MY FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY!!!

Okay I think Mommy went a little OVERBOARD on my first birthday party. She and Daddy rented the Lynches River Park Building. The theme was going to be "UNDER THE BIG TOP!" They decorated everything like a Circus. We had carnival games, balloons, favors, cake, ice cream, hot dogs, barney, music, popcorn, and a balloon clown. It was completely over the top! I had alot of cousins there and some friends. I really enjoyed playing in the birthday cake. Mommy let me put my hands in it. I am sure I will not remember this party when I get older but it was quite an event!

First Christmas

I liked the boxes and bows best this Christmas. I got so much that I didn't know what to do with it all. PopPop gave me a John Deere Gator. Which I love. Meme gave me a leap frog table. It makes lots of noise. Gaga gave me lots of clothes and a baby doll. Santa came to see me and he bought me lots of little people and a bouncy horse. I did not like anything about Santa this year. My Mommy and Jen Jen took me to have my picture made with him at the mall. I screamed, arched my back and pitched a fit. I was so bad that my Mommy was in such a hurry to get outta there that she grabbed the diaper bag, me and the stroller and forgot to get her purse. One of photo center workers at the Magnolia Mall stole Mommy's purse. Jen Jen caught him coming out of the public bathroom with the purse. He threw the purse at her and ran out of the mall. He had taken all of the cash money out but left the credit cards and drivers licence. Mommy and Jen Jen had to go press charges against him at the court house. Mommy says she will never go back to the photo booth again...I bet she will thou.

DaDaddy Mac Had a farm E I E I O!

Today was a sad day for our family. Dadaddee Mac passed away. My granddaddy McLaughlin was 54 years old and he was recovering from colon surgery at Carolinas Hospital. This morning, Mommy and I went to the hospital to check on him and he told Mommy he didn't feel well. Mommy called doctor Miller and he came right over. They thought he had an inner ear infection. As they were moving him to a special unit, he had a pulmonary embolism and passed away. My Mommie, Gaga, Bubba and Sissy were very said.

While Dadaddee was in the hospital this month, my Mommie would take me up to visit him. Sometimes, we would take walks with him up to the 9th floor hospital lobby. From there, he could see everything he had worked on his whole life. He would walk me over to the window and point things out to me and tell me things that were going to happen in the years ahead. He liked to sing to me and play games. One of our favorite games was the one where he would stick his tougue out and them I would do the same thing. Then he would blow and then I would blow. We laughed alot together. I liked to lay on his big belly and nap. He was always good for a nap. Since we had been working together for about 7 months, I enjoyed when he took me in his office and put my bouncy seat up on the BIG desk and fed me while we watched the news or he talked on the phone to clients. He had worked with me for 9 months on the "GRANDADDDY!" thing. That is what he wants me to call him. Since he has been in the hospital I was afraid of the IV's he had in his arm but every tim I came in the door, he would hold his hands up in the air and say, "Granddaddy!" He really wanted me to say granddaddy. Lastweek, I decided I would make him happy and just do it. I actually held my hands up on my own and said "dadaddee!" back to him. Thus, he will forever be in my heart as "Dadaddee!" He thought that was really something special. He thought I was really something special. My Mommy worries about how his passing is going to effect me and my future. She also wonders if I will remember him. I am sure I will...who could forget him!

First Celebration

This was my first Celebration. What a TRIP!! Mommy had this great idea that instead of staying in the house at Cedarhill if we bought a RV, parked it in the yard, stayed in it we would have more room and everyone would be much more comfortable. Mommy bought a camper (NOTE-->not an RV--there is a BIG difference) sight unseen from Mr. Tim Brooks. This idea would have probably been a good idea if the "camper" had been just a little bit bigger and we hadn't been planning to stay in this camper for 12 days and 14 nights. The camper was only big enough to have a double bed, a packnplay and our clothes in it. Mommy's shoes were actually in the stove and under the kitchenette sink. My clothes were in the kitchette cabinets. There was only enough room in the camper for one of us to stand up at the time. You had to stand sideways to get into the bathroom and then once you got in the bathroom you had to be careful as the floor was weak and about to fall through. Everytime someone sat on the potty they had to wonder if they are going to fall through this time. The shower was the size of a small metal wash tub and the waterpressure left so much to be desired. Oh, and did I mention that Mommy brought Babbs with us too? The absolute best part of the whole camping experience was that if the air conditioner in this camper runs for longer than three hours, it will freeze up. To maintain the AC unit, one must get a hairdryer out and blow warm air into the unit until it unfreezes. If you don't do this, it gets VERY hot in the camper. Usually, this all takes place in the middle of the night. What a joy! Dadaddy Mac did get out his cattle troph (his pool) and fill it with water. We got in and I love to swim. That was my favorite part of the entire trip. My Daddy is looking for a Holiday Inn and he says that we will NEVER camp again. My Mommy says "you have to do things you don't enjoy so that you can appreciate the things you do enjoy more". Basically Daddy says "Mommy just doesn't want to admit she was wrong about camping for 12 days being a good idea." What a Celebration!

Lets Go To Work!

Mommy went back to work at McLaughlin Company part time in March. I go with her most days. She has a pack-n-play set up in her office. She also has a high chair for me. When my Dadaddy Mac is in the office, he takes me in his office and puts me in my bouncy seat on his desk. He likes to feed me baby food and a bottle. He and I also blow raspberries at each other. He has a really BIG tongue. He taught me to spit and blow raspberries. When I do nasty things....he screams "MAMA!" That means he wants my Mommy to come deal with whatever it is I have done. He likes for me to come to work. He calls me his "Little Real Estate Salesgirl". He says it will make me smart to come to work and hear people talking about business. My Mommy isn't so sure about all of that. Mom has lots of toys for me to play with at her office but I prefer highlighters, her files, and her business cards. My Gaga keeps me on some days when Mommy and Dadaddy have to go to meetings. Sometimes, my Mommy takes me to meetings with her in my carrier. I am so quiet and hardly ever make noise. Mommy loves having me at work with her, except when she is talking on the phone and I am screaming and there is no one there to help with me. The best day was when I was in my pack in play taking a nap and I decided it was time to relieve myself. Somehow I managed to get my diaper loose and put my hands in it. Mommy was sitting at her desk and she thought she smelled something. By the time she got to me, I had baby poop all over my body, all in my hair, in my mouth, all over the pack n play and all over the wall of her office. Mommy gagged and gagged. Jen Jen had to help Mommy get me into the tub at the office and wash me off. They then had to take my pack n play outside and wash it off with the hose.

In May, Mommy went back to work full time. She hired Jennifer Stroup to help out at the office answering the phones, filing and keeping an eye on me. Jen Jen and I really hit it off and I quickly figured out how to occupy 90% of her time. Some days, Jen Jen just comes to my house and watches me. We play all day. Jen Jen likes to change my clothes and fix what little bit of hair I have. There are days when she changes me 4-5 times. My Daddy says she just likes to make dirty clothes. I have lots of teeth coming in and I am eating both baby and soft foods. I am a very messy eater. However, when I get it all over me, I want someone to immediately wipe it off. I do not like to be dirty long! I love spaghetti O's, Squash,mac-n-cheese, fruit and veggies. I do not like meat. If my Mommy or Jen Jen tries to feed me meat, I purse my lips very tight and if any gets in, I spit it at them. They are about to give up trying to make me eat meat.

First Tooth

What a wonderful Mother's Day--> Today Mary Catherine got her first tooth!

Dougie Houser MD---ROFLOL

Today we were in Lowes at Pamplico Highway and Freedom Blvd with Gaga. We were looking for pipe insulation. As we begin to load the strips of insulation, up walks Mary Catherines pediatrician,Dr.Weaver Whitehead. Weaver speaks to Mary Catherine and I. I introduce he and Gaga. I knew Gaga had a confused look on her face. When we got to the car, Gaga asked, "Now who was that young man in lowes again?" I said "That is Dr. Whitehead Mary Catherine's pediatrician." She said, "OMG! You have got Dougie Houser working on my Grandchild! I thought he was a highschool student that you knew." I never thought of Dr. W as being young but I guess when you compare him to Dr. Price (our pediatrician who was like 90 and still practicing
, he is younger. Gaga has now accepted the fact that Dr. Whitehead is not a teenager. Dr. Whitehead is a wonderful pediatrician. I highly recommend him! He is very thorough in his exams. Mary Catherine adores him. Everytime we go in she checks out the duck on his steythoscope and wants to see the cherry throat stick. She likes to talk to him and will let him check her without hesitation. She isn't quite so fond of his nurse Lisa. She gives the shots!

First Trip To Tennessee

Mommy, Gaga and I made our first trip to Shelbyville, Tennessee this week. We went out to meet my Uncle Sam Rowland. Sam is a horse trainer in Shelbyville. On the way to Tennessee, we dropped Dadaddy Mac and Reverend Andy Putnam off at the Airport in Atlanta. They were going to visit Honduras for the week. In Shelbyville, we stayed at my Dadaddy and Gram Mac's house called Cedarhill. It was very cold in Tennessee. When we arrived, the pipes at the house were frozen and we had to get a plumber to come fix the water. It is a good thing Mommy brought bottled water for me from home. Actually Mommy brought everything but the kitchen sink for me on this trip. You would have thought she was taking me to the jungle in Africa or Honduras for three months. The back of Gram Mac's Yukon was packed full of stuff for me. Guess Mommy forgot they have a Walmart and grocery store in Shebyville. I did get to wear my warm purple alien suit almost everyday. I went out to the barn and saw my first horses and even got to see my Mommy ride for the first time in 9 months. I definitely am going to be a horse girl. Dadaddy better get with it and find me a white pony like he promises me all the time. I loved touching the horses and pulling their hair. I met King Arthur (Uncle Sam's good friend)and Jenny Vining (Sam's girl friend). I like them both. Jenny gave me a cute little passy holder that said "Sweetpea" (which is what my Dadaddy calls me) and a beautiful blanket. It is silk on the back and green and white polka dot chenille on the front. I love being wrapped in it. I also got to meet Mr. Joe and Mr. Joel Weaver. I made my first trip to the Bellbuckle Cafe. The waitresses at the BBC thought I was about the cutest thing they had ever seen. My Mommy and Gram Mac enjoyed playing with me and taking photos. I enjoyed my first trip to Cedarhill and can't wait to go back!

Mary Catherine Christening Gown

This gorgeous christening gown was hand made by Gram Mac. It is made of raw silk and lace. It has long sleeves. The embroidery was done by hand. The gown has Mary Catherine's monogram on the bottom. The cross was given to Mary Catherine by Gram and the silver bracelet was a gift from Aunt Sissy. The bonnet was given to Mary Catherine by Mrs. Linda Potts and was purchased in Ireland. These photos were taken by Ricky Strickland.

Mary Catherine's Baptism

Today Mary Catherine was baptised at Effingham Presbyterian Church. Reverend Andrew Putnam performed the sacrament of baptism. Granddaddy Rowland McLaughlin was the elder assisting in the service. We had lots of visitors for the service. Mrs. Linda and Mr. Eddie Potts came from Fort Mill. Flo & Jay Vinson attended as your godparents. hose with us from Charleston included: Meme, Mel, Pop Pop, Aunt Pam, Great Aunt Carolyn, Great Aunt Dolly, Great Aunt Mary, Great Grand mom Donna Hartley, and Barry Watson. Those from Florence attending included: Aunt Sissy, Gram Donna, Dadaddy Mac, Uncle Larry & Aunt Carol Anne, Laurie, Clint and Little Clint Parks, Jay and Chrystian McLaughlin, Brian Britton and Hampton Epps and The Jack Miller Family,Great PawPaw Anderson and Great Grandma Lindy and Great Great Grandma Sybil Kennedy. Attending from out of Town included: Jim and Myra Epps, Tyler, Keisha & Tanner Epps. Robby and Marty Milam, Ashley, Jim, Caroline & Charlie Mac Toman, the Bob Boozer Family. Mary Catherine did so good and never cried. She wore a beautiful candlelight raw silk christening gown which was hand made and embroidered by Gram Donna McLaughlin. It even has a dot of her blood inside the collar. She wore a bonnet which was brought to her by Linda Potts from Ireland. The bonnet came with a poem which can be framed with the bonnet. It converts and is to be used as a brides handkerchief the day Mary Catherine gets married. Both the dress and the bonnet have Mary Catherine's monogram on it. On the slip Gram Mac made to go under the dress, we put Mary Catherine's initials and the date of the baptism. After the service we all retired to the family life center for a lunch. It was a wonderful day!

Our Little Sweetie!

Gram Mac bought Mary Catherine this cute little outfit. Gram thinks it is tacky...I thought it was just too durn cute!

ARE BABIES SCARD OF THE DARK?

Okay, Kevin and I think we know what is wrong with Mary Catherine and why she is screaming at night. We think she is afraid of the dark. Since she has been in this world she has been in the light. In the nursery at the hospital, they keep the lights on all the time(which screws up the babies sleep schedules-IMHO). So when we turn the lights off to go to bed...she freaks out. We tested this theory several ways, we put her in her crib earily in the evening with the light on. She slept good. We put her in the bassinet later in the evening in out room with the light off...she screamed immediately. Thus our child is afraid of the dark. So, kevin and i are now sleeping with a light on in our room. Kevin isn't handling this well. He is used to sleeping in complete darkness. This is a real delima...anyone have a problem like this?

We have also found that she only likes the ugly big green passy issued by the hospital. Kevin has now gone on a mission to purchase more of these passy items.
She also likes a certain playtex laytex nipple on the bottle. He has also gone to check into some more of these. We are getting her feeding schedule more regular and she is up to drinking 2 oz per feeding. yeah! I have been worried that she isn't eating enough.

Who's Baby is this????

Okay...I think we have a different baby than the cute, quiet one that we had at the hospital. She screamed almost all night! WE are so exhausted. We ended up holding her most of the night. We just don't know what is wrong. She is pooping, peeing and we have changed her. She has eaten and she is burping. We gave the gas stuff and that wasn't it. Oh-we have alot to learn. She may have done cute stuff today but we were so pooped that we forgot to write it down.

Today, Gram mac came over to play. She played while mommy and daddy slept. Thank heavens for gram mac. Today, I am very sore. I think it is crawling in and out of the high bed with the c-section. Kevin is getting me a stool. Today, I attemped to put on my pre-pregancy clothes. They literally fell off. Obviously, I have lost more weight than I thought I had. I guess, Mary Catherine and I will just have to go shopping! She will learn young!

Day 3-FRIDAY- HOMECOMING

Today we came home from the hospital. Don't worry we have the whole thing on video tape, just incase you want to watch it someday. I still don't know why we felt we should record this trip but we did...we pick the weirdest things to record these days.

Dad drove us and I set in the back with you as you took your first ride in the car. We played the baby bach CD so that you would be smart and it would hopefully make the ride a pleasureable experience for you. I was worried that riding in a car would some how damage you forever. I complained pretty much the whole trip that your Dad was driving too fast or not being careful enough. I don't know who invented these car seat/ baby carrier things but they are just awkward. They are hard to adjust, hard to get in and harder to get out. Your Dad and I are educated people and we think this is something out of a spaceship. Actually, you pretty much hated the thing too. They made us try the devise it out in the hospital room first. That was not a good thing. You screamed at the sight of it. We put you in it and you did scream then. Of course, my immediate thought was that it was choking or hurting you in some way. The nurse assured me it was completely safe and you were okay. I agreed but it didn't mean I liked it. That first try out/ adjustment was with just a hospital gown on. The next time, we had all of the "bundling" that went with you! So, the straps had to be re-adjusted...you were not happy. I could see at that moment... you are my child, you like things to be done right the first time around. Smart Girl! Finally we were released and were really going home. You looked so precious in your "going home" gown with "mary had a little lamb" smocked on it. Gaga bought it for you from a store called Scrambled Eggs in Hendersonville, NC. It was pink pinwale cordorory. I also put a white sweater, gloves, two blankets and a hat on you so that there would be no part of your body that might get cold. You didn't really like the car seat. I am not so much sure it was the seat you didn't like or all of the bundling that second time. You pretty much screamed the whole way home. We continued to play the baby bach cd.

When we got home Granddaddy Mac, Aunt Celia and Grandma mac (GRAM is what she wants you to call her) were there waiting on us. They had been cleaning up and getting the house ready for you. Granddaddy had the people there installing a glass front door so that you could see outside. Thanks Mom & Dad! You got to meet Babbs (our dog) for the first time. It was love at first sight. She loved you and you her. Aunt Celia and I took photos of you in your crib and photos with babbs. Then you and I layed down for a nap.

When I got up from the nap, I cooked dinner for your Dad and I. It was the first time I had cooked in 9 months! It smelled soooo good! I was soooo hungry!

Day 2- Thursday- Sleeping and the Shakes

Today we rested. You and I were both exhausted. Aunt Celia came in and changed your clothes like four times yesterday for pictures and we had visitors most of the day. We were both exhausted! You were so cute today. You like to lay on my chest. You like for your face to touch my skin on my neck. That is were you want to be when I hold you. I love the smell of your head and the feel of the fuzz on your head on my neck. You fit so perfectly in that spot. I would like to freeze the moment in my heart and have it there forever as one of the best moments of my life. Your Dad is so taken with you. He is like a pro changing your diaper and all! He knows just how to handle you. I guess he was paying attention in the child care class we attended. I love the fact that he gets to help and we get to share you. I love having a family of my own. You are such a special little one! We are having a time getting you to burp. So we called the nurse...your "tough ole nurse" came in and she said..."You two act like you gona break her, she isn't gona break" with that she threw you up on her shoulder (as I gasped) and wacked you on the back (as your Dad gasped) and you did this big ole burp like no one has ever heard a baby do. I think you are trying to make us look bad. When we get home, I am going to work toward perfecting this burp thing with you. You just wait...I am going to be able to burp any baby given to me before this is over (without the shoulder throwing and back wacking thing.) There has to be a kinder and gentler way to do it!

I have heard of mothers getting the "Mommy Shakes" right after they have a baby. I even saw Cousin Laurie having them but it was right after the baby was born. I had a weird spell this evening. It scard your dad and I really bad. I was lying in the bed after you went to the nursery and I got the shakes of sorts. I was freezing cold, my teeth were chattering and I couldn't control it. My fever dropped very low. The nurses came in and wrapped me in warm blankets and give me some medication. Finally, I was able to settled down. The doctors have decided we are going to be staying in the hospital for an extra day for them to observe. It looks like we will not be going home until Friday.

Our First New Years Parade

I had this grand plan for today. We were all going to sit around and watch the new years day parade together. You will soon find out that your Mommy loves parades! Needless to say, the parade was the last thing on anyone's mind. You were up bright and early ready for a bottle and some Mommy time. Everyone came to visit with us. You were on the news last night and this morning as one of the last babies born in Florence before the new year. There were actually a set of twins born right after you. The doctors had a busy day at Carolinas Hospital on the 31st. There were 11 babies born. Everyone keeps joking that your Dad, the CPA, had to bribe the doctors so that he could get his tax deduction in under the deadline. I assure you that wasn't the case. You are so beautiful and happy. I have never been so happy to meet someone! When they gave you to me, it was love at first site. I never knew the kind of love I felt for you. You were just so perfect there in my arms. I was so thankful for you and love you so very much. I have to admitt, I was also thankful that the sickness was gone....opps, nope, wait a minute...I got sick after they brought my lunch to me today! The doctors and nurses said it was the gas they used to put me to sleep...whatever, I just want the nausea and sickness to end so I can go home and be a Mommy!