Just Like Daddy

This has always been my favorite picture of your daddy. 

Wow!  You really look like your daddy......a mirror image!!

6 Months

Happy 6 Months, Maci

I can't believe that you are already 6 months old.  Time has really gone fast.  I love you more each day!  I was recently looking through pictures of your daddy when he was little.  I found these 2 pictures of him when he was 6 months old.  He was so cute, too!





5 Generations

  On Memorial Day weekend, 2011, Papi and I went to Shreveport to visit my parents.  While we were there, your mommy and daddy drove over to Shreveport from your new home in West Monroe.  It was so good to see you and hold you and kiss you and see how much you have grown in the short time since you moved away from Texas.  You are blessed to have been able to be a part of this picture.  I believe that pictures of 5 generations are pretty rare.

  This is something that is a part of your history.  It's awesome.  You are being held by my grandmother who will be 99 years old this year.  She is your great-great grandmother.  Wow! 

The people in this picture:

Eula Pearl Day Wilson Dunn Jenkins - November 26, 1912

Robert Leroy Wilson - March 29, 1936

Melanie Gayle Wilson Bell Mitchum - January 26, 1960

Jonathan Daniel Bell - March 19, 1983

Maci Jo Bell - January 19, 2011

            P.S.  Notice:  Female, Male, Female, Male, Female

Moving

 This is a blog that I really didn't want to write.  I just got used to the fact that I had you as my first grandchild and was so thankful that you lived in the same city as I do and now you have moved.  My sister Robin (your great-aunt) and her husband, Mike have a trucking company.  They offered your daddy a good job.  In fact, it was almost impossible for him to turn it down.  Your mom will get to stay home and raise you instead of putting you in a daycare.  That is good news for you!               

                                     
 These pictures were taken on May 13, 2011.  Papi and I were spending a few treasured hours hugging and loving on you before you left the next day for Louisiana.

 We will miss you so much, but we know we will get to see you when we go there and/or you come here.

                 I know that you are so young now that you don't really "know" me as your Mimi.

        I know that you will grow and change a lot and we will miss some of your "growing" moments.

      Papi and I will still love you just as much and will also pray for you and your mommy and daddy.

 We know that this is not "the end".  It is a new beginning for you and your family.  You will be well loved there by my sister and her girls.  You will love your cousins.  They will spoil you like we would if you were still here.

So, no matter where you live.....always know that

YOUR MIMI LOVES YOU!!!!!

Going to Church

Today was your first visit to church.  You looked so pretty with your big flower bow on your precious little head.  You also had your pretty diamond earrings in your newly pierced ears.  I was so proud to introduce you to several of our church friends.  Of course, everyone went on and on about how cute you are.  And they are right.  You ARE cute!

I always interpret for Papi in church, but today, we mostly had songs.  Since the words are on the screen, I don't interpret the songs for Papi.  So, I got to hold you and sing the songs.  You were so good in church.  When I first got your from your daddy's arms, I was holding you towards me and moving to the music and you spit up all over me.  But, I didn't care at all.  Papi just grabbed a towel from your mommy and wiped me off and we just kept on singing.  I did turn you around after that in case you erupted again. 

They had baptism this morning and showed a video of some children and young teens who were recently baptised.  I silently prayed over you.  I prayed that when you get old enough to understand, that you will invite Jesus to come into your heart to be your Savior.  You come from a strong heritage of Christians.  We want you to be one, too. 

Just know that even before you were born, you have been prayed for by many people who love you.  We are all still praying for you.  I know there will be some bad situations in your life that I won't be able to protect you from.  But, always know that your Mimi and Papi are constantly praying for you and your protection and your salvation because we love you very much!

A Day at Mimi and Papi's House

On Friday, (March 11, 2011) at 5:45 AM, your daddy dropped you off at our house.  You were still asleep in your pajamas.  You were so comfortable in your car seat that I just left you in it until you work up ready for your breakfast.  I made your bottle and fed you.  You didn't go right back to sleep so I dressed you and took the cutest pictures of you.

You are getting to be such a big girl.  I enjoyed having the whole day with you.  I'm sure that your mommy and daddy will let you stay at our house some more because we love taking care of you.  Everytime that you are with us is great.  I just wanted to write about this day since it was the first time that we kept you all day.

WE LOVE YOU, MACI JO!

Your Great-Grandparents

Let me tell you about your wonderful great-grandparents.  They are Leroy and Margaret Ann Wilson.  Leroy was born on March 29, 1936.  Margaret Ann Daniel was born on September 21, 1938.  They met at Amite High School in Amite, Louisiana and were married on April 17, 1957.  On January 26, 1960, I was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  This is a picture of my mom holding me when I was a few days old.

                            

                                            

                              This is a picture of my daddy holding me when I was about 1 month old.

 When I was almost 1 year old, my parents moved to Shreveport, Louisiana and that is where I grew up.  When I met your grandpa (Bill Bell), I moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana and lived with my Aunt Audrey until we got married on May 23, 1981.  On March 19, 1983, I gave birth to your daddy, Jonathan Daniel Bell.  He was my parents' first grandchild.  They were very excited about him.  Here is a picture of my parents holding your daddy when he was a few days old.

                                  This is my daddy holding your daddy when he was 1 month old.

 Now, it is 2011, and here are my parents holding YOU, Maci Jo Bell when you are 1 month old.  You are their first great-grandchild.  They are very excited about you!  When my daddy was holding you, he kept saying, "Maci, I used to hold your daddy and your grandma!"  It was so sweet to hear him say that!

I am so glad that your great-grandparents have met you.  They are indeed GREAT!



You Look Like......

Maci, everyone who looks at you says that you look like your daddy.  Of course, I can see your daddy and your mommy in you.  Also, as you grow, your looks will change.  When I was born, and as I grew, people called me "Little Nina".  That is because they said I looked a lot like my mom's mother.  Unfortunately, I never met her because she died the year before I was born. 

I was recently going through some baby pictures of me and I found this one.

Yep, you look like me!

Welcome, Maci Jo Bell

It all started on Monday morning, Jan. 17, 2011.  Your daddy called and said that your Aunt Laura was taking your mom to the hospital.  Once she got there, they told her she was not really ready to have you so they sent her home.  Your poor mom was miserable all day on Tuesday.  I was at work and your Papi (Mark) was in another hospital.  They thought he might have had a blood clot in his right leg, but later they found out it was a Baker's Cyst.  After I visited Papi in the hospital that night when I got off work, I went straight home and got ready for bed.  At 9:00 PM, your daddy called me and said he was taking your mom back to the hospital.  He called back later and said they were keeping her there because you were ready to be born.  I quickly got dressed again and drove up to the hospital.  Your mom had just gotten her epidural, so she was comfortable and playing on Facebook!  I waited out in the waiting room and visited with your Aunt Laura and her roomie Morgan. 

 Your daddy was so happy that you were going to be born soon.  He couldn't wait!  He kept updating me through text.  It was a long night and nobody slept.  We just kept waiting and praying for your safe arrival.

 Finally, on Wednesday, January 19, 2011, you were born.  You weighed 8 lbs. and 3 oz. and were 21.5 inches long.  You had all your toes and fingers and you were just beautiful!

 Here you are, very alert, probably trying to figure out what happened to you!

 This was the first time I saw you and got to hold you.  I cried tears of joy because I instantly loved you.  You really looked so much like your daddy.  I could see your mom in you, too.  You were a very beautiful newborn and I was so thankful!

 Your daddy was so happy and proud of you.  I could tell that you had already wrapped him around your little finger, even though you were just a few minutes old.

 Of course, your Aunt Laura was very happy to have you as her first niece. 

                                       See the joy in your daddy's face!

       Your mommy did a great job giving birth to you.  Here is your first family pic!

     You were very content to be in your mommy's arms.  So many people love you!

I am glad that you are here.  You are a blessing from the Lord and I look forward to loving you for many years.  Always remember that your Mimi loves you!  Yes, I do!!!

Almost Time

I saw  a sign in a store today that said, "When a baby is born, so is a grandmother!"  Maci Jo, when your mom went to the doctor on Wednesday, she was told that if you haven't been born by next Saturday (Jan. 22), that the doctor will induce your mom.  I am super excited that I will be meeting you in 8 days or less.  I am praying that everything will go smoothly and that your mom will not have any complications during the delivery.

Everyone is excited that it's almost time for you to be born.  There are many people who already love you so much. 

So, my dear granddaughter......see you soon!