2012 Team Morgan Kate T-Shirt

Finally. After lots of brainstorming, numerous designs and four different proofs, we have made a decision. Team Morgan Kate's t-shirts for 2012 will look like this...

I realize that the shirt is not that different from previous years, but it's so hard to change it up. I really liked the shirt from the first year and last year and I wanted to incorporate many of the same things, but also add something different. Travis said the shirt for this year is his absolute favorite. He knows just what to say, doesn't he? Anyway, I hope you all like them and will want one. The very first year we sold over 100 shirts and last year we sold over 90. Wow. Just seeing those numbers amazes me. If you are interested in ordering a shirt please leave me a comment or email me at heather_callahan@yahoo.com. In order to get everyone their shirts on time I need all orders by April 16. So far I think we are up to 20 orders. Woo hoo! Oh, and the shirts are white.


We will only be participating in the Columbia walk this year. We love doing the Orangeburg walk, but it doesn't work with our schedule this year. The Columbia walk is on Saturday, April 28 at 9:00. PLEASE come and walk with us! We will be there early to set up our tent and goodies and we will stay after the walk to enjoy some lunch and time with friends and family. Only 31 days until the walk!!!

Sunday afternoon we all gathered at my parents house to celebrate Mama Jean's 82nd birthday. I can always remember how old Mama Jean is because she's 50 years older than me. I told her a few days before our gathering that I thought she should make this birthday her 79th - that way I'd still be in my twenties. 

When I say we all gathered I mean: Mama Jean, Mr. WJ, Mom, Dad, Aunt Deborah, Chad, Corrisa, Reid, Kelly, Tommy, Abigail and Addison, Owens, Trenholm, Kyle, Travis, Morgan Kate and myself. Lots of special people to celebrate a very special lady.

Not only was it a special gathering because we were celebrating Mama Jean, but it was also the first time the "girls" made their appearance. 

PRECIOUS, PRECIOUS, PRECIOUS.

Abigail, who looks just like Kelly

Addison, who looks just like Tommy

Unfortunately, I didn't get to love on them or hold them or kiss them because we weren't 100% sure if my girl had pink eye or not and I did NOT want to spread that to anyone. However, there is going to be day very SOON, I just know it, that I will be able to love on them and hold them and kiss them as much as I want.


Not only did we get to spend time with the girls, but this special little boy also made an appearance. Can you say, CUTIE PIE?!? Oh my mercy. Absolutely adorable. 

While the adults were just smitten with all the babies, Morgan Kate wasn't so sure. She still doesn't understand why she can't hold and touch and smother every little baby she sees. She thinks babies, of any age, should be able to play and build and sit up and when they can't she gets a bit frustrated. She's not too crazy about baby talk either. She recently overhead me talking to a baby in my "baby talk" voice. She looked at me like I had lost my mind and said in a most disgusted tone, "Mommy, why you talk like that?" I thought I was going to die. I love her honesty. Ha!


It was such a nice day for family, for celebrating a special birthday and for spending time with little ones. I can't wait to do it again!

Today Morgan Kate had her Easter egg hunt and party at school. My principal was so gracious and kind and allowed me to leave for an hour or so in order to attend. There are lots of things I love about my school, but one reason in particular is because they get the whole "family thing". Not only did it mean the world to me to be able to attend, but it meant the world to my girl. I had already told her I was coming, but the minute she saw me she was so excited. Melt my heart. Again.

Morgan Kate has eleven other children in her class and they are all so precious and so incredibly sweet. Seriously. They are just beautiful children on the inside and out. 

They got to hunt for eggs three times because they are three years old. Morgan Kate and I had several egg hunts Monday afternoon so she was more than ready for the egg hunts today. 

At the end of the egg hunt each child got to take 12 eggs home. The eggs were filled with small toys, stickers and/or soft candy. 

After the egg hunt we all went inside for a special Easter snack. All of the little ones sat in their special seats. They said their blessing and then dined on fresh fruit, chex mix and tie-dyed cupcakes (courtesy of Morgan Kate's mommy). They also got a goody bag to take home. 


It was such a sweet day. I was so thankful to be a part of such happiness and innocence. I was so thankful for sweet friends for my baby girl. I was so thankful for teachers who love my child like she is their own. And most of all, I was so thankful to spend that time with my beautiful baby girl.

Morgan Kate was cursed with her Daddy's allergies. Poor girl. And poor Daddy. Since late January her nose has been running and her eyes haven't stopped watering. We've tried all different kinds of allergy meds and there really isn't one that brings total relief. This past weekend her allergies were especially bad and we thought she may have had pink eye. We aren't really 100% sure what she had. She woke up Sunday morning with a gunky eye and complained that it felt like something was in it. It never was super pink and she really didn't mess with it much. Last night it had some really gunky stuff in it so I stayed at home with her today just in case. Despite the sneezing and coughing and watery eyes and possible pink eye, it was such a good day. A day that makes me terribly miss my days of being at home.


Today I was able to sleep in a little and I didn't have to wake my baby girl up at the crack of dawn.


Today I sipped on coffee while watching the Today Show. MK was watching Diego and sipping on milk.


Today I stayed in my "jamas" until well after noon. MK did too.


Today I read three books to MK before lunch.


Today MK and I had a dozen or so Easter egg hunts in our den. MK found some really great hiding spots.


Today I finished all of the laundry, ironed all of Trav's work clothes for the week and picked out MK's attire for the next few days.


Today I made phone calls that I can never make while at work. 


Today while MK was napping I got to watch two episodes of Law and Order SVU. 


Today when my girl woke up from her nap I was able to snuggle with her on the couch until she was fully awake.


Today I got to bake cupcakes. And make an Easter egg wreath for my front door.


Today I had no where to be and no schedule to follow.


Today the only little person calling my name was my baby girl.


Today made me so excited for next week. Thank goodness for spring break. I am longing for you.

Random thoughts and t-shirt info...

1. I surprised myself with how I handled MK's room transformation. I typically lose it whenever something in her life changes because it means that something in my life is changing. I can't always see the good in things for being so sad about something ending. But, this time I wasn't. I didn't shed a tear. I didn't even think about being sad. I was excited. Excited for the new. Excited for the change. Excited for her and for me. It was days later before I realized what a big change her room was for all of us and I was so proud of how we all handled it.


2. I have been back at work for almost two years now and I still can't seem to find that "balance". I'm not really sure there is one, but I just cannot get it together. Most days I feel like I'm just trying to keep my head above water and some days I'm not even able to do that. I just have the hardest time getting everything done. My list just goes on and on and on.


3. Giving up Facebook for Lent has been much easier than I expected. There have been maybe two or three times where I really wanted to jump on and check out my "news", but those times were mostly out of pure boredom. 


4. The t-shirt design has been submitted and the proof should be back any day. The design for this year has some of the same details, but it's different at the same time. I'm excited about them! The shirts will be white and the design will be in purple (for the March of Dimes). If you are interested in a shirt just leave me a comment with your name and shirt size(s) or email me at heather_callahan@yahoo.com with the same information. 


The shirt prices are as follows:

If we order 24 they will be $9.75 each ($8.75 for the shirt and a dollar donation to the March of Dimes).

If we order 48 they will be $7.75 each ($6.75 for the shirt and a dollar donation to the March of Dimes).

If we order 72 they will be $6.75 each ($5.75 for the shirt and a dollar donation to the March of Dimes). 

We already have at least 10 orders!!!

5. A BIG thank you to those who have donated to Team Morgan Kate! We are far from our goal, but every little bit helps!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Just me and my girl...

Big Girl Room - also known as "The Longest Post in Quite Some Time"

We moved Morgan Kate to a toddler bed back in December. The first few nights proved to be successful. We were so relieved. The transition had been easy and simple. A piece of cake. By about the fourth or fifth night all of that changed. The next two months proved to be very trying and most difficult. Our success went down the drain. Fast. There was crying, screaming, throwing, you name it - it happened. We were all sleep deprived and overall just miserable. After countless interventions and a night where I had to use my firm voice and firm hand, things began to get better. However, we knew that ultimately the toddler bed just wasn't going to work. Our big girl needed a real big girl bed. 

We knew what we wanted but finding it was another ordeal. We looked and looked and came close two or three times to ordering something online. Then after a weekend of "picking" with my mom, I found it. The bed for our girl. And so began the makeover of our baby girl's nursery to our baby girl's big girl room. It has been a very slow process which has been awesome for all of us. I don't typically do well with things that change quickly. I like things to be more gradual. There are still a few things we want to do or add, but for the most part it's complete.

I have a thing for old and rustic and I wanted to incorporate that into her room. I started by hanging this old window frame above her dresser. I love her furniture so we didn't change or do anything with that. The lamp on her dresser went with her baby bedding, but it works in her big girl room as well. Thank goodness because I heart that lamp.

Last summer Morgan Kate did some finger painting so I added that above her "old" changing table. I also have a thing for her artwork. There's still another canvas for her to work on, but we are saving that for a rainy day. Her changing table has now become a storage unit for toys. The top holds books, frames and a lamp, but underneath are baskets of toys. Perfect for the gazillion toys she has.

When Morgan Kate was about a year old I ventured through her preemie box. It was a box I had tucked away that held items from her NICU days. I poured those items into a huge cookie jar and for the next two years it sat on her dresser. Occasionally I would go through the items and share them with MK or with family and friends. I decided that the cookie jar was a little too big and not what I really wanted anymore so I found this adorable shadow box at AC Moore and presto, it's MK's preemie shadow box. Probably one of the most special shadowboxes I have ever had. A good friend from my old school smocked MK two preemie dresses during her NICU stay. I want to have those framed and put on either side of the shadowbox. Like I said, work in progress.

I'm really proud of so many things in MK's room, but the item I am probably the most proud of is her bed. I'm not a very patient person. When I want something or have something in mind, I want in then and now. I don't like to wait. It's a lifelong problem I have. However, with her bed, I waited. And waited. Like I said before, we almost ordered three different ones off of the internet just because I was getting tired of waiting. I had what I wanted in my mind but I just couldn't find it. And then I did. It was at this awesome little antique place and it was resting against a column. The minute I saw it, I knew I had to have it. We brought it home and cleaned it up. Travis had it sandblasted and powder coated a color to match MK's furniture. The day he brought it home I had the biggest smile on my face. It was perfect. Good things did come to the mommy who waited.

After we found the bed and decided out the perfect color for it, we then had to decide on bedding. Bedding proved to be a bit tricky. I wanted something light, but it couldn't be white. And it really couldn't be anything that didn't include pink and/or green. It's so funny because prior to having Morgan Kate I was never really girly. I wasn't huge on pink or frills or ruffles. In high school my room was bright purple and teal. Fast forward to the day I found out she was going to be a girl - I wanted anything and everything pink, frills and ruffles for her. And I still do. 

I found a quilt I thought I really liked at TJ Maxx. It had some pink and green in it, but it also had other colors and they were much bolder than most things in her room. I got it home, put it on her bed and hated every part of it. I went back to TJ Maxx that very afternoon and returned it. I then ventured down to Target and found the pinkest, lightest, most ruffly thing they had. I brought it home and fell in love.

I'll be the first to admit - it's a lot of pink and I'm still trying to think of ways to break it up, but I love it. In my opinion it's perfect. I loved her room as a nursery and I love it as her "big girl room".

Besides, I better use the pink and frills while I can because I'm sure in a few years she's not going to go for any of that. 


I had to throw this last picture in just to show what real life is like. We haven't bought any rails for her bed. I didn't think of it the afternoon I was out getting things for her room and I still have gotten any yet. The first night I wasn't sure what to do to keep MK from rolling out and Trenholm suggested using our kitchen chairs. So, since then that's what we've been doing. Clearly we can't keep moving the chairs in and out, but for now it works great.

This past weekend we were able to put up Morgan Kate's new big girl bed. I have a few more touches to add to the room, but so far it's perfect - in my opinion. It's just how I envisioned it. It's girly. It's shabby chic. It's pink. Really pink. We didn't do anything with the paint color. That paint job is near and dear to my heart and reminds me of a very special time. But we did make changes to the bed (obviously), bedding and wall decor. We also took out the rocking chair. BIG CHANGE. Morgan Kate and Mommy are both doing so well with the changes. So far she LOVES her big girl bed and we've been able to start some new bedtime routines. I've got a much longer post and many more pictures, but for right now, here's a sneak peek. And, it's just a peek.

Saturday my nephew turned two. 

It shocks me to say Morgan Kate is three and a half. It shocks me to say that Hunter is two. 

He is one precious boy.

These two are pretty precious too.

He makes my heart just melt with his tight hugs and slobbery kisses.

I definitely have a huge soft spot for him.

He had a soft spot for his Thomas the Train cupcakes.

This girl craved the cupcakes with bright red frosting.

Nolan preferred blue. Either way, the two of them were pretty fond of the sweet stuff as well.

Even Kyle and Owens took the chance to dive into a cupcake and pose for a picture.

Nice.

We had the best time celebrating Hunter and spending time with one another. Even "Aunt Rae" got in on the action.

I was so thankful to have time with Hunter. Time to love him. Time to see him smile and laugh. And stuff his adorable little face.

My parents were thrilled to have time with both of their grandchildren. I'm sure they enjoyed their kids as well, but we all know where those grandbabies rank.

I wasn't the only one trying to get smooches from the birthday boy.

Hunter, we love you so very much!

Happy birthday, sweet boy! Happy birthday!

Some days, in the busy hustle and bustle of life, I often forget, even if just for a minute, that this little girl... 

is the same as this little girl.

Except back then, 


she only weighed one pound and twelve ounces.


I wasn't able to hold her or touch her or kiss her.


she required oxygen and a feeding tube.


wires covered her tiny little body.


my heart broke every single day.


she had to fight so very hard just to do simple things.


In just three and a half short years my baby girl has come so very far.


Now...


she weighs almost thirty pounds.


I can hold whenever my heart desires or whenever she will let me.


she can breathe on her own and feed herself.


she's covered in stickers and nail polish and glitter instead of wires.


my heart melts every single day.


she continues to fight, but in an entirely different way.


Thanks to the good Lord above, countless prayers, lots of love and the research done by the March of Dimes by baby girl is growing and thriving and melting hearts each and every single day. 


Make a difference. Save a life. Change a life. Give another baby the same chance as Morgan Kate. DONATE! 

We just returned from a weekend at Edisto. Trenholm's birthday was Saturday and we went down to celebrate with her and her family. They have the most beautiful beach house. It rained the entire day Saturday, with the exception of a few hours that morning, and it was terrific. It forced me to stay inside and relax, something I don't do a lot of anymore. I stayed in lounge clothes all day long, ate lots of good food and just enjoyed the company I was with. My brother is so blessed to have Trenholm and her family in his life. And we are equally as blessed to have them in ours. He has in-laws, or as we affectionately call them "in-loves", that think the world of him. Of course I absolutely adore Trenholm and think she's the bestest sister evah! 


We have our first donation for Team Morgan Kate! Woo hoo! Thank you, thank you, thank you to those that have donated. I have decided to do shirts - my hubby says we just have to. I am 99.9% sure they will be white and I am trying to finalize the design now. I'll know a price for the shirts in the next day or so. 


I mentioned a few weeks ago that I found a bed for Morgan Kate at this precious little antique place. Well, the bed has been sanded down and is in the process of being repainted. We should have it ready by this weekend and if so then we will be getting MK's room all ready. I don't plan to repaint her room because I love the colors and the feel of the room, but furniture will be moving and wall decor will change. The rocking chair may or may not be moved out. I'm torn on what to do. Space wise, we need the chair out. Emotion wise, the chair would be fine to stay until she leaves for college. She still asks to be rocked every single night and we gladly oblige. So, the rocking chair is still up for debate. Decisions, decisions...

59 Days

Only 59 days until we March for Babies!

To date Team Morgan Kate has:
6 Walkers 
0 Donations


March of Dimes is an organization for ALL babies! Let's get together and raise money for those BIG and SMALL. No donation is too small or too big! 


I've been working diligently on a t-shirt design, but I'm having a difficult time. It's hard because I really like the prior designs, but at the same time I want this year's shirt to be somewhat different. Decisions, decisions...


I'm really excited about this year's walk. I feel like for the first time Morgan Kate will really be able to experience the walk and all it entails. I get giddy just thinking about it. We are planning to do a tent this year - just like last year - and we will all meet up before the walk so that we can start together. And after our hard work we can all meet back up at the tent for yummies and goodies. It's definitely an event you don't want to miss! 

March for Babies 2009

March for Babies 2010 - Orangeburg Walk

March for Babies 2010 - Columbia

March for Babies 2011 - Orangeburg