My...What Big Eyes You Have...

Santa is His Homeboy...

Sometimes All I Need is a SMILE....

No words for this... Pure joy... :)

Waiting For Abigail...

My sis-in-law Keasa and her husband Dave are waiting (somewhat) patiently for their daughter, Abigail, to enter our world... Any day now, Abigail... Any day.... I just wanted you & your family to know we are all thinking of you... We are so excited to meet you and watch you grow up into a beautiful young lady (not too fast though!).

"BABIES ARE SUCH A NICE WAY TO START PEOPLE..." -don herrold

Our Little Turkey!

What a wonderful Thanksgiving... My parents made the trip to Boise for the long weekend and Matt's Dad also joined us for the holiday. We missed Ross and Dannielle, as they couldn't make it due to work and school priorities. Matt's Mom was in Denver with his sister, Keasa-awaiting the birth of her second grandchild (more on that later). There are so many things to be thankful this year... Of course, I am ALWAYS thankful for my family, husband, and friends... This year, I GET to be thankful for something so special... Our son, Maddox... I am thankful that I survived being pregnant (yes, of course it was worth the "weight") and childbirth (what a beautiful experience!). I am thankful Maddox has a wonderful and loving extended family. More people to spoil him with love... I am thankful that my husband is a good father...and... most of all, I am thankful that this boy was sent to us - this perfect sweet little boy who’s smile opens up my heart in places I didn’t know existed. He has taught me how to love on a whole new level. Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

PS- Maddox is doing SOOOOooOOOOooo much better! He is taking naps, sleeping better, smiling, his face has cleared up (mostly), he holds his head up, and he is 10.8 lbs now! Everyone was right... Babies change so fast! I am so happy he is happy.... :)

"Aren't All Babies Born With Hair Like This?"

First Restaurant...

Where else would we take him??? Flying Pie Pizza! Boise's ultimate pizza hangout...

What a Month!

Okay, my new promise to you is that I will post something on this blog at least once a week...

So... About this month! What a month it was... Maddox had a rough few weeks-which meant Mommy and Daddy have also. He was diagnosed with acid reflux. It has been so hard and sad to watch him eat, knowing it was painful for him. He has been on Axid (like Previcid) for about three weeks and it seems to be helping the symptoms about 80%. We have another doctor's appt this Wednesday and I have a feeling she will adjust the dosage a bit. He also had a bad case of baby acne that was so red and sore looking. It has since decreased and he is back to almost baby soft cheeks. I wash his face a few times a day and apply a light layer of cortisone for relief. On top of everything, he had a mild case of afternoon colic and painful gas. Poor guy. Let's throw in the fact that I had bilateral Mastitis (an infection of the breast tissue that causes swelling and redness of the breast-not to mention the worst pain I have felt in my entire life) and a few other problems with breastfeeding. This, unfortunately, lead to the decision of feeding him formula supplemented with breast milk. This was a hard one for me. I understand and believe in ALL the benefits of breastfeeding and my goal was to do this for at least 6+ months. However, I have now realized that stubbornness aside, this was the best decision for both of us. He has been on 3 different types of formulas. Trial and error... We ended up with the "lobster" of formulas (i.e. may send us to the poor house, but worth every penny). A ready to drink (not powder) hypoallergenic version. So far, he seems to be a lot more satisfied (sleeping 5+ hours now at night!!!!), his gas has decreased, his colic afternoons have subsided and most importantly, he is a happier baby. I am feeling better too and we are all sleeping a lot more.

The most exciting news I have to share is that Maddox smiled for the first time last weekend! 7 weeks and 1 day old. My parents were here visiting, so they also got to see the most wonderful gummy smile ever... Seeing that first smile meant the world to me... Like I said, it has been a rough month... Maddox smiling was like him saying, "Mom, it is going to be okay. I am feeling better and it is going to be okay..." Ahhhhhh. Yes, the light at the end of our tunnel is shining bright... It has been better than okay... We have so much to look forward to in our lives.

A Proud Big Sister... Yes I am!!!

“Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try."
Congrats Ross! On Friday, he officially received his Master's Degree!! And the book version of his awesome thesis! He has been working so hard ad we are all so proud of him... Only a few years to go lil' bro!

Happy (Belated) Halloween!!!

Maddox wasn't to excited to be a skeleton this year... He sure looked cute though!!!

Look at those legs! Quad-zilla!

Maddox is 1 Month!!!

1 month last Friday that is... Being a new Mom and posting new blogs is hard! Anyway... What a crazy and beautiful month it was... This post is for Maddox. Just a few memories of the last month and some things we have learned about you...

-You (obviously) has great hair... Although you do have Hollister-Ginkel genes... Maybe God just wanted you to have a little extra in the early stages of life.... :)
-When you cry, your bottom lip sticks out. Cute little pouty face...
-Oma & Opa (my parents, your grandparents) drove almost 100 miles an hour from Id Falls just to get here in time for your arrival! They made it!
-Your Dad, Oma and Opa, and Grandma Hollister were all in the delivery room to see you the minute you were born...
-You do NOT like being cold. You love to snuggle...
-See "Funny Story" post below...
-Your Uncle Ross and Aunt D traveled from Portland in time for your week Birthday!
-Your first road trip was to Idaho Falls. You slept the whole way.
-You make the funniest faces. We could watch you for hours and hours...
-Your Dad and I gave you your first bath and you hated it. So did we. :(
-Your first shopping trip was to Target with your Oma and I.
-You love to stare at lights.
-Apollo (your very hairy big brother) loves you very much and worries about you when you cry. -You like to dance with me to the dinosaur song.
-You left the hospital weighing 6 lbs and 4 oz. Now you are almost 9 lbs!
-You went from waking up at night every 1.5 hours to 2.5 and sometimes even 3!
-We saw your new bellybutton 10 days after you were born.
-You have long skinny legs. (maybe you will be a runner!)
-When we brought you home, none of your clothes fit because you were so little.
-You love to be swaddled at night. Until you realize they belong to you, your hands just get in the way...
-You have had a lot of visitors. Everyone wants to meet you...
-You love music.
-You spent your 1 month Birthday in Idaho Falls.
-You got to meet your Great Grandparents. Your Great Grandma Duncan was brought to tears when she saw you. Your Great Grandpa Ginkel held you and was amazed by your little toes.
-You have so many people that love you...Even before you were born, we loved you.

WE LOVE YOU MADDOX!!!!!!

Below-FIRST doctor's appt...

Below- First shopping trip... Below-Great Grandpa Ginkel

Below-Great Grandma Duncan and Oma

Below-Matt and Apollo checking in on Maddox (Day 1 at home)

Happy (belated) Birthday, Matt!

Happy Birthday, Matt! Here's to another amazing year full of memories, laughter, and love... We love you!

Love, Mely, Maddox and Bubs.

First Words To Maddox?

I forgot to share something funny with you... When Maddox was first born, the doctor lifted him up and put him on my tummy... I had thought a lot about this moment during my pregnancy... What would I say to him? Would I say, "Happy Birthday!" or "I love you!"... NO.... First, I said, "Hi!!!" Then, I said, "That was weird." I meant weird in the most amazing way though... Hey, it WAS a little weird have a baby human come out of me!!! Such a miracle...

Car Seat Check!

Today, Maddox and I went to have our car seat checked at the Meridian fire station. This was something that was on my list a month ago, but then I was put on bed rest and then Mr. Madman made his arrival early. Anyway, we are planning a trip to Idaho Falls tomorrow and I refused to take a road trip without an official "okay" from a trained car seat person. Fun fact- 4 out of 5 are installed incorrectly. Scary thought. Anyway, I had to post this cute picture... The lady (Pam) that was checking it for us warned me that she would be dressed as a clown for our meeting. It is fire safety month and she gets to go around to all the elementary schools for fire safety skits. I knew it would be a great photo-op. :) She even took out her own camera and had me take a picture of her and Maddox for their newsletter. Yes, our little boy is famous already... :) Notice, in the picture how excited he is about meeting his first clown....

Funny Story...

I just thought I would share this funny story... Maddox will laugh about this someday... The first full day we had Maddox home was full of new experiences. Walking into our house was such a surreal feeling. We left as husband and wife and came home a family... Apollo (our English Mastiff) was introduced to his new little brother and all went well! :) It was nice to be in our own surroundings, but somewhat nerve racking not having the nurses there at the push of a button (of which I used A LOT in the hospital). On Monday, we were worried that Maddox hadn't had a poopy diaper since Saturday. I called the pediatrician as a new Mom would-and should! Dr. Z suggested we give his a suppository. Poor little guy... I gave him the poop pill and we all waited...and waited... and waited... The directions stated that a bowel movement should occur within 15 min to 1 hour. An hour and 10 minutes later, I called the "team" (myself, Matt and my Mom) into the nursery. I had a feeling it was going to be his first big "blowout" and I needed moral support. We took his diaper off and there was the little gel suppository just sitting in his diaper. The little farter tooted it right out... You have to picture this... Matt is holding his little legs at a 90 degree angle ready to put on a new diaper. My Mom was at the end of the changing table by Maddox's head and I was in the middle. Then it came... "We have poop!!!" None of us really knew what to do-especially Matt holding his feet to the sky as poop was coming out. We all started laughing... Then, Maddox peed and hit my Mom all over her clothes and on his own face. Then I started really laughing and then I peed myself. Nice. Seriously though, if you are a new Mom who has just given birth, you understand... The muscles down there are non existent for awhile... So there we were... Maddox almost pooping all over Matt, peeing on my Mom and me doing myself my own honors... The fun continues... :)

Is It Time? I Think So....

9/26/08-This was our day...

3:56 a.m. (yes, I remember the exact MINUTE) Woke up with contractions? Wasn't sure if that was what they were. Decided to lay in bed for an hour and watch the clock... OUCH!

5:00 a.m. Got in the shower. I thought, "If this is the real thing, I want to at least be ready!" Straightened my hair, put my makeup on, etc... Told Matt that I felt like I was having contractions... He was wondering why I was straightening my hair...

6:00 a.m. Asked Matt to stay awhile just in case this was "it".

6:45 a.m. Told Matt, "Never mind-just go ahead and go to work".

6:50 a.m. Matt leaves...

6:55 a.m. Call my Mom at work freaking out... Timing contractions by this point and writing them down.. 3-7 minutes apart. My Mom tells me that she thinks I am going to have a baby!

7:15 a.m. Call my friend Loni. She tells me to go to the hospital...

7:20 a.m. Called Matt and told him to come back home.

7:25-7:45 a.m. Packed the rest of my bag.

8:00 a.m. Matt gets home and we leave for the hospital! Mind you, in 8am traffic on the freeway and connector.

Lost track of the time by now... We checked into labor and delivery. I was so calm that 2 nurses asked if I was there for my scheduled C-section. I told them I thought I was having contractions and that I was new at this mom stuff and they were probably going to just send me home. Next thing I know, I am hooked up to a monitor and the nurse was checking my cervix. I was 100% effaced and 4 cm dilated. Matt started texting and calling people. He tried calling my Mom at work but she had already left. She knew I was in labor from my phone call earlier. I started crying and saying that I wanted my Mommy... :( My parents packed up and left for Boise (a 4 hour drive). An hour later I was at 7 cm (10 cm=pushing starts)! Things were progressing so fast. I decided I needed an epidural... The nurse was so kind... She called the anaesthesiologist and begged them to come FAST. Next thing I know, I was pushing. Matt's Mom was in the room, but I was heart broken that my parents may not make it in time (FYI- avg labor for a first timer is 14 hours). The nurse said "push!" and my body said "wait!" I really wanted my parents there... After 20 minutes or so of "fake" pushing, my parents called and said they were turning into the hospital! Matt's Mom ran down to get them. So there I was-in all my glory-with my Mom, Dad, husband, and Mother-in-law all in the delivery room with me pushing-for real this time... An hour or so later, Maddox James Hollister was born. He was born at 2:56 p.m. What a surreal and amazing day. The experience was perfect. He weighed in at 6 lbs 10.8 oz and 19.5 inches long. A healthy baby... What more could a Mom ask for?

The last 2 weeks have been great. Okay, yes. I am delirious, sore, and very tired. All it takes is a look into my SON'S eyes, for me to be at complete peace. I have had a lot of help and support-thank goodness. My Mom was here for a little over a week. She slept on the couch with me and woke up with me in the middle of the night. My Dad was also here. He left during the week for work, but then he was back to see his first Grandson again the following weekend. Couldn't stay away! They went grocery shopping for us, helped clean the house, cooked dinner, and of course, spoiled Maddox. Ross (my brother) and Dannielle were here for his 1 week Birthday. Matt's Mom (Karen) has been here this week helping me clean and watched Maddox while I showered (Sad, but showering is such a luxury right now)! My friends Jenn and Jessica came over yesterday. They brought dinner and their little ones. It was nice to sit and talk to them. I am so lucky to have such great friends! Matt has also been helpful. Although I think he is still in shock that he has a son! He helps change the diapers, sterilizes bottles and helped me give Mad his first "real" bath.

Maddox is perfect. I know, I am his Mother, but still... He is perfect. His jaundice is going away and the weight he lost in the hospital has now been found. :) He has really bad gas though. Poor guy. He sleeps between 2-3 hours a night. Some nights are not so great-1.5 hours at a time. He has the funniest little faces that will make anyone laugh out loud. He has pouty lips and has the ability to squeal like a little girl... He has a dimple on his chin (compliment of his Dad) and dimples on his cheeks (compliments of his Mom). Oh, and his hair... As you can tell from the pictures, he has a ton of dark hair. I was in love-instantly. It is so true... You do not know how much you can love until you have a child...

Pictures...

I promise to post later this week! For now... PICTURES!!!!