Reflections on motherhood

I thought Caroline would be born and I would love her more than I had ever imagined. Well, that is true. But, one thing I didn't realize is how much more I love her every day. Sorry for the cheese.... I look at her every day and love her more and more. She is so sweet. It makes my heart smile to see Zach look at her with the same love I do. I am so thankful.

Caroline's birthday in pictures...

8am Monday, April 12th...

Pitocin, an epidural, and almost 12 hours later...

Mimi

Gigi

Daddy's new love...

Caroline

Well, we are alive... I haven't had the energy or time to get on the computer, so I've been updating Facebook via my phone. In case you haven't heard, here are Caroline's stats:

Born: Monday, April 12th at 7:54 pm
weighing 6 pounds 8 ounces
20 inches long

However, as of Monday the 19th at our 1 week checkup,
she weighs 7 pounds 2 ounces and is 20.5" long
Go girl!!

Smilebox of Caroline

This free photo album made with Smilebox

This was made for my Mom's office ladies, but I thought you would enjoy it too! We are home and busy trying to get settled in!

39 weeks & an Easter surprise!

Well, Caroline is still snug as a bug in a rug in there... Went to the doctor yesterday for our 39 week check-up and I'm still stuck at 1cm dilated and 70% effaced. Talking with the doctor, she seemed surprised that I hadn't progressed further, so she wanted to go ahead and schedule the induction. I haven't gained any weight in the past 2 weeks (I've actually lost 3 pounds! Wish I could do that by eating ice cream and pizza when I'm not pregnant!!) so she thinks Caroline will be close to the 6 pound mark. Itty-bitty girl!

So, we scheduled to be induced on Monday the 12th- Caroline's due date! Although I will give you a warning... My sister was induced with Preston and didn't have him until the following day, so it's a possibility too! (Let's pray I don't have to endure that!)

Speaking of my sister, she was due with my nephew on April 23rd but scheduled the C-Section for the 22nd. Sweet Garrett decided he didn't want to wait that long! He was a surprise Easter blessing! Welcome Garrett Donald McCaffrey! Born Saturday, April 3rd at a whopping 6 pounds, 12 ounces and 19" long. Look at that hair!! I love it! I SO wish I could be in Dallas to meet him!

Head first

I'm not sure that I have really mentioned this much, so I thought I would take the opportunity. If you know us at all, you know that Zach is very handy around the house... like rockstar handy. There are STILL so many things he'll fix, and I'm like- how did you do that??! You've never done that before! He has the most incredible work ethic I have ever seen in anyone, and I'm not just saying that.

Back up a second... When we lived in Dallas, Zach always talked about owning his own company some day. There were many ideas thrown out... homebuilding and landscaping being two of the common ones. We just let ourselves get so busy, nothing really ever came of it.

Well, we moved down south because of an opportunity with a General Contractor for Zach to be Project Manager over the building of some schools. The company is great, and he is learning so much from this job. He likes construction and it fits his skill set really well.

It might have been me getting pregnant that really lit a fire under him to pull the trigger and start a business. He knew he couldn't just leave his job and start a new business, so since last summer he has been working *hard* at starting up this new company. Based on the market here, he decided Landscaping. So, Magnolia Landscape Development was born. He doesn't have any plans to leave the construction job... at least any time in the near future. But, he has made some great contacts through a networking group for small business owners and we are really starting to see it take off. His goal is to have crews doing all of the work and he just supervises, but at this point, he is doing work too. And this is all after his 8-5 day job. Rockstar, I know.

I am so proud that he jumped right in, head first, to go after his dreams. He already has 2 guys that have started to help him out on large scale projects and he scored his first really big job yesterday. I am so thankful that the Lord guided him in this way and I am excited to see where it takes us.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all of your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men."
(Colossians 3:23)