Moms are Awesome, but nothing compares to their baby girls

Tomorrow is Mother's Day, and besides the day Makenna was born, I don't think I've ever been so proud to be her mom! She has had such a big week this week and I am seeing that little personality come out more and more every day. I love her curiosity and her adventurous spirit. She held her own bottle this morning (to my great surprise-more like wrapped both arms around it :)) and every now and then she would drop it, look up and give the biggest smile like "Mom look at what I'm doing!!" She is super strong and has been holding her head up like a grown-up for forever now. She has apparently gotten bored though, and now will grab my fingers when laying in my lap and pull herself right up so she can sit. Now even THAT has gone from sitting to wanting to stand, although she is still pretty wobbly (and extra cute!)


She is still very colicky- usually around 8 or 9 at night, she begins and is so pitiful. BUT we have found during this time that she LOVES the T.V.- another big discovery this week, and all the bright colors of Dora the Explorer and Sponge Bob. She'll sit in my lap, both fists in her mouth, and watch like she understands exactly what is going on. It cracks us all up!!! And even if it only stops the crying/pouting/wailing for a moment or two, it is a good break for us all. :)


Her GranDebs (my mom) got her a "Jumping Johnny" a few days ago. Justin and I were so excited and couldn't wait to get her in it! However... she is so tiny still that we have to put blankets around her so she can sit up straight and see EVERYTHING. (She is a nosy rosy for sure!) When we first put her in it we laughed hysterically because her feet were still about 2 inches from being able to touch the ground, but she had the biggest smile on her face so we kind of hated to take her out. Instead, her Daddy and I got on both sides of it and swung her back and forth. Justin called her Tinkerbell because she is petite and must feel like she is flying. :)


I am so completely excited about tomorrow. I have the most amazing mother in the entire world, and I try to let her know as much as I can, but it is good to take an entire day out that is just for her. This year is extra special too because it is my very first Mother's Day, and I feel like I am the luckiest momma alive! Makenna is such a blessing to me- I am constantly in awe of her and she of me. We are just meant for each other. In the morning, I started sitting her in her Take-Along Swing in the bathroom so I could keep an eye on her while I'm getting ready. But now it is apparent that she is watching me. She will just stare the entire time I am putting my makeup and smile and coo at me. It's like her way of telling me I'm beautiful, which for most mom's is a bit of a struggle when you're still in the tremendous process of losing baby weight, and I am definately no different! But I have to remind myself that I gave birth to this precious little life, and that any changes (including that C-Section scar) are just reminders of that amazing accomplishment.


Anyway, tomorrow is a big day for us both and for my mom as well as it is her first year as a Grandma! YAY! I'm so glad that there is a day to celebrate mothers- because we are pretty darn amazing ;) but for me, it's not so much about US as it is about the ::incredible:: love we have for our children. NOTHING in the whole world can compare!!! What's not to celebrate?!

Crazy, Tragic, Almost Magic, Awful-Beautiful Life <3

Once upon a teenage time, I fell in love hard with the most wonderful, hilarious, beautiful- inside and out- guy of my dreams. After breakups and makeups, living it up and growing up, we finally found happiness because... Three years later, on August 2nd, we were swapping our "I Do's" and making promises of forever, knowing that marriage would never be easy but it would always be worth it.

I proudly became Mrs. Alyssa Martin.

We got married being well aware of the little miracle taking place inside of me- a baby was something I had wanted and dreamed of since I was a little girl, but after years of health problems and complications, doctors had told me that my chances were slim. In May of 2008 however, SURPRISE, against all odds and very much without our knowledge, a tiny +plus+ sign changed our lives. We knew that we wanted to bring our son or daughter into a "true family", and although things were a little backwards, we wanted to get married and welcome the baby- our baby- into a committed relationship. And so we did.

Pregnancy proved difficult for an already unhealthy body, but my favorite and most memorable moments were those lying in bed at night with Justin talking about what we thought she would look like, feeling (and watching) her roll around in my growing belly. I dreamed of her every second of every day during that nine months.

January 27, 2009- Welcome Makenna Kinsleigh Martin

Difficult Pregnancy=Worth it. 28 1/2 Hours of Labor (followed up by a Cesarean)=Worth it. Years of health issues=Worth it. Everything was worth it the first time I looked at her. For a week, I kept asking myself if maybe I were dreaming. At 7 lbs. 5 oz., this tiny little person turned my world upside down. She changed me for the better. She made our family complete!
Now it has been 3 months since Makenna was born and she already has so much personality. Her smile lights up my life!! I am exhausted to say the least, but so blessed. Her very favorite thing in the world is her passy, her swing taking a close second. No...I take that back. Her favorite thing is Mommy. Yes, my daughter is so completely attatched to me that many days I am the only one that can hold her, change her, burp her, even look at her. It is a great day if I can break away long enough to eat and take a shower without traumatizing her. Ha! The doctor says it is because I am nursing her and we have a bond like no other, but that she will eventually grow out of it being all about me. I look forward to it sometimes, but know that it will break my heart when it finally happens and she discovers this great big world outside of Mommyland.

She is still teeny tiny, weighing in at 10 lbs. and 13 oz. Her Daddy is tiny too, and she already look so much like him with his great big blue eyes and big smile from ear to ear. Our major feats to overcome right now are colic and an umbilical hernia that has been causing some digestive problems. She gets lots and lots of tummyaches and is a pretty pitiful little girl with that lip poked out so far I think it might get stuck! I hate to see my baby like that and not be able to fix it. I get a little down on myself because as her Mom, I feel like I should have all the answers. But Makenna and I are in the same boat in a lot of ways, both of us learning every day. Every day is an adventure, and I am so glad to be on it with this beautiful family of mine. :)