Cinnamon Rolls

While Josh's mom was here, his one request was that she make homemade cinnamon rolls! So of course she did, and they were delicious! Best I'v ever had, hands down! And she even let Bridget help, which she loved and still talks about!

She didn't like getting her hands dirty!

Such fun memories!

Mackennas blessing

The Sunday after Thanksgiving, Josh gave a beautiful blessing to Mackenna. His parents were able to be there for it, and it was such a special day!

Family of four

Life since having Mackenna hasn't changed too dramatically for two reasons: My mom has been here helping around the house and with Bridget, and I forgot how much newborns sleep! So she really hasn't been up much when Bridget is awake. Bridget only has issues sometimes while I am nursing, and will say that she wants to hold her. I try to explain to her that she is eating, but she doesn't get it. Family tummy time

Bridget did NOT want to have her diaper changed and pajamas on, so Josh had her hold Mackenna and that calmed her down right away and got her to hold still!

So far Mackenna only wakes up twice at night and usually goes back down without any fuss! She has been a much better sleeper than Bridget, or maybe it's that I know what I'm doing this time around and I'm not as stressed. It has been a great week and she is a wonderful addition to our family! We all love her so much!

Mackenna Joan

Josh and I arrived at the hospital at 8:00 am to be induced. By 9:30 they had started my pitocin and the waiting began! At 12:30 I wasn't making a lot of progress, so my Dr. wanted to get my water broken. Because my cervix hadn't come down a lot, it would be pretty uncomfortable they broke it before I got my epidural. So I decided to get the epidural, and then have them break my water. The doctors and nurses are great, but for some reason they have a hard time doing epidurals on me! He had to do it a second time, which thankfully didn't hurt as bad as the first time! Josh had his hands on my legs to keep me still and suprisingly his shoulders didn't break from me digging my fingers into them! In labor, this must've been after the epidural

Once my water was broken around 1:30 things started moving faster. By 4:30 I was a 6 and 100% effaced, and the nurse said she would come back to check me around 5:30. Josh went out to get some dinner while I got some last minute rest. The nurse came back and was shocked to find me at a 10! She said "call Josh and tell him to get back here!" She went to call the Dr. and told me not to push, because the babies head was right there. Josh came back by 6, scarfed down his dinner while the Dr. was setting up and was right by side holding my leg and counting. He was an amazing support and coach. At 6:19 she was born with only a few minutes of pushing, a black haired baby was set on my chest and all I could do was laugh!

I could not believe how much hair she had and how dark it was! 6 lbs. 11 oz.

First family picture

Bridget was so excited to see her new sister!

My mom

The next day Josh and I finally decided on a name of Mackenna and Joan which was my grandmas name, who passed away last year. When we came home Friday afternoon, Bridget was still napping. When she woke up, we brought Mackenna into her room and she just started laughing. I think she was really suprised to see her at home! She of course wanted to hold her right away. (don't mind the messy nap hair)

The first night home was pretty rough, but since then she has been an amazing sleeper at night!

Two

Yesterday, Bridget turned two. I can't believe she is two, so weird. She is such a crack up, and talking more and more everyday! She is super active and spunky and we couldn't love this little girl more! When she woke up Sunday morning, we had a doll house all set up!

Trying to get a picture of Bridget before church, but she insisted that the camera was "MINE!!"

Then she found my phone...

Later after her nap, she opened presents

She loved all her new toys! Later, while I was making dinner Josh took Bridget for a bike ride. That made her day right there! I didn't make her a cake or anything because she doesn't like it, so we were just going to have ice cream for dessert. A little while after dinner, she asked for a banana! She's so healthy, haha She had a great birthday, even though she really didn't know what was going on!

Grants Farm

About a half hour south of here, there is a place called Grants farm. Ulysses S. Grant founded and farmed the area, hence the name. It is a huge farm and petting zoo, with all different kinds of animals! Here is Bridget and I, just after getting there about to board a tram to take us into the park.

Josh and Bridget on the tram

On the tram ride they have animals just out walking around right next to the road. We saw elk, bisen, Texas Longhorn bulls, deer, ostrich just to name a few!

Once we got off the tram there are all these baby goats in a corral. You can pay $1 for a bottle of milk to feed them, but they are super aggressive and kids were crying left and right because their parents would just send them in with a bottle of milk! The sight was quite entertaining, watching all these moms send the dads in with little kids, and the dads are yelling for the wife to come get the kid! So Josh went in with Bridget and she clung onto him pretty tight!

We also saw monkeys

bald eagels

llamas

more bulls

elephants

and parrots

Before leaving, Josh took Bridget back into the goat area. This time she was not hesitant at all! Josh found some brushes, and Bridget LOVED going up to each goat and brushing it. I think every goat got brushed at least twice! They were in there for 40 minutes!

This is the time she kissed a goat!!

Then Josh found a bottle on the ground, and brought Bridget over to where there was just one goat to feed it! But as soon as he whipped that bottle out, they all came running over!

Here is Josh trying to keep all the goats back from attacking Bridget with the bottle!

Every now and then the goats would start chewing on her clothes, and Josh taught her to say "Goat stop chewing my clothes!" It was pretty hilarious!

She definately loves animals and had a blast being able to see them all so up close!