My 1st Christmas

So we celebrated our 1st Christmas with Mari and it was a great one.  Greg had the day off so we started it by getting up at 7:00, Mari was so excited for Santa.  We went downstairs to open gifts at about 9:00.  Mari loved all of her gifts from everyone and so did the dogs.  They couldn't get enough of all the treats they were given.

Then for the afternoon we just relaxed and made a turkey for dinner.  We had some friends over for Christmas dinner, they have a 9 month old boy named Cain.  It made for a great Christmas celebration.

WE HOPE EVERYONE HAD A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

We miss you all and can't wait to see you soon.

Here is the gift from her Uncle Brian and Aunt Celine.  It is her first camo outfit to go hunting.

A book from her Aunt Morgan and it is even signed by the author.

Then from her cousin Liam she got a car seat toy and a dress and some bows from Aunt Sarah and Uncle Cory.

On Christmas Eve we went to church and then had dinner with the Bodenhausen's.

Here are some pictures of Mari in her Christmas dress that she got from Grandpa and Grandma Nienhouse.

She wore her eskimo boots as well, it was a very cold night.

Santa's Little Helper!

Mari in front of her 1st Christmas tree.  We went with a small one this year hoping for a little less clean up of all the pine needles.  It was a perfect size for Mari, she loved watching the lights on the tree and railing.

We went to the lighting of Breckenridge and then to get her picture with Santa.  This was taken right before she turned 4 weeks, so she has changed a lot since then.  She slept the whole time we were there, but she looks like she enjoyed it.

This is one of the many pictures in her other Christmas dress for our Christmas card.

PICTURES PICTURES PICTURES

6 weeks and what a CUTIE!!  

Here are all kinds of pictures to see how much she has changed. 

Mari has started to really track things and smile a little.  It is so great to see these big mile stones.

With all these things happening she loves her Baby Einstein play mat.  Especially the singing light up star.   She lays there and makes all kinds of sounds at the star.  I love seeing her be more interactive. 

Look at what a Big Girl I am getting to be.  

These are some of my favorite pictures

Here is the princess sleeping. What a girl! 

As you can see this is one of her favorite posoitions to fall asleep in.

Our friend Bridger admiring Mari at Mom's group.  Every Friday a bunch of my friends who are all new moms get together and just hand out and let the babies play.

Again Mari loving the play mat and of course Bogey wants to play too.  Sometimes he is not sure if Mari is a toy, he really likes to lick her.

Our 1st Bath

So Mari finally lost her umbilical cord so we decided it was bath time.  For the most part she enjoyed the warm water.    Here we are trying out the tub before we get in the water.  So far so good.

She really enjoys looking at lights, so she was side tracked a little by the light under the cabinets.

Then there was the moment of complete panic with being naked and doing something new.

We quickly learned to have a constant water flow on her and WOW does she love it.   She has had a couple other baths and they are still a success.

Ahhhh!!  Look how cute and clean I am.  

And yes we are in love and still can't get enough of her.

3 Weeks Already!!

Wow I can't believe that Mari will be three weeks old tomorrow.  My how the time flies.  We had our 2 week appointment last Monday and all was well.  She weighed 7 lbs 7 oz. and did not have to come home with oxygen which was great.  She was one healthy baby.

Last weekend Grandma Keating and Uncle Brian came out to visit.  It was great to have them both and we can't wait for Grandpa Keating and Aunt Morgan to meet her.

While they were here there was a Michigan State game on and of course we dressed for the event.  Unfortunately they did not play as well as Mari looked in her State outfit.

Grandma Keating getting to spend some quality time.

Uncle Brian and Grandma Keating

Then for Thanksgiving we had Grandpa and Grandma Nienhouse come to meet their new Granddaughter.  They made a great Thanksgiving Dinner and it was great to have them here.

Grandma Nienhouse

Mari getting all dressed up for her first Thanksgiving.  Isn't she so adorable.  I think so!!

Another picture of a beautiful Mari.

She has arrived!!!!! YEAH!!!!

Well, our beautiful girl has finally arrived.  Her name is Mari Grace Nienhouse and she came into the world on 11-11-08.  She weighed 7 lbs 1.5 oz. and was 19 3/4 inches long.  She has been an absolute blessing to us and we can't get enough of her.  Thanks for everyone's thoughts and prayers through this time.

We went to the Doctor's for a check up at noon on Monday.  Little did we know they would send us straight to the hospital to be induced.  So here we are awaiting the long night we thought we would be having.

After Mari and I did not respond well to the induction medication, the Doctor decided we needed to go in for a c-section at about midnight.  Greg got his scrubs on to be in the room with me.

And they prepped me for surgery.

It wasn't long before she joined us and Greg got to cut the umbilical cord.

She came out crying which was a great sound and they weighed her at 7 lbs 1.5 oz.

Here is our first family photo.

Daddy getting to hold Mari for the first time.  What a natural and she already has him wrapped around his finger.

Daddy walking Mari to meet mom in the room so she could hold her and feed her.  He says it was a nerve wracking walk.

Finally we are in the room and Mommy could hold her little girl.

Mari showing off her new hat that they make at the local senior center.  How cute!!

Daddy and Mari again!  He loved getting to hold her.

Mari had to be on oxygen while she was at the hospital.  It is very common for babies at this altitude to be on oxygen even when they go home.

Daddy and Grandpa admiring the beautiful baby Mari.

Grandma and Grandpa Quirk were able to drive in from Missouri the second they heard we were going into the hospital.  They arrived about an hour after she was born.

  

Mari ended up having jaundice and needed to spend some time under the UV lights to try and help get rid of it.  Unfortunately she had to wear her goggles and she was not a happy camper.  It was heart breaking to watch, but Grandma and Grandpa were a huge help getting her calmed down.

Here she is soaking up the rays.  They say to set them in the sun from the window as well, but she was born during a snow storm so that was not possible.

Nice goggles, she is getting ready for ski season.

Her favorite position to lay when she is fussy.

Mom and Mari just relaxing.

We got to go home on Thursday and we were so excited.  She didn't have to come home with oxygen at this time and her jaundice was much better as well.

Ready to take her first car ride home and she couldn't be any cuter.

Dad getting ready to load her up in the car.  Talk about another nerve wracking trip.

At home with Grandpa Quirk.

We had a family photo day.  Here is Grandma and Grandpa Quirk with Mari.  She is so cute.

Grandma and Mari posing for a cute picture.

Mari has been such an added blessing to our lives.

A family photo and hopefully in January we will have all the Quirk family together.  We can't wait to meet her new cousin Liam when Aunt Sarah and Uncle Cory come to visit.

And last but not least, a Nienhouse family photo.