Eli's Nursery

When we got home from the hospital my mom and brother were at our house. They had been setting up Eli's nursery and oh my goodness- it is SO cute.


We had ordered a nautical themed bed set and in addition to that my mom made a quilt with the fisherman's prayer on it, an organizer, diaper stacker, bumpers and crib skirt.


She also decorated the walls with ships and art. There were even baskets with little whales and seashells on them. She also had photo albums and a keepsake box and some books around the room. I got a little choked up and Charles almost started to cry, too.


Eli's middle name is Raymond, which is my mom's dad's middle name. He died about 9 years ago. I just realized this afternoon that he would have really liked the nursery- he was a sailer. He loved to go out onto Lake Michigan in his boat. Eli is Hebrew for "Ascend" or "my God" and Raymond means "protecting hands."


And the three nautical flags on the organizer spell ELI.

Baby Eli is Finally Here!

We are SO blessed to welcome Eli into our family! After 9 long months, here is the story...

Thursday I went to the doctor and we decided to induce. So my midwife (Dixie whom I just adore!) said the hospital would call me to bring me in. And they did around 2am Friday. So Charles and I took Drew to my parent's house and headed in. I got a medicine to help me go into labor, but not contract. I was actually having little contractions on my own already. So we went to sleep and we started pitocin (to make the contractions stronger) the next morning. It was slow going at first but when it got going it really got going. I was ready that afternoon. So ready, in fact, that I thought Eli was going to come without everyone being ready. I was literally "holding him in" while the nurses were prepping the room and getting Dixie. Anyways, about 4 or 5 pushes later he was born at 3:33pm. Charles announced "it's a boy" and we were all ballin'!!

I loved having my mom and 3 close girlfriends there (I kept calling them paparazzi since they took so many pictures) and my dad and Andrew were waiting outside so they came in just as soon as they could. Andrew helped the nurse clean up Eli. He held his hand over him to keep the light out of Eli's eyes.

I have 3 boys now- agh!

Baby Update

Well I went to the doctor yesterday HOPING to be halfway through labor and I just wasn't!! She said I was 1cm dilated and the baby was still pretty high. I though that was odd because I've felt a lot of pressure lately. I though for sure he or she would be lower.

Anyways, she was not comfortable scheduling any kind of induction or doing anything to help me, so we'll have to wait until next week. In the mean time I will be walking and thinking delivery thoughts. Today was my last day at work, so I'll be enjoying some out of town family and trying to think of ways to get our baby sooner than later. Any suggestions are welcomed! (Jennifer?)... I am SOOO ready to have this little one!

Christmas Past

With Christmas getting close, I thought I'd share some Christmas past....




This is from Christmas of last year, 2006. John and Andrew are GREAT gingerbread artists.













This is from Christmas 2003. We did these pictures for my parents. The handsome creatures with me are my brothers. Joe in the middle is the youngest. We think he's adopted because he is tall and thin and eats like a pig. Ben, on the right, and me are not so fortunate. Just kidding, Joe, you know we're blood!












This is Andrew's second Christmas, 2004.
















This was Andrew's first Christmas, 2003. I can't believe what a butterball he was! And he was SO bald, too. I love that toothless smile!

Newborn Andrew

With our baby's due date getting closer and closer I thought I'd share some pictures of Andrew's first moments. He had a long head (thanks to over 23 hours in labor) and he was a little funny looking. But to Charles and I he was (and is) the most-handsomest boy!

Just the Black Notes

My Aunt sent me this and I though it was really neat. Check it out.

Thankful

We had a great Thanksgiving! My Aunt Nell flew down from Michigan like she does every year and we were at my mom and dad's most of the day. We had good food and great company. Some things that are different this year made me realize how blessed we are and how much we have to be Thankful for.

My younger brother, Joe, was driving home from Carrollton (West Georgia University) on Wednesday afternoon. To avoid hitting another car, he veered off into a ravine. His car flipped several times and it is now totaled. Amazingly, he came out without a scratch. God was with him.

On Thanksgiving day, Andrew was sick and couldn't keep anything down. He was in a really great mood all day, just couldn't eat. It was over by Friday morning- when Charles and I woke up with it! Agh! But luckily we had no vomiting, just felt sick. It, also, was gone in a day.

ANYWHO- what I'm getting at is this... This time of year is often stressful. I blame most of it on presents! What to get, how much to spend, budgeting for the extra expenses, etc. I'm making a conscious effort this year to avoid that downward spiral. Charles and I have put ourselves last on the "gift" list. We are so blessed with Andrew, our family, our church, our God. And each year as we mature, we realize that we don't need gifts to be thankful or happy or in "the Christmas spirit." Surrounded by our friends and family, with a new addition on the way, we are just happy to have what we have. We're thankful for our health, our family, our safety.

Philipians 4:12-13

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.

Need A Laugh?

I came across these old photos and really got a kick out of them! I hope you do, too.

This is obviously the Chuck-ster as a youngster. He was a skinny minny at one point in his life!

















I love this one! Doesn't he look just like he does now?




















This is my Glamour Shot from when I was about 12 or 13. Can you believe how grown up I look here? More grown up than now, huh? Gotta be careful with makeup and clothes for girls these days. When we did these (my mom and I did it together) it was like a dress up fantasy. I NEVER looked like that in real life at that age. You could have srapped off my makeup with a spoon that day. Now a wear none- HA!

Baby Poll

I just couldn't figure out why the voting on the gender of our baby all of the sudden STOPPED. Apparently, there is a "close date" for the poll. I didn't realize that so I opened it back up through the end of the year. So, if you haven't cast a vote yet, you can now. Thanks!

Yes, I am pregnant

I've been getting this a lot lately: "Oh, Maggie, you're getting so big." Yes, well, I am great with child, that is why. I know you all know that, I'm just being sarcastic! I had a coupon for a free maternity 8x10 from Kiddie Kandids, inside Babies-R-Us. I upgraded to the "montage" of the photos, but in one photo spot I put a little saying. Anywho, this picture should explain my large mid section....
P.S. I thought they did a good job and she gave me more coupons for a free 8x10, so if anyone wants one, let me know.

Alex and Andrew

My mom watched Alex and Andrew for me for about an hour one day last week. While they were there, Grandma Wheezy and Andrew drew a picture of Alex from their point of view, which was peeking over the table while eating snacks. This is a great picture of Alex. Andrew, on the other hand, wasn't paying too much attention to the photographer (me).

Progess, part 2

I didn't want to fool with putting this all on one post, but the other big deal this week was finishing the baby quilt!! We don't know if we're having a boy or girl, but I wanted to have a crib set ready for either so the baby could come home to a cute nursery. I found a nautical themed boy set I liked but I couldn't find a girl set I liked that was under, say $400!! So my wonderful mom and I decided to make one. It was fun, but NEVER AGAIN! While my mom did most of the work, I provided moral support and BASIC sewing support. She wouldn't let me do the hard stuff, not that I was begging to! Anyways, it took about 2 months to choose the fabrics and another month to complete the crib skirt, bumpers, and quilt. We are almost done with the toy organizer, but the major stuff is complete and I think it is SO cute! Thanks mom, I love you!

Ahh, progress, how I love you!

Several milestones happened this week and I am SO happy!!

We started renovating our bathroom over 14 months ago. The sub floor was rotted so we took out everything and replaced it. Then we tiled. Then we installed a vanity which had to be custom ordered because our space for the vanity is more shallow than standard. After several months we got that. Then we custom ordered the top. Then we ordered the tub and had it installed. Then we tried to install a one piece shower surround but that didn't work so we ripped it out and installed a 3 piece. Then we had to tile around the base of the surround where it meets the tub since there were some gaps. The only things left to do are put a second coat of caulk around those tiles, some touch up paint, and getting a door for the linen closet (my dad ruined the previous one when he tried to shave it). Those are MINOR DETAILS compared to being able to take a bath now. Here are some pics.

I like to MOVE IT MOVE IT

Andrew likes this song at the end of the movie "Madagascar." He likes to dance, too.

Trick-Or-Treat!

Andrew had a ball going trick or treating. His friend Elijah came along, too. The homeowners that we visited raved about their costumes and they got a TON of treats.

My First Belt!

Andrew gets excited over things that you wouldn't think a 4-year-old would get excited over. He is just smitten with his first belt. It's just like daddy's and he asks to wear pants with belt loops every day now.

Andrew at about 15 or 16 months

I watch this every now and then. Andrew is so teachable and this reminds me of that. Notice what a cow says! I hope you enjoy it, I sure do.

We have a blog!

Okay, we have a blog, now what? I will post about what we did today. Today my dad came over and helped toward finishing the bathroom renovation we started over a year ago. We took out the sub floor and laid new tile, installed a new tub and shower surround, installed a new vanity and counter, we re-installed the old toilet and now we are on the home stretch! We just have to tile around the base of the surround, between the surround and the tub, because there was a gap, then some touch up caulking and painting! Yay. I'll be delighted if this is done before the baby comes. We'll see...