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. :)