Maternity Pictures - Sneak Peak!

I had my maternity pictures tonight and here is a little sneak peak from the photographer! I'm much further along now (36 weeks) than I was when I had my maternity pictures with Madison Claire so I wasn't quite sure how I was going to feel about them (READ: I'm almost too big to feel cute anymore....).

I can't wait to see all of the pictures! I'll post a link to the gallery once I get it! In the meantime - enjoy this little sneak peak :) Special thanks to Karen Halbert Photography for the great photos!

Happy Easter!!

Madison Claire spent the week before Easter with the McSwains in Ohio. Ryan's cousin Billy got married on Thursday night and Gary & Cheryl took Madison Claire up for the wedding festivities. She got to see her great grandma & great grandpa Terry and her great grandpa McSwain. Word on the street is that they were all smitten with her!! They stayed in a hotel room with 2 double beds and the McSwains said that Madison Claire slept great...Praise the Lord! She was gone from Tuesday - Saturday and Ryan and I enjoyed the time home alone but by Saturday morning we were ready to see her!

We met up with the McSwains on Saturday at an Easter Egg Hunt that was sponsored by their church. I wasn't sure how Madison Claire would react when she saw us, but it was priceless - she took off running across the grass towards us and was so happy!! It was her first Easter Egg Hunt and she had fun as you can see from the pictures below. She did start getting upset that she had to wait so long and couldn't just go right for the eggs but that's my fault for walking her down there 10 minutes before it started. Lesson learned - next time I'll go down 1 minute before it starts! On another funny note - Ryan said that we are teaching kids the wrong definition for the word "hunt" and that it should be called an "easter egg gathering" or "easter egg pick up" because there was NO hunting involved!

This morning, we headed to our wonderful church - Cumberland Church - for the early service. We helped serve and it was a wonderful service. I was hoping to get a picture of Madison Claire in her easter dress but this pretty much sums up how she feels about getting her picture taken:

So...I gave up and decided that one with my sweet hubby would suffice:

And then finally at the end - we got a few family shots:

After church, we went to Wild Ginger for lunch. Madison Claire is engaged in a deep conversation with Ryan here about coloring on her kids menu.

We finished up our day with a great dinner with the McSwains. What a great day and weekend with family...we are so blessed....and yet it doesn't even come close to the blessing of our resurrected savior, Jesus! Happy Easter, everyone!

Playing with Daddy

Madison Claire LOVES her daddy...and who wouldn't when he is this much fun:

and if that wasn't enough:

Talking to Annie

Madison Claire's new favorite thing to do is to talk to people on the phone. I will call someone and then give her the phone and she holds it up to her ear and waits and waits while it rings until someone answers. She then proceeds to announce herself with a loud "HI"!!! Sometimes she talks coherently, sometimes she totally rambles, 100% of the time she is sad when the conversation is over. Thanks to everyone who takes her calls!!

Here she is talking to Annie the other morning:

Friends...

We have been so blessed the past few months to be surrounded by some great friends. I'm super thankful for our small group...

Fun, late night dinners at the Melting Pot with the Kecks....

Going away party for the Tildens...we will miss their sweet family!
Wish that Ash was still in Nashville but happy to see her when we can!

Wish I had some pictures of my womens bible study and all of our other sweet friends who have just surrounded us with love & encouragement & prayers the past few months when I'm sure we haven't been the most fun people to be around. You know who you are and we are and will be forever grateful!

35 weeks

This baby boy (who is still yet to be named) keeps growing, and growing, and growing!! Here are some pictures at 35 weeks...I mean, seriously...I don't know how my belly can get any bigger! I'm starting to feel uncomfortable and tired and just ready for him to be here! For all of you who say I'm just all belly, I have news for you - I'M NOT!!! I've gained 35 pounds which is so frustrating because I've tried really hard to not gain as much as I did with Madison Claire, but I'm tracking right exactly where I was with her. Oh well - my body must need 40 pounds to carry a baby...and that's okay. I just have to remind myself that I will look normal again one day!

We are pretty much ready for baby to get here...outside of me needing to transition some things with work and Ryan needing to find a job! Minor details....

The room is painted, bedding is purchased, clothes have been purchased or borrowed and washed, etc. I still need to pack my hospital bag and put the car seat in the car - we are planning to do that around May 1st. Right now we are hoping for a due date of May 17th but I should know more after my doctors appointment this week. Thanks for the continued prayers!!!

Visit with Kate & Big Girl Bike!

My company conference was last week in Nashville at the Opryland Hotel, so Kate came in town early to spend some time with us & Madison Claire. It was great to have her with us for a few days! She couldn't believe how big Madison Claire has gotten! She had purchased a big girl bike for Madison Claire for her birthday so since we knew Kate was coming in town so close after her birthday, we waited until she got here to give it to her. Her reaction was priceless - her mouth made a big wide "O" and she went running to it! She wanted to ride it all day and would cry anytime we made her stop...needless to say, she LOVES the bike! THANK YOU, Kate! She needs to grow about another inch or two in order to really be able to use it, but she's loving it as is right now!