Farewell 2011

It is fair to say that 2011 turned out to be quite a year for the Odermans. It's still hard to believe that we are about to welcome a new year. Looking back at 2011 we started the year celebrating DelRae & my birthdays before our first family vacation (& Makenna's first flight) to beautiful Kauai. I added another child to the gang ( Gracie Myers- 6 months younger than Makenna). Our days have been busy and over the course of the year the kids relationships have changed so much. They sure do love one another. Friends have married, gotten engaged and had babies!! The Bushwacker family added Grant & Mia to the second generation. :) We are looking forward to meeting them in 2012. We made a trip up to the islands to visit our dear friends. Makenna took her first ferry ride. During the spring we went whale watching with Island Adventures and Makenna saw her first Gray Whales. Makenna took swim classes where she channeled her inner fish. Makenna continued to grow. She upgraded her bottle to a cup with a straw. She began crawling and soon after walked. Her mobility changed our lives. Her vocabulary has exploded. She is now saying up to 4 word sentences. She is a talker, dancer, runner & the sweetest cuddler. As of today she has 6 teeth fully in with 5 that have either just started breaking through the gums or just under the gums. Makenna celebrated her first birthday with friends & family at our local park. Eric & Shandel got engaged and have been busy planning their July 2012 wedding. In the spring we sold my Escape and purchased a 2010 Kia Forte. We spent a week in Chelan in August with the family & the Hansens. We enjoyed the company of Aunt Margaret during her 3 month stay!! Makenna really took to her and quickly learned her name, which we hear often. In the spring Mom relocated to Lacey, just minutes away from her beloved Makenna. We celebrated our second wedding anniversary. Makenna had her first zoo adventure. We were spoiled by 2 visits from Jen Carpanini. We went on countless walks, took numerous day trips, changed thousands of diapers, bought Makenna's first potty, took millions of photos ( not an exaggeration!), and daily marveled at our beautiful little girl and this fortunate life we live. So thankful for memories made and those we shared moments of 2011 with. We are blessed with amazing families, good health, a smart & healthy little girl, a rambunctious dog, jobs, a roof over our head and love. We are blessed. Looking forward to the promise of 2012 and the adventures that await.

Merry Christmas!!

25 days of Makenna and we end on an exhausted note! :) We had a wonderful Christmas celebrating with our family and thinking of those not present. It's safe to say that we all were spoiled yet again this year. Mostly by the love and joy our Makenna has brought into our lives.

Day 24

Merry Christmas Eve! Makenna went to her first Christmas Eve service in the very church that Grandma & Poppa were married. Her favorite part was singing Silent Night by candle light. Then we went over to Grandma & Poppas house for AMAZING clam chowder!! Makenna helped Grandma light the candles and even got to open a present. She lives Mika- her very first baby cabbage patch baby!!

Day 23

While Daddy & I play at an adult Christmas gathering Makenna is having a sleep over at Grandma & Poppa's house! Nighty night!

Day 21

My three little peas. We had a short day today with our friends because Lucas & Gracie were off to see SANTA!!

Day 20

Our coloring queen! During craft time she now insists on sitting at the island across from Lucas to color while he makes his project for the day.

Day 19

You spin me right round baby, right round like a record baby, right round...

Makenna on one of her favorite toys of the Myers- the spinning seat.

Day 17

Saturday morning Makenna & I set out to Gran's house to help decorate her Christmas tree!  Now that we've discovered another talent of hers- finding just the right place for ornaments- we decided to put her to work.  Listening to Elvis' Christmas tape (yes, my mom still has tapes) we danced as we emptied a HUGE tote of ornaments filled with memories on Gran's new tree.  Makenna showed off her tree decorating skills as we all enjoyed a good laugh as she placed EVERY ornament she was handed on the same branch.  At the end there were 6 good sized ornaments all bunched together and just inches from the ground.  :)

Day 16

Friday is FUN day with Poppa & Grandma. She's got her reindeer antlers on- her version of dancing shoes!! Thanks for the photo Steve & DelRae! :)

Day 15

Today was our day off from playing at the Myers house, so after we got our household chores complete it was time to PLAY!! We met up with our dear friends from Anacortes for a reunion, lunch date, shopping cart racing, shop till Makenna dropped trip to IKEA. It had been months since Makenna and her buddy Iona were together and Makenna didn't want her out of her sight. Whenever she couldn't see her she'd proclaim "Ona Ona" until she spotted her. It was so wonderful to see Julz and establish that we both were still alive and surviving households of children. :) I couldn't resist posting a photo from our epic laundry folding episode that occurred after dinner- 4 loads worth! As you can see Makenna has a nack for laundry.

Day 14

This is the way Makenna makes her soup!! First one must empty the drawer with bibs, aprons, & oven mittens. Then you exclaim "hot oven" while wearing your oven mitten you "open" the oven. Grab a nearby measuring cup, bowl or empty barrel from barrel of monkeys and presto! You have delicious soup!! :)

Day 11

It was the perfect day for a Sunday stroll around the south Capital neighborhood.  Evan & I enjoy the various architecture styles found in the small neighborhood, while Makenna loves the excuse to stomp about in her boots and enjoy showers of leaves!  We made a stop in front of the Lord Mansion where we found  the perfect patch of scattered leaves.  

Day 10

 A visit to "Ho"!!  Makenna has yet to say Santa and refers to him instead as "Ho".  Surprisingly she did rather well considering it takes her a while to warm up to strangers.  She was waving and blowing kisses to him from afar while we watched other kids go and sit nicely on his lap.  The moment it was her turn she avoided him, wanting nothing to do with him, but instead marched right up to his reindeer and promptly gave them hugs & kisses.  Looks like we'll be leaving more carrots than cookies out this year for her beloved reindeer.  Amazing a year makes.  Below is last & this years photos with Santa.  Doesn't look like the same little girl, except for the cheeks of course and her beautiful baby blues.  :)

Day 9

Another day at home.  This time the Myers kiddos are not feeling well, but thankfully it doesn't seem to be roseola.  We spent some time up in Momma & Dada's room looking out our big window watching for birds.  The eggplant was to entice them from the conifers they were hiding in.  Our Makenna is a birdwatcher.  Her enthusiasm has become even more apparent since our neighbor added a couple of bird feeders to their deck.  They are conveniently right in her field of vision during breakfasts in the kitchen.  She proudly exclaims "bird back".  We've seen Juncos & Stellar Jays.  There are also some sparrows which I have yet to identify.  They unfortunately showed no interest in eggplant.  We may try some peas tomorrow.  :) 

Day 13

Makenna received a special holiday package today from her Great-Auntie Jen & Great-Uncle Tom. She caught me with this wry smile reading her new and very special book. I remember when I was a kid AJ sending a personalized book for my birthday- Kate's Adventure in Birthday Land. I still have it to this day tucked away with other keepsakes. No doubt our little bookworm will wear its pages thin and cherish it always.

Day 12

A busy Monday left me at the end of the day without a photo of Makenna. We had a great day playing with our buddies Lucas & Gracie whom we've missed very much. For day 12 of Makenna's 25 days I have for your delight my little helper. :)

Day 8

Last night as we were getting ready for bath we discovered spots. The red rash of roseola appeared after her fever broke earlier in the afternoon. Roseola it is. The worst is behind us according to the doctor at her follow up appointment today. Apparently she is feeling worlds better. Such joyous news can only be celebrated by wearing 3- yes 3- summer hats. :) Our silly girl has returned.

Day 7

We learn something new about Makenna everyday, especially since she's learning so much & getting so big. Being home sick we discovered that Makenna loves- seriously loves- Ellen Degeneres. Who doesn't though honestly? It shouldn't be that surprising since they both love to dance & laugh! Below is our little dancing queen busting a move with Ellen. <3

Day 6

Sick days call for an all-day pj day. Due to this rare occasion Makenna called to order a meeting
of her friends that live in the basket to discuss her expectations of play while she's home sick. Ladybug girl had a hard time following expectation #1:SIT! We, the parents, did a fare job keeping the fever at bay and managing/entertaining a grumpy/sweet Makenna. :) Hoping tonight gives her the rest she needs to break the fever.

Delayed Day 5

Typically I post in the evening after our active Miss M is snug in bed. Yesterday just after dinner Makenna took ill. Out of nowhere she spiked a fever, was having chills, seemed to be hallucinating and her hands and feet where discolored with red blotches. So needless to stay we were occupied with worry and trying to comfort our sick munchkin. After a long night of walking, reading, medication taking, snuggling and some sleep we took Makenna to the doctor. It's a virus. And could possibly be roseola. Time will tell, but for the time we are keeping the fever in check as much as possible, keeping her comfortable and pushing the fluids. The photo for yesterday was actually taken on Sunday at Grandmas (which she finally caved to saying making one happy- okay ecstatic grandma!!) & Poppa's. She loved their tree. :)

Day 4

The ultimate seal of approval: sneaking bites of a new dish she just had for breakfast as I clean up and put it away!!

Day 3

Chief Makenna of the pumpkin precinct. :) This girl loves her hats and playing dress-up!!

Day 2

After a long day playing with Poppa & Grandma, Makenna snuggles up with Wayne. <3 love them.

The 25 Days of Makenna: Volume 2

And so it begins the start of the advent and the countdown to Christmas. We had such fun posting a photo of Makenna daily last year I thought why not do it again. :) And helping me is my newly downloaded Blogger App to make this process much easier. * fingers crossed*

On the first day of Christmas Makenna got a little toy police car!! Scooting around on the ground with it she exclaims "Poppa, Poppa"- Grandpa Steve is a retired police officer. She likes to make "Poppa's" car go FAST!

Many Thanks on This Day of Thanksgiving

Watching her first Macy's Thanksgiving Parade.  She picked out her hat for this very special occassion. :)

Surrounded by love.

We give thanks for our very blessed life.  We are fortunate to have a healthy, smart, active, joyful little Makenna.

Oh no she knows she is cute!

How we love our Gran!

Playing with Aunt Shandel.  She makes the best bracelets.

Uncle Eric & Aunt Shandel with the little Miss.

Crazy for turkey.

Dancing the night away with Grandma!  These girls really know how to boogie  :)

Ending the holiday with a cup of milk, a snuggle on the couch & some tasty pie.

Snapshots from November

It's been another busy month in the Oderman household!  We are all adjusting to the winter weather that has arrived & it becoming darker earlier in the evening.  In the last couple of weeks Makenna's vocabulary, which was already large, as just taken off.  She has become a little parrot.  I've long lost track of how many words she can say or knows.  Last week she said her name for the very FIRST time!  Clear as day!!  Not only is her mouth moving a mile a minute, but her body is TOO.  This girl is BUSY.

We recently bought a potty for Miss Makenna.  She has taken quite an interest in Lucas' potty and his potty endeavours.  So for the time being we are "practicing" with clothes on.  For a while she has been telling us when she is going "peepee" or "poo".  Now, we simply ask if she wants to sit on her potty.  Sometimes she even insists on it- although we don't know if she is really going during that time.

Her love for Wayne continues to grow.  Poor pup I think gets overwhelmed with her "love" and attention.  Thankfully, he keeps an escape route within sight and uses it when necessary.

Trotting along wearing her rings as bangles.

Always clowning around.  She sure does love to be upside down.

Just recently she has become interested in stacking blocks, rings and working with her shape sorter.  Her first love however still remains books.  Our little bookworm loves to be read to and is also quite content reading to herself.

Our little helper first picked up leaves with momma & dada then decided it was time to sweep.

The joys of a broom.

Her smile lights up even the greyest of days.

Trying the push method.

Loves for Wayne.  If you are on the ground she will get you and she always goes for the head!

Full on Makenna tackle hug.  Poor Wayne lasted a few more moments before retreating under her high chair.  He is such a tolerant and loving pup.