In some ways, it seems like I just found out I was pregnant…we found out when I was around 4 weeks with a really faint positive.  However, most of the time it feels like this pregnancy has flown by.  I really can’t believe I’m 37 weeks pregnant and Mary James turns 19 months old tomorrow…she’s getting so big.  It still thrilling that Mary James will have a sibling.

Also, we decided to name the baby Callie Bess Murray.  Bess after my daddy’s mother who passed before I was born.  We will call her Callie.

I went to my Ob/Gyn last Tuesday, March 23, for my 36 week appointment.  Everything is still going smoothly, Callie is healthy and so am I.  Thank you Lord!  I found out my cervix is 3 cm dilated and 50% effaced.  The doctor said he thought miss Callie would be here in a week or two.  He didn’t think I’d make it to my due date, April 15 2010 and I may not make it to my appointment next Tuesday.  Talk up kicking my nesting activities into overdrive…poor Ben!

Callie has been quite active these last few days.  Mary James in the womb was actually a tad more wiggly than Callie, but Callie kicks and stretches with much more vigor.  She regularly stretches and kicks my pelvic bones and my ribs simultaneously.  Some days she stretches so hard that it takes my breath away.  The most incredible feeling is when she pokes her little foot in my side and then stretches it across.  I try to grab Ben and let him feel Callie move, I love seeing his face light up with a daddy’s love!  I also love when her little bottom pokes up in the middle of my belly as she stretches.  As painful as her movements can be, I know I will truly miss her little body moving inside my belly.  It’s so nice knowing where she is and that she is safe…

The nursery is finished and my bags are packed.  The dogs are washed and the house is relatively clean.  Now we wait for the very anticipated arrival of the newest member of the Murray family.  I can’t believe our little trio will soon be a quartet.  I pray Callie is healthy and that the delivery goes smoothly; and for God to give me the strength and peace I need to endure a healthy labor and delivery of our sweet baby girl.

We love you so much Callie and are so excited to meet you!

We took Mary James to the park for the first time this weekend.  She loved it!!!!

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WOW!  Where has the past year gone???  (Not to mention the last month of my horrible lack of blogging.)  *Ahem*

My baby girl turned one at the end of August.  What a blessing she has been to our family.  It has definitely been the BEST YEAR YET!!!  Here are some pics of her first birthday party!

August 29, 2008…less than 24 hours old.

August 29, 2009….what a difference ONE year makes!!

Birthday cake…YUM!

Mary James’ cake…the child LOVES kitty cats!  Wonder where that came from?

Yippee for cake and ice cream (thanks Grandaddy)!

Daddy and MJ

Investigating her new hippo!

Happy Birthday “May J”!!!

Today we went grocery shopping.  And by “we” I mean Mary James and I.  Always eventful, especially close to lunchtime…

Well, there we were trying to find the Gain HE detergent (by the way, they hide it on the bottom shelf) and this nice lady approaches with three red balloons.  She asked how old MJ was, and I explained she was turning one next week. :O !  And it so happened that tomorrow was her granddaughter’s birthday and she was turning two.  Well, evidently the ballooners (? what do call balloon people?) told her that the balloons wouldn’t last until tomorrow, which is why she only had three.  She told them she would come back tomorrow so the balloons would still be heliumnated (<– made up word, not like you savy English teachers didn’t catch that).

Low and behold, she started untying the balloons and gave my little girlie a balloon.  If you’ve ever gone grocery shopping with a slightly tired (I know bad mommy), almost toddler who has discovered that “Why yes! I can stand in the cart seat!  And NO! you can’t make me sit down,”  you know that a wonderful, distracting, object like a balloon is truly a God-send!  What a little blessing!

The rest of our shopping outing went smoothly until we reached the Dairy section (the final stop before check-out).  I think Mary James has figured out that this particular aisle represents our approaching exit, so she begins screeching.  Not screaming.  Not wailing.  Not even angry.  Just incessant, ear piercing shrieking…maybe its a celebratory holler? Who knows.

We are home now.  Unpacked and she is sleeping peacefully she is wailing and quite awake.  Oh well, the clothes in the dryer will wait.;)

Months that is.  I cannot believe my baby is eleven months old today.  …..  Which inevitably means she’ll be a year old next month.  Crazy mad math skills here, huh?  My algebra teacher would be so proud.

But seriously, I actually got teary eyed when I realized that today was the 28th.  And don’t get me wrong I am so unbelievably thankful that Mary James is healthy, growing normally and happy.  Period.  What blessings God has given us.

Back to the growing up part…  Watching her cruise around, pet the cats, giggle, raise the lid to the toilet (yeah that’s a new trick!), I can’t fathom that a WHOLE year has almost passed.  Is there some unwritten rule?  Time must rapidly pass by when a baby enters the picture?

There must be a switch in heaven that flips time to lightening speed the second the umbilical cord is cut.  And yeah I’m sure it has to do with how busy you are with a baby.  However, I was pull-your-hair out crazy busy in vet school but that didn’t seem to blow by at the speed of light.  What gives?

I’m going to be a blubbering mess when she enters kindergarten.  My poor child. 

Look for a photo and maybe video montage for Mary James’ first birthday next month.

This post is for my family who are far away and won’t get to see Mary James crawling.  So without further adieu….

Crawling Cutie from Erin Murray on Vimeo.

Today is my first “official” Mother’s Day.  Sure, I was pregnant last year, and not that it didn’t count…but it just feels more real today.

Our plans for today, included teaching our Sunday school class (2-3 year olds), going to big church, and then going to a Mother’s day buffet with all fourteen of us!  Even more fun – my parents were going to join us at our church.

Well…

My very bad, no good, horrible ear genes have descended on my precious daughter.  Again Mary James I’m so sorry to have bestowed my narrow ear canals and propensity for ear infections.

At her last ear recheck, about a week ago, the doctor noted some fluid in her right ear.  I was instructed to “watch her like a hawk” for any signs of an ear infection and to call immediately if a fever appears.  Well, yesterday morning I noticed Mary James seemed toasty (although I have been taking her temperature anytime she seemed remotely warm so I assumed I was probably over reacting again).  Turns out she had a fever of 102.6 F!  Waaaa!

I called the pediatrician office, knowing full well it was a Saturday and that they couldn’t see her… but he said CALL! So I did.  The doctor who returned the call (not actually my ped but one of his partners) listened to me explain what was going on, then asked me where I lived.  I told her and she said to bring MJ to the office so she could take a look at her ears.

It’s times like these that I LOVE living in a small town!!

After her examination, it was determined Mary James had the beginnings of an ear infection in her left ear.  This is ear infection number FOUR and we’re only at eight months.  Seriously genes…you suck! So another round of antibiotics was started, and of course non-steroidals for the pain and fever.

Speaking of fever…after we saw the doctor MJ spiked a whopping 103.1 F fever.  Hello?  Tylenol?  Yeah, could you start working a little harder? Seeing the thermometer register 103 F for my 8 month old stopped my heart for a second.  I know fevers are helpful (they help fight off bacterial infections) but they have a very high freaky factor in my book.  And um…evidently you are supposed to call the doctor for a temperature of 103 F (or above).  How did I miss that? Thank goodness my brother-in-law is a human doctor and our friend.

Mary James slept fairly well last night and had a great appetite this morning.  The fever has been running close to 102 F this morning, but no higher (thank you God).  Thus, MJ and I stayed home and daddy went to church.

It’s truly fitting.  Today on my first Mother’s Day, I am mothering.

Last week the weather warmed up a bit, so Mary James and I took advantage of the sunny Spring day.  Thus my Wordless Wednesday photo was born!

As Mary James entered the world at the end of August last year, most of her life has been spent indoors.  Sure, we strollled around the block the few days it was balmy in the winter, but being able to relax on a quilt in the grass is new experience all together.

Mary James was enthralled with the birds…flying, squawking, singing.  And the neighbor mowing his lawn kept vying for her attention.  But by far the most exciting event of the afternoon was the kitty.  McKenzie.  Our fuzzy, drooling, talkative, sweet, outdoor kitty.  She absolutely adores our two indoor cats, Bella and Annabelle, so a new feline was heaven to her!

McKenzie left after his patience was worn thin; from tiny fistfuls of hair being yanked out.  So, it was just the two of us again.

As Mary James was on her back, I laid next to her with our heads together.  We looked through the fluffy, pink blossoms to the clear, blue sky and passing clouds.  There was even a gentle buzzing from honey bees high in a tree nearby.  So peaceful.

As for the photo, I love the sun rays bathing Mary James – just a lucky capture.  Sun rays always remind me of God’s love pouring out over us.  Corny maybe, but I find it very comforting.

Blessings really are everywhere, if I can only take the time to slow down, let go and let God.

Want more Wordless fun?

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Come back tomorrow for Tell Me Thursday!