Sleeping Beauty

 We recently received a couple of offers for free photobooks from one of our favorite photo websites.  Not wanting to let them go to waste, I began looking through our pictures of Makenna to see what kind of fun theme I could come up with.  In doing that, I discovered that we have what *might* be considered an inordinately large number of pictures of Makenna...sleeping.


At first I thought, "Man, what kind of weirdo am I that I have all of these sleeping pictures?"  But the more I thought, the more I realized that it's not really THAT strange.  I mean honestly, what is more peaceful and beautiful than a sleeping baby?   It's innocence personified right there  in front of you!  When Makenna was first born, we were always thrilled when she was able to sleep for any lengthy period of time.  That meant naps for Mommy and Daddy, or catching up on cleaning, and most importantly, peace and quiet.

As Makenna got older, we started noticing that she had some favorite sleeping positions.  

The Sprawl (aka, Frog Legs): 

The Cheerleader

The Cuddler

With Uncle Colin

With Daddy

The Naked Napper

The Carseat Crash

And finally, my favorite - The Totally Random, That Doesn't Look Comfortable But Apparently Is

Any way I look at it, I LOVE watching Makenna while she sleeps.  It gets me all warm fuzzy and fluttery inside looking at her and knowing that she is my little girl, that she grew inside of me, and that God blessed us with her.  Just last night, Chad and I stood in her room before we went to bed and just marveled at how beautiful she is.  We are so lucky to be Mommy and Daddy to the cutest, sweetest, most lovable little girl in the world.  

Our Little Water Baby!

Makenna LOVES bath time.  She hears that water start running, and you can just see the excitement in her face. As a newborn, of course, she wasn't a water fan, but once we invested (quite wisely) in her whale bath tub, she was hooked.

She loves splashing, loves every water toy you can give her, loves when Mommy and Daddy dribble water over her head.  She especially loves sucking on her wet washcloth or spongy crab toy (until Mommy pries it from her hands!).  So naturally, when a friend told me that there was a swim class available this summer for little ones ages six months and up, I knew we HAD to get Makenna in it.  Memorial Day weekend, we went to the Hurst Recreation Center and got her all signed up.  I have to admit, I was really excited to go swimsuit shopping for her.  I was, however, a little shocked when I ended up buying 12 and 18-month size swimsuits for my six-month-old baby, though!


On the first day of class, I was VERY excited. I just couldn't wait to get her in the water and see how much she loved it!  So after work, I started to get her ready.

Adorable Old Navy swimsuit - check!

Dora swim diaper - check!

   

Sun hat - check!

Seriously...this child could not look ANY more adorable in her swim gear!  I tried to get her in the sunglasses, suit AND hat, but couldn't manage it.  She was constantly pulling either the hat or the glasses off, but I finally caught her with the glasses actually on her face and not in her mouth!

Sunglasses - check!  Our superstar!

And don't forget the ever-important cover-up and princess towel!

Cover-up and princes towel - check and check!

I packed up her diaper bag, made sure the stroller was in the trunk, and off we went, in the 100 degree plus weather!  We arrived to find that she was the youngest in her class, which I suppose isn't shocking, since the youngest they will allow is six months.  There were only about six other kids, which was perfect!  When we got into that water - which, unfortunately, was tepid and not really refreshing at all (Thanks, Mother Nature, for heating it up so wonderfully.) - Makenna immediately started splashing.  She was so excited!  I knew right away that we were going to have a little mermaid on our hands.

Over the two weeks she had "class," she had such a great time!  She "jumped" off the side, learned to make "scoopers" with her hands, learned how to kick and even got really good at going underwater.  We had fun singing songs, like "The Hokey Pokey" and "Row, Row, Row Your Boat."  She charmed her two teachers and talked up a storm, and she loved chasing the little floating toys they had for the kids.  On the last day, we played in the kiddie pool with Daddy.

Makenna even went down the "big kid" slide and "jumped" off the diving board like a big girl!

Daredevil baby!

Overall, I would say it was a VERY successful two weeks.  She really seemed to love the water, and I was glad that we started getting her used to it so soon.  Sign us up to do it again next summer!

Sleepy Town

Ever since I was a young child, I have always loved writing stories.  In the third grade, I won a writing contest at my school with my story "Hollow Hill Mansion," about a group of kids who go to a "haunted" mansion and run into Dracula.  I had a poem about the seasons published in the newspaper as a child, and I worked feverishly on my old typewriter for months to write a "book" about a boy detective named Art Perspective and his friendly ghost-assistant, Mr. Voodoo.  In high school, I started a story not-so-loosely based on my group of friends about some girls playing with a Ouija board who got themselves into some scary trouble.  (I'm sure you have all noticed a trend here...too much Scooby Doo as a youngster, I think!)

As an adult, I started to focus more on children's stories, although to be honest, I have a terrible time finishing them.  However, a few years ago, I did manage to come up with a story that I felt pretty darned proud of.  It's called Sleepy Town.  When I was young, my mom used to tell us that it was time to go to Sleepy Town when she was ready for us to go to bed.  So I wondered...what was Sleepy Town actually like?  I scribbled this down in probably 30 minutes, in the DFW Airport waiting for a flight to New Orleans for work.  It's been through many drafts since then, but I have to say, I'm happy with this one.  I am really looking forward to reading it to Makenna as she grows older. 

Makenna visiting Sleepy Town. :-)

Sleepy Town by Amanda Morrissey

Little Laney Lou was an angel by day,

The sweetest young lady was she.

But at night, when it came time for bed and not play,

An unhappy child she could be.

“But Mommy!” she cried, her eyes tearful and red,

“I’m really not sleepy, it’s true!”

And Mommy would nod her wise Mommy head

And say, “I have a story for you.”

Mommy told her the story of old Sleepy Town,

Far beyond all the stars in the sky.

Where the blankets are all made of soft, fluffy down

And the Man in the Moon sings a lullaby.

With pillows of clouds, and swings hung from the stars,

It is surely a beautiful sight.

And nightlights of lightning bugs, snug in glass jars,

Will brighten up anyone’s night.

On beds made just for jumping, kids have all kinds of fun,

They laugh and they giggle ‘til dawn.

And before night is over, a contest is won,

For Sleepy Town’s most wonderful yawn.

There are flannel pajamas for the townsfolk to wear,

In all colors, like blue, pink and plaid.

Soft, fuzzy bunny slippers, each child has a pair,

To soften their steps just a tad.

And as a companion, each person will find,

Chosen with the most tenderness and care,

A furry friend, with a face so gentle and kind,

Their own personal snuggly teddy bear.

To drink every night, the hot chocolate flows,

With or without marshmallows, as you choose.

And in the wee hours, long before the rooster crows,

Is a beautiful moonlit cruise.

“Mommy,” Laney said, eyes now shining and bright,

“Tell me how I can get to Sleepy Town!”

Mommy answered, “It’s easy, you can go every night.

But you first must be still and lie down.”

“Now just close your eyes,” Mommy said with a smile,

“And breathe slowly and deeply, my dear.

Then think sleepy thoughts, and after a while,

The town will begin to draw near.”

Laney did as Mommy said, with no fuss and no frown,

And saw the stars in the far-off sky.

She felt the down blankets of old Sleepy Town,

and heard the Man in the Moon’s lullaby.