Sunday, March 01, 2009

Madeline's First Week

Madeline's First week at home



She is an AMAZING sleeper

Day One: Wearing as much pink as humanly possible


Day Two: First Bath

A hair bow is essential!

Day Three: Waking up with big brother




Taking a little snooze in Grandma's arms


Day Four: First trip to the park 
(She slept through it, but her brothers had a great time)


Day Six: Just enough hair for a hair bow
Madeline has adjusted well to life outside the womb. She sleeps well, eats regularly and has such an easy temperament. She has only cried a few times since she was born and prefers to take a much more subdued path to asking for what she wants. 

Dylan and Liam have welcomed their baby sister with open arms. They are very protective of her and are always asking where she is and if she is ok. Dylan is very attentive to everything having to do with the baby. He wants to know everything from when she eats to when her belly button scab will fall off. He has helped give her baths and likes to give her books to read and toys to play with while she is sitting in her swing. Liam loves to show her his toys and often Batman and Spiderman will come over and say (in a low voice) "Hi, Mad-e-win! I am Batman." Both boys have had no jealousy and only love for their sister.

Grandma Christiansen has been at Madeline's (and mommy, dylan and liam's) beck and call all week. She has spent all her days taking the boys to the park, holding Madeline, bathing her, dressing her, and rocking her. She has also made many meals and accompanied us to Madeline's first doctors appointment. It is absolutely honest that we could not have survived the first week without her. She is amazing and allowed Mommy to be attentive to all three children without feeling overwhelmed.

Madeline is absolutely a dream baby and completely perfect. We are so excited to have her home!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Welcome....

Madeline Lorraine Best


Born: February 22, 2009

3:30pm

7lbs 2oz

18 inches long



Friday, February 20, 2009

Family Night

As our possibly last Family Night as a family of four we decided to do something "REALLY FUN!" (as Dylan puts it) on Monday.

We chose to go to Chuck E. Cheese

It was severely over crowded, unfortunately

But we got a big cup full of tokens and decided to play all the games we could



The boys had a blast


And won 360 tickets!!

That resulted in:

2 pirate bracelets
one lizard
one worm
2 suckers
and a flower necklace for the baby 
(That was all Dylan's idea... how sweet!!)

Since Chuck E. Cheese was so packed we decided to go to In N Out for dinner

3 cheeseburgers and 4 chocolate shakes and two stickers later......



We achieved our goal of doing something REALLY FUN!!!!


Monday, February 16, 2009

Thanks!

Did I ever mention that I always wished I had sisters??

Well, thanks to my little brother, I finally have one!!


This is Kaylee!



And this is all of the blankets she made for the new baby and shipped to our house, since she wasn't able to come to the baby shower.
(By the way, she did all of this admist planning her own wedding and going to school and working. 
Where does she get all her energy??)

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Ready to go!

Only a few days left till our baby arrives and I think we finally have everything ready.

I sewed receiving blankets...


And matching burp cloths...

And a soft cuddly blanket...

We hung decorations for the wall, including vintage handkerchiefs from her great grandma...

A comfy bed...

A rocking chair for late night cuddles...


A place for changing...


Even a basket full of diapers waiting....


And some cute shoes....


Even a closet full of pretty dresses...


And a blessing dress from Grandma.

We can't wait to finally meet her now! 

Friday, January 23, 2009

Top Ten

Wednesday was my mom's birthday...


In honor of her day of birth I am letting the world know the 
TOP TEN REASONS WHY I LOVER HER!





10. She is a lot of fun to hang out with


9. She is funny


8. She loves the color pink 
(although it is not my favorite color, I love how obsessed she is with it)



7. She is an amazing friend to me and so many others



6. She recommends really good books to me and will read the ones I recommend to her

5. She loves her son/daughter in law like they are her own children


4. She takes her church callings seriously

3. She is a responsible business woman 



2. She is a loving grandmother




1. She is the best mom I have ever met

Friday, January 16, 2009

Photography

If anyone is interested in having photographs taken for any occasion, please visit my new website at www.heidibestphotography.blogspot.com

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Pancakes and Jesus

As we were sitting down for what we thought would be a simple dinner of pancakes last night, Dylan asks,

"Mommy, why did Jesus have to die?"

Hmmm.... ok, not quite expecting that conversation over dinner, but we can handle it.

My husband and I go through a concise and 4 year old friendly description of the Crucifixion and Resurrection. We explained why Jesus died and how he was Resurrected. After we finished there was a moment of silence and then Liam bursts out,

"JESUS IS DEAD???"

We then explained in a much shorter and 2 year old friendly description of what happened to Jesus.

Another moment of silence....

Then....

Dylan: "How can Jesus still be alive if he is dead??"

Another explanation including how Jesus died so all of our spirits can go back to Heaven.

A moment of silence....

Liam: "Maybe Jesus can come to my house?"

Laughter

Mommy: "Maybe, Liam .... we will keep a light on for him"

Friday, January 09, 2009

Time Flies

We spent New Years at the Monterey Bay Aquarium this year. Last time we were there was a year and a half ago. I couldn't help but pull up the old pictures and compare them. Look at how much can change in such a short amount of time!

Monterey Bay Aquarium, Circa May 2007

Monterey Bay Aquarium, Circa January 2009



Monterey Bay Aquarium, circa May 2007



Monterey Bay Aquarium, Circa January 2009

Christmas 2008

Our Christmas was spent at Grandma's house this year. We all settled in and ate a very yummy Christmas Eve dinner with our traditional Prime Rib and all the trimmings. 

After some Christmas movies that we watch every year (Mickey's Christmas Carol, A Christmas Story and the old version of A Christmas Carol) we opened our Christmas Eve presents and all got to put on our new matching Christmas Jammies!


Grandma's 14 foot Christmas Tree



Cuddling on the couch



I said, "Go stand by Dylan for a picture!".... this is what I got. :)



Is that a cape?




Matching Jammies!



Santa came!



What a face!



Dylan is checking out his new scooter



Power Rangers! Spiderman is so 2008!!



Grandpa goin' huntin'



Picasso



Picasso's brother