PARRRTAAY

Her 1st Birthday Party was a hit! Although she was extremely exhausted by the end of the evening she was definitely in good spirits.

We had her party at my Uncle Steve and Aunt Thuy's house...there was no mistake as to who the party was for. There were drawings, arrows and verbiage written with sidewalk chalk (on the sidewalk of course) leading guest into the house...it was anywhere from "Mak Mak" to "Makena party station" to "This way to the Mak Attack Party". Of course I have this footage recorded but forgot to take pictures!

Walking into the house was like a shrine to Makena...pictures of here everywhere. There was a beautiful window treatment drapped with pictures of Makena. Even a picture on the bathroom wall.

As soon as Justin arrived with Makena...she stole the show. After a great meal we enjoyed watching her shred her cake to bits, well with her feet. She would barely touch it with her hands, but boy when I tried to get her out of her high chair she was all over it with her feet...thanks by the way to all of Makena's great-aunts and great-uncles who pitched in to cook and of course to Makena's grandma (ba ngoai) for planning almost all of it.

Pictures below...and yes I was there at her party, just forgot to have pictures taken of her and me and pictures of all three of us as a family. Darn it!

Nothing like a bath and milk to wash down the yummy cake.

1st Birthday Came and Went

Yes, today was her first birthday but we will celebrate it on Saturday. She hasn't ever had a bite of cake. Her first bite will be on Saturday. We will have loads of pictures.

It has been a pretty sentimental day for me. I woke up on my 25th birthday this year and didn't even remember it was my birthday. Today I shot out of bed to wake her up to the happy birthday song. She looked up at me with the sweetest smile stood up in her crib and started to bounce up and down on the mattress as I sang to her. Of coursSo e she didn't realize what today was except it was just another day.

So I did a lot of reflecting on the day she was born...what all happend that very special day? Since I didn't have a blog before she was born, her birth story hasn't been documented. Since someday I want Makena to have this blog to read...I want her to know all about the day she was born.

So on November 3, 2004 I was scheduled for an induction. I was already 75% effaced and 3 centimeters dialated. I started to have mild contractions the night before and I was pretty restless. I couldn't stop thinking about holding Makena for the first time. So we arrived to the hospital at 8:00am and met my first nurse Carrie. Unfortunately she also had another patient who had been there and laboring all night. I was some what second on her to do I guess, but I understand. My doctor came in at about 9:30 and was a bit disturbed that I had not been started on my IV and pitocin yet. He went on to perform surgery on another patient and another nurse came to insert my IV and started me on pitocin to start my labor at about 10:00. I started to feel the contractions getting stronger but I wasn't in much pain. At about 11:00 my doctor came in to check on me. I was 4 cm dialated and he decided to break my water. My contractions started to become much more painful after he broke my water. After a couple of contractions I wanted an epidural. I got my epidural at 11:30 and by noon I was 7 cm dialated. I ended up with another nurse, Laura. My nurse had to focus her time with her first patient. I really like Laura, she was very encouraging. At about 2:00pm I started to feel a alot of pressure in my lower abdomen and I wanted to push. Justin called my nurse who said she would call my doctor and let him check me as she figured I was close if not ready to push. I really wanted to start pushing and she decided she would check me since my doctor hadn't arrived yet by 2:15. I was completely dialated and my nurse said she could feel Makena's head. So she grabbed a leg, Justin grabbed the other and I started to push. I pushed through 3 contractions and Makena's head started to crown. My doctor arrived just in time to deliver her through my 4th contraction. Makena Grace was born at 2:36pm. It was the most amazing experiance I have ever experianced and at 4-1/2 hours of labor, I say I was VERY lucky.

To hear her cry for the first time was incredible. It was the sweetest sound. She was and is the most beautiful baby (of course I am bias!) and I can't imagine my life without her.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY SWEET ANGEL!

P.S. I am a bad mommy...didn't take any pictures today except when she was asleep earlier today with me. She never sleeps with me so I took advantage and took a picture with my phone.

Three days before

Minutes after 1 month old
2 months old
3 months old
4 months old
5 months old
6 months old
7 months old
8 months old 9 months old
10 months old
11 months old
Today-Happy Birthday!

T-minus 1 Day!

Holy Cow! One more day and my baby is 1 years old. I am the luckiest mommy in the world to have such a wonderful baby. Sunday night and Monday night I had an overwhelming urge to hold my baby while she sleeps. Well, I always have the urge but never get to because...well she likes to be in her own bed on her own when she is tired. So I put her to bed as usual and on Sunday night. When I went to bed I got her out of her bed and brought her to bed with me. All was well except she tosses and turns...A LOT! For an hour she was passed out cold, nothing could wake her...but she wouldn't stop rolling. So finally I decided it wasn't going to work out. Justin had so much going on at work the next day I figured it wasn't a good night to keep daddy awake. Monday night at about 3am she started crying. Usually if I leave her for a couple of minutes she goes back to sleep...well, I didn't just leave her. I went got her and brought her to bed with me...BIG MISTAKE! She laid on my chest for a few minutes and then it was back and forth from Justin to me..."mama...dada...mama...dada". She was all over the place and finally she crashed...only it was time for Justin to get up. Oh well, I love her to bits and I don't mind the lack of sleep for a little bit more time with her.

So Halloween Day I forgot our camera at home. However I have pictures that a friend took on Sunday at her kids Halloween shindig. She was the only pumpkin and a cute one at that. Thanks Kim for the pictures!

First Birthday Countdown Begins

In just 7 days Makena will be a year old...time has flown so fast and I just can't stand it. My sweet baby girl has grown to a very beautiful toddler. She walks, talks, dances and she has done it all while I watch in amazement...I am amazed this little person is half of me.

I remember when she was first born. After we came home from the hospital and the family members had gone home...those first few days were such distant memories. I remember telling Justin "when are they gonna come back to get her". It felt like I was babysitting someone elses baby. Of course I felt like I was her mother, I held her, loved her, kissed her...I couldn't get enough of her, still can't. I cherish every noise she made...even the ones that freak me out and kept me awake in the middle of the night. I even cherish the noises she didn't make...you know, the one that makes you panic and your first thought is that she stopped breathing so you go to check on her. After a few weeks of a half sleeping state, I decided it was time for my baby to sleep in bed with me. For 2-3 months of her life...she slept on my chest every night. I held her tight and I thank God for giving me the most precious gift. It was all so surreal.

I remember her first smile...so she was only 2 weeks old and it wasn't a voluntary smile, she still smiled. The first time she held her head up while she was on her belly. Her first laugh, the first time she went to the park. The first time she sat up alone. I remember when she learned how to crawl, stand and walk. Her first word..sweet precious sounds she makes. I remember it all and yet it seems to have gone by so fast. I wish I had more time to take in the first 6 months of her life. Between feedings, laundry, diaper changes, baths and naps (for her not me)...it all passed by so fast.

I can remember my life before she was even concieved, yet I can't imagine a day without her ever again.

I can only sum up what I am feeling with this song...

Click play below

MyMusicCode.com

In My Daughter's Eyes - Martina McBride

In my daughter's eyes I am a hero
I am strong and wise and I know no fear
But the truth is plain to see
She was sent to rescue me
I see who I wanna be
In my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes everyone is equal
Darkness turns to light and the
world is at peace
This miracle God gave to me gives me
strength when I am weak
I find reason to believe
In my daughter's eyes

And when she wraps her hand
around my finger
Oh it puts a smile in my heart
Everything becomes a little clearer
I realize what life is all about

It's hangin' on when your heart
has had enough
It's giving more when you feel like giving up
I've seen the light
It's in my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes I can see the future
A reflection of who I am and what will be
Though she'll grow and someday leave
Maybe raise a family
When I'm gone I hope you see how happy
she made me
For I'll be there
In my daughter's eyes

Thank you Ms. Katie!

These pictures below were taken by Katie. She did a fantastic job and we love the pics!

Makena's Arboretum Pictures

Texas State Fair

On Saturday, Justin and I took Makena to the fair. Our first mission through the fair gates?? Fletcher's Corny Dogs...yes they really are that good! Even Makena joined in on the yummy goodness.


I have never seen such intensity while eating a Fletcher's Corny Dog. She literally grabbed it out of my hand and shoved the whole thing in her little mouth. PIGGY PIGGY!








Of course we wanted to take her to the baby petting zoo...unfortunately it was for children 2 years old and up! What a disappointment. Along the way though we saw baby chicks, baby ducks and a Vietnamese Pot-Bellied Pig.











We than checked out the water fountains, the music museum (whatever that means...there was nothing great and it was a waste of $1 per person). However we took Makena out of her wagon and she decided to push it along.











We went to the Auto Show and checked out the cars...Makena saw the Ford GT and Justin was in HEAVEN.











She fell asleep as I walked through the Auto Show with her. She usually is so curious that she wouldn't have normally fallen asleep. She must have been really tired.










When she woke up, Justin played one of those fair games and won Makena a stuffed monkey. She LOVES that monkey...she had a grip on it all day.

We had a great time at the fair and hopefully next year she will be able to enjoy more, including the petting zoo!

Tot's Towne Pictures








I don't have a clue who the lady is above and below...she is part of a mommy's playgroup and Katie knew her. If she ever comes across this blog, I want to tell her THANK YOU for allowing Makena to back in to her and sit on her lap. I don't think Makena ever had a clue who's lap she was sitting in, she just sat.























Makena really had a blast with all the indoor play modules...she, Conan and Faith played very well together. I have pictured of Faith too, but I sent them to Holli. If she doesn't post them to Faith's blog, I will post them here later.



















Makena and Conan
(they are a day apart)

Exhausted from a full day of fun!

Change in weather = Change in behavior??

My normally happy, easy going, put herself to sleep baby was a monster last night! She cried and cried for so long I thought she was going to vomit. Normally I lay her down and she doesn't utter a peep and goes night night. Last night she was in rare form...cried till we took her out, thought she wanted to play only she just was crabby. I have had pounding headaches off an on for the last week or so and I finally handed her to Justin and went to bed. I don't know what he did, but when he put her to bed she didn't once cry! Oh well, at least we all went to bed in peace finally.

Makena is trying to mimick sounds and words...though if I ask her to show off for anyone she just stares at me. Her words and sounds include...MMMMM...uh-oh...mamamamamom...and...dadadada. She has also started eating more table food as opposed to baby food. She has finally taken to a sippy cup. Now the only other challenge ahead is switching her to whole milk after she turns one. I know that she definately will not drink her formula unless its warm...even in the sippy.

She has had a stuffy/runny nose lately and has been sneezing like crazy. Sounds like allergies to me and everytime she sees that blue nose sucker in my hand she starts screaming...I mean SCREAMING! Hey, at least she can breath when I am done clearing her nose out.

Friday night I took Makena over to Faith and Holli's. Holli went out for the night and I offered to keep Faith for her. The girls had a blast. Its fun to play in Faith's environment. They were both having such a ball. Of course Faith has such a nurturing spirit insisted on feeding everyone. I brought some tator tots from Sonic for Holli and Faith would hold out a tator tot to Holli's mouth and insisted she eat it! After an eveining of play, Justin came and took Makena home to sleep. Me not knowing when Faith went to sleep, I assumed bedtime was the same for her as it is for Mak. 8:30 she was wide awake, but I tried anyway. We laid down, I read tons of books...it wasn't until I got on the phone and chatted away to someone else that she fell asleep. Holli came home and about 2am we heard Faith making little wimpers. Essentially Faith had a really good nap, come to find out she doesn't go to bed till about 9:30pm. Sheesh! So sorry Holli that you didn't go to bed late...from reading your blog, there wasn't much sleeping in either!

Justin had a tennis tournamen this past weekend. As a matter of fact it was this same tournament 4 years ago that we met. Time sure does fly when we are having fun...wink! This was the first time Makena has seen Justin play tennis, only she wasn't watching, she was way too busy beating and licking on the plexe (sp?) glass window that was overlooking the courts to notice. I am just glad he didn't play outdoor, I am not sure I could have kept her quiet. We had fun though.

After tennis we went to my uncle's house and I took Makena into the trampoline and sat with her in the middle while the kiddos jumped around us. She really seemed to enjoy the bouncing. My cousin Brendan is having a birthday party in 2 weeks...bounce house here we come!

Crabby Baby!

Makena has produced her second tooth. It has barely poked through and she is so grumpy. I read that she should be ready to lose her morning nap and as it is she takes 3-4 naps a day still and I am not sure her giving up a nap anytime soon is gonna happen. She seems to require a lot of rest. After a couple of hours of wakefulness she is ready for another nap that usually last 1-2 hours.

Anyway, she is 11 months old as of yesterday and I am just not ready for her to turn 1! She is my baby...I can't bare her growing up! I love the curiosity in her eyes...I love how she is starting to mimick the things we do. How did she go from a little peanut of cells in my belly to a 20 lbs little person??

I couldn't have asked for a better baby! Mommy love you Makena!