update!

I know, its been way too long since I have updated the blog! October and November have been busy busy with school, dance, festivals, LA trips, you name it! Makena booked a shoot with Garnet Hill, a catalog, which shot up in Pismo Beach last week. She had a lot of fun, since they shot right on the beach. It was for their summer catalog, so we won't have pics for that for awhile.
Macie is getting big--3.5 months now! She is still a very good baby--fairly mellow, and such a trooper being hauled back and forth to LA.
UPDATED PICS!!

busy weekend!

This weekend has been crazy with back and forth trips to LA and a wedding thrown in the mix! I got a call on Thursday night from Makena's agent about a commercial audition for Macie and me! So luckily my friend Jess offered to watch Makena and take her to her classmate's birthday party while Macie and I went to LA for the commercial audition. Not expecting much to come from it because as soon as we sat down in front of the camera Macie started fussing, and I couldn't focus on saying the lines because I was trying to keep her quiet. Nice timing little one! Oh well...
Then came home for a wedding on Saturday which was a lot of fun, and Sunday we had to drive back to LA because Makena shot a spec commercial for Doritos that will be submitted for Super Bowl consideration. She did very well all things considered. 4 straight hours of filming can be tough for a 3 year old, especially since there were NO other kids there and she had to do everything the adults told her to do. She did remarkably well, when it is done I will get the reel and I can post it here, and MAYBE you will see it during the Super Bowl if it is chosen! Here are a couple recent pics of the girls!

Old Navy!

Here is Makena's latest Old Navy ad to come out this week. We will always remember this one, as she was shooting this, Macie was making her entrance into the world! Look how happy she is when Mom isn't there! Grandma should take her to all of her shoots!

my girl

No, she is not in a bad mood, I just love that little face!

6 weeks

Wow, not sure where the last 6 weeks went! It has gone a lot faster this time than it did with Makena. I am trying to savor every moment with Macie, and it seems to go even faster! Maybe because Makena has started school--the weeks seem to just fly by!
Anyway, here are some pics of the last month!

preschool!

Makena started preschool yesterday--was quite bittersweet for me. Of course she loved it and I definitely enjoyed my time alone with Macie, but it makes me sad to think that she is already going to school! Its only 2 half days a week, but it is still very strange--where did the last 3 years go???

This is Makena coming out of school after her first day--holding the teacher's hand. I think she had fun...

little love

We just LOVE this little baby girl! She has been just the sweetest thing (so far!) She is now 10 days old, and Chris and I keep wondering when the dam is going to break...but so far she has been very mellow and easy. Nights have not been too rough...she seems to sleep very well when I can keep her awake an hour before bedtime, waking up only twice per night. Keeping fingers crossed she stays this mellow, but definitely prepared for things to get a little harder...

its a GIRL!!!

Well--SHE is here! Baby Macie Anne, born on August 4 weighing in at 8 lbs 0 oz and 20.5 inches long. She is just perfect--we are absolutely in LOVE with her! Her entrance into this world makes for a pretty great story as well...

On Monday, August 2, Makena had a fitting for an Old Navy shoot in LA. So, I was feeling fine and being that the due date wasn't until that Saturday, I figured I would be okay taking her. We got there, and my in-laws were nice enough to meet me there just in case something were to happen. Of course, everything went smoothly and Makena booked her shoot for Wednesday--only 2 more days away. I REALLY wanted to see the shoot, so I decided to stay at my in-laws house and just take it easy for a few days, take her to the shoot and make it back to the desert in time to have the baby. I was actually 10 days late with Makena, so I actually figured I would be late again. Anyway, I woke up on Wednesday morning (day of shoot) feeling contractions about 30 minutes apart. At that point, I decided maybe to skip the shoot and have my MIL take her to the shoot, and father in law take me back to the desert. I figured I would have plenty of time...well within an hour, they went from being 30 min apart to being 6 min apart. YIKES! Better head to the hospital there! So, FIL took me to the hospital in Thousand Oaks, I was about 5 cm dilated...called Chris to come quick (drive is about 2.5 hours.) Within 2 hours I was fully dilated and ready to deliver. I tried holding off until Chris could make it, but we just couldn't keep baby in there! Called Chris on speaker phone and delivered baby by myself, with INCREDIBLE hospital staff. It was definitely sad to not have him there, but everything happened so fast I didn't really have time to think about it. And to be honest, I was so much better off being there--the hospital was a thousand times better than desert hospital, weather was a lot cooler, Makena made it to her shoot (and did fabulously!) and my family and in-laws were a lot closer! All in all, I think God had a plan and it played out perfectly.

Macie has so far been the absolute best baby...I know its only been a week so I am not counting my chickens, but she rarely cries and seems so mellow and content (thus far.) She is just perfect--I am savoring every moment with her because I know this will probably be my last baby :(

Makena's shoot went so well, my mother-in-law said everyone just adored her. Several times they would tell her she was all done, she would start to change out of her dress, then they would come back and pull her into another shot. The producer came up to Carol at the end and said she was one of the best, sweetest kids they have worked with (WHAT?? MY kid?!! Maybe Carol should take her to ALL of them--tee hee!!)

Anyway, here are pics of new baby Macie!!

mini vacation

We were just in San Diego for a few days for a mini-vacation. Chris was asked to work at Jakes for a night there, and we decided to stay a few extra days since it is probably the last little vacation we will have for awhile!!

Can't really beat the view from this playground in Del Mar!! Here are a few pictures of Makena and Presley playing at the park, and a picture of Julie's 2.5 month old baby girl, Dylan.

35 weeks

Here is me at 35 weeks along! Not too much longer!

last month!

Well, we only have one more month to go before baby #2 comes into our lives! Very exciting, but I am not OVERLY anxious to have a newborn again. I think this last month will help me appreciate how easy I have it right now.
Weather has been heating up, so we have been at the pool almost daily. Makena has been taking swim lessons and can actually swim underwater now from one person to another. She is doing a remarkable job, considering when we started 5 lessons ago she cried at just being dunked under water! Its really fun to watch her progress! These are a few pictures from our latest shoot, a boutique clothing designer La*Tee*Da*Kids. Very cute stuff!

happy 3rd birthday makena!

Makena's 3rd birthday was filled with multiple celebrations. We were in LA on her actual birthday because we had a wedding that night. So we took her over to the Santa Monica pier during the day. Little did we know that the park with the rides was closed to a private party that day, so we just walked around and went to the arcade. Then we went to Newport Beach for a few days to see family, and when we came home we celebrated her birthday with her friends at our pool. We barbaqued burgers and hotdogs and just let the kids swim. They had a blast and it was very casual and easy! See pics here!

pool chick

We have been going to the pool just about every day now that the weather doesn't allow for much else! It has been fun--and makes me feel almost weightless which is good right now! Also gives Makena a chance to practice her swimming skills (although the floatie tube is just for fun...)

ultrasound 32 weeks

I went in for another ultrasound today because they wanted to check measurements on the baby. I was measuring small from the outside, so they just wanted to make sure everything was developing okay. Turns out the baby is right on schedule! Here are a few 3D ultrasound pics.

Baby was trying to eat his/her foot! Profile looks a lot like Makena as a newborn--but I am sure all babies look similar...
Makena when she was first born...

Makena swimming

Last year I attempted to do swim lessons with Makena--we did about 8 weekly lessons, but she screamed and cried the entire time. It wasn't worth my time or money. So this year I am attempting to do it again, but instead of doing classes where I get in the water with her, I have a woman come to our pool and give her one on one lessons. So far we have had 2 lessons, and the most difficult part for her is going under water. She is not the most adventurous child, and tends to lean on the side of caution. Yesterday we had a lesson and she cried every time the instructor made her go under water. But when we got home, she kept bragging that she was ready to go under water on her own. So we took her to the pool today, and I kept asking her if she was going to keep her promise of going under. "Not yet, maybe later," she repeatedly replied. But then a little 4 year old boy came over to play with us and was showing off his swimming skills. So Makena watched with awe, and I could tell she was getting the urge to show him that she could do it too. Little by little she would put her face deeper into the water until eventually she went completely under. She was so proud of herself, she probably did it about 30 times today! May not seem like much, but for her it's a major feat! I took a video on my phone--quality not so great, but you get the idea!

28 weeks

Well, I wanted to take pictures every 4 weeks, but I missed the 24 week photos! Here is 28 weeks along, feeling good and plugging along!

new crib

Well, not really a crib--but its Makena's new "crib." In preparation for the new baby, we ordered Makena a new bedroom set and moved her into the bigger bedroom. I have been working all week on painting, new window coverings, organizing, etc. and now the room is *almost* complete...
Here are a few pics of the new room, and of Makena's first night in her new bed!!

gap update

Well, we got a callback for Baby Gap this morning! We had gone to a big audition last week and I knew that she did well--but there were so many cute kids, you just never know what they are looking for! So we go to a callback on April 12th, then if she is chosen, the shoot would be the 13th-16th. Not sure how callbacks work...we never had one with any of the other shoots we have done. But this is a huge shoot for their entire fall campaign that will consist of in-store wall posters, advertisements, online web use, mailers, everything! So, we will see how things go! As long as she is on good behavior, we might have a good chance--keeping our fingers crossed!!

ultrasound #2

We had our second big ultrasound today, measured at 21 weeks, so now official due date is August 5th. Compared the profile pic to Makena's ultrasound and it looks identical! Not sure if thats just how all babies look at this stage, or if they will come out looking alike. But it is strange, looks like a duplicate! Second pic is taken in 3D, comes out a pretty distorted because the baby was moving so much, but you can get a general idea!

modeling baby gassy gooma

As you know, I do this little modeling gig on the side where I take pictures of Makena for designers, and in exchange I get to keep the clothing. The lady who runs this "agency" also owns her own clothing website, called Baby Gassy Gooma. She organizes the model placement service--companies come to her, pick out a model, then she sends us the clothes. But she asked us personally to model for her website, so we just did photos for that. She likes a very "rustic" setting, so it was perfect because I was going to be at Chris's parents house anyway (the epitome of rustic!) We stayed there at the ranch for a few days, and had a very nice time with them.

napa

We just returned home from a wonderful 4 day trip to Napa with TS friends. It was so beautiful--a much needed retreat! Although it is such a tease being pregnant in Napa (a glass or two doesn't hurt though!) We stayed at a wonderful little hotel in Yountville--very first class--and had some remarkable meals. LOVE Napa, it was hard to leave and come back to reality! Anyhow, pics from the trip HERE!

20 weeks

Okay--here goes! I never took pictures when I was pregnant with Makena until I was about 7 months along. Now I wish I had them to compare to this pregnancy. So I thought I would start now taking pictures every 4 or 5 weeks just for fun. Here is 20 weeks along!

play dates

Chase and Makena

We are members of the Children's Discovery Museum out here and there are so many cool things for kids to do! We hadn't been in awhile because last time Makena wasn't extremely excited about it. But this time she LOVED it! Her favorite thing to do is paint the old VW Bug they have on display there. They change out the paint color every day so it almost looks tie dye.


Here is our day at Pump it Up, a big warehouse filled with inflatable bounce houses where they can jump and slide. We typically go every Tuesday morning, and she loves it! She was with her friend Sienna and they were being so silly!

springtime

I know its not technically spring yet, but things are starting to really get beautiful and "spring-like" out here! I love this time of year, I think its my favorite in the desert. Things are going well for us, I am about 18 weeks along in the pregnancy now and feeling good overall. We have our next big ultrasound in about 3 more weeks, and we could find out the sex if we really wanted. But it was so exciting not knowing with Makena we have decided to wait one more time, since this will most likely be our last :(
We are going to Napa in 2 weeks for a business/leisure trip. Business for Chris, leisure for Makena and me! Haha! Makena is so excited to fly on an airplane--her first "real" airplane trip (she flew when she was 3 months, but obviously doesn't remember that!) Anyway, a few pics from the past few weeks!