2010….thank you for the memories!

2010 has to have been the best year to date for me. I have the man of my dreams, an amazing child, a beautiful home and a family that I love dearly. How could our lives get any better? Well – the addition of another baby due in 2011….so maybe 2011 will be the best yet?

I think our 2010 is best explained in pictures…..have fun!

 
Jackson started solids……and had quite the hunger for it!


First tooth showed up……

 
Howard the Duck became a new member of the family (in the bathtub). Love at first sight!


Our first Easter as a family!


Mother’s Day……it was perfect.

 
Little Gym                                          Swim Lessons


FIRST BIRTHDAY!!!


First trip to the ER


Becoming best friends with Daddy


Pumpkin Patch                             Halloween


First Snow



Christmas……

GOAL for 2011

Debt. That 4 letter word that is the naughtiest of them all. It haunts me, it hangs over my head like a dark rainy cloud, it keeps me awake at night, it follows me everywhere I go and it creates tension with every relationship I have. I hate it. If debt were a person – I’d punch it.  But guess what? I created this debt – so I must own up to it.

My goal for 2011 is to go back to being a part-time Stay-At-Home-Mommy. I’ve crunched the numbers 10 million times – and the only way to accomplish my goal is to pay off as much debt as possible.  We don’t have a TON of debt – not including Shane’s student loans, our debt is pretty manageable – but taken out of our monthly bills – we could afford for me to work part-time (2 days a week).  With Malia on the way, I can’t handle the thought of her being away from me……and she’s not even HERE yet. I have to be home with my 2 babies….I have to.

So…..this is where I need you…..friends, family, loyal readers. I need you to keep me accountable. Remind me of what’s important and don’t let me spend any extra money I haven’t accounted for.  So far I’ve been doing pretty damn good. Christmas was SUPER SLIM this year, I’ve been a couponing freak and meal planning EVERY SINGLE MEAL.  Mine and Shane’s Christmas present to each other – paid off the lowest (yet the highest interest rate) credit card we have. It SUCKS making a huge payment, but if it brings me that much closer to my goal – I’ll do it.

Debt – you’ve been around WAY too long. You are no longer welcome in the Makanani house any longer.  I plan on having a party when your gone……even if it means we can only serve water and iceberg lettuce. It will be while I am home with my babies.

Merry Christmas 2010

This Christmas I found it EXTREMELY hard to take photos. I think last year I took over 200 photos on Christmas Eve/Day – this year…maybe 20.  I was EXHAUSTED running after Jackson – he has to be moving all.the.time.  I consider myself lucky that he is able to be active, but at 5 months pregnant – it’s tiring.

We started out with Christmas eve at the in-laws (Makanani/Manahan/Boyce’s) – and it was mayhem.  Lots of people, lots of energy and lots of gifts. Jackson and Kea were even given a few presents to open from their Auntie Bub – and they were in heaven. But first, running up and down the hallway was on the agenda!

Hey! I know you….
I know a funny joke….

Let’s hug!

Annnnnd back to running.            She is so cute! I just love her!
 

Then, we woke up Christmas morning and waited for our sleeping child to wake up…..it was nice for us to wake up before him. Gave Shane and I a chance to have a cup of coffee and really enjoy the blessings we have been given this Christmas.

We were so excited to give him this gift…..

And his new ELMO!

But all he wanted to do was organize my new lotion bottles.


After a few cups of coffee and watching Jackson go crazy with his new gifts, we headed back over to the Makanani’s for breakfast and present OVERLOAD……


Then it was off to the Sogn house to celebrate. This is where I got SUPER lazy and took only a few photos…..I suck.
 
As you can see, Jackson LOVES anything with wheels. He got 4 trucks, 1 wagon, 2 dump trucks and a motorized 4 wheeler. Spoiled much?

First shopping trip!

I was lucky enough to receive a $100 Macy’s gift card for Christmas and was told that I needed to use it on MYSELF. Stuff for ME……try telling that to a woman that was just told she was having her FIRST BABY GIRL.

So I went a little nuts.  Especially knowing it wasn’t going to touch my bank account.  The good thing is that I have a pretty good idea of what I need depending on the season/age. I know most people are going to get dresses for Malia – so I got the basics  - jammies and onesies. Although it’s not super cute to most – it’s gorgeous to me because it’s for my baby girl. Bring on the PINK!!!!!!

The best part? I got 2 Christmas outfits for under $5.

It’s a…….

GIRL!

I am happy, excited, proud and thrilled to announce that we will be welcoming a healthy baby girl in May.  I was shocked and Shane knew it.  I immediately tuned out and starting thinking daydreaming about all of the memories that she and I will have together as well as the ones her Daddy has been dreaming about.  I can’t wait to get hair bows, dresses, tutus, tea sets and Barbies for our sweet little girl.

So next up is her name – Shane took the responsibility on this one considering I chose Jackson’s name. I wanted him to choose a name this time around and I think he did pretty damn good…..

Malia Christine Makanani

Sounds beautiful, eh?  Malia just sounds right, and Christine is my mom’s first name.  Malia was a last minute choice, but one we both love and think is fitting for our sweet baby girl.

And because I can’t leave you without a photo of our princess, here you go….

Life is good…

17-20 week check-in

What weeks? 17th-20th
Total weight gain: 11 lbs
Baby Growth: From 5 ounces and around 5 inches long from head to bottom to 10 1/2 ounces and around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel
Maternity clothes?: Still getting away with larger size NON-maternity shirts – but the pants are ALL maternity. Bummer. 
Stretch marks?: Nope!
Sleep?: Really good.
Best moment this month?: Finding out that our baby is 100% healthy and feeling him/her kick ALL THE TIME.
Movement?: See above!  This baby loves to kick and loves to push back when either Shane or I give a little nudge.
Food cravings?: Tillamook Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream. Seriously – I have eaten my weight in this stuff!
Labor signs?: No way!
Belly button in or out?: Flat
What I miss: Clear skin
What I'm looking forward to: Telling our family the sex of our baby! We found out on Monday during our 20-week ultrasound and I am dying to tell the world. We want to wait until Christmas Eve so we can tell our entire family in one day!
Weekly Wisdom: No matter what, a HEALTHY baby is most important!!!!!
Milestone: We picked a name!

Week 17                                    Week 18 (can you say POP!)

Week 19                                          Week 20

Santa Picture!

We waited a while this year to get Jackson’s Santa picture done – and boy, did we pay for it.  We HAD to wait because Jackson kept getting black eyes during the month of December. He hasn’t been very “graceful” and ends up with a black eye – so we waited…….finally, on Thursday morning we decided Friday would be a good day (malls would be pretty quiet) but then on Thursday night – BAM – black eye. Nice buddy.
Well, the mall was jam packed, idiots that don’t know how to drive were present, screaming kids (one being our own)everywhere and a Santa that decided to take his hour lunch as soon as we arrived.  So we had to keep Jackson busy for an hour while Santa was munching on some Taco Time and then we had to wait ANOTHER hour in line. NOT FUN.  Jackson was a pill.
However, AS SOON AS he sat on Santa’s lap, his face lit up and was the happiest little boy you’ve ever seen.  See below:
 
I guess the magic of Christmas does still exist…..

Holiday Photos

LOVE LOVE LOVE our holiday photos this year. If you are in the Seattle area, and looking for an amazing photographer – look no further!  PLEASE book J. Shelton Photography.