Macy's Grand Entrance

 Macy Marie Gravelle arrived on March 6, 2011 at 6:07 p.m. She weighed in at 7 lbs 9.9 oz and measured 21 inches long - tall, just like her Mommy and Daddy!

Today she is 5 weeks, 2 days old and weighs a whopping 9 lbs 7 oz! Her next doctor's appointment is tomorrow - we'll see if she tips the scales past 10. At the rate she is eating, we wouldn't be surprised.

 

Macy's favorite pastimes are sleeping, eating, crying, and staring deeply into Daddy's eyes.

Grandpa and Grandma Shepherd paid a special visit to meet our bundle of joy on March 10th through March 16th and spoiled their first grandbaby rotten with kisses, snuggles, and lots of bonding time. While they were in town, we went to Destin, FL for a lovely day of lunch on the beach. They also made a very educational visit to the Naval Aviation Museum on base in Pensacola, FL.  Although Macy is too young to fly, she was entranced by the planes. Maybe we'll have another pilot in the family! Macy loved meeting her Grandparents and was sad to see them go. She can't wait until the next time she sees - even if it's over Skype.

 

Her next guests of honor were Grandpa and Grandma Gravelle who visited March 23rd through March 31st. They also spoiled Macy with lots of TLC and a special bow made by her crafty Grandma! They also were able to see the Naval Aviation Museum (one of Macy's favorite hot spots...as mentioned before, she may be a future pilot). Daddy started API (flight school) this week, so it was a busy week in the Gravelle household! Macy was glad to have the extra attention and bonding time with Grandpa and Grandma.


After the Grandparent visits, life resumed to a family of 3...well 4, including Gus. Speak of the devil, Macy's canine older brother has a case of the "jealies" (AKA jealousy). We have made sure to shower him with lots of love and treats and he is warming up to the screaming bundle of joy that joined our family a few short weeks ago. All in all, he is very good around her and is adjusting well.

Before and since Macy's arrival, we have been very blessed by our friends. They say the military is an extension of your family and we have experienced this more than ever since the arrival of our little nugget. While Krista was pregnant, friends threw her a baby shower complete with a homemade diaper cake and a hand-crafted wooden tree for Macy's nursery. The tree is not only for decoration, but can also be used to measure Macy's height over the years. When we came home from the hospital, we found our house adorned with "welcome home" and "happy birthday" decorations. In addition, we found meals in the fridge, treats on the counter, and one happy Gus, who was very well-loved while we were gone. Krista didn't have to cook for 3 whole weeks! Talk about generosity and amazing friends. Yesterday, she was surprised when 3 friends showed up to clean the whole house, top to bottom, in preparation for her sister Kortney's special visit. Our friends have made the transition to parenthood so much easier and enjoyable!

Auntie Kortney flew into town today to meet her first niece and will be staying with us through Sunday. So far today we have rested, taken a walk in the hot Florida sun (which Kortney doesn't see in Washington), and worked on setting up this blog! While she is in town, we plan to do girlie things - such as visiting a salon, as Mommy is in dire need of a haircut, while Kortney entertains the little bebe. We will also be celebrating Mommy's 24th birthday, which she almost forgot about in the hype of having a newborn. Macy can't wait to meet the rest of her aunts and uncles one day! Kortney will be sure to bring home lots of pictures and videos from her visit.

Macy's accomplishments as of today:

1.  Lots of dirty diapers to keep Mommy and Daddy on their toes
2. A healthy case of acid reflux
3. Lots of smiles this week
4. More cooing and "talking" during the past few days
5. Sleeping 4-5 hour stretches at night (her parents couldn't be happier about this one)
6. She is well-versed in the art of grunting