Happy Birthday Austin!

Today is my cute little husband's birthday! I wanted to make it a special day for him, but it's kind of hard when you are poor and when he has class until 5:30 that day! But we did go out to eat as a family and then had a little ice cream birthday cake for him.

The big 2-6!
Cheese! Smiling with the cake (he is such a handsome guy!)!

Actually Austin had to hold his blowing out a little bit because I didn't take the picture fast enough! So this may be a little posed... : )

It was a fun day! Dinner and the cake were yummy and it was nice to spend the evening as a family. We got home a little late and put Makenna to bed before we had cake, so it was a little awkward singing Happy Birthday alone (thankfully Austin joined in, "Happy Birthday to Me!"). Oh well.

Happy Birthday Austin! You are a fantastic father and husband! We love you so, so much!

Just a little funny note, about an hour after we put Makenna in bed, we went to peek and check on her. There she was, sitting in the dark in the middle of her bed, playing with her baby doll! She looked up at us and said, "Hi!" and just smiled at us! She started bouncing on her bed laughing. What a goofy kid! Who does that?

Silly Girls, Big Boys, and Happy Birthdays!

Makenna is such a girly girl! She loves to wear dresses and always picks out really bright, fun colors to wear. She also loves to put on shoes and bracelets and carry around her babies and purse. A few nights ago we just had to take this picture. This is how Makenna accessorizes:

Do you love the flower headband around her neck, the bracelets, and the purse? Such a silly, cute girl!

On other news, I went to the doctor yesterday. The doctor said that he expects us to have a little baby boy in 6 to 7 weeks! Which is something because I am only 31 weeks along! But he said if the baby isn't born by June 22 he is inducing that day. Dr. Erickson said get ready because he thinks we will probably have a big boy! Also, Austin has finally agreed to a name for our little boy. We are naming him Maxton Paul Matthews and calling him Max!

One last note, today is Austin's birthday! He is the big 2-6! Happy Birthday Austin! We love you!

Our Favorite Night of the Week

Each week, Austin and I really look forward to Monday nights. Why? It's Family Home Evening Night! We have been having so much fun with our family night that we wanted to share:

Each night we start out with an opening prayer. Last week Makenna "said" the prayer (which basically meant she folded her arms and I said a simple prayer). Of course she can't really talk very much yet, but it was just so fun to see her with her arms folded! She is finally starting to leave them folded for prayer! I think this is one of the most adorable things little kids can do! Then we usually sing a song. I download the music from the lds.org website and we sing along. Makenna loves to lead the music! She thinks that every time you sing a song with actual music you have to lead! She just waves both arms around but it's very cute!

Next we have a short lesson using the nursery manual. Usually it has to be pretty short because Makenna's attention span is still pretty nonexistent! For those of you trying to find good lessons for little kids, the nursery manual is turning out to be fantastic! Each week we have a little short story with a picture, some type of song or rhyming activity, and then a fun little activity. This week we talked about Heavenly Father and Jesus loving each of us. We said a little rhyme with motions, showed a picture of Jesus with the children and told Makenna that Jesus loves children and blessed them, and then we looked in the mirror and said "Heavenly Father and Jesus loves... [fill in the name]." Very simple but gets the point across! And even though Makenna doesn't always pay attention, one day it will all seep in! My mom says that we maybe just don't realize all that Makenna is getting from it, but that she is definitely getting something!

For our activity we sing Makenna's favorite songs (so far this has been our activity every single week because Makenna loves it!). Her favorites are "If Your Happy and You Know It" (mostly she loves seeing us stomp our feet--she laughs like crazy each time!) and "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" (she likes it when we go fast!). She also loves the classics like, "Three Little Monkeys" and "Patty Cake." Then it's bath time, scripture time, and prayer time. Then bed time!

We only spend about half an hour to an hour on our official "Family Night." But it is such a special time to be together to sing songs and teach Makenna gospel principles. She is still so little, but I know she loves this time too!

Makenna and Daddy cheesing for the camera. They still have red cheeks from Saturday's football games!
Makenna and Daddy wearing their "Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ Love Me" necklaces.

Crazy Hair

Since Makenna's hair is getting longer (well, longer on top at least), we have been putting her hair in little pony tails and pig tails. They look pretty cute! Well, the second (and I mean the SECOND!) Makenna becomes tired, she pulls her hair bands out. It doesn't matter where we are or what she is doing, if she is tired- bands come out. I'm not sure why this is, but it happens. Tonight we just had to laugh before bedtime. She pulled the hair band out and her hair looked so funny! Pictures do not do it justice- but we tried!

Crazy hair from the side-- in person it really looked like a mohawk (Austin had to try to hold her down because she wanted the camera!)

I just had to include this picture. Ha ha, when she is old she will be mad we put it on here, but she looks like she is slightly intoxicated! Ha ha, so so funny! We don't have many "bad" pictures of Makenna, so it's actually good to see that she can take one!

Yeah! Finally a smiling Makenna!

A Little Lunch...

I know, I know, I know... you have to let toddlers feed themselves. They have to learn sometime. But I hate doing it because I hate messes. I would much rather just feed her myself! But she is getting to the point where she prefers to do it herself...

Today Makenna had some yummy pasta, corn, and pineapples for lunch. She washed it down with a big cup of water (still the only thing she will drink!). This is the result:

Hmm, I must be crazy! Makenna feeding herself isn't messy at all... What was I thinking (also notice that I had the foresight to take her clothes off first! Yes!)?

Cute Little Boy!

I know I just posted a super long blog on Sunday, but we just went to the doctor for our 3D ultrasound today and got some adorable pictures! This little boy looks just like Makenna! He has the same little chin and mouth as she does. Right now he weights 3.7 pounds and is measuring about a week early. Big boy! Here are a few of my favorite pictures:

He is sound asleep! Look at those little pouty lips!
His cute little toes!

Ha ha, I think this is a funny shot. He was sitting there with his foot up in his face! And every once in a while he would scratch his forehead with his toes! Oh, no! Does this mean we are having another goofy kid?!?

Just a little smile! I was worried because it looks like he has a giant nose, but the lady assured me that it was just because his face was pressed up against me! She said that happens a lot in these pictures!

So there is our cute little boy! I hope he sleeps like this after he is born too! : )

Our Great Weekend!

Austin says my posts are too long... Too bad! I'm posting it anyway!

The Matthews' family has had a pretty excellent weekend! Friday was Austin and my second anniversary. I know, I know, we are doing good-- two years, two kids! We were so excited to get to go out on our first "date" in a while. Annie and JJ (thanks so much!) watched Makenna for us and we went to Applebees (with a giftcard from Austin's mom-thank you!) and to the movies (with free tickets I got as a gift from my old school). A cheap but fun date I would say! It was so nice to get to go out, just the two of us! Austin opened my doors and held my hand... almost like he likes me! ; ) And apparently Makenna was a good girl while we were gone. So it was a great thing!

Saturday Austin's school had an Easter egg hunt for the kids. Saturday was really yucky, yucky weather so they had to move the hunt indoors. I have to say, I was pretty disappointed in it. They had all the 0-3 year olds crammed in a tiny room and they just threw eggs in the middle of the floor. And it was so, so hot in there! I had to step out because I thought I was going to be sick! But I think Makenna had fun which is all that really counts I guess!

And they are off! When they said go, Makenna instantly dove for the eggs!

Then she pretty much got lost. There were just way too many kids in there! She just froze in the middle of the floor! She ended up with just four eggs, but she is just little so that is ok! She didn't know she could have got more!

We let Makenna use her bag from Grandma Becky as her Easter basket on Saturday. She is so cute holding her "purse"! Also thanks to Grandma Becky for that little outfit. It was perfect for cold weather and also perfect for an Easter egg hunt!

Makenna and all of her cute little friends! She just did not want to pose for a picture!

Makenna and mom checking out her Easter eggs. She ended up with a sticker and whistle, a top, a bracelet, and a little foam bunny.

The rest of the day was spent having lunch, taking a family nap, and then that afternoon Makenna and I got to go to Jillian's house to make and decorate Easter cookies! Then Austin watched Makenna so I could run to the store.

*Okay, get ready for a rant... So I went to the store. The lady at the check out said, "Oh you are having a baby!" "Yeah..." "Any day now, huh?" "Umm... no!" So here it is, NEVER, NEVER presume to tell a pregnant lady when she is due. NEVER, EVER mention how large she is. NEVER tell her she looks ready to go any day now. No one likes to hear they are big! No one likes to hear that they look like they are 9 months pregnant when they are only 7 1/2! Just don't mention it! It gets on my nerves more than anything else while I am pregnant... I can't help that I get as big as a whale! Just stop and think people! *Now going back to happy weekend news... : )

Today Makenna slept in until 8. Way to go Makenna! Then she got to see what the Easter bunny brought her!

She loved the little bus with her new baby markers in it! Only she doesn't use them as markers; she thinks they are little people or something!

Look at all of Makenna's fun toys-- bracelets, bendable bunnies, a coloring book, wow!

Makenna loved putting ALL of her bracelets on at once!

After she took everything out of her bucket, Makenna cracked us up by putting it on her head! Silly girl!

Soon it was time to get ready for church. Makenna is such a blessed little girl to have Grandmothers that love her so much! Both sent her fun packages with adorable clothes in them! She wore a dress from Grandmom to church today and an outfit for Easter egg hunting and one for dinner from Grandma Becky. And she has a dress to wear next week from Grandma Becky too! What would we do without Grandmothers? (Probably not have clothing for our children!). Thanks Grandmas for loving our little girl and taking care of her and sending her adorable things! We love you!

Makenna's dress from Grandma Becky. She is going to wear that one next week!

Her dress from Grandmom. She looked like an angel in it today! Makenna loves these poofy dresses-- she is such a girly girl!

Makenna dressed for church (can you tell she wouldn't take a nap this morning?). She looks so pretty! I wish she would smile though! : (

After church, we were able to go to Annie and JJ's house for Easter dinner. I just want to say, thanks so much for having us over! Makenna loves you guys and we like you a little too ; ) . Dinner was great!

Makenna dressed for dinner in an outfit from Grandma Becky (yep, still tired!)

Makenna had so much fun playing with Cole and the magnets! Cole and Logan are her best friends!

Uh oh... Annie may not let us come back! Makenna and Cole are making a mess of her cabinets! Those troublemakers! : )

After dinner we headed home to get Makenna ready for bed. We took off her clothes but before she could get in the bath, she somehow managed to get her Easter bucket stuck on her leg! She walked all over everywhere with it stuck on there!

Ha ha, silly Makenna has a bucket on her bottom! She ended up falling down and sitting in it! (Sorry, I wasn't fast enough to get a picture!)

Oh man, get that off mom!

Makenna is dressed in her Easter pjs. Good night! See you next Easter!

Once again, thanks to everyone who made this a special time for us and our little Makenna!