My Husband

I'm gonna say this and I know I run the risk of sounding unbelievably cheesy, but know that when I write this post, I mean every word in the most literal sense and am not even going to be able to do justice to how I really feel...but let me just start with that my husband is phenomenal.
I have had so many people tell me that "it's the feeling of falling in love all over again when you meet your new little baby for the first time!" I for sure know now how that feels, but I don't think I was prepared to completely fall in love "all over again" w/ Jason. I have always been crazy in love w/ Jason, but never knew I could feel like this about him! I am trying to figure out which has been more beautiful: watching all the newness and little miracles of our new son, or watching Jason be the most amazing father in the world with him. Both have uncovered such intense emotions that I truly never realized existed in my heart.
As I said in the previous post, when Lincoln was born, Jason was so overwhelmed with emotion that he couldn't even put words together to talk to the little guy in the incubator, but just had tears streaming down his face. And then when he brought Lincoln over to me, the first sentence he was able to put together was "What do you think it would take for me to be a stay-at-home dad??"
Before we even left to go the hospital (we were like 20 minutes late) we sat down together in the living room and prayed for the whole process, for Lincoln, and for our house that we were bringing him into...we both took turns praying for these precious things and when we were done, I looked up and my sweet husband had tears just streaming down his face with a big smile.
Since we've had Lincoln, I don't even know how to explain the demeanor of Jason except that this little guy has rocked his world, I think, in a way he never expected. I know Jason has been crazy excited for Lincoln and just in awe of everything, but I'm not sure even he realized how much love and intensity he would have in his heart for this little man of ours - and those of you who know Jason know he is already an extremely passionate man!!
But he's still a coach...ha. We split last night up into shifts. He had the first (10-12), I took over from 12-3, and he finished up from 3-7. Then I was up for the day and he went back to sleep (poor guy slept till noon I think!). Anyway, after his first shift was over and I got up to relieve him, Jason was SO fired up! It was the cutest thing ever! He was talking so fast and excited, telling me all the things they did all the faces he made, how he changed diapers and held and how Lincoln cried and how he soothed him...on and on and on with hand motions and everything. Then he went straight into, "you know I LOVE this...I was thinking I can get by when season starts on like 4 hours of sleep - I used to do it all the time! I can just sleep for 4 hours and then do all of this every night...I can do this!" He was so excited and you could tell just trying to figure out a way where he could spend as much time with Lincoln as possible. I just sat there laughing at him and when he was finished just walked up and kissed him and told him I think he's amazing. That is an understatement.
Anyway, I have enjoyed more than anything sitting back and watching my husband truly be such an amazing father. It is such an indescribable joy that I am so blessed to experience.
I love you baby. :)

Introducing Lincoln James McMahan!!!!

Lincoln was finally born Wednesday, October 29th, at 4:10pm!! We were extremely blessed to have a fairly easy, pain-free labor and delivery...and it went so much faster than everyone expected!! We went in at 6:00, I was induced at about 8:00...had some intense contractions for about an hour, got the epidural at 9:00 and was pain-free the rest of the day!!

Our families came by around 10:00 and we all just sat in the room talking and laughing and taking stupid pictures...just excited for what was to come. I had an amazing nurse named Melissa - she was incredible. She predicted we'd have the baby later on that night because first-time inductions can take a while. However, Melissa came in to check me at noon and I was almost fully dilated! 20 minutes later, I was fully dilated and no one could believe it - not even my doctor! It all happened so fast and before we knew it, we were getting ready to push and eventually hold Lincoln!! So misconception - I thought you pushed for like 20 minutes and there was baby. No. At least not in my case. For the first hour of pushing, I was all excited and in a god mood and Jason was cracking jokes and we were all laughing...I couldn't believe I was laughing through labor. There was one point that Jason said something and the nurses had to stop and I had to stop mid-push and we all just died out laughing. Crazy husband. :)

But then after about an hour I just got absolutely EXHAUSTED. They don't emphasize how in shape you have to be to give birth!!!!

But then at 4:10, Lincoln decided to make his grand entrance!!!!!!!!! He was beautiful and perfect! He scored a ( on his first Apgar and then a perfect 10 on the second one! I was so proud already...ha. :)

I think my favorite moment was when they had him over on the table right after birth and the doc was still working on me, and I looked over and Jason was at the table watching them clean him off. Jason was trying to talk to Lincoln, but he couldn't get any words out because he was crying and just couldn't form words. I saw tears just streaming from his face and then I started crying in the bed just watching him - it truly was beautiful and I know I am just butchering the moment trying to write it down in this blog. But it's a moment I'll always remember. And Lincoln was just screaming!!! But when they got done, they handed him to Jason so he could bring him over to me, and the moment they put him in Jason's arms, Lincoln COMPLETELY stopped crying!!! It was so precious! And then he continued to just be calm and quiet while Jason brought him to me for the first time...gosh all of that was such an amazing little experience!!!!!!

We stayed in the hospital for the next two days, seeing visitors, learning how to be parents and take care of this little guy, and just recovering. That's when I finally started to feel some pain. :) Hey - I'm not complaining!!! :)

Our experience overall was AMAZING. The hospital was phenomenal and God just really blessed the whole deal. It was EVIDENT e had lots of prayers surrounding us!!!!!

Below are some pictures...

Keep checking back because I have a bit I want to write about his first night home and about how AMAZING it has been to watch my husband with Lincoln - I don't think there's a more precious father out there - seriously. I just don't have time to write about those things right now, but I wanted to get all this stuff I have to say started!!!!

Wow. Why Would Lincoln Rather Stay in My Tummy??!!

I had my final doctor's appointment today with Dr. Hill (he's amazing by the way)...before the big day, that is. :) Not much more progress and I can't figure this one out - we have been walking every night - and not just the stroll kind, but the fast-paced, work off dinner type, that you would think would for sure get Lincoln a little farther down there. But no. And then I have been cleaning like a freaking MAD WOMAN (that's an understatement, too!) - scrubbing, bending, lifting...you name it - ALL of it. But still no Lincoln! All I did was LOSE 4 pounds from my previous visit 6 days ago!!!
So I know some of you won't agree with this, but yes - we're inducing Wednesday morning at 6:00a. Keep us in your prayers and check back here for pictures and introductions to Lincoln James McMahan!!! We can't wait to see ya little buddy!!!!

As a side note, but a well deserved shout out - my amazing mother has been at my house all night steam cleaning my carpets and had a friend lend her a $750 machine (NO JOKE) that purifies the air in your house and rids it of any unfavorable smells (you can't be pet lovers like us and not have "smells"). Now if only mom could "steam clean" Bruce cause he smells like a sewer! So the house is immaculate (except for our shower) for any of you who want to drop by and see Lincoln this weekend!!!!!!! Thanks mom - you're the greatest - and again, that's by far an understatement. :)

Within the Week...

At doctor's appointment, with his help and expertise, of course, we made the decision to induce labor next Wednesday, Oct. 29th, if Lincoln hasn't decided to come by then. So for sure within the week, we'll be able to hold Lincoln -scary, but SO exciting!!!! Doctor said everything still looks great and I am progressing (hopefully it still won't be all the way until next week).
This week has been TOUGH. I've been so exhausted and work has just been last on my list of priorities, unfortunately. But then, it's kind of funny to me when I sit down and think about it, that I am working still???? But I'm here...if anyone needs therapy, I'm here :)
Oh yeah - Mr. Bruce Wayne got electrocuted yesterday. He's fine and it wasn't funny at the time, but we laugh about it now. I was trying to take a nap after work and the boys were all in the bed w/ me (they love naps more than I do) and somewhere in the middle of it, Bruce Wayne jumped down and decided to chew through the fa cord that was on. Yeah - so I woke up to a screaming high pitched squeal that wouldn't stop, looked down and he was being electrocuted! But the little resourceful guy ripped the cord out of the wall and ran like hell. Poor guy. I consoled him for about 10 minutes and then he was off waking up the other dogs and playing the rest of night.

And in other news, I was coming home from Wal-mart last night and there was a TINY kitten in the middle of the parking lot, not moving, as cars were dodging it. I was like "Seriously, is anyone going to stop and pick it up??!!" I'm not a huge fan of cats so I didn't really wanna do it, but NO ONE seemed to car about this TINY TINY kitten! So yeah - I picked it up and was planning on just dropping it off in our neighborhood so it's chances of getting hit would at least decrease significantly. But when I woke up this morning, it was on my tire crying. But don't worry - I'm not keeping the darn thing and that's a PROMISE this time. I already tried taking it to the Humane Society but they don't open till 10:00, so I'll do it on my lunch break. But if anyone wants a kitten between now and noon, let me know. :)

Hopefully next time I write, I'll be posting pictures of Lincoln James McMahan.

I'm SWELL

Swelling...that is, in an uncomfortable way! :( Where's Lincoln??? You still in there buddy, cause we'd REALLY like you to come out! I know I know...I still have 7 days till my due date, but I was counting on having him last week (cause my dear mother reminds me of how she was 2 weeks early w/ all of us!), but that obviously didn't happen, and now I have graduated from beluga wale size to HUGE grandma whale size and would really like to get this show on the road!

But hey - I'm patient (obviously).

We had worship band practice again tonight and I keep thinking, NEXT time I won't be here...I need to stop thinking that and maybe it will come true. Not that I don't like singing in worship band, but I'd like to have Lincoln much much much more. :) However, Jason and I decided that if he goes past his due date, we might as well try and make it to November 4th so he doesn't have to be born under the Bush administration...ha.

Good news is everything's done and I have been sleeping really good lately b/c I have everything taken care of here, at work, and just in general, so my mind is still for once.

I'm posting a picture of the letters Gwendolyn brought over - they're amazing and I'm so excited about the way his nursery turned out!!

Favorable Conditions

Had a doctor's appointment this morning / hopes of dilation and in the back of my head, MAYBE even slightly hoping for a "Oh my gosh! You're completely dilated...quick! Rush her over to the hospital cause this baby's coming in the next few hours!"
Okay so maybe that was too high of hopes considering what the doctor really said was: "Yeah, it looks like you're maybe/slightly dilated to a "1"...but his head is real low and your cervix is thinned...definitely favorable conditions to give birth in the next few weeks."
And for the record, when he said "maybe/slightly dilated to a "1", he probably meant something more like "Yeah, you're not really dilated at all, but I'll say "almost" 1 centimeter to make you feel better cause I can see the anticipation on your face."

So that's that friends. Lincoln's still in there; his mother is still uncomfortable; but Jason and I are about to walk out the door as we speak to walk some more to get this process moving. :) I'll keep you posted.

In the Final Days!!!!!!!!!

Yes it's true and it's finally almost here...Baby Lincoln could come anytime now! Everyone at work for some reason is set on him arriving next Tuesday, while my mom hopes he makes it till her birthday next Thursday. However, it could an entire 2 more weeks - please come early Lincoln!!!

You know I'm completely stressed out at my job when I actually look FORWARD to getting to spend a couple of days in a hospital bed where I don't have to worry about work and can finally forgo it all for a while...that's sad!

I haven't gotten much sleep this week cause I have been having some contractions and cramping and that fun stuff that gets you ready to push a human out of your body. :) But I did get the nursery finished last night all by myself (cause Jason spoke at a basketball event in NWA)...I even assembled furniture and drilled holes and worked with nails and tools - pretty proud of myself. There's pictures at the bottom of the finished product.

And can I just tell you how unbelievably talented my brother-in-law is??? He told me when I found out I was pregnant, that he wanted to custom build me a crib. I was crazy excited because he's so talented at that stuff. Well he finished at the beginning of this week...designed the whole thing himself - first time ever building a crib - and it's AMAZING. He's seriously unbelievable. Thanks Dan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So we're just playing the waiting game now! Can't wait until we get to post pictures of Lincoln up on here!

By the way - this SNL spoof on the campaign stuff is hilarious.

And no the almost-finished product (waiting on his custom made letters from Gwendolyn to go above his bed!)