THREE PLUS ONE MAKES FOUR!

Getting ready for surgery!
Check out my cool Scrubs!
Love at first Sight! The Proud Daddy!The first time I laid eyes on him I was in love!Dr Reyes-Hailey and Baby McCrea!

The one who made it all happen!
McCrea Daxten Graham

Born July 15, 2008

10:49 a.m. @ Chandler Regional Hospital

7 pounds 12 ounces 20 3/4 inches long.

We Did it! McCrea is finally here! I cried through the whole procedure, mostly because I was scared, but when I finally saw his face I was so relieved and happy. He gave out the cutest little cry and I knew everything was going to be okay. I was so glad to know he was healthy and doing well. He made it here and we couldn't be more thrilled or more in love with our new baby boy.

The Last of the Three Musketeers!

Here we are just hours before the welcoming of our baby boy. We are able to get some family pictures of just the three of us before baby McCrea comes into our family. Hugs and Kisses before we head out the door for our planned Csection at 10:30 a.m. Here I am in front of the Chandler Regional Hospital. I loved the sign "Pregnant Patients Only." It was the last day I would be pregnant. Hooray!

BEFORE. . .

I'm ready to POP!



Here I am at 40 weeks a long. Tomorrow is the big day! Thought I would take some baby shots of the before and after. Here is baby McCrea in the belly and tomorrow baby McCrea will make his entrance into this world. Hopefully I'll be able to have access to a computer to post all the pictures of our baby boy. Wish me luck! Can't wait to finally meet him face to face! Hooray it is finally here! I'm so thrilled and excited to see this little guy who has been kicking me and punching me for so long!

Singin' in the Rain!

Ready to go play in the rain!

Lorelei was so excited that it finally rained! She got a new princess umbrella and has been waiting for it to rain ever since. It was pouring cats and dogs! Lorelei got her rain boots, rain coat and whipped out her umbrella and went out in the rain. She absolutely loved it and was begging for me to get my umbrella and come join her. I decided to pass, but enjoyed watching her splash in the puddles and the rain coming down. It definitely cooled things off here and was a nice change of weather. This is Monsoon season so we will be expected to have more and more of these experiences.

Projects 3,4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 COMPLETE!

Projects around the house!

Family Room
Family Room
Dining Room
Living Room
Kitchen Guest Bath

Master Bedroom

Here is the Family room, Dining room, Living Room, Kitchen, Bathroom, and Master. I just now have to get packed for the hospital and go through last minute details. It is nice getting all the projects done around the house. Now I will have the peace of mind that everything is Ready! Notice the desk in the Living room. We moved out our office from McCrea's room and put it in the living room. We found this great roll top desk on Craigslist and Chad worked hard for the past month sanding and staining this desk to match our bookcases. It turned out great! Way to go Chad, but next time let's just buy a matching desk!

McCrea's Room Complete!

Finally got McCrea's room all organized and ready for him. Another project completed! Hooray! We decided to go with a sports theme since that is what Chad loves the most. Watch, he won't even like sports when he grows up. Tomorrow is the big day! We are ready for you McCrea and more excited than ever to have you join our family. Yea!

One down, eight more to go!

Here is Lorelei's room! I got it all organized and cleaned for baby. Too bad it doesn't look like this everyday, CLEAN, that is! I had to take pictures to enjoy from time to time, cause it won't stay like this very long. Lorelei said to me last night, "I really like it when my room is clean," I couldn't agree more. She has too many toys and they all come pouring down like rain. It would make it a lot easier to clean her room if her Nana would stop spoiling her with toys all the time! I don't have ANYMORE room! Baby room is next, it is almost all done!

Girls Day Out!

Girls Day out! Ready to go get pampered!

Pedicures and Manicures!
Finally got my roots filled in!

In the middle of trying to get everything together for baby, I've enjoyed a fun little date with my little girl Lorelei. Of course I've tried to do something fun with her everyday, but I made it an extra special day just for us to do something girly. I figured we should go get pedicures and manicures (something on my to-do list anyway.) Lorelei loved this idea and so off we went. I've gotten used to my monthly pedicures and thought I needed one last time to pamper myself. I wish I brought my camera to capture how cute Lorelei sat for the whole procedure. One of the Vietnamese daughters who is seven (they start them young in this business) painted her nails and she was so excited. We both got cute little flowers on them. Usually I can't stand looking at feet, so sorry for the images, but they are just freshly washed and done. After feeling so good about my toes being done I then decided to wax my eyebrows and scheduled an appointment to get my hair done. Now I'm ready for BABY! Hooray!

"Change is Good!"

I have one week to go and I will have little McCrea join our family! I have been so scared but so excited at the same time. I am scared because I want to know exactly how everything is going to turn out. I want a play by play down to the last little bit. I have been going crazy marking off my to-do lists, that sometimes I forget to enjoy the moment.
I am scared because I keep asking all these questions to myself, but already know, that what will happen will happen. Do I have everything ready? Will my house be perfect and clean enough? Is his room in order? Will the doctor's be well rested and ready to perform surgery? Will the anaesthesiologist be able to find the "right" spot in my back? Will I have a spinal tap or go under completely? Will I have a spinal leak and spinal headaches like last time? How much pain will I be in this time? Will the baby be healthy? Will I be able to breastfeed? How is Lorelei going to react to a new baby? The questions go on and on.
In testimony meeting on Sunday, I was looking for some clarity and peace. Someone said "Change is Good," although it is only a simple three words, it impressed me and gave me a better attitude on what I'm about to experience. When people ask me "Are you excited?," I always responded with a roll of my eyes or a shrug of my shoulders and something about the fact I will be more excited when I have everything complete and ready for the baby. I'm not sure if I'll ever be completely ready and especially ready to take on the demands of another baby but I will do my best to be the mother he deserves.
I'm definitley one who likes routine, however, I do need to embrace this new phrase "Change is Good." I know this will be a new opportunity to grow and get out of my comfort zone again. So I am up for the challenge! And I am EXCITED!

Happy 4th of July!

Watching the fireworks from our roof!I even got up on the roof with this big belly!
Lorelei pointing out her favorite fireworks!



Although our 4th of July wasn't all that relaxing, we did take a break from all our chores, to go swimming, BBQ up some hamburgers and climbed up on the roof and to watch the fireworks. We tried to sing some patriotic songs to get into the 4th of July spirit. Lorelei was so thrilled to look up at to different areas in the sky and be able to point out her favorite colors as each firework popped open. Of course, she liked the pink and the purple ones the best. Hopefully, next year will be more relaxing as we won't be panicked to get all the projects done for baby.

Circus Circus!

It's Circus Time!

Loving all the Elephants!

Horses, Clowns and More!
Sittin back and watching the show!


We went to the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus! We had a great time as we watched the acrobats, flying trapeze, clowns, motorcycles, elephants, tigers, goats and all kinds of fun entertainment. Lorelei was enthralled with the acrobats and flying trapeze. Chad and I both said to each other, "We just exposed her to more things she will want to try at home." Luckily she hasn't tried anything to dangerous yet. She really is are daredevil and will try anything. She now wants to be in the circus. One of her favorite parts was a motorcycle riding on a tight rope and a lady on a swing underneath. She told me that's what she wants to do when she grows up. Hopefully she'll outgrow this dream. Maybe we shouldn't go to the circus anymore!

How do you love another?

Baby McCrea February 29th 2008

I have three weeks left until another little person joins our family! Although I'm scared to death, I am also very thrilled. I haven't really expressed my feelings about this pregnancy, so I thought I better write a few thoughts about my baby McCrea. Of course it's early in the morning and I can't sleep, so what better way to spend my time.

When I found out I was pregnant I was so happy and relieved. Finally, 18 months of waiting was over and I was ecstatic. I was more excited to keep this secret from Chad for another 2 weeks before I told him, maybe I was a bit selfish, but, I had two weeks to myself to think about this pregnancy before I told the family. It was fun and exciting to think and ponder about that for awhile. I couldn't believe I was going to be a mother again. I know I'm already a mother, but a new baby, new gender, new experiences, adds new meaning to "Mother."

I have often wondered about loving another. I couldn't imagine sharing my heart or my feelings for anyone else but Lorelei. Even Chad doesn't get that kind of unconditional love. It seems that the sacrifice is so much more worth it for your baby. Lorelei was my first love, my first true sacrifice of everything I had. I sacrificed my body in more ways than one, my sleep, my health, my "to do lists," my spotless house, my hobbies, but it has been well worth the journey to be a mom to her. Will I truly be able to love another one just as much? Is my heart big enough to open up? I guess we will wait and see.

Although I'm scared of starting over again and scared of not remembering who I am, I suppose McCrea will make me that much stronger and help me be the person I am meant to be. I have enjoyed getting to know his little kicks and punches, his hiccups (which are over 5 times a day), his likes and dislikes, he likes milk (which I have never been able to drink until this pregnancy) and he dislikes chocolate and whip cream (two of Lorelei's favorites.) He loves when Lorelei gives him hugs and kisses and talks to my belly. He likes to go swimming too. I can't wait to see what he looks like and finally meet him face to face. I couldn't be more proud to have been chosen to be his mother. I just hope I'm up for the challenge. I love you baby McCrea and will miss you swishing and swooshing around in my belly and giving me a kick here and there to remind me that you are coming and to get READY.

Hooray for Iowa Friends!

Lorelei, Alyssa and Bella
Hanging out after swimming
Bella and Alyssa Montoya
It's been three years and glad someone has come joined us in Arizona.

Swimming and splashing away!

We couldn't have been more thrilled when I got a call from a great friend from Iowa. Diane and her family just moved to AZ! We were able to go over and see their beautiful new home and go swimming together. Lorelei immediately bonded with Bella and Alyssa and became quick friends. They had a super fun time together and I'm so excited that we will be able to see more of them. It was great reminiscing about our days in Iowa and all our great friends that we miss. Unfortunately, we are so sad for all the terrible flooding that is going on in Coralville and Iowa City a place we called home for three years. Our prayers are with them.