McKenna's First Halloween!

Of course McKenna had to be a sweet lil Owl for Halloween!  Since her nursery has an owl theme to it, I thought that an owl costume would be a perfect choice for McKenna's first Halloween.  I did what I usually do and try to make things when I don't really know what I'm doing!  It seemed like a fairly doable idea at first, buy an inexpensive sleeper onesie, cut out a millon feathers, create a hat,  and sew everything on!  Well, thankfully Grammy helped Mommy sew half of the feathers on!  Mommy's side of feathers started falling off when McKenna wore her costume to Kindermusik class on Monday and continued to fall off after Mommy had to put the costume in a bucket of oxiclean and wash it;  McKenna let off a giant explosion on the way home from Kindermusik class and Mommy couldn't get to it in time since we were in the car!  Needless to say, McKenna made the costume and while she was missing a few feathers before we got started trick or treating and when we got home she was a cutie hootie!  Next year I think I'll figure out a way to use my sewing machine for her costume instead of hand sewing or I might just go with a store bought costume!  I've included a few more pics from tonight and a few others taken over the past weeks.  Happy Halloween! 



Our lil cutie hootie showing off the owl pumpkin Daddy carved!





Ready to go trick or treating!





We took these a few weeks ago on McKenna's 5 month bday in our front yard!



All the gorgeous mums surrounding McKenna are actually growing in the front yard and are mums my Dad helped us transplant from the pots by our front steps last year.  I can't believe how huge they are!



Reading the "5 Little Pumpkins"





Wearing the pillowcase dress and headband that Mommy made!





McKenna's Dedication

Deric and I just love our church, Dunwoody Baptist.  We met there, got married there, and are now privileged to have our church family help us in raising our daughter.  Before Deric and I got married, we promised that we would put God first in our marriage and that Lord willing, when we had kids, we would do our best to raise them in a home that puts God first.  Last Sunday we were able to make a pledge to our church and God first and foremost that we will raise McKenna in a Christian home.  We were blessed to have her grandparents on my side present, her Auntie Lauren, and Deric's Mom present.  Here are a few pictures that we took after her dedication.

Visit with Grammy!

Grammy, Deric's Mom, came all the way from CA for a visit last week!  We had so much fun!  She went to McKenna's Kindermusik Class and her Teeny Tykes and Tunes class.  We also celebrated Daddy's birthday with Grammy and made our annual trip up to Burt's Pumpkin Farm and Dahlonega.  We had a fantastic time with Grammy and can't wait to see her again in December.  Here are some fun pics from her visit!



Grammy giving a tired McKenna sweet kisses! 

Finally some smiles from our tired girl!



McKenna's First Vacation!

McKenna was such a big girl and took her first vacation to Hilton Head Island at 4 1/2 months!  We honestly weren't sure that we had made the best decision to drive 5 1/2 hours away from home with lil McKenna but she surprised us and we had a fantastic trip!  McKenna was a great traveler and held onto Mommy's hand a large portion of the car ride and seemed to be content holding my hand, watching her musical mirror, or chewing on her links! 

We just loved the inn we stayed at, South Beach Marina Inn, located in the Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head!  We had a gorgeous marina view and shops and restaurants right below us, perfect with a 4 1/2 month old.  We could walk around and do things and then head right back to our room when McKenna needed a nap.  The beach was a short walk away and there were bike/walking trails everywhere, perfect for rolling the stroller!  McKenna wasn't too happy about seeing the ocean for the first time, mostly because she was ready for another nap by the time we got her dressed and out the door.  Oh well, maybe next year she'll actually enjoy splashing in the water but it was fun taking a trip to the beach with our little girl.  I've included some pics of our vacation below.  



Showing off her cute sunshades!

One of the south beach marina buildings.  We stayed in a similar building right above all the shops/restaurants. 

Courtyard of the shops/inn

McKenna is wearing her bathing suit and hat for the first time!  She wasn't too happy about it though.

Ready for the beach!

Seeing the beach for the first time!

McKenna was not happy about the sand or the water!

Her hat was bigger than her! 

Our attempt at a family pic but as you can see McKenna was done!  We were probably on the beach all of ten minutes! 

McKenna's first trip to the beach was exhausting!

McKenna tried out her stroller without the carseat for the first time!  She really seemed to like riding without being in the carseat!

McKenna was not in the mood for a family pic!

Still not in the mood!

Trying to show off her cute sailboat dress.  Oh well, it was a good effort!