her name

Our sweet Maggie Claire.

After knowing her for these 5 {almost 6!} months, her name fits her perfect and no other name could be hers! When I found out I was pregnant, I had a feeling it was going to be a girl. I don't know why... but I guess it was my first instinct. I REALLY wanted a girl, but then I also would have loved to of had a boy. I had a girl name picked out, and I just knew we were going to have a Maggie Claire.

This is my story. in June 2009 I was talking with some of my friends at a party and baby names came up. {At this point I was still in school and had no intentions of getting pregnant ANYTIME soon.} I told one of my best friends that I liked the name Maggie and she just started freaking out. It went something like this: "Oh Hilary, you have to have a baby so you can name her Maggie and she will be running around with curly blonde hair and look just like you!" She kept bringing it up the entire night telling me how perfect that name would be. Ever since then, I just knew I was going to have a baby girl and name her Maggie. Her middle name came a little later. I had a few middle names in my mind. I liked Maggie Kate but I just wasn't feeling it after a while. There was just something about Maggie Claire that I just loved. I loved the fact that her name rhymed with my name, Hilary Blaire. It was just a feeling of complete peace in my heart and mind. That was going to be her name. After I surprisingly got pregnant in January 2010, I started looking up baby name meanings and when I looked up Maggie Claire, It was absolutely perfect.

Maggie means child of Light and Claire means bright and illuminating.

My prayer during my pregnancy and still is today, is that Maggie Claire will be a light unto the world. I know that her joyful personality is just that. Even at such an early age of almost 6 months, she already brings joy to so many peoples lives! I couldn't be more proud. We love our sweet little Maggie Claire and if you haven't met her, when you do she will light up your life. be She sure does mine!

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

Matthew 5:16

meet sophie

If you haven't heard of the famous sophie the giraffe. I would like to introduce you!

She is a fabulous teething toy that many parents rave about. Maggie Claire got one for Christmas, and i guess you can call it one of her favorite toys! It's easy to take places, it squeaks, and it makes MC smile every time when I take it out and squeak it at her. Well, the other day she was going to town chewing on it, so I took a video of it.

{There was a lot of people around, so just ignore all the talking in the background}

Enjoy!

Maggie Claire's first beach trip

Today I took my baby girl to the beach. Just me & her, and it filled my heart with joy. The beach is seriously my love language- haha! I am looking forward to many many many more trips to the beach with her! It was a little chilly because of the wind, but the sun was warm, so I was able to take her out of the stroller and enjoy the sand & sun!

She was absolutely adorable at the beach & she loved it! She just was having the best time. It really was so fun just to sit & hold her and soak up these little special moments.

Her little toes got all sandy as she was kicking with her sweet little feet.

Ahh, this is the life! I love how all of these little pictures turned out!

I already know she will be a beach bum just like her mama!

"How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand..."

Psalm 139.17-18

5 months

Maggie Claire, you are 5 months old!

{March 7, 2010}

My sweet Maggie Claire! You light up our life more than what's possible. We love you so much and are so so so so so blessed! You are getting funnier every day and your dad and I love it! We take videos of you all the time so that we will remember what you like like that this age. You can check out all the videos here. You are very much independent, at such a young age!

5 month stats:

15 pounds 7 ounces

26.5 inches

things that Maggie Claire does right now:

• Tried carrots for the first time and LOVED them!
• Still exclusively breastfed {never had any formula}
• Today at church MC held her bottle BY HERSELF for the first time. My mom was feeding her and she insisted! This was a huge shocker, and too funny!
• Sleeps 9-10 hours straight at night
• has rolled over about 5 times total, but still doesn't seem interested in it.
• Her feet & hands are her favorite toys, but she also likes her sophie the giraffe, violet the dog, the singing hippo, and other little toys she can grab & put in her mouth!
• Still loves her paci & mommy does too, because it helps her go to sleep. ha!
• She is most likely found in the outside swing on the porch, in the jumperoo, or lying on the floor on a blanket playing with her feet!
• Sleeps in her crib at home, the pack-n-play at anyone else's house, and the swing at church
• loves her new little friend that I'm nannying, who is 10 months older than her!
• wears a size 2 diaper
• loves being outside... {I'm so thankful it's warming up so we can be outside!}
• loves to splash in the bath water! This past week we put the baby float on the tub, so she could sit up in it! You can see that picture here.
• She sleeps with a blanket in one hand, a lovie in the other, her glow seahorse playing, and a sound machine. As you can tell, we're all about the sleep props! ha! When we go places where she needs to nap, we put it all in her "nap bag." Oh yes, she also sleeps in the aden & anais sleep sack. We have the fish & flower one & they are wonderful!
• She started wearing hair bows without the headband!!! {I am in love}

I am probably missing so much more, but she is just a doll baby! Here are a few funny pictures that we got of her! She makes some funny faces! Especially when she gets excited about her giraffe!

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

miscellany things i'm loving right now...

1. tollhouse cookie dough- I know it's not that good for you, it's not organic, and it's not that trendy made from scratch stuff. but it's goooooood. I like it like that! ha! I'll put 6 precut cookie squares in the oven while we are eating dinner, and then they'll be ready when we finish. yum yum!

2. maggies new swing- my mom(who had foot surgery this week & is doing great) got MC this playstar infant swing and we set it up last week. She absolutely loves it! We put one of her highchair/shopping cart covers in it to give it a little extra padding and she would swing out there all day if we would let her!

3. easter candy... Of all the seasonal candies easter is by far my favorite! I just had to pick up some starburst jelly beans when I went to target today {they were on sale!} Starburst jellybeans are definitely my favorite, this is usually all I ask for in my easter basket every year! :)

My other favorite {they are Mike's favorite too} are the reese's peanut butter eggs. They are so delicious! I picked up a two pack of these at the gas station the other night for me & Mike. I ate mine slowly and savored every bite- Mike just devoured his in probably 2 bites! ha- the differences of me & my hubby!

4. my new haircut! The last time I got a haircut was in August 2009. I blogged about that haircut too- you can see that picture & post here. Seriously- it's been over a year and a half, you could say I was in desperate need. I got it cut off on Friday & I'm loving it! {sorry about the bad webcam quality picture!} The best part is... it's still long enough for a ponytail- that was my only requirement for this summer!

On another note... my baby girl is rolling over!!! Did I mention she is 5 months old today? oh, and she has enough hair for a little hairbow clippy to fit in? {without a headband} ahh.... slow down baby girl!!! Be on the lookout for her 5 month post & pictures later on this week!

Happy Monday! Link on up over at carissa's miscellany monday!

bestie

Tonight I was texting my best friend since birth {seriously- she was at the hospital when I was born, our parents were good friends & my older brother stayed with them while we were in the hospital}. So technically we're friends since my birth. ha!

Me & Stephanie Amber

Today it hit me. We're getting old, our friends are driving minivans. haha. As I was texting her I was googling different strollers. {yes, that's what motherhood has done to me!} Stephanie moved from Charleston to Florida 5 years ago {I can't believe it's been that long ago!} and ever since then we've really only seen each other when she's been to visit in Charleston for different events, and now that her parents moved to Georgia, she rarely visits... excepts for weddings & baby showers! She surprised me at my baby shower back in Sept... you can read about that here.

She is moving to the big apple next week. {ahem, I might be a little jealous. ok... a lot jealous} Out of our group of friends from highschool/early college years, she is one of the single ones. {She's waiting for Mr. right} She can just move to the big New York City with out taking anyone with her and that's what she is doing. She's always up for an adventure! I'm praying that she finds her hubby there so I can have an excuse to go to NYC for her big snazzy wedding! hehe. I'm super excited for her and I know this is just the beginning for her. I think Stephanie will be perfect to live in the big city! By the way, I don't think Stephanie has any interest in getting married anytime soon, but... until then I can dream about her NYC wedding! hehe. :)

Watch out new york city, Stephanie Amber is coming to you! She's gorgeous, more trendy than I will ever be, has a huge heart for missions, and most importantly loves Jesus . :)

love you steph! :)