4 Weeks Already!

I thought the time flew by when I was pregnant, but it's gone by even faster now that Mackenzie is here. Scott and I are so happy and are absolutely in love with our little girl. Mackenzie's growing by leaps and bounds! I took her on September 23rd for her 2 week wellness check and she weighed 8 lbs. 13 oz. (75% percentile), her height was 20" (50% percentile), and her head was 36 cm (50% percentile). The family that I nannied for was kind enough to loan us their baby scale so we can weigh Mackenzie whenever we want. This past Tuesday we decided to see how much she has gained, and she weighed 9 lbs. 7 1/2 oz.! I was shocked! Mackenzie is our little butter ball! I hate how quickly the time is going, but I love seeing what new things Mackenzie discovers everyday. Two nights out of the week we go to the park to watch Scott play softball and Mack is absolutely perfect! Most of the time, she's sleeping, but when she's awake, she's so alert, looking around and cooing.
Happy Mack with her Teddy!

Life with Mackenzie

Scott and I (and the rest of our families) are enjoying every minute on Mackenzie. We were discharged from the hospital the Saturday after I had her and on Sunday we had a family get together for her and Scott's birthday. It felt so good to be home and to sleep in our own bed and take a shower at home! I was sore for most of the week last week, but this week, I'm feeling much better. We took Mack to the doctor last Monday and she dropped quite a bit in her weight and of course it made me sad. But, my milk has come in and today when I took her back for a weight check, she gained back almost all of her birth weight! We have figured out that she likes to sleep more than eat, so we wake her up every 3 hours to eat and boy, does she eat like a champ! We didn't hear her cry as in I'm mad and I can scream cry until last Thursday when she had a huge blowout all over herself and my mom and she didn't like being naked and getting all cleaned off. Scott stayed home with us last Monday, and then he had to go back to work on Tuesday. I thought I would be ok, but I got very lonely. Even though I have Mack, it was strange to be home with just her. My mom came over on Wed. and stayed until Thursday night and that was so nice. She was kind enough to take us to Zaxby's and Wal-Mart on Wed. I was so ready to get out of the house, but was afraid to go too far so Wal-Mart it was! Then on Thursday night, Mackenzie got to see her daddy play softball. She was so excited to be going, that she slept through the whole game! :) On Friday, she was laying on my chest and she decided to lift her head up to look at me, and she kept it up for some time. And when she gets mad, she gets very strong, she stretches her legs straight out and throws her arms up. She has the most beautiful dark slate blue eyes and she loves to look around. On Saturday night, instead of waking her up for her 3:30 a.m. feeding, I let her sleep so she technically slept through the night. I fed her at 11:30 p.m. Saturday and she woke up at 6:30 a.m. Sunday ready to eat. She is such a great easy going baby! Scott and I are so in love!

September 4, 2008

Mackenzie Elizabeth is here! Here's the story of how she came into this crazy, wonderful world. I woke up around 4 a.m. on Sept. 4th to go to the bathroom, after I got back into bed, I realized that I had a bit of cramping. I had been to the doctor the day before and thought I was cramping from that. I was still only 1 and 1/2 cm dialated when I was there, so I didn't think that I was starting to labor. I couldn't get comfortable laying down, so I went into our livingroom to watch cartoons. I forgot how funny Popeye and Pink Panther are or maybe it was just funny because I couldn't sleep. :) Anyways, at 6:30 I decided to take a shower and wake Scott up, he quickly fell back asleep and I enjoyed the warm water. Scott got up at 7 and started to get ready for work. He started timing my contractions and at that point they were 3-5 minutes apart. At 7:30, I was hurting and told him that we needed to go somewhere. After cleaning the kitchen and starting the washing machine (I guess I was in denial!) we were ready to leave for the hospital, that was at 8 a.m. Scott was so calm the whole way even joking that 8 a.m. was probably the worst time to be heading into Marietta, he was right, it took an hour to get to the hospital! We got right next to the hospital and that's when my labor pains went to my back and I lost it, it hurt so bad and I was starting to panic. Once I was in triage, I was checked and was 5-6 cm and the contractions were right on top of each other. Within 30 minutes, I was admitted to labor and delivery and had the epidural. I was so much calmer after that. I could still feel the pressure from each contraction, but I was able to breath through them. My mom got to the hospital at 11 a.m. and Scott's parents got there at 11:30 a.m. Everything moved very quickly. I sat at 10 cm for about an hour with hopes that Mackenzie would drop down more and that would help with the pushing. At 2:30 p.m. everyone but Scott left the room and I started pushing. I pushed for a little over an hour and Mackenzie entered the world at 3:37 p.m. it was the most amazing thing ever. She weighed in at 8 lbs. 1 oz. and 18 and 1/2 inches long. I guess she will get her lack of height from her momma, but that's ok! I couldn't have asked for a better labor and delivery nurse and the doctor that delivered Mackenzie was great. The neatest thing about the whole experience is that Mackenzie and her daddy will share birthdays-Mack was born one day before Scott and he loves his little birthday present!


Our happy little family!
Scott and I can't stop staring at her.
Scott holding his baby girl.

The Waiting Game

I'm now 38 weeks and 1 day! I absolutely can not believe it! We were at the doctor again on Monday, and I'm still only 1 to 1 and 1/2 cm dialated, but I'm 70% effaced, last week I was only 45-50% effaced, so I'm making some progress. Everybody's bag is packed and ready to go, we're just waiting for Mackenzie to decide when she's ready to make her appearance. Within the next few days, we're going to get the carseat in my car, we've tried doing it several times this week, but the weather hasn't cooperated with us. I still don't have much to complain about except my poor hands and feet! My goodness, if my fingers swell much bigger, I'm afraid they might pop. I look like I have little sausages for fingers and toes and they hurt. I'm definitely up more at night, but that's just been in the past couple of weeks. I'm still loving being pregnant, but I'm getting very excited to see what this little girl looks like. Scott's getting antsy too. He told me last night that it takes too long for babies to come out. He's been such a trooper throughout the past 9 months. He goes to every single appointment with me, because he wants to, not because I make or ask him. He's actually the one that schedules the appointments for me, so that way he can work around the time. Scott's a great support too, he doesn't let me complain, which is so great, because it stinks to be in a poopy mood! And of course he has loved being able to put all the fun stuff together. We went last Sunday to order Mackenzie's dresser and it will be here on Friday, my mom is still working on the bedding and I have a few pictures to hang, but that's it. On Monday, I went and had a pedicure and the funny lady who did my toes starting giggling and told me that I now have "labor toes"! Well, at least my toes are ready for everyone to see!

This Friday will be a bittersweet day for me. It's my last day nannying for the family I've been with for almost 2 years. Had I not gotten pregnant, I would be leaving them in December, so I'm not really leaving them that early, but it's just another end to a chapter in my book of my life. I've learned so much from working for my 3 little bosses. Luckily, I will still be able to see them and watch them grow. Tyler, one of the 4 year old twins is just as ready as I am to see Mackenzie, he tells me all the time that she's been in my belly for too long! Too cute!

37 weeks, this baby is done!

Today marks the official date that Mackenzie is done growing! It's hard to believe that in 21 days (give or take a few) Scott and I will have a daughter. We went on Saturday to take a tour of the Women's Center at Kennestone with Mat and Carmen, and I must say, I'm a lot calmer and more comfortable now about the whole process. It was comforting to know and see how things work, where we will be at what times, and to get the hands on experience before it's actually time. Carmen and I found it exceptional odd at how quiet it was in the women's center. And it appeared to be really clean. We also celebrated Scott's brother's 35th birthday on Saturday, it's crazy to think that I met him right after his 27th birthday. On Sunday morning we worked in Mackenzie's room getting all the shower gifts in the appropriate places. We are getting ready to order her dresser even though we know it probably won't be here until after she comes, but we finally decided on one we really like.

Yesterday I had another appointment. I will now go every week until the babe arrives. We found out some exciting news while we were there. I'm already 1 cm dialated! I know I have a LONG way to go, but at least I'm progressing some what. I've yet to experience any contractions and still feel really good. My hands and feet have gotten quiet swollen in the past week and my back is stiff pretty much all the time, but I'm still not ready to have her! The past 37 weeks have gone by much too quick. Some people think that I'm nuts when I tell them how much I enjoy being pregnant, yes, even in the heat. At 9:30 every night I feel like Dance, Dance Revolution is going on in my tummy. Scott and I watch intently as my tummy moves all over the place. Mack's foot bulges out of my right side and we tickle it as it goes back and forth.

We got Mackenzie's bag packed and I have started getting my clothes ready and Scott has his mile long list of things he intends to bring to the hospital.

Thank you to everyone who has kept us in your thoughts and prayers. I can only imagine what kind of changes Scott and I are about to experience, and I can't wait to meet our little girl.

Baby Fun

On August 9th, Carmen hosted an amazing shower for Mackenzie. We had so much fun playing games and eating yummy shower food. I'm ever so thankful and humbled by how many people are already so in love with our child.
Carmen made this quilt for Mackenzie! I can't wait to show Mack what her Aunt Carmen made special for her.

Carmen's niece was such a good girl! She was my little helper and was so cute! She has the cutest little country accent and had no problem with all the people at her Grammy's house.
My boss got us our pack and play! Now Mackenzie has a place to sleep for the first couple of months.

Kelly Haney and her Mom, Meta playing with Bennett. Meta is Scott's bosses wife and attend our church. They have been so kind to us ever since Scott started working for Don almost 9 years ago.

Our dog friends Rick, Trish, and Lindsey got Mack a lab towel and wash cloth along with aminiture stuffed Stetson and Nick. And they bought the diaper bag that Scott picked out. Scott had already has it packed and ready to go! My sister in law's mom made this blanket for Mackenzie as well and it's so soft! High school girls. Alicia had Avery in May, then Mackenzie is due in Sept., Blair had Bennett in March, and Carmen will have Baby Boy in Nov. I just wish Alicia was closer, it was so fun catching up with these girls.
My momma and me. My mom is my rock even though she's gotten a little goofy with becoming a Gramma. She absolutely cannot wait and has bought out every store in the metro area! Her excuse is that all of it is just too cute to leave. I love my mom.

35 weeks=35 days

This past Saturday the ladies at my mom's work (where I used to work as well) hosted a baby shower for Mackenzie. Of course it was beyond hot, but we were able to still have fun. The theme was a luau and we all ate some amazing food. It amazes me how much people really do care for you. Mackenzie got some very special gifts and she isn't even here yet. All I know thus far, is that she is going to be one stylish kid! My mom is the youngest of 6 girls and 4 of my aunts were able to make it to the shower. It was so special to me to have everyone there. The only person missing was my Gramma, but after reading the card she sent, I know she was there is spirit. Hopefully she will be well enough to make a trip up here in the fall, and Scott and I are already talking about taking a trip after Mack is here to visit her.

This Sunday, Carmen and her sister are hosting another baby shower for us! I absolutely cannot wait! I'm such a geek with presents and I absolutely love to be surprised, so I can only imagine how Sunday is going to turn out.

We went back to the doctor's yesterday to sign the consent form and ask all the questions we needed to ask, of course I forgot a few important ones, but we go back on the 18th. As some of you know, I was 9 lbs. 13 oz. when I was born, my brother was 8 lbs. 11 oz. and Scott was in the high 8's as well, so I was pretty nervous about giving birth to a 4 month old! The doctor really felt around my tummy yesterday and said that Mackenzie is weighing in at around 5-5 1/2 lbs. right now, and will probably be around 7-7 1/2 lbs. at birth, so let's all keep our fingers crossed for that!

Here are a few pictures of all the wonderful gifts we received this weekend.


The adorable diaper cake my Aunt Candy made. She claims she isn't creative, but I give her credit for this one! How cute is this?! Notice the pacifier earrings?


All the gifts from Saturday! I told you she has enough clothes to share! The clothes across the bottom, laying on the floor came on a clothesline and had this cute poem that came with it, such a creative idea. Scott put all of Mack's stuffed animals in her crib.
I have some creative aunts. The two oldest ones both sew and have made special keepsakes throughout the years. In fact, one aunt made my Christening gowns and my mom found it and was able to clean it for Mackenzie. Below, is a quilt my Aunt Judy made to match Mack's room. She said it took 280 pieces to create and it took her only two weeks!
Another picture of the diaper cake. The best part about this is that everything on the cake can be used. The spoons on the top of the cake are the candles. I made one of these for Scott's sister two years ago and it was so much fun. Anyone want to go into business??