best friend

Mack's best friend moved across the country this week 

we are all a little sad but are wishing them the best of luck with the adventure ahead

and counting down the days until they come visit

aren't they cute?!? 

come meet mack

since we didn't know if we were having a boy or girl my family waited to throw me a shower 

we had a 'come meet mack' party when he was about 5 weeks old 

it was darling party.

I don't have many pictures(i asked sam to take some and they aren't great)

but I don't want to forget the great detail that my family went to, it was adorable 

we ate mini big MACK's, MACKaroni and cheese, MACKadamion nut ice cream and MACKaroons

I was given a Mack trucks shirt to wear at the party

it was decorated with MACK trucks and Mack even got to keep one

the kiddos bobbed for nipples and binkies

Mack got passed around and got some cute boy stuff. 

 he already loves playing with his truck... well at least looking at it

Thanks to my lovely sisters and mom for throwing me and Mack such a great party

sleepover

we had zachary, james and hazel over for a sleepover last weekend
it was a blast
i wish that they could stay forever, they were so helpful!
they are getting really excited for their baby sister to come in the next couple weeks
I am helping make sure they get plenty of practice

oregon

we just got home from a great time in oregon. 

we were lucky enough to get invited to cannon beach 

it's sam's brothers last year in portland 

it was such a great trip. 

the week prior to the trip was a really hard one for me, a little vacation was exactly what i needed 

of course i was nervous about flying and traveling with our little one but he did awesome

what a relief!

however flying out there it hit me that I will never fly again... or go anywhere in public, what being a little nervous about how my child will behave.  luckily this time we didn't have to spend any time walking up and down the aisle or in the bathroom with a crying baby.. however i'm sure one day we will experience that.  

we spent a few days at the beach and then a few in portland so sam could attend a meeting at ohsu, one of the schools he is applying to. 

down by the river. it was beautiful.. in fact all of oregon was beautiful

blueberry picking! so fun.  I wish we had farms like that here

we spent a few nights playing at the park

snoozing on the beach... the sand was heavenly and the temperatures unseasonably warm

skim boarding, we also played football and paddle ball at the beach

(of course built castles and buried sam in the sand too)

lots of cousin time.. Mack is starting to really interact with everyone fun to watch the cousins talk to him

if we get accepted to OHSU i'd be happy to visit you again cannon beach!

4 years.. almost

our anniversary is coming up 

we are going to be out of town on the official day so we celebrated early 

it was so great to take a break and hang out together 

something I haven't mentioned is how hard Sam and has been working to get PA school applications in

what a doozy!

for our wedding we were given a night stay at the grand america 

we saved it and spent the night for our first anniversary 

we fell in love with the brunch buffet and made it a little tradition to go each year 

this year didn't disappointment. 

i love LOVE all the yummy food. 

1st year

2nd year 

 3rd year

I think this will be a tradition our kids will always be invited to, to celebrate that we all get to be together forever... however I don't anticipate they will always be as well behaved as Mack was this time... he slept the entire time.  (so cute in his button up checkered shirt) 

many friends

a close friend and I were talking recently about what a special experience it is to deliver a baby. 

it's an experience and feeling that words truly can't do justice 

it's amazing that I can still close my eyes and imagine that day and it's still crystal clear in my mind 

I know someday it won't be so clear but I love remembering those tender and special feelings 

Part of the experience is how special you feel 

you feel special to have been trusted with one of God's precious children 

you feel special that you have carried this baby with you for hopefully 9 months and are finally getting to share the person you have worked so hard to bring safely to this world 

you feel like you are the only person delivering a baby that day 

I felt so special and have continued to feel so much love and kindness from everyone around me 

Mack is so lucky to be surrounded by such wonderful people.  

These pictures are some of those that have stopped to meet little Mack 

and who I know will be good influences on him throughout his life. 

oh how fast they grow

neglect.  this blog has suffered greatly since the arrival of Mack in our lives.  I never want to put him down long enough to do much of anything let alone blog.  but here is a comparison picture of Mack at two weeks and again at six.  he is now almost 8 weeks.  we've had a lot going on the last little bit.  Hopefully i'll find time to post of pictures in the next coming days. 

i can't believe how fast little Mack has grown in four weeks.