Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails

I come from a family of all girls. Our world was one of hairbows. Barbies. Nail polish. Giggling. Slumber parties.


I've gotta confess - I don't know all that much about boy stuff. Like sports ("What's Death Valley?"/"Who's Dabo?" Sorry Bon!). Or bugs. Or light sabers.

But oh, when I held precious little Rivers Harvey McClain, who is most certainly all boy already, I was certain I could make some serious exceptions.

Would I sit for three hours to watch his Little League game? Absolutely.

Would I let him show me some creepy crawly from the backyard and ooooh and ahhhh over it? Without a doubt.

Would I do my best to play light sabers? Darn tootin.


Anything for this boy.



I am lucky to teach 5th grade on the same team with his beautiful mama, Mrs. Bonnie McClain. She is already the coolest mom ever! No stress. No constant freaking out about germs or rashes or exact feeding amounts. (I just maaaaay have overfed him by a few ounces...he is a growing boy! How was I supposed to just rip that bottle away?!)

Anyway, Bonnie was just as positive and cheerful as ever. Coolest Mom Award goes to you, hands down.

(And can I just say, I have some gorgeous friends? How does a woman look this good a day after delivering a baby?)



From about halfway through her pregnancy, we could tell that Rivers was gonna be a good little athlete. I could frequently feel him doing some high scoring gymnastics in his mom's tummy. When I held him tonight, I could feel him trying to kick and stretch through his swaddling blankets. He's a pistol, alright. Bon and Adam say they know they're in for a ride!



Now I know:
At first I couldn't wait for Rivers to get here. Now I just can't wait to go to one of his Little League games.

Baby Love

I had a dream about 9 months ago that my friend Allie was pregnant with a baby girl.

I immediately texted her and said, "ALLIE - ARE YOU PREGNANT?! I THINK YOU ARE HAVING A BABY GIRL. I DREAMED IT! IT WAS SO REAL!" She just responded something like, "Haha - you are so funny."

So of course - I knew I was right. :)

I have this kind of prophecy like gift for predicting the gender of my friends' unborn children. Seriously - I have a 100% accuracy rate. It's freaky. I've never missed.

Well, just a few days ago my dream-like vision became a reality when I got to hold precious baby Olivia at the hospital.

When I walked in the room I totally teared up, which is not unusual for me - I cry at movie previews that have Miley Cyrus singing - but when I saw Allie, glowing, radiant, smiling from ear to ear, holding her precious little swaddled up bundle of bliss, I could hardly keep it together.


This sweet newborn girl was sleeping so peacefully - even when I took her from Allie so I could hold her. They said she was a great sleeper already. I prophecy that this will continue well into her toddler years, and that Allie and Josh will have many, many sleep-filled nights.

Olivia also had a head full of dark hair and dark blue eyes that I think will turn brown. Her button nose and sweet little feet were Baby Gap perfect. I prophecy that her beauty will not only be outside, but inside too.


I bet she will have her mom's spunk. I bet that she will have her dad's determination. I bet when she learns to talk she will never stop. We will get along just fine. :)



I bet that she will be kind and caring, and will show others Jesus's love - because her parents are showing it to her already.

Now YOU know:
If I dream about you having a baby...you are probably next.

A Star is Born

Today I had the sweet privilege of holding a newborn baby girl. It was most definitely the highlight of my week, so I had to share a picture.

While I was holding Stella today, I silently wished babies would never grow up.

I am a sucker for those fat little feet. Those itty bitty fingernails. That death-grip reflex that connects their hand to your finger. I love their fantastic toothless smiles and butter smooth skin.

To me, babies are perfect. They are in a constant state of bliss. Sleeping and dreaming and eating is their world. Their mama is never more than a few steps away, ready to meet their every need with constant loving care. Babies are unblemished, unscathed by the upsetting, hurtful, broken world we live in.

But when I think about how much goodness Stella will add to this world, I know for certain that she has to grow. With her dad's free spirit and her mom's hilarious sense of humor, she will be a light to the world. She will bring joy and fun and caring wherever she goes.

So naturally this made me think about why God wants us to grow. He wants us to use our life experiences to enrich the lives of others around us. He allows us to make mistakes so we can learn from them. He allows us to face hard things so we can learn to trust Him fully. He allows us to be in darkness so we can be lights. And best of all - He is never more than a breath away, ready to meet our every need with constant loving care.



Welcome to the world, Stella Rae! Let that little light shine!!!

Now I know:
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. -Philippians 2:14-15-