A little Suzy Homemaker!

I am so proud of myself. Today I made 2 nursing covers. I don't like the ones from the store because they aren't big enough. I want to make sure everything is covered, so I made my own. I picked out some cute fabric and since I don't have a sewig machine I made them with the sticky iron on hemming tape. It actually worked really well. What do you think?

What does Meredith Need?

I saw this on Christy's blog and wanted to try. Thanks to Google search, I found out what I need. Just type in your name+needs and it will tell you the top 10 things you need.

1. Meredith needs to mind her own business. (Someone has an attitude.)

2. Meredith needs an altered state. (oh do I?)

3. Meredith needs its share of rain. (Rain would be so much better than snow)

4. Meredith needs a tutor on Flickr. (I don't take pictures...sorry)

5. Meredith needs to get over herself. (Ok, I am over it)

6. Meredith needs to grow up. (Why do people need to grow up?)

7. Meredith needs your number. (I guess if anyone wants to share them)

8. Meredith needs a priority check. (What should come first?)

9. Meredith needs to work on her issues. (I think everyone does.)

10. Meredith needs to assert herself a little more. (I will get on that)

You should try it...it is fun!

Chillin with Mama and Sleepy Time

I am just relaxing on my mommy.


I decided it would be fun to stand up for a while...Mommy had to help me balance though.


We had a hard time going to sleep, so Mommy gave me a bunny rabbit to make me feel better...I guess it worked!

HOW PRECIOUS IS SHE?!?!?!

Pictures

Have you ever felt like putting your foot in your mouth?


I was messing with my head and I don't know what happened?!?!


Oh boy do I love my bath time.


Yes, I am ready to get on with this crawling thing...I am up on my knees, what next?

I am just too cute!

4 Months Old

Today is our birthday!!! Mackenzie is finally 4 months old. She is growing so fast.

She weighs 13 lbs 5 oz
She is about 23 inches tall I think

We go to the doctor on February 11. Our doctor had a baby, and that is when she will be returning from maternity leave. She I took Mackenzie to the doctors office today to weigh her. The height is just a guesstimate done with a tape measure today.

So with our development she is...

Grabbing at everything
Eating her hands and feet
Rolling over from her stomach to her back (since 6 weeks)
Talking all the time
She loves to laugh when we tickle her
She smiles at everyone
She is trying to roll to her side from her back
She also moves all over and turns while she is on her back

I can't think of anything else right now.

We are so happy she is healthy and strong. She is already in bed and I forgot to take a picture of her beside her bunny rabbit, so I will try to remember tomorrow!

Yay for getting so BIG!

Packing things away

It is so sad to see little Mackenzie growing out of her clothes. I have finally cleaned out her closet and bins to pack away everything that is too small. What a sad day!





So here is a picture of some of the clothes we put away. She seriously only wore some of these things once or twice.

The only good thing is that she isn't completely out of 3 month clothes. She turns 4 months on Friday and still can wear some 3 months things. Yes, there are only a few things like pants and onsies, but still that is exciting. ALl her one piece outfits and sleepers are definitely gone. She is just too long for those.

Bride Wars

Ok, for all those girls who love a good funny movie... Bride wars is hilarious. Cassie and I decided it as time for us to do something girly and enjoy ourselves. We went to see this movie and it was great. She had to bring Hailey because Jonny was studying, but I got to leave Mackenzie with Adam. It was great to just do something by myself and not have to worry about little Mackenzie. I knew she was in great hands.

But back to the movie. It is just a fun movie for girlfriends to go and see. Yay for girls and their crazy life long dreams.

After the Mall

A few cute pictures and then a story...


I found something fun to chew on.


Look at me sitting up and being so cute!

So my friend Cassie and I have been taking our little girls walking at the mall in the afternoon. We meet after work to walk the mall to get ourselves back in shape and also to maybe lose a little weight. We just started this week, and we are going to keep it going hopefully until the end of the semester.

It is kinda fun because it is a time when Hailey and Mackenzie will take a nap. Both girls love to be in the strollers walking because it lulls them to sleep.

Here is Mackenzie even an hour after we got home from the mall. Yeah, she is a tired little girl. I just don't understand how she is so tired. She has taken two good naps today and this one has lasted a LONG time. I just hope she sleeps tonight.

Welcome Baby...

Samuel Goodwin Rankin...

I am an Aunt again. Tina had her little boy today and everyone is doing great. I got to go to the hospital this afternoon to meet my little nephew. He was actually in the nursery because Tina was trying to get a little sleep. We are going again tomorrow so I will post pictures then.

He was born around 9:45 this morning.
20 inches long
7 pounds 10 ounces

YAY for another little baby.

We love our Exersaucer!

We just got an exersaucer from Joe and Tina and we love it. This thing keeps Mackenzie entertained longer than anything else we have. It is so cute though because her feet barely reach the bottom so she stands on her tippy toes.

Here she is having fun.

We found our FEET!!

Today was a momentous day!! haha Mackenzie found her feet. A few days/weeks ago, Mackenzie sorta found her feet. She actually took her socks off all by herself. It was fun to watch her explore.

Well after her adventure of taking off her socks, Mackenzie kept trying to figure out these feet things she had at the end of her legs. Today, she figured out what they were. She played with them, and they entertained her for a long time!

Visiting Friends

My friend, Emily, has a little baby a little over a month old. I finally went to her house a couple of days ago to meet their little Katelyn. She was so sweet, even though she was a little moody. She wasn't really in the mood to play. She was sleepy, so we didn't push too hard. But we got one little picture of the 2 girls laying beside each other.




Isn't it precious! (Katelyn really isn't happy here)

Advice

I really need help/advice from anyone willing to give it.

We are having major issues with sleeping. We have tried everything, but Mackenzie is really having issues getting to sleep and staying asleep.

Last night Mackenzie woke up basically every 1 1/2 - 2 hours.

Tonight it took me over an hour of her screaming to get her to sleep.

What do I do???

I have tried leaving her in the crib with her mobile...
she is happy but it doesn't put her to sleep, it just entertains her.

I have tried letting her cry...
she just cries until she gets so worked up she can't go to sleep.

I have tried rocking her to sleep...
she just wants to get out of my arms, she can't just calm down.

I have tried putting her on the dryer (Prissy's idea)...
doesn't do anything for her, she just continues to cry.

I have tried driving her around until she falls asleep in the car...
that works until we get her out of the car, then she wakes up within 5 mins.

I don't know what else to do. We have a bedtime routine. We eat, take a bath, get dressed, sing, sometimes "read" a book, and then go to bed.

Please give me suggestions!!!!!!!!!!

This is a problem with naps and nighttime sleep. For the last few days she just doesn't want to sleep. Now when I give her her binky she knows I want her to go to bed and she spits it out if she is tired and gets mad. I just need any help I can get!

Thank you ahead of time for any help I get.

Videos

These are just for anyone who wants to see a little of Mackenzie

Sorry for the sideways videos

pictures

I love it.


We found our new friend...the water bottle


Finally smiling during tummy time


We love this toy! The star plays music and lights up when you hit it.


She is working hard


Mackenzie and Hailey just hangin out


Isn't she cute?

All Smiles

Grabbing at EVERYTHING!... and a horrible night.

So 2 days ago Mackenzie really made me laugh. I just wish I had taken a picture. Since I have her all afternoon by myself, she and I went on a little trip. We were going to Target and to Costco to pick up a few things like groceries and new bottles. I was actually hoping that she would fall asleep on the ride because that is what she usually does. Normally, if we are in the car for more than 2 minutes she is asleep.

Well this trip was different.

We drove to Target, she was still awake. We went through the store for about 30 minutes, she was still awake. We got back in the car and drove to Costco, she was still awake.

At this point I had given up on her going to sleep, so I just enjoyed being with her. We shopped for a lot of meat at Costco because our freezer was empty. Luckily, she was really happy and just watching the world around her.

Then we get home from Costco and I have a ton of groceries...and great neighbors.

Seeing that Adam wasn't with me, my neighbors Julie and Emily helped me to bring all the groceries into the kitchen from my car. It is so wonderful to have good people around.

When I walked in with my first load, I had her on an arm also. I had also been eating a sandwich in the car that was wrapped up in a paper towel. I thought it would be safe if I put the sandwich wrapped up on her feet (on top of the blanket covering her feet) while she was in her car seat and I finished putting things away. Julie and Emily hung around to see the baby, so when I turned around after putting milk in the fridge we all looked down and Mackenzie wanted to be nosey.

She had reached and kicked at the sandwich at her feet. The paper towel was off of the sandwich and in her mouth. The sandwich was laying at her feet with crumbs everywhere. What is going on? I had fed her just an hour or 2 earlier! I guess she just wanted to know what a paper towel tasted like.

It makes me laugh when she sticks EVERYTHING in her mouth. Anything she can get her hands on, including my hair, her toys, her hands, her binky (not the part you normally suck on), her blanket, EVERYTHING! I guess I just might as well get used to it cause this will be going on for a very long while.

Next, her horrible night...

Last night was the worst night we have had with Mackenzie since she has been here with us. Something was wrong and we couldn't figure it out. The only two options we had were she wasn't feeling good, or she was just so extremely tired, nothing worked.

There was no nap at around 5 like there is normally everyday. I tried and rocked and bounced and did everything I could, but to no avail.

So around 7:30/8 she started getting really fussy, so we decided to get her ready for bed. We gave her a bath, put on her PJs and I fed her and sang to her. Then she fell asleep about 8:30. We were so grateful, but by 9, she was awake and angry! We don't know what happened.

Adam went to work and I stayed home to get her to sleep once more. It really didn't work very well. She slept on and off until 1:30 AM. She would sleep for 10-15 mins and then wake up crying again. No matter what I did. Even if I was holding her she wouldn't sleep very long.

Finally, at around 1:30 when she woke up, I knew Adam was home and not asleep yet. I took Mackenzie downstairs and gave her to him. I just needed a full hour of sleep. Adam agreed, but kept her for longer. I AM SO GRATEFUL! At around 3 AM he finally came upstairs with her asleep in his arms. He passed her to me and I slept with her in my arms until 6 AM when my alarm went off for work. These are the days I REALLY wish I was a stay at home mom.

She woke up with me, so I fed her and layed her in Adam's arms to go back to sleep. While I was getting ready downstairs I heard Adam start walking around and heard her crying. I feel so bad for both of them. I think I am going to go home early from work today to be around. I will just have to bring stuff home so that I can finish all my lessons for next week.

I really hope she is doing better and that Adam got a little sleep this morning after I left.

Back At Work

So I have been back at work for a week and a half now. Talk about depressing! I have to leave my precious little girl at home all day. Luckily, I get off work around 3 and I get to race home. We are so lucky that Adam doesn't have class until I get home except one day when he takes Mackenzie with him. I am so grateful we don't have to put her in a daycare!

She is going to bed around 9 and sleeping pretty well. She only wakes up once or twice during the night because she is "starving to death", or at least she acts like it. She sleeps until about 7 or so. I just feel bad because Adam is working at night until midnight or later, so he is up when she gets up in the morning. I have to get up early to get to work, and since I wake up with her at night, she goes to bed early so I can get a little sleep. This is going to be a rough semester, but we can get through it.

The only good thing is that there is an end in sight...When Adam graduates and gets a job I get to stay home with my sweet little girl. Also, I LOVE my job. I am working right now with a special ed unit that has about 10 kids. The kids are great and it is so much better than pulling in regular ed students for 20 mins a few times a week. I feel like these are my kids in my classroom. I can actually get to know them and have experiences with them.

The bad thing is Mackenzie is getting used to a bottle. She gets 2 or 3 bottles during the day depending on when she is hungry. She doesn't want to work at the nursing thing when I get home. She wants the ease of the bottle. When I got home from work yesterday the first feeding she did ok, but around 7 when I fed her she screamed because she was so hungry but refused to nurse. Too bad, mommy isn't giving her a bottle. I am not going to continuously pump so she can eat. I am only pumping enough for when I am away at work. And we aren't going to formula! So after 10 minutes of screaming she finally started eating. I guess I am just going to have to stand my ground until she realizes that Daddy gives bottles and Mommy does not!

Well we will just have to see how things work out. Good luck at home with our little girl Honey! You are doing great so far!

So I guess it's my turn for this list thingy!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (Rockband counts right?)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (Disney World)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris (A layover at the airport)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14.Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a 1/2 Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse(In Elementary School)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language(yes it happened, spanish)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (you can find satisfaction with any amount)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant (in Phili)
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business (partially, i am working on it right now)
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone.
78.Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (Glenn Beck!, Jon Bonjovi)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby (My Wife Did)
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100.Made amends with someone who offended you
101. Flew in a small Cessna plane with just you and the pilot
102. Ran out of gas
103. Eaten fried okra (It is disgusting)
104. Swam in the Caribbean Sea
105. Peed in a swimming pool
106. Stayed in a beach house
107. Hosted an exchange student
108. Been a Secret Santa to a family in need
109. Worked on a political campaign
110. Coached a sports team
111. Baked bread from scratch
112. Driven from coast to coast
113. Paid off all of your debt
114. Roast marshmallows over a campfire
115. Cut up a credit card
116. Drove a car through a flood
117. Been on t.v
118. Had braces
119. Been to the top of the twin towers in NY.
120. Have played in both the Atlantic & Pacific Oceans
121. Been to ground zero
122. Bite my fingernails
123. Likes to scrapbook
124. Hates pie
125. Visited Mexico
126. Seen a Tornado in person
127 Have ever been lost at sea!
128. Have been to Maine


Pretty Crazy but at least i have done some of it.

Just a little Non-Baby fun

Join in the fun! Copy and paste the list. Bold the things you have done...

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (Rockband counts right?)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (Disney World)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris (A layover at the airport)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14.Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a 1/2 Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (you can find satisfaction with any amount)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone.
78.Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (Glenn Beck!)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100.Made amends with someone who offended you
101. Flew in a small Cessna plane with just you and the pilot
102. Ran out of gas
103. Eaten fried okra (It is disgusting)
104. Swam in the Caribbean Sea
105. Peed in a swimming pool
106. Stayed in a beach house
107. Hosted an exchange student
108. Been a Secret Santa to a family in need
109. Worked on a political campaign
110. Coached a sports team
111. Baked bread from scratch
112. Driven from coast to coast
113. Paid off all of your debt
114. Roast marshmallows over a campfire
115. Cut up a credit card
116. Drove a car through a flood
117. Been on t.v (A local channel in Kinston)
118. Had braces
119. Been to the top of the twin towers in NY.
120. Have played in both the Atlantic & Pacific Oceans
121. Been to ground zero
122. Bite my fingernails
123. Likes to scrapbook
124. Hates pie
125. Visited Mexico
126. Seen a Tornado in person
127 Have ever been lost at sea!
128. Have been to Maine

That was fun! You should try it!

Baby Blessing

So I know I haven't written in what seems like forever, but now I will begin to catch you up on everything that has been going on.

First of all, Adam and I went home for Christmas vacation. I left on the 11 of December to spend 17 days in NC while Adam finished taking finals before he came home on the 17. Mackenzie and I hung out with my entire family for a week without Daddy. We both missed him, but we knew he would be joining us soon.

On Sunday the 21, Mackenzie Joy Rankin was blessed at our church. It was so great. The only thing that was sad is that Adam's parents...who were going to drive down from New Jersey, weren't able to make it. The weather in New Jersey got really bad and they couldn't make it down to North Carolina.

But here are some pictures...


Mommy, Daddy, and Kenzie



Uncle Chad, Aunt Katie, and Kenzie



Uncle "Booba" and Kenzie



All the boys!



Aunt Lauren, Uncle Tyler, and Kenzie



Nana, Papa, and Kenzie



Nana Joy, Papa Bruce, Mommy, Daddy, Nana, Papa, and Kenzie



Aunt Kate, Aunt Lauren, Mommy, and Kenzie



4 Generations



All the Girls!

5 Generations

Just thought this was really cool and blog worthy. My Great Grandma (Memama) is still alive and since I have a baby, that makes 5 generations.

Here is Mackenzie meeting Memama


Mackenzie, Me and Memama


Nana, Mom, Me, Mackenzie, Papa, and Memama


Mom, Me, Papa, Mackenzie, and Memama

Hanging in Utah with the Rankins

In Utah


Mackenzie with Grandma



Mackenzie with Grandpa




At the wedding doing what Mommies do best!




Nathan and Mackenzie




Nathan, Joseph, and Mackenzie showing how big they are



Just one more time.

3 months

Here is Mackenzie at 3 months



She is laying on the quilt Grandma made for her.

She weighs around 12 pounds now and is about 24 inches long!

Christmas Morning

We had such a good Christmas morning. To begin...Mackenzie slept so well on Christmas Eve. It took her a long time to go to bed, we didn't get there until after midnight, but once we got to sleep it was wonderful.

Santa really did come! We had so many presents. Adam and I got a video camera as our big gift from Santa. We also got stockings full of treats and toiletries.

Santa didn't come for Mackenzie in NC but Nana and Papa sure came. She got the most precious baby's first Christmas ornament, a beautful snow globe for her room, clothes, tons of toys, a few books, and even a walmart gift card to buy diapers.

We had a great time that morning.

Here are some pictures

Before we came downstairs. Mine and Adam's are the ones on the couch!

On the stairs ready to see what Santa brought.


Mackenzie opening her presents. She would grab on to the paper and we would move the box so the paper would rip!