Unfailing Love: Introducing Stephanie Ann McMahon

Vincent Gerard

This is my hubby. Also known as Vinny, Dowey, Dowebally, and (as of last night) Pickle Juice. (You may learn that I have an affinity for nicknames, comes from my daddy!) Unbelievably, the hubs and I have been married for 9 years! I can't believe it! Seems like just yesterday I was a freshman in college and my friend introduced me to this hunky senior with a hot red car! Vince is working hard to support our family and traveling here and there. Vince is a WONDERFUL father and his girls (all of us) are the most important things to him!

Barclay Kathryn

What to say? I'm Barclay, usually known as Barclay (not much you can do with Barclay). I was an elementary teacher for fours years until I had Bella. Now I am doing the job I have wanted to do ALL of my life, being a mom. I love these two girls more than I can possibly express and it is my joy and privilege to be able to spend each day with them. I recently entered the blog frontier, and although my blog followers will probably be able to be counted on one hand, I thought it would be exciting to be a part of something so neat. I love that there are many other moms out there facing the same joys, hardships, questions, surprises, and challenges that I am. I also hope to be a sort of medium to spread awareness for others that need prayers, help, or just someone to walk through life with!

Isabella Kathryn

Usually referred to as Bella. As well as Bells, Bellie, Belly Boo, Bellsie Bubs, Bubs, Bubba, Bells and Whistles.... Bella is our first born daughter. She is 6. Bella enjoys school, reading, riding her training-wheel free bike, she could color and write for hours, she loves singing to the Momma Mia soundtrack, anything princess or pink, having bows in her hair, playing dress up, and her little sisters! God blessed us with Bella a month early but she was perfectly healthy. In six years she has become such a bright, outgoing, sensitive, and fearless little girl. Bella really is the sweetest girl you will ever meet. She is eager to please. If she hurts or disappoints someone it literally crushes her to tears. This last year she asked Jesus to be her Lord and Savior and we could not be more proud!! Love this sweet, blonde, blue eyed beauty!

Bryanna Karina

Usually known as Brynn. As well as Brynnie, Miley, Miley Moo, Geegs, Geegers, Brynnie Boo, and many more. Ten days before Bella turned 2 years old we were blessed with another beautiful, healthy girl by planned c-section. This time I was able to see my baby right after birth, watch her get weighed, bathed, etc. I couldn't wait for Bella to meet her. Brynn is now 4 and keeps me laughing all day long. Brynn, since she was about 2 months old has been the smiliest baby I have ever met. All you need to do is look at her and she will flash you a world class smile. Brynn is smiley, more shy and reserved about things than her big sis, can be quite the clown when she feels safe or gets in a silly mood, amazingly brilliant, she's been speaking full sentences since she was 19 months and continues to amaze us with what comes out of her mouth. She loves doing whatever her big sister is doing, dressing up, looking at books, her blankie, being held, twirling in her dresses, singing, and dancing whenever she hears music! Brynn is my compassionate baby, she hates to see people hurting. We just love this sweet, shy, snuggly, smiling little girl!

Brooklyn Blythe

Also known as Brookie, Brookie Cookie, Cookie Lu, Lulu B just to name a few. Sweet, sweet Brooklyn is our family's latest addition! We welcomed Brookie into our family on August 23rd 2010 at 12:23pm by planned c-section. I was nervous she would be a bit high maintenance since she came out screaming bloody murder and continued to wail anytime anyone touched her- get her footprints, take her temperature, etc. Amazingly, she would instantly stop the moment the Hubs touched her or began talking to her. And since her birthday, we have barely heard a peep out of her..... And fast forward 18 months, she definitely makes plenty of peeps now! :) We are full blown in the the terrible twos (which IMO last from 18-36 months) I believe. To make matters worse she's also cutting her 4 molars. She definitely knows what she wants but can't quite articulate it, so gets frustrated. Eating is also a hit or miss these days which is very foreign to me. Mixed with the crabby days though is the funniest personality ever. She is a riot! She LOVES chasing after her big sisters or having them chase and imitate her. She also has this adorable chubby face and will peek out of the corner of her eyes and just melt your heart! She is definitely shy at first but if you can get through to her she will keep you in stitches with her antics. We love you little BB and couldn't ask for a sweeter addition to our family!

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Introducing Stephanie Ann McMahon

What a fun night we had!!

Let me rewind a bit... The McMahon family are one of our best friends and Kelli is very, very pregnant. Her due date is June 24th. She went well past her due date with her first baby and had to be induced. So Saturday the McMahons went in to the doctor because Kelli was having some significant pain and thought she might be leaking. After being checked she was told she was showing no signs of progess, so home they came. Sunday came and went, with pain off and on again but nothing major. Then Monday morning at 3:30 Kelli started to feel things more regularly but not too intense and 15 to 20 minutes apart. After about 4 hours though it seemed to go away. Only having pains here and there like the days prior. Then again around 6 pm last night they became more regular but again pretty far apart. Some of us ladies have a book club together every other Monday night at Kelli's place. Well this Monday was one of our on nights. Kelli called and told me the situation and asked if I thought we should still meet. Now Miss Kelli had a goal of attempting to have this sweet baby oh naturale so I've always heard the advice that its better to labor as much as you can in the comfort of your home. So I suggested we still meet in the hopes we could provide a bit of distraction for her. So Somer, Jessie, and I headed on over. Although we did discuss our book a bit, most of the evening was spent telling our own birth and hospital stories. It was also spent with us girls saying this was probably the real thing and Kelli still doubting. : ) We hung around a bit to see if the regular, but far apart, contractions would decrease in space. Shortly after 9 pm she began to start only going 3 to 4 minutes apart but was still unconvinced. She felt they weren't intense enough, she was still able to talk and even smile, this couldn't possibly be it? She called the doctor to get her opinion and all she could say was they wouldn't really know unless she came in and was checked. So, even though Kelli was still feeling like she would be returning later that night, off they went. And off their first born, Mackenzie, went with me! I left their home a little after 10. Josh and Kelli left shortly after that, and as I was told later, made it to the hospital by 11 by ~~driving like a crazy husband~~ driving not quite the speed limit. Paging Dr. Oh, baby is on its way!

Unbelievably, I received a call shortly after 11:30 with a healthy baby girl screaming in the background. Turns out Kelli made it to the hospital literally with little time to spare. Luckily they were all ready for her and Dr.Oh (who also delievered Mackenzie) was there to deliver Stephanie Ann. Can you imagine if she had waited! Yikes! Stephanie came out after just 3 rounds of contractions. And although she said it was the most intense pain ever and screamed through it all, Kelli happily was able to deliver her baby oh naturale, luckily she had no choice in the matter! : ) We happily took Mackenzie home with us last night and she went right to sleep when we got home, she was very excited to be sleeping in her friend, Bella's, bed. This morning at 3 kiddos woke at 7:30, its like they knew! After breakfast with a table full, we began to prepare to go to the hospital. Now normally days I have to be out somewhere I plan it to be one of my not hair washing days in order to be prompt, now since this was an unexpected outing I was not able to prepare ahead. Now getting four people ready this morning (3 kiddos and myself) by myself was quite the feat!! But we did it, and just before 11 (when visiting hours begin) we reached the hospital! The hubs and I were able to capture some precious pictures of the new arrival and I would like to share them with you. There's lots so hang in there! : )

Guess who's a big sister!?
Introducing Stephanie Ann McMahon- 7 lbs. 11 oz. 20 1/2 inches born at 11:26pm on June 15th 2009

Look at all her hair!

Here we are! Bella and Mackenzie on our way to meet baby Stephanie!

Bella ran to congrat the new daddy!

This is really not good for my baby itch! : )

The new mommy and her girls

Proud uncle!

Daddy and his girls

I think Mackenzie is in love already!

I think Mackenzie was telling the girls all about her new sister and my girls were very excited for her and her mommy and daddy. Congrats guys, she's beautiful!