HAPPY HOLIDAYS

We have been having a fun and busy December getting ready for Christmas. Its been so fun celebrating the season with our little Makena. We have enjoyed seeing family and friends at all the parties. I am so excited for Christmas and to give Makena her present...Shane and I put it together last night but we are waiting to show her until Christmas (even though she won't know what is going on). Makena is getting so big and is so much fun. She loves to "talk", well its more like just making noises but she knows what she is saying and sometimes her stories get pretty serious...once she gets going she just goes on and on, her little voice is so adorable. She also laughs now too, which is pretty much the cutest thing I have ever seen. Makena did get sick this month...the first time ever so mom and dad were pretty worried and really tried to keep her inside and away from people. She got better pretty quick and is back to her smiling, happy, very alert and active self. At this time of year I can't help but reflect on all the blessings we enjoy and feel so very blessed. I have a wonderful family and I am truly grateful for the blessing of being a mother that I now get to enjoy. I hope all of you have a Merry Christmas and enjoy the holidays surrounded by family and friends. Here are some pictures of our Makena over the past month as we celebrated the Christmas season.

CONGRATS!!!

I just had to take a minute to tell my brother, Jake, congratulations...he just received the news today that he has been accepted to Dental School in Buffalo, New York!! Way to go Jake, I know you have worked hard for this and we are so proud of you and so excited for you! Love ya!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year with my family. We went to my parents house and had a delicious meal prepared by my mom and dad. After dinner we had a lot of fun playing cards. It was a great day and I am so thankful for my family and for my sweet husband Shane and my cute Makena. We have been very blessed and have so many things to be thankful for!

Getting ready to eat...my sisters boyfriend, Cole, joined us this year. It looks like he is around to stay and we are so excited about that. He is a great guy and I think him and Mandi make a great couple. :)



Me and Shane-I am a lucky girl to have such a great husband!

We had to get a picture of Makena on her first Thanksgiving. She was a sweet girl all day and loves all the attention she gets.

The chefs at work. They did a great job, it was so delicious.

Our little vacation

Shane had some business down in Las Vegas so we decided to make a little family vacation out of it. We went to St. Geaorge for a few days then down to Vegas for a night. It was fun to get away just the three of us and spend some quality time together. The weather was nice, we took a few walks, went out to breakfast, did some shopping and just relaxed. Makena did great on the car rides there and back, sleeping pretty much most of the time. Here are a few pictures of Makena on the trip, but they are in the condo and so you pretty much can't tell that we are on vacation...sometimes we forget we can take pictures of other things besides our little Makena. :)

Makena all stretched out on the hotel bed in her new jammies we bought in St. George.

We bought Makena this little snow suite to keep her bundled up in the winter. I thought she would hate it since it was a lot like her bunny costume from Halloween with a hood. But luckily I was wrong, she seemed to like it and kicked her legs and smiled the whole time she was in it!

Playing with papa...she loves this game!

Just hanging out...she wasn't very happy at this moment, it had been a long day in the car seat.

Makena was smiling and talking to us right as I took this picture but every time I try to get a picture of her smiling this is always the look that I get. I think the flash must distract her or something because for the life of me I can't get a picture of her cute smile. I took like a million shots to try and get it but Shane finally made me stop.

Halloween

I know I am a bit behind on getting these posted but we did have a very fun Halloween with Makena! She was a little bunny rabbit and looked adorable! I think she was a little afraid of the costume though, the head part was a little big and kept falling in her eyes. The Sunday before Halloween we went to a party with Shane's family, all the kids dressed up and we carved pumpkins. The kids looked so cute and it was fun for me and Shane to have a kid to dress up and join in the fun with. On Halloween we went to my parents house and had homemade chilli and just hung out. Makena is the only gandchild on my side so she got lots of attention in her cute costume, everyone was taking pictures and passing her around...we were all pretty excited but she just looked at us like she wondered what in the world was going on. Makena's first holiday was a lot of fun!

Mom and Makena

I just love being a mom! Makena is my greatest joy, she truly brings such happiness to me. I have so much fun with her each day as I see her grow and progress. The smallest, most simple things now seem so important and make me so happy and proud to be her moma! I love her so much and look forward to so many incredible moments with her. She is already getting so big and changing so quickly, I am just trying to really enjoy and take in each moment. Motherhood is an incredibel journey and I am so thankful to be Makena's mom. Here are some pictures of me and Makena, my sweet baby girl!

Bath Time

Shane gave Makena her bath the other night so I took the opportunity to take a few pics. I just love how she looks with her hair wet. She has really come to love all of bath time, not just getting her hair washed.

Photo Shoot

We had Makena's pictures taken when she was one month old...ok I am a little behind on getting these posted! They turned out really cute so I wanted to share a few of our favorites. She is already two months old, I can't believe it! Time is flying by.

What a cutie!

Here are a few pictures of Makena over the last month, She is such a good baby and is always bringing a smile to our faces. We just love having her in our home and think she is so stinkin' cute, we can't help but take a million pictures...and now I am finally getting around to sharing them with all of you.

Blessing Day

We blessed Makena on October 12th. My mom and I found this darling dress for her to wear, she looked so cute! It was a very special day! We appreciate all the family and friends that came and supported us and our sweet girl.

More pics of Makena

As a new proud mom I think that everything Makena does is so cute and I take like a million pictures of her every day. I'm always telling Shane to "go get the camera". So here are some of the pictures taken during the first few weeks of Makena's life at home. It is so fun to have her here and she is definitely keeping us on our toes as we try to figure this whole parenting thing out! I know I am a bit biased but I think she is pretty dang adorable! :)


Sleeping on Mom and Dad's bed. She likes to sleep a lot!



Looking cute in her swing

Makena LOVES to get her hair washed. When I run her head under the tap she just closes her eyes and gets so relaxed, its so funny. When I am done washing it she always looks up at me with a funny little look like she is saying "why are you stopping", I can't believe she like this so much...she hates the rest of the bath.

Taking a nap with Grandpa Wilding

Hanging out with Papa

Uncle Jake is holding her