Play Time

Since I have been home, Roxy has gotten a lot of play time outside and in the house. Before, she had to stay in her cage during the day and then she was so bad when she got out, that I didn't have a lot of time that I could spend with her just playing with her. She loves to be outside and run. However, if you put her out the front door, she will stay under the front porch, not going anywhere else. If you put her out the back door, she will stay under the back porch. (She was born under Mrs. Katie's porch, so I guess it's a comfort to her being under there). However, she did come out last night, when it was time for her to come in (I bring her in at dark) and climbed a tree. I was happy to see that. If you don't have an outside cat, you probably don't understand why I was happy to see her climb a tree, but it's very important, because if she needed to get away from something, that is a good defense. Of course, in less that something can climb the tree as well. When she is inside, her favorite toy is her scratching post. I have tied some ribbons to the post (she already tore off the little toy that came on it). She has the best time going around and around the post. When you pull up the pictures, you will notice a black dot on the corner of her right ear (is the left one to you) inside. There was a disaster Friday morning of my last day of school. I was awaken at 5:30 to Kevin yelling and then heard glass crashing and breaking. I got up and Roxy had gotten on the kitchen table and knocked off a Christmas plate and glass and both broke. I was not at all upset about the plate or glass, I had more. But when I looked at Roxy and I noticed that there was blood drops on the floor and realized she was bleeding. I'm guessing the glass, sliced her ear as it fell. It took awhile to get the bleeding to stop. That was not a good morning at all in the McCormick household. However, since Roxy has been outside now during the day, things have been a lot calmer around here and we are all much, much happier.

Ok, I have to post this just now, I turned around and I noticed I was hearing something but wasn't sure what Roxy was up to....Roxy was under the comforter of the bed, crawling around. All you could see was this bump moving under the covers. It was funny.

A Little Holiday Cheer

I went to office max Elf Yourself again and made a new video. It wouldn't post to my blog, so you have to view it at this address: http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/GYhDAr6VzuspCzpi

Christmas Break

Yesterday, at 11:15 am was the beginning of my Christmas break. We had a pretty good, short day. The first graders performed a play called "Melton, The Warm-Hearted Snowman". It was about this snowman that this good little girl gave him her heart so he would be kind. Melton's parents were concerned about a snowman having a warm heart that he would melt soon. At the end of the play, Melton ends up giving his warm heart away to a little girl who is mean and she becomes nice. It was a cute play and they did a great job. When they would sing, Madalyn would start moving around. Being in the gym the music was loud and she probably could feel the vibrations. Then by the time the play was done I just had the kids for about an hour and a half. We had our class Christmas party and cleaned up and they left. Then I headed off to get my hair cut and some low lights put in. I had not gotten my hair cut since June or had anything at all done to it in a long time. So, I thought it was time to do something. My major job today is to start wrapping presents, I have only wrapped the ones that I have already given away. It's rainy and cold, so it's the perfect day to stay in and not do a whole lot. We got chickens back this past Wednesday and Thursday. They are doing well, so things are almost back to normal with the farm.

25 Weeks:
Madalyn is moving around more and more. Kevin was able to feel her first for the first time last week. He made me hold my breath because he couldn't tell if it was her moving or me breathing. He thought that was the coolest thing. We are trying to read to her each night before we go to bed. I have this Precious Moments Bible Story Book from when I was a little girl and I read a story each night and Kevin talks to her. That night he felt her move for the first time, after he was talking to her he said "and Madalyn, I love you." I thought that was so sweet. We are ready to meet her, but don't want her to come anytime soon;that would not be a good thing. We pray that she is growing healthy and strong. However, at times her movements are getting stronger.

I'm feeling pretty good, no major complaints. I think my biggest challenge over Christmas break will be to watch what I eat. With the goodies that I got yesterday at school and the candy...it is very hard to resist without adding being pregnant on top of it.

Weekend

This weekend was a busy Friday night and Saturday. Kevin and I went out to eat Friday at a Mexican Restaurant in Barnwell. I had just read in my book that if you eat spicy food the baby will either kick or hiccup. After 3 chips and salsa, Madalyn starting kicking. She calmed down once I had some cheese dip to go along with it. I thought that was funny. Kevin and I got our tree. I think this tree is pretty than the one we got last year. However, There are no ornaments near the bottom, due to Roxy. The ones that were close to the bottom-she has knocked off, she had taken the lights off, climbed the tree, drank the water for the tree, etc. You name it, she has done it. She is driving Kevin and me crazy! She either has to be outside, in her cage, or in the guest bedroom with me and the door closed. I don't if once I get presents wrapped, if I'll be able to put them under the tree for her she will probably either tear the paper or bows. Anyway, Saturday, I met my friend Noelle, her daughter, Elizabeth, and her husband Dee for lunch (at Chilli's) in Columbia for our yearly Christmas meeting. It's normally just us girls, but Dee came this time. We ate and caught up. Then we exchanged gifts. I had gotten Elizabeth (who will be 4 in February) a Sea World Trainer Barbie. (She went to Sea World in September). Let's just say the Barbie was a huge hit. She loved it! Then once I got home, I graped Kevin and we hopped in the car to head to Crackerbarrel for our nephew Jared, birthday dinner. I was still full from lunch, but I did manage to eat some cinnamon french toast and some hot chocolate. I think Crackerbarrel has the BEST hot chocolate! On on way home (the Crackerbarrel is in Orangeburg-which is 30 minutes from our house) and they have a memorial garden there and every Christmas they decorate it with lights. So, Kevin and I rode through to look at the lights before coming home. Today, I have washed, folder, put away clothes, cooked breakfast and lunch, cleaned the kitchen (well Kevin did that part), dusted, graded papers, done lesson plans, and other school stuff. I was so woren out Saturday night, I had been either driving or riding all day it felt like in a car. We lost power for about 20-30 minutes this evening due to the wind blowing so hard; it must have of knocked down a tree or limb. Thankfully, it came on soon. This is my last week before we get out for Christmas break. We have 4 full days (Monday-Thursday) and then Friday is a half day. The kids leave by 11:30 am. I am ready for this break and so are the kids. I am heading out just as soon as I can that day. Roxy goes to the vet to get her last set of shots Tuesday and Friday as soon as I leave school, going to see my sister-in-law and get my hair cut and colored. Then I will be able to enjoy my break. Kevin gets chickens back Wednesday and Thursday of this week. So things will soon be back to normal for him. Hope all of you are staying warm, but I am enjoying this cold weather. It doesn't seem like Christmas to me if it's not cold. The only part I don't like about it, is having to leave at 6:30 in morning when it's like 20 degrees. However, poor Kevin leaves at that time and he has to work outside all day long.

23 Week Check Up

I am 23 weeks and beginning my 6th month. This is the last month for the second trimester. Hard to believe that come January, I will just have three months left and Miss Madalyn will be here and our lives will be changed completely, but for the better. We are getting very excited. Tuesday, December 7th, I went to the doctor for my 23 week check up. We got another ultrasound. They wanted to check out the heart and other major organs. Everything looked good. She is measuring where she should and so am I. Madalyn weighed 1.4 pounds, which is normal according to my book I have "What to Expect When you are Expecting". However, 4 weeks ago she was 11 oz. and has gained 9 oz. My doctor laughed at me, and told me not to worry about that and focus on how much she was gaining. She was doing what she should. My book also says that she will really start to gain weight faster now. This time our DVD worked and so we can watch the ultrasound session on the computer or TV, which is cool. Madalyn was moving around just a little more than last time. She was moving her mouth and her hands. And once, both hands were in a fist and her right fist, she held up her first finger as if to say, "I'm number one". It was cute. I actually missed it in the doctor's office, Kevin, Mrs. Katie (Mrs. Katie wanted to come with us the last time when we found out it was a girl, but she was out of town with Mr. Tim doing a compost convention. So she came this time), and the ultrasound lady saw it, but I didn't see it until I watched the DVD later. My next visit will be Dec.29th. I have to do the sugar test then. Since I can't have anything to eat or drink after midnight, I have to come in for an early appointment. My doctor said that so I didn't have to take off work, I could schedule my appointment for a week earlier when I'm on Christmas break. I thought that was nice of him. I'm trying not to take any days off unless needed because I know that I'll need them in the spring.

Changes that have happened lately:

*The past few weeks my lower back has really been aching (which due to the growing Madalyn is doing and my body stretching out).
*My belly has really grown and I look pregnant now, not just a little pudgy around the middle.
*I can still wear my regular clothes, however, maternity pants are so much more comfortable.
*I have gained 2 pounds now. (Trying not to worry about that :0)
*I am really feeling Madalyn move around more.

23 Weeks: Saturday, Dec.4th


Madalyn: Dec.7th (she has both of her fist at her mouth)



Remember, any of my pictures on my blog you can click on to make them bigger.

Christmas at Grandma Thelma's

This Saturday, we met at Kevin's grandmother's house; Grandma Thelma; which is his mom's mom. There were about 30 of us there. It was nice to see some of Kevin's family that we don't get to see too often. We had plenty of good fun, the kids enjoyed playing football outside with the bigger kids, and plenty of presents to unwrap. Brantley took a family picture as you see below. Not everyone was in the picture, just Grandma Thelma's two children (Katie and Wanda) and their families. (I thought that all in all this was a pretty good picture of everyone. Some of the kids needed to smile, but hey when you have that many kids, you are lucky to get a picture with all of them at least looking in the right direction and not crying. Which after this picture was taken, there was some crying because they didn't want to take another.)

Back Row: Grandma Thelma, Mr. Tim (Kevin's dad), Mrs. Katie (Kevin's mom) Katelyn (Kevin's sister), Hunter, Ryan, Houston, Aunt Wanda (Mrs. Katie's sister), Uncle Jim

Front Row: Heather (Kevin's sister), Michael, Kayla, Geoffrey, Eric, Evan, Nicole (Brantley's sister), Georgia, Tori (Kevin's sister), Jared, Lily Kate, Kevin, Jill, (and Madalyn as you can see is really showing off now)

Very first row in the middle: Richard and Brantley (Nicole's sister)

Sunday

For the most part Madalyn moves around in the afternoon and late evening; however this morning either she was awake or annoyed. We went to church and were sitting with Kevin's parents, and my sister-in-law, Katelyn, Ryan, and Hunter. I was holding Hunter during the first couple of songs that we were singing; which were Christmas songs. As soon as I gave Hunter back to Katelyn, Madalyn started to really move around. Then during the time where they collect the offering, the praise band played this really jazzy Christmas song, and as soon as the music started, Madalyn started moving around again. I hope she was enjoying the music, but it also could have been that she was trying to sleep and the music was keeping her awake.

As we are coming into the Christmas season, we focus on the birth of Jesus. This morning the pastor talked about how Jesus's birth was prophesied many, many years before He was born. In Isaiah 9:1-7 is Isaiah prophesying about the coming birth of our Lord and Savior. I wanted to share with you part of those verses.

"(2) The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of shadow of death a light has dawned. (3) You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice. (6) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (7) Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end."

You know I was thinking the other day as I was listening to a Christmas song, being pregnant at Christmas time, I have a different perspective of Mary and what she went through. Last year, I watched this movie about Mary and Joseph and the struggles they had. But I was just thinking about Mary, and wondered what she was thinking about bringing the Lord into the world. As moms, we all know our child or children will be special just simply because they belong to us. But imagine knowing that the child you give birth to is not your own, belongs to God, and will be the Savior for the world. Which I think most of us know that our children really belong to God and it's God who gave us the pleasure of our children in the first place. I have already told God that this little blessing He has given us, belongs to Him and that we will do everything we can to bring Madalyn up in a house that shows God's love and teach her all we know about Him. So that one day we can rejoice in her coming to know Jesus as her Savior. It's such a special time in my life and Kevin's, and we are lucky to get to share this together with family and friends. Looking at Mary's life has been my new prospective this Christmas and the burden of knowing her child was God (imagine that pressure) and the joy of knowing the same thing. Maybe this Christmas you will have a new prospective and have your eyes opened to something different; and really celebrate in the miracle gift that has been given to anyone who wants to receive it. All you have to do is ask. "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:7-8