Magdalene Hazel

Here she is!  Maggie was born on Saturday, September 3 at 5:30 p.m.  She was 6 lbs and 15 oz and 19 1/2 inches long.  For those of you who don't already know it and for posterity's sake, you can read her birth story here.  Here are a whole lot of pictures of our little family 

 
Julia loved coming to visit her little sister.  She also loved using the doctor's stethoscope.

Back at home with her sweet big sister

Hanging out in Maggie's crib

Julia has had an exciting few weeks too.  Besides becoming a big sister, she got a new haircut (Thank you Aunt Becky!)  and it really is so cute!

She also has a brand new BIG GIRL BED.  After weeks of hearing her bump her head all night on her toddler bed, Nick decided she needed a new one.  So, he built her the sweetest daybed.  She loves it and she has been able to help with it, too.  

heading out to help Dad paint.

Assembly

Finished product!

So sweet!

 Another packed few weeks has passed.  I can't believe August is almost over!   We spent the last weeks in July with my sister Stephi and Camille who were in town from New York and on their way to their new home in Albuquerque.  Aunt Jami and my Grandmother were each able to come up for a few days to see the girls, too.  We had so much fun with them!

Camille and Julia played so hard for a good 10 days solid.  This was one particularly fun day that involved ice cream in Black Mountain, playing in the park, lots of time in the creek followed by a bath and dinner together at my parents house.  What an awesome day!  Wish I had taken more pictures, but these smiles pretty much sum up the fun they had.

 Climb, slide, run repeat.

 August has been so fun, too.  We have been able to spend a lot of time with friends.

 Julia and Ella Brooks spent a day playing in princess dresses.  EB was so nice to share them and Julia wore hers for most of the morning.

 Of course we've had lots of time with our other sweet cousin.  They are so goofy.

Here is what Nick and I have been working on whenever we have had a moment.  Finally, everyone's room is finished!  Nick and I are moved in downstairs, Maggie's room is all ready and Julia has her own big girl space!

Here is Maggie's room:

 My mom is making a beautiful quilt to match.  That will get it's own post when it's done. 

and...we are still working on the wall decor.  It'll come together.

Big sister's room: 

She loves her big girl bed!  Seeing her sleep in it is the cutest thing ever, too.

And this is our new room.

Julia has been reclaiming her old pack and play. 

As far as Magdalene's progress goes, she is due a week from Wednesday and I am 3 cm dilated.  I know she could come anytime--I've heard all the 2nd child stories about quick births--but I also know how things went with Julia.  She was induced at 41 weeks and I think it's probably going to go something like that.  But who knows...We'll keep you posted.

So, it's been almost 4 months since I've updated this thing and there is an overwhelming amount of stuff that's happened since April 6!  Birthdays and beach trips and showers and growing bellies (well, just the one).  SO much to tell about.  So, here is a little photographic journey through our recent history for you.

 Julia's birthday was a blast.  Nick built her a castle (as she calls it) in the backyard which is now complete with swings.  She loves it!  We had a weekend of fun celebrating with friends and family but failed in the photography department.  Here are a few that we did take.

The next weekend we took our first family vacation together to Sullivan's Island.  We really had so much fun.  

 A month later, we joined the rest of my family at the beach for a wonderfully relaxing week.

We spent the 4th of July hiking and picnicking at Craggy Gardens and really enjoyed it.  Julia walked a lot of the trail herself!

One unforgettable part of the summer was a wonderful shower that my dear friends threw for our family.  We had a great time and are thankful for so many of our loved ones who celebrated and showered us with gifts.  We had so much fun that it never occurred to me to take pictures or ask anyone else to. 

It's so hard to believe that we are 6 or so weeks away from having our little Magdalene Hazel here with us.  We have plenty to do, too!  Nick and I will be moving downstairs and giving Maggie our room.  I am making a lot of her bedding (with lots of help from my Mom) and we are in the process of making Julia's room into more of a big girl room.  I will post pictures of all that soon, when we've made a little more progress.  

Thanks for reading, if you've made it this far.  If you've just looked at the pictures (Nick), here's the summary: We have SO much to be thankful for!