Mackayla's One Month Portraits

As usual, we went to Portrait Innovations for our portraits. Mackayla did a great job!

My absolute favorite!

One Month Already?

I cannot believe that Mackayla is already one month old---where the heck did the time go?

Mackayla, at one month you are:

• Turning your head when you hear our voices (especially Mackenzie's)
• Starting to coo in response to us talking to you
• Sleeping up to 5 or 6 hours (usually after a bath!)
• Eating every 3-4 hours during the day
• Puckering your lips up when you watch me talk to you
• LOVING to lay on your Boppi on the couch next to us!
• Watching Mackenzie, mesmerized, while she kisses you all over, shows you her toys, and sings to you. She also loves to stop you in mid-swing to give you kisses and talk to you. You have the best big sister EVER!
• Getting ready for your first trip to Charlotte.
• Smiling a lot while sleeping.
• Completely wrapping your mommy, daddy, and sister around your finger!

We are having so much fun being a family of four. I was worried while I was pregnant that I wouldn't be able to handle both girls, that I wouldn't be able to show them both affection and attention----I worry no more! Mackenzie has been an absolute dream. She is so independent and helpful. At the same time, Mackayla is a model baby. She hardly ever cries, mostly just when it's feeding time! I have no more laundry than before--she only spits up occasionally, and even then I sometimes catch it with the burp cloth before it gets on her clothes!!! She usually only wears one outfit per day---I'm knocking on wood over here. :-) And we haven't had one "blow-out" diaper yet! I'd better stop before I completely jinx myself!

Happy One Month Birthday, Baby Girl!

***For the video post of Mackayla--mute the music player at the bottom of the screen!***

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day Jon! We love you!

I had to add in this picture. It's so cute, and we look so young. This was taken in 2000, when Jon and I were dating.

A few ways Jon enjoys being an awesome dad to his sweet girls:

Jon with Mackenzie at birth;

Playing at the fair;

Feeding the ducks;

Wrapping Mackenzie up like a burrito;

Making crafts.

Jon with Mackayla at birth;

Napping!

Happy Father's Day to our dads.

Me and Dad at his office, in 1996 (I was 14!)

Dad and Mackenzie, St. Patrick's Day 2009.
Dad and Mackayla, at birth.

Jon's dad and Mackenzie, May 2009.

Bill and Mackayla, at birth.

3 Weeks Old!

I originally downloaded these pictures last Saturday, when Mackayla was 3 weeks old, but I never got around to writing anything. Oh, well. I guess I have to be flexible! Here are some things we did between Mackayla's 2nd and 3rd week.

My nephew, Chris, graduated from Kindergarten in North Carolina. Jon had gone back to work, so Dad and I took a road trip. Mackayla did great; she slept almost the entire time we were gone (which was about 10 hours) waking only to eat, and spend some alert time with my mom's mom, Grandma 'Ceil. Mackenzie had a blast, of course, getting to spend time with her cousins.

Chris with his Kindergarten Diploma! My sister, Michelle, meeting Mackayla for the first time. She absolutely loves babies, which is why she has 4 of her own. Hands off, Aunt 'Chelle, this one's mine!

My parents' 4 middle grandkids, minus Mackayla (who Michelle was trying to sneak away with, just kidding!) and Michael, who was still in school:

Kaitlyn, Chris, Stephen, & Mackenzie
My Grandma 'Ceil meeting MackaylaMackenzie, Mackayla, & Mommy at Grandma's house
At home, some tummy time!
Aunt Beth & AJ finally got to come for a visit!
Mackenzie loves to help feed her sister.

First bath--and she loved it!
After a bath and massage, Mackayla slept for 6 hours!

Our sweeties!

Settling in...

We are settled in now, getting used to being a family of four. Jon took 2 weeks of leave, so we've really enjoyed all of us being together, going shopping and hanging out, watching movies, and having some friends over. Here are just a few pictures from this past week.

We introduced Mackayla to her room and crib, even though she's sleeping in our room for now. Mackenzie also had to show her sister her own room, and is excited for when Mackayla can play with her.

One of our many nap times! (Jon loves to photograph me sleeping, and I do give him lots of opportunities!)

Aunt Jenn

(On a side note, we have a lot of surrogate aunts; Mackayla and Mackenzie are very lucky! Mackayla will be meeting her "for real" aunts this weekend!)
Mackenzie being a nut--running around with her shirt on her head, flashing the "rock on" sign she learned from her daddy.
My completely clean-shaven hubby. I haven't seen his upper lip & chin in years!

Great-Grandma Joyce & the girls in their pretty purple dresses she gave them.

My girls!

Grandma Dorothy

I wanted to share a picture of me and Mackenzie (age 4 weeks) with my father's mother, Grandma Dorothy. She had been battling congestive heart failure, and passed away on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at the age of 91. Unfortunately, since we were just out of the hospital, we weren't able to go to North Carolina to say goodbye, but my parents, my sister, and her family were able to be there. She has left quite a legacy; my sister and I are only 2 of her 22 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren, and 28 great-great-grandchildren.

Mackayla Pictures!

Here are some pictures, finally, from Mackayla's 1st week. We are all doing well. Mackayla is a great eater, sleeper, and crier! We've gone in for one check-up. At the hospital, she had lost 10 ounces, down to 6.10, but as of Thursday, she's back up to 6.11. Mackenzie is loving being a big sister, and helps out with diaper changes and pacifier retrieval, and is an expert in baby location services. If I put Mackayla down and Mackenzie doesn't notice it right away, she'll look around and say,"Where'd the baby go? Where'd the baby go? Oh, there she is!"

At only 1 minute old!

The big weigh-in

Mackenzie and Mackayla meeting for the first time.

My dad, Papaw Steve

Jon's mom and dad, Papaw Bill & Nanny Janet

Jon's grandmother, Great-Grandma JoyceDr. Gregg
Dr. Pizza

My 3 favorites!
Mackenzie playing "doctor" to Mommy

Uncle Lee, Aunt Lisa, & Kristen

A quick snuggle with Mommy (she had run into a door and hurt her head--yes, she comes by her clutziness naturally!).

Pretty flowers and Mackenzie's picture decorated our room.

Mackenzie holding Mackayla for the 1st time!

Enjoying the swing!

Too cute--Mackenzie was on her (pretend) cell phone to our friends, Mr. David and Mrs. Dawn, to schedule an appointment for them to bring their daughters over to play!

Mackayla's 1st tummy time--later that night we did it again, and she rolled over from her belly to her back twice! She was very angry to be on her stomach, and she pushed herself over. Silly girl, she's not supposed to do that at 4 days old!Aunt Heather

Mackayla's first adjustment with Dr. Gregg at 6 days old.