my precious husband...

so, the post-pregnancy hormones are calming down
but, they still rage at moments.
and friday afternoon was one of those moments.
i was sitting at home with rowan.
i was tired.
he wouldn't take a nap.
he wanted to nurse. and nurse. and nurse. and nurse.
i wanted to cry. and cry. and cry. and cry.
but, i didn't.
I texted alan and told him i was so tired.
just wanted a short nap.
and how i was feeling a little frustrated
i asked him when he is coming home.
he told me around 3:00.
it was 1:00 at the time.
thank goodness.
2 more hours.
so fast forward to 4:00.
rowan has finally fallen asleep on my stomach.
i am snoozing too.
alan walks in.
gives us both a kiss.
he hands me a card.
a sweet, precious card.
i cry.
he is so in tune with me.
he knows just the right things to do for me.
he had tucked a gift certificate for a manicure
and pedicure in there too.
and he offered to take me and
watch rowan while i was in there.

thank you Lord, for my precious husband!

Rowan's birth announcement!

why i am excited about Christmas...

- Rowan's 1st Christmas!
- Decorating Rowan's Christmas tree!
- All of Rowan's 1st Christmas outfits we bought last year before
we even knew he was a boy!
- We get to decorate this year because we have the apartment!
I have already pictured the tree in front of the

windows in the sunroom!
- Rowan's Christmas photo shoot with the same

photographer who did his newborn shoot.
-Christmas cards. Love getting them!

Can't wait to send them!
- My family drew names this year.

Something we have never done before.
- Baking lots of goodies for our neighbors, family,

friends and co-workers!
- Trying to spend less and focus more on the

true meaning of Christmas! Jesus!
- Picking out wrapping paper and ribbon at Hobby Lobby.
- Spending time wrapping presents.
- Maggie comes home again! :)

Not that I am wishing our lives away...I am just a big anticipator!
At Hobby Lobby last week they had tons of Christmas stuff out.
I am not one to be like "Why are they already putting that stuff out?".
I am one who goes down each aisle taking it all in.
Dreaming, creating, and picturing things as I walk around.
I am the one who carefully picked out five ornaments for Rowan's tree
and slipped them in my buggy!

I can't wait for Christmas!
134 days left!

happy things today!

- doing a survey and receiving a FREE Route 44 drink from Sonic!

- putting Rowan's birth announcements in the mail.

I will share them here once everyone has had a chance to get theirs!

- a happy baby boy!

- getting us unpacked from the weekend.

- taking a shower while Rowan snoozed in his bouncy seat.

- looking forward to Kylie and Tara's visit tomorrow.

- almost done with thank you notes to people since Rowan has been born.

- baking Ooey Gooey Butter Bars.

- my daily chat with momma to check in.

- looking over at my boys while I type this...Rowan is asleep in Alan's arms.

- thinking about our Christmas cards for this year. :) Can't wait!

And here is the recipe for the delicious bars...
I'm not claiming that they are healthy!
Yum-Yum!

Ooey Gooey Butter Bars

1 (18.25-ounce) box yellow cake mix
1 egg
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 (16-ounce) box confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 13x9x2-inch baking pan.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine cake mix, egg, and butter and mix well. Pat into the bottom of prepared pan and set aside.
Still using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese until smooth; add eggs and vanilla. Dump in confectioners' sugar and beat well. Reduce speed of mixer and slowly pour in butter. Mix well.
Pour filling onto cake mixture and spread evenly. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Don't be afraid to make a judgment call on the cooking time, because oven temperatures can vary. You want the center to be a little gooey, so don't bake it past that point!
Remove from oven and allow to cool completely. Cut into squares.

so not pretty...

We all had a rough day yesterday and a rough
night last night!
Little man wanted to scream his little head off
and not tell us why!!! :)
I think he is even a little hoarse today.
Thank goodness today is already proving to be
a much better day!

He's still precious though!

be still...

Our house still hasn't sold...be still.

It's time for Rowan to eat again...be still.

We are living in the apt. for at least 6 months...be still.

We have been blessed with everything and more than

we need to care for Rowan...be still.

We have found a church we want to join...be still.

Our beautiful son has finally arrived...be still.

God provides for us daily...be still.

It's three in the morning and I'm awake...be still.

I'm bored...be still.

I'm lonely...be still.

I wonder why sometimes...be still.

Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10)

How often do we rush through our day, worried about our own agenda's?

How often do we worry and stress about where God has us for a time?

How often do we grow frustrated with our circumstances?

How often do we forget how much God has blessed us, and how

he provides perfectly for our needs and even our wants?

How often do we go to God in pure thanksgiving instead of in selfish want?

How often do we focus on ourselves rather than the needs of those around us?

How often do we want to rush the ones around us, rather than truly enjoy who they are?

The other day while riding around in the car

with Alan and Rowan,

Alan asked me why I thought our house hasn't sold.

I just replied, "I think God just wants us to be still".

It was like a lightbulb went off for both of us.

Just be still.

look at my cheeks...

or "jawls" as Daddy calls them!

I'm 15 days old today!

two weeks old...

We had our two week check up for Rowan yesterday!

He weighs 7.14 and is 21 inches long.

He has gained almost a pound in ONE week,

and grown an inch in two weeks.

They truly grow too fast!

Also, I just want to praise my sweet husband publicly...
I have known for 4+ years that I have a jewel of a husband.

Because I just know and people tell me that all the time.

He is sweet, patient, selfless, sensitive, gentle, and so, so much more.

If you read my blog regularly or if you know Alan you know

exactly what I am talking about.

Bringing a baby into this world with him by my side was amazing.

Watching him cuddle and talk to our little boy is indescribable.

The way he tends to us is phenomenal.

I love sitting back watching him with Rowan.

He is a great husband and now a wonderful daddy to Rowan.

May I never take for granted...him, or our marriage.

I love you Boo!

pre-occupied...

with this precious face.

i am in the process of writing Rowan's birth story...

but i have to keep stopping to take care of this little one...

he is growing so fast.

two weeks old tomorrow.

his little face is filling out.

he has been so much more alert in the past few days.

i love the little faces he makes at me.

can't wait to introduce him to his great-grandparents

in Alabama this weekend.

can't get enough of his sweetness.

one day soon maybe I'll finish his story.

newborn photo shoot

The complete gallery is up...

Click on the link below.

Go to client proofs.

Enter the access code: sing0729.

Click "continue to gallery".

Click on "click here to watch slideshow of these photos".

http://aliciamcdonald.com/index2.php?v=v1

What are your favorites?

Help me decide which ones to order...

I took the photo above...what's a post without a picture!

precious boy!

changed.

that word is all I can think about tonight as I reflect

on the past week of my life.

what has changed you might ask?

my body.

i have several stretch marks below my belly button.

i have boobs filled with milk for my baby boy.

i finally have skinny ankles and narrow feet again.
i have stitches to remind me of the hard work it took to get Rowan here.

i have some extra jiggly belly fat that i didn't have before.

i have three pounds of extra weight left to lose.

my mind.

one step ahead.

more organized than before.

focused on Rowan's needs over my own.
blurred as I constantly re-live the moments leading up to Rowan's birth

and the few days after that.

amazed that I birthed such a beautiful baby.

boggled that I could love something so much.

thankful to God for our child.

in awe of how the love for my husband and my God have grown.

my heart.

so full...of love, joy, pride, and absolute awe.

of full of love for my family, friends, husband, and Lord.

humbled as I realize how much my parents love me.

renewed and refreshed as I realize how much my God loves me.

overflowing with love for my baby boy.

I never imagined motherhood would feel the way it does.

How it would change me.

I just thought it would change life in general...

my routine,

my comings and goings,

my schedule,

but instead it has changed me.

If you will remember with me that
Rowan was a surprise to me and Alan.

Not a surprise to God.

He knows what we need,

when we need it,

and exactly how we need it.

What a wonderful surprise!

Thank you Lord!

I feel so overwhelmingly blessed that

God has allowed me to be Rowan's momma.

For I am changed.

I will never be the same.

the BIG day...

is finally here.

It feels very surreal, knowing that in a matter of
hours I will have a new title.

MOM. Momma. Mother. Mommy.

The next time I blog I will be sharing with you
pictures of my precious, God-given, blessing.

Our Rowan.

I got some decent sleep.
Up every hour. But that's nothing new.
I feel much calmer and more at peace today than yesterday.
I wasn't much short of a basketcase yesterday. :/

Pray with us today that everything
will go smoothly as we welcome our son into this world.

What an amazing adventure this has been!

What an amazing adventure this will be!

What an amazing opportunity to bring life into this world!

We are so blessed!

tomorrow...

is the big day I suppose...
that is if Rowan doesn't decide
to surprise us tonight.

We are being induced.

I have known since Thursday morning
about our induction, but I was hoping
that our little man would come on his own before then.
That's why I haven't mentioned it.

I am nervous, anxious, excited, overwhelmed...and the list
goes on. I just hope we are doing the right thing.

I am so ready to lay my eyes upon our beautiful baby boy!

Please be in prayer for us.
For good sleep tonight.
For a smooth, not difficult labor process.
For a healthy baby boy.

We can't wait to share pictures of him!

We just cleaned the entire apartment.
My family is on their way.
Alan and I are going out to eat.
Our last meal before Rowan.

I suppose things will never be the same!

hanging out...

waiting for Rowan.

Alan let me sleep till 11:20.

12 hours of sleep is a beautiful thing for anyone,

but especially a very round and ripe pregnant woman.

Got up, and showered.

Headed to Lowes,

then to the mall to "walk him out".

Chick-fil-a for lunch. Yum-Yum.

Then to Kroger for a few groceries.

Back home.

Nap time.

Alan went and got me a watermelon and some
boiled peanuts while I was asleep.
Two of my favorite things!

Up from my nap...
Fixed the front of Rowan's baby book.
As you can see from the picture there is a
square opening for a picture.
However since Rowan is not here yet...
I made a light blue monogram to put in there.
And I may just leave it!
It looks precious!
And about that baby book, I promise
myself to keep up with that thing.
My momma didn't fill mine out because
she said her handwriting wasn't good.
But I refuse. I want it filled to the brim.
Rowan's future wife (gasp) just may be interested
in it or perhaps Rowan himself.

My older sister Paige and I were talking on the phone

last night. (surprise). She told me 2 funny stories.

One involves my youngest nephew Cade, TLC's Baby Story, and sleep.

Of course there has been alot of talk about babies around their house.

But my sister wanted him to watch A Baby Story with her.

So they watched it the other day.

He saw the lady pushing and pushing until the baby came out.

(Of course nothing grusome was shown and he already knows

girls have a special opening for babies to be born.

He learned this earlier this year when their dog Chloe had puppies.

He just hasn't asked how the baby got there yet. :) )

Well, that night my sister went to bed at 8:30.

Cade kept coming in her room saying he couldn't fall asleep.

The next day he said "Mom, the reason I couldn't fall asleep was

because I was worried about Hollie having Rowan."

We thought it was both cute and sweet.

The other funny story is a comment my brother-in-law

made to my sister. He told her that I have her in prison. Haha.

She really hasn't been going anywhere, (which is not like

my sister at all) and their bags

have been packed for about a week now.

Everyone is on standby, just waiting for the call that Rowan is on his way.

So, I am her "warden" and she has to frequently call and check in with me.

Well, that's all I have for now.

just plain miserable...

it's 7:19 a.m.
I'm wide awake.
Layed down on the couch at 3:00.
Serious itching all over.
Can't get comfortable.
Still up at 3:30.
Hot then cold.
Still up at 4:00.
Up to the bathroom at 5:33.
Alan will be up soon.
Up at 6:30.
Hear Alan in the shower.
Stomach killing me.
Back to the bathroom.
Still itching.
Trying not to be frustrated.
Trying not to complain.
But I'm exhausted.
Should have taken Benadryl.
Should have skipped my naps yesterday.
I'm just plain miserable.

Maybe today will be the day!

July 17th.

39 weeks and 1 day.

While I was awake last night I straightened the apt.
Washed a load of clothes.
Painted my fingernails.
Blogged.
Read.
Watched HGTV.
Started filling out Rowan's baby book. All my parts are complete.

Six things that make me happy...

I was tagged by Elizabeth...

Elizabeth and I met when I moved to San Antonio, Texas. We
were in 8th grade. After 8th grade we went to different high schools
and she became friends with my good friend, Laura.
So, we kinda keep in touch through Laura.
Then came facebook...and now blogging.
She is the wife to a smart guy, momma to 2 precious
kiddos, she is crafty and likes to cook, and she is a Christian!
I read her blog almost everyday!

So anyways, here are my 6 things that make me happy...

1. Knowing that I will soon have a precious little
boy in my arms. Period.
Can't wait to see him, kiss him, smell him,
hold him, cuddle him, get to know him...etc!

2. Baking. I enjoy making sweets for my
people to eat. I love trying new recipes.
I love wearing out good recipes.
For me it's my labor of love!

3. School supplies. I love
notebooks, journals, binders, markers,
Sharpies, pens, post-it notes and all that good stuff.
When I see Target and Wal-mart putting
their Back-to-school displays up, I can
hardly wait to see what cute things they have out
for the year!

4. Clean sheets. Clean dishes. Clean house.
I love everything to be clean actually.
It really puts me at ease when my surroundings
are neat, straightened, and clean.
Sometimes this gets the worst of me. :(

5. Mail. I love getting snail mail.
(Thanks Sarah T. for the card I recieved today.)
I love getting e-mail.
I love blog comments.
Especially out of the blue.
I try to be a good mail sender, but
lately I have been slacking.

6. Blogging. It's therapy for me.
It's a creative outlet.
It's a way to keep in touch.
2.5 years and going strong!

We are officially 39 weeks...very close to 39 weeks
and 1 day.
Rowan must be very cozy...

baking today...

So, today I promised myself I would do something I really
enjoy. Forget ironing, laundry, vacuuming etc...well, I did all that
too. But, this morning I made the M&M pretzel treats.
It was my first time making them.
Now I think I am hooked.
If you want directions let me know.

Then this afternoon I made cupcakes.
White cupcakes with chocolate icing
and an M&M on top!

Alan has been enjoying them both since he got home!

I have been having lots of cramping,

abdominal pain, and back pain this afternoon.

I layed down to rest and ended up falling asleep

for a couple of hours.

Hopefully this means my body is preparing

even more for Rowan's arrival!

still here...still pregnant!

38 weeks, 5.75 days.
Our doctors appointment went well today!
We learned I am 3 cm dilated and 70% effaced.
Dr. Carlton predicts we will have a baby in the next 2-3 days!
I realize he is not God and doesn't truly know when
Rowan will arrive, but he does see very pregnant women every day!
I hope his prediction is right!

Our bags are packed.
Rowan's bag is packed.
The carseat is in the car.
The "He's here!" goodies I made are complete. (pictures later)
The wreath for the hospital door is finished. (pictures later)
Birth announcement envelopes are addressed.
Birth announcements are picked out. (pictures later)
The camera and video camera batteries are charged.
The iPod has relaxing music loaded on it.

We are READY!

I have had a hard time sleeping for about the last week.
I fixed that last night, and plan to do the same tonight.
I took Benadryl 50 mg, took a hot shower, took a Zantac, and
I slept a whopping 9.5 hours.
It was so good to sleep!
The doctor encouraged me to do the same thing every night until he comes!

At 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00 a.m. I was woken up by
contractions. I layed there for a few minutes thinking
"Is this it?", "Should I wake him up?", "Should I call the doctor?"...
But, then I drifted off to sleep.
At one point I woke Alan up and told him I was having contractions,
and asked him what I should do... He mumbled,
"if they get stronger and closer together, I'll take you to the hospital".
Well, duh.
The boy is tired, what can I say.
We laughed about it this morning!

Well, it's getting late, it's Benadryl time. Night Night!

I'll keep y'all posted!

house still for sale...

Alan took this picture of our house the day
after we moved out.

I miss our little house!

We have a couple coming to look for the second time
this weekend.
They are bringing their parents with them to look.

We are praying these are the ONES!

where to start?

First of all I gotta say thank you to my sweet hubby
for getting the internet for us!
I didn't even beg or complain about not having it...
ok maybe once or twice, but not relentlessly.
With all of my family out of town, and lots of friends spread
out across the U.S. I have felt a little disconnected without
the world wide web.
We got a great deal, and so far it's pretty fast!

Ok, now for details about this pregnancy.
We are really ready for our little boy to arrive.
Today marks 38 weeks! I can't believe it.
I remember thinking July seems so far away.

On the morning of June 30th, while at work,
we checked my blood pressure. It was 135/99.
My nurse/tech friends were worried about me.
I guess I looked horrible because everyone was
looking at me like "aww...you poor thing".
My feet have been swelling for months now, but
this day they were "thankles".
As big around as my thighs...and if you have
seen my thighs lately...YIKES!
I already had a drs. appointment scheduled for
the next day.
They were telling me I probably wouldn't be back to work.
I was telling them they were probably wrong. :)

So we go to the doctor the afternoon of July 1st.
My blood pressure is 130 something over 80 something.
I have protein in my urine.
I have swollen ankles and legs.
I feel like a doo-doo sandwich. (Sorry).
I am dilated 1 cm, 50% effaced.

And guess what...I'm taken out of work.

He doesn't put me on bedrest just tells me to
rest, rest, rest, drink lots of clear liquids, take short walks,
and take it easy.
He tells me that if things aren't any different next week
we might need to intervene...or induce either on the 8th or 9th.

Well, I go back to the doctor on Monday.
My blood pressure is normal.
He doesn't mention anything about protein in my urine.
Minimal swelling.
I feel much better.
No change in dilation or effacement.

So, we have an appointment next Tuesday
and we will go from there.
I don't really want to be induced, but
I can't help but think about the maternity leave
that is passing by.
I'd rather let things progess normally as
God designed.
So, maybe I will just go in to labor on my own.
That's what we are praying for.

We have Rowan's room ready.
Alan is working on one more accent for his room.
It is very close to being finished.
I need to take and post pictures here soon.
We were blessed to get everything we need
for Rowan at baby showers.
Just waiting on him.

Hi!

Alan and I are all settled in at the apartment.
Life is good! Great actually!
Rowan's room is fixed up and just looks precious!
I wish you all could see!
Things are continuing to go well with the pregnancy!
I'm still working and taking call at work!
We are looking forward to meeting our little one sometime
in the next month.
We are very close to deciding on a church home.
Things are really coming together!

Thanks for your prayers!

We don't have internet at the apartment...
not sure when we will have it up and running again?!?

Moving day!

It's finally here!

I am thrilled!

On my way to meet Alan and the movers
at the apartment!

and my cup overflows...

in more ways than one...

We had another wonderful shower on Saturday morning.
Great friends.
Good food...especially the petit fours.
Awesome gifts.
I especially enjoyed my belly being rubbed on! :)
Libby and Lauren throw a mean shower! :)
We are blessed to have such precious friends.
My cup overflows...

Saturday afternoon we closed on our apartment!
Yippee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I never thought I would be as excited as I am to live in a
2 bedroom, 1 bath, 1300 sq. ft. little abode.
But I feel as blessed as ever, and thrilled to have a place to call our own.
It feels and looks like a palace to me.
Because of our excitement...we decided to spend
the night in our apartment on a queen-sized air mattress.
Let's just say pregnant women and air mattresses don't mix.
However we made memories that we can look back and laugh about.
It is so quiet at the apartment.
It is so clean and open.
Everything is white which will take getting used too,
but immaculately clean!
It is wonderful to have the thermostat set on 68!
(Rowan and his dad are very happy about this,
because Mommy is much happier!) I just called myself Mommy.
It is wonderful to have privacy.
It is wonderful to have our own shower. toilet. sink. etc.
It is wonderful to open our blinds and let sunshine in.
It is wonderful to organize and have room for our stuff again.
It is wonderful to have Alan and Hollie time.
It is wonderful to peer in the room that belongs to our precious
little baby boy and see his crib almost ready for him.
It is wonderful to play my iPod and not have to wonder if it is too loud.
It is just wonderful all together...if you ask me.
My cup overflows...

Alan got the crib put up...eeekkkk! It's so precious.
I can't wait to put the mattress on it and put the bedding on it.
He also put the swing together.
He would have put together the high chair if I would have let him!
I'm so glad my husband is so excited and eager about having a baby!
My cup overflows...

Sunday afternoon we headed to our house for one final time.
It was wonderful to sleep in our bed... we all had a much better night!
I looked around our house Saturday night thinking about all
the memories we have created there.
As if there aren't enough emotions wreaking havoc right now...
It was our first home...
One we loved.
One that we made our own.
On the way back from Wal-mart last night...
I burst into tears.
Partly because I am a little stressed, emotional, and exhausted
but also because it's hard to say goodbye.
No matter how ready you are for the next chapter of life...
it's hard to say goodbye.
No matter the fact that the house has been a "thorn in my side"
because of it not selling...it's still hard to say goodbye.
But my cup overflows still....

This morning the team of packers from the moving company
showed up at 8:30.
The team consisted of Tim, James, and Todd.
They are angels in my eyes.
They took good care of our things,
and packed our entire house, garage, and shed by 3:30.
I layed on the couch with my marshmellows, I mean feet, elevated
while they worked.
They will be back tomorrow morning to load everything up.
I can't tell you how thankful I am to have them!!!
My cup overflows...

Now...I don't think I am far enough past our situation to
see exactly how or why things worked out the way they did.
However...I do know that God has always known this exact plan.
He knew he had those jobs for us in Warner Robins.
He knew we would get pregnant in October.
He knew it would be June 8, 2009 and our house would still be on the market.
(And he knows when it WILL sell).
He knew we would be packing and moving into an apartment this week.

And you know what...I'm happy as a clam right now...
and I wonder if maybe God wanted us to endure for a little while...
so he could bless us with something
we never would have chosen for ourselves.
Bless us the way he wanted to bless us.
An unexpected pregnancy while living with the in-laws...
A little apartment to start our little family in...
And moving while 8 months pregnant.

I feel very blessed...
My cup overflows...
Stay tuned...

in the next 7.5 weeks...

5 days till we have another baby shower!

5 days till we "close" on our apartment.

7 days till the movers come to our house.

9 days till they unload our stuff.

9 days till we get to sleep in our bed again!

11 days till Rowan's furniture is delivered.

15 days till we have another doctors appointment.

52 days till our due date!

Things are busy around here...