A week of 30's !!!!

Here are some pics from this past weekend...Christine turned 30 so Tom rented a limo for the night....I celebrated with a sip of Miller Lite...yum:)

I'm just over 30 weeks and the belly continues to grow...along with the rest of me:) We just can't wait to meet our Maryn....hopefully in 8 weeks...those last 2 weeks are only time spent gaining more weight and being uncomfortable for the both of us:)

30 weeks at the Aquarium downtown for Bode's school

She was busy kicking in this picture...right on my bladder

Where are my feet???

The nursery is coming along...furniture is moved in...just adding some finishing details. Promise to post pics soon!

28 weeks and still a GIRL!

O.k., so this is the only time I will ever post a picture of my daughters private parts....blurry, black and white, and almost unrecognizable by some. The little arrow is pointing to her girly parts...look close...actually looks like a hamburger :)

Her beautiful face
28 weeks pregnant and getting bigger. This was the evening we attended her baptism class...getting prepared to bless all of her little parts!

Being risky and showing off my 28 week bare belly....

Bode wanted to join his mommy and sister

We're currently working on the nursery, so hopefully I will post some pictures of her palace soon...still waiting for her rocker to be delivered.

Bode's a 'new' man

Our little guy recently became a 'new' man...he got his parts clipped:( Poor little Bode got neutered last month....and he actually did great with the surgery. I was prepared for the worst since Bayley chewed his stitches out when he got neutered but Bo didn't even mess with his incision once. I think he ignored it because we threatened to put on the big E collar if he did. Here's a pic from the night before his surgery...I was getting the evil eye from both my boys!

We were on our way to get neutered and Bode thought we were going to the dog park...I lied just to get him in the car....I probably shouldn't do that sort of thing with Maryn, right?
Here he is when we brought him home....he looks stoned because he actually was. The dog acted drunk well into the next morning. Needless to say it was a relaxing night for us while Bode layed passed out on the floor...no games of tug o war, fetch, etc...

Just relaxing on his bed that he inherited from his big brother.....he was not pleased with me for lying.

He looked so pitiful!!

He has healed perfectly...barely a scar..and the best part is that it has actually calmed him down a ton. He's like a new dog...he lays down next to the couch at night and chews his bone....he's stopped jumping and humping (or hugging as we call it) as much, and is just overall a more mellow creature! We started school again...he's taking Real Life 101 which prepares him to act sane in public. We meet every Saturday for 6 weeks in public places around the city such as the aquarium, county parks, and Marion Square downtown....he's got 3 months to be the 'perfect' dog....countdown begins...now!

She's got a name!

Our little girl has a name full of meaning..... Meet Maryn Amelia Cummings!!! Mac's grandmothers name is Mary and my grandmothers name is Marian so Maryn is a combination of two very special and influential women in our lives. Amelia is sort of a combination of my late grandmothers name which is Amalia and my middle name Emily. Usually its the mom who gets excited and conscious about a southern little girls initials because we love to monogram everything down here in the south but Mac is most ecstatic. Her initials spell MAC, which is of course how Mac got his name to begin with...Michael Austin Cummings. So...we will soon have a Big Mac and a junior Mac in our home:) Here are Maryn's first glamour shots!!

8 weeks....she had such a beautiful yolk sac :)

12 weeks..still a peanut

Big stretch at 20 weeks

Here's a pic from our 3D/4D ultrasound at 26 weeks..always sucking her fingers

26 weeks.... cheeks are getting chubby

25 week profile

Maryn seems to be a little stubborn and often refuses to give us good pictures by covering her face with her prized posessions...her hands. Hence, the million and one ultrasound pics....they keep having us come back to get the shots they need. Hey...I don't mind...it's more opportunity for Mac and I to watch in amazement our beautiful little girl grow and grow. What a blessing we have been given already, without having ever met her. She is kicking like crazy these days but is very delicate in her movements...very lady-like. It is the most reassuring feeling I have ever experienced. She is currently 50th percentile in size but I never believe those prenatal measurements. Already 28 weeks! Time is flying by!

Bayley's diagnosis

One year ago today, our Bayley was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer and we were hopeful that the Lord would give us atleast another year to enjoy his big brown eyes, his selfless heart, his warm kisses, and constant laughs. His doctors were hopeful as well since he was such a strong boy and we were able to diagnosis the cancer early on. After 6 months of chemotherapy, our beautiful boy was taken from us too soon. There was something special about that golden retriever...it was as if a tiny little man lived inside his soul....we miss that little man. So, today and almost every day, we remember our Bayley.

Here he is on his first day of chemotherapy....so hopeful

He's signing the consent form but looked to me to sign the parental consent

His first battle wound...so proud!


Three weeks after his diagnosis we took a trip to the mountains in North Carolina so he could run and enjoy being outside. This was an action shot on one of the hiking trails. This trip, despite the chemotherapy pills and special diet that he had to endure while we were there, lifted his spirits, but I think it lifted our spirits even more.
He definately was a 'looker'

Wet from swimming in nanny and poppops pool....he did a lot of swimming last summer...good exercise on his joints and of course his favorite pasttime.

Poppop actually let Bayley steer his boat on our first trip out on his new boat!

Just chill'in in the back, breeze in his hair

Lick'in the salty ocean air off his lips

Love me some Bayley

Lounge'in...he was sooo funny

Daddy kisses

Mommy kisses

At the young age of 6, Bay was taken from us far too soon. Without those short 6 years though, our lives would have been incomplete. He filled a special place in our hearts that we will never let go and his spirit will remain in our home forever. Live on Bayley Bear! We love you!

We're having a baby!

I'm sort of ashamed for not writing this post sooner but our excitement has gotten the best of us! We are expecting a baby girl on April 30! Our 2008 had its downfalls but it ended on a very high note. The same morning that we woke up excited to finally meet our new puppy was the same morning that we found out we were pregnant! Two new babies in one day....we were excited beyond words. I can't help but think that our Bayley orchestrated this special day. All I kept thinking to myself on the 5 hour drive back to Charleston after picking up Bode was that this little puppy better learn to behave by April 30th! After 6 weeks of constant nausea, I started feeling great and now at 26 weeks I feel even better. The time is flying by and I just hope that I will remember every special moment of being pregnant. God has a special plan for all of us and despite our trials and hardships, He always seems to shine His goodness through. We pray everyday for a healthy baby and so far our ultrasounds have proven such. I will post those pics soon too. Here are a couple pics of my blossoming belly.

Our trip to Tulum, Mexico at 18 weeks pregnant for our friends Mike and Amy's wedding! It was the perfect 'babymoon'...a little retreat before our lives are changed forever!

Me and my girl enjoying the sunset

A tiny little bump

Hope she enjoys the beach as much as we do

A self portrait at around 16 weeks

19 weeks

Christmas 22 weeks

As a Christmas gift to our parents, we all went to see baby in a 3D/4D ultrasound. You can tell by their faces that they enjoyed seeing their first grandchild. That's right, this little girl is the first grandbaby on both Mac and I's side of the family and first girl besides myself...seeing that I have two brothers and inherited two brother in laws.

Peek a boo

One of us ate too many Christmas cookies!

Bode enjoying the last few months of quiet before baby arrives

Poppop and Nanny Loeper practicing with their grandpup

Poppop and Grandma Cummings practicing too:)

We feel truly blessed to be able to bring our child into a home with good family and friends! I promise to update more often since things seem to be changing around here weekly!