Prego + Flu = One Exhausted Mama

      Well... this last week wouldn't be what I would call the most fun week of pregnancy thus far.  I spent almost the entire week either in bed or in the bathroom.  I had such high hopes that my immune system was doing it's job and fighting off all those nasty germs that have been circulating around but alas I got struck with the dreaded flu.  It was six full days filled with lots of Kleenex, tea, tylenol, cough drops, fevers, coughing, sneezing, throwing up, and lucky for us lots of love from family and friends. Damien even came home early one day because he had caught a little bit of the bug as well (Hannah you will soon come to realize just what a shocker your dad leaving work early actually is).  I spent the first part of the week feeling pretty sorry for myself, I mean isn't being pregnant enough stress and hard on the body?!? As the week progressed and everyday I received many calls, texts and fb messages from family and friends and even a BUNCH of goodies from Auntie Abbie to help ease the symptoms, I realized just how blessed we are to be surrounded by people who love and truly care about our well being.  Happy to say I'm finally on the up and up and it felt good to get back to work today even though even after just five hours I was pretty wiped out for the rest of the day. Lets hope to no more sickness hitting the McClain/Chevalier family anytime soon. 

Happy Valentine's Day

     Happy Valentine's Day Miss Hannah Banana!! You had a big milestone today, you received your very first flowers from your daddy.  I'm sure with him being wrapped around your little finger, this will be the first of many.  I have to say I was pretty shocked at how thoughtful and romantic it was.  Your dad is a lot of things, wonderful, smart, funny but I wouldn't necessarily call him a "Valentine's Day kinda guy".  However just when you think you know someone they surprise you and do something completely out of the ordinary.  Your dad left early this morning for work, about 530, he gave me a kiss and wished me a Happy Valentine's Day, nothing really out of the ordinary as far as leaving so early (he's such a hard worker for us).  I stayed in bed for another few hours then got ready for work upstairs.  I headed downstairs and low and behold on the coffee table were two long stem red roses wrapped in xoxo/love paper along with a note.  The note explained that one of the roses was for me and the other for his "Hannah banana''.  It was truly one of the sweetest things I've ever experienced.  I have been so stressed out lately with school and work that it was just what I needed, just when I needed it.  We are two very lucky girls to have your daddy in our life to love us and take care of us, especially when we need it the most.  xxoo

You've been kicking and we've been shopping

       Hi baby girl! Lots of changes are going on with you right now.  You are constantly moving around in there and you are finally big enough I can feel you everyday.  It's such a special feeling and gives me so much comfort knowing you are making yourself right at home in there.  The first time I felt you full on kick was February 1st right after your dad left for work around 6am. I'm convinced you were just as sad as me to have him leave the nice warm bed.  Since your first real kick it seems like I feel you more and more each passing day.  You are most active early in the morning around 5-6 (early riser just like your parents), when I get off work and before I go to school so around 2-4 and then again when your dad and I spend the evening lying in bed and watching either Seinfeld or The Office.  It's kind of neat knowing you already have a little bit of a schedule, we'll see how long that lasts.  Your dad has not been able to feel you kick yet, I think he's a little weirded out by the whole thing :) but he loves when I tell him what you are up to in there.  It's been really nice knowing you are a girl because the shopping has commenced.  A few weeks ago your Grandma Sandi was here and we all went shopping and bought you quite a few goodies.  Your very first binkie, Sophie, a cute 4th of July outfit, a carrier your dad is really excited about and a few other things.  We have also been doing a little online shopping mostly from my new favorite store, Restoration Hardware. We got a few things for your nursery from there and I have been obsessed with these adorable boots from them that your future BFF Lyla has.  They have gotten a few mixed reviews (your auntie Abbie hates them), but I'm in love and can't wait to see your sweet little feet in them. Please continue to move and groove in there and just know there are so many people out here so excited for your arrival in June.  xxoo

Dear, Baby Hannah

       Hannah Sophia McClain it is!! Yesterday we were thrilled to learn you were a perfect, ten little fingered, ten little toed, GIRL!! I think we were all a little convinced you were going to be a boy which would have been wonderful too but your dad and I could not figure out a boy name we loved.  Had you been a boy your middle name was all figured out, Bruce after your wonderful Grandpa...which we were both excited for but it's a little difficult finding a first name to go with such a dominant middle name like Bruce.  We had settled on Hannah for quite some time now and I have to say I'm in love with your name and hope you like it too.  Your Auntie Abbie joined us to meet you for her very first time.  She was rooting girl all the way and I'm pretty sure she made the first "whoohoo" after you were announced as a girl.  We were able to watch you for about an hour, checking out your bone structure, your perfect little nose, checking all your fingers and toes and even watched you stretch and hiccup.  It was one of the best moments of our lives getting to see you for that long and I truly cannot imagine what seeing you and being able to hold you for the first time will be like.  Hard to believe it's only 20 weeks away (God-willing).  We love you Baby Hannah! 

Love, 

Your Dad and Mom

2012 Year End Review

         We didn't send out Christmas cards this year but I still wanted to take a look back at 2012 and post a few highlights from one of the best and most challenging years of of my life. We started the year out with a huge snow and ice storm and although it lasted a little too long for our comfort, we had a really fun time playing in the snow. I even got the chance to have a fun snow-day with Lyla which was a blast.  We were lucky enough to have two visits from Quintin this year and both of them were a blast.  The February visit was jam packed with fun, Sandi came up for a few days as well and joined in on the craziness that is the McClain boys when they get together. Q, Jaime, D and I even made our way to Quileute which was beautiful.  The second trip was courtesy of D and Q's Uncle Brian, and Aunt Nikki who got us all tickets to the Oregon vs. Stanford game.  It was beyond fun and we even stopped in Salem and the boys got to meet their other grandma, Grandma Jackie for the first time in 30 years on the way down to the game.  Damien, Abbie and I ran the Tacoma Marathon 5K (surprisingly a blast), and Damien really got into running this year and even ran his first half marathon in Gig Harbor for the Race for the Soldiers Foundation.  A sad note from this year was losing our dear sweet Tucker baby, he has been apart of our family for what seems like forever and it is still hard to not see him when we go to my parent's house.  We did lots of really fun things this year that included, the annual beach trip with my parents, family weddings, a few baseball and soccer games, lots of fun watching little Lyla grow, welcoming our wonderful friend's Roland and Trish's beautiful daughter Leah into the world and getting to meet her this year, a Christmas time Blazer game with the entire family, Superbowl Party, gardening with my parents (yes I'm even including this in the FUN), a boat house trip with Heather and Danny, lots of dinners and outings with family and friends, and so much more.  We ended the year on such exciting news of our new little punkin on the way and it was amazing to look back at 2012 and see just how blessed we truly were this year.  We were lucky enough to get to celebrate it all with the best family and friends you could ask for.

Our family is growing...

Baby McClain's first picture November 29th (11 weeks)

Our first Christmas as parents :)

30th birthday baby bump (16 weeks)

         We found out the best news on October 10th, 2012....we are going to be parents!! I thought it was a good time to start a blog since I have such a horrible memory and I want to have some way of remembering all the fun and exciting changes going on, without blowing up everyone's Facebook feed.  Things have been going really well, for the most part.  I have had the morning sickness (only mine is in the evenings right before dinner), thankfully that has pretty much subsided. I have unfortunately been plagued with headaches early on and they have continued throughout, apparently I have my mom to blame for this since she had them all throughout her pregnancies.  My hands and feet are swelling already which is not a pleasant experience but other than that it has been going really well. We go in for our 20 week ultra sound Monday and this week couldn't be going any slower.  We are both extremely anxious to find out if our little baby McClain is a boy or girl :) So excited for this wonderful new chapter of our life.