It Finally Happened...

I had to go back to work on June 7th. sad. SAD. SSSAAAADDDD. Day. 

I cried myself to sleep the night before. Literally - at about 1am I drifted off into a hiccupy, teary,  can't-breathe-through-my-nose-for-all-this-crying kind of sleep. I closed my eyes and 2 seconds later it was time to get up and start: The Worst Day.

Maggie was staying home with Kevin the next morning. When I got up I could hear her in her room....talking to herself in her crib. 

I didn't go in. I couldn't go in. If I did, I knew I'd NEVER make it out the door. AND if my eyes got any puffier I wouldn't be able to drive.

So, I did what I had to do....hating it every minute. I went back to work after 4 months of Maggie-love - with puffy, sleep-deprived eyes. 

I kept wondering "What if she thinks I've left her? What if she wonders where I am? What if she's thinking, "'I need my Momma!" and I'm not there'"  

My teammates are all moms so they understood my dilemma and did their best to welcome me back and make me feel better....

 My boss brought GIANT chocolate cookies...

 I constructed a Maggie shrine in my cube...

Maggie Shrine part 2

 Cute cube decor

 Fresh hydrangeas

My welcome back "well wishes" from my floor mates

Thankful for good friends!

Mandy

I Love...

my new highchair! I can sit in it and play while Mom cooks or does dishes or while Mom and Dad eat dinner. Sometimes they give me bites of carrot or potato. I don't really like potatoes. Don't tell my mom or she'll make me keep trying them. 


I'm also big enough to reach the toys on my play mat... Yes! I've been waiting for this! Its really not fair for people to hang toys out of reach and then make you just look at them. Where's the fun in that?

I'm doing new things all the time!


Maggie

Happy Mother's Day

This was my first Mother's Day. I have to say I'm a fan of having a holiday dedicated to motherhood, now that I'm actually a mom! Its fun to get spoiled for a day.


Maggie, Kevin, and I spent the day at home after church. Maggie got me a card and the Born to be Wild documentary. We watched it together, but she was a little squirmy :)


As easily as she reaches her toes these days she kind of reminds me of those cute little orangutans on the DVD....


Kevin gave me some dark chocolate and a beautiful necklace. Good. Job. Dad!

Maggie's Dedication

Maggie's dedication took place on Sunday, May 6th - which also happened to be 3 months to the day since she was born. Time has flown by! I'm so conflicted.... 


I want her to stay small and sweet and cuddly and just as she is now. She loves to be held and talked to and her face lights up when she realizes its her mommy or daddy. However, I also love to watch her grow and learn. This is the hard part of being a mama. Trying to hold on and let go at the same time. Difficult with a capital "D".


Side Note: Our assistant district superintendent Rev. Richard Reed (look up the words "holy,""awesome," and "Christ-like" in the dictionary and you'll see his picture) came down to dedicate her for us. We consider him our "pastor" on the East Tennessee District. We love Richard and we know he loves us. He is a great man and we're so glad he was able to come dedicate her!


During the dedication Richard announced that Maggie is the first parsonage baby EVER at Jasper Nazarene. Over the last 42 years pastors have had children living in the parsonage but no babies were born to pastor's families while pastoring here. Maggie, you're a celebrity and we had no idea!

 Lets get this ball rolling...Maggie is getting that grumpy look in her eye...or maybe that's her "I'm leaving you a present in my diaper" face....hmmm...

 She was so good even though she needed to pass out and go to sleep...hence the paci. At least we  coordinated paci colors with her hair bow and shoes. We are nothing if not accessorized! Oh the fun of a little girl!

 Richard showing her to the congregation. They just promised to love her and support her and encourage her so we want them to get a good look at that sweet face and remember it!

 Poor Richard didn't know this but Maggie just left me a present in her diaper and I was in the background praying my present didn't end up all over his hands and suit. 

 Look at those little pink shoes and white bloomers. See what I mean? Why would I want her to grow up when she is so adorable! I'm betting others frown on making your 12 year old wear bloomers and itty bitty ballerina shoes so I have to get my fix now....

Richard reminded us it is our job as parents to do our very best by Maggie in all things. To show her what it means to love Jesus and others. We didn't hesitate. Not for an instant. We gave an emphatic "We will."


Well, I can hear someone woke up early from her nap!


Until next time!


Mandy, Kevin, and sweet Maggie

Maggie Has Been Busy....

Its been a while since our last post. Maggie has been a bit of a traveler lately so we haven't had much time for blogging! She made her first trips to Indiana and to Georgia to see her grandparents and extended family. She also headed to Trevecca for TNT with the youth group.


Therefore, I spent all my time packing the entire house. 


Then unpacking the entire house when we came back and doing a mountain of laundry.


She's also been busy discovering her hands, learning to sleep at night and take naps (Evidently there is a learning curve on this one...,  trying to rollover, getting fat rolls on her legs, rubbing all the hair off the back of her head, etc. 


Here are some photos of the last several weeks...

 Hanging out with Aunt Natalie at Nana and Papa's house.... we like to watch cartoons together.

 Don't be fooled by this smile. She may be in her carseat but she's not in the car. The screaming commences once the car door shuts. 

 Swinging with Aunt Julie at Grandma Bette and Pappaw Jim's. I gave her all my smiles and wouldn't smile for the camera.

 Meeting Pappaw Jim and Star (dog). 

 Meeting Pappaw Tony at Grandma's house. 

 Meeting her future TNU roommate, Regan, while she was in Nashville for TNT. We were going to let them share a pack n' play so they can get used to being roomies. 

 Snoozing on Uncle William while Papa and Nana were at work. 

 Hanging out with Dad at TNT. 

 Meeting Auntie Jenna, Auntie Allyson, Asher, and Levi when the Thompsons were in town.

 Playing with Aunt Jackie and Aunt Barbara. We called Nana at work to let her know they were stealing all her kisses!

 Meeting Auntie Joy! Now I need to meet my brand new friend - Auntie Joy's baby boy Anson.

 Meeting Aunt Emily in Indiana

 I love Aunt Kate!

Meeting Auntie Em in Nashville!

Yes, my daughter is quite the social butterfly,

Mandy

Daddy's Girl...

Yep, Maggie is a daddy's girl.... unless she's hungry, tired, or upset. Then she's a momma's girl :) 


BUT.... Daddy is a pretty good place to sleep AND helps her get big burps out AND he sings silly songs AND he talks to her like Dobby from Harry Potter. So, basically - in the end - I don't stand a chance!

 A Momma's Girl

 Just waiting for that man-sized burp...

 Just snoozing....

Maggie's Momma, 

Mandy

Maggie Hates....

being swaddled. I mean she HATES it. I fully expect to receive a bill for therapy in about 20 years stemming from the fact that she thinks being swaddled is torture. We lay her in her bassinet to sleep and it takes all of 5 seconds for her to start grunting, fidgeting, and fighting for freedom. It gets pretty loud. Being the exemplary parents that we are - we just wait and see how long it takes her to escape and then swaddle her back up again for Round 2. See below....


This is how we put her down for naps and bedtime. If her arms are loose she hits herself in the face and wakes herself up. So far, I don't think she knows she has arms. 

This is how she prefers to sleep. Arms free. Chilling on Mom's pillow (which explains why it smells like spit up. Gross.)

Look at those guns. She may look sweet but watch out for her muscle man arms....dangerous! 

Looking forward to more sleep!


Mandy, Kevin, and Maggie