The Spirit of the Season

This evening was the Relief Society Christmas party and I was so grateful to be able to not only be there but to really focus on the message of Christ. I had the chance to think about all that I have been blessed with in this last year. My wonderful husband and my very cute daughter, along with the opportunity to go back to school and work with the primary at church. I know that all of this is small potatoes to most but for me it is wonderful.

I also began to think about my life. I can not believe that as of this coming Saturday I will have been on the earth for 29 years. I know my parents can't believe it either. The problem for me is I don't feel any older than maybe 25. I am more tired but I chalk that up to Mackenzie keeping me on my toes. In 29 years I have experienced and learned so much. I have make plenty of mistakes but have also learned from them. I hope that the next 29 years are full of just as many memories and growing experiences.

The final thought for this post is that family truly is everything. As I watch Mackenzie grow and begin to talk and express her opinion I am so thankful to be a mom. It is not always easy, the worst time for me is bed time and her crying. But I know that even times get tough and my heart breaks and aches to make all of the pain and sorrow go away that with the Lord I can endure and accomplish so many more things than I can ever image. I have always known this but it has not really sunk in until I became a mother.
I know, I know I am a very slow learning. I hope you all are doing well and enjoying the holiday season.

Not a baby anymore

Yesterday Mackenzie officially turned a year old. She made it clear that she is not a baby any more. She drink from her sippy cup, had really cow's milk, by herself. She feed herself breakfast, which included a cereal bar, yogurt melts and maple cinnamon puffs. She decided to teach Nana Syndy how to use daddy's play station and to help mommy clean the living room. She then helped daddy put up her nativity set, she moved the pieces where she thought they should be (baby Jesus is still MIA). She then enjoyed a wonderful show put on by Charlie and then the wonderful finale, she got to eat birthday cake! Yes real cake with lots and lots of frosting. The sad part is that I am now Mom and Eric is Dad. It is crystal clear. We only are mommy and daddy at bed time. I promise to post pictures of Halloween and Birthday by tomorrow. Eric has hidden the camera. I think he wants to be here when I post them. I hope everyone is having a wonderful Autumn. I know we are. We are so thankful for our little Mackenzie Maya. Who is now a big girl!

The Joys of Life

I know it has been a while. We have had a lot that has happened and I am just now finding time to sit down and write it all down. I hope it makes sense.
Life has been busy due to the fact that in August we went and saw my wonderful grandmother in Mount Vernon, Missouri. Mackenzie had so much fun that she decided to start crawling really fast. Now my days are spent trying to keep up with her.
Eric is in his next to last semester of college. He just has one more semester of classes and then a summer internship. He is working so hard and I am so proud of everything he is doing to take care of our little family.
I am enjoying being a stay at home mom and taking night courses to work on my Masters in Education. I have always loved children but it was not until I became a mom that I have begun to truly understand them. I watch Mackenzie as she works hard to walk, and learn about the world around her and I reflect on so much. To think that this world was once new to all of us too. She is loving life and I am so grateful for that.
In just about two weeks she will be a year old and it still feels like yesterday when we brought her home. Granted my body is almost back to pre-pregnancy weight but still she is growing so fast. She say mommy, daddy and Jesus along with her babbles. The newest thing with her is her obsession with Big Bird. I say obsession because we can not go anywhere without him and she has to watch "Follow That Bird" at least once a day. Of course it is more like two or three times a day. Eric and I have the film almost completely memorized. To where the other day when we had it on pause we knew what lines had been said and were about to be said. So we ended up acting out the dialogue without the movie. Of course Mackenzie was not amused. Apparently Big Bird is more fun than her parents. Of course we are usually cleaning or studying. 
Well I could continue rambling but I think I will leave with this thought. I know that motherhood is not always easy or a walk in the park but I wouldn't change or give it up for anything. I love all the messes, the smiles, the crying and the struggles for I learn so much about who I am and who I am becoming. Also I truly learn patience and love. I will post pictures soon. Have a wonderful evening with all of your families.

It has been a while.

I have to ask for all of my dear friends forgiveness. I have not been the best blogger for the past few months. Life has been a little crazy and I have gotten distracted. Mackenzie is growing like a weed and is not say Mama when she is in need of comfort and dada when she wants to play. She loves eating solids and playing with our newest family member Charlie. Eric is getting closer to being finish with his second bachelors and I am in the process of applying for the Master of Education Program at the U. Other than that we are just working on helping Mackenzie crawl, getting our home in order and trying to keep up with our other responsibilities. I promise to be better at keeping you updated. Here are a few pictures of the cutie to start the repentence process.

Daddy and Daughter Time

So, I know it has been almost a month since I last updated everyone.  What a crazy month it has been. Mostly because Eric and Mackenzie have had colds and I have been trying to take care of them along with the house and school. The nice thing is that Eric has a little more time now to spend with Mackenzie and what a pair they are. Even when I am holding her she will do everything possible to get her dada to look at her. Also they can make each others day. Here are a few photos from one of their many play sessions.

Here Eric is trying to help her stand. She has been trying to do this a lot lately.

Mackenzie decided to share her flower with her daddy. Doesn't he look cute.

This was suppose to be a shot where they were both smiling but Mackenzie was really wondering what in the world I was doing.

I hope all of you and yours are doing well. Have a wonderful March, it is the beginning of spring!

Happy Valentine's Day

So this is our first Valentine's Day with Mackenzie and it was wonderful. We went to a farewell for one of Eric's friends and then came home and spent time together. So here is our Valentine's Day gift for all of you, cute pictures of Mackenzie and her Dada. Just a side note, she is being to talk more and more.

Here is Mackenzie all ready to go out and see her Aunt Shannon. Isn't she cute.

Here Mackenzie has taken over her daddy's seat on the couch and has decided to have a snack of her giraffe.

She loves her food and bubbles along with her daddy. Here are all three together. 

So here are a few more pictures. She is such an amazing part of our lives. She keeps us moving and we are being trained in the way that is pleasing unto her. Most of all she also reminds us of what life is really about.

The Joys of Gymboree

First I promise that more pictures are coming but I really wanted to share this little story with you all. Mackenzie is only 2 and 1/2 months old but already we are starting to see her determination to do accomplish whatever she puts her mind too.

The last couple of weeks Eric and I have been taking her to a Gymboree Play and Learn Class. It has been great fun for all of us. There is just one little hitch, during tummy time the teacher puts a towel under Mackenzie to help her stay up right. Well Mackenzie wanted no of it. She decided that she was going to get over it. So for two weeks she had worked really hard to push herself over the rolled towel. Well last Monday she accomplished just that. Well after accomplishing it she realized it was not a great as she had thought. So me being the loving mother I am put her back on the towel. This however she decided that she would just use to to help her see farther. So she placed her hands on the towel and held her own head and shoulders up on her hands so she could watch her ball rolling on the mirror.

This whole episode amazed me due to the fact that she worked and worked her little legs until she accomplished her goal. I hope that I can be just like her and work and work until I accomplish my goals. Well more later. I hope you all enjoyed this little story and there is so much more where that came from including some very cute photos. Have a great week and thanks for being such great friends!

Long awaited pictures of Mackenzie

So I know it has been a while, but I finally have a moment to post a few pictures of Mackenzie. She is doing great. We are still monitoring her heart but otherwise she is just as cute as ever. She has her whole family wrapped around her little finger and yes, that hair is still there. It is getting lighter but it is not falling out as all. I love! I get to put cute bows in her hair made by a dear friend. Enjoy the pictures!

Here is Mackenzie Maya drifting to sleep after a long day of playing with Mama and Dada. Even now she is unwilling to give up her rattle.

Here she is on Christmas day. Daddy is trying to let her open her gift herself but as you can see she just want to play with the ribbon and also to make faces at the camera.

Here is a nice close up of our beautiful Mackenzie Maya. She has a towel under chin just in case she decides to spit up. Here she is really giggling at her silly parents and their camera.

Here is a better look at her hair and how long it is getting. Also her can see her beautiful smile. We have noticed that she has mama's eyes and dada's dimples. Look out world here is the very cute Mackenzie Winslow, you don't stand a chance.

Doesn't just make your heart melt. She is so amazing at two months. I am not prejudice at all, I am being completely objective.

Here she is getting ready to go to the park. She has is dressed and ready. She even has her giraffe ready to go. All that is left to do is to eat and then off to the park!

Well that is all for now but we promise to post more soon. We just love our little princess. She is such a wonderful gift from heaven.