have a sister.


We had a crazy morning getting to the doctor. Makena and I rushed out of the door to get me to the doctor on time. Don was trailing by a few minutes thankfully. After Makena and I got a mile or two from the house, I heard some noise in the back seat and looked up to see Makena throwing up everywhere. I called Don and told him that we were coming back home. He met us half way and we changed cars. I was crazy emotional at this time because I wasn't sure what was wrong with Makena and Don probably wasn't going to be able to get her and the carseat cleaned up in time for the sonogram. It seems that Makena just had an upset tummy. She has been fine since the that episode.
After I made it to the doctor, it became apparent Don would not be there. More emotions! I managed to make it through and see my little girl up close and personal. Here are some pictures from the morning.

She is currently in the breech position and today she kept her feet close to her face. Having her legs crossed and out in front of her made determining her gender a little bit difficult, but she managed to keep them there the whole time. Here she is using her knees to get her thumb to her mouth. She seems to be a thumb sucker right now.

Here is her pretty little profile.
This is actually a picture of her sucking her thumb, scratching her head, watching her feet kick...she is already a multi-tasker. I am not sure where she got that talent from.

Here is a picture of her looking at the camera.

And another...

Can you find the lines that indicate little girl???

We are totally excited about the arrival of our little nugget! Can't wait to see her!!

Playing Dress Up...

Some more early August fun...

First Makena loves on Riggins...

Then she accessorizes...
Then she admires her work...

Then last week she decided it was her turn...

She loves to pull out her swim diapers and her pj's from the drawer. She has discovered that her clothes go on her body. She began bringing me clothes, which happen to all be bottoms, and wanted me to put them on her. So let's recap the list of things she had on:

Diaper

Skirt including under shorts

2 pair of PJ bottoms

2 pair of PJ pants

Swim Diaper to top off her outfit

It was a precious moment!

Pregnancy Update Weeks 17-20

At 15 weeks, I thought I was on the downhill swing of the nausea. However, baby nugget had other plans. We managed to continue to be nauseated and headache filled until the completion of week 18, plus a few days. I think the biggest aspect to be dealt with was the mental aspect. It was hard to think it would all be all over and then it wasn't. Anyways, we made it with help from Daddy and little dirtier house than I would prefer. I am feeling much better and am hoping it stays this way for a while.

In the last week, I have felt the baby move more and more and even felt he/she from the outside tonight. The nugget seems to be strong and active at this point and loves food as much as me. In the last week the scale took a much larger jump than I ever thought it would. However, as I am typing I remember it was around Christmas time when that happened with Makena. Maybe I can keep this a little more under control in the weeks to come, but I am not holding my breath.

I have had some other changes with my body that haven't been so welcome but no one needs to know about those. All I am can is I hope this "new normal" is not the "new normal" forever. :)

We are supposed to find out on Wednesday (25th) whether we will be welcoming another precious little girl or a bouncing baby boy into the family. I can't wait. It is so weird not to know. There was no sonogram at 16 weeks so it has seemed like a long wait! I just hope everyone is cooperating. It makes me a little crazy because I'll feel sure it is a girl one minute and start getting all these ideas and then the next minute I am thinking it could me a boy. Then I start the process over again. I have such a precious little girl it is hard to think of having anything else but another precious little girl. (Yes, I do understand they would probably be very different, but precious none the less.) Then on the other hand I would love to experience having a little boy. (shhh...I hear little boys love their momma.) Either way I will be happy, I just want our little nugget to be healthy and ready for the adventure of life.

Stay tuned for the rest of the story...

From Rome, Italy to Abilene, Texas

Actually we were only in Abilene, however, Makena got to meet her cousins from Rome on Friday the 13th. Heather and Matteo brought baby Kate to meet the family.

Proud Grammie and Grannie... cousins...

baby Kate...

Aunt Vonnie and Daddy

Thanks to Aunt Amanda and Uncle Marcus for letting us keep them up all night and crash there! It was a quick trip and we really appreciated it.

Opinions developing..

I think today marks another first for Makena. As I was picking out her clothes this morning, she shook her head "no" at the first outfit I pulled out. I think she is developing some fashion sense...or maybe just an opinion. It was too funny!

Makena's 15 Months Old

Where has the time gone? I can't believe I have already been home with Makena for 5 months. It has been an adjustment but definitely a joyful one. The ball of stress that was in my chest is gone and now I get to enjoy my little girl every day. She is a true blessing and I thank God every day for her. What has the last month of growing up gotten us you may be asking?

- 31 inches tall
-22.2 lbs
- Shots – 15 Month shots weren’t any fun. 3 shots in the leg and two days worth of fever left Makena a little tired and cranky, but she bounced back pretty quick.
- Walking - She has really taken off this last week. Six steps is now a thing of the past. It has helped being around some of her older friends.
- Climbing - Although, there isn't much to climb on around our house (since she can't get ont he furniture by herself yet) but she loves the stairs. She climbed all the way to the top at a friends house recently.
- Words - In the last week, I have noticed Makena mimic more and more words we are saying. She can't pronouce them usually but you can tell she is trying which is new. "Riggins" sounds a little like "Ninins", "Milk" sounds a little like "ilk", “waffle” sounds like “awful”, and she is using "mama” more than the past. The words are coming!
- Reading – She still loves to sit with her books. She likes to sit in Mommy or Daddy’s lap and begin to read a book but sometimes she gets bored with the first page. However, other times she’ll sit through the entire book.
- Food – Makena is a pretty good eater all around. She sometimes doesn’t want to try things but I think that is normal. She loves fruit (nectarines, watermelon, banana, strawberries, mandarin oranges, plum), some veggies (broccoli, potatoes), and bread…oh and fruit bars and crackers (whole wheat Ritz).
- Friends - Makena loves to play with her friends.
- Socially - Makena likes to figure out how things work. She will study things and try them out until she figures it out. Watched her for 20 minutes last night trying to put a pair of shorts on. She is still very observant of the world around her. In the last week, she has begun to show signs of separation anxiety, which is a huge change for her.
- Baby Dolls and Kisses - Makeana loves her baby doll. She knows where the babies paci goes and give the baby big "smacking" kisses. She now loves to give kisses to Mommy and Daddy as well as blow kisses. Sometimes she is a little selective with them but she can give a big smacking kiss when she wants to.
- Body parts - Makena can now identify her eyes, nose, mouth, hair and ears. She also knows her hands and feet. She will also point those parts on someone else.
- Sleeping - She is still sleeping around 10 hours a night and takes about a 3 hour nap during the day. For the most part she is down to one nap.

Here are a few pics marking the occassion:

Yummy Pizza! My favorite remote and a huge smile...

"Hello, is anyone there?" "Cheese!"

Look how big I am!

"look I am walking!"

My friend Riggins...a little stand off.

Reading Mom's magazine...

Daddy is teaching her how to play NCAA football on the playstation.

More Fun in the Sun

We have had a lot of fun this summer. We have spent time with friends and family. We also were able to share in a little get together to celebrate baby Ryan, the second son to Laine and Dana. We are so excited to see them be parents for the second time.

Here are pics during some time spent with Ryan's big brother Jackson and our friends Colten and Caden.

Mr. Jackson looks just like his Daddy.

Jackson and Colten loved hanging out with Riggins. They were having a blast giving him water and throwing the ball. Riggins had a blast too!

Isn't Caden the cutest little man?!

Here's Miss Makena and Daddy in the big pool. She had so much fun.

Here is Miss Alli...isn't that the best bathing suit?

Here is Jackson and Laine. Jackson was actually pretty happy in his fairy life jacket and flower shaped sun glasses unlike the picture. Laine and Dana may have to keep this as a bargaining chip when he is about 13. :)

Makena floating...

Pregnancy Weeks 14 - 16

In the last two weeks, I have felt the Nugget kick twice. The first time I bent over while sitting and I felt a little jolt inside. A number of days after that I felt that little feeling pregnant woman feel when something kicks your bladder. It felt like the little Nugget did a back flip on my bladder. I know there are many more kicks to come but it was exciting to feel those first little kicks so early. It reminded me that there really is something in there. I have read that this time is hard for many women becuase you really have no day to day proof there is something living inside you until those little kicks start...other than the fact that my belly is getting bigger and the scales are moving (which has happened many times in life without another person living inside me. :)).

Life is definitely getting a little easier with less nausea and more energy. I had a tough day last Wednesday. I had to call Don to get him to come home from work. Thankfully it was getting close to quitting time and his job allows him to work from home so he finished up from here. I feel very blessed that we are in this situation. This morning I had a moment of light headedness and nausea but it was soon to go away after having breakfast. I was even able to do quite a bit of house cleaning today which hasn't happened in a while...I have cleaned but not very much at a time.

I keep wondering what the gender of this baby is. For some reason I keep thinking it is a girl but I think that is because that is what we have now. I would love to have a boy to experience both genders but will be happy with whatever the outcome. Overall, I just ask for a healthy baby. I really hope we find out tomorrow. I am 16 weeks as of today. However, we may have to wait until we are 20 weeks.

I know we still have a long way to go but I am ready to experience this little one. I wonder what Makena and the new baby will have in common and what will be different. Only time will tell.

I need to take a picture of my growing belly. I haven't taken any pics yet. Sorry little one. It doesn't mean you aren't important but Mommy just forgets.

Love both my babies and my wonderful husband for sticking close and helping through these last few weeks.

6 Steps of Success

Well Miss Makena decided to surprise me on Friday night. We went to the Big Splash Bash for VBS and Makena started doing her stand up/sit down routine. I looked down and she had taken a couple of steps but then plopped down. Then she stood right back up and took 6 steps. I started to think she was going to keep on trucking.

We left for Rising Star after the bash. While in Rising Star, she took 6 more steps on Saturday and then again on Sunday. She didn't do much practicing yesterday but took 6 more steps today. She's going to be running before we know it.

Our trip to Rising Star was to be able to celebrate Uncle Bobby and Aunt Debbie's 40th wedding anniversary. It was a great party. I think about 60 people attended.

Oh and Makena snapped her fingers on Friday. I think it surprised her but she just kept doing it. She is getting so big.

Uncle Tyler and the princess.Here's to the Happy Couple and many more years together.Makena and Great Uncle Bobby.That's my girl! Loved the tractors and trucks.After Granny stomped a bug with her foot, the bug in this pic became Makena's target. She also wanted to stomp it with her foot. She is learning learning learning.Kids playing hide-and-seek...wait I think I see Don and Tyler out there.She loved the sandbox.

Treasure in the dirt...or just a half of a pecan shell...all the same to her.
Granny decided to let Makena take a dip in Great Uncle Bobby's pool. She loved it. I need to take her to the pool more often I guess.

PC VBS

Prestoncrest has a very involved VBS. They start decorating months in advance and do a total transformation of the church for the kids to feel like they have been transfered to another place and time. This year we were taken to the high seas on a High Seas Exploration to find the treasures of God. My friend Jenny asked me to co-teach the 3 year olds with her. It was a great experience and I am glad I got to do it. Makena was able to attend since I was teaching. Kids under 4 can't attend unless mom or dad is helping. We had wonderful kids!

Here are some pics of Makena (thanks Paige for sharing since this mom didn't get to take any).

Here is Makena reading her bible. Her teachers said she was great in class despite the extreme exhaustion.Here she is with one of her class mates learning about the love of God. I bet she had fun licking up that whip cream.Taking a ride to the auditorium sitting by her friend Caden.Playing in the tunnel.

She had a great time and so did I. Daddy was out of town on business during the first few days of the week so it was good to be out of the house and hanging out with our friends.