Being Mati Westra

Creativity at work

2011-04-02T10:07:00.000-07:00

When Mati was born, we had just moved and were living in a rental. Subsequently, I never really had the opportunity to decorate a nursery. I finally get my chance with baby #2! We live in a 2 bedroom house, so kidos will be sharing a room. Trying to keep everything "neutral" with a bit of pink and blue flare.

My inspiration came from this picture from a pottery barn kids add. That magazine is amazing, by the way! Pretty expensive, but they have lots of great decorating ideas. This was a room set up for twins, but my kidos will be close enough in age that it still works.

WALLS:

Painted the room grey... well, Blake, his dad and Jay painted it. Thanks Guys! I am way too fat to do that kind of work anymore! I love, love, love the stencil on the wall in this picture! Searched around online to find something similar and came up with this. Added the background, similar to the wall color we chose, to get an image in my head of what it will actually look like. I have to have visuals, or the idea wont stick.

STENCIL:

My plan is to blow up the image to about a square foot and print it out. I bought a flimsy plastic dinner place mat that I will trace the image onto and cut out with an exacto knife. To keep the image straight across the entire wall, I will have to poke holes in the four corners of the stencil and line them up each time I move the stencil. (Blake's tip, my hubby is much smarter than me!) I am not sure yet what color to use for the image, but will probably end up with a very light blue, lighter grey, or off white.

AREA RUG:

The hardwood floors in the nursery are a light oak. We have one of those cheap college dorm rugs in a cream color right now. I'd like to get a better one, but want to stay away from any elaborate patterns because of the wall stencil. Dont want it to look like somebody threw up patterns all over the room (although it might anyway, by the time I am finished). I like the idea of a low-pile shag rug, keeping with the same color. Something soft enough for the baby to lay on, but still vaccuumable (I know its not a word).

BEDS:

Mati is still in the crib, so this one should be interesting. The "plan" is to move Mati to a toddler bed and move the baby into the crib. We have a bassinet in our room that he will sleep in for the first few weeks, but that wont last forever. (I'll let you know later how the new arrangement goes.) I found this bed at walmart on sale for $49. The color matches Mati's crib (which looks almost exactly like the cribs in the pottery barn photo above).

Mati's bedding:

Baby boy's bedding:

I have not purchased the fitted sheets yet, so still debating on color/pattern. All we have is white sheets right now. Again, afraid that adding more patterns might be too much. Especially since Mati's and Baby Boy's blankets dont even come close to matching. Either going to purchase a dark brown pillow to match the color on the boy blanket or make a polka dot one using the color/pattern below. He wont need a pillow for quite a while, so no rush on this one. I wanted to get 2 of the crib skirts shown above, but found out that the I cant put one on the toddler bed. :( So, only the crib gets this one. Its very simple, so hopefully wont be too noticeable.

WINDOWS:

There are five windows in the nursery. Three are standard sized and we will be using these drapes that we already have from our previous home.

The other two are very small custom windows. I am planning to make the drapes out of a brown and blue damask fabric to match the baby boy blanket.

WALL DECOR:

To offset the "boy" window treatments, I have this mirror that I bought from ikea for Mati's room a long time ago. It will go above the changing table, once the room is all set up.

Another "creative" project I have in mind for the room is two shadow boxes with small white onsies in them. I will have my friend Chelsie embroider the onsies with the names (Mati and tbd on baby boy). They will go above their beds, similar to the frames in the pottery barn picture.

Also, have a diaper stacker from my friends back at AT&T that matches Mati's bedding. Not necessarily wall decor, but it will hang on the closet door by the changing table.

ROCKING CHAIR:

Saved the best for last. I am SOOOO excited about this purchase... and I better be because it was definitely the splurge item of the room. I have been looking for a rocking chair since before Mati was born, but we A. didnt have the money, and B. couldnt find one I wanted. This one comes from pottery barn kids and wasnt cheap! I went into STL to check out the chair at one of their stores and immediately fell in love with it. So comfortable, and versatile, so it will hopefully last beyond the nursery. Unfortunately, it takes a really long time to ship and I waited too long, so wont get it until after the baby is born. Worth the wait, though. I cant wait to get it! I want to put a pillow on the chair to give it a little more "pizzaz." Will either go with the pillow Mati already has or make one out of the same fabric as the curtains.

Nearing the End

2011-03-18T12:41:00.000-07:00

Mati doesnt have much time left as an only child. She came into this world not only as the first child, but also the first grandchild. As the first grandbaby, she was showered with attention and gifts. How can you not love that little face?

Now, she has been learning to share the spotlight with her cousin Leila. So far, she doesnt seem to mind a little less attention.

Although, that might change when the baby we bring home doesnt go away. And, baby boy Westra wont be the only new face in the crowd. There are five other little boys due within 6 weeks of ours. I guess the spring of 2011 is a pretty popular time... although, it was probably the summer of 2010 that was even more "popular." *wink*wink*

Marissa had a baby shower in February and there were baby bumps galore.

The Zeller clan (and me) left to right...

Therese, due mid May

Me, due early April (31/32 weeks in this photo)

Jess (Aaron's wife), due late March

Marissa, due mid March

Not shown is Alison (cousin Mike's wife), due early May

More baby bumps... My cousin Krissi is due the day after me. Here we are at about 36 weeks, both ready to pop.

Only a few more weeks to go! I'll be back with photos of all the little men soon.

Life will definitely be different for all of us, but what a blessing children are!

Just Like Daddy

2011-02-11T20:02:00.000-08:00

Just like Daddy... Mati LOVES her sweets.

Her friend Andi turned 2 this winter and we went to a little birthday party with presents and cupcakes. Dessert was obviously a big hit.

Just like Daddy... Mati is quite the looker.

She is such a pretty little girl. I know I am biased, but she really is beautiful. In this photo she is wearing a Christmas sweater from Grammy Steinbraker.

Just like Daddy... Mati is way cooler than me!

...and I am pretty sure she already knows it.

Winter Fun

2011-01-22T14:42:00.000-08:00

OK, trying to play catchup on the blog. I have seriously been slacking since I got pregnant. Thats a valid excuse, right?

Being cooped up inside all winter, I am constantly trying to find new ways to keep Mati busy... and keep myself awake. So, we had our first attempt at coloring, which went pretty well. She tried to eat the crayons as much as actually draw with them, but we eventually got a picture out of it.

Eating the crayons...

"Dont EAT the crayons, Mati" face...

Coloring!...

STICKERS! Mati's new passion. You cant see in these photos, but Blake and I are covered from head to toe, as well. She especially loves putting stickers on everybody's faces.

And lets not forget about cleaning. Mati really likes to "help" me with chores these days. Although, I am not sure she is helping, as much as extending the time it takes to complete the task. I love having a little helper around the house, though. It definitely makes cleaning alot more fun.

We moved AGAIN this winter. We had to be out of our old place before Jan 1, so packed everything up just before Christmas. The house we tried to buy was a foreclosure, and it was going to take longer than we were willing to wait. We were basically living there for free for 6 months, but the bank was never able to promise us a closing date, so we left. It was a beautiful old home, and we were sorry to let it go, but too much work and too long of a wait, especially considering we are adding another member to our family soon. Unfortunately, I dont have any photos of the new place yet, but hopefully they will be coming soon.

Christmas Past & Christmas Present

2010-12-30T13:12:00.000-08:00

Last Christmas...

Mati was only 3 months old last year, and we could hardly keep her awake through the festivities. Looking back at this picture, then jumping forward to our Christmas photo this year (a few entries back), she has changed so much! It is amazing all the changes that take place in one short year. Now Mati can walk and talk, eat grown-up food, voice her opinion, throw temper tantrums. Last year, she could hold her head up, smile and drink milk, and that was about it.

This Christmas...

Was so much fun! Blake and I loved watching her get excited about all her new toys this year. Mati is such a fun little person and loved opening her presents. Actually, I think she may have enjoyed opening them even more than playing with the toys inside. When we first arrived in STL on Christmas Eve, we opened presents at Grandma & Grandpa Williams' (my parents) house. Mati was more intrigued by the bow on top the gift than what was inside. When Grandma set the gift in front of her, she grabbed the bow off the top of the box and ran away.

Even after we convinced her to come back and open it, she still wouldnt give up the bow. Although, the table and chairs was a pretty big hit, as well. They are sitting in our dining room now so Mati can have her own dinner parties when she wants. Thanks G&G Will!

Then, we moved on to Grammy & Grandpa Steinbraker's house for the second round of presents on Christmas morning. Mati was able to share the festivities with her new cousin Leila this year. They even got matching presents.

She really didnt have any problems sharing the attention with Leila, which we were very happy about! She did shower Leila with kisses all morning, though. Not sure how excited Leila was about it, but made for some great photo opportunities.

After that, it was on to the Price family Christmas on Christmas night where Mati received penguins, penguins and more penguins. Here she is holding up her penguin cup and bowl. She also got a penguin pillow pet, penguin book and penguin stuffed animal. For some reason, my grandmother (penguins), mother (frogs) and I (elephants) have our own individual animal fancies, and they get passed down in gifts. I wonder what Mati's will be?

Then, finally, we finished up the holiday with the Williams' family the day after Christmas. (This is what happens when all of your family lives in the same city!) Mati's cousin Alexis was kind enough to share her trampoline with Brooke and Mati while the adults were talking.

Then we opened MORE presents. Hopefully Mati doesnt think it is like this every day of the year!

But, my favorite of all the pictures we took at Christmas this year would have to be the tea party. We spent the night at my cousins' Tim & Krissi's house that night and before the girls all went to bed, we let them play tea party with some of Lexi's Christmas presents. They staid there for a surprisingly long time chatting and drinking their "tea." It will be so much fun to have the girls look back on this years from now!

Christmas Party

2010-12-23T06:47:00.000-08:00

Some of my friends in Charleston and I decided to get together right before xmas and play dress up with our little ones. We put them in their Christmas outfits and attempted to get a picture of all of them together. Mati was absolutely intrigued by the Christmas tree and shiny ornaments. We havent put ours up yet, and she was too little to remember from last year. I couldnt keep her away! Every time I turned around, she had another ornament off the tree. After several scoldings, she finally started to listen... reluctantly. This is her "I'm not touching the ornaments" face. She can be a stinker, but its so cute! Very difficult to put on a stern face when she looks at me like that.

But, eventually, we all gave in and let them hold ornaments in hopes that they would stand still long enough for us to get a picture. Mati really wanted to share her ornament with baby Lainie.

Thanks again to digital photographs, we were able to get a shot of all the kids sitting and at least facing the general direction of the camera. 3 of us were taking photos, and I think this might be one of the only good ones we got. I had to photoshop Angela's hand out of the picture, which you can still see a little of. She was directing the children while the rest of us were shooting frantically for a good photo.

I meet with these moms and kidos on a pretty regular basis for "play dates." Although, they might be play dates for us as much as for our kids! It is so wonderful to have friends in the same stage of life to get together with. I am so thankful to have them! It made the transition to living here so much easier.

Christmas Card

2010-12-15T06:15:00.000-08:00

This is the picture we used for our xmas card this year. Thanks to the wonderful world of digital photography, we were able to get one picture of Mati actually looking at the camera smiling... and about 10 of her trying to wiggle away. We took the photo just before leaving for our annual xmas concert with Blake's fam. Sadly, Mati didnt get to join us in this activity, but we dressed her up to go to Grandma & Grandpa Williams' house anyway. I'm sure she had more fun there than critiquing the St. Louis symphony!

Merry Christmas!

2010

If you didnt get an xmas card, I apologize. Being 6 months pregnant, my mind has been in a fog lately! Send me your address and I'll make sure you get one next year.

Funny Face

2010-11-20T06:29:00.000-08:00

I love this face! And thanks to my cousin Emma, we have captured it on camera. Not sure how Mati stumbled upon the look, but its her favorite face to make these days.

So long, only child

2010-11-08T13:30:00.000-08:00

Mati is going to have a little brother! The ultrasound pictures are in, and its definitely a little man we are looking at.

I am sure that he will be thoroughly embarrassed one day, when he realizes that we have exposed him to all of the internet! And we will remind him that on that day, he was not the least bit shy about it. In fact, its about the only good picture we got from the ultrasound. Most of them are blurry. The tech had a difficult time getting any good images of his face or profile because he kept wanting to show off the other end. Here is the best profile shot we have.

And, so Mati doesnt feel left out, a look back at her, too...

Mati was definitely smaller when we had the ultrasound taken of her at 18 weeks. Blake thinks that is a good sign. Hopefully the little guy will have some of the size that Mati never got.

Blake has attempted to explain that there is a baby in mommy's tummy, but Mati always runs for her dolls as soon as she hears the word. I guess it is a plus that she knows what a baby is, at least. Hopefully the transition wont be too difficult for her, since she is still so young. I assume that a few days after baby boy arrives on the scene, she will forget that there ever was life before him.

We are still working on boy names. This is turning out to be much more difficult than girl names ever were. We actually had a girl name picked out for this baby, but as he showed us earlier, he is all man! Any suggestions? (Seeing as we named out daughter Matilda, the top 20 most common names probably wont make the cut.)

Evil Pumpkins!

2010-10-10T11:55:00.000-07:00

Or so Mati thought. Apparently big orange things are SCARY! She hated every minute of the mini photo shoot.

Grandpa and animal crackers came to save the day, though.

Cousin Leila did much better. Such a brave little one!

So we left the pumpkins and headed for the apple trees. These went over alot better than the pumpkins. I guess the size is a little less intimidating.

And the taste is so much sweeter! You'd think the lack of teeth (still none!) would phase her, but she was not to be deterred.

Before leaving, we gave the pumpkins one last shot. This time, Daddy was there to protect her, and it went much better. I love this family photo.

A New Bestie!

2010-09-30T20:23:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the family, Baby Leila!

The stork brought Mati a new cousin (with a little help from Aunt Lori). Baby Leila Westra was born on September 11, 2010. She weighed in at over 8lbs 5oz and was 20 3/4 inches long... nothing like Mati at birth. :) The first thing we noticed was those giant, kissable cheeks. She is such a beautiful little girl, and we are all so thankful that momma and baby are healthy and happy.

Mati was so excited to meet Leila, and loved her from the start. The only problem... she had a little trouble keeping her hands to herself. Its not often that she sees someone smaller than her. The pacifier was an exciting new toy as well. Which is funny because we never could get her to take one for long when she was younger.

A Look Back.

2010-09-29T15:21:00.000-07:00

In the grand scheme of things, a year seems to be just the blink of an eye. But it is so amazing to see how much our little girl has grown up in that short amount of time. Here are a few photos from a year ago...

Within an hour of being born. She was a beauty from the start!

These photos were taken when she was about 10 days old. She was such a little thing! 5 lbs 15 ounces at birth and only 18 inches long. I love this picture of Blake holding her, because it really shows how tiny she was.

Happy Birthday!

2010-09-06T05:52:00.000-07:00

12 months ago we welcomed a new little girl into our lives, and things haven't been the same since. She brings us so much joy, and every day is a new miracle with her in our family. Funny, how it has only been one year, but it seems like there was never a time before she was around. Self-sacrifice takes on a whole new meaning with children, and to my surprise I welcome it gladly. At our bible study the other night, the leader made the comment, "If you struggle with selfishness, have children." This is so true, and yet it doesnt even really feel like sacrifice. She gives me so much more than I could ever give her. Thanks, Mati, for making me a better person, and for being such a wonderful person to be around. You make parenting look easy!

We celebrated Mati's birthday in St. Louis the weekend after her actual birthday. All of our friends and family were there to take part in the festivities. (Thanks for letting us use your house, Tim, Krissi & Alexis!) We are so blessed to have so many wonderful people in our lives who obviously are just as in love with our daughter as we are.

The cake went over pretty well...

It took Mati a few minutes to figure out that the entire thing was just for her, but once she got the hang of it, there was icing everywhere.

She received a climbing gym from Grandma & Grandpa Steinbraker that was an immediate hit. She liked climbing up the slide and peeking over the top...

Opening all those present was pretty exhausting...

But she was not too tired to give the little baby on the toy box a kiss...

The next day, Grandma & Grandpa Westra came with even more presents for Mati. Her favorite (and our least) was the big red fire engine that made real siren noises...

And one more big surprise that weekend... Mati started walking! She took her first few steps a couple days before her party. Here she is showing off her new skill...

(See more photos on facebook)

Down The Shore

2010-08-18T10:23:00.000-07:00

Summer Vacation! Yay! This year, we went to see Blake's extended family in Ocean City, New Jersey. We had not been in a few years, so they were all meeting Mati for the first time. At one point, I think there were about 25 of us staying in 2 beach houses. A little cramped at times, but so much fun to see everybody. Mati was a big hit with all the girls. She was a little shy at first, but by the end of the trip was very comfortable with the attention.

As you can see from the first picture, she loved playing in the sand. I was a little nervous about her getting it in her mouth and eyes, but she quickly relieved me of those worries. She was eating sand and rubbing it all over her face within a minute of being put down on the beach. Cleanup afterwards was always a struggle, but I think she would say it was worth it. The one thing on the trip that she absolutely hated was the ocean. I dont blame her, though. One minute, she would be playing happily in the warm sunshine, the next, a freezing cold wave would splash up against her legs. The pictures explain it all...

Pre wave:

Post wave:

All in all, it was a wonderful trip. Mati did a fantastic job on the flight there and back. She slept wonderfully the entire week. We were able to spend lots of time with family we do not get to see often enough. We brought home lots of wonderful pictures. AND, Blake and I were able to spend an entire day, just the 2 of us, in downtown Philadelphia. Thanks to Grammy and Grandpa Steinbraker for watching her all day! In closing, here is a pic of our happy family:

(See more pictures on facebook)

New Digs

2010-07-12T08:58:00.000-07:00

Its moving time again. Mati has lived in 3 different places now, and is not even 1 yet. Our lease was up as of July 1, so we decided to try our hand at buying a home. Unfortunately, we are not very good at picking winners. The house we decided on is clothed in a legal nightmare. But, of course, we chose it anyway. Who likes things easy? Technically, it is going through foreclosure and we are renting. I'll spare you the rest of the details. No central A/C and no hot water heater (yet) BUT...

It is a beautiful turn of the century home with 4 times the square footage of our rental. Thick, dark wood trim lines all the windows and doorways, 12 foot ceilings, all wood floors, beautiful cooks kitchen with fancy appliances. Its definitely worth the hassle if we actually get to keep the home.

Kitchen:

Foyer & Front Staircase (disregard the random children, had some friends come see the house with us):

Great Room (had to come up with names for the rooms downstairs since there are so many):

Dining Room:

It obviously needs LOTS of tlc, but has so much character underneath.

The place is not at all childproofed, but luckily Mati isnt walking yet. So far, she is pretty happy here. She has a giant sink in the kitchen to bathe in.

My mom bought her a walker to explore the house in. It took her a day or two to figure it out, and then she was off! She loves picking up speed and running into things, and also the yummy snacks, since it has a tray.

I'll keep you posted on house details as we learn more. We are hoping to buy it in the next 6 months.

Look who's standing!

2010-06-25T07:33:00.000-07:00

Up she goes! So long everything that used to be on the coffee table. It is all fair game now, so we had to remove everything. Except for the TV remote, which has become her new favorite toy.

This is Mati's and Mo's favorite spot. They love to look out the window together and watch all the rabbits hopping by.

Oh, and Mati is also crawling legitimately now. She did the army crawl for a really long time, but now that belly is off the floor. I think it was a matter of days between her figuring out how to really crawl and how to pull herself up. I am so proud of my little girl! Although, now comes the real childproofing. :)

Steelville!

2010-06-18T09:01:00.000-07:00

The Zeller family and mine have been close friends since we moved down the street from them when I was 2. They have a long standing tradition of visiting Steelville, MO for rodeos and camping trips. Along the way, my family started attending, as well. Now, once a year, their family and mine get together and stay in a cabin called Bahama Breeze out in the country. It is a weekend of campfires, swimming in the creek, beer, grilling LOTS of food, family and memories. This year, Blake and I got to take Mati along for the first time. She was a huge hit, being the first and only grandchild.

Here she is getting ready for a nap with Aunt Therese.

We took her down to the creek to dip her little toes in the cool water. It was really hot and the water was really cold... not great conditions for a 9 month old, but she did a fantastic job. We had to put her in a giant floating swim suit because the creek has a bit of a current, and was too high for her to stand in. The poor girl looked like a ninja turtle, but at least she was safe.

And, of course, Blake is teaching her early to be a daredevil.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

2010-05-30T11:35:00.000-07:00

Even though Mati was not born in St. Louis, she is a Cards fan by birth. This May, she went to her very first game. Look how much fun she had...

There were lots of friends to keep her busy at the game. She actually was awake for some of it.

A Few More Firsts

2010-05-14T11:49:00.000-07:00

These are long overdue pictures, but I love them so much I couldnt help but show you.

Daddy took Mati out for her first adventure in the snow...

(Feb 2010)

Making snow angels. I think she likes it.

(Feb 2010)

First time eating solids...

(Feb 2010)

Mmm... applesauce (with a little sugar & cinnamon to spruce things up).

(Feb 2010)

Is she enjoying it? We couldnt really tell. By the look on her face, probably not, but she kept going back for more. My little girl is growing up!

(Feb 2010)

Sitting up! She started sitting up on her own sometime in March (I think). In the beginning, I had to put her up and she would stay there until she fell over.

(March 2010)

She was a little late in the game learning to hold a bottle on her own, but in her defense she didnt have to for the first 7 months. I still have to lay her down and prop her on a pillow for it to work, but she loves doing it by herself. Sometimes when I try to feed her a bottle she takes it away from me and does it herself. She's an independent little thing! I guess that is a good thing, but sometimes I still want her to rely on me. :(

(April 2010)

I'm mobile! You can call it crawling if you want, but it is really more like a shimmy or an army crawl. Either way, she can get were she wants to go now. She learned to sit up on her own around this time, too. Before, if she fell over, she wouldnt be able to get back up and would start crying. But now she is a champ! Sitting, falling, sitting up again, moving across the living room floor to get a toy... such a big girl!

(May 2010)

Stay Classy, Mati

2010-05-10T10:30:00.000-07:00

That rat tail just gives you a taste of how long Mati's hair would actually be if she hadnt rubbed it bald in the back. Pretty amazing for an 8 month old! To cut or not to cut? Thats the question. Some people say "it will grow in." I seriously doubt it, considering those 10 strands have about 5 inches on the rest of her head of hair. I say, lets not cut it. Maybe it will keep her grounded, remind her of her heritage. :) She is so spoiled by family and friends (first grandchild on both sides), and I am constantly letting her know that she is the most beautiful child I have ever seen. So, we will keep it around for at least a little while longer.

Never Too Young for Prom

2010-04-24T06:12:00.000-07:00

Doesn't Uncle Chase look handsome? It helps hurt that he has two beautiful ladies at his side. For Chase's junior prom, Brooke asked us if we could bring Mati along beforehand so they could get some pictures with her. (Brooke is absolutely in love with Mati!) She even coordinated their outfits. Although, it is nothing new for Brooke to be buying clothes for Mati. I think about half of Mati's wardrobe came from her.

Mati did very well, but this is the only one we got of her looking at the camera...

Because she was so intrigued by Brooke's corsage. I hope it held up through prom night after Mati got her slobber and fingers all over it.

Welcome Back!

2010-04-21T14:36:00.000-07:00

Does a blog get deleted after so many months without being used? If so, this one was getting dangerously close. Sooo sorry to all of you who have been waiting patiently for more pictures and stories in the life and times of Mati Lynn. To catch you up to speed, Momma went back to work (full-time) in January, when Mati was about 4 months old. I stuck it out for a little over 3 months, but it seemed like a lifetime! Mati has grown up so much in that short amount of time, and I dont want to miss any more of it. Now for the next stage of life... full-time mommyhood! I have been blessed with a husband that is making it not only possible every day when he goes to work, but also fully supports and encourages it (Thanks, my love!).

Here is a recent pic of the beautiful little miss.

The weather has been beautiful here in Charleston lately. We grilled and had dinner outside the other night. Mati didnt seem too interested in burgers, so we laid out a blanket and let her play. The grass was the highlight of her evening.

Notice the blanket that Mati is playing on? That was a very special gift from Monica Zeller. Two of the blocks in that quilt were put together by yours truly, soooo many years ago. My best friend Therese and I decided to pick up the art of quilting when we were maybe 10 years old. I dont think either of us actually completed one, but her mom (Monica) kept the pieces all these years and turned it into a full quilt for Mati. What a treasure! Thanks Monica! I cannot wait to tell Mati about it when she is a little older.

WELCOME BACK!

Florida

2010-04-05T14:36:00.000-07:00

Oh, what a glorious trip it was. Beautiful warm weather, friends, good food, the beach, the pool. The list goes on. This was Mati's first official summer vacation and she loved every minute of it.

Mati spent lots of time with her cousin and bff, Brooke.

She got to see her Aunt Rachel.

Went to her first ball game.

Sank her toes into the sandy beach.

Swam for the first time.

First attempt at a nap on the beach...

Actual nap on the beach.

Watched the sunset with Mommy & Daddy.

And, of course, we cant leave out the gator siting. Bessy was with us all week, and Blake could not get enough of her. Dont worry, though, Mati was 100% safe. We were in a second story condo with a completely screened in porch. She really took no interest in the gator, unlike her father. On multiple occasions, I found Blake more than a little too close to Bessy trying to take pictures. What can I say, I married an adventurous man. Hopefully Mati doesnt pick up too much of the trait!

Who Says Jammies Are For Kids?

2010-01-18T11:25:00.000-08:00

"Skis or Snowboard"? Blake asked me which Mati would prefer on her first ski trip. Unfortunately, 4 months is a little too young to hit the slopes. I say skis, though... as soon as she starts walking. Skiing is one of our favorite things to do, so Mati will to have to pick it up fast. Thanks to Aunt Jaimie & Michelle (for babysitting), Blake and I were able to ski together on this trip. Might be the last time for a couple years, until Mati is old enough to head out with us.

We have been going on this ski trip to Galena for 5 years now. It is always a blast, and we have made some really great friends along the way. We were so happy that Mati was welcomed into the group with open arms this year. So much so that we all dressed up to make her and Brooke feel more a part of the group. Thanks to our friend Scott for the jammies!

Where Are You Christmas?

2010-01-09T18:58:00.000-08:00

I feel you Christmas

I know I've found you

You never fade away

The joy of Christmas

Stays here in silence

Fills each and every heart with love

It is hard to believe Mati's first Christmas is already over. We had so much fun sharing the season with her! And it is only going to get better as she gets older. We love our little girl so much and were happy to show off how big she is getting to family and friends that dont get to see her very often. Daddy had over a week off of work, so we spent it all in St. Louis with family. Thanks to Tim & Krissi and Gramy and Grandpa Steinbraker for putting up with us!

Mati received more presents than we knew what to do with...

I think she maybe made it through one of her gifts before falling asleep.

It is exhausting work, opening all those presents and being so cute.

Mati received toys and books and clothes and so much more. Thanks to everybody for being so generous and making this a Christmas to remember! The gifts were wonderful, but what we will treasure the most is the time that we got to spend with our family.

98 and Counting

2009-12-10T12:45:00.000-08:00

The Saturday after Thanksgiving we drove down to Edwardsville to celebrate Mati's Great Grandpa's 98th birthday. They were both very happy to spend some time together. I believe that Mati is his 21st great grandchild, although I could be wrong. It is hard to keep track of so many!

While we were there, Grandpa showed us some old pictures of himself. This is a photo of his work softball league. He is the handsome, sharply dressed one standing at the top left.

A New Trick

2009-12-03T19:15:00.000-08:00

Today is Mati's 3 month birthday. And to celebrate, she learned a new trick! She has now mastered the art of rolling onto her side. This could not have come at a better time because she was really starting to hate sleeping on her back. When we returned from Chicago after Thanksgiving she would have nothing to do with her crib. We have been putting her to bed strapped into her car seat ever since. She began sleeping through the night this way, so I went with it! Have I mentioned how amazing a full nights sleep is? Today, I tried putting her in her crib for a nap, and she rolled right onto her side and went to sleep.

another milestone passed = a very happy baby

I put Mati in her play gym while I got ready this morning, and when I came out she was on her side! That was the first time. When I came up to congratulate her, she plopped onto her back and gave me a big grin as if to say "Look what I did Mommy! Aren't you proud of me?" A resounding YES was my response. I love my little girl so much and it fills me with joy to see her growing stronger everyday. She smiles all the time now, but it never ceases to melt my heart. Everybody always says children are a joy, but I had no idea how much joy they bring until I had my own.

Thanksgiving

2009-12-02T07:34:00.000-08:00

We have so much to be thankful for this year. Family and friends, too many to count, that are not too far away. Our health, which I am especially thankful for after the eclampsia drama. Had my BP checked last week and it was 127/72! Never thought those numbers would be so exciting. Blake's job. A roof over our heads and plenty of food to eat. A child that has brightened our lives in so many ways.

This year, we spent Thanksgiving in Chicago with Blake's Dad's family. It was the first time many of them met Mati, and she made quite an impression. So much so that I dont think she spent more than about 5 minutes alone all weekend. The next few days at home were a struggle. Mati did not want to be put down at all, especially at bed time. We had just settled into a pretty good routine with her sleeping in the crib in her own room before we left. Now, she is back in our room again and we are trying to wean her off the attention overload. Just look at all the people that held her. She is pretty adorable, though. I can understand why nobody wants to put her down!

Visitors

2009-11-27T07:38:00.000-08:00

Aunt Therese & Drew

Sizzle & Choodle

We had some visitors in Charleston recently and Mati had a blast. Stacey & Adam brought their new Wii, and that is pretty much all we did the entire weekend. (We might have to purchase one in the near future. They are so much fun!) We even gave Mati a turn. I think she is hooked, or at least the TV is keeping her interest now.

It Wont Be Like This For Long

2009-11-20T09:38:00.000-08:00

Talk about a tear-jerker! Mati is only 11 weeks old and I am already crying about her growing up. This song is so true, though. I cherish every moment God has given me to spend with this miraculous little child.

Click Here for Video

So Many GREAT Grandparents

2009-11-13T08:05:00.000-08:00

Mati is blessed to have so many wonderful people in her life. She is surrounded by family that loves and adores her. Just look at the faces of all her Great Grandparents. What priceless memories these photos are!

Great Grandma (Gigi) & Grandpa Williams

(Mati's cousin Alexis found her way into this photo, too. Don't they look like best friends already?)

Great Grandma & Grandpa Price

Great Grandpa Sandhoff

Great Grandma & Grandpa Westra

The girls are finally together!

2009-11-06T05:39:00.000-08:00

Mati has been waiting so patiently for her new baby cousin to be born. And now, she is finally here! Brooke Elizabeth Alley was born on Tuesday, October 27th weighing in at 6lbs 4oz, 19 1/2 in. (Just a little bit bigger than Mati.) She is a beautiful, healthy little girl with a full head of dark hair and great big eyes.

As you can see, Mati and her cousin Alexis are already great friends...

And they welcomed Brooke to the bunch (dont they look excited to be together?)...

Best friends in the making...

We are so blessed to have such great friends (and family)...

...And Then There Were Three

2009-10-29T12:33:00.000-07:00

Matilda Lynn Westra was born September 3, 2009 at 12:15PM weighing 5lbs 15oz and 18 inches long. She did such a great job, and didnt make her mommy labor long. This is her very first picture. She is about a minute old. Beautiful and perfect from the start, wasnt she? And that's Doctor Turner in the background. He is the best doctor of all time!

I knew that Mati was a miracle from the day we found out I was pregnant, but I was not in the least bit prepared for how special this moment would be. Nothing compares to the feeling of holding her in my arms for the first time.

Our first family photo...

What a magnificent gift from God children are! I think he gives us a taste of what it is to create life because He so loved creating us. And what a miracle it is!

(See all of Mati's first photos on facebook)

In the Beginning There Were Two

2009-10-23T10:05:00.000-07:00

This is where it all began.

My cousin and Blake's college roommate got married (thanks Jaimie & Matt!). Blake was the best looking guy in the wedding party, and immediately caught my eye. I planted a kiss on him before the night was through and 2 1/2 years later we were here... on the alter. He took my breath away then, and he still does now.

God's plan was unfolding, and Mati was known only to Him.

Fast forward 2 1/2 more years, and we are here. The night before Mati was born.

I love this picture, and I cannot wait until Mati is old enough to understand it. I think it is the perfect picture of how much we loved her, even before she was born.

Jumping on the Bandwagon

2009-10-22T13:20:00.000-07:00

Blogging - its the thing to do if you have kids, apparently. I figured I might as well, too.

...and yes, I would jump off the bridge if everybody else did.

So, to start, here is my favorite picture of our little family.