Thankful for "Daddy's 'Lil Wildcat"

Let me first say that, as a family, we had a really wonderful Thanksgiving. We started the holiday on Wednesday, when I cooked my very first turkey (and all the rest of the Thanksgiving sides) for Matt and his football players. The bird actually turned out pretty good and the entire 20-pound turkey was devoured by 9 hungry boys. Seriously, we had enough leftover meat to make ONE sandwich that evening. Those boys can eat!! But it was really great to have them over to the house and hang out. A great way to start the holiday eating!
On Thursday, we stayed in town this year and celebrated the day with Matt's family. We had great food and it was nice to be with family. Words can't adequately express how thankful Matt and I are for our precious little angel, Siena. She has been such a blessing to our family and we are beyond grateful for her. She makes us smile and appreciate life every single day and I can't imagine life without her now. She brings true joy to our lives and we look forward to many, many more Thanksgivings with her. In fact, the Thanksgiving holiday (specifically the day after Thanksgiving) will always be a special time for Matt and I. It was one year ago this past Friday that we found out that we were pregnant. It's a day I will never forget and a special moment in time that will always be with us. Amazing what can happen in one year...
Then, on Friday, Siena took her very first road trip to see her daddy's team play in the State Championship football game. Friday afternoon, Siena and I drove down to St. Louis to watch the Blue Springs Wildcats compete in the 6A State Football game in the Rams' dome. She did really well and slept most of the trip. Siena has recently found her voice, so now that's her thing - she loves to hear herself chat it up! So, if she wasn't sleeping, she was in deep conversation with herself (or me, I guess) and telling all kinds of good stories! We got to the hotel, relaxed for just a little bit, and then got dressed and ready for the game.
Unfortunately, Blue Springs came up just a little short in the game, losing 35-24 to Hazelwood Central High School. It was sad to see that very special season come to an end in that way, but Siena was still super proud of her daddy and she wanted the world to know that Coach Marble was her daddy. She wore a very sweet homemade outfit (thanks, Cindi!) that had "Marble" on the back - in support of her dad! She looked adorable!!





Friday night, we stayed in a nice hotel. I decided not to take out the pack-n-play (that thing is ridiculously hard to set up and I didn't think it was worth it for one night!), so I got a little creative with the sleeping arrangements. I made up a cozy little bed for Siena in the bottom drawer of the dresser! She was all snuggled up in her blanket and I think she really loved it! She slept like a rock all night and was extremely smily when she woke up the next morning. It was the cutest thing...


We drove home Saturday morning and the rest of the weekend was spent just the three of us. We enjoyed just hanging out...the past few months have been extremely busy with football and everything else. It was nice to just relax and be together. In fact, Sunday evening was the first Sunday that Matt has been home since Siena was born! No football meetings anymore. Crazy how quickly time flies...when you're having the time of your life! :)

Baby Houdini

Well, it's official - Siena has been dubbed "Baby Houdini". Let me give you the story...
Ever since she was first born, SIena has been swaddled up to sleep. She loves to be snuggled and whenever she sleeps at night or takes naps during the day, we wrap her up tight. She feels comfortable that way and she doesn't jerk and wake herself up. We even got these special swaddle blankets that have velcro to make the process easier for us and harder to unravel for her. Well, Siena has decided that sometimes, she doesn't want to be swaddled. Another "latest obsession" of Siena's is putting her hands/fists/fingers/whatever in her mouth. I can't keep them out! So, that being said, sometimes, during nap time, she somehow wiggles her way out of the swaddle! Both Matt and I wrap that girl up so tight and I even stick her hands way down the pouch...it doesn't matter! She can get her little fists out of the swaddle and into her mouth like nothin! It's amazing. And she plays it off like she's not going to do anything while we are putting her down. Then, as soon as I close the door, I look at the monitor, and sure enough, she's already wiggled her little fist out and has it halfway down her throat! :) What a sneaky little thing she is! We can't help but laugh...what a goofball! :)

This first picture I snuck up on her when she didn't know I was in the room. She found her fist and was sucking away!


These next pictures are of her showing off her "skills"...




I think now she's a bit upset she got caught red handed! Busted!! :)

Playing Around...

It has been so nice outside lately! Siena really likes to sit in her bouncy seat and look out the back sliding door window. A change of scenery is always nice! She also really likes the fact that she can use her own hands to move and play with things in front of her! :) She is getting so big - 3 months old already!! Boy, how time is flying by...
These are some cute pictures of her "basking in the sun" and playing with her little turtle friend...

"What is this thing attached to the end of my arm?! You mean I can use that to move things around and play with things? Amazing!!"


Siena and her new friend, the turtle. She was obsessed with "batting" him around with her hand - she loved it! Who knew a turtle hanging in mid-air could be so much fun! :)



Let's just hope this doesn't become a habit...(but for the moment, how stinkin' cute!)


"This is hard work...this eye-hand coordination thing! Just promise me the turtle will stay put while I take a little snooze..."

Be Blessed.

Sunday, November 1, was a really special day for our family...Siena was dedicated at church. In other words, we wanted to show our family, friends, and church that we want to raise Siena is a Christian home, where she is loved unconditionally by her heavenly Father and where we will do our best to raise her to know Jesus as her personal Savior. It was also a chance for the church to commit to helping us raise her in this way.
All of our family was there to support us. All of my family came in from Michigan and all of Matt's family was there as well. It was great to have them there to support us in what we are trying to do. I think we took up almost 2 whole rows at church!
Siena did great up in front of church. The three of us went up there with Joey, our pastor, and he said some nice words and then prayed over us and our family. Siena was perched in Matt's arms and was happy as could be. She looked beautiful in her new knit outfit - a homemade gift from Oma. :) She was so content...she fell asleep up in front of church...precious.
After the service, the "paparazzi" (better known as our family) followed us out into the hallway and snapped tons of pictures of us. We had a half circle surrounding us and for a second...we felt famous! Ha! But it was nice to capture the memory.
We all went back to our house after church for coffee and dessert. It was again very nice to have all the family around and celebrating with us. And the weather was beautiful - we took advantage of it and captured a few nice shots of the family outside. I hope we can look back on this day and remember all the love and support we felt for our new little family member. She is one lucky girl to have the family she does - we feel pretty blessed too. :)

Happy Halloween!

Well, Siena's first holiday (aside from Labor Day, which...who counts that?!) was quite a success!! What a day it was! Little Miss Siena was a pumpkin for Halloween - and a very cute pumpkin at that! She got good use out of that costume...lots of people wanted to see her and there was a lot of family in town.
My mom and stepdad were in town to see us so they spent the morning hanging out at the house with us. We played and relaxed and got Siena ready for her "big day". She looked so cute in her costume - I was laughing out loud while I was getting her dressed...the little stem hat gets me every time! Then we went over to Matt's parent's house to celebrate and have a little lunch. All of their family was in town and over at their house - so Siena got to enjoy some time with them too. Then, we came back to our house in the evening because my dad, stepmom, sister and sister's boyfriend came into town as well! We greeted all the trick-or-treaters with candy and had a nice evening at home, enjoying the company. Needless to say, it was quite a day...a circus at times, but all in all, a very special memory!
Siena wasn't always a fan of her costume...but boy, was she cute! I figured I might as well take advantage of the opportunity when I can dress her how I want to. For some reason, I have a feeling that won't always be the case. :)
Here's some cute photos of our little "baby munkin"...