More Distractions

Our move is in about a week and a half, and although I should be busy packing, I keep getting distracted. My parents were going to Utah this past weekend (my dad for work, and my mom to visit my sister Amanda) and they invited me and Makenna to come along. Although I still have SO much to do before we move, I decided that it was worth it to go while Makenna can still fly free, and before the baby comes. We left early Thursday morning, and got back late late last night. Makenna absolutly LOVED being around and playing with her cousin Kate. I also had a great time spending time with my mom and Amanda, and working on lots of fun sewing projects.

Here are some pictures of Makenna and Kate playing with the hose and in the baby pool on Saturday. It was 100 degrees outside, so we sought refuge in the shade of the garage while the girls played for several hours.





Here are some pictures of the sewing projects we did:
(I have to thank my mom and sister for helping me with all of these projects, which never would have gotten done without them!)

I turned a pair of regular capris that had a broken zipper into a pair of maternity capris.

I also took a pair of hand-me-down maternity jeans that were a little too short for me into a pair of shorts and an adorable little skirt for Makenna.

We made bibs for Makenna and Kate out of dish towels.

And finally, made cute little felt purses for the girls.


I had such a fun time in Utah, and am so glad that we took the opportunity to go. Thanks Amanda for letting us come and invade your house.

Also, here is a picture of my 5 1/2 month pregnant belly for those who have requested to see it.

Pack...or go to the Lake?

With only about 3 weeks left before we move, I feel like I should be working on getting everything packed, but the lake just keeps calling my name. Makenna loves to be in the water, and since my parents live right on a lake, it is just too hard to pass up.

We spent the 4th of July out at my parent's house, and then were back out there again Tuesday night. We had to take care of some other things today, but will be there tomorrow at 10:00am. The packing can wait till later right?

Here are some pictures from our recent trips to the lake:







Makenna is saying "cheese" in this last picture. (Sometimes she gets a little carried away.)

The Wait is Over!

I had my ultrasound appointment this morning, and am so excited to say that John and I are going to have a baby BOY!! We are both so excited for Makenna to have a baby brother. Everything looks great with the baby, for which we are grateful. However, I have decided that I just need to come to terms with the fact that I am probably going to have a big baby...he is already measuring over a week big!(Makenna was measuring a week small at her ultrasound and ended up being 8lbs 8oz!)

Neither John nor I had a "feeling" beforehand if the baby was a boy or girl, but I would have guessed girl simply because we already have a girl. Having a boy means that I won't get to use all of Makenna's clothes which would have been the perfect season, but I am also excited to have an excuse to go shopping! Luckily most of our big-ticket items (crib bedding, car seat, stroller, etc) are neutral colors, so I won't have to buy any of those.

I have to admit that I feel a little more nervous about having this baby knowing that it is a boy. Is that weird? Is having a boy totally different than having a girl? My sister-in-law assures me that all of the basics are the same, but somehow I feel a little less prepared. On the other hand, I am thrilled that we are having a boy, and that we will now have one of each. So bring on the trucks, dirt, and bugs I'm ready! (I think)

What do you think?

I'm curious...do you think that our baby is a boy or a girl? Cast your vote before Monday morning!

More Play Time

Now that I am no longer working part-time, I find that I have more time to do fun things with Makenna. While working, I would try to do chores and household things while Makenna was awake, so that I could work while she napped. Now I can do all of the housework while she is napping, and therefore have been able to do fun things with her in the mornings.

So far this week, we have been to the park, to storytime at a local library, to a local farm to see the animals, and swimming at our complex pool. I do miss the extra "fun money" that my part-time work brought in, but I feel like I have more energy to be a better mom, wife, and homemaker than I did when I was working. (I suppose being out of the first trimester probably has something to do with that as well.)

Here is Makenna at the park:




And feeding the donkeys at the farm:




I think that both Makenna and John have noticed a difference as well. John commented one day upon returning from work to an almost perfectly clean house (I don't believe that perfection can be obtained while you have a toddler) and dinner in the oven that it was nice to have me "back". And Makenna has started to not just say "thank you" when I give or do things for her, but to say "thank you mom". She says it in the cutest, sweetest voice, and it melts my heart everytime.

I'll take it!

In the last week or so, Makenna has really enjoyed reading The Little Mermaid. She has never seen the movie, but likes to point out the fish, shark, dog, bird, Ma Ma, and Da Da. That's right, she points to Ariel and says "Ma Ma" and to Prince Eric and says "Da Da"! At first I thought that maybe I should correct her, but then decided that as my waist is expanding, I didn't mind being compared to someone with such a tiny waist...even if she does have a tail!

Update

Makenna is at such a fun age (I think I have said that about almost every age, but I always think it is true). I once had a friend tell me that their favorite ages were from 6 - 18 months. I hope that Makenna doesn't enter the "terrible twos" too soon, becuase I am really enjoying her right now.

She is a very friendly child. She says "Hi" and "Bye" to almost every new person she sees. She will yell off the balcony to people walking by, or talk to people passing us at the store. She also "rewards" anyone who stops for more than 10 seconds by blowing them kisses after she tells them "Bye". We're going to have to work on that whole not talking to strangers thing.


Makenna's vocabulary has greatly expanded over the last couple of months. She is at the stage where she can pretty much repeat any simple word that you tell her. She is also putting together some two-word sentences such as "Daddy Bye-bye" "Baby night-night" or "Doggie Nice".

Makenna is such a girly-girl. One of her favorite things to do lately is put on all of my high heels. I have a rack of all of my dress shoes on my closet floor, and she loves to try them all on. I think it is funny because I never once put them on her...she did it all on her own. When I try to replace my 3-inch heels for some cute flats so she doesn't fall, she refuses to wear them. She also loves to carry around purses; or in her case, her Easter basket, Halloween basket, and anything else that has a handle. She often carries around 5 or 6 things at a time.




Makenna is also a little bit of a dare devil. Right now, both of her knees are scraped up from running too fast and falling, and she has a fat lip and scraped nose. I like that she usually isn't afraid to try new things, but sometimes wish she were a little more cautious. I was sure that by having a girl first, I would avoid any broken bones or trips to the ER, but I'm not so sure anymore. I'm gonna keep my fingers crossed on that one.

Makenna has also started going to nursery this month (which means that I have been able to go to Sunday School)! So far she has been 3 weeks without one bit of a problem. John has been the one to take her and drop her off, and whenever I peek in through the window, she is always doing great. We have also been trying to teach Makenna to kneel when we say our family prayers at night. She is at the point where whenever I tell her it is time to say prayer, she starts saying "knees, knees" and drops to her knees where ever she is. She doesn't always stay there through the whole prayer, but it is a start.

In other news, we will find out whether Makenna's "bro-ster" (as John calls our baby) will in fact be a brother or a sister in about 2 1/2 weeks. I can't wait!