baby goes to the beach......

Last week we had the joy of going to Pawley's Island, South Carolina. It is about half way between Charleston and Myrtle Beach. Matthew had business during the week so Mary Stewart & I kept ourselves busy (thanks to my friend Erin & her recommendations) shopping, going for our walks and pool time of course! We stayed on through the weekend so we could have some family time together. It was such a great weekend.

On a side note, Pawley's Island is a great family spot. It is not commercialized and seems very family oriented.

I have been so excited at the thought of Mary Stewart with her toes in the sand. The beach beckons to me, it's in my blood. I love it. Then there is Matthew. His idea of a good beach trip is laying on the couch reading a John Grisham book. The fair skin and sun just don't mix well. Well I have to say he was such a trooper and just as excited as I was. He even bought Mary Stewart some sunglasses the day before! Mary Stewart didn't know what quite to think of the sand at first, but then did as all good babies do, and tasted it.

She liked it!

The water was a little cold for me, but that didn't stop her and Matthew. She loved the waves and didn't mind getting wet at all! Matthew even granted us some time to lay in the sun (Mary Stewart was quite entranced with eating the sand and Matthew quite determined not to let her....I already see the power play here). What a sweet day full of memories!!!

There is but one tragedy with this trip. For some reason my computer won't upload the super precious pics of Matthew and Mary Stewart in the waves, Mary Stewart with her glasses and hat, and her toes in the water. I have a call into my IT guy (Matt) so hopefully I can update with the really cute pictures.

Happy Birthday Nathan!!

*Due to our trip to the beach & my power cord dying, this post is over due!

Today (Saturday) is Nathan's 26th birthday! Nathan is 2nd in line in birth order of Donald children (Matthew, Nathan, Brian, Randi).

Here is a little back ground on Uncle Nathan! He is also married to an Ashley Donald. Nathan has a passion for working with children and is a Director for the YMCA. He and Ashley recently moved to Beaumont, Tx for Nathan's work. They don't have any children yet, but a sweet dog, Beaux. Nathan is the only sibling of Matthew who has never lived with us ( I know, how did he get so lucky? )

Nathan is truly one of the most genuine people I know. It is so apparent his love for people when you are talking to him. He has such a caring and playful spirit. As I have seen Nathan encounter hardship he is never one to wallow in self pity. The saying, "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade." That is sweet Nathan. I look forward to watching Mary Stewart adore her Uncle Nathan (& aunt ashley)!

Nathan we wish the miles between us weren't so many, but are so excited for you and Ashley's opportunities is Texas.

We wish you a happy birthday!

anticipation

Anticipation. In my short span as a parent, I think that about sums it up. We sit around anticipating the next move with our children.

When I was pregnant I anticipated how much weight I would gain, when would the baby actually come, what would delivery be like, etc, etc, etc.

The baby is born and then you really start to anticipate what this new little one will do. How much should she eat, when will she roll over, crawl, what college will she attend, will she find a mate, etc, etc. So maybe I go a little overboard, would you expect anything less?

So in our house we have been anticipating Mary Stewart's first tooth since about four and half months. I kept thinking it was coming. If her nose was ever runny or she was crabby, I just knew the tooth was here. Well finally the anticipation is over!!!! Mary Stewart has cut her first tooth! This morning as we were playing, I rubbed my finger along her bottom gums, NOT anticipating I would find anything, and what do ya know?

It is funny how giddy I got over her lil tooth.

So what to anticipate now?

Comfortable

There is something so comfortable about being able to pick up right where you left off with old friends. It's almost as time stands still in between times together.

My time at LSU was so wonderful because of the great friends I had. Our relationship was so sweet and I am so thankful it is also so enduring. About two weeks ago, I went home to Baton Rouge for one of my dearest friends Virginia's (her name is Virginia Lee Jackson, everyone calls her Lee except Suzanne & I) baby shower for her sweet baby boy James who is set to arrive in July.

It was such a great visit on so many different levels. It was so nice to have a few mochasippi's (my favorite coffee EVER) with Virginia over the week but it was also the longgggg anticipated meeting of Mr. Perry Burke (if you know Perry's parents, Suzanne & Alex, Mr. is more than appropriate in front of his name though he is about 3 weeks younger than Mary Stewart).

The shower was wonderful. Virginia got lots of great gifts! The food was wonderful, compliments of Holly Clegg, and the fellowship amazing.

There was something so comfortable about walking into a shower seeing so many sweet faces that I miss (not even realizing how much I miss them). It is the level of comfortability of sharing a chair & talking with Ms. Karen, watching Virginia open her presents, and feeling like I do this all the time.

Such comfortability is something I truly treasure, it is rare and special.

Katharine, the top picture is incomplete!

My sister Holly

Kim, Meredith, Holly

Hostesses with Virgnia

Suzanne, Joanna, me, Virginia

Me & Suzzy Q

mmmomma...mm..momma

"Mm...momma, mm..mommat," that is what we have been saying a lot of around here. Well I say we, but actually just me. The conversation goes something like this, "Mary Stewart say mm..momma, momma, Mary Stewart can you say momma?" Mary Stewart usually just smiles.

There is nothing like being a momma. Motherhood is so much more than I ever thought it would be. So sweet and fun and oh so scary too. I am blessed. Mary Stewart makes being a momma easy.

Matthew and Mary Stewart made my day special. They totally surprised me with a fantastic dock for my kitchen so that we have music to listen to when we are cooking dinner and doing domestic things in the kitchen and such. Then they really blew me away with a super cute dress! A day like today isn't about the gifts, but it is so nice to be thought of!

And then there is my momma. A momma who always thought a little out of the box, leading to lots of fun & adventure. Now that I am a momma, I hope to give my baby girl, some of those same out of the box experiences.

I have been so blessed my so many "momma's" in my life. Momma, Maw Maw, Nanny, Anna Mae, Dee Dee, to name a few. I hope that sweet Mary Stewart is richly blessed with incredible women in her life and that one day she will also be called mm...momma!!

"Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised"

Proverbs 31

Prayer

For Christmas I asked for Streams in the Desert an incredible devotional and since sweet Rachel had my name, she blessed me with it.

This morning as I was reading, I was struck with how much this devotional resonated with me. At once I pulled out the computer to share with you all, but the Internet was down. Here it is 7 pm on Friday, after a long week, and it is still on my heart (saying a lot since I feel like nothing stays with me anymore).

Here are some excerpts & I hope you will receive some of the blessing that I did.

" The failure to persevere is the most common problem in praying and intercession. People often ask, ' How long should I pray?' The only answer is this: Pray until what you pray for has been accomplished or until you have complete assurance in your heart that it will be. For prayer not only is calling upon God but is also a battle with Satan. And because God uses our intercession as a mighty weapon of victory in the conflict. Therefore we dare not stop praying until either the answer itself has come or we receive assurance it will come.

As we live a life of prayer, we will more and more come to experience and recognize this God-given assurance. We will know when to quietly rest in it or when to continue praying continue until we receive His answer.

Wait as God's promise until He meets you there, for He always returns by the path of His promises"

Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

Luke 18:1

where is the time going?

I truly can't believe Mary Stewart is 7 months old. This month has flown by and I attribute that to many reasons (mostly because we have been here, there and everywhere!).

So here is a recap (of what I can remember anyway..... I am amazed at how my brain no longer works!).....

-Yeah! You FINALLY rolled from your tummy to your back!

- We travelled quite a bit: Savannah, Baton Rouge, & Tupelo!

-You tried peaches, peas, and plums

-You can sit up all by yourself!

-You love to swing outside

-Books seems to be your love! Especially "Go, Dog. Go!" I hope this proves to be a lifetime hobby

-We met baby Ella (your future college roommate)

-I had to pay for your first babysitter! Dori was wonderful.....We had Uncle B's engagement party.

-I seem to produce "skim" milk, so we had to start giving you a bottle too....You are a great eater and we are so thankful you are not picky!

-Of course you are still rotten! We all think you have hung the moon!! (& no I don't think that will change anytime soon!)