Drumroll please....

We're officially walking now....just in time to turn one year old next week. Macie has decided that crawling is for the birds. Here is a video of her doing laps around the kitchen and dining room, and also a video of her getting her "big girl" car seat, an early birthday present.

Baby Steps!

I think we're going to have a walker by her 1st Birthday! Here is part 1, more video to come!

Macie's Taking a Stand!

Macie is working on standing up on her own and she's so excited!

Part 1

Part 2

Wild and Wacky Week

Last weekend and this week have been so busy and filled with fun things that I haven't had time to post! It's a beautiful spring in the desert and here's what we've been up to:

Michael has been playing a boatload of golf, and even shot even par (his best round ever at OVCC) this week. I got to play as well this week, but as you can see, the desert is in bloom and I was sneezing away during the whole round. I hope to get to play a lot more soon. I had a blast from the past last Friday at a Girlfriend's 80's party at Alive Church. It was a lot of fun and the outfits were hilarious. On Saturday, Michael took me out for our Valentine's date (he got me Carrie Underwood tickets for Valentine's Day, but the concert was this week). She put on an awesome show, and we had great seats on the floor about 10 rows back. It was so much fun!

Blooming Saguaro Cactus

80's night at Alive

Carrie Underwood opening up with "Cowboy Cassanova"

Mother's Day and 8 Months Old

Mother's Day 2010

No assistance here! Time to take out the bassinet!

For Mother's Day I got a baby on the move! Macie also picked out some great golf shorts and a new sports watch for me. She has great taste, ha ha! This week Macie turned 8 months old and has started pulling up on people, the couch, her pack'n'play and her crib, as well as getting really good at crawling. Now I know how mothers really lose their baby weight - chasing their kiddos around. She is also "talking" up a storm. We think it's so hilarious because she talks with her hands. Hopefully we can get that on video soon. She's quite the storyteller.

Desert Song

When we first moved to Tucson, I remember thinking, "I never want to get used to this scenery." It was such a big change, and I felt like we were always on vacation. Well, the other day, I was taking a walk with Macie like I do most days. I was pushing her, trudging along the walking path, listening to my ipod, absorbed in my thoughts. I was so focused on the path right in front of me I didn't even notice my surroundings. I finally looked up to the Tucson Mountains and saw a glorious sunset. I realized that I had gotten used to my surroundings and didn't even notice the beauty around me much anymore. It was just a big reminder to me that even in this desolate desert, God has so much beauty to reveal. We should try each day to see it. He is revealing so much to us through His creation. It made me think of the Desert Song that Natalie Grant sings, "All of my life, in every season, You are still God, I have a reason to sing...I have a reason to worship." Here are a few of those reminders.

A beautiful sunset out my front door.

The Catalinas

The most beautiful creature in the desert!

Up to my Eyeballs in Advice!

Baby books and the internet, aka "the information super highway," doctors, other parents...uggh. Is there too much information out there? Maybe this is just a lesson that every first-time mom has to learn, but good grief! We've had quite the...dare I say...adventure... with Macie's eating habits...and it fascinates me how many opinions and strategies there are on what a 6 to 7 month-old should or should not be doing! We've tried it all...beefing up the calories, schedules, no schedules, blah, blah blah! What have I learned? That Macie is Macie, and she has...drum roll please....free will! So, until someone decides to create a website or write a book about MACIE, I'm throwing most of it out the window. So there. Wish me luck!

Just one of the dogs...

Macie is currently figuring out how to "army crawl" (thanks for the description, Kristy!). She is making her way all over the living room, and she has discovered that Toby is a great companion. She is absolutely obsessed with him and he is totally enamored by her!

Could We Take Any More Pictures?

Last night Michael was teasing saying that we really should take more pictures of this poor child. Ha ha! Well, last week we took Macie's 6-month / Easter pictures at the Marana library. Needless to say, Macie is learning what the camera is and I think she thinks it's attached to her grandpa's face! Anyway, Grandpa Mike found some grass and took some great shots! She's wearing her Easter dress that Aunt Alicia brought her. I think we'll wait till next year for the Easter bunny. Macie might be ready but Mommy's not!

This is one of our favorite faces!

Giggling Girl- 6 Months Old

A Baby Shower!

Sunday we had a baby shower for my sister, Alicia, who is due in June! She is having a baby girl named Parker and we just can't wait to meet her! The shower was a huge success and we had so much fun. Her nursery will be decorated in ladybugs, and she struck gold with that theme, there were ladybugs everywhere!

Fat Guy in a Little Coat

You know the song...or maybe big girl in a tiny body? Okay, maybe I've seen Tommy Boy too many times and that song runs through my head more often than it should. Anyway, Macie's little stature hasn't kept her from hitting her milestones and hitting them right on time! Yes I know every parent probably thinks their child is exceptional, but I guess I just didn't realize how fast she would be learning and moving! Here are a few pictures of my big girl, figuring out the world around her.

Who knew my five month-old would like to watch Dora and Sesame Street?

Playing in her Baby Einstein entertainer

Not crawling yet, but she may be rolling out the door soon.

I think she's been watching daddy do pushups.

Valentine in San Diego

This is a few weeks late, but our latest adventure was a weekend road trip to San Diego for Valentine's Day. We met our friends, the Wilson's, in La Jolla. (They live in Henderson, NV). We got to meet their little boy, Brady, for the first time. He is one day older than Macie, which is another great bond we have with their family now! We stayed right on the Torrey Pines golf course, which Michael loved. Will used to live in SD, so he showed us a few local spots and some great sights!

Enjoying the pretty weather having coffee with Daddy.

Torrey Pines -18th hole

Macie is really checking out Brady!

Macie and Brady napped while we got some pictures.

Something New...

Well, here's to a new half year with our new little family. Macie is almost six months old. Since time is flying by, I've decided to get going on this blog. I have no idea what I'm doing, so bear with my amateur skills! I wanted our family and friends near and far to be able to see what we're doing a click away...so here it goes! The life and times in the desert with the Three Beals' - more to come!