Rich, Heather and Alana’s Blog

Well, due to several complaints about not posting enough belly shots during my 3rd trimester, Rich has remedied the situation!

We spent a few minutes in our backyard this past weekend to get some 36-week-pregnant photos to document my ever-expanding belly!

Let me first mention that we are super excited because the amazing Nathan Holritz will be doing a maternity session of Rich and I later this week, so keep your eyes open for those photos in the next few weeks! We are thrilled about that session, because it will involve both of us as we are expecting little Alana and, to me, that is so much more meaningful than photos of myself, solo!

Alana is growing and is very active, especially when I attempt to go to bed each night! Her movements are simultaneously comforting and very uncomfortable! We are wondering if this is typical prenatal movement, or if she is going to be a particularly active little one! My mom tells my stories of my own babyhood…apparently I was a very social, happy baby, but wasn’t too snuggly! I was always “on the go,” and didn’t appreciate sitting still for any substantial amount of time. We shall soon see if Alana exudes the same spunk!

This photo below demonstrates my pregnancy belly button, which Rich thinks is hilarious and quite unappealing! My friend Steph made me feel better by telling me how cute and precious she thinks it is! I will just be thankful to regain my pre-pregnancy stomach…normal belly button and all And my Lucky jeans are just calling to me from their untouched shelf in my closet!

I like the symbolism of the photos below because we are at a huge transitional time in our lives right now. All we have known in our married lives is each other. All we have shared has been between the two of us. And it has been absolutely wonderful. And now, in the near future, so much will change. We are looking ahead, wondering what the journey will hold for us; very excited but also unsure of what this new time will bring. It is a thrilling but pensive time!

I know the photo below doesn’t show my belly, but it does a pretty good job showing our excitement to meet our little Alana! We are so ready to hold her and look at her and tell her that we love her!

I find it so eerie not to know when I will go into labor, especially since I am a “planner.” I find it a little disconcerting that there are no guarantees about when and where! I could be driving, sleeping, shopping, blogging, and I just won’t know until the time comes. Strange to think about, but I am getting used to the idea.

And for crying out loud, I do not want to be in public when my water breaks! I mean, can’t we women maintain some amount of dignity during this bizarre time in which our bodies go crazy and we have all kinds of intrusive exams and tests done and we can’t even sneeze without, well…nevermind. Sometimes the absurdity of it all makes me just laugh out loud. I guess it’s all very beautiful in a humiliating sort of way And I guess it’s always better to laugh at ourselves than to take things too seriously! Maybe it’s one way in which God prepares us for the daunting, challenging, and oh-so-humbling task of parenthood.

Have you heard about how pregnant women are more apt to clumsiness in their third trimester? Well, have proven this statistic! Yesterday ALONE, I managed to fling yogurt on myself (hair included), then I proceeded to trip over some wires and sprawl myself onto the ground, and then spill water all over my kitchen floor!

I plan to pack our bags for the hospital this weekend, have the car seat installed, and perhaps finish up some baby laundry so that Alana’s crib will be ready for her when she comes home. D-day is less than four weeks now!

We will be sure to keep you all informed as the next few weeks unfold, and in the meantime, please be praying for a safe delivery and a healthy little Alana Mackenzie!

We love you all!

Well, I just received photos of my baby shower from the wonderful Diana Simpson, so now I get to post about my perfectly special day! Thank you so much to Diana for capturing these moments for me so that I will always remember my very first baby shower!

My dear friends Michelle, Naomi, Jennifer, and Steph planned an incredible shower for me, and it was a day I will not forget. From the moment that I walked in the door, every detail was beautiful and everything so well planned.

It was humbling, fun, and special.

My mom was able to fly up for the weekend from Fort Lauderdale, and we met up with my wonderful mother in law to carpool to the shower. Rich took this photo of the three of us before we left for our girly morning!

The shower was held at Tim and Steph’s home, and it was beautifully decorated with all things pink.

There were beautiful magnet prayer cards for everyone to take home made by Naomi…

Super cute chocolate candy bars with Alana’s name and due date…

Advice cards for everyone to share their most profound mommy thoughts with me to cherish forever…

Delicious food to enjoy…

Super cute baby girl details…

And what meant the most to me . . . my dear friends and family who came to show their love and support!

My mom and I…

And my mother in law and sisters in law!

Michelle launched the shower with an incredible time of prayer. She and Steph had typed up scripture verses with Alana’s name included in them, printed them, and cut them into small folds of paper for each woman to take and pray. We spent about half an hour praying the scriptures over Alana and it was so meaningful.

Then I got to open about a million gifts! It was so much fun, and I loved everything! Most of it was from my registry (which I appreciate beyond words!), and there were a few gifts that were not. We are so incredibly thankful for every single generous gift!!!

One non-registry gift was from Steph, who hand-painted a frame especially for me with Alana’s nursery colors. I love it, and it coordinates perfectly with her room. I have to put in a plug here for Steph, who just launched her brand new business, Mango Tree Frames! Check out her site and enjoy!

My mother in law bought this super cute and trendy diaper bag with Alana’s initials monogrammed on it! I can’t wait to use it!

My mom bought me the bedding for Alana’s nursery, which I will post pictures of soon, now that it is all set up in her crib! I LOVE it!!!

This is a pair of my favorite socks in the world, which I posted a blog about recently. My sister actually had them shipped to Steph’s house so I’d be able to open them at my shower! Thank you, pixie! I love you and missed you!

Then, to make a super special day even more amazing, I returned home to find that Rich and his brother Jeff and my father-in-law had picked up Alana’s crib and dresser (it had been on layaway), brought them home, and assembled them to surprise me! I came into the nursery and here is my expression of pure shock at the sight that met me:

I was totally excited and overwhelmed! The men in my life are seriously kind and thoughtful…and very giving of their time and energy. I am abundantly blessed! And no, we haven’t taken pictures of the nursery yet! Soon, soon!

Then, just this past Sunday evening, my dear friend Kellie threw an intimate couple’s shower for us. She had been out of town and wasn’t able to come to my main shower, so she wanted to do something special with just a couple of close friends (who also couldn’t make it to my other shower).

Here I am with Amber (thank you to Nathan and Amber for the following pictures!)

Kellie had made her amazing calzones and salad followed by the most incredible chocolate peanut butter cake ever! We laughed and had a great time over dinner.

Then Rich announced that we’d just bought a new camera for our “non-professional” use, and that it is waterproof (thank you everyone for the Best Buy gift cards for Rich’s birthday!!!).

Nathan and Amber wanted a demo, so we had a bit of fun with our cute little new camera. First Rich dunked it into a drinking glass…

but because of the contoured shape of the glass, the photo didn’t come out too well…

So Kellie ran downstairs to grab a vase that seemed more conducive.

Here is underwater experiment take two…

and it worked brilliantly!

Once we were done playing with underwater photography, we moved into the living room to open a few gifts! When I told Rich that he needed to play an active role in our gift opening, this was his reaction! I love this man!

And play a few games…

And have a few laughs…

Jason and Kellie, thank you so much for the wonderful time together, and for blessing us with great company, food, and gifts! You guys are wonderful and we love you!

Clark and Maureen and Nathan and Amber, thank you for making our night so special and we love you guys! It was SO good to spend much needed time with you!