Milestones

Well, unfortunately my computer was not cooperating yesterday when I went to make this post, so it will be a day late. There were a couple milestones in our family yesterday.
Collin turned 26, and Makenna hit the 4 week mark.
So in honor of Collin, my wonderful husband I decided to list something I love about him for every year he's been alive!



I love...
1. How much you love me
2. How quick you are to help....anyone who needs it
3. How hard you work for your education
4. That you are so passionate about the things you love
5. That you are so "confident" (some would call it cocky)
6. The way your eyes squint almost shut when you smile
7. That you like to cook
8. You get SO into the movies you watch, you do the actions with them!
9. Your family
10. That you call Makenna "sissy face"
11. Can admit when you're wrong (most times!)
12. That you can and will befriend anyone
13. How you stand up for whats right
14. That you worry about your girls
15. That you are an eternal optimist like your father
16. That you are the ONLY one who can calm me down when I am upset
17. That you remember every useless fact you have ever learned
18. The cleft in your chin
19. The way you worry about loosing your hair
20.The way you don't care if your clothes match
21. The way you love my family
22. The way you punish Marlee....but always go back to comfort her afterwards when she is sad
23.That you sing SO loud when you have your headphones on and you don't know I'm listening
24.That you took a chance on me
25. That you are always up to try something new
26. That you love me despite all my faults.
So, after4 years and 7 months of marriage, these are a few of the things I love. Thank you for being you. I can't wait to spend the rest of our birthdays together.
Here's to you husband. I love you and HAPPY 26th BIRTHDAY BABE!


*As for Makenna, she is now 4 weeks. She went in for an appointment yesterday and was up to 8 lbs 8 oz. Not bad! She's already gained over 2 lbs! She is in the 30% which is strange for me because Marlee was always in the 95% for weight! She is still small, but big compared to where she started. She is definitely changing every day. She always smiles in her sleep and I LOVE it! She is more vocal now, but still a really good baby. Besides the sleep deprivation, I am actually handling 2 kids pretty well on my own. It will just be nice when she can go more than 3 hours without eating! That's all for her update, Mom and Dad are coming in tomorrow (hopefully). The weather here has not been real nice lately so we'll see. I hope they can, because I REALLY want them to be able to see the baby. We'll see!

Growing Up...

I feel like the time is just FLYING by. Makenna will be 4 weeks old on Tuesday and Marlee is growing up every day. It is just killing me. I just love this time when they are so little and you can just kiss and cuddle them to your hearts content.

Today was our first day back at church, so naturally, I had to take some pictures of Kenna in her Church clothes for the first time. I thought she looked pretty dang cute!

As you've seen in previous posts, Marlee is 2 1/2 going on 25. She loves my clothes, shoes, hair things, and most of all MAKE-UP! She wanted to "get ready" for the day like mommy does. So, when I went in the bathroom this is what I found! Guess she just wanted to look pretty for daddy! When I walked in and asked what she was doing, she just said "I make up Mommy, it's ok".

I really love my girls...I am actually getting a little worried about what I would ever do if we had a boy. YIKES!

Picture Chaos

So I made the mistake of deciding we needed to take some pictures...all together. None of my 3 children (yes, I am gonna include Collin in this one) would cooperate. Marlee was crying for cake, Makenna was freezing and Collin wouldn't smile! It was not an easy task. We had the set the timer for the family picture just because I wanted one so bad of the four of us together. Anyway...here were a few of the better ones. I know this is kinda picture overload but oh well.

My Little Klepto

I always knew there would come a day that I would have fighting in my house over clothes. What I didn't know is that I would be fighting, and that it would be with my 2 year old. What the..? The last week or so, she has been sneaking into my closet and stealing my clothes...the little kleptomaniac! And, unfortunately for me not JUST my clothes, but my "nighties" we'll call them. I have a little box tucked in the closet that she found and I guess to her they look like "Princess dresses" YIKES! I guess it kinda makes sense... You know, nice fabric, lace, pretty colors. Oh man, and don't even get me started on my shoes. I can never find my shoes because every pair I own Marlee has taken and worn somewhere else in the house, makes me insane! Anyway, I hope nobody finds it too inappropriate, but she came down wearing this little outfit this morning and singing " I know you, I walk you in a dream", her interpretation of Sleeping Beauty. It was HILARIOUS! She is such a little Diva. She keeps me busy that's for sure!

On a totally separate note, Makenna is still doing well. I took some pics of her with Mar's Cabbage Patch and the doll was totally bigger. It cracked me up. She is still a very good baby, hardly ever makes a peep. She is a sweetie! I can't believe she is already almost 3 weeks old. The time is already passing WAY too fast!

And one last thing... I have been feeling bad about Mars room not being decorated very cute since we can't paint or anything. But I found these cute things at Target and we hung them up together tonight. I think it really spiced things up! It actually looks like a cute little girls room now! Yay!

THANK YOU NANA!

Welcome to reality...My mom left today. Enough said. I will miss her like crazy. It was SO AMAZING to have her here for 2 weeks although it really flew by. She was SUCH a help with Marlee, and the baby, cooking and cleaning. I don't know how I would have made it through without her. I know it is time for both of us to get back to "reality" it is just a little scary because I haven't done the whole reality with two kids thing....its a little overwhelming! Anyway, I just wanted to post about what an AMAZING MOM I have. And to tell her thank you for the time/money/patience she gave us this last few weeks. It was a really special experience to have she and my Sister Nikki in the delivery room with us to share the moment of Makenna's birth. It was SO different this time around I loved having them there to witness the miracle. I love you both and THANK YOU for the help. We miss you already!

On a Separate note... WELCOME BABY PAISLEY! Here is Makenna and her newest buddy Paisley. She was born Jan.11, and at 8 lbs, already weighs more than my little munchkin. Congrats Troy, Rachel and Reese!! She's a DOLL!

New Born Pictures

So more pictures from my AMAZING photographer friend Jordan. She came over yesterday to get some new born pics of Kenna. She was NOT very cooperative, but like I said Jordan is AMAZING so she still got some really cute ones! Kenna pooped or peed on everything but I guess that's what you get when you leave a newborn naked for long in freezing South Dakota!
Anyway, the proofs are on their own blog page like Marlee's were. If you want to order any proofs please let me know ASAP (I know this only mostly applies to Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles...etc, but if any of the rest of you want one let me know!)

Here is the link : http://makenna-proofs.blogspot.com/

P.S. These are a few of the pictures I took myself, as I was trying to

stay out of Jordans way. Hers on the site aer MUCH better, but I

thought a few of these were pretty cute...enjoy!

Makenna Update

5 Days Old

Well, we are home from the hospital and adjusting quite well. We got home Thursday afternoon and time has just been flying by. I had to go back to the hospital on Friday for a procedure called a "blood patch" which is for people who get a "spinal headache" after an epidural or spinal block. It caused a MASSIVE headache that would just about make me pass out when I sat up to feed the baby. So I went back in and they gave me an epidural and then injected about 20 cc's of my blood into the epidural to clot around where the spinal fluid was leaking out. Basically, it was SO NOT COOL. I made it through the delivery with no epidural so to make me go back 3 days later and have to have one was like a really mean joke. Anyway, I am feeling much better now.
Makenna is doing WONDERFUL. She is a great nurser, and sleeps all day! She doesn't really cry much (for now). Usually just lets out a little whimper when she is hungry. She is SO sweet and I am loving every minute of having another baby.

Here are a few pictures I have taken since we got home including a few from her first bath from mom and dad! Her hair is SO much lighter than Mar's was, and she definitely has her own look. She is already changing SO much. I had to get a picture of her in her bassinet because she looks SO TINY in there and it really isn't that big!

The New Years Baby...(Mandi's Version)

Ok, so I am on the hospital computer right now, I was dying to see what my dear sweet husband posted at home without me. Grateful that there are no shots too revealing...and besides the fact that he spelled our sweet new daughters name wrong he did pretty good. Yesterday was such a CRAZY day. We have in at 7:30 am. The Dr. came in at 8:30, I took a Cytotek and within 10 minutes or so was having consistent contractions. At 9:30 they broke my water and I decided to walk the halls for a while. After walking and finding the pain to be coming increasingly intense headed back to the room to think about an epidural. Well, by the time she checked me at like 11 I was 8 cm and 100% effaced. She then informed me it was too late for an epidural....COME AGAIN!?!?!? So, with a few tears shed and a missive amount of panic they quickly called the nurse in to try a spinal block. He made it in, but by the time I actually got a shot it was time to push. I pushed through a few contractions with no relief and then FINALLY for about the last 15 minutes I felt a bit better. All I have to say is WOW. Most intense 30 minutes of my life! Makenna Sage was born at 12:03 and is in perfect health as far as we can tell. She is sweet and I have yet to really hear her cry.

As for the fun stuff....she is OFFICIALLY THE NEW YEARS BABY OF VERMILLION!
I just had the Public Relations lady at the hospital talk to me about the press release and a family picture in the morning. They have a prize basket for us and will be announcing it in the news paper and on the Radio as well. Kinda fun! My best new years yet!!!

We are home now and hopefully these pictures give you a better idea of what she looks like. Love to all!

No Stupid its a baby!

I know you are all jealous; this is actually Collin writing his post and I know what you are all thinking....WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE? Well fear not my friends and family members for i hath made a new years resolution to grace you all with my posts in the future. You should feel lucky as it is not very often that such a gratudious event transpires.

Ok all joking aside, Makenna Sage Earl was born at 12:03 on Jan 1, 2008. In Vermillion SD. (I know right we should claim she was born in like Spain or something) This birth was a GREAT deal easier for my lovely assistant then her last one. We got to the hospital at 7:40 am and had a baby by noon. She only pushed through like four different contractions. Makenna is TINY, only 6 pounds 6 oz and 19 inches long. She is eating just fine and is NOT a crier. (At least yet)

Marlee, on the other hand, I think is going to have a hard time adjusting. She wanted nothing to do with the baby and ignored us whenever we talked about her. I think for now while her NANA is here (Bless her little heart) She will be ok. But when NANA leaves and daddy goes back to school....yeah not looking forward to it.

Alright thats all I have to say right now.