Our Gift

One year ago today, we were anxiously excited, slightly nervous, overwhelmed with feelings of being blessed, anticipating a precious gift from God that would forever change our lives...
We said many prayers for health, safety, and the new life of our child the night before I went in to be induced...we woke up with great anticipation, hurridly checking off items we must not forget and adding those which provided extra comfort...and then we stopped again - in the rush and hurry, held each others hands, and entered the presence of our Father as tears filled both of our eyes...and we prayed - hard, fervously, expectedly - knwoing that our Father would give us everything we would need on this journey.
And then, shortly after 4:00 pm on this day, YOU were born. Perfect, healthy, and our gift.

And what a joy you've brought to our lives this past year of your life!

We love you sweet baby Lincoln...happy FIRST birthday!!!!!

Two Little Pumpkins

So today was GORGEOUS. We all woke up at 8:00, I made pancakes for the boys of the house (yes, dogs included), and enjoyed a nice long workout outside that I found both invigorating and to some degree relaxing, believe it or not. Lincoln was full of new surprises today and I think we can officially say the boy prefers walking. :) He can now pop up at any given moment, in any given place, and walk...and walk and walk. I would say he has rarely crawled today which has been a big milestone in the McMahan house! Now his steps are still wobble-ish, which will go perfect with his Halloween costume #2 - Frankenstein - which he will bust out this next weekend. Yes, his walk will make the outfit.
This afternoon we took the little Frankenstein to a Pumpkin Patch, expecting to get some fabulous pictures of his new skills at work and his big smile and giggle that had been infesting our living room all morning long. Well, the little guy did not fall asleep on the way and therefore, did not get a nap before photo time, and did not smile for any of the pictures because he was so tired!! Oh well, I still was pleased with some of the pictures, and regardless, we had a great time enjoying this amazing day.

Here I am with Lincoln - 1 year next week!! - and Mr. Noah - 25 weeks in my belly :)

Cheers to Monkey Butts and Beginnings

Last night was the big Costume FCA party for the Bentonville Basketball teams...the turn out was incredible and it's so encouraging to see so many young athletes on fire for the Lord! Lincoln's Mimi bought him a monkey costume that he finally got to sport last night - I kind of thought he would be frustrated wearing it, but the kid LOVED it. He's walking so much now, and I had to watch him through part of the meeting time because all of the sudden I saw a little monkey butt walking toward the fire pit (then to realize, "OH! That's MY little monkey butt!"). Still not used to this walking thing! It was great spending time with the Cole's and the Matchells - now if we can all just move over there, finish up working, and play with babies all day long. :) In other news - tonight marks the night, 3 years ago, where I met my husband at a Greenwood vs. Siloam football game, sparked up a two-hour long conversation, had our first date 5 days later, and married 5 months later. :) This is the date where it all began...so amazing to see God's grace in our lives over the past three years and what he has blessed us with and where he has carried us. I couldn't be more thankful and giddy to be married to my soul mate and the most amazing husband/father in the world. I hate to admit it (j/k - it's AMAZING), but even Lincoln is a little partial to his daddy! That makes two of us. :)

It's Official

We finally did it!!! After months of talking about it and, to be honest, just putting it off...our house is finally FOR SALE. Our neighborhood is popular for trick-or-treat little ones, therefore our goal was to have it up by the 31st - ahead of schedule. So if you come by for some candy, expect an info sheet attached. :)
And we already have some interest coming to look at the house this week! I know I sound optimistic, and well - though I completely understand that the above photo has the potential to be taken on Lincoln's first day of Kindergarten - I am optimistic and I do know that the Lord has a plan for our family that will prevail.

Lunch Break News

I never talk about work on this blog, but today there was a fabulous surprise during the lunch hours at my school - some of our wonderful staff members all made about a total of six different kinds of soups and chili with an unbelievable spread of desserts to compliment - made my cold day toasty warm. :) Usually I leave on my lunch break, but I enjoyed some soup, conversations, and am writing this blog to finish up the break before returning to work.
This will only be day #2 of me being at work this day. It's been an unpredictable week that consisted of Lincoln having some tummy trouble and yucky diapers (w/ even YUCKIER diaper rash) that kept me home, followed by another kidney stone attack for yours truly two nights ago. I got kidney stones for the 5th month of pregnancy with Lincoln and thought I was in the clear this time. Apparently not. So yesterday consisted of me being doped up on pain pills (safe ones for the darling), in bed on a heating pad for 12 hours, but ended with being able to be the first in Siloam to receive the H1N1 vaccine - lucky me.
Now here's where I give an ode to an INCREDIBLE friend who has been keeping Lincoln this week and will next week while I finish up work (before staying at home with my baby!!!) - Christine Matchell. Jason and I feel so blessed that she so graciously offered to help us out in this way! Our husband's always get to spend an incredible amount of time together and I've enjoyed spending more with her. She's fantastic. :)
Also, Wednesday was another doctor's appointment...I thought it was my 5-month, but apparently it was my SIXTH month appointment - nice surprise. Everything is great and I thought it time to share the name we have landed on (at least have been stuck to it for the past 2 months or so)...
Noah Jackson McMahan.
Mr. Noah will soon be our latest addition to our crazy male-dominated family. :)

The Plan

This past week has been full of surprises and events that have challenged Jason and I to re-think our "plan" that we have so cleverly established for our family from now until the new baby is born. You see, Jason's new job has made it possible for me to stay at home with the boys and it is something we've been praying would be possible and feel greatly blessed to have the opportunity to do so. However we also decided back this summer that it would best financially for our family if I kept working until he baby was born in February. That way we could pay off some student loans and build a nice little savings cushion.
Well, my friends - as the motto of my life still stands - God had a different plan. :)
Last Tuesday we received a call from Lincoln's sitter saying that she was in the middle of a family crisis and, basically, this upcoming week was the last week she would be able to keep Lincoln. I hung up the phone frantic because good in-home childcare with licensed people that actually take kids under age 2 is INCREDIBLY hard to find! Jason and I began scrambling remembering "the plan" and trying to make "the plan" continue to go, well, as planned, knowing in the back of our minds how hard this task was going to be. So the next day I searched, got references for, called, and scoured the area for someone that could take over on such short notice. All full...everywhere I called. We are blessed enough to have amazing friends who all had offered in some way or another their help, and last week came up with "a plan" to get us close to the original plan. But it involved someone different keeping him from week to week and trying to juggle the schedules and all. Stressful, but we were willing to try and make it work.
Personally, the thought of getting to stay home early for me sounded heavenly, but I was trying to stay out of the decision as much as possible and let Jason decide this for us since I knew I was a little biased in the decision. After both of us praying about it together, he had decided that financially we would be less stressed if we could make it work and I was 100% submissive with his decision and ready to make it work.
Then yesterday morning, he woke up and said "Babe, I've really been thinking about my decision and I just don't feel at peace with it anymore - I really think you should put in your month's notice and stay at home with Lincoln."
REALLY??!!!! I said with wide-eyed wonder, still not wanting to be influential...and I reminded him I was in full support of working a little while longer.
But he assured me this was the direction he felt God was leading us.
And I argued no more.
So surprise to me - I GET TO STAY HOME WITH MY BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My last day will be his birthday, believe it or not, and what a sweet day that will be. :)

Here are some pictures of the weekend...a highlight, Lincoln is now taking steps!! I don't classify it as walking yet, but he has consecutively taken three steps. Precious. We also went to the JBU alumni day Saturday for free food and hanging out w/ new people - including Silvy who until Saturday I had only known through blog world...funny.

Papa bought him his first fishing chair...

Lincoln with his grandparent's dog - pretty good friends.
These pictures don't do justice, but this was the biggest dog I have ever seen! It was a Newfoundland dog - HUGE! And of course Lincoln wasn't scared a bit :)