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!

Your Daddy....My Son

I thought I would tell you a little bit about your daddy, Jonathan.  He was my first child and I had him when I was 23 years old.  I had a good pregnancy, but developed Gestational Diabetes.  This picture was taken at 4:30 AM on March 19, 1983.  The Doctor decided to induce me because of the Diabetes.  He didn't want me to be late in the delivery because he thought the baby would be too big.  I only gained 15 pounds during my entire pregnancy.  The doctor induced me 2 days before the due date.

 Here I am in the hosptial waiting for the birth.  I didn't have an epidural!  I also didn't know what I was having.  Your Grandpa and I decided that we didn't want to know if it was a boy or a girl until the baby was born.  Nowadays, parents like to find out what they are going to have. 

 Maci Jo, this is your daddy when he was born.  I was so happy that I was crying.  He was so tiny and so cute and I fell in love with him the minute I saw him.

 Jonathan Daniel Bell.  Born on March 19, 1983 at 5:06 PM.  He weighed 6 lbs. 12 oz. and was 20.5 inches.  He was so tiny that we had to buy premie clothes for him.

                  This was his going home outfit.  He went home on March 21.

 Your daddy was such a good baby.  He was very happy and he loved to play and laugh.  This is one of my most favorite pictures of him.  See his cute little smile!

 He was also very mischievous.  Here is a picture I took when I caught him climbing on the stool in the kitchen.  He was like a little monkey climbing on everything.  Even when he was disobeying, he was cute.

                        It seemed like just yesterday that he was my little boy.  

I turned around and he is suddenly a grown man waiting to have his own child. 

We can't wait for you to arrive, Maci Jo.  But, I don't think I will turn around again!

Love,

Mimi

Mimi Practice

Since I will become a Grandma in January, I decided I better start practicing fun "projects" to do with Maci Jo.  Now, I know she will not even be able to do this for a few years, but it was fun trying it out with my 2 nieces and my daughter.  We made turkeys from cookies and candy and lots of icing.  I think it was fun and the girls seemed to enjoy it.  Here are a few pictures showing what we did.  This was done on Thanksgiving day before we started our all day of eating!  These are the ingredients we used:  One package of Double-stuffed Oreos, a bag of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, a box of Whoppers, some candy corn (which I realized needs to be bought at Halloween because getting them from the candy display cost way too much), Chocolate Frosting, Vanilla Frosting, food coloring, and Black piping gel.

 Here are my 2 students, Mollyann (blue bow) who is almost 9 years old, and Raimee Jo
                                            (pink bow) who is 7 years old.

 Here I am showing them how to add frosting to the inside of the oreos so that the candy corn will stick.  My daughter, Laura made one, too.  My brother-in-law Mike was trying to eat the cookies.  I had to run him off a couple of times!

            Putting the candy corn on the cookies to represent the turkey's feathers.

 Mollyann working on attaching the Reese's to the cookie representing the turkey's
                                                        body.
                             
                               Raimee Jo took time out to smile for the camera!

                                        Laura joined in and did a great job!

                                                     Messy, but fun!

 A turkey waiting for its legs.  We had to make orange frosting by mixing red and yellow
                                       food coloring in the white frosting.

                            A finished product!  Not bad for 7 and 8 year olds.

          We laughed and decided this one needs to apply for disability services!

                                     I think this one is Laura's.  Good job!

                                                             Ta Da!!

So, Maci Jo, see what you have to look forward to!  I hope that we will get to have many hours of playing together and making memories.  I can't wait for you to get here!

Are You Excited?

"Are you excited about becoming a grandmother?" is what everyone is asking me.  Of course I am!  I am more than excited even just thinking about it.  I loved having my 2 children and know that I have a lot of love to give their children....my grandchildren!

My first grandchild, a girl, named Maci Jo is due on January 29, 2011.  If she comes early, she might be born on my 51st birthday which is January 26th.  That would be a sweet gift!  But, she will be a sweet gift no matter when she is born.

Last Saturday, was the first baby shower.  It was fun watching my daughter-in-law Eichelle opening all of her gifts.  The ladies who attended were ohhing and ahhing at all the cute little outfits she was receiving.  I just kept trying to picture Maci Jo wearing the cute clothes and tiny shoes. 

Jonathan, my son, was not supposed to be there, but he was in the kitchen waiting for his friend to come get him.  He was watching as his wife opened each gift.  I could tell that he, too, was excited about the things his daughter was getting.

Maci Jo Bell......when are you going to come into this world?  What are you going to look like?  Will you have red hair?  (I think you will!!!).  What color will your eyes be?  Those are questions that I can't answer at this time.

The only question I can answer for sure is,  "are you excited about becoming a grandmother?"  The answer is, YES!!