39 weeks!

Mama McCracken (39 weeks) and Mama Schmidt (30 weeks) at Baby Schmidt's shower.  Its been fun being pregnant, especially along side so many of my good friends, but now I am really just ready to have our little man here.  Come on Max, mama and daddy are ready to hold you!!!

Bestie Baby Bumps

Max's Sweet Shower

Max's Sweet Shower

Family and close family friends generously showered Max and I at 38 weeks.  It was so fun to celebrate now that Max's arrival is just right around the corner.  The shower was beautiful and we received so many special gifts for Max, allowing me to go home and "nest" more!  

I love this beautiful invitation.

Made from scratch....yum.

Grandma and Grandad were able to come to the shower and brought an extra special gift for Max.  This cradle has been passed down within the McCracken family for generations.  The most recent to put it to use was Max's cousins Lenna Kate and Hart but it has rocked decades of little McCrackens.  Used by Mark's great, great grandparents, we are so lucky to have this family heirloom to use with Max!

McCracken Family Crib

Summer Beach Trip!

Mark and I have not taken a week long vacation since our honeymoon and this one couldn't have come at a better time.  We had so much fun at Emerald Isle with the family and it was such a nice, restful break.  It was really funny to be sitting on the beach in my bathing suit and be able to actually see Max moving around.  I think he will be a beach baby for sure!  Thank you to my talented cousin Abbie for taking these great pics of us on the porch at the beach house.  Even though 6 more weeks seems like a long time to wait for our little man, I know this precious time will fly by and we will be glad to have these memories to look back at.

33 weeks pregnant.  We can't wait to meet our little man!

Daddy gives Max a kiss.

We love you Max. 

Max (and Mama) Get Showered!

The Girls at Max's Shower

Max's shower was gorgeous and so much fun.  We so appreciated all the work the hostesses (Spence, Susan, Diane, Lizzie and Carrie) put into making it such a special day.  I will never forget it! Thoughtful details like blue sugar rimmed drinks made this occasion one to remember and as always it was so good to see the girls.  Max is lucky to have such a wonderful group of loving friends (and more buddies on the way!).  I have definitely entered the "nesting" phase and it was really fun giving all of Max's new goodies a home in the nursery.  Max's Grandma gave him Daddy's favorite book (Go Dog Go!) and Mama's favorite (Goodnight Moon).  I know we will wear those two out, rocking and reading together.  We got such a great balance of functional necessities, sweet outfits/toys, and adorable keepsakes that we will put to use and cherish.  One of the most special gifts we received was a handmade knitted blanket from his Gran.  I can't wait to cuddle him up in it.

Sailboat Blankie Knitted By Gran

I am so thankful for such great friends, family and for that special day.  Thank you to all of you, we love you!

Max Goes to the Beach with His Future Cousins!

We had a fantastic weekend at Emerald Isle with Max's future aunt, uncle and cousins.  The weather was great and it was so nice to get away and visit with our family. Max is going to have a big time with these two soon. On Thursday night future cousins Lenna Kate and Hart slept in Max's nursery and they think he is going to like it!  They sure look cute and comfy in there! 

Cousins Lenna Kate and Hart cozy up in Max's nursery.

Uncle Mark hanging on the porch with our sweet niece and nephew.

Aunt Marge (28 weeks) with big cousin Lenna Kate...she liked to talked through my belly button to her cousin Max.  She would also ring my belly button like a door bell to say hello.  Very sweet.

Weekend Review: Max Gets Another Buddy!....And Blinds Too!

Its A Boy!  Yay Buddies!

We went to Carrie and Ryan's baby reveal party this weekend and Max was thrilled to learn he has another boy buddy on the way!  We are all so excited about this growing crew.  We can only hope that our sons find a friendship in life like the one their mommies have shared. Carrie and I have been friends since kindergarten and she is 19 weeks along and I am 28 weeks.  Very fun!

No we did not plan to dress alike, but the waiter at the Mexican restaurant was convinced that we were pregnant twins!  

Later that day...Max's Daddy and Grandfather install blinds in the nursery.

Here are Mark and Jim back at work on the nursery.  We have actually gotten a lot done through the week this week and its really starting to shape up. Its so fun to see it come together and to really picture Max in there! We are checking things off the list as we go, but know there is only so much preparing to be done.  Next week we start our 5 week baby/birth class...I'm sure that will be eye opening!  Anything for Max man! 

Max's Nursery: In the Works

Max's nursery is in the works!  It has been really fun and exciting to plan and decorate a spot in the world for our little man.  As any homeowner knows, home projects are always more involved and more time consuming than you ever plan for.  Last night Mark installed an overhead light in the nursery (I held the flash light since we started thinking we would be done by the time it was dark outside- ha, we are learning as we go here!).

Good work daddy!

Max's Changing Table

Socktopus and Bun

Bun is Max's first gift from mommy and daddy.  We bought it when we first found out that I was pregnant.  Softest ears ever!  Mark surprised me one day with Socktopus; I love him! Socktopus and Bun await Max (and a cushion to sit on)  in the nursery.