Big trees

Last Wednesday I woke up and was about to get up to get ready for the gym when hubby said "be ready to leave in 45 minutes with tennis shoes." I said "so I'm gonna miss the class?" In all honesty, I excited not only because he had some sort of surprised prepared for me, but I wouldn't have to go to the class at the gym. I was so ridiculously sore that day from working out with Marshall on Monday and Tuesday.

Cydney arrived to watch Makenna and we were out the door. My curiosity increased as he started to drive in a very unexpected direction. We never go that way. I didn't there was anything that way!

Anyways, we went to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park. Here's a little side story: about 6 years ago we tried going there in April or May but we had to turn around right before the park entrance because of a snow storm. Well, we finally made it back this past Wednesday with no snow. It was gorgeous up there. The weather was perfect. And even better, it wasn't very crowded.

We first went to see the General Grant tree. I did say "is that it?" I guess I didn't realize how tall the tree was and how big. We can't get very very close, so I guess that made a difference to me!
Then we drove some more and went to see the General Sherman tree.


It was a short easy hike to the General Grant and a short easy hike to the General Sherman but not so easy coming back (uphill). It was a great morning. It was great to go do something different and spend sometime just Chad and I without having to worry about Makenna. It was a great surprise form hubby :)

Swimming lessons

Makenna had her last swimming lesson today. She got on the podium and got a medal. We also got in the pool and Chad was able to get some good footage of her swimming.

Life as I knew is over...

I think she finally figured it out here because after this she was getting all over the place...

Her new thing

Makenna is 8 months old. Well, 8 months and 1 week tomorrow. I can't believe it. She has grown so much this last month. She is kinda mobile now. She can get around very well on the bed or on the couch, but not so much on the floor (although today she did get all over the place!). She sits unassisted and sometimes can pull herself up to a standing position. She is such a monkey, always moving, jumping, wiggling and driving us crazy! She is a great swimmer, she still loves Miles and she doesn't like being alone.

Her new thing is to shake her head. If we do it, she repeats it. It's a cute game we play and she is normally the one who starts it. She loves to do it while she eats!

That's it, I'm kicking you out

That's what I told Makenna yesterday. Then I talked to my mother-in-law and said Makenna was "moving out"! She, of course, was intrigued.

So let me give you little bit of history. Makenna was born in September. I think it was around November, she moved into her bedroom and her crib. She did great and was doing great. Then at the end of the year she got RSV. For about a week Chad and I would take turns at night staying awake with her sleeping on our chest. We wanted to make sure the girl wouldn't stop breathing in the middle of the night. Then for easyness, she stayed in our bedroom, in the pack n' play. Then she had some tummy issues, which delayed her return to her bedroom a little longer (this is probably February now). Then she started to sleep from 9:30pm to 7:30am with a bottle around 11:30. She would still wake up once or twice, but all she needed was the pacifier. So I kept her in the pack n' play because I could just stretch my arm at night and put the paci in her mouth and not really wake up.

Last Thursday night she was really congested and coughing and sneezing. She was also having a hard time staying asleep because of all of the above. So I brought her to bed with me and she somewhat slept. She slept with us again Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. On Monday she was feeling better, but she woke up around 3 and wouldn't go back to sleep. The detail here is that by the time I got her, she was on her tummy, with one hand on the side of the pack n' play, about to pull herself up and probably out! So I brought her to bed with me, and she's still awake. I went downstairs and made a bottle. She finally fell asleep but, even while sleeping, she would not stop kicking. That's when I said "ENOUGH, YOU'RE MOVING OUT!"

So yesterday my mother-in-law came over and we worked on Makenna's room. Yes, I'm embarrassed to admit that my 8-month-old-child's bedroom is not completely done! But we are working on it. I'll take some pictures this afternoon and update this post with them.

Anyways, last night, around 8:15, I took her upstairs, changed her into pajamas and rocked her. She fell asleep, but woke up as soon as I put her in the crib. So I tried to "pet" her, rub her arm, tummy, back and nothing. So I thought "ok, cry then." I sat in my room in front of the clock. I told myself I'd give her 5 minutes before going back in there. Well, she fell asleep within 4. No pacifier either, because of all the crying. I was amazed and so happy! She did wake up at 4, and we let her cry for about 40 minutes until she fell back asleep. Oh well, I was not about to get up at that time. So I muted the monitor and went back to sleep!

Woohoo. Freedom :)

Don't Do It

They showed this video at the end of church today and it made me laugh out loud. I hope you enjoy it.

Swimming lessons

Last Monday Makenna and I started a Mommy & Me swimming class at Jan Thomas. She did really well at the first lesson. She didn't cry once and I think she only drank water once. I thought I was leaving her under for much longer than I actually did when I saw the video! But it seemed like a long time when I was in the pool with her.

Wednesday was a different story. The first problem was that the water was not as warm as it was on Monday. It was also kind of windy. I know that Makenna was cold because she had goosebumps and was even shivering a couple times. I try to keep the water at neck level so she wouldn't be too cold. She did good with the swimming. She stayed under longer this time and kicked. It was so cool. She did cry this time. I think it was a combination of staying under longer and being cold. But she was still great, my little fish.