2nd Place

*****BREAKING NEWS*****
In dreary 40 degree weather this morning, Mary Katherine's big sister got 2nd place in a 5K Run (called the Turkey Trot)!! She moved up a division in age (13-15) and did well! We are very proud of her.

Big Sister Talent

Kelsey is learning how to work with Adobe's Photoshop program. :-)

Life With A 3-day old Baby and 13 year old!

Life couldn't be any better! :) She keeps getting prettier and prettier each day. I am one blessed father to have two wonderful daughters. My sleep deprivation continues, but GOD is good and in charge. Miraculously, I am not tired.

Early this morning (on very little sleep), I traveled with the big sister up to Lafayette, TN for the Middle School Region Championships for Cross Country. As you can see above, the big sis competed. We are pleased to announce that she has qualified for the State Championships to be held next weekend in Knoxville! WAY TO GO BIG SIS!

Look What We Saw Today

We heard from friends and family that a billboard went up here in Cookeville with Mary Katherine and Kelsey (the big sister) on it!

Shortly thereafter, I received a call from the General Manager of my office and he said one of my great customers wanted to do something special for us to announce the birth! It's humbling to see how kind people are to offer up their advertising space to announce the birth of your child.

When we were released to go home, we drove by and saw it! Too cool! :)

Thanks to Whit Carlen and the fine people at Carlen Chevrolet in Cookeville. Your generosity is wonderful.

Mom and Baby are doing excellent. We are thrilled to be home. I'm working on posting ALL of the pictures somewhere for you guys to see. I'll let you all know when it is complete.

Beautiful Baby Mary Katherine!

(Daddy kissing Mommy seconds after Mary Katherine was born)

Her arrival was grand! She is such a cute and tiny creature. Her Mommy has never looked more beautiful.



It was a wonderful event last night when Mary Katherine was born. Two nurses in training who we had never met cried like they were her relatives. One of them had never participated in a delivery while the other had helped another girl earlier in the day. Our RN is a close, personal friend and was such a blessing. Our Doctor is a wonderful man who called our little girl 'his miracle baby'!!



I have all sorts of pictures and will share them as time goes on. For now, Shawn is doing GREAT, Mary Katherine is doing GREAT, and me and the BIG SISTER are just ecstatic!

Final Road Trip

Mommy took her final road trip today to see Mary Katherine's big sister compete in a Cross Country match in Smyrna, TN. While it was a short trip (just over 1 hour), the time in the car at 38 weeks pregnant is almost too much.

Kelsey finished 14th out of nearly 100 runners. Her time of 10 minutes and 44 seconds was a personal best today. Her team took home 3rd place honors out of 13 teams. Not bad for the first full season of Cross Country at her school!

We have another appointment this week with our OB Doc along with an ultrasound.

Mommy and Big Sister News

First off, a Mommy Update

We went to the Anesthesiologist office today and got an 'education' on what that was all about. If we come in to the hospital at 7 cm or more, it's a 'no-go' on an epidural. If, however, we're at 6 or less, that's fine and it's given (generally) around 5 cm. Hey, I was listening! :-)

Our next appointment with our OB Doc is on Thursday. We'll have an ultrasound, see our Doctor, and get hooked to the monitoring equipment. I mean my wife will get hooked up to the monitoring equipment. I'm guessing Mary Katherine will be in the 8+ lb. range on Thursday.


Big Sister Update

Mary Katherine's big sister, Kelsey, ran in a Cross Country match here in Cookeville today. Several teams from across Middle Tennessee participated. One of them was Central Middle School from Murfreesboro, TN. They are one of the top programs in the state. Kelsey finished 4th overall out of 53 runners, she was third on her team (which had the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place runners). Her team (in it's first year) finished first in the event while Central finished second. Central had finished first in the last two matches that Kelsey's school had participated. I'm really proud of Kelsey and her effort. She posted a time of 11:50, her fastest time ever on her home course.

Mommy Update!!!

Latest (as in 5 minutes ago) pictures of the happy mom!! :)




The happy couple in Chicago!

Opening presents!
Crib is finished!


Mommy w/sister in-law (she's the EXPERT seamstress!)

Dad and Daughter Fun!

While Mommy was at a baby shower weekend for herself and a friend, Kelsey (the big sister) and I were invited to take a trip down the Ocoee River. As you can see from the picture, we didn't have 'any fun' at all!

This move on the whitewater is called "Riding The Bull". Kelsey got to do it through a Class IV rapid! She was on the nose of the raft holding on as best she could. Let's just say this was an experience she won't soon forget. Neither will Daddy!

Our visit to the doctor was fine. He is happy with her progression and has advised us to go visit pediatricians to see which one we will be taking Mary Katherine for her visits.

Mommy and Baby are doing well. Other than the normal stuff of swollen feet and being a bit tired, Mommy is happy. Baby Mary Katherine continues to kick and roll around. It's a wonderful thing.

Back From Chicago

Mary Katherine's big sister is BACK from Chicago. We really missed her. She went there with her grandmother and cousin. They had an excellent time. She brought back some gifts for her Mom. Two more maternity shirts. One is perfect for the 4th of July and one is perfect fall colors! Big Sister loves the nursery.

My wife and I came home today for lunch and ate a bite with Big Sister. Mary Katherine began to move around and her big sister felt her move!! EXCITING!!!

We are glad she is home.

Little Bits Is Moving Around

Little Mary Katherine continues to move around at pretty much the same times each day. We know she sleeps and wakes on a schedule. Kelsey and I are quick to put our hands on Mommy's stomach to see if we can feel her moving.

We have a short weekend trip to see some relatives on Shawn's side. It'll be lots of fun.

Shawn is harvesting squash, cucumbers, and tomatoes from our garden this morning! YAY!! :)

More Fun Baby Stuff

We were in Knoxville today and stopped by Baby's R Us after grabbing a bite of lunch. How fun is that??? It was all baby stuff, all the time! WOW!

Got to feel Mary Katherine move tonight once again! Got out the stethascope to see if I could pick up her heartbeat, but since I have no medical expertise...I struck out...oh well, I'll keep trying as long as her Mommy lets me! :)

We found out today that a friend of my wife's (she attended high school with) is having TRIPLETS...all I can say is WOW! Their life will sure change for the better. They are due sometime in December. We pray blessings over them for a safe pregnancy.

Happy Father's Day 2007

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads! It's a great thing being a father. The above photo was taken this past February when my daughter and I attended FATHER/DAUGHTER DATE NIGHT put on by our city's Leisure Service's Department. Can't wait for daughter #2 to get here. It's been a special father's day indeed.

Good Day for Mom and Baby

Shawn got in bed last night EARLIER than usual. It helped her today! This afternoon, when I got home from work, my bride was snoozing on the couch. I'm glad she has been able to rest. Would have snapped a picture of her asleep, but I know BETTER! :) ....yeah, right!

Big sister tells me that she is wanting to knit or crochet Mary Katherine a blanket....

Sunday Sleeping Beauties!

Hey, there is a baby inside that belly!

My wife and our teen decided to take a nap after church and lunch. Thought I'd snap a picture of them snoozing and post it! ;)
According to The Pregnancy Journal, we are on day 133 and have 133 days left to go. Our baby weighs about 16 ounces and almost 7 inches in length. We should be able to hear her heartbeat with just a regular stethoscope.

More updates to come soon!