My Favorite Pregnant Picture

Just to be clear, I didn't adore being pregnant like some women. I was sick for about 10 weeks, gained 33 pounds throughout the 2nd and 3rd trimesters and felt about as big as a tank by Christmas. I likened the last 2 months in a conversation with my brother to strapping a watermelon to your belly, then trying to shave your legs. It was incredibly frustrating towards the end not sleeping, being uncomfortable, nervous, etc.

Which is probably why I love this picture so much. Here I am, in all my 9 months+ glory and look incredibly peaceful! My Mom took this picture for a side profile shot and I just think it is so crazy cool looking. Incredible and miraculous to think I delivered only a couple days later!

Macy's Men!

Obviously the most important man in Macy's life is her Dad!!!! This was a couple weeks ago, at Boulavard Park, where Gabe showed Macy & I where a family of racoons live! We went for a walk and coffee and had a chance for Gabe to test out the new AWESOME stroller!
Here is my Uncle Craig Hougan. He is a wonderful man who I love very much! Craig was in Wenatchee right after Macy was born, and this was the first time he met and held her- precious!
My Cousin KC Hougan, in town today to help his Dad, Craig at Hi Hoe Nursery- *which opens March 1 in case anyone was wondering!* KC has been a huge help to Heidi (his Sister, my Cousin) with Luke and the triplets Annie, Abbie and Ellie this year. Macy adored KC and smiled and stared at him the whole time he held her!
Here's Heather's Dad, Steve Burton, cuddling Macy out at Mexican food last night! Can you say, "Bonded"? It cracks me up how much joy she brings to everyone she is around! I think she's a healer in a way, and brightens up any room every time she enters. I love babies, but have to think this particular girl is something really special. We love you Steve!

Some of Macy's friends...

I have several friends who had babies between November '09 and Jan '10...

This is Kristopher! Kristopher is the grandson of a great friend of mine named Melissa who is Gabe's age! We laughed all summer about how she is a Grandma for the first time and Gabe is a Dad for the first time, both at 36 years old. So funny! Kris is a darling little boy! So glad to have his Mom, Amanda close by for awhile. :)
Here's Holly and her baby girl, Harper Dae DiLorenzo! Harper was born 3 weeks after Macy!!! Holly and her husband, Brandon didn't peek to see what they were having and I was thrilled when I heard it was a girl!!! A friend for Macy! Holly was my best friend in high school. She used to introduce us, "Hi, I'm Holly, this is Molly, best friends, no relation." Holls is the best! Can't wait to do this "Mommy" thing with you!

This is my wonderful friend Jamie and her darling son, Mason Micah McConkey, born 6 weeks ahead of Macy and her first friend!!!! Jamie was born one day before me and we have known each other and been friends our whole lives. She was the one to remind me for years how old WE were getting and that we needed to get going on the baby thing! Ha! So fun to experience pregnancy and now, motherhood with our first babies! I love you Mason and Jamie! (Jamie jokes that Macy McConkey has a nice ring to it. . .) :)

Macy meets Heather!

This is my best friend Heather holding Macy yesterday! Heather & I grew up as next door neighbors and have always been close. Then, since I moved to CA in 2000, we have never lived near each other. We literally passed in U-Hauls on the freeway when I moved back home to WA and she has since worked in California, Chicago, San Francisco and now just moved to Idaho with her fiancé, Rich! Heather is an incredible person. Very, very smart and business savvy, and also incredibly beautiful. She flew in to meet Macy, and bring the rest of her stuff to Idaho and it's becoming real that we'll probably never be next door neighbors again. (sob) Good news? She is always game to meet me, anywhere, anytime! (We went to Houston together last February to see Katie onstage and had an awesome time). We always marvel that we're almost 29 and how we still feel young! It's wonderful to have her here during this time in my life. Heath- you're the best!
Heather is a wonderful friend who I know will always be there for me. Of course, Macy loved her from the start.

*Oh, and check out the blanket, my new favorite, thanks to Tanya Silves, Super Mom!

The Church Baby Shower!

The Baby Shower our church, Christ Fellowship threw for Macy and I was lovely! Tanya Silves and Kristy Wind organized it, and I was so touched by all the people that came to shower love and blessings on Macy and I! My Mom and I went together and she was so helpful to me, basically parenting the whole time so I could chat with all the ladies there and participate 100%! My Mom is the BEST!

Katie Stauffer brought the funniest game I have ever played at a shower. It was Memory, with words like: Umbilical Cord, Conception, Epidural, Twins, International Sperm, Pelvic Exam, etc. You know... The usual. :) The usual for KATIE that is!!! There were some kids there, and we got to laughing so hard, since each match had a prize... Umbilical Cord: Twizlers, Conception: Score Bar, Twins: Mike & Ikes, International Sperm: Swedish Fish, Pelvic Exam: Butterfinger. It was AWESOME. I laughed so hard since I was sitting by Katie's mom, who, on every match would go, Katie, No! It was so funny, I loved it.
Tanya did the devotional for us, and it was wonderful. I'm going to post the verses she shared on another day since they are currently taped to my fridge. She is so inspirational, and such a genuine and sincere friend. I wish I knew her better! I know her pretty well, though, since she has an amazing blog that I follow :) She is another reason I started one! The picture above is Marla TenKley, a wonderful friend with 3 amazing children that Gabe and I adore. Lulu, her youngest, was in my Sunday School class when she was 4 years old and she called me her "Big Person" when her brother and sister wanted to invite their teachers over for dinner she asked if her Big Person could come too. I LOVE those TenKley kids and their parents!!!! Bev McKissick is sitting next to Marla, and Bev prayed a blessing at the end of the devotional for Macy and I that made me cry. She is battling cancer right now, and still manages to encourage and inspire those around her while praising the Lord. She is amazing, and I love her.

Macy got three swimsuits!!!!

The cheering section. These girls, no matter what it was, would ohh and aww and say, "SOOOOO CUTE"! That's Lulu (Olivia TenKley) on the left, this was the first baby shower she had ever been to!!!!
Judy kissing me, she hosted the party and shared her gorgeous house with all of us- what a gracious lady! Love her!
Angela Strotz wrote all the gifts down. This girl is awesome! I was able to spend some time with her the other night at a Scrapbook Party and want to know her better! You'll see her gift below, it blew me away!!!
Judy and Karen, admiring Angela's gift on the guest of honor! Karen (and Katie) designed and DID our nursery and then bought Macy the most darling gift- I'll post a pic later...it's going to be next year's Easter dress- soooo beautiful.
One of my favorite things, from Karen King, a wonderful woman that has prayed for Macy and I for literally months...
This cracked me up. It's from Debbie Hardinger, our senior pastor's wife and it's for Macy to never go into debt. :) It has some pennies in it already!
Angela MADE these booties. Girl, you need to go into business!!!!! Macy is wearing the red ones today and rocking them.
Thank you to everyone who came and for all your thoughtful and darling gifts!! I had a blast!

Dad with Macy- from a couple weeks ago. I have to say, it is delightful to watch him turn to mush whenever Macy is near! My Dad isn't so much on gifts- not that he's not generous, he just doesn't think about it! So, you have to understand how amazed and delighted I was on Valentine's Day when Dad gave me a wrapped gift and announced it was a Valentine for Macy. :) I opened it, and here's what was inside...

Pretty much the cutest thing ever! Stay tuned for more "cutest things"... I have a Baby Shower tonight thrown by my church gals, the greatest ever! Can't hardly wait!

This was yesterday, before we left for Mimi's house. This outfit is DARLING, from my friend Tanya Schieb and she wore it to church, too. The bow was hysterical. Mom went a little nuts for hair accessories and I love them all and try to switch it up all the time depending on where we go. I think she likes to dress up! Good thing... :)
Macy Skyping Auntie Kate, in Prague, Czech Republic! She's coming home in only 4 more weeks! We miss her like crazy! This picture cracks me up since you can actually SEE Katie! Gotta love modern technology!
Happy Valentine's Day! Gabe was working, so we went to church alone...this dress is precious, and from Macy's Auntie Kate.
We're calling my Mom "Mimi" instead of Grandma- this name morphed from Grammy, which is what we call my Mom's Mom who is now "GG" for Macy. Complicated, yes, but also sweet and personal. This is my Gram, Macy's GG holding her and my Mom, Mimi, making her smile for the first time on camera!!!! Yeah!
Ok, trying to figure this blogging thing out! This is a continuation...

One of the highlights of my day is giving Macy her bath! She is so darn cute in that little tub and has just started splashing with her legs. We try to do a bath every day- keeps me on schedule and I love the smell of her hair with that Johnson Baby Magic! Had to share this pic from last week when Gabe helped...

I'm finally blogging!

Hello, Friends!

I went to a scrapbooking party at a friend's house the other night and realized I have been reading every single blog of the people who attended! Then, I re-watched that movie Julie & Julia last night and was inspired again to start a blog... so, here I am!

I used to journal a lot, nearly every day, and realized last year I made three entries and that was while pregnant! Terribly bad, and partly because it's such a pain these days to find a pen and paper and the time to write a real page-worth of something. Typing? MUCH faster and something I know I can commit to this year, especially with all the changes that are happening with Macy in our lives!

Life is much sweeter and fun with Macy Megan here! Can't wait for all 2010 holds!