Updated Pictures

Just because I haven't posted pictures in quite a while.

A Girlie Girl

When I was young I was both girlie and a tom-boy all at the same time. I dressed like a girl and preferred to stay neat and clean, but I caught frogs and snakes and jumped fences with the boys. I also had a brother and mostly boy cousins and friends. I just related better to the male gender (girls were too gossipy and mean for me). Don't get me wrong. I still had my best girl friends, and I still have them now, but I had that tom-boy thing going for the lo-o-o-ongest time

I don't know if anyone has noticed, but my daughter is a GIRLIE GIRL. She notices jewelry and polished nails. She likes shoes, scarves and hats. If it sparkles she wants it for her own. At a very young age she became enamored with earrings. Seriously...she LOVES them. The first thing she does when she sees her Nani is look for her earrings. If she is wearing some Mackenzie then examines them, touches them, feels them and plays with them BEFORE she can do anything else. And she will go back to them off and on until we part ways. If Nani is not wearing earrings Mackenzie checks, double checks and triple checks before she can move forward with her hanging out and playing. Whatever are Wayne and I going to do? I guess we are going to buy a lot of earrings for our daughter (along with the matching necklace, bracelet, shoes and hand bag). Huhhh. Don't grow up too fast little girl.

This picture was taken after Mackenzie got her earring fix.

Bad Mom

Am I a bad mother? You tell me.

For the past 5 days Wayne has had a REALLY BAD COUGH (it is finally getting better, thank you). During the day the cough seems to all but almost disappear, but just around night fall he begins coughing and coughing and coughing. So much so that he goes to the sofa and turns on a movie and coughs for HOURS. No sleep for Mr. Sherwood, at least not until around 5 AM. Then he finally falls asleep. OK, so I got a little side tracked. Back to the bad mother thing.

So due to the fact that Wayne has not slept in our bed for about 5 nights, I have been bringing Mackenzie to bed with me at the first feeding (around 10:30). It just makes my life sooooooooo much easier. I don't have to get up and walk across the house 3, 4, 5 or even 6 times a night. I don't have to get up to feed her or soothe her because she is right next to me. I do realize tonight she will be back in her bed all night because Wayne is doing better. I hope I haven't created a monster and that Mackenzie will sleep well in her own bed tonight. I have noticed that each night she slept with me she cut out one of her waking up times, so last night she only woke up twice. Plus, it probably doesn't hurt that she cut those last 3 teeth.

I will let you know how it goes tonight. Keep your fingers crossed. :)

You Left Me!

This morning we went to church and left Mackenzie in the church nursery (crawlers and early walkers class). We have be doing this for months, and Mackenzie really loves playing with the adults, other kids her age and the new toys (or at least the toys she does not have at home).

Today she did something new. When I dropped her off she started whimpering and clinging onto me. The Ladies all said (practically in unison), "She never does that!" Apparently she was fine once I left and as usual she LOVED playing and even eating cheerios. I went in just before the end of the church service (during closing prayer) and watched her playing and smiling and having a good old time. When she finally noticed me standing there she started whimpering and crying as if to say, "I can't believe you left me, and I've been crying the whole time. Feel guilty." Tricky little girl. The ladies gave her away and told me how wonderful she was, and she stopped whimpering once she was in my arms again. Humm? What does this mean?

How Many?

Wow, Mackenzie just got tooth number 7 and tooth number 8...just one day apart. They are the sharp bottom teeth next to the front two teeth.

She has already practiced using them with her solid food. Fun, fun, fun.

My Garden Is Growing

Here are some updated pictures of my garden. It is definitely growing. These pictures are from before all this wonderful rain we are getting, so I am anxious to see what they garden looks like after all the rain. Rain usually does good things to a veggie garden.

(My first tomatoes)

















(Large Breed Tomatoes...these can get 6 feet tall)

(Tomatoes, carrots, spinach, onions, lettuce, radishes)

(First Spinach Sprout)





























(Bell Peppers and Squash varieties)

Mackenzie's 1st Birthday

Other than the melt down Mackenzie had half way through her party and the fact that she slept during the second half of her party...I think it was a hit. The boys really enjoyed playing with the bubbles out back :) Oh, and she finally ate some of her cake the next day! Enjoy the pictures.

The Big One (1-year old today)

Mackenzie,

Today you turn 1. This is a HUGE milestone in your life (not to mention Mommy and Daddy's lives, too).

First, we survived. We survived the early days of my body healing and taking care of you when you were soooooo small (7 pounds, 14 ounces). We survived the beginnings of nursing every 1 to 2 hours for what seemed like FOREVER. We survived your first fever, your first rash and the cutting of you first five teeth. Mostly, we survived the long, sleepless nights by leaning on God and using that time to sing to Him, worship Him and pray to Him. But that is only First.

Second, you are and have always been an amazing little girl. You have always been so very happy, and you only cry if something is wrong. Having such a wonderful little girl made the long nights completely worth it! Your smile melts my heart, and your laugh gets us both laughing. You crack me up at least once a day, but usually more like three or four times a day. You love to play tricks on me and you will do anything to make me laugh. You never liked to snuggle or hug, but KISSES are your big thing. You LOVE kisses. If I will kiss you you will hold still and soak it in as long as I continue (you have always been this way). Just recently you decided you like hugs and snuggles; for a limited time. :)

Third, you have changed our lives so much. More than I can even explain. Motherhood has been the most difficult job I have ever had: sleeplessness, worrying when you got a fever, crying when you bumped your head, praying over you continuously that you will come to Christ at a young age and so much more. But, motherhood has been the best job I have ever had, or will ever have. The moment I laid eyes on you I melted and the love I have for you welled up inside me so deeply that our bond can never be broken. You are the sweetest, most loving, smart, caring and tender little girl I could have every wanted. I will do anything for you. I love you Mackenzie Noel...never forget that.

Oh Precious Sleep

I think Mackenzie likes to keep us on our toes around here! Just when we have a good routine going she changes things up on us.

Although she has never slept, she was doing better. She has had a very consistent bed time of 7:30 on the dot every evening for just over a month now (which is absolutely wonderful) but she does still wake up between 6:00 and 6:30 every morning...uggg. She is also only eating twice during the night (also wonderful), but she does stir or wake up three to five times a night...uggg squared.

But here is the kicker. For the past week she has gone to bed at 7:30, woken up around 10:30 to eat, then she cries for like and hour and won't go back in her bed. No matter how long we rock her or sing to her as soon as we lay her in the crib...BAM...she cries...forever! She has also been tossing and turning and whimpering and crawling in her sleep for the past week. I know she is trying to cut that 6th tooth, but this is ridiculous.

If you had told me I would have a 1-year old that still didn't sleep I probably wouldn't have believed you, but here we are still not sleeping. Huhhh?

Here is one picture of her having fallen asleep in my arm.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Many of you may remember that almost 9 years ago I came down with an extremely severe case Guillain-Barré Syndrome. (For more information, questions or my story please comment or contact me directly)

Today I was reminded of the horror that syndrome put my family and I through, but by the amazing Grace of God and His Healing Hand I am completely recovered today. Why was I reminded? A friend of ours was just diagnosed and admitted into the ICU. I went to visit the family at the hospital today, and may I say that GOD IS GOOD. He has a very light case (compared to what I had) and is expecting a speedy recovery. He is not in pain! Simply paralyzed from the neck down, but already regaining movement in his feet and one hand.

It is due to my history of Guillain-Barré that I have entered into the childhood vaccination controversy. At this time Mackenzie is not vaccinated, but at every well-baby check up Wayne and I go over the pros and cons, pray and seek the Lord, and ultimately make our decision...again. Her 12-month well-baby exam is tomorrow morning (she is turning 1 tomorrow), so here we are praying and thinking. Lord, please help us make the right choices. Amen.

Play Date - Update

Here are some pictures of our playdates over the past year.

June 5, 2008 (Noah is 1 year, Mackenzie is 3 months and crying, Sawyer is 1 month and wondering what is wrong with Mackenzie)

June 11, 2008 (Noah, Hayley, Sawyer, Mackenzie)

July 1, 2008 (Mackenzie is 4 months, Noah & Hayley are 2 months)




















August 28, 2008 - Notice Mackenzie is making Sawyer 'all better'.






















January 8, 2009 - Much bigger and more active. (Sawyer, Hayley, Noah, Mackenzie)

Before Picture

Here is a picture of my garden BEFORE the plants go in. How boring...except for those small tomato plants you see in there.