9 days...

9 more days until the big "due date"! Many are betting on the day Ellasyn will choose to make her entrance into this world. Some think it will be on Ethan's birthday... July 18, which is already shared by one of our niece's. That would be convenient. My dad is rooting for July 31 so that he can remember his anniversary as well as her birthday. Ethan's aunt is going by the change of the moon, and I am not sure when that will be? Any way you choose, Ellasyn Hannah will come when she is ready.

Am I ready? Most definately. It has been over 100 degrees for the past 14 days here in Arlington, and it does not cool off when the sun goes down. It is hot! Ethan is reminded by his mother during this time of year that he was born during the hottest summer on record in Texas... and it has yet to be beat. So, I guess I can't complain too much? Did I mention that it is hot? We are supposedly getting a "cold front" this week, and I have heard that changes in the weather also bring on labor. I will let you know. Ha.

Ready or not...

Well, 18 days to the estimated due date! Ethan looked at the calendar yesterday and had a bit of a moment... anytime in the next three weeks, we will have a baby! It has been such a wonderful journey. I think that we have everything ready. I have been procrastinating, and still don't have a bag packed for the hospital. Just a minor detail. ha :) Other than that, everything is set up, assembled, batteried, and in place for our precious daughter to be welcomed home!

We finished the nursery!

Yay!! The nursery decor is officialy finished! Ethan did a great job of helping me hang everything on the walls. Mom and Jan, Ethan's mom, were an awesome big help sewing the bedding. I love the way it turned out!


Working on the bedding!


One of our other babies, making herself at home, ha!


Hanging over the crib...



The crib...

Baby Shower

I had a great time at our first baby shower! It is so great to see how loved we are and all of the exitement and support we continue to receive for Ellasyn's arrival. Lots of tiny outfits, blankets, and all sorts of sweet baby girl goodies.



This dress is from my mom. The pin says,"Ella", Ellasyn will be the sixth generation (including myself) to wear it. She will be the fourth generation Ella.



My two Moms... mine and Ethan's :)

Childbirth Class, Part 1

Alright! We had our first childbirth class last Thursday. It was very... educational, to say the least. We talked about all of the medical terms, the stages of labor... and then we watched the videos. I have decided that those videos should really be shown a lot sooner. Like, perhaps before one decided to start a family! Because it is too late to turn back now! No really, I don't want to turn back... but if it were an option I might have considered it after that first class.

To work or not to work...

Watch out! Two blogs, in two days... I am on a roll. :)

I met with a potential childcare giver this afternoon. I was so nervous, but she was great. I was able to see her interact with the other two little girls that she is keeping. She loves on them like they were her own children. I was really put at ease seeing her home and how much she cared for the girls. She seems so on top of things and prepared for everything. She had everything a little baby (and her parents) could ever need/ want.

Although, now that I have met her, I am questioning whether I should be working or not. Aaah, the stress of making decisions that you have no prior knowledge about! Can we afford for me to stay home? Will I be a good stay at home mom? I don't know... prayers... prayers... and more prayers. :) Only God knows what will be best for our growing family! And I am so glad that HE does!

53 days?!?

Okay, Wow. Where has the time gone? I looked over at Ethan a couple nights ago and asked,"Did you realize that in about 8 weeks we are going to have a baby? That is two months!" His response to me was,"It used to be 9 months." I know, right!? The countdown on our blog says 53 more days until Ellasyn's debut! I can hardly believe it. Friends keep asking me if we are ready yet. Maybe it is just me, but can you ever really be ready for your first baby? I am excited, anxious, curious, insert emotion here... all of the above.

The nursery is not done yet, but it is getting closer by the day. I have all of the fabric pieces cut for the crib skirt and bumper pad. Now I just have to sew it all together! I am still looking for the perfect pieces to finish off the wall decor. I know, 53 days... I am working on it.

Here is a picture of one of the things that I am most excited about this week...


A couple of hats, a sweet headband and three adorable flowers to clip on them! I can't wait to see them on my precious baby girl's head.

The McDaniel Family is moving... blogs that is...

Okay, so I started a blog on shutterfly a while back thinking that I could get my whole family hooked and we could all blot together. Since that didn't work out as I had planned, I have decided to move the blog to blogspot because I like it much better. So here we are!

For those of you needing to catch up...

Ethan and I are expecting a baby girl at the end of July! We are so excited!! We have been working in her nursery, and have just about everything ready. I, with the help of my mother and mother in law, will be making the crib bedding. That is all we lack at this point... other than the supplies and such that we are hoping will start trickling in soon. (wink wink)



I am in the 7th month of pregnancy, and I feel bigger than ever! I am bigger than ever but not as big as it gets. My nurse keeps reminding me that I still have a ways to go. She is great, but I am glad that she will not be the one comforting me at my bedside. The baby and I have been blessed with such amazing health throughout the whole pregnancy. Thanks be to God!

Ethan is about to finish up his 5th year of teaching and coaching at TA Howard Middle School in Mansfield, TX. He will return next year to continue his reign as the coolest teacher ever. (I elected him to that position and I am sure that all others would agree.) I am still sort of in between careers. I have really enjoyed substitute teaching this year, and I am hoping that Arlington will be able to find an art position for me soon!

Everyone asks what we are going to do next year and I always have the same answer for them... wait and see, wait and see. I have learned (sometimes the hard way) that it is not up to me to make plans about my future. I am so glad! God is in control, and whatever He has for our family is yet to be revealed.