Christmas

Wow - I had every intention of updating this much earlier, but you know how it goes! I was also supposed to do some work while I was home this week and not much of that has been done either! And I had a list of to-do's like clean out drawers, etc....and I'm sure you've figured out how that has worked! I feel like now Makenna pulls out everything she owns while she is up and during nap time you go put everything back. And then you start all over again! :) But, it's quality time with my daughter, so I am not complaining. Just if you come over, please excuse the mess!

As most children's first Christmas, Makenna was mostly interested in eating the paper. Well, maybe most children don't try to eat the paper, but I fully expected for her to be more interested in paper and boxes, and for the most part, she was! She has enjoyed playing with most everything now that the paper is gone! She really likes the wagon from Grammy and Pops and she got a really cool house thing from Grandma Jackson that she enjoys as well.

We're getting ready for Makenna's first New Year's. It will be really exciting. Just a normal evening at home! No - she will not be allowed to stay up until midnight! I probably won't make it that long either! Hope everyone has a Happy (and safe) New Year's!

Uncle Jamie with presents:

Opening wagon:

Reading new Elmo book:

Opening gifts with Aunt Ali:

Opening gift with Aunt CA:

Watching Elmo:

In her wagon (that was not yet put together):

Santa left these for Makenna (notice the COMPLETED stocking!):

With mommy:

Eating a gift (with the house from Grandma Jackson in the background):

Reading with Ansley (a Ga. Tech book):

Family Picture:

Eating cherries in snow:

Enjoying my banana (I like them much better than the first time!):

Wrong end!

Progress

You may not remember, but sometime last year (yes, last year) I posted that I was going to make Makenna's stocking. (See here...http://robertandcarmen.blogspot.com/2008/10/too-ambitious.html) Well, after it appeared that she wasn't coming last Christmas, I put it down. Not good. I should have taken advantage of the days I had off prior to little bit blessing our home. So, around Thanksgiving (this year) out came the stocking. I have been so tired, though, that it hasn't been going well. BUT....I am determined! So, here is what the stocking looked like before the progress today - and there was a lot of progress made between this Thanksgiving and now). And, today, I finished his nose, the berries and attached 3 of the bazillion stars. Seriously, I only have a couple of stars, the loop and the back and I WILL BE DONE!

And on top of my craftiness for Christmas - I am hoping to get Makenna's one year pictures back BEFORE her birthday party. I may do something with one, but if not, they will be on display. So, when I called to order the Santa pictures the other day, I found out that the picture place will be closed from next Wed. until Jan. 5. Well, anyone that knows anything about what I face each month end knows that Jan. 5 is NOT a good day for me. (Unfortunate for Makenna being her real birthday and all.) So, we are going on Tuesday for 1 year birthday pictures.

I have ordered (and received) a onesie with her intitial and thinking I had time to get a tutu to wear with it. Possibly for the cupcake picture.....but I thought I had more time. SO....I found a no sew tutu pattern online. Well, you do have to sew the elastic. Although, one of the patterns I found suggested that you STAPLE the elastic together. Ummmm....NO! So, I did sew the elastic. But, here are the pics from the tutu. By the way - not a difficult project and it looks kind of cute. I can't wait to try it on her!





We also got her some bloomers with ruffles on the butt to wear underneath the tutu. So here she is with the elastic and bloomers! I can't wait for picture day!


And of course we have Christmas coming up next week. That should be exciting as well. I already see that boxes and paper are going to be the fascination this year, but that's okay. Can't wait to see what she thinks of Santa coming to visit! Hopefully I'll be posting a finished product soon! If not, have a Merry Christmas!

Santa Claus

Well, our first visit to see Santa went as expected - a child scared of Santa and thus screaming in the picture! :)

The photographer doing Makenna's "watch me grow" pictures here in town had a free Christmas session and I chose to do the one with Santa. It was kind of nice because you had an extra few minutes trying to get a good picture with the man in the red suit, but Makenna wouldn't have it - at least not with her usual smile!

He did get out of the chair and went to the dark part of the room. We then had Makenna stand (because she wouldn't sit) in the chair and he went up behind her and almost had his face up against her's (she had no idea) - I hope there are some good ones of this. We tried in the lap again and it didn't work. She got a little close to him when he offered his candy pail, but the tears came again! We tried playing peek-a-boo and in the lap and the crying again. Hopefully she got a couple of good ones and of course we'll have to put a screaming one in her book. I would say the outing was a success - even though she is scared of Santa!

As a side note - we had gone to Chick.fil.A for dinner before. They had a cow as Santa tonight. She wouldn't have much to do with him either! And, she poked a hole in her cup and dumped water all over her dress just before picture time.

Maybe we'll have a happy Santa picture next year!

11 Months Old

Happy 11 month birthday. I can't believe next month we will have a 1 year old!

Wearing her purse:

You can have some:

11 Months: (We didn't eat the paper quite as early this time!)

Surprise!

Yep...in case you missed that....



Baby G#2 will arrive in mid-July.
Don't worry - we were as surprised as you!