The Final Countdown...

Well, we have about 3 weeks left! The time has flown by. It seems like we were just posting that we were expecting, just yesterday. :)

We are really feeling pretty ready for her arrival (or as ready as we could be). We still have little things to do, here and there, but all of the "necessities" are done, so there has been kind of a wave of peace on the McSpadden front. As of last week, the doctor said that I am still not dilated, in which I replied, "Thank goodness..." She was shocked by this b/c apparently most women are wanting it to be over. I haven't felt that way. I LOVE being pregnant. I love feeling a human move around inside of me, and the wonder and mystery of it all. Also, I want to make it to November, so just a few more weeks and then I might be one of "those" moms.

In the past month, we've had 3 beautiful baby showers (I'll post these pics later...), I had (and recovered from) the flu, and we learned that I can back off of the gestational diabetes because the baby is pretty small, and my doctor wants the baby to gain a bit of weight. Also, at our last appointment, we learned that there is a small chance that the McBaby Girl may have kidney reflux. We are praying about that, and we have been encouraged by so many people who have said that there kiddos have it (or have had it) and it isn't that big of a deal.

Mark and I have also been SO encouraged by our new church. We have met SO many people, and we have felt like we just joined a new family. It's been wonderful, and it was really what we were praying and looking for. Yea!

Both of our jobs are going great. I am ready for what I would call my "maternity vacation" with McBaby girl, but my students have been really cute about the baby, and this week I intend on cracking down on my maternity plans, so that things are ready to go for the 12 + weeks that I am gone.

As for how we are feeling, I'll start with Mark... in his words, "I'm excited! It's a lot of preparation... I'm ready for it to happen already." :) Cute... In my words, "I daydream a lot now about what she will look like, how will she laugh... what will it be like when there are 3 of us... and these Braxton Hicks contractions are driving me nuts..."

Here's some other pics that our friend Zach took with our new camera. Thanks Zach! We'll keep you posted on any news! I think everyone's more excited about finding out her name more than her actual arrival! Either way, we'll keep everyone posted!

Time for an Update

We've Reached Month 7! Here's my latest belly pic. My how McBaby Girl has grown!

If you want to see really how much I've grown, I am wearing the same top below on our anniversary, but that was about 2 months before. Yikes!

Well, let's see... since our trip to Tahoe back in June, A LOT has happened around here... Here's a brief summary:

1. Mark and I actually celebrated our 4th Anniversary (we were in College Station, so we went to Square One). Our dinner was unusually inexpensive for a fancy meal, and it was so yummy!

2. We have started to pick out baby furniture, baby girl accessories, clothes, etc... and Mark (with the help of Myks) has put together our changing table. (Crib was shipped this week)

3. The baby's room was painted (we did a mocha color- we wanted neutral) and it looks great!

4. Shevawn celebrated her 28th Birthday (twice because that's what you do when you are a twin!)

5. Shevawn went back to work... :( It's been rough, but Maternity Vacation is right around the corner!

6. Shevawn discovered she had Gestational Diabetes. See our other blog for updates.

7. Mark is a great husband, and has decided to have "Gestational Diabetes" as well. :)

8. We started our Natural Childbirth classes last week, and we are really hoping that we can do it! The birthing video was a little scary for Shevawn.

Here are some photos from the past few months. We hope to be a little better about blogging this month and next! Coming up for us: Finishing getting things ready for baby, trying to survive the school year, completing our birthing classes, and a couple of baby showers. So much fun!

Birthday Celebrations:

Our 4th Anniversary

Changing Table: With the Help of The Myks

Blog Update Coming Soon... I promise!

On my agenda for this long weekend is to update our family blog. Things have been absolutely crazy busy around here. Until I get around to photos (yes, I'll post a new belly pic) and an update, we have had to face a new development in the pregnancy. Here's our new temporary "side blog" with all the details.

http://10weekswithdiabetes.blogspot.com/2009/09/411.html

It's A....

We took a photography tour of Lake Tahoe, and stopped at a special spot to open the envelope. It was really a wonderful place, and, as you can tell, we were both pretty surprised! Mark asked if I wore pink on the hike on purpose, as if I knew it was a girl. Funny, huh? We were also paired on this hike (strangely) with a father and daughter. The signs were all there. :)


A baby girl it is! McBaby is a McGirl! We are thrilled! Thank you all for being patient. We were waiting for our families to get their packages in the mail with the photos. Once they all got them, we felt like we could tell all of you. We feel so blessed, and we are excited to prepare for the 2nd 1/2 of our pregnancy and beyond. Any of you fathers with daughters out there, feel free to shout out to my wonderful husband. With 2 brothers, he's gonna need all the advice he can get... but he'll be great! I picture her wrapped right around his programming fingers. :)


Thanks for letting us share the excitement with you... It was a lot of fun!

The Big Countdown

Well, in just a few days we'll know if we are going to have a boy or a girl. We are pumped!

We should have a post on here within the week... stay posted!

Here's a recent belly pic just so everyone can see how big the baby is getting. I am feeling great, and just started to feel little movements. Too cool! Mark and I have started to pick out one song a night for the baby to listen to, and we are reading to McBaby as well. So much fun!

See you soon!

(Please ignore my hair in this one... it's hot, I'm preggo, and I just woke up from a nap. But isn't McBaby cute? :))

The Longest Update Ever...

McBaby Update...

Well, we had our big appointment yesterday! We had the doctor put the gender results in an envelope for us to open while we are on vacation in Lake Tahoe. He had us close our eyes for a part of the sonogram, which was crazy! I wanted to peek, but I know that it'll be worth it for us to enjoy that moment on our anniversary trip. Don't worry, we'll share the news with you once we know! Here's a little photo for the tease!

In regards to how I'm feeling, only one word will sum that up--- GREAT! The 2nd trimester has been wonderful thus far. Right now, we are at 17 and a 1/2 weeks, and my belly is just growing. I don't have a "great" picture right now to upload, but the one below with Noah shows just about how big the baby is getting. As for food, I am finally eating "normal" again... that is, if you call craving okra, mustard, fruit, and bean dip "normal." Here's a pic from a recent grocery trip. I laughed when I looked in my cart to see my 1/2 healthy, organic food and 1/2 "preggo" cravings! Ha ha! The cashier was a little confused, as was I! Please excuse the terribleness of my appearance, as I didn't shower before the "photo shoot." My mom came over that day for breakfast, and I just had to take a preggo pic with her. She looked adorable, and she sure knows how to make my day! 

Shawna and Noah's Visit

In the meantime, I got to spend some quality time with my sister, Shawna, and he sweet baby boy Noah this week. He was just laughing and smiling at me. I guess I am pretty funny looking to him! He did make it easy for me to see us with a sweet boy! Time will tell.... Here are some photos from their visit. 

Do I look ready, or what?
Look at that sweet boy!

It was fun making him laugh!
Ranger Game with Friends

Well, I did something I never thought I'd do... go to a Ranger game in the summer during my pregnancy. Luckily, the Rangers were in 1st place, it was evening, cool, and they won- 14-2! We had a great time with Kimberly, Kevin, Shane, and Ruthie. We enjoyed nachos and ice cream, too, but this preggo scarfed them down before we got any photos! Yummy!

Mark was taking forever with the camera... hence my crazy face!
Happy couple at the ballpark!
Kimberly and Kevin
A sold out game? What???

Katherine's Shower

My dear friend, Katherine had her baby shower last weekend, and it was so good to see her! We are only 8 weeks apart, which is fun because our babies will be so close in age (as are our pregnancy symptoms). Here are so photos of the happy day, including our babies talking to one another (not really, but this is the closest they've been!)

Katherine and I got really close during our 7 weeks in Thailand in 2004. We are so excited to share this time together!

Baby Parks... meet "McBaby"

This is the gift we got her... all my friends said that the bouncy seat was the best gift ever... we'll see!

Another "Aggie" baby!

Last but not least... House Update!

Here is a photo of the beginnings of our new living room. A "baby friendly" couch, new pillows, a new chair, and our new floors. We feel so blessed! 

Stay tuned... next up: McBoy or McGirl!!!

All Dressed Up... with a Baby Bump

Mark and I went to a quaint little outdoor wedding this weekend. It took me forever to find a dress, and I still wasn't 100% pleased with the dress selection for moms to be, but I digress... we had a great time, and it is always fun to see 2 people gather for a life-long committment. I turned into a pumpkin around 8 pm, which was about when it started to rain, so we didn't get to stay for all of the fun stuff, but it was a lovely evening. Mark and I had fun remembering our wedding, and we can't believe how far we've come... are we really in this "next stage"? We sure are, and we are loving it! Here's a pic from the wedding...