5 months

Oh how I LOVE her.....

4 month photo shoot

16 week stats...

15 lb 11oz (90th percentile) + 25 in (80th percentile) = PURE CHUNKINESS!!!

LOVE her!!

Giggles

I love love LOVE Little Miss Giggles. She makes my heart smile:)

Big weekend

This past weekend was a big one. Mary Collins made her first trip down to The Plains. Not only did she do that...but she also camped in the RV! She did really well and we had such a fun time! We went to the cheerleading reunion and I was able to see many friends that I haven't seen in quite some time. Mom and Dad found MC a mini Auburn cheerleader uniform and so she sported that to the reunion. However, she and mom hung out at the RV and watched the game on TV since it was a day game and WAY too hot. Such a great game!!!!

On the way back to Memphis, we stopped by Birmingham so that Mary Collins could meet one very special lady: her great grandmother, whom she is named after. It was a very special time for us and I will remember it forever!

Cheese!

This smiley girl is my new running buddy. (Dad, you are still the handsomest running partner, but she is pretty darn cute:) Her personality is really coming out and is SO much fun! One of my favorite things right now is when I go to her crib in the morning and she gives me a HUGE smile as soon as she sees me. I mean..... MELT MY HEART!! She is growing like a weed and already in size 2 diapers at 10 weeks. She did roll over for the first time this week but I can't get her to do it again for the life of me. It truly is amazing how fast she is changing and I am trying to soak up every bit of it. I can't believe I have to go back to work in a couple of weeks, but I know she will have TONS of fun with her daddy. (She is already a daddy's girl!)

For you non-facebookers out there...

This one is for you Amy Dennis:) Lins posted this on facebook and I just had to share it....I LOVE HIM!!!

Stats

One Month


Two Months



8 week stats.....We've got a Biggun:) I love my lil chunky monkey!!

12 lb 10oz = 90th percentile

23.75 in = 97th percentile

He's here!!!

My newest nephew John Everett Carreker "Rett" is here!! He made his big debut on September 24, 2010 at 5:29pm weighing 8 lb and 4 oz! I LOVE him SO much!! I wasn't there for the delivery this time, but I know my sis did AWESOME! As soon as we heard the news that Rett was on his way, Ben and I loaded up MC for her first big road trip to Dallas and drove all night to get there. It was a quick weekend trip but MC did great.

I wish I had more pics to share, but I forgot my camera...DUMMY...I know! Hopefully this will suffice for now until I can get more....LOVE this sweet little "indian boy"....hehe. That is what I am calling him cause he is a little red man:) Doesn't Lins look great:) She is the best mommy!!

sweet cheeks!!

LOVE

7 weeks of pure sweetness!

we are 1 month old...

I can't believe how fast this month has flown by....I promise to eventually write more....but for now...check out these sweet cheeks:)

3 weeks old today

2 weeks old

2 week stats for those who are interested:

8lbs 4oz, 21.25 inches, 65th percentile for head circumference and length and 75th for weight

Drop on by...

We have had quite a few visitors come by and meet Mary Collins. Here are just a few pics I wanted to share....The first few are pictures from the Bradshaw's visit. Little Harper and MC are already good friends:) The next ones are of MC meeting her Aunt Kathy for the first time. She and Uncle Buck came all the way from Birmingham to meet her. Finally, Joy and Haley made a visit while the Jonas fam was in town. SO happy to hug my sweet friend who has been in China for the past year. It was such a sweet reunion. More pics to come....

squeaky bean...

So this little "squeaky bean" (Lins' pet name for Mary Collins because she makes a really cute squeaking noise when she cries:) is officially one week old!! I can't believe how fast this week has gone. Not wanting to jinx myself here but she really has been such a good baby thus far and we are SO in love with her! I mean....I can't kiss these sweet cheeks enough! I plan to post more detailed info later but here is a pic from yesterday that I think is just too cute:)

Proud Mama

Introducing Mary Collins Tolbert. She made her debut July 26, 2010, weighing 7 lb 12 oz and is 20 3/4 inches.

I know this is not the best pic from my iphone but I wanted to be a good mommy and post at least one of my precious baby girl. We are so in love and truly appreciate all the prayers. We are still adjusting so please forgive me for not putting one up sooner. My sis took a bunch and I will try to get them up soon. Thanks again for all the texts and calls...they mean so much!

29 years and 38 weeks

It is official. I am 29 years old today. So unless I go into labor in the next hour or so.....it is looking like MC will have her very own birthday. Things are going well. I am 2cm and contracting like crazy but no true labor at this point. Guess I just have one "irritable" uterus. Thank you all for your encouraging words and for your prayers. They are very much appreciated!

Waiting

37 weeks and 4 days today.....we are in the home stretch. I constantly go back and forth between " I am SO ready" and "Ok...maybe she should stay in a bit longer." It is not that I am miserable being pregnant because I'm really not. Other than having a bit of trouble sleeping this past week, it really hasn't been bad. It is the WAITING that has been the hardest part for me the past couple of weeks. I will work my final "extra" shift tonight and then continue on with my weekend shifts until MC decides to make her big debut. So, until then.....we wait.

*Lord, please give me patience and peace as I gratefully await your blessings.

I have THE BEST co-workers on the planet!

I have been meaning to post about the fabulous shower my friends threw for MC and I a couple of weeks ago. I felt so incredibly blessed and was completely humbled by the generosity of my co-workers. I honestly never imagined being showered with so many wonderful gifts. The decorations were precious and the food was awesome, too!! Thank you to my sweet friends. I am honored to work with such a great group of nurses. Love you guys!


This pic cracks me up because I look like a giant.....that...or my friends are all really short:)


Sweet Laura is just a few weeks behind me...can't wait to meet baby Jed!


Mary


Dana


Laine and Whitney




The adorable decor and great food!!

nursery completed...check!!

So here it is......from guest bedroom to nursery. The pictures did not turn out the way I would have liked, but hopefully you can see the look that we were going for. When Lins and I went on our "sister's trip," we decided my "theme"...or what have you....would involve birds. We found a tiny little purple bird that is sitting on the table if you look closely. Then we found the bird cage that is hanging on the wall. It has little clothes pins on it so that pictures can be hung on it eventually. That is where the inspiration began.

After searching the globe for bedding, mom and I found the softest lavender toile fabric on the planet, which we had made into a bumper and accented with the gingham ties and crib-skirt. We then found the lingerie chest (which was originally a VERY bright shade of green), magazine/book rack (which was mint green), and wicker toy chest (which was ELECTRIC blue) at an antique mall for an absolute steal of a deal. Let's just say I am SO tired of spray painting....and YES, I had help, AND wore a mask:) I made the "frame" around the mirror with some decorative pieces that I found at Lowes for dirt cheap....and yes, they too had to be painted white. My mom and dad got some new patio furniture and it was my mom's idea to spray the old black patio table and chair white and use it as a table beside the glider....thus adding to the "shabby chic-ness".

The pictures of the little girl and boy praying were special to me because they were hanging in my mom's room as a child and in mine....so we thought it fitting to have them in Mary Collins' room, too. You can't really tell from the pictures, but there is a wall decal above the crib that is branches, birds, and a little birdhouse, which Ben thought was too cool and a must have addition.

The cube shelves with purple baskets are inside the closet and came from Lowes. Ben actually had to rip up the base boards just to fit it in the closet and then replace them. I must give credit to the hubs....he worked SUPER hard on the nursery as well. He had to get an electrician to come out and help do some re-wiring, then had to fix the sheet rock where the electrician did his thing, then helped the painters....it really has been an ordeal but we LOVE how it has turned out.

Now for the closet.....believe it or not....I have not bought MC a single piece of clothing. My wonderful friends and family have been oh so generous and I really can't even begin to describe how BLESSED I feel. I mean.....seriously.....look at the many outfits and bows would you!!!!

I am so excited to meet our little one in just a few more weeks. I sure hopes she likes her new home as much as we do.