Flowers from home

Doug & Macy Kate sent me flowers on my first day back at work - it totally made my day!! They were Christmas theme and very pretty and it was just so sweet! Here's a picture of them!

Who couldn't love this face?!?!!

Day 3 at work and it's slow here so I find myself missing Macy Kate even more. Just in time...Tammy comes to the rescue with pictures!

Isn't it funny how your child looks so different when someone else is taking a picture of them? Seems as though she has changed since I dropped her off this morning! I know she hasn't, but it seems that way.

She apparently is perfectly fine without me :-) Which is a good thing! She is a very happy baby and her skin is finally clearing up so I plan to take some cute naked shots of her this weekend.

When I look at her I still see Doug mainly but other say they see me so who knows. All I know is....I see love! :-)

Back to work........

Well, these last 10 weeks have FLOWN by! They have been both joyous and heart breaking all at once. It's strange how much you can change in 10 weeks - I feel like I head back to work a completely different person than when I left. I am now a Mommy and someone who has lost her Dad - both huge events in a short amount of time.
Yesterday was my first day back and I felt like a fish out of water - everything felt so foreign and like I was just visiting for the day! HA! Well, today is day two and it's becoming real that life at work, away from my baby, will be hard. I cried this morning when dropping her off at my sister's house - last night came and went so fast as far as our time with her. I sit and wait all day to see and hold her and then it goes so fast and it's the next day before we know it and we are dropping her off again and away from her once again. Ahhh....to have the weekends! :-)
I know it will get easier with time but for now it's very odd to be here. Everyone is great here though, but I still miss her.
These are from today - her Aunt Tammy took them and made my day by sending them to me at work!

SO smiley!!!!

Here's a few shots of her smiling lately - she will actually laugh....it's adorable! Here's a video of her smiling too!

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She's finally...Sleeping like a baby!

She had her first night in her own bed, in her own room last Saturday. She slept....like a baby! We were SO proud of her! We grabbed the video camera on the way up to get her to document this big day! Enjoy!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Two....NOT for the price of one!

Well, my twin nephews are here and adorable! My poor sister...she discovered that you do not get two for the price of one! She has to pay two co-pays everytime they go to the doctor...who knew!! Two of this, two of that, etc - these boys are costly - good thing they are SO cute! I love you Luke & Levi!

I miss you Dad....

For those of you who have not heard, my Dad died suddenly on Nov. 12th and it's still hard to believe we will not see him again in this life. Macy Kate was lucky to meet him but she will never truly KNOW him and that breaks my heart.

It's been a month and I look around and see people going on with their lives and it feels so wrong - a piece of ours is missing and it will never be the same, how can we just move on. I know this is part of grieving but it just seems like life is moving in slow motion now.

Please continue to pray for our family as we heal from this huge event and we look to God to fill that void.

Her 1st bath

She did so good! She loved the warm water!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

She's here!

She has arrived! Here are a few photos and a video - she is two weeks old now and I am sorry I am just now updating this - life as we knew it has totally changed as all of you know, so it's been hectic!

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She has arrived!

She decided to come on her own - no induction necessary :-)

My water broke at 9:30pm, Monday, Oct. 6th and we headed to the hospital...slowly but surely. They checked me and said "Yep, you're a keeper!" and we headed to our room where I would labor for the next 13 hours or so. I got my epidural (after begging!) at 7:30am and she made her way into this world at 12:45pm sharp. 7lb 2oz and 19 1/4 inches long - and absolutely perfect! Here's a few shots from those first moments.

Due date is here...but where is Macy Kate

She's snug in my tummy still! :-)
Apparently she will be stubborn, like her Mommy, and may just be forced out of her old home soon. We will go in Tuesday night at 7pm to start induction if she doesn't change her mind before then and come on.
The thought of going in and everything being controlled tomorrow night is a nice thought but then again having some fun going into labor story would be fun too - I'm torn! Come tomorrow night at 7 I will have no choice :-)
Doug and I are both so excited and just can not believe it will be within days, no matter what. FINALLY! Nana Pat is here and everyone one and everything is in place....we just want to meet her!
I had a few contractions at church yesterday and through the day but nothing consistent, so who knows.
Any last minute advice we need????

She is comfy in there....no sign of emerging!

Well here we go....the start of my 40th week is here. So many feelings - anxious, nervous, excited, impatient......I think the "unknown" is the most annoying part but yet somewhat fun too - strange, I know :-)

I had to get a haircut yesterday, just too much to deal with. Hoping to make it to Friday for a mani/pedi and then Nana Pat will be here and we're all set come Saturday evening - AFTER the Notre Dame/Stanford game of course :-)



Macy Kate has been super active the last few days so who knows what she is thinking. Doug and I just can't wait to SEE her in person and take it all in. To think it's within a week or so is amazing! I go to the doctor tomorrow at 2 and hopefully will be dilated past 1, which I was last week. They will schedule an induction for the following week, just in case!

So.....Wish us luck.....We are on high alert and VERY ready!

2am....Awake and Emotional....

I wake up a lot lately at night, and am sometimes just wide awake from 2 to 4am. JOY! Last night I woke up and got to thinking about things and started crying randomly - I am SO emotional lately :-)

I was thinking about Macy Kate coming so soon and about how I went to have lunch with Allie at Kindergarten yesterday and how excited she was to see me. I felt so special! Then I thought about how one day that will be my daughter and then I thought about how when Allie happily waived bye to me and hugged me and said "I wish you could come to dinner at my house tonight!" that this was probably the last time I will see her before the baby comes. That in itself was sad for me - I don't see her often now that she has school and I miss her. Then I got to thinking that once Macy Kate comes, I know I will still love Allie to death (Maddy too) but I have never loved a child as much as I feel like I could love my own, other than Allie, and now that place in my heart will be taken up by Macy Kate because she will be my own daughter. Which is fine and I am thrilled about loving her and having a child but it's sort of sad to have that part of my life (with Allie) change that way. I got to thinking about how I hope she remembers our special bond later in life and not just remember Nonny was in her life and now I have babies of my own, etc. Does that make sense? I want her to remember those special years where I soaked up every piece of her and she and I had this great bond - BEFORE children of my own. I want her to know that I am dying to be a Mommy because of her - because she showed me this huge love that comes from taking care of a child. SHE is the reason I am so excited about having a daughter and I think of Allie every time I walk into Macy Kate's room (mainly because it is Allie's stuff! HA! But I also just think about when she was a baby). I know she will be grown one day and will know I had a part in her early years but I don't know if she will ever truly know how much I love her and how much of an impact she had on my life of wanting to be a Mommy.

I think I will write Allie a letter soon explaining how special she is to me and when she gets older she can read it and know what a special time in my life that was for me. I want her and Maddy to know they will always be a part of my life! Then I got to thinking about how time flies by so fast and how Allie has grown up so fast and I know I will feel that way about my children and miss them being babies, etc. - I know....WAY beyond what I need to be focusing on right now but I found myself lying there at 2am crying and missing Allie and missing this baby inside of me that I have yet to meet:-) I drifted off to sleep about 3:30 wondering....Am I normal?

19 Days left and we had to do a trial run!

Went to the hospital yesterday for what I guess was a trial run! HA! I had contractions all day - just very mild ones - but did not feel her move for many hours and that is what concerned them. So I went up there and they monitored her and of course she started moving once I got there :-) So we went on home and I had a dr. appt today - they did check me but nothing is going on "down there" :-) So, for now, my bun is still baking!

Mommy & Daddy Having Fun Before Your Arrival

Doug and I had fun taking these - I took them on a timer and it was pretty funny! We took them up in her room - he wanted a few with the pink football which I thought was a cute idea! I felt SO huge (and was so upset my wedding ring doesn't fit for these photos!) but he was so sweet and kept complimenting me the whole time - he is so excited and ready for this baby girl to arrive and turn his life upside down - me too! 3 weeks from today is the due date....

The writing on the wall....

Tammy and I painted these letters for Macy Kate's room - one last thing to hang! Once we get her Little Miss Muffet canvas all the walls will be complete!

Swing Low....Sweet Macy Kate....

I think she has dropped! I can finally sit up and breathe and I just feel her lower. This is neat and scary - this means she's getting "into position"! When Doug or I press on her now, she presses back - HA! I think she is syaing "Hey you two...I don't have much space in here that's mine, so back off!" :-)

HUSH while you can!

Alisha and I were in Publix this weekend (getting ice cream and apple pie but that is besides the point!) and some bagger dude asked me if I was having twins. I nicely said "Nope, just one", so then he said "Oh no, you are having two" and I again, nicely, said "No, I'm sure, just one". He proceeded to keep talking.....IDIOT! He said "No, I think two" and at this point I was about to cry and we grabbed our bags and started to walk off and I said "Bye" and he said, as we departed, "Well then that's ONE BIG BABY!" - I wanted to run back in and say "Do you see me....9 months pregnant and here to buy ice cream and pie....do you think I care what YOU think? NO!!" - I should have gone Preggo on him (get it....instead of postal....preggo!) :-) UGH....some people just don't know when to hush!!!

Big Ole' Belly

Well, I attempted to take a few belly shots of myself last week. Here they are - nothing major, just something to remember this time by. I feel SO huge these days! I will try and take a few of Doug and I over the next week. I so wish I could see in there and look at her.....soon enough!

Post showers and just waiting...

Well, all my fun and wonderful baby showers are over and we got so many great things - we are truly blessed by the gracious people in our lives! I will post some new pics from this last one at my work Friday - we received a ton of great items and our pack-n-play, which I was excited about!

We proceeded to put it together with Grammy & Papa Friday night and that was a hoot! Those things don't come with good instructions!

Macy Kate has really grown over the last 2 weeks and sitting up straight is not an option for me anymore :-) She does crazy rolls in there and loves to "high five" Daddy when he puts his hands on there and talks to her! He said he wanted to learn the words to "You are my sunshine" the other day - it melted my heart! He will be such an awesome Daddy!

The waiting game of when/how/where will labor start is fun but also so nerve racking! I know she will come in God's perfect timing but it being the one thing you have no way of planning is so bizarre!

I will write more later and post the pics of the last shower.

Will I ever sleep soundly again?

Well, starting my 34th week and the sleep situation is only getting worse :-) I know what you're thinking.....this is preparing me for Macy Kate's arrival....but come on...really...why can't you get some good sleep right before your life is about to change forever!

I have about 5 pillows I rearrange about 10 times a night - I used to think poor Doug but he says he never even hears me get up and down..so I guess I need to make more noise so that he isn't sleeping quite so good! HA!

At least when she gets here it will be something fun/loving to get up for...for now...it's just potty time and trying to get comfy with this watermelon belly everyone says is so cute! :-)

But I am convinced...it will ALL be worth it soon!

Macy Kate's room is ready for her

It's pretty much done - a few more items to hang or wash but we mainly just need to insert her into her beautiful room to complete it! I can't say how thankful and blessed we are for having all the things given/handed down to us to make her room what it is. And I must say I am very proud of the Humpty wall and am so glad I was able to pull it off!

Emotional wreck

Well...I am middle of my 33rd week and just an emotional wreck :-) I'm sure Doug is thinking "Will this ever end?" - HA! I cry easily and feel so huge and am just SO ready to meet our baby and be done with being an incubator :-) I am putting our Shutterfly link on here of our latest shower pics and will add some from work when I have that one next week. We have been SO blessed to have so many things handed down and given as gifts to us - we have some wonderful people in our lives!
I have washed all her laundry (MANY loads!) and have sterilized her bottles and paci's and am beginning to "nest" and clean out closets, etc. I will pack her bag for the hospital this weekend and will probably pack mine & Doug's in the next two weeks. I am so ready for her to be here but then again want her to come precisely on October 5th or later so my Mom can be here :-) Pray for that!
Well, I'll post more later - love y'all!
http://lovingmacykate.shutterfly.com/

She kicks beneath!

Just a short video of MK kicking last night!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Starting to blog!

Well, lots of people I know have these so I thought I would take a stab at it! Macy Kate will keep us busy soon so this may work out well to post a note or funny story and some pics/videos.